Charlotte Doyle By Avi

A Review by Mr. Wuest

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi was an exciting book about a proper young girl from a wealthy family.  The somewhat snobby girl sets sail aboard The Seahawk to cross the Atlantic from England to America to join her awaiting family.  The respectable Captain Jaggery leads the rough crew but things are not what they appear to be.  Charlotte is the only passenger along with the cargo.  The sailors watch her carefully.  Zachariah, the friendliest sailor, warns Charlotte that the Captain is an evil villain.  The Captain warns Charlotte about the evil crew.  Charlotte's loyalty to the captain is tested when the captain is terribly cruel giving a punishment to one of the crew members.  Suddenly, Charlotte doesn't know who to believe.  Over the course of the book, Charlotte changes completely.  She becomes a likable and courageous girl.

I like this story because unexpected things keep happening.  I was surprised over and over with each event that happened.  This book is a true "High Seas Adventure" with murders, hurricanes, ghosts, and the testing of friendships.  But best of all, is the change that Charlotte goes through.  I didn't like her in the beginning - but by the end, she became strong and stood up for what was right.  Avi won a Newbery Honor for this book and I think it was well deserved.  He is a good writer that uses plenty of powerful languge.  I give this book a "Mr. Wuest Two Thumbs Up" award - but with a caution that this book is a higher level read.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

A Review by Mr. Wuest

Hatchet is about a boy named Brian Robeson that is having a hard time with his mom and dad's divorce. On a plane ride to see his dad, the single engine plane crashes and Brian is the only survivor. Stuck in the deep woods of Canada, Brian learns to live and deal with his new life in the wild. He becomes a survival with no possessions except his Hatchet. As he learns about the wilderness, he also learns about himself and how to deal with his parents. Over the course of the book, he becomes more grateful for what he has.

Hatchet is a terrific book that is exciting to read and also surprising. I like how Brian is a little bratty in the beginning and humble at the end. I am amazed with the animals he meets and I wonder if I could survive the way he did. This book is like a few others that I've read (Island of the Blue Dolphins) that the hero has to survive alone, but I like this one because it seems so realistic. Gary Paulsen received the Newbery Honor for this book and I think it is well deserved.