Reading and Reminiscing

Rating beloved works of literature that Bearcats enjoyed as children

READING AND REMINISCING

READING AND REMINISCING

Coakley as a child (right)

Coakley,12 (left)

Senior Hollie Coakley was into the classics, her favorite book was Charlotte's Web by E.B White. The characters moved her to love this book, “I really enjoyed this book because I liked how all of the characters worked together. I fell in love with it more because the characters were so cute.” Coakley has read a lot since her childhood and her favorite part of her elementary school years were the book fairs. She currently still reads story books because of the children in her Bearkittens elective. MY REVIEW: I personally loved Charlotte's Web by E.B White and I will for the rest of time, it gets a solid five out of five. The cute story of the pig and spider's friendship touched my heart. As I read past Charlotte's death it was very sad. This book shows pure friendship with all of the characters complying to solve their issues. Many emotions are tackled in the story, love, loneliness, and acceptance being a few. It's a heartwarming story no matter at what age a person reads it.

Charlotte's Web

by Shel Sliverstein

Capiak as a child

Freshman MacKenna Capiak, enjoyed the toys in the book fair and books of poem collections when she was in elementary school. More specifically the poem A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein. She finds it memorable because it sparked a new liking for poetry: “It was my favorite because it was my first introduction to poetry and all of that stuff,” Capiak said. It’s an interest she continues now in the Honors English track. MY REVIEW: Reading A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein, I am intrigued by its seven lines of simple words and the deeper meaning they may have. Can a child interpret the meaning though? The speaker is curious and knows someone lingers in the attic as the light is on. It is never specified who it could be though. Upon further analysis, this is a gloomy little poem with an ominous feel, but it's not so scary to the extent kids can't handle it. This poem is a three out of five from me.

A Light in the Attic

Barrientos as a child (right)

Barrientos, 11 (left)

Junior Joselyne Barrientos Malvaez didn't read much, but enjoyed stories about various animals as a child. “I really liked Pete the Cat but my favorite book had to be Dog Man,” Barrientos said. The reason Dog Man took the lead was due to the fact it was a comic book, and Barrientos favorite kind of books were comics. She admired all of the vibrant images comics offered. They made it easy for her as a child to understand the plot. MY REVIEW: While reading Dog Man by Dav Pilkey, I found it to be like most superhero backstories: a crazy freak accident. A police dog and his owner are sewn together, creating Dog Man, a half-human-half-dog protagonist. This being the one thing that distinted it from other stories to me. He saves the world like most superheroes and is about his day. I can see why children are drawn to it because of its lighthearted humor and popping illustrations. However, most of the events in this story are premises commonly used in others. It didn't stand out to me, I rate it three stars out of five.

Dog Man

From the various PRHS students, these four Bearcats share childhood books which fill their hearts with nostalgia, colored illustration, and imaginative adventures. Events like Battle of the Books, in which students would win based on how many questions they got right on specific books, and book fairs in elementary encouraged reading to them as children. I asked 4 Bearcats for their favorite work of literature that a younger version of themselves loved. I read all of the books and reviewed them for you. I am going to rate each book out of five.

Back to Crimson

Review by Laney Ortiz

by Cornelia Funke

Cross as a child (above)

Cross, 10 (above)

Sophomore Kaia Cross has always been an avid reader. She still reads often, and is currently taking English 2H. “My mom actually was the one who would encourage me to read as a child, for every book I read as a child she would give me a sticker,” Cross said. Cross went to the book fairs and participated in Battle of the Books. In her 4th grade year, she wound up in second place. Out of all of the books she read as a child, she was really fond of Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke. She held this book as her favorite because she found the protagonist relatable. MY REVIEW: Prior to this interview I had never heard of Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke, it was all new to me. Its 224 pages in total make it lengthy for a children's book. Igraine is a young girl who wants to become a knight, this is her coming of age story. She must go on a quest to find a remedy for a spell that has transformed her parents to swine. Along with saving her castle from being taken over by a greedy neighbor. On her long journey she meets a well respected knight, the Sorrowful Knight. He agrees to help her return to and save her home. He acknowledges her chivalry, determination, and worthiness to become a knight. Reading this I came to find I liked it, I award it four stars out of five. It's adventurous and inspiring as we follow Igraine’s steps to achieve her dream.

Igraine the Brave