Summer Read: Here Today

An Ann Martin page turner keeps the action moving.

Here Today

Author: Ann M. Martin

Publisher/ Date of Publication: Scholastic, 2004

Number of pages: 308

Recommended age: Grades 4 - 8

Here Today by Ann M. Martin is about a girl named Ellie Dingman, who lives in Spectacle, New York, in the 1960’s. She lives on Witch Tree Lane, which is named for a tree down the block with knots in the shape of an old witch’s face.

Living on Witch Tree Lane pretty much means you’re an outcast, fitting in only with your neighbors. Ellie’s mother, Doris Day, who is always running off to singing or dancing auditions, leaves Ellie to take care of her sister and brother, Albert and Marie.

Just as life at home is hard, so is life at school. She and her best friend Holly are either shunned or abused by the more popular girls. When Ellie thinks it couldn’t get any worse, sabotage occurs on Witch Tree Lane. Rocks are thrown through windows, mailboxes are glued shut, and the witch tree is painted purple.

Then one day, Doris goes off to an audition, but never returns. Where did she go? Will she ever come home?

Here Today is an-action packed book, with many surprises and twists. It all adds up an awesome page turner, great for summer reading.

I enjoyed it very much, and could relate to the characters. It was very detailed, making me feel as if I was with Ellie on Witch Tree Lane. I never wanted to put it down!

I think many people would like this book because it’s packed with drama. Preteens will especially like this book because the characters experience events that they are likely to encounter themselves.

—Caitlin Wardlow

PHOTOS: (TOP) Book cover for Here Today by Ann Martin. (Image Courtesy Scholastic) (BOTTOM) Caitlin Wardlow's favorite place to read is in a comfortable chair. (Photo Courtesy Caitlin Wardlow)

Summer Read: Shiver

A summer romance that makes you shiver!

Shiver

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic Press, June 2010

No. of Pages: 400

Age Range: Teen

I love a good horror story and I also enjoy a well-written love story. I doubly enjoyed reading Shiver because it’s both!

Shiver is the story of a 17-year-old girl named Grace and a yellow-eyed boy named Sam—who just happens to be a werewolf.

Grace loves the peace and tranquility of the woods behind her home where she gets to see “her wolf” with the yellow eyes every winter. She is sure the wild wolf saved her from an attack by a pack of wolves when she was 9 years old. Over the eight years since, they watch each other from a distance as their interest in each other grows.

When a local teen is killed by a pack of wolves, a hunting party is assembled. Grace discovers a wounded and handsome boy, Sam Roth, shivering on her back porch. When she sees his yellow eyes, she immediately realizes this is her wolf in human form.

Fate has finally brought Sam and Grace together, but only for a short time. Once his wounds heal, the winter cold will turn him back into a wolf.

Sam and Grace’s romance is sweet and wonderful, even as he realizes he could loose the ability to transform back into human form forever.

The story’s narrative unfolds from both Sam’s and Grace’s points of view. Using that narrative style successfully conveys the sense of longing and intensity that the characters feel toward each other.

This book is a must read book for teens who love an intense, romantic, horror story.

—Cecilia Gault

PHOTOS: (TOP)The book cover for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. (Image Courtesy Scholastic) (BOTTOM) Kid Reporter Cecilia Gault in one of her her favorite reading spots—the New York City subway. (Photo Courtesy Cecilia Gault) 

Summer Read: The Catcher in the Rye

What makes this 59-year-old book such a classic?

The Catcher in the Rye

Author: J.D. Salinger

Date of Publication: 1951

Number of Pages: 277

Recommended age of readers: 13 +

Almost every ninth grader reads The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger as a school assignment. My sister read it, my mom read it, I think even my grandmother read it. It is a classic coming-of-age novel, where the main character changes, or grows up, by the end of the story.

The main character in The Catcher in the Rye is Holden Caulfield, who does a lot of changing in this book. He starts out as an immature teenager who has been kicked out of three boarding schools.

During a three-day joy ride around Manhattan, he contemplates thoughts of running away permanently. He turns into a thoughtful young adult as the story unfolds and he gets wise advice from two people he truly cares about. An important lesson for Holden is that he finally learns to listen.

For me, Holden’s wit and his sarcastic sense of humor make the book. Actually in the beginning, I didn’t like this character very much. He was unappreciative of what he had in life. A lot of kids would love to have his opportunities, but all Holden does is complain. He is incredibly whiney!

As soon as Holden starts to mature, his wit and humor are revealed. Now I think that we could be great friends because we are both good with sassy comebacks and one-liners—mostly under our breath.

Aside from some of the slang that no one really uses anymore, this book could have been written today. Holden Caulfield is as interesting now as he was in the 1950s. That’s what makes The Catcher in the Rye a classic.

—Chloe Anello

PHOTO: (TOP) Book Cover for The Catcher in the Rye. (BOTTOM) Kid Reporter Chloe Anello reads The Catcher in the Rye in her favorite place to read any book—the pool! (Photo Courtesy Chloe Anello)

World Cup Finals Sunday!

Spain to face Netherlands after defeating German powerhouse.

