Richmond Public Library is hosting a variety of online programs this summer, including our annual Summer Reading Club. Haven’t joined yet? It’s not too late! Sign up online at www.bcsrc.ca. Throughout the summer we’ve asked Richmond kids to share their thoughts about the books they’ve been reading. Here are a few of the latest book reviews.
Title: The Mysterious Cheese Thief
Author: Geronimo Stilton
Reviewed by: Heywood, age 6
This book is about a thief who stole the Stilton cheese from the cheese factory. Geronimo was stuck in the factory and at night, the thief stole the Stilton cheese with Geronimo in the factory! Geronimo solved the mysterious cheese mystery in the end. Please read the book to find out how.
I like this book because Geronimo was very funny in this book.
I give this book 5 stars.
Title: Goosebumps #2 -- Stay out of the basement!
Author: R.L. Stine
Reviewed by: Asher, age 11
This book is about Casey and Margret -- two ordinary siblings with an unusual dad. He’s a botanist who used to work for a company named PolyTech. Ever since he got fired, he has been acting very strangely and rarely comes out of the basement. Casey and Margret sneak in multiple times and find strange plants including ones that moaned and one that even grabbed Casey! Their dad catches them and explains his work in the basement. “I’m trying to build a plant that is part animal” He explained. He was going to add animal DNA to plants! A few days later, Margret sees her dad’s hand dripping in green blood! They were still so curious, so they went into the basement to explore some more when their dad was gone. Inside a closet, they found another version of their dad! When the dad that was away, came home Casey and Margret were confused about which dad was their real dad. Margret gets a knife and gives the first dad a cut. Red blood dripped down his arm. He was their real dad. He had human blood! In the end, they destroyed the imposter dad and all the crazy plants!
I liked the book a lot because there were many suspenseful moments. I think the idea was amazing and the writing was awesome as well. When I read it, I felt like I was one of the characters in the book. The writing was engaging from the beginning to the end and the book was hard to put down. Overall, I enjoyed this book thoroughly and recommend it to anyone who would enjoy a little scare.
I give this book 5 stars
Title: The Hate U Give
Author: Angie Thomas
Reviewed by Annie, age 11
In a world where coloured races are concerningly discriminated against, Starr Carter struggles to find herself represented within either racial communities as a black girl who attends an approximately all-white school. On a night out, Starr witnesses the fatal and unjust shooting her fellow black friend, Khalil, which challenges her courage and changes her life forever. Starr wants justice for Khalil; but in a society like this, who could she approach? At the end of the day, Starr could remain silent and watch Khalil being situated unfairly -- or she could speak her heart and risk hatred from the people she cares about.
Angie Thomas speaks the disturbing truth of police brutality and racial discrimination regarding the status quo. Having read this book during a time of mass protests for #blacklivesmatter, I was inspired to stand for the equal distribution of resources and privilege in society, and in this case, the value of black lives. The truth is, not all worlds have to be black or white; there are people like Starr Carter who finds herself in between these series of events, but stand up regardless of the people around her for justice, and this won't only relate to black people. All in all, equity is to be served only if we stand up for it. In Starr's own words: "People like us in situations like this become hashtags, but they rarely get justice." I hope that this book can influence readers to think about issues of social justice that exist amongst us and take a stand for racial equality.
I give this book 4 stars.
For more information about Richmond Public Library, visit the library’s website at www.yourlibrary.ca or call us at 604-231-6413.
