Clubs and Schools Books

Story Time is about Kate and her genius uncle George going off to a school that is like a cross between military school and horror movie. First only the test every day and the protein shakes seem to be a problem at the school, but later Kate and George see that the principal has been try to cover something up. That something is a demon that takes over people through books. The plot of lies and the demon glues you to the book, but with a few people dead, several posesed and a very bloody tramatic ending I would not advise this book to anyone under 8
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THIS WAS THE MMOST BORING BOOK THAT I HAVE EVER READ. I WOULD NOT RECCOMEND THIS TO ANYBODY.IT IS CONFUSING AND DID I MENTION BORRING.


P.S. MS.D PLEASE DON'T TAKE OFF MY GRADE SPELLING ERRORS

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THE BOY WHO DIDN'T LIKE STORY TIME

Story Time is about two kids named George and Kate. George is a genius and Kate ... well isn't. One day George an Kate get invited to the Whittaker Magnet School which boasts the highest test scores in the U.S. The school is a dreary place where kids take tests all day long and never have any fun. The school turns out to have a terrible secret of demonds and murder. George and Kate must end the demond's murdurous ways and at the same time bring the school to justice.

luv-
Sam

P.S. This is my second book review because I didn't like the first one and realized I needed a better grade in Ms.D's class

P.S.S Hi Ms.D!!!! and Gabe

Bloor creates a satirical world where gifted children are invited to attend Whittaker Magnet School, created by the local County Commission which has developed a Leave No High-Scoring Child Behind Program. All the children do is focus on a Test-Based Curriculum. Creativity and personal connections are crushed. Standardization, routine, scripted lesson plans, and memorization become the norm. Sound familiar?!?!

It should! Because these days, public school children spend about eight percent of their time taking standardized tests, and your child's teacher probably is required to perform a highly proscribed lesson plan most of the time.

However, most of this wonderful satirical story could have been written as a longer short story, or a novelette, as there is a great deal of extra material here that's not very interesting or relevant, and makes the whole thing drag on (hence, only two stars).

"Story Time" is a creepy, quite amusing, horror children's story. Those are a lot of descriptions, right? Well, "Story Time" is a lot of things. It's a mockery of the education system, a frightening horror story, a fun romp through the park, and an amusing read, all in one.

For readers coming from "Tangerine" and "Crusader", it may be a bit difficult to digest. "Story Time" is not quite as good as those other books, but it's not bad either. Instead of the strong character and structure that his previous books gave us, Bloor now gives us a dark, humorous book that deals with something completely different.

Moments of "Story Time" are disturbing. The deaths have little impact, though, and that's why it's not quite so difficult to absorb the first time around. Then again, when rereading, one realizes just how many creepy, frightening moments there are.

The humor, though, is quite worth it. The mind-numbing aspects of the school and their obsession with top scores on standardized tests just made me laugh aloud. It's an accurate mocking of some systems that teach purely around the "fill in the bubble" system. Can anybody truly learn from that? No, and enjoy laughs while reading those parts.

The characters are interesting, the plot fun. Overall, it's an enjoyable book, even if a bit creepy, and I liked reading it quite a bit. No, it's not a masterpiece of fiction, and no, I don't love it as I do Bloor's other works, but for someone looking to laugh at school systems or just sit down with a fat, slightly creepy book one afternoon, here's something to read.

The Film Club documents an interesting and novel method of home schooling. The author's 17-year-old son, failing school, is allowed to quit and do nothing, provided he watches 3 movies a week of his father's chooseing. Decidedly, there is a lot to be learned from movies, but the author's attitude toward his son and his focus in the memoir fails to take advantage of the strength of his premise. The son sleeps all day, becomes involved with emotionally manipulative girls, undesirable friends, underage drinking, and drugs. The father glosses over the lessons learned and horizons broadened by film and focuses instead on the relationships in his and his son's lives. The Film Club sounds like an interesting experiment, but its not one I'd risk repeating. There's no reason a love of cinema can't be instilled alongside other lessons of responsibility and accountability.

I would rate this on two aspects. One is that it was very engaging and well written. I have not read a"fun" book in quite awhile. Usually I read something serious and something along the lines of self help. This kept me very interested. I especially liked the way he related the movies to the situation at hand such as what the author and his son were going through. I also learned quite a bit about the movies.

