Heroes can be young or small

“The Great Gilly Hopkins”

Katherine Paterson

Gilly Hopkins is an orphan. All she wants is a place to call home and family. She knows her mom and writes her letters to convince her to let her come and live with her. She tells her mom that she would not have to take care of her because she knows how to take care of herself. She even tells her mom that she’s saved up $39.65 toward the airline ticket. If her mom will pay the rest, she will get a job and pay her mom back. Her mom’s response was -- You have to read the book to find out!

Reviewed by Kayla, fourth grade

Miller Elementary

Burbank

“The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear”

Don Wood

The mouse is little. He doesn’t want the bear to get the strawberry. The little mouse does lots of different things so the bear would not get the big strawberry. What are they? Read the book!

Reviewed by Keisuke, kindergarten

College Park Elementary

Irvine

“It Came From Beneath the Sink”

R.L. Stine

Katrina and her family had tremendous luck. But a little evil creature destroyed their luck. When the creature’s bad luck worked, it got stronger each time. Will they ever get their good luck back? Or will they be stuck with bad luck forever? To find out you need to read this creepy, strange and surprising story.

Reviewed by Jeffrey, 8

Holly Avenue Elementary

Arcadia

“Wild Magic”

Tamora Pierce

Orphaned Diane comes to Tortall with her horse Cloud in search of a job. She finds one as the assistant to Onua, the queen’s horse mistress. With the help of Numair, a powerful mage, she learns that her talent with animals is actually an ancient and powerful magic called Wild Magic. When evil creatures called immortals invade Tortall, will Diane learn to use her magic to protect Tortall and all her friends, both animals and human?

Reviewed by Talia, 10

Ivanhoe Elementary

Los Angeles

Kids, send us your reviews. Mail them to Kids’ Reading Room, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; or fax to (213) 237-5946; or e-mail kidsreadingroom@latimes.com.