Chapel Hill Public Library

A department of the Town of Chapel Hill

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Titles Beginning with F

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
star star star star star
I would rate this book, Fever 1793, a five if I were to rate it a number one (worst) through five (best). While reading, I felt as Matilda Cook probably would have felt—frightened, worried, surprised, although I do not quite know what it is like to suffer the yellow fever or to lose a family member. At some points, I was so amazed at the realism contained in the books that I even tried to hold back my tears—especially when Mattie’s grandfather died—and I even seemed to experience the joy, as well as the sorrow, that Mattie experienced, such as seeing her mother for the first time in what felt like the longest time. Throughout the entire book I could picture the expressions on people’s faces, and the darkness in the streets of Philadelphia, helping me understand and picture the whole story more clearly. I was encouraged to read this book by many of my friends, so that day at the library, I searched “Fever 1793� on the computers, and as soon as I returned home, I began reading. Soon enough, I became fully absorbed, and continued reading until late at night. I now understand how magnificent this book is, and would most definitely recommend it to everybody. Fever 1793 is a very emotional book, and is guaranteed to keep any reader reading! Five stars!
Reviewed by Angela, age 12
Submitted June 13th, 2006
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
star star star star star
The summer has come and along with summer comes the yellow fever. The yellow fever changed life for Matilda Cook when yellow fever struck her hometown in Philadelphia and change is in the air. When Mattie's friend dies, Mattie knows that this is this is the first of many changes to come. Mattie's Mother gets the yellow fever and the coffee shop Mattie's Mother was running closes while her Mother tries to recover. Mattie and her grandfather say farewell to friends and set of in attempt to move to the country for the summer to avoid the illness. On their way in a carriage, her grandfather acquires a cough and officials don't permit them to cross the city in order to get to the farm. Mattie and her Grandfather have to survive on their own and to Mattie it seems like torture. Mattie realizes that the whole city is infested with the disease and their is almost no way to avoid it. Mattie and her Grandfather struggle to find a place to live, and more importantly to stay alive. This wonderfully written books is definitely the best historical fiction story I have ever read.
Reviewed by Julia, age 12
Submitted July 3rd, 2006
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
star star star star
This book is the story of the yellow fever epidemic during the late 1700s. The main character is a teenage girl named Matilda. When her mother catches the yellow fever, she and her grandfather are told to leave the city to save themselves. But they are stopped on the way and they never make it to the farm. Then, they return to their coffeehouse only to find the her mother has left and the coffeehouse had been robbed. What will they do next? Read the book to find out! :)
Reviewed by Priyanka, age 12
Submitted June 15th, 2006
Flavor of the Week by Tucker Shaw
star star star
Flavor of the Week is the story of 16-year-old cooking prodigy Cyril, the overweight "nice guy" who is hopelessly in love with Rose, his lab partner and friend. When Cyril's attractive best friend Nick comes to town and takes up an interest in Rose, Cyril reluctantly agrees to help him charm her by cooking food Nick claims as his own creation. But when leaving Rose in the dark leads to disaster, Cyril must find a way to speak up for himself and salvage his friendship with her that has the potential to be more. Flavor of the Week is a quick, fun read that includes recipes from the story as an added bonus.
Reviewed by Amy, age 14
Submitted June 24th, 2006
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
star star star star star
Charlie Gordon has an extremely low IQ. But all of that is to change as he is given an experimental surgery that will triple his intelligence. This experiment has already been successful on a lab mouse named Algernon. But the doctors who created it have no idea if the experiment's effects will be permanent. Charlie is to gain an unlimited amount of intelligence--but for how long? This is perhaps one of the most haunting books I have ever read. Certain scenes, especially when Charlie is at the peak of his intelligence, that will be glued in my mind forever. It is a tough read, but it is more than worth it. It is an extremely moving story that captured my interest from page one. I could feel Charlie's pain every step of the way. It is certainly a "must read" and I know I will revisit it many times to come.
Reviewed by Katie, age 14
Submitted June 30th, 2007
Flush by Carl Hiaasen
star star star star star
A casino boat has been dumping it's human waste into the ocean! That's what Noah, the main character of the book, finds out when his dad sinks the ship. But because he sunk it, and because the owner of the boat was on good terms with the police, Noah's dad was sent to jail. Now Noah, his sister and a few unlikely friends must try to prove that the ship had REALLY been dumping waste and bail his dad out of jail. This book was one of the best books I've read in awhile. I'd recommend it to anyone. :)
Reviewed by Priyanka, age 12
Submitted May 26th, 2006
Forged By Fire by Sharon Draper
star star star star star
This book is awesome. When I picked it up and started reading I could never put it back down. A boy who struggles to keep his mom and his sister safe from his evil stepfather, in any way that he can. But he does eventually face him one on one. Really good book a must read!
Reviewed by Billy Bob Joe, age 13
Submitted November 3rd, 2007
Freaks: Live On The Inside by Annette Curtis Klause
star star star star
This book is about a young boy who grows up in the freak show of a circus. It starts off a bit slow, but then it pulls you in as the characters develop and sinister events start to unfold. This book is great for anybody who likes creepy, fantastical stories.
Reviewed by Michael, age 15
Submitted June 26th, 2006
Freddy in Peril by Dietlof Reiche
star star star star star
Freddy in Peril is book two in the golden hamster saga (the sequel to I, Freddy). This time, Freddy has posted his story on the Internet and Prof. Fleischkopf has read it and wants to capture Freddy and dissect his brain! Even more suspenseful than the first book; recommended to be read after I, Freddy. This series is sure to delight even the youngest readers!
Reviewed by Nicholas, age 11
Submitted June 22nd, 2006
Freddy To The Rescue by Dietlof Reiche
star star star star star
Freddy To The Rescue is book three in the Golden Hamster Saga. Now,the mayor is trying to build an automobile plant in a field filled with Field Hamsters (which are an endangered speices!). The other two books (I,Freddy and Freddy in Peril) are great books, but this one is better.
Reviewed by Nicholas, age 11
Submitted June 25th, 2006
Frindle by Andrew Clements
star star star star star
Frindle by Andrew Clements is an excellent book. It is set in a small town that could very well be the town the reader lives in, and the main character, Nick, is what one might think of as a typical, middle-class, “all-American kid.� In reading this book, one almost has to sympathize with at least one (or maybe all—like me) of the characters. On the surface, the book is just a story, but when you finish it, it definitely suggests a you-can-do-it kind of moral. Frindle is a very fun read, and I recommend it to everyone.
Reviewed by Galen, age 11
Submitted July 17th, 2006
full tilt by Neal Shusterman
star star star star star
A guy his friends and his little brother go to a carnival and win a bear from a strange girl. In the bear's pocket there is a odd looking card inviting them to another carnival, but no one has survived this carnival. The older brother follows his younger brother to the carnival but he hates rides and the only way to leave the park is to ride 7 rides before morning otherwise you are trapped forever.
Reviewed by rebecca, age 13
Submitted July 23rd, 2006

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