The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini has been a life-changing book for me. It is about redemption and how it's never too late to fix a mistake. In the story the main character, Amir, lives with his father in Afghanistan. His father, Baba, is well known and wealthy. Amir's servant and closest friend, Hassan, is a Hazara. Amir and Hassan spend their days happily flying kites and reading stories by a tree in the local cemetery.

During this time period Afghan people did not accept and looked down upon Hazaras because of their difference in ethnic backgrounds. Due to this reason, Amir never said in public that Hassan was his best friend. But Hassan was still a loyal friend. This loyalty made him undergo a violent encounter. Amir knew of this but did nothing to stop it. Amir carried the guilt with him throughout his life.

                 I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to read a book that you won't want to put down. I like how the author describes how the characters are feeling and describes the setting. It makes you feel like you truly are there. By reading this book you will find out how Amir tries to fix his past mistakes to continue with his life.

Rating: 4

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

This is the second book of the beloved "Little House" series. Set in 1869-1870, little Laura, older sister Mary, baby Carrie, and Ma and Pa leave the snug little house in the big woods of Wisconsin and head out to Indian Territory in Kansas, territory that Pa is certain soon will be cleared of Indians and opened for white settlement. He is determined to get there first and get the pick of homesteads.

These books have endured as classics for good reason. They are detailed in their descriptions of pioneer life as lived by a little pioneer girl. Laura remembers everything--how they traveled, what they ate, how it was hunted and cooked, how Pa built the log cabin, the songs they sang, and the clothes they wore. One could not get a more-complete child's-eye view of pioneer life.

Most important, the books celebrate the strong families that make up our pioneer past. Laura's family in particular shines as an example of familial love, strength, resourcefulness, and resilience in the face of discouragement and disaster.

Rating: 5

Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller

Miss Spitfire will make you cry or be happy for the girl named Helen Keller. When Helen was born she was healthy and fine. When she was 18 months old she got a really bad fever that caused her to be deaf and blind. Her parents knew she needed help so they hired a woman named Annie Sullivan to teach Helen Keller sign language and Braille. Annie Sullivan helped Helen. They find out that they get along together. Helen grew up and went to college, she wrote her biography, and became a hero to other people. Annie stayed with Helen for many years.

At the end of the book is a list of places to get more information about Helen Keller.

Linnette Chavez Bravo, 7th grade