I was not so enamoured by the author's parenting decisions. I feel as though I am fairly progressive. I would not have been an enabler for underage drinking of the son and his son's bedroom guests. Maybe he did not have much of a choice. He did develop a stronger communication and bond with his son and his former wife was on board also. I would give the book a 3 for this and a 5 for the manuscript itself.

This guy should be embarrassed to share his naivety and utter inadequacy as a friend, much less a father. It was excruciating to wade through anecdotes that demonstrated his ridiculous attitudes about parenting. Some of the movie ideas were entertaining.

I was disappointed by this book. The discussion of the films the father and son watched together was interesting, but the relationship between the two was painful to read about. The son was childish and spoiled, and the father was the enabler. Unfortunately, the interesting parts of the book, (film discussion)were too few, and the creepy parts (the son's love life, Dad's "counsel,")way too many - and they were not related. I suppose that it is my own fault for assuming that the film club would have some effect on the boy's life. The only thing that seemed to tie the two together was that father exposed son to Chungking Express, so he had something to watch while he pined away for an Asian ex-girlfriend.

I was looking forward to reading this book after hearing about it on NPR.
I found it quite disappointing. While there are some touching moments and certainly real honesty between the father and son, I become more and more uneasy with the father's parenting style and his way of advising the son about his casual sexual experiences, drinking and cocaine use. They live in a different world than most families is all I can think and I consider myself a fairly liberal parent. So do my kids. I'm glad things turned out well for them and I did love the comments on films and the different ways they experienced them. If only the book had a great deal more film discussions and a lot less discussion of the son's love life. It could have been so much better.

Lott is one of the lazy mystery/thriller writers who, instead of unraveling the plot - and exposing the villain - slowly and intricately throughout the book, just has the villains detail all their crimes (and the reasons for them) to the heroes. Fiction dosn't get any lazier than that. The book is dull, not suspenseful, and by the end, you couldn't care less who the villain is or what the motive is. Awful. Just plain awful.

Obviously, those who are saying this books is boring knows nothing about writing, mystery, or a good book. My eyes were glued to every single page. I couldn't put the book down. I found out about the book via Oprah's book club - and I couldn't thank her enough. Lott did a fabulous job with this book, and I would reccomend it to anyone who is looking for an excellent book.

Absolutely boring. Although 240 pages is not a long book, I continued to fall asleep while trying to read it. Filthy language, unbelieveable plot, & had it not been part of my book club, I would have not finished it. I would not recommend this book to ANYONE!!!

I usually don't go for novels about murder, unless they come highly, highly recommended by someone with reading tastes not unlike my own. So when my sister recommended this book, I sat up and took notice.

Huger (a French name, which is pronounced YOU-gee) Dillard is the 15-year-old who narrates this story of murder, betrayal, and family secrets. Despite things he doesn't understand, Huger's heart is intertwined with the life and fate of "Unc," Uncle Leland, made blind by a household accident. The accident was all the more dreadful because Unc lost something dear to him in the fire. But that's only the beginning of the dark secrets and tragedies that unravel slowwwly in this book.

Slowly, because you feel every breath the characters take--but also quickly, because you'll read like a speed reader just to find out whether the main characters survive what is happening to them . . . not only in body, but in heart and spirit.

I loved this book. I thought the book was exceptionally well-written with a lyrical quality about it. I could visualize the scenes in my mind as I was turning the pages. I found it difficult to put the book down and finished it in two nights. I hope there's a sequel in the works.

This book was about a group of young teens Baby sitting and they was haveing alot of problems, it was therer first time and they didn't know what to do. I relly did like this book it tought me alot about Baby sitting. YES, I would recommend this book to other people like young children, and it would be better for young Teens. Because to me it seem to me like if it could teach me alot it will also teach you alot.

This book is not very good because Abby finds a lot of Valentine notes on the walls.Her friends try to help her who's been writing notes Anna her sister says she didn't write them at all.

Abby's Unvalentine shows that Abby isn't ready to have a relationship yet. It teaches us to take oour time, if we don't want to do it. Don't. You probably are not ready for it.

Abby gets a lot of Valentine notes. It happened when she was not ready for a date. She asked Anna if she did it but she said no. In this book, Aby was acting real snobbish.

Yup, we've all read how moralistic this book is and how if Abby isn't ready for a realationship, then all the more power to her! I agree wholeheartidly but this story is like bones with no meat. It lacks depth and, well, OOPH. You know what I mean, I assume. It is like Anne wrote it in a few minutes, and then ran off to her publisher to get the book published. I love the BSC books, I have been an avid reader from the very start. But it is getting very clear to me that all the new BSC books are getting flowery and kind of, well, stupid. I think it's time to move on to a new series! :)

mary anne didn't use dawn, she just couldn't get in touch with anyone else during that whole incident! When kristy saw them in the window and mary anne said something about fighting with her friends, dawn manipulated her into thinking she used her! Anyways it wasn't meant to be, dawn is a witch who is going back to where she came from!

I am 13 going on 14 ( I don't have an Account.), and I agree 100% with Isobella. It's a book! She's a CHARACTER. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about the book, but calling someone "airheaded" and other mean and RUDE things isn't a very nice example for others. So maybe DAWN isn't the rude one here. :[ Just accept her desicion, and stop thinking so much about Mary-Anne. If you don't remember, Mary-Anne USED Dawn in Mary-Anne Saves the Day.

I'm 14 and my name is Isobella and I found this book VERY good just like all the others. Just because you have a "grudge" against Dawn and you hate her? Get Over It!! She's a book character, and I can understand her desicion moving from he West Coast to the East Coast. She missed her real home. And I think if Mary-Anne really was a good friend, she would support that. >:O

Though many people say Dawn's a big brat I don't think she is. In this book Dawn goes back to California for 6 months.Though her decision was tough on everyone she had to do what was right for her.I do though think that Dawn should make up her mind. Since sheoes back to Stoneybrook and then back to California again in Faerwell Dawn.Make up your mind Dawn!

Oh No, Dawn Schafer is moving back to California. But who could replace Dawn as Alternate Officer?

"Stacey's Ex-boyfriend" is really weird and really boring. All it talks about is Robert's stupid moody attitude. There is very little of a plot and doesn't really make sense. In the end, it's even stupider. (to me) The other parts of the story (Kristy and the other baby-sitters and their charges and the Strawberry Fair) was better.

The book was not really good for me. Stacey really has an ex boyfriend. Could it be Laine?

Stacey's Ex-boyfriend was sort of boring. It was a pretty simple plot that could be used as a side plot. The cover wasn't very nice, either. Stacey's hair looked like a wig and Robert looked about 18. And there was also Stacey's Ex-Best Friend. Why does Stacey have so many exes? Needs improvement. Claudia and the Terrible Truth much better.

I thought this was a really good book because like someone said it showed the outcomes of a depressed teenager. I thought it was interesting and would have wannted Stacey to go out with Robert again because it looks like they belong together! Keep up the good work Ann! What is the next story going to be about?

I think that Robert kind of made his own bed and should have laid in it but I guess he was having serious problems. This book was sorta boring, the climax being the part where Stacey wakes up in the night because someone is throwing stones at her window. Robert was a drip and a loser but he obviously had a problem. Stacey should have told him about Jesus!

more useful and third party information in the vault guide

Good guide, but the Vault guide to consulting firms is significantly superior in my opinion.

Provides a cursory look at a consultant's life and some of the companies one would normally consider, along with many smaller companies that many people wouldn't have access to. Better information is likely available elsewhere, including the Internet and other publications.

This book asks each of the top consulting firms to answer a set of questions about what their firm is like. As expected, the answers are biased, but still helpful. For a more unbiased insider's view of each firm also try the Vault Guide to the Top 50 Consulting Firms, which also ranks the leading consulting firms based on a national reputation survey.

In my opinion there is more and better objective information on consulting careers in the Vault Career Guide to the Top 50 Consulting Firms and in the Vault Guide to Case Interviews, which have the added benefit of being able to be purchased on vault.com and downloaded immediately. Good luck.

the only stories I really enjoyed the most were the ones about claudia's surprise party and switching schools in 4th grade. I could relate to her fears of going to the dentist because I used to have that fear back in my 7-year-old days too, but the tooth fairy stuff was a bit too much. And a little contradictory coming from ann m martin, considering that karen brewer in the little sister series truly believes in santa, the tooth fairy, santa's reindeer, etc. All in all, a nice book though. I wish it talked a bit more about her artwork though, she seems to be a very creative person, but the book didn't reflect that much, it just mentioned an art project in grade 2 and 4.

This is an absolutely horrible book! It needlessly destroys kid's fantasies about the tooth fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny. Not just one but all three. While she has enjoyed hundreds of other BSC books, my daughter was crushed at the revelations in this one!! If you child is a young reader, avoid this one at all costs!

I liked this book, and I also liked the facts where Claudia stopped believing and stuff. What I'm unhappy about is that people think that if you believe then you are immature. I am twelve, and I STILL BELIEVE! Why is it that it is stupid to believe in magical things that make the world a happier place, but people have killed eachother over religion. I read sweet valley high aswell, and people say that I'm mature for my age, but I'm not even going to deny that I still believe in Santa! I think that you measure maturity on how they react in different situations, not if they have faith in make believe. but back to the book, I think it is a good, honest book about Claudia. But I just wanted to tell people that why not be a kid for as long as possible. I think its fake that people are trying to be older then they are, and thats what I found a bit sad about this book.

Personally, I thought this was a wonderful book. The reading level for the BSC is basically ages 11-14, so I don't know why a young child would be reading these books anyway! Keep in mind that some children may be too young for these books to begin with if they still believe in the Easter Bunny and Santa. These books are about young teenagers! Not little kids! If you're in the right age group for Claudia's Book read it! You'll love it! If you're still beliving in the Tooth Fairy and such, wait until you're older to read these and stick to Henry and Mudge or the Baby-sitters' Little Sister series, (Also by Ann M. Martin with a lot of the same chariters) aimed at young children ages 5-9. Chariters who still believe in all the things young kids need to believe in.

I enjoyed this book when I first got, but 10 years later I feel that Stacey, Mary Anne and Dawn's book are the most enjoyable and I could read them the whole way through. I liked the story where claudia began kindergarten and had that birthday party, and it was cute how she had good taste in clothes already at age 6. The tooth fairy story was good too and I could relate to that because I was afraid of going to the dentist too as a 7 year old, and I thought her classroom art project when learning about teeth was cool and showed that claudia has a knack for art from a young age. 4th grade she began having problems with schoolwork and was transferred to a special school but then went back cause she was so uncomfortable. If she's doing so poorly though I don't understand why her parents never hired a tutor for her or put her in a general level class where she could learn at her own pace, and later on in the series she gets transferred back to 7th grade, which seems unrealistic to me, she just needed special attention and helping her at home was not working out at all. So anyways there is also another story about her going to the beach with kristy and how they lost david michael but then found him. I think a story about her interest in art would have been exciting, but then again we already got that in the baby sitters remember book, which was my favourite from that book. Claudia says all the time her parents are strict and don't allow her to eat junk food or read nancy drew, there was no plot about her rebelling either.

I don't care what anyone says about Keisha, it would be my greatest thrill to be the Snow Queen. I loved every page of this book except the ending where I simply didn't want it to end.

i think that this book is a very good book for young children to read. i however agree with that twelve yr.old reader from arkansas. that girl tiffany just dissed the book and made it seem like it was crap, "i wouldnt recomend it", what type of crap is that? any way . i read this book a couple of years ago and i still find it as entertaining now as it was then. holla

Personally i think that this book is an exceptionally good book and that it is meant for young children to read. i was reading the reviews and one said(arkansas) that she didn't like the book and that they think of only themselves and that they are liars. all i ask is give the author a break! how old are you any way reading a childs book? ignorance these days. any way it is still a good book and only people with a good imagination should read it, not shallow people

In my opinion, this book is very good. there is very vivid decription in the story and the story line is great. i read this book when i was 9 and i was enchanted. this book with out a doubt a good book to read. i would recommend it to any child
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I don't like the book. Keisha and her friends think of only themselves. They make up lies to keep them out of trouble. They go to sombody's house that's not theirs. I don't recommend the book.

The moment her father's website, YourTV, went global, Lauren Page's life changed. No longer is she the outcast scholarship student with frumpy clothing at the prestigious Miss Gamble's Preparatory School for Girls. No, thanks to a new personal shopper and a rather large cash influx, she has a plan for seventh grade: a plan that includes getting even with the three privileged Ashleys who have made her life miserable for seven years. But her plan of infiltrating their clique and extracting revenge might not be as easy as she thought. Because no matter how big her house is, how many jets her dad owns, or how much money her family now has, it will take more than possessions for Lauren to earn the materialistic Ashleys' Seal of Approval.

The Ashleys is hip and fresh, and a wonderfully entertaining book for those girls who are past the children's books but may not yet be ready for some of the more popular YA reads. An intriguing and attention holding story, The Ashleys sheds light on to the privileged world of preteens without being obnoxious or too boastful. Rather than blending the characters together, which happens often within this genre, the author gives each character her own strong voice, which is a refreshing change. Accurate, amusing, and quick witted, The Ashleys is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Meet the Ashleys, group of three 12-old girls who rule the school. Meet Lauren Page, who tries to enter the group and destroy it from within... or enter the group and stay up there? The rest of the book is pretty much predictable - power struggles, boys and dances, high-end fashion and drama queens - really, no surprises.
I have read this book to keep up with my daughter's reading and was half-amazed by it. But it's reasonably good reading for teens and tweens, most times they can relate to the heroes (even though most of the readers would NOT have a private jet flying them to one-day shopping trip in LA). My daughter (9 years old) did enjoy the book, and as for me, I got the opportunity to discuss some clique-related issues with her, without pressing too much. From kids perspective - 4 stars.

Meet the Ashleys, who rule the school and make life miserable for non-SOA (Seal Of Approval) girls. The three of them are gorgeous, wealthy, and have all the best clothing.

This year, the three Ashleys watch one girl step out of her limo looking like a movie star. Lauren has arrived at a new plateau, or so she hopes. Her plan is to infiltrate the Ashleys and then destroy them. With her father's newfound wealth, she's gone from bargain shopper to having a personal shopper. Can her new wealth help her gain access to the school's most exclusive club?

Melissa de la Cruz creates a brand new series that delves into the cliques of junior high and into a world where money is no object. If you've enjoyed the CLIQUE series, you MUST read this book as well.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

It's a okay book, with a pretty fast paced and interesting story line, but I think that this is just like The Clique, but not as funny and with meaner characters.

Ashleys Behaving Badly

Set in San Francisco, the Ashley Trio runs the school's social scene with attitude and a sense of entitlement.

Ashley Li (Lili) is gifted at whatever she attempts. Early in the book, she refers to herself as "only daughter," but later in the book we learn that she has 3-year-old twin sisters and two older sisters. Rude and selfish, she guards her place in the clique like a little pit bull.

Ashley Alioto (A.A.) so called as to distinguish her from the other Ashleys. A.A. is tall and busty, appearing much older than her 12 years. Less spoiled and snobby as the other Ashleys, A.A. has a good friend and a stepbrother who help keep her priorities straight.

Ashley - the only Ashley called Ashley as she views herself as the top dog. Rude, spoiled and spoonfed a sense of entitlement, this girl will stop at nothing to secure her spot at the top of the social totem pole. She also has a peanut allergy, the one thing that spoils her perfect facade to her peers at large.

Enter Lauren. A rags-to-riches girl whose father hit it big in the TV industry, she lives large and enjoys wealth. Her goal is to take down the Ashleys and infiltrate their clique. After all, they have been treating her like dogmeat since kindergarten, so her turn at bat is due.

Lauren manages to impress the Ashley trio and act a fool in the process. Lili, a diva with a sense of entitlement has hissy fits if someone else wears the same thing she does. She and Queen Ashley take pride in their ruthlessness; they revel in how they made a presidential namesake girl named Kennedy Taylor (good thing her name wasn't Truman Roosevelt, Carter Clinton or Lincoln Ford) transfer because they rebuffed her overtures. Lauren, however is NOT another Kennedy -- she hangs in there despite some shifts in dynamics and let's just say....Ashley to Ashley, Lauren to Lauren. Rather predictable, but entertaining all the same.