The Pistachio Prescription - Paula Danziger

The blurb -
Cassie Stephens is thirteen, mousey and asthmatic. She's fed up with having to look after her little brother, being teased by her older sister, and ignored by her parents, who don't seem to stop rowing.

The only thing that helps her to survive is her addiction to pistachio nuts - somehow they always make her feel better. But as the pressures of home and school mount, even the pistachio nuts don't seem to help...

Summary -
Cassandra Stephens is a thirteen year old girl. Her mother loves shopping, her dad is never home and her older sister, Stephanie is always making fun of her. When Cassandra runs for class president, gets a boyfriend Bernard and has to help look after her younger brother, Andrew, Cassie wishes she had more pistachio nuts.

Rating-
9/10 - because it was a very interesting story with an *abundant amount of ups and downs.

Personally, I really enjoyed reading this book because it has plenty of ups and downs and its very realistic

I recommend this book to people 12 and over.

*Abundant - lots of

The Worry Website - Jacqueline Wilson

The blurb-
Type in your worry...
Is anything bothering you? Problems in class or at home? Don't know where to turn to help? Log on the the Worry Website! Type in you worry and wait for the good advice to flow in.

At least that's the plan when Mr Speed sets up his super-cool new Worry Website for the class. Holly, Greg, Natasha and the rest feel that they've got shedloads of worries but as they find out, sometimes the best advice comes from the most unexpected place.

Summary-
There's lots of problems in Mr Speeds class. So, when Mr Speed creates a cool new website, the Worry Website things begin to turn around. Come find out what it's like to be in Holly's, Greg's, Claire's, William's, Samantha's, Lisa's and Natasha's shoes.

Rating-
9/10 - because this book is  very realistic and could teach people how to feel good about themselves.

Personally, I enjoyed reading this book because it could teach people to feel good about themselves and it's realistic.

I recommend this book to people 10 and over

The dare game - Jacqueline Wilson

The blurb -
Tracey Beaker, the Great Inventor of Extremely Outrageous Dares - and I dare YOU not to say this is the most brilliant story ever!

I thought I was going to live happily ever after with Cam as my foster-mum. Well, ha ha! It hasn't turned out like that. Cam's so MEAN! She won't buy me designer clothes so all the other kids at my new school laugh at me. No wonder I bunk off and go to this special secret place. There are these two boys I meet there, Alexander and Football. We play the Dare Game - and I always win. I'm the greatest. I AM!
Tracey Beaker, the Great Inventor of Extremely Outrageous Dares - and I dare YOU not to say this is the most brilliant story ever! 

Summary - 

Tracy Beaker once again returns! But this time she lives with Cam! Things aren't going well at school, so Tracy decides to play truant! Carly, Tracy's mum turns up and decides to take her away. But she was nothing like Tracy thought of her! Tracy meets Alexander and Football and become friends and start the Dare Game. 

Rating - 

9/10 - because this book was very literal.

Personally, I enjoyed reading this book and thought it was very funny and life like. 

I recommend this book to people 10 and over 

Starring Tracy Beaker - Jacqueline Wilson

The blurb -
“I'm Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I'd read it if I were you. It's the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story. Honest."


Summary-
Tracy is back! This time she is starring in a school production! The christmas carol, she plays the part of Ebenezer Scrooge but when things get a little out of hand with Tracy and her actions things start to turn bad!

Rating-
9/10 - because it was very life-like and many people can relate to Tracy's life.

Personally, I liked this book because some parts I can relate to her.

I recommend this book to people 10 and over.

The story of Tracy Beaker - Jacqueline Wilson

The blurb -
“I'm Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I'd read it if I were you. It's the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story. Honest."


Summary - 
Tracy is ten years old. She lives in a Children's Home but would like a real home one day, with a real family. In the Children's Home she makes enemies and friends like Justine nosy-parker Littlewood and Peter. But when she meets the journalist, Cam life seems to be turning around. 


Rating- 
9/10 - because it is very life like. 


Personally I really enjoyed reading this book because it is very life like. 


I recommend this book to people 10 and older .

My Story- A Better Life the diary of Ivana Ivanovich, Dargaville 1924-25- Amelia Batistich

The blurb-
It is Dargaville, in the mid 1920s. Throughout her diary eleven year-old Ivana Ivanovich introduces us to her strong Dalmatian community. Ivana's life revolves around the local convent* school. Sunday matinees*, and the boarding house she calls home.


She loves school, looks forward to a wedding in the family, and puts up with elocution* lessons because she knows her parents want her to have a 'better life'. All the same, Ivana wishes her name didn't end with 'ich'.


Then, as 1924 draws to a close, the little community is rocked by an epidemic* that means children are forbidden to congregate* anywhere … not even to go to school or church.


Review/Summary  -
Ivana Ivanovich is an eleven year-old Dalmatian girl. As her family imports from Dalmatia/Croatia to Dargaville/New Zealand they have to learn how to do things the NZ way. She is a standard 5 and goes to a boarding school. But when an epidemic hits New Zealand ( infantile paralysis* or poliomyelitis) children under the age of 16 (except the lolly boy who works at the pictures) are forbidden to go anywhere public.




Rating -
9/10 - because the story was very informative.




Personally -
I really enjoyed reading this story as it told a lot of how other cultures lived.


I recommend this book to people 8 years and older.

*Convent-
1. Nunnery, monastery, priory, abbey, cloister, religious community.


*Matinees
1. An entertainment, especially a dramatic or musical performance, held in the daytime usually the afternoon


*Elocution 
 1. Pronunciation, enunciation, articulation,diction, speech, intonation, vocalization,modulation; phrasing, delivery, public speaking.


*Epidemic
1.Outbreak, pandemic*, epizootic*. 


*Pandemic 
1. Widespread, prevalent, pervasive, rife, rampant


*Epizootic
1. Of, relating to or denoting disease that is temporarily prevalent and widespread in an animal population. 
2. An outbreak of such a disease 

Take is easy by David Hill

The blurb -
Rob Kennedy is an experienced tramper.
Usually the prospect of a week in rugged bush country would fill him with pleasure. But three terrible months have left Rob confused and alone. When things go wrong, he can't stop his party of six teenagers from plunging into increasing disaster and danger.

An authentic adventure story, with unexpected humour and a climax to make your mouth go dry.

Review/Summary-
Rob Kennedy is an experienced and enthusiastic tramper. But on this tramp things turn traumatic. He has to save him and his fellow trampers from life threatening dangers.

Rating-
9/10 because - David Hills writing is very realistic and descriptive and had me sitting on the edge of my seat.

Personally -
I really enjoyed reading this book because in some chapters I was sitting on the edge of my seat.

I recommend this book to people 10 years and older

See ya, Simon by David Hill

The blurb-
Simon is Nathan's best friend.

They both like girls, mucking about and having fun. The only problem is that Simon doesn't have long to live.
A funny, moving and devastatingly honest story about Simon's and Nathan's last year together, making the most of every single day.

Review/Summary-
Simon is your everyday typical teenager with one exception, he has *Muscular Dystrophy (MD). He has to use a wheelchair and is assumed to not have long to live. This is a story of friendship.

Rating
9/10 - because it is based on real life and is very descriptive.

Personally -
I liked this book because... It is what happens in real life. This may make people aware that having a disability isn't contagious or an infection. They are normal people trying to live a normal life.

*Muscular Dystrophy (MD) - Muscular Dystrophy is a disease in which the muscles of the body slowly stop working. You tend to fall and are uncapable of standing or sitting up straight and even find it hard to breathe. It is a proven fact that boys are diagnosed more commonly than girls and are worse off than girls with MD.