Go Long! Reviewed by Henry

Do you like sport books? This is the book for you! In the book Tiki and Ronde Barber play football for their school, and their most winning coach is leaving to coach high school football. so now they are stuck with this guy named Mr. Weeler. Plus their new quarterback is a brat. For example: Jason came around the back to grab the hand-off, but Cody snatched the ball away and and started to run with it himself. So it was me and Jason and the line blocking for Cody.

I learned that you should take responsibility for your actions. I think my favorite part was when Tiki stood up for his coach. This is also a 7th grade team, so there are a lot of new kids and it is hard to win. The way they are attached to football reminds me of myself and how I love the game.

BY:Henry

GRADE: 5

TEACHER:Betty

Book Review:No Talking By Ivoryonne

If you enjoy hilarious outgoing books, this is the one for you. No talking is a life lesson to me. It teaches me hat I talk a lot and not talking for a whole day is very hard and you only get to say three words.

This book is about a boy and a girl named Lynsey and Dave. They bet each other that girls talk less than boys and boys talk less than girls. So they go against each other, back and forth. Mrs. Hiatt and all the other teachers don’t agree with this bet. Get this: there’s a big surprise in the book. If you want to know then read the book.Who do you think will win? Boys or girls?

My opinion on this book is that you can’t stop reading this book because all the excitment and wonders will have you into the book, and if you’re really into it, you can visualize them.

Book Review: The Land by Barbara

This is another Mildred D. Taylor book, and both fifth grade classes are hooked on her books.   Here’s a chance for those of you who are hooked, as well as those of you who haven’t yet read her books, to read my favorite of her books.  Why is it my favorite, you ask?  This books grabs you from the first line, “I loved my daddy.   I loved my brothers, too.   But in the end it was Mitchell Thomas and I who were more like brothers, with a bond that couldn’t be broken.”  Wouldn’t you want to know why?

Ms. Taylor has taken stories that she heard, while sitting at her family’s dining room table and listening to her father tell family stories, and she has woven them into a book that tells about how a man, born to an African-American slave and her master, sets a goal of purchasing land in Mississippi.  Sounds simple?  Not really, because in the 1880s, which is when the story takes place, Mississippi is a segregated state, and an African-American man cannot borrow money from a bank.   So, how will he get the money he needs to buy his land?

So begins Paul-Edward’s effort to earn the money he needs to buy the land that represents what his mother wanted him to have, something of his own.  More obstacles appear than you can imagine, and yet Paul-Edward never gives up.   Such perserverance!   Read the book and find out whether Paul achieves his dream.  Perhaps you will cry at the end, just like I have for the past eleven years!  That’s right.  Each year, when I read this book with my students, I cry several times!!  This is the best book I’ve ever read!!

by Barbara Schmidt, Room 13

Movie Review: Lord of the Rings

Do you like movies that have suspense, thrill and short little people called Hobbits? If you do than you should see the three movies trilogy of the Lord of the Rings. Lord of the Rings is the sequel of the Hobbit and what happens is that a little Hobbit named Frodo goes on a journey to destroy the ring of power. Along the way he has some pretty nasty run-ins with some ring-wraiths, orcs, a giant spider and so much more. He is traveling with a group called the Fellowship of the Rings. With-in the group there is a elf named Legolis, a dwarf Gimlie, a king of men Aragon, and a couple others. With them all, they set out to destroy the ring.

This is a sad movie, but I like it a lot!!! This is also a book of great friendship and suspense! I highly recommend this book!

Mina

Grade Five

Barbara’s Class

Musical Review: Oliver (by Eleanor)

You know how in most musicals it’s all about adults?  I mean, c’mon, let’s bring on the child action!

Recently I discovered a thrilling musical by the name of Oliver. Oliver is based on the book, Oliver Twist. It’s about an orphanage where children are being put to work and there is one rebel orphan, Oliver (oh, in this part, you might know the song “Food, Glorious Food” from commercials or something). Oliver is bought by a coffin master (he has to sleep in a coffin for bed) who he hates. After running away, he is picked up by a group of pickpocket homeless orphans, and becomes one of them (great song called “Got To Pick A Pocket or Two” is sung). After being caught pickpocketing, Oliver finds his father (or grandfather, I forget, this was 3 months ago). There is also a teenager named Nancy who loves someone she shouldn’t, and is conflicted. When she finds Oliver at his father’s house and thinks he has been kidnaps, she tries to take him back to the pickpocket crew. Sadly, she gets killed in the process.

How does Nancy get killed? What else is to see that I haven’t explained yet? Watch the musical for more info!

by Eleanor

Grade 5

Ms. Betty’s Class

Musical Review: Westside Story

Do you like musicals where people are so bonded they would do anything, like Romeo and Juliet? That’s like Westside Story. Westside Story is about 2 gangs who hate each other. One day, a member from another gang falls in love with one from the other. What will happen? Watch it!

Sorry I can’t give anymore info. It’s been 3 years since I saw it, and I’m not cheap enough to look for a summary.  It’s really good!

by Eleanor

Grade 5

Ms. Betty’s Class

Wicked

Musical                                                  Book

        

Do you like really amazing musicals??? I do. If you have seen The Wizard of Oz and you want to know more about the Wicked Witch of the West, this is definitely the musical for you. Wicked  elaborates on the Wicked Witch of the West’s life in school and how she became “wicked”. The plot is very unique and the songs are lovely. The book is very intense and it is for adults ( trust me, I’ve tried to read it.) but the broadway musical is so great and kid friendly. The next time Wicked  is coming to town is January 23 – February 17 at the San Fransisco Orpheum. You HAVE  to see it!!!!!!!!!

By Olivia Kai 4th grade, Mr. J

The King And I

Do you like tragic musicals? Well, I do. They always make me cry. The King And I is about a young lady named Anna who goes to Siam* to teach the King’s children. Anna brings her son too. The King has about one hundred children and a lot of wives. He is an all-powerful King and he does not want any help from anyone even though he really needs it. Anna teaches the King to be kind and to love all creatures and really softens his heart. I enjoyed this movie and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

By Olivia Kai

Grade 3

Ms. Lisa’s Class

*Now called “Thailand”

Because Of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Reviewed by Jaida E. Emmons 4 grade Mrs. Monica

Have I told you about the book called Because of Winn-Dixie? It’s a book about a 10 year old girl named India Opal. She finds a dog at the Winn-Dixie grocery store. She brings him home but her father, The Preacher, says he needs another home. Later, India gets a job at Gertrude’s Pets. She sweeps the floor, takes out the trash, and helps take care of the store. The store was run by a girl named Gertrude. Now it is run by a man named Otis.

It’s a great book. Read it!

 

My Silly Grandma

One hot summer day my  grandma went to Clear Lake with her family. She didn’t want to go but they persuaded her to go.  They did a lot of things, like canoeing. Well, all of a sudden, she fell over and she was super mad.  She was so mad she fell in a hole.

By Cyntra, Grade 5, Ms. Barbara’s Class

E.T.

A young boy named Elliot spots an extra terrestrial. At first Elliot is frightened but the E.T is more scared. Elliot takes pity and befriends him. He and E.T create a strong bond then E.T gets very sick. Will E.T get better? Will he get home?

Olivia Kai, grade 3

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

Ever wonder who built the atomic bomb? And where they built it? This book has answers. No, it isn’t Non-Fiction, but actually a wonderfully told story of two 11 year old girls whose parents are working on the “gadget”. Both of the girls are very different. Dewey Kerrigan, is a crippled genius and Suze Gordon is daring and outspoken. But both of the girls are outsiders to the normal 1940’s girl but each deal with it diffrently. Despite them being close in that way, the girls aren’t friends. But when the unthinkable happens, will the girls become friends?

This is a great book. Ellen Klages really makes the charcters come alive. But don’t take it from me. GO READ IT YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Ruby

5th grade, Mr. Kim

Jack and Jill Movie Review

Do you want to watch the funniest and saddest movie of all? Well it is time to watch Jack and Jill!!!! It is finally here and I just watched it 11/19/11. It is about this man named Jack. He is a commercial director but on the Thanksgiving weekend. Jill is a twin with Jack. Jack is always saying that Jill is annoying but after he says that Jill is annoying Jill always runs and cries.

This movie is awesome and funny. Sometimes it is sad. Most of the parts are funny. The funniest part was when Jill punched someone. That is all I have to say about the movie.

Jason, Grade 5, Barbara’s Class

How to Leave a Comment

Our Sequoia Times writers are not paid in cash. They are paid by your nice comments, telling them what you appreciate about their work, or if you agree with their review, or if you have something to add. Please take the time, every now and then, to leave a comment for a schoolmate!

Here’s what you do. Simply read a post. If you like it, click on the blue link, “Leave a Comment” (sometimes it says something like, “3 Comments” but you can still click on it). Where it asks for your email, don’t put your real email, as you might get all sorts of junkmail/spam sent to you. Instead, please put your first name @nil.com. If you just make up an email address, it can cause problems for the web site because it will test it and say, “Hey, that’s not real!” So, this is the safest way. If your name is Bob, you put bob@nil.com. If your name is Cindy you put cindy@nil.com.

Get it? Got it? Good!

For name, just put your first name.

For web site, just leave that blank.

Then you post your comment. After an editor checks it out to make sure it’s full of wonderful positive words, it will be published in a day or two.

Thank you so much for supporting your schoolmates!

Family and friends are also encouraged to leave comments! Thanks, Grandma!

Movie Review: Whip It

Hey Kids, do you like rollerskating? Be sure to check out the movie Whip it! Whip It is a very funny, high action movie. It is about a teenager named Bliss whose mom is obsessed with beauty pageants but Bliss really loves rollerskating. One day Bliss enrolls herself in a women’s rollerskating team but if her mom finds out she will be in BIG trouble! Will Bliss make it to the rollerskating championship or will her mom find out? Seriously, you have to see this movie!

I liked this movie because it was really funny and the story was amazing. It takes your breath away!

by Eleanor

Grade 4

Mr. J’s Class

Music by Kierra

Hi kids , I am here to discuss music!  Now there’s all diffrent kinds of  music  Rap, Hip hop, Pop, Rockn’ Roll, Jazz etc.

Now my  favorite type of music is hip hop and rap. I also kinda like pop but not that much.  I really  don’t like Jazz and Rockn’ Roll, But somepeople do .  Bye Bye Hasta la Vista!

WALL-E review

WALL-E takes place 3,000 years in the future. WALL-E is the last robot on Earth. Then when a robot named EVE comes to Earth, WALL-E falls in love. All the people left Earth on a big space ship called the Axiom. WALL-E follows EVE into space and has an adventure.

You will like this movie. I give this movie 4.5 stars.Out on DVD and Blu-ray now. So save up your money and buy it. I think it costs $20. So buy it or ask for it on your birthday or christmas or you can rent it. So go get it!!!

by Alex grade 4

i AM STUCK BY ALLISON

do u ever have a time in your life when you were stuck? I mean like you dont know what to do and your options are out… well that is whats happening to me… i am stuck,l i am stuck… do u know what.. i am stuck. no not smuck.. stuck.. thank you and this is a stuck production..

 

Allison grade 5

Math Is Not Boring! By Darice

 Hey Kids,

you think math is boring? Well, think again! Math can be fun when you play games, (math games).

I know this reeaally fun game. It’s called One False Move. To play, click here. Hurry! Click! I’m serious,

just click!

Did You Know? (What to do in a spicy situation, edition.)By Allison

Ted Allen, Food Detective

Scared? Afraid to eat spicy food? Well don’t be afraid anymore!! Food Detectives on Foodnetwork have found a way to fix it!!! With your host Ted Allen on Food Detectives!!! And the food techs..  Do want to find out how you can fix that??? Watch Food Detectives on Food Network!!!!!! Or you can go to www.foodnetwork.com/fooddetectives. There you can check out all your favorite episodes of Food detectives!!! Also one of my favorite  shows.. Enjoy the wonderful episodes of Food Detectives!!! Bye!!

Allison

5th grade