The Last Month

Sorry it's been a while, but I've been busy...

Chinook District Camporee 2011: Survival Island (May 20-22)
Survival Island was a blast. Our District came togther to form another crowd of great games, for once run solely by the OA and Venturers. We put together the following games:
Spear Throwing
Archery
Tracking
Knot Tying
Shelter Building
Fire Building
First Aid
And I think that was it.
I spent the day at the Tracking Station, hiding a fox pelt every few minutes for a group of Scouts to find. The number-one station seemed to be Spear Throwing.
Cantidate-wise, this was the best year I've seen so far. If everyone goes to their Ordeal, then we will grow to a size larger than I thought we would this early in my being OA.

Skate Trip (May 31)
My school went on a roller-skating trip to Skate World. We did this last year, but one thing is different: we actually had to go to all 6 classes! But, besides that, it was fun.

Mom's Birthday (June 1)
This year we got Mom a beautifal new purse, since she turned her old one into a camera bag. My grandparents came over and brought her a Kole's Gift Card. Another great year has passed by.

Evening of Excellence (June 2)
The annual Middle School awards ceremony. I was given the opportunity to lead the Pledge of Alliegence and did so. My awards? Honor Roll for 8 Quarters (framed certificate) and Warrior P.R.I.D.E. (certificate). Next year: High School!

The Dead by Charlie Higson
My newest review is here. What do you think?

Jack, Ed, Bam, and the other students at Rowhurst School, the world has ended. Everyone age 16 or above has become a mindless zombie with only a lust for flesh... flesh of those too young to contract the Disease. When their school is taken over by the “Sickos”, they begin a long journey that will take them to London... but will the City be any safer than the countryside?
Meanwhile, one of the students is having visions of a new religion... but when these visions begin to come true, people become worried what’s in store for them.
Set as a prequel to Higson’s The Enemy, The Dead follows an all-new cast of characters during the Disaster. This spine-tingling thriller is one-of-a-kind, and will give you many sleepless nights. It turns its own pages and refuses to let you go. 5 stars out of 5.

Coming Soon
Math Finals (June 9)
8th Grade Awards (June 9)

OA Meeting June 2011 (June 9)

Last Day of School (June 10)
Oak's Park (June 10)
Green Belt Testing (June 10)
SUMMER! (Starting June 11)

Camp-o-Ree: Survivor Island

At 6:00 on Friday, May 20th, Camp-o-Ree 2011: Survivor Island begins. Scouts begin traveling to Sand Island, St. Helens, Oregon to have fun and win awards. Let the survival begin!
And remember: do your best, or be sent to Redemption Island. This event is run by the OA.

May 17, 2011 Special Election Results

Today the special election for Columbia County took place, which included, among other things, tax levies for our Emergency Services. Starting at 7:30, Columbia County Sherrif's Office hosted an election party in hopes of good results on their levy.
The results for th Sherrif's Levy:
Yes: 3,976 (42.27%)
No: 5,430 (57.73%)
Bummer. Oh well, maybe next year. What do you guys think?
For more results, go to http://www.co.columbia.or.us/elections/results/EL45.HTM.

Two New Reviews

Sorry it's been a while. Here's my newest Reviews.

The Price of Freedom

By: A. C. Crispin

25-year-old merchant sailor Captain Jack Sparrow is haunted by his past as a pirate. Amenderis, a Princess of the magical African Zerzuran Tribe, is uncertain about her future as a slave. When Cutler Beckett of the EITC brings them together, the two must learn to trust each other as they sail across the ocean to find her brother, return them to their native island, and overall, protct Zerzura from th greed of Beckett. This prquel to the Pirates of the Carribean series is full of suspense, romance, and page-turning thrills. This book not only tells the story of Jack and Amenderis, but also has flashbacks of his past. Beautifully written, this book will glue itself to you. Have fun reading it!

Divergent

By: Veronica Roth

In the future, Beatrice “Triss” Prior is only allowed to look in a mirror once a month. She is not allowed to war any color but gray. She must wear a robe at all times. She lives in the selfless Abnegation faction. In the future, Chicago is split into 5 factions that bring out a specific trait that the lack of may have caused the Apocalypse, which happened hundreds of years before: selflessness, honesty, bravery, peace, and intelligence. Every year, the 16-year-olds from each faction go to a choosing ceremony in which they choose the faction that thy will live in for the res of their lives. To stay in a faction means to stay with your family. To change factions means to be remembered... as a traitor. When Triss travels from the selfless Abnegation to the thrill-seeking, brave Dauntless faction, she must face her fears, including the love of a boy she barely knows. As she tries to protect her society from a Revolution that would kill off all the city’s political leaders, she learns that bravery and selflessness aren’t all that different. This book, coming out in May 2011, is one of the most action-packed dystopian novels I have found. It is given 5 stars by me, and hopefully by you as well. Read as Triss learns more about those clos to her, those she barely knows, her society... and herself.This novel is for ages 14 and up.

The 15th President and the $5 Bill

I have so far read 3 out of 6 OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books) list. This is one I was looking forward to reading: Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson.

In 1865 Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford Theater. This caused the greatest calamity that the U.S. had seen since the Revolutionary War. There were crowds in the streets and man hunters in the wilderness, hunting for the man who caused it: actor John Wilkes Booth. Running from Washington, D.C. all the way through Maryland and into Virginia, Booth attempts to escape his hunters on a 12-day run to safety. Facts are gleaned beyond what the casual reader may have known and an entirely new experience for those who have delved deep into the assasination of our 15th president.
A beautifully written historical book, fit for everyone aged 10 and up. I was never very fond of non-fiction books, but this book was a blast! In fact, it could easily be turned into a riveting historical fiction. Is this 4-star book not enough for you? Then read Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, a more adult-oriented version of the book (also by James Swanson).

Turkeys and a New Review

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Thanksgiving was busy. The day of the year when I eat the most. Anyway, this weekend scouting for food is finishing up. So I'll do that. Also, I have joined our school Oregon Battle of the Books team and I am reading 8 books i never knew existed beforehand. Here is the review for one of them: Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Perry:

In present-day rural Oregon, 11-year-old Ignatius “Brother” Alderman is forced to face the world when his divorced father is deployed to Iraq. Alone with only his grandparents and a hired hand, Brother must take charge of the ranch, keeping the promise he made to his father: the ranch will be the same way he left it when he returns. But as the months go on, Brother learns that he was not meant to be a rancher, and he wonders if his father will ever come home. With threats and disappointment surrounding him, Brother must step up and learn to be a man.
In all reality, when I first saw this book it didn’t appeal to me very much, with the title seemingly uninteresting and the cover just a snapshot of the main character. But, as soon as I picked up this book I could not put it down. This story is full of twists, turns, and may, in every aspect, be a true story. In her first novel, Rosanne Parry truly gave it her all. This heartwarming story gives us life lessons and is meant for everyone, whether they love to read or not.

Happy Halloween!

Today is Halloween 2010! Halloween stands for different things depending on who you are. Kids: Annual Day of Walking Around in Coustumes, Staying Out Late, and Eating Candy. Most teenagers: Annual Day of Scaring People. Most adults: Annual Day of Wasting Money on Candy to Give to Strangers and The Eve of the Day where Most Kids go to the Dentist. I love Halloween.
This year no one knows what I am. I keep changing my costume. From Mummy to Igor (Frankenstein's hunchbacked assistant) to Viking to Cow to Zookeeper to Safari Guide. What am I tonight? I have no idea yet. this is my first year not trick-or-treating (probabaly). Happy Halloween, everyone!

We've Been Booed!

Today we got our start in this year's "Booed" celebration! This is a neighborhood tradition: if you are "booed" by someone else you must first tape the invite to your door (so no one else will boo you), and then go to www.beenbooed.com and print out 2 cards. Leave them on your neighbor's doorsteps. Knock and run away so no one will see you! Never tell anyone who you booed. It's a secret. Be sure to leave treats with your cards! Get a start in your neighborhood. Go to the "Booed" website. Help put Oregon in first place for "Boos"! First place? California with 6,709 this month! Get started and be sure to "Boo" others by Halloween.

The Bird Has Landed

Today I was told to look at the mail and was surprised to see that there was an envelope adressed to me. It was labeled Chase Pixley: Eagle Scout. That's right, I hurtled the tallest hoop in boy scouts and became an official Eagle Scout! The envelope held my certific ate, my Eagle Scout identification card, and numerous papers concerning my enterance to the National Eagle Scout Association. My card was daated 11 days before my 14th birthday, so I reached my goal of becoming a 13-year-old Eagle!

Disney- The Happiest Place on Earth?

This time I have reviewed one of my all-time favorite books- Disney After Dark. ere are very few words that can describe this book.

Florida native Finn Whitman has the job of a lifetime: he is one of 5 DHIs, or Disney Host Interactive, for the Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World! Every day his hologram walks through the Magic Kingdom, giving guests tours of the magnificent park. In return he was paid handsomely and given a gold pass for him and his family to get into Disneyworld free for a lifetime!
Not long after the hologram was created, though, he began to have odd visions about exploring Disneyworld at night. He dismissed it as just a dream until one night he meets an old Imagineer who tells him that all Disney characters are real and come alive when the gates are closed. The DHIs were created to protect the parks from these evil characters. What is the goal of these “Overtakers”? Enter the real world and take it over!
Finn must lead his newfound team into battle. Can he stop his fellow Kingdom Keepers from fighting? Can he defeat the evil Overtakers? Can he stand the stress and secrets of being a Keeper? And most importantly, can he solve a riddle left behind by Walt Disney himself?
One of my all-time favorite books, Disney after Dark is a teenage thriller with mystery, mayhem, and classic teenage troubles (with a touch of Disney Magic of course). Even if you are slightly a nut for Disney, you will love this book. Author Ridley Pearson, co-author of the Peter and the Starcatchers series, makes yet another 5-star debut. After reading this book, look for its sequel, Disney at Dawn.

Welcome to Eelong

Welcome to Eelong, the 5th terrotory of Halla! Here you find tall rainforests, tree-cities, and intelligent cats. Serving as the setting of the book Black Water by DJ MacHale, you can follow Bobby Pendragon everywhere on this great territiry on his quest. Here is a review of the book:

When Bobby Pendragon gets a message from his fellow traveler Gunny, he blasts through time and space to Eelong, a jungle territory that is ruled by giant cats called “klees”. When the food stores begin to run low and disease spreads through the crops Bobby must fins a way to stop the repealing of edict 23: the law that prohibits eating people.
Meanwhile, on 2nd Earth, Bobby’s friends Mark and Courtney find a contaminated klee at the entrance to the flume. Sampling the poison, they take it to the territory of Cloral. There Mark and Courtney learn that it is the same plague as the one that swept Cloral in book 2 (The Lost City of Farr). Should the two mix territories by bringing the antidote to Eelong, breaking the rule of mixing territories? Or should they leave it alone and give St. Dane a second victory?
With 5 stars, the 5th book in the Pendragon series begins with a shock, follows with page-turning thrills and ends with a bang. More impossible to put don than its predecessors, Black Water is a good book for everyone to read. Have a great time reading this book!

Look, Up In The Sky!

Most superhero books are from the hero's perspective. They tell about how evil the villain is and how the great hero stopped it. This book is different. It gives a book from the villain's perspective. Here is the review.

Before “the stars fell” in the city of Bouring, Kyle Camden was the most popular kid in school. He pranked everyone in every way imaginable. Then in came “Mighty Mike”, an alien superhero who took his place.
When Kyle is bathed in the same plasmas as Mike was created by, he decides to get rid of the annoying superhero. Using a bunch of home-made gadgets, will Kyle be able to show the world what Mike really is?
Coming out in October 2010, this book gives the story from the villain’s point of view. He is just a normal kid trying to get even, not some evil maniac who wants to destroy the town. Have a blast reading this book!

BOO!

Are there unexplained noises in your house? Have treasures gone missing? Are ghosts haunting you? If you answered yes to any of these you should e-mail Allanah Malarra, ghost hunter extrordinare! She is the heroine of the new fantasy/sci-fi book "Ghoul Strike" by Andrew Newbound.

3 years ago Alannah Malarra’s parents disappeared on a business trip. No one has seen them since then. But they weren’t on a normal business trip. They were psychic ghost hunters.
Today Alannah is hunting ghosts by night and taking their treasure to fund the search for her parents. Along with her cat burglar friend Wortley Flint, she has banished many a ghost in Britain.

Flhi Swift was never a favorite on the ANGEL (Attack ready Network of Global Evanescent Law-enforcers) police squadron. But when she is nearly fired she is given one last chance: check on an emergency alarm in Britain, home of the locked Door of Souls, prison of ghouls, gargoyles, and the most powerful fugitive known to ANGEL.

When the duo of Alannah and Wortly go to a call at the sight of the door they meet Flhi, who, along with Alannah, is almost killed by the fugitive. Human and ANGEL must work together to save both their dimensions from this cosmic threat.

This work of art is given 4 out of 5 stars. Once you pick up the book it’s almost impossible to put it down. The book is a mix of sci-fi and fantasy with a twist of mystery. Explore the 3 dimensions with the unlikely heroes when this book comes out in October 2010!

Virtual Reallity

This time around the review is none other than Pendragon 4: The Reality Bug. Read this book and enter into a virtual world with the bounds of only your imagination.


Bobby Pendragon still dreams of his normal life in Stony Brook, Connecticut. He was once the most popular boy in the school. He was a star jock with a girlfriend, a dog, and better friends than anyone can ask for.
And now it’s all gone.
Bobby has spent the last year traveling through space and time to protect the world. He has lost and gained friends and enemies. He is seeing the truth about the universe.
This time Bobby is saving the territory of Veelox. Once there he learns that the town is being abandoned for a virtual reality called “Lifelight”. Here all your dreams are put into a fantasy world that you control. To save Veelox, Bobby must go into Lifelight’s virtual reality and shut it down. Can Bobby save Veelox? Or will the chance to return to his family prove too much for him?
Book 4 in the Pendragon series, Bobby travels to believable and yet unbelievable realms in the imagination. Holding 5 stars, The Reality Bug is a book for anyone ages 10-16. Read on.

Who Are You?

"Who are you when you're alone? When When no one is watching? What's left then?" That is a question Katy, aka "Kid" must answer in her futuristic high school.

Unidentified
By: Rae Mariz

In the future the government will lose all funding for education. Schools will be forced to turn to corporations for funding. Technology will begin to replace teachers.
At least, that is history to Kid. She is a normal student in the Game: a mall-turned-school with invention beyond your very belief. Her school has it all: an amusement park, a studio, a movie theater (where they play only documentaries), an arcade, a mechanics shop, and a Sweat Shop. The most talented are chosen to promote products. School is normal.
That is, until a dummy falls into the center of the Game with a note saying “UNIDENTIFIED, CHOOSE YOUR SUICIDE”. When most people shrugs it off as a bad advertisement, Kid researches more and finds out that the Unidentified is a group of people against the corporate sponsors and the Game itself. When Kid learns that the Unidentified are sending out a computer virus into the Game she tries to prevent it. But the question is “How?”
Coming out in October, this book gives a taste of high school drama as well as everything students wish school was. With 5-stars, this book is for teens everywhere.

A Voyage Fit for a King

Almost everyone loves the Narnia series. It has become increasingly popular since the movie "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" came out in 2005. Now, this December, a movie of this very book is coming out. Read it before the movie comes out.

The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
By: C.S. Lewis
A Review by: Chase Pixley

Narnia: a land of talking animals, magic spells, and an enchanting atmosphere almost everywhere.
It had been a long time since any of the four Pevensie children had set foot in Narnia. On their last visit they helped Prince Caspian gain the land’s throne. After that grand adventure the two elder children learned that they will never again enter this magical realm.
Now the younger two, along with their snobby cousin Eustace, will have to save this magical land once more. Stepping through a magic picture frame onto Caspian’s ship, the Dawn Treader, the three must help the boy king find the 7 lords exiled by his evil Uncle Miraz. Sailing east they battle magical curses, dishonest legislators, and deception. Can they get Eustace to believe in Narnia? Can they reach Aslan’s country at the end of the world? And how will the three ever get home?
The 5th book in a classic series, “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” is fun for everyone who reads it. This Tolkien-like story is full of action, adventure, and mystery. This is another 5-star book. Watch for the movie in December!

This Book Bites

My newest book reviewis here! This one is about a vampirific boy who has to stand the challenges of being a vampire and life as being a middle schooler.

The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd:
Eighth Grade Bites
By: Heather Brewer

A Review By: Chase Pixley

Vladimir Todd was never like other kids. He has always been sickeningly pale, his parents died in a mysterious fire that only affected their room, he can’t stand sunlight... and he has an incredible lust for blood. Vlad is a vampire.
During his 8th grade year Vlad’s favorite teacher disappears without a trace. The substitute, Mr. Otis Otis, seems different... too much for Vlad’s taste. When Mr. Otis learns Vlad’s secret, the bloodsucker is plunged into a world of confusion, deception, betrayal, treachery, and danger. While defending himself and those close to him from a vampire society known as Elysia, Vlad must use his abilities and two books from his father to stop them and find out the truth about vampires.
This book was great. I have never read a vampire novel like this before. Even though Vlad is not normal he mostly lives the life of one. He has friends, enemies, and crushes that make Middle School confusing. Everyone who I’ve asked about this book who has read it agreed that it’s awesome. Anyone would love this 5-star book. Take the next step and sink your teeth into it.

Poetic License

Not only do I like to write book reviews, but I also LOVE to write poems. Most of mine have a message: be yourself. Here is one of my first and best.

Me As A Tree. Likewise, A Tree as Me.
By: Chase Pixley

Some days I look at a tree
And think "What if it were me?"
It would not know what to do,
Nor how to talk, walk, or chew.
It would surely die you see,
For a tree could not be me.

Likewise, if I were a tree,
It would be an odd life for me.
I would photosynthesize,
And serve as a home to that who flies.
I would flaunt my branches through the air,
As my leaves russle like hair,
No, I would not like to be a tree.
And a tree, I see, would not like to be me.

Return To Halla

That's right, another Pendragon Review! I'll keep the reviews of my personal #1 series coming! There's something different about this book, though. Here's a clue: check your history books!

Pendragon: The Never War
By: DJ MacHale

Review By: Chase Pixley

Cloral was a sad win for Bobby Pendragon. After saving Cloral his uncle Press died from bullets coming through the flume. After his funeral Bobby and Traveler from Cloral Vo Spader follow Saint Dane to Veelox, where local Traveler Aja Killian tells them that Saint Dane is on First Earth.
Jumping into the flume they appear in... a familiar subway tunnel. Welcome to First Earth, A.K.A 1937. There they meet Vincent “Gunny” Van Dike, called so because he couldn’t bring himself to fire a gun during his time in World War I. He is also the Traveler from First Earth. New York City in 1937 was an exciting place, full of toothpaste powder, The Great depression, post World War II... and the doomed Hindenburg zeppelin.
Bobby and friends quickly find that the Hindenburg’s crash is First Earth’s turning point. Dodging gangsters, rivalries and Saint Dane himself, they try to stop the famous crash. Bobby has stopped wars and decimated plagues, so how hard could stopping a simple zeppelin crash shouldn’t be too hard... should it?
Being book 3 in this unmatched series is a true honor, as is getting to read it. This is not the NYC you now. This story is full of mysteries in a familiar setting with yet more confusion than the first two books. With a gripping yet semi-historic storyline, this book almost turns the pages by itself. With 6 stars this book says "Read on"!

A Bitter Enemy

