Shelf Life » Biography

Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka

Administrator — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:59:45 +0000

Knucklhead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories About Growing Up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka.

I have been a fan of Mr. Scieszka since The True Story of 3 Little Pigs came out. I read some of the Time Warp Trio series to my kids. Recently I read The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Stories to my kids and we were all very disappointed. The stories weren’t “fairly” stupid– they were very stupid. But we gave Mr. Scieszka another chance and decided to read Knucklehead. This book is hilarious. There were times when I couldn’t finishing reading a paragraph because I was laughing so hard. So many of the incidents took me back to my own childhood. My wife and I found it much funnier than our kids (8 and 9) but I think anyone could enjoy this book. The graphics add interest and the chapters are very short, making it a good pick for reluctant readers.

Highly recommended for grades 6 through adult (especially for adults!).

Sacred Hoops by Phil Jackson

Administrator — Thu, 25 May 2006 03:29:11 +0000

In the novel Sacred Hoops by Phil Jackson. The main character is the author, Phil Jackson himself. Phil is a NBA basketball coach. He is the head coach of the Chicago Bulls and writes about his greatest players that he has had the honor to coach. He talks about Michael Jordan, whom many consider to be the greatest player to ever step foot in a NBA arena. He talks about Jordan’s sidekick, Scottie Pippen and monumental role players such as Toni Kukoc and Steve Kerr. This novel will take the reader on a wild journey into the mind of the most prolific basketball coach of all time, whom many consider to be the greatest coach of all time with the likes of former Celtics head coach, Red Auerbach. Jackson brought a new style of coaching to the NBA ranks. A style that had never been tested in professional sports. Jackson writes about his philosophy of mindful basketball and his life-long dream to bring enlightenment to the competitive world of professional sports. Sacred Hoops reveals how Phil Jackson directs his players to act with a clear mind; to respect the enemy and be aggressive without anger or violence. In this novel you will go into Jackson’s mind as he builds one of the greatest teams ever assembled in not just basketball but any sport. This novel is not only for sports fans, but for people who want to learn about the human spirit and the practice of Zen.

By Gurvinder Johal

A Child Called “it” by Dave pelzer

Administrator — Wed, 17 May 2006 20:48:08 +0000

A Child called “it” is a book about one child’s courage to survive. It is a true story about the author Dave Pelzer. His alcoholic mother used to beat him and Dave was forced to swallow soap, ammonia and Clorox . His mom used to starve him so Dave was forced to eat his own vomit! Dave’s childhood was a nightmare. At the early age of 4 Dave had his feelings replaced with fear, starvation and lowliness. But Dave never gave up he wanted to survive. Dave’s mother used to call him “it” because she no longer considered him her son or eve that a human he was just an “it” to her. It makes me disgusted to think that a mother can treat her own flesh and blood like this. This book made me cry but I am glad that Dave got help and finally escaped from the hands of his abusive mother on March 5, 1973. Dave Pelzer’s abuse case has been called one of the worst abuse cases in California’s history. I would recommend this book to everyone.

By Perveen Mann

Night by Elie Wiesel

Administrator — Tue, 09 May 2006 21:22:05 +0000

The novel Night by Elie Wiesel is a personal account of what happened to Elie when he was fifteen years old. As a young boy, he had school and religion in his mind. However, this all changed when he and his family was taken out of their home and sent to a concentration camp. There, Elie learns the true meaning of hate and evil. Throughout the story, Elie’s longing to be with his father keeps him going even when he has lost hope of any God, he once believed in. His questioning keeps him thinking and searching for answers. Suddenly, the weight falls on him when his father starts showing signs of weakness but Elie is not willing to give up even when the people around him are telling him to forget his father. Unfortunately, his father’s body is taken to the crematory. Then, the Americans liberate the camp and this sets Elie and other survivors free but not free from the thoughts and memories of the life in the camps

By Nina Bajwa

Night by Elie Wiesel

Administrator — Tue, 09 May 2006 21:03:00 +0000

One of the most capturing books that I have read has to be the novel Night by Elie Wiesel. First of all this novel is a narrative of the horrifying personal experience that Wiesel, the author of the novel, experienced during the Holocaust. One may think that because this novel makes reference to the World War two time period it might not be interesting. However, the descriptive passages of every event that the author encounters from the start of his entrance to the first concentration camp to his release to freedom. I found this book very informative since it gives you the opportunity to read about a true story of a holocaust survivor.

By Rebeka Garcia

Go Ask Alice by anonymous

Administrator — Tue, 09 May 2006 20:58:16 +0000

The novel Go Ask Alice by an anonymous author, is based on the actual diary of a fifteen-year-old girl who is a drug user. The young girl wants to feel accepted, so she takes drugs like acid and LSD. She ends up loving how the drugs make her feel. Because of the drugs, she even loses her virginity. She wonders how she ever got along without drugs. She has to go to a mental institution. The young girl hates it there, but in order for her to get out; she needs to show the doctors that she is doing better. Finally, she improves her health and her behavior and she goes home. Everything is just the way it is supposed to be for the girl. Her family still loves her and she breaks away from the drug users.

However, the story does not end here. You will be surprised when you read about this young girl’s struggle with drug addiction and peer pressure. This novel will blow you away. Remember that this is an actual diary of a fifteen -year-old teenager.

By Rajvir Chohan

Night By Elie Wiesel

Administrator — Mon, 01 May 2006 15:56:23 +0000

Night
By: Elie Wiesel
Is a novel about a young man who recalls his experience in the Holocaust. Elie is deported from the town of Sighet in Transylvania to the concentration camps. When Elie arrives at the concentration camps he is separated from his mother and sisters. Elie and his father stay together and suppport each other throughout the whole experience. When entering Auschwitz Elie becomes number A-7713. Elie witnesses a young boy kill his father for food and horrible treatment given to his father. At the end Elie survives, however, his father dies from weakness. On April 11, 1945 American tanks arrive at Buchenweld.

I enjoyed reading this novel because as a reader I felt as if I was a prisoner in a concentration camp. One thing I didn’t enjoy was the horrible treatment given to innocent people and it was a little hard to read some sections of the novel such as when Elie was getting hit. What I admired from Elie was his concern to save his gold crown and how he accomplished his goals.

By Hermila Moreno

Night by Elie Wiesel

Administrator — Mon, 01 May 2006 15:34:23 +0000

Night by Elie Wiesel is an autobiography. It is about the author’s experience during the Holocaust. Although it can be painful to read, it is very important to understand the horrors of the Holocaust so that this does not occur again. This is a very powerful and moving book. Once you pick it up you will want to continue reading it until you discover how the book ends.

It is very essential to remember that this book is an autobiography and not a novel. I recommend this book to all the students who have currently finished learning about the Holocaust. However, any one who finds this books subject interesting or if you just want to understand what the Holocaust was like, then you should also read this book.

By Rajvir Chohan

Night by Elie Wiesel

Administrator — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 21:14:46 +0000

Night by Elie Wiesel is a story about Wiesel’s life in the Nazi concentration camps. The setting of the book Night by Elie Wiesel is the Holocaust. The book’s themes include deportations, denial, optimism, false hope, and God. Night is enjoyable and has something for everyone. He is a 15 year old boy when he is sent to the concentration camp of Auschwitz with his father. His father and him are separated from his mother and sisters forever. It is a very powerful book because of all of the description that takes place in the novel. The first day Wiesel goes to the camp he sees babies being burned in pitches of fire. Wiesel changes a lot through out the novel his faith in God is gone in the middle of the novel but in the end Wiesel’s ability to believe in himself lets him believe in his God again. Wiesel’s experiences described in the novel show the causes and the degree to which the Jewish prisoners in the concentration camp were dehumanized and how many of those prisoners who survived were permanently scarred.

By Perveen Mann

Night by Elie Wiesel

Administrator — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 21:10:37 +0000

Night by Elie Wiesel is a powerful novel. It is a terrifying recollection of the author’s experiences during the Holocaust. It is a very painful novel and will touch anyone who reads it. I recommend this book to all readers who are willing to know about a Jewish individual’s life during this horrific time.

Elie Wiesel is the author and the protagonist of the novel. He is living in Sighet, Romania and in 1944 he and his family are deported to Birkenau, a concentration camp. Here Elie is separated from his mother and sister and is left to fight this struggle with his father, Chlomo. Elie and his father move from camp to camp and pretty soon Elie is protecting his father instead of his father protecting him. Elie loses faith in God and is determined to fight this ordeal on his own. Elie questions God for he doesn’t understand why this is happening to them.

Throughout the novel many incidents affect Elie’s life. His father dies and now it is up to Wiesel to go to the end of the road and survive. Elie Wiesel changes greatly throughout the plot. However, you must read the novel to find out if Elie Wiesel is able to overcome the hardships and live on. This is a very powerful novel and I was glad that I read it. Moreover, I can honestly say that after reading this novel I have been affected greatly.

By Jyotti Pannu