Educators: Earn a free Gold upgrade by joining the PBwiki Back To School Challenge.
Covenant Christian High School
Covenant Christian High School Library Book Reviews
Covenant Christian High School
Add a book review for others to see by following the format below.
Fill out the form found in the "Library - Allshare" folder on our network. Write a review and save it as the book's title and your last name. Place your review in the "Book Review" folder found in the "Library - Allshare" folder. Mrs. Faber will then add it to this webpage after review!
Have fun reading everyone's reviews!
Rating 1-5, with 5 being best
Title: Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Summary: When I was first told this was an interesting book, I didn't believe it. After all it was about Afghanistan! But this was one of the best books I've read in a while. It is about two boys coming of age just before their country is invaded by Russia. It follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. They are inseparable as children, telling stories and flying kites, until their relationship is changed forever.
Rating: 5
Reviewed by Mrs. Faber
Title: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Summary: Set in Botswana, this book is a humorous look at a detective agency run by Mma Ramotswe, who helps people with problems in their lives.
Rating: 4
Reviewed by Mrs. Faber
Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
Author: JK Rowling
Summary: Book was entertaining and suspenseful but glamorized the occult. Those who were not wizards or sorcerers were labeled “Muggles” and characterized as “ignorant", "mean", and overall "not with it”. The book also implied that magic, witchcraft and the like were great as long as used for good. I would not recommend it to a young audience.
Rating: 2
Mr. DeVries
Title: History of Dordt College
Author: Mike Vanden Bosch
Summary: The book had two important chapters on the AACS struggle Dordt faced in the late 60’s and 70’s. It was valuable to read about that and be reminded that each school must decide what the proper goal of Reformed Education is. Worthwhile for anyone to read who wants to understand dangerous educational philosophies that are proposed in today’s day and age.
Rating: 5
Mr. Minderhoud
Title: Summer
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Summary: This book was mainly about 2 sisters who were pregnant at the same time and anxiously awaiting to give birth to daughters and raise them up as close cousins. Soon in the pregnancy, however, Ashley learns that her baby probably has anencephaly (the baby’s brain does not grow). She denies it at first and hopes for a miracle from God to heal her baby.
Rating: 5
E. Nagelkerke
Title: I Shouldn't Even be Doing This
Author: Bob Newhart
Summary: I found it so interesting how cynical comedians are. Low self esteem combined with a sense of humor equals funny!
Rating: 4
Reviewed by Eric Faber
Title: Rachel’s Prayer
Author: Leisha Kelley
Summary: My favorite character is Franklin. Since he has a limp, he cannot go to war against the Japanese like his other two brothers. Besides his longing to join the war, he is in charge of his family since his mother is dead and his father is lazy and drinks all the time. With the help of his neighbors, the Worthams, he and his siblings get through the death of Joe and later on the death of their father.
Rating: 3
J. Meyer
Title: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Author: Mark Twain
Summary: Huck was getting sick of being cooped up in the village with his abusive father. He plans to run away and while he is running away he meets up with another runaway, a slave named Jim. Together they float down the Mississippi River.
Rating: 3
C. Cammenga
Title: Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell
Summary: My favorite character in the book is Boxer because he never quit working. He worked 24/7 all the time. The best part of the book is when the animals overtook the farm and kicked the humans out. Another good part was when the humans tried to get their farm back but they couldn’t. It was a good book about wars and Russia.
Rating : 3
J. VandenTop
Title: Brian’s Hunt
Author: Gary Paulsen
Summary: My favorite character was Brian. The best part is when Brian kills the bear. It is very interesting how Brian makes sure that he checks all his supplies before he moves. We have to learn from him how to be careful in all we do.
Rating: 4
T. Kalsbeek
Title: When Joy Came to Stay
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Summary: It was interesting to learn about the foster care program and how horribly kids are treated in it. Also it was amazing to see their strong faith in God that even after all that happened the little girl prayed she would find her real mother and He could still love her in spite of her lying to him for 7 years.
Rating: 4
T. Pastoor
Title: How they Kept the Faith
Author: Grace Raymond
Summary: This is the story of one family during the persecution of the Huguenots. This family faced many hardships, trials and temptations as they struggled to maintain their faith at all costs. To me the most beneficial part of the story was the Psalms and spiritual songs interspersed throughout the book which comforted and inspired the persecuted Huguenots.
Rating: 5
Mrs. VanderSchaaf
Title: Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony
Author: Erin Coffer
Summary: In this latest book of the Artemis Fowl series; Artemis has discovered the appearances of majestic creatures. They travel through a time portal, but it’s unraveling. The best part is the end when everything goes according to Artemis’ plan, time is unraveling and Holly gets shot. He takes her blaster and shoots. The shot travels through time to save her life.
Rating:
M. Gritters
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen
Author: Frank Gilbreth
Summary: Unfortunately I learned that I am more like the father in the book than I previously imagined. Trying to keep sanity, order, discipline and a spiritual nature to your home while notes are literally pounded out on the piano, strange smells are the results of your children’s shenanigans, and all your furniture becomes a playground set! Exaggerated? Maybe. Realistic? Yes. A must read? Definitely.
Rating: 5
Mr. Van Uffelen
Title: My Life as a Doormat
Author: Rene Gutteridge
Summary: A very enjoyable read for both my wife and myself. In particular we appreciated the rich imagery and poignant examples to “real” everyday life and situations. Although the storyline was quite predictable, it remained a page-turner because of its superb writing and well-developed character. If you don’t mind laughing out loud, read this book!
Rating: 4
Mr. Van Uffelen
Title: Bleachers
Author: John Grisham
Summary: My favorite character in this book was Neely Crenshaw. In this book he learns to forgive past mistakes. As his old football coach lays dying, Neely realizes he was wrong to ever hate him. Neely also asks forgiveness of his high school sweetheart, who’s heart he broke.
Rating: 2
M. VandenTop
Title: The Witness
Author: Dee Henderson
Summary: I like the suspense and action in the book. You never know if something’s going to happen to Amy or her sisters. I think Amy is my favorite character. She always wants what is best for her sisters. She is smart, knows how to “disappear”, and she is strong in front of her sisters, no matter haw hard her life is. She knows how rotten and vain money really is and that is a good thing for her.
Rating: 5
L. Klyen
Title: My Men are my Heroes: the Brad Kasal Story
Author: Nathaniel R. Helms
Summary: The most interesting thing that I learned through this book was the great variety on nationalities that were fighting American troops in Iraq. Insurgents from many surrounding areas come as terrorists to Iraq to help in the fight against American troops. While I had known that it wasn’t just Iraqi’s fighting, I never realized how many different nationalities were present.
Rating: 4
B. VanderWall
Title: The Baron’s Apprentice
Author: George MacDonald
Summary: This book was about a boy who was a bookbinder but later found out he was the legitimate heir of a baron. All though he knew about it, he did not tell anyone, and he was happy with who he was. He learned about Christianity from a girl who he eventually married.
Rating: 3
S. Pastoor
Title: 7 Myths of Working Mothers: Why Children and Careers Don’t Mix
Author: Suzanne Venker
Summary: Finally a book standing up for at-home moms. It explores 7 things that moms who work full-time outside of the home tell themselves and others to justify their actions. Three include: “I’m a better mother for working”, “Men have it all why can’t we”, and “My children just love daycare”. Mrs, Venker sheds good light on a debate kept in the dark for years.
Rating: 5
L. Rau
Title: The Bridge over the River Kwai
Author: Pierre Boule
Summary: I thought this book was rather interesting because it ends totally different than you expect and want it to end. My favorite character was the young man Joyce who signed up for service in a secret organization. He is excited about their mission. The best, most exciting part is the very end when the whole book comes to a climax and ends in an interesting way. I don’t mean to spoil the ending, so I won’t tell yo what happens, but it is pretty intense. The most interesting thing I learned was all the plans to build and blow up the Bridge over the River Kwai.
Rating: 4
E. Mingerink
Title: True Valor
Author: Dee Henderson
Summary: This was a very exciting book. It was interesting learning about what pilots and parachute jumpers do in the war.
Rating: 4
S. Oosterbaan
Title: Where are the Children?
Author: Mary Higgens Clark
Summary: This book was quite well written. It was a murder mystery about a young mother whose 2 young children were murdered. She was blamed, but got off when a key witness disappeared. She moved, changed her hair color, remarried and now once again has 2 beautiful little children. Now exactly 7 years later, her children disappear once again and she needs to find them before it is too late. The story is written with lots of detail, byt it doesn’t get boring. The detail only serves to add suspense.
Rating: 3
T. Cammenga
Title: The Hunt for Red October
Author: Tom Clancy
Summary: The captain of a Russian submarine wants to switch the American side. But when he told the Russian Navy about his plans, he needed the help of an American submarine to get his men off the ship. Then he planned to tell the Russian Navy that his submarine was destroyed.
Rating: 4
K. Noorman
Title: Flags of our Fathers
Author: James Bradley
Summary: My favorite character is Franklin Sousley due to the way he grew up becoming the only son because of his brother’ s death and how hard he worked for his mother’s well being. My favorite part was how the flag was lifted on Iwo Jima at 10:20 AM.
Rating: 4
A. Kingma
Title: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Author: Mark Twain
Summary: This novel is about Tom who lives with his Aunt Polly and brother Sid. Tom is a mischievous boy who spends his time swimming, avoiding school, and playing war. My favorite parts are when Tom fools his friends into white washing a fence, and when he attends his own funeral with his friend Huck and the town drunk. Tom and Huck catch Injun Joe murdering his partner, testify at the trial and later discover a treasure in a cave. I learned from the book that honesty is always the best plicy;
Rating: 3
K. Huizinga
Title: Where Yesterday Lives
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Summary: This book is about Ellen Bernett. She is a writer in Miami who is struggling with her marriage. She learns that her father dies and she has to go back to Michigan. There she and her siblings continue to argue and she realizes that she has been selfish and not listening to her siblings or husband.
Rating: 4
L. Kraker
Title: One Tuesday Morning
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Summary: This is a story about Jake and Jamie Bryan and their daughter Sierra, and about Eric and Laura Michaels and their son Josh. Jake is a Firefighter in New York City, and Eric is a businessmen who is visiting New York on business. They are both in the World Trade Center on Sept 11. Eric is on is way down the stairs and Jake is one his way up. Eric falls and Jake helps him up, Eric realizes that they look almost exactly alike. His helmet falls off and Eric sees the picture of Sierra in the inside. As the building collapses, Eric is forced under the fire truck. He is found their by some fireman who thinks that he is Jake. He is brought to the hospital where he doesn’t remember who he is, but every one is calling him Jake. He just remembers the name Sierra. He then goes home with Jamie and Sierra believing that he is Jake. About 3 months later he starts having flashbacks that are not making sense with who he is. They then realize that he isn’t Jake but that he is Eric Michaels from Los Angles. Now Jamie must face the fact that Jake is dead.
Rating: 5
L. Kraker
Title: Beyond Tuesday Morning
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Summary: My favorite characters are Jamie Bryon – made a widow after the twin tower explosion - and Clay Michaels – a police officer in Los Angeles. He ends up in New York and saves her life. They fall in love until Jamie realizes that Clay is a brother to a former friend.
Rating: 4
A. Rowe
Title: Shadow of Doubt
Author: Terri Blackstock
Summary: The main character, Celia, has a husband who is poisoned by arsenic and she is the main suspect. I couldn’t put the book down as the plot became more and more tangled until even Celia’s husband thinks she did it! This book taught me about faith in God even during hard times and that though our friends and family may fail us and doubts us; our heavenly Father will never fail nor forsake us.
Rating: 5
T. Mingerink
Title: The Man called Noon
Author: Louis L’amour
Summary: Ruble Noon has amnesia and can’t remember who he is. During the book, he finds out that he’s a hired killer or bounty hunter and he was the best. My favorite part was the shoot out at the end when it was 3 on 3 and Ruble wins and takes the gold to Denver on the train. I also liked when he shot the gun out of the ladies hand.
Rating: 4
J. Van Overloop
Title: The Perfect Storm: A true Story of Men against the Sea
Author: Sebastian Junger
Summary: My book was about a fishing boat named the Andrea Gail and all the crew on it. My favorite character was Billy because he was the captain of the boat. A large section of the book was used to teach how a hurricane forms and what it can do to a boat during a storm.
Rating: 3
J. Van Oostenbrugge
Title: When Morning Came
Author: Piet Prins
Summary: Martin’s parents get captured by the Catholic soldiers. Martin goes to Boudewyn who was a blacksmith and they freed Martin’s parents. The interesting thing that I learned was what many Christians back then did for their Bible and it amazes me by how great their faith really was. We should cherish our Bibles as the persecuted Christian fought to preserve them for us.
Rating: 5
C. Pols
Title: The Call of the Wild
Author: Jack London
Summary: My favorite character is John Thornton because he is just laid back and takes life as it comes. He isn’t really worried about tomorrow but lives a slow steady life. My favorite part is when Buck wins the bet he made by pulling a sled with 1000 pounds on ti 100 meters by himself. This was important to the story because with the money won John was able to pay his debts and then go off with his two buddies in search of gold.
Rating: 4
J. Lubbers
Title: The Legend of the Firefish
Author: George Bryan Polivka
Summary: This book is about Packer who sneaks on a pirate ship in order to help out the poor fishing village where he lives. The pirate ship is on a mission to find the legendary creatures the Firefish. This book is filled with action and swashbuckling fun.
Rating: 3
G. Spriensma
Title: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Author: Ann Brashares
Summary: This book is about four girls who share the same pair of jeans over the course of the summer. The jeans magically fit them all. They then tell us about their summer experiences.
Rating: 3
G. Spriensma
Title: When the Morning Came
Author: Piet Prins
Summary: Martin knows what to do when his parents are trapped in jail. The best part is when Martin finds out his parents are in jail and goes to a family friend for help. In the end they find his parents after the mother and father get separated.
Rating: 4
M. Engelsma
Title: Reunion
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Summary: My favorite part of this book was when Elizabeth Baxter is in the hospital dying of cancer and her long lost son comes to her and finally meets his mother before she dies. From reading this book I learned that families, even in trials, can come together and be strong without falling apart. I encourage everyone to read this book and series.
Rating: 5
K. Kaptein
Title: A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
Summary: My favorite character in this book was Tiny Tim. I think the best part of this book was when Marley’s Ghost came to Ebenezeer Scrooge and scared him for the first time. The ghost made Scrooge realize that if he continued his dark life, not caring for others and hating the Christmas holiday, then he would end up like Marley and the other Ghosts who were chained up who had to travel the world. I learned from this book that Christmas is a time when kindness is shown. It is a time to show compassionate good will to men, even people we don’t know. It is a time to bring the truth of Christmas to all men.
Rating: 5
K. VanDyke
Title: Sea Song
Author: Gale Roper
Summary: My favorite character was Brenna/Sherri. Her real name was Sherri but she ran away from home because her step-brother hated her and was very cruel to her. She changed her name to Brenna, so he couldn’t find her. He still tried to find and kill her so he could have the $1 million inheritance. The best part was when Sherri got reunited with her Mom.
Rating: 3
H. Westra
Title: Moonlight on the Millpond
Author: Lori Wick
Summary: I love that when she hears that he fell in the millpond and comes running because she thought he drowned. She didn’t know that he could swim. I liked his patience with her. I found the fact that she couldn’t take a drop of alcohol and forgot that they got married highly amusing.
Rating: 2
M. Lubbers
Title: Hidden Places
Author: Lynn Austin
Summary: I enjoyed the fact that this book wasn’t a “fairy-tale” love story. I also appreciated the realness of the character’s problems – too yielding, alcoholism, won’t stand up for themselves, abuse, pregnancy, etc. Book was a little boring overall.
Rating: 2
M. Lubbers
Title: Not Without my Daughter
Author: Betty Mahmoody
Summary: My favorite character was Mahtob. The best part was when Betty and Mahtob were escaping from Iran. The most interesting thing I learned was that Iranian women have to go along with and listen to their husbands whether they agree with them or not. Also there husbands can freely beat them when they think it is necessary.
Rating: 4
M. Van Baren
Title: Kentucky Chances
Author: Cathy Marie Hake and Kelly Eileen Hake
Summary: This book has 3 stories put in 1 book. I liked the character Lovejoy Spencer, a widow, who was in the first story. She was sold to her husband and was barren. Her husband was a drunk and died. Instead of being bitter at the world, she finds God’s blessings in everything. Lovejoy moves away from her town with her sister to make sure her sister will marry a good man. Lovejoy fall in love with a widower who has 2 daughters and so she not only finds love again but gains two children.
Rating: 4
M. Koole
Title: Heart of Darkness
Author: Stephen Conrad
Summary: Marlow is my favorite character because he is very brave. He fearlessly goes up the African river despite many dangers. The best part is when he escapes out into the woods to find the manager of the company who wandered off. The most interesting thing I learned was that the Africans are very hostile to white men who want to come on their territories.
Rating: 2
Z Start
Title: The Fixer
Author: Bernard Malamud
Summary: Yakov Bok is a Jew living in Czarist Russia who has been falsely accused of murder. This is the story of his struggle to stay alive and sane during his harsh imprisonment and to find some way to clear his name. It is a dark, disturbing story about one man’s desperate will to survive.
Rating: 4
D. Schipper
Title: SOS Titanic
Author: Eve Bunting
Summary: My favorite character of this book was Johnnie Flynn. He made things interesting by doing crazy things, even if they were wrong. The best part of the book was when Barry was trying to get off the ship and water was going everywhere. The most interesting thing I learned was how nobody thought the ship would sink and were unafraid and thought the emergency was a drill.
Rating: 3
K. Gritters
Title: Timepiece
Author: Richard Paul Evans
Summary: A millionaire (David) stooped low enough in society to marry his own secretary (MaryAnne). David had a African American friend named Lawrence who inherited a gold timepiece when his friend died. The family of the deceased friend didn’t like that and tried to steal it back. In self-defense, Lawrence killed a man. David happened to be nearby and took the blame for it because he knew Lawrence wouldn’t be able to get a fair trial because he was black.
Rating: 2
T. Meyer
Title: The Light in the Forest
Author: Conrad Richter
Summary: My book is about a white boy who was captured by Indians and made and Indian son. Then a treaty was signed between whites and Indians making the Indians return all their white slaves. This meant that the son had to be returned to his whit parents. True son didn’t want to be returned and fought the white men the whole day but in the end he doesn’t go back to the Indians but stays with his parents.
Rating: 3
K. Zwak
Title: The Christmas Thief
Author: Mary Higgens Clark
Summary: My favorite character is definitely Packy Noonan because even though he may not be the favorite, he brings new twists and excitement to the book and he was on a mission to get the tree that was filled with diamonds. Some of the book was kind of weird, like hiding diamonds in the tree and little stuff like that, but otherwise it is a decent book to read over the holidays.
Rating: 3
J. Dykstra
Title: Halfway to Forever
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Summary: This was about two families who were struggling earlier in their lives and came together as friends for support. My favorite character is Jenny Bronzan. Her older sister and dad died in a crash. When her mom decides to remarry and adopt a little girl, she loves her like a real sister.
Rating: 5
Emily Kregel
Title: One Tuesday Morning
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Summary: This book is a fictional story on September 11. It is told from 2 different perspectives. One is about Jamie who lost her husband in the towers. The other is about Laura who thought she lost her husband. Really her husband and amnesia and everyone thought he was Jamie’s husband. My favorite part was the morning of September 11 and the detail given about the towers.
Rating: 4
J. Peterson
Title: A Thousand Tomorrows
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Summary: Wow! What a great book. At the end, I actually had tears in my eyes. I got so caught up in each character and how they handled the good and the bad things that happened in their lives. It teaches and leaves you with a feeling of strong determination to overcome even what seems to be the worst.
Rating: 5
L. Popma
Title: The Visitation
Author: Frank Peretti
Summary: This book is about a small town were normally nothing happens. But then, miracles start happening – a crucifix starts “crying”. Also people are healed by a newcomer to town. Everyone believes he il like a “John the Baptist”, but little do they know that he represents something quite different.
Rating: 3
L. Popma
Title: Of Mice and Men
Author: John Steinbeck
Summary: There are tow laborers, George and Lennie, who travel around California to different vegetable fields, trying to earn enough money to buy their own patch of land. This book tells of their adventures. My favorite person is Lennie because he is not very brilliant and so he is always lost and forgetting stuff. The best part is when another worker on the farm takes on Lennie in a fight for laughing at him and so Lennie beats him down and breaks his arm.
Rating: 3
A. Veldman
Page Information
|
Wiki Information |
Recent PBwiki Blog Posts |
Create your own educational wiki!