In possibly the most anticipated match of the whole World Cup so far, it was ironic to see Spain and Germany, both two incredibly potent teams, have trouble scoring during Wednesday’s game. All throughout the first half and into the second, both sides would make runs, but it would seem as if they would fall apart at the last second, ruining any chance at a goal.

With every tick of the clock suspense built, while the weight on the shoulders of each player on Moses Modhida Field in Durban, South Africa, elevated. However, there are only a limited number of chances that one can give a team before that team capitalizes. For Spain, the chance came in the 73rd minute on a corner kick by Xavi Hernandez.

Hernandez managed to beautifully control and curl the ball towards the middle of the field where Carles Puyol took over. With his perm-like curls flying, Puyol ran 15 feet toward the flight of the ball, stuck out his neck, and made solid contact. The header zipped past German goalie Manuel Neuer, and provided the Spanish—or as they are playfully called, “El Rojos—with the only goal they would need. After three minutes of added time, it was all smiles and celebration for the entire country.

Now in its first World Cup final, Spain will take on the Netherlands Sunday in the championship match. Known as the Oranje for their brightly colored jerseys, the Dutch call their style of play “total football.” Every player is trained to take on any position, often switching roles at a moment’s notice.

The Dutch have been one of the world’s most entertaining teams to ever take the field, but have not made it to a World Cup final in 32 years. That legacy ends on Sunday when the Oranje will meet up with Spain, a country that prides itself on its abilities to play a beautiful game of futbol. Today, Spain played it a bit more beautifully than most.

Get ready, America. Are you ready for some “Total Football?”

—Sean Coffey

PHOTO: Spain's defender Carles Puyol (C) makes a header and scores during the 2010 World Cup semi final Germany vs Spain on July 7, 2010 at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban. (Photo: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Lego Harry Potter in Action

Playing this game is like stepping into the world of Hogwarts.

 The Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 video game hit the stores June 29 and I think it’s the best in the series.

The game uses characters, locations, and storylines from the first four Harry Potter books and music from the movies. Although the game is rated for ages 10+, even younger gamers will enjoy the game. It’s not scary and is often funny.

It helps to be familiar with the books and movies to really enjoy the game. You can choose to become any of 100 different characters, including Ron’s pet rat, Scabbers.

Each character has a special ability. For Harry’s character, it’s his invisibility cloak. For Hermoine, you get a spell book.

I like the split screen effect that the game uses when you play with more than one person. In fact, this game is much more fun to play with two players because some of the puzzles can be difficult.

You can take detours in every imaginable part of Hogwarts. Nearly Headless Nick is always available to get you back on track. One of the best parts of the game is that you can replay completed levels, and go back to try out new spells or unleash golden bricks.

I enjoyed using the wands. Also, breaking and using spells is something that is new and exciting in the game. I liked zapping objects with my wand to earn studs. Then, with your studs you can go to Diagon Alley to spend them on unlocking other characters or buying gold bricks.

If you like Harry Potter, you’ll love this game. It’s like stepping into the world of Hogwarts, complete with magic and intrigue.

—Joseph O’Connor

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Joseph O'Connor gets into the spirit of the Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 video game at a game demonstration in New York recently. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)

Meet Met's Ike Davis

KId Reporter goes behind the scenes at Met's Citi Field baseball card event.

Meeting Ike Davis was like a dream come true for me. The new first baseman for the New York Mets told me his own version of a dream finally realized.

Davis was playing in the minor leagues in Buffalo when he got a call in April to fly to New York and play for the Mets. I was at Citi Field, the new home of the Mets in Queens, New York, when Davis played in his first major league game ever. He rocked the house by going 2 for 4, with an RBI that helped the Mets to a 6-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

I was dying to ask him what it felt like to get the call that brought him to the big leagues. I got my chance when I covered the Topps Attax National Championship Finals at Citi Field recently.

“I was so excited, so nervous, it was a dream come true,” he said. He added that it took him “a full week for it to sink in.”

When I asked which player he looked up to as a kid growing up, he didn’t even hesitate in saying that his dad was his hero for “teaching me how to live, how to play baseball, how to be a man.” His dad, Ron Davis, is a former major league reliever.

And as someone who dreams of being a major league baseball player myself, I wondered what Davis liked best about his career.

“Playing in front of 30 to 40 thousand people,” he responded to my question.

I also asked him what he would like the sports history books to say about him. He gave it some thought before answering. “That I was a really good guy,” he said.

As I watched him pose for pictures and sign autographs for kids at the Topps event, I thought to myself, “You know what, Ike? You already are!”

—Joseph O’Connor

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Joseph O'Connor with New York Met's first baseman Ike Davis at the Topps Attax National Championship Finals. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)

A Voice in Despicable Me

New Jersey student debuts as as the voice of Edith, the middle orphan, in new animated film.

I recently had breakfast with 12-year-old Dana Gaier, one of the stars of the new animated movie Despicable Me. The computer-animated “eye popping” 3-D movie opens nationwide on Friday, July 9.

On a Saturday morning long before opening day, Dana and I sat down at Silver Spurs, a restaurant in Greenwich Village in New York City. Dana is the voice of Edith, the middle of three orphans in the movie.

Her older sister is played by Miranda Cosgrove, star of Nickelodeon’s TV show iCarly. Baby sister Agnes is played by Elsie Fisher, who was interviewed by another Kid Reporter from her home on the West Coast.

Dana lives on the East Coast in New Jersey. She auditioned just across the Hudson River in New York.

“I auditioned for a lot of things,” Dana said. “I got the role and they flew me out to Los Angeles.”

The movie is set in a happy suburban neighborhood complete with white picket fences and rose bushes. Steve Carell voices the main character, Gru, who is a super villain planning the biggest robbery in the history of the world—he is going to steal the moon!

His house is painted black and his yard is dead. Underneath is a vast secret hide-away where his army of yellow minions works to carry out their boss’s wicked plans.

Gru meets his biggest challenge when Margo, Edith, and Agnes decide to make him their dad. As the middle child, Dana’s character, Edith, is a mischievous trouble-maker. She is the one who recognizes the fatherhood potential in Gru.

In the restaurant in Tribeca, Dana nibbles on a blueberry muffin and sips a cup of tea as she talks to me about her off-screen life. She is entering the seventh grade this fall and says mathematics is her favorite subject. She also likes to play guitar.

“I want to do more movies, more commercials, more projects and more acting,” she said.

I, for one, can’t wait to see her major acting debut in Despicable Me. I also look forward to whatever project she chooses to do next!

—Cecilia Gault

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Cecilia Gault with Dana Gaier, the voice of Edith in the movie Despicable Me. (Photo Courtesy Cecilia Gault)

Inside The Last Airbender

Kid Reporter on the red carpet of latest M. Night Shayamalan movie.

Nickelodeon’s animated series Avatar is one of my favorite shows of all time. When I heard it was going to be made into a movie I couldn’t wait! And now I don’t have to. I saw The Last Airbender last night at its premiere. It opens nationwide on Friday, July 2.

In the animated series, the characters control elements of air, water, earth, and fire. That’s easy to show in animation, but how will the filmakers ever bring that to life on the big screen I wondered? It was certainly the major task facing director M. Night Shyamalan who turned the animated TV show into a live-action 3D movie.

Everything I loved in the animated series came to life in the movie. The characters of Aang (played by Noah Ringer), Katara (Nicola Peltz), Sokka (Jackson Rathbone) and Prince Zuko (Dev Patel) are portrayed perfectly by the actors. It almost seems that the movie came first and the animated characters were created from the cast!

I found the movie beautiful and exciting. Seeing the Northern Water Tribe Village, the Air Temple and the Fire Nation come to life on the big screen was amazing. 

Being a true fan of the TV show, I noticed some slight changes in the movie version. But the changes added to the effect of live action and added drama to the story.

Covering the red carpet I got to talk with most of the key actors, as well as the director. Mr. Shyamalan told me about a practical joke he played on Dev during filming. Mr. Patel, who plays Prince Zuko, is encased in ice in one scene. Mr. Shyamalan said that after filming the scene he told everyone to go get some lunch.  They all pretended to leave the set with Mr. Patel still encased in the ice. Just his head was sticking out!

Mr. Patel called and called in desperation, thinking everyone had forgotten him. Then they all stepped out from behind the ice, laughing. Even Mr. Patel got a good laugh once he realized he was saved!

—Danielle Azzolina

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Danielle Azzolina at the premier of The Last Airbender with Director M. Night Shyamalan. (Photo Courtesy Danielle Azzolina)

Summer Read: The Red Pyramid

This Fun Summer Read battles the ancient gods of Egypt.

The Kane Chronicles Book 1: The Red Pyramid

Author: Rick Riordan

Publisher/Date of Publication: Disney, Hyperion Books, 2010

Number of Pages: 516

Recommended age of readers: 9-12

I decided to read The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan for several reasons. I chose the book because I'd read other books by the author and liked his writing.

I also am an Egyptian mythology buff so I thought it would be right up my alley and it was! If you like the Harry Potter series or the Percy Jackson books, you will like The Red Pyramid because it is filled with action, comedy, Egyptian sorcery, and magic.

The Red Pyramid is about two siblings, Carter and Sadie Kane, who were separated at an early age after an accident kills their mother. As it turns out, they share the blood of the pharaohs and they have magic powers beyond belief!

When their father disappears after a run in with Chaos, the Egyptian god of evil, the pair will have to work together with the good gods to overcome Chaos.

Carter and Sadie discover that the gods of Ancient Egypt are waking and the worst God, Set, has a scheme to wipe out the entire continent of North America with a storm 10 times more powerful than the storms of the Sahara Desert!

To save their dad, the siblings have an awesome adventure and meet many friends along the way. They face danger and discover truths about their family when they find out about a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

This is a great book that will keep you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next!

—Jacob A. Schroeder

FROM THE EDITORS: What are you reading this summer? Use the comment section below to send in your recommendations or discuss this review.

PHOTOS: (TOP) The cover of The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. (Image Courtesy Disney, Hyperion Books) (BOTTOM) Kid Reporter Jacob Schroeder's favorite place to read is a hammock! (Photo Courtesy Jacob Schroeder)