Crispin (ORR 2)

Title: Crispin, The Cross of Lead
Author: Avi
Genre: Historic Fiction

This book's setting takes place in Medieval England, during the fourteenth century. The protagonist of this book is a boy who lives as a peasent with his mother, whose name is Asta. They are very poor, and all they can eat is bread, and sometimes dry peas. The first thing that struck me as I started reading this book is how unfairly the peasents in England were treated at that time. Everybody looked down on them, and they basically had no rights. They lived in small, isolated villages of only about 100 people, and their only source of income comes from selling crops. However, the life of Asta's son (the protagonist) takes a turn for the worst, when his mother dies. She is buried by her only friend, the priest, and the steward of the manor, John Aycliffe, asks Asta's son to give him their only ox as a death tax. This also shows that the peasents have no rights, because without the ox, Asta's son cannot survive, because he couldn't farm. I found it really strange that everyone calls him "Asta's son" and that he doesn't have a name just because his father has died of the plague, but I guess that this will be explained later on in the book. After his mother's funeral, Asta's son becomes really sad, worried and depressed, and start tumbling into the woods, and falls somewhere in the woods. He wakes up not knowing where he is and not knowing where to go.
So far, I really like this book, and I like how it talks about the history of Medieval England through a fun, interesting and creative way.

Title: Matilda

Author: Roald Dahl

Comments: I find this book very interesting. I like how Roald Dahl makes the plot interesting, especially that Matilda is a living genius and can do extraordinary things, but her parents don't care about her, they (especially her dad) think she's stupid and is worth nothing. I liked how this book has a different setting and plot, and how the story is different, about a little girl who has to solve her own problems with out the help of her parents. I enjoyed this because it isn't similar to anything I read so far. I give it a 7.5/10 it's a interesting book, but could have more suspense and action in it.

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Author: Jenny Han
Genre: Realistic fiction

Belly's life has always revolved around summers. Every year her mom, brother Steven and her go to her moms best friend, Susannah beach house. Every summer has always been the same. But belly is certain this summer will be different. She has been in love with Conrad, one of Susannah's sons, for as long as she can remember. But with Jeremiah and Steven standing in the way she hasn't been able to do that. But as the  summer goes on she meets a guy named Cam and gets looks from Jeremiah. Belly's heart will always belong to Conrad. But now it just depends on if he will give her, his.
          It thought this was a really great book. I liked the plot and how it was written. There were many parts that made me smile and some that were serious. I would recommend this book to girls, mostly but also to someone who likes a summer romance.