Summer Reading Club is in full swing at all four Richmond Public Library (RPL) locations. It’s free to join, and the club is open to kids of all ages. More than 3,000 kids have signed up so far, but it’s not too late to join – registration is still open. This year’s theme is “Crack the Case!” Kids receive a special reading record to keep track of their reading. Participants also receive stickers, a chance to win book prizes, and a medal for completing the club.
As part of Summer Reading Club each year, we encourage children to let us know what they think of the books they are reading by writing book reviews, and several reviews are chosen to be published in the Richmond News in July and August.
Matthias is one of many kids participating in the Richmond Public Library's Summer Reading Club. By Richmond Public LibraryBook title: Mr Lemoncello's Library Olympics
Book author: Chris Grabenstein
Reviewed by: Matthias
Child age: 11
Book summary: This book is about a group of kids who live in a town with a library that makes games. The Library is run by a millionaire man named Luigi Lemoncello. The children test and play Mr Lemoncello's crazy games and solve logic and realistic puzzles. In this particular book Mr Lemoncello is hosting a Library Olympics but unlike the previous books the games are open to grade 5s and 6s all around the United States of America. The Hometown Champions must defend their winning streak by defeating the other champions from the other areas of the United States of America. Will they win? Find out by reading this exciting and humorous book!
Book review: I like this book because the author, Chris Grabenstein cleverly places interactive elements in to the book. An example of this would be the puzzles the children have to face are shown to you so you may try to solve them. Another reason why I like this book is because Chris Grabenstein always makes his books interesting and suspenseful and this in my opinion is one of his finest books. I highly recommend this book to book lovers who love good reads!
Andrew is one of many kids participating in the Richmond Public Library's Summer Reading Club. By Richmond Public LibraryBook title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End
Book author: Jeff Kinney
Book rating: 5
Reviewed by: Andrew
Child age: 9
Book summary: When Greg Heffley and his family hit the road, for a cross-country camping trip, they're ready for the adventure of a lifetime. But their plans hit a major snag, and they find themselves stranded at an RV park that's not exactly a summertime paradise. Things only get worse for the Heffleys when the skies open up and the water starts to rise, making them wonder if they can save their vacation-or if they're already in too deep.
Book review: I like this book because I like the Dairy of a Wimpy Kid series and I think The Deep End is the most interesting of all of them, in my opinion. The books are funny too and I know that Diary of a Wimpy Kid is popular is because if you look on the cover, it says "over 250 million books sold". That's a lot!
Cara is one of many kids participating in the Richmond Public Library's Summer Reading Club. By Richmond Public LibraryBook title: Front Desk
Book author: Kelly Yang
Book rating: 5
Child name: Cara
Child age: 12
Book summary: Front Desk is about a girl named Mia Tang who immigrated from China to America. Things are different in America than in China and more difficult for Mia and her family. She is an only child and her parents are really struggling with money. They find a job at the Calivista Motel, and find out that the man who is running the motel, is a stubborn and demanding man. It gets harder for Mia’s parents with all the challenges that Mr. Yao gives them. What makes it even worse for Mia, is that Mr. Yao’s son, Jason, is just as stubborn as Mr. Yao. Mia starts her new journey at a new school. She learns that school in America is very different than how it was in China. Before, she would play with her cousins when she was in China. Now, she has to learn to make new friends. She makes a new friend named Guadalupe Garcia. She calls her Lupe for short and they become very close friends. Lupe talks about her life and Mia starts becoming insecure to share how her life is.! Mia doesn’t want to tell Lupe that she lives in a motel and her parents are struggling with money, so she tells her how her life is amazing and how she has her own dog and lives a life that she has always wanted. At the motel, Mia is able to work at the front desk of the Calivista Motel. She feels accomplished and happy that she is able to feel like she is in control of something. She also learns to make friends with the residents at the motel, like a man named Hank. Meanwhile, Mia hides all the dreams that she is waiting to accomplish in life. Her dream is to become a writer, but her parents think that she does not have the ability to be able to write because of her bad English. They believe that she can only accomplish doing math and science which pushes away Mia’s dreams. Life doesn't get easier for Mia and her parents, but she will do everything she can to be strong and keep pursuing her dreams.
Book review: I like this book because it teaches people that even if you are not capable of doing things that you want, you have to work hard and don’t give up. When Mia and her parents were struggling, they were still able to work hard and get where they wanted. Even if you don’t have everything that you want, you have to cherish the moments that matter and try not to compare yourself to others and stay positive like Mia did during the hard times of her life. Throughout the book, it talks about people who are treated differently because of their skin colour and I think that it is a very important topic to teach people around the world. You should always treat others with respect and I like that the Front Desk talked about that topic. This book was very fun and I had a very good time reading it. I would recommend this book to people who love reading a book that has a little bit of humour and a great plot.
Romina is one of many kids participating in the Richmond Public Library's Summer Reading Club. By Richmond Public LibraryBook title: Wings of Fire: Darkstalker
Book author: Tui T Sutherland
Book rating: 5
Child name: Romina
Child age: 12
Book summary: This book takes place in a dragon-occupied planet and is about a NightWing with the name of Darkstalker who was born under three full moons and has the ability to read minds and see the future. His father was an IceWing with animus magic and he inherited his power. The more a dragon uses animus magic, the more he loses his soul and turns evil. At first, Darkstalker was not evil at all, but slowly became corrupted by evil the more he used his power, even though he had transferred all his power into a scroll in hopes of not becoming evil as he used his power, since it would not be in him anymore. At the end of the story, the NightWing tribe evacuates their city in fear of him. However, he is stopped by another animus and put to sleep for 2000 years...
Book review: I like this book because it has three protagonists and three different perspectives in the story. It also includes many descriptive words and is written well. However, the main reason I like this book is because it is about another world full of dragons with three moons.
Register in person at any RPL location, or online at www.bcsrc.ca. For more information, visit the library’s website at www.yourlibrary.ca, or call us at 604-231-6412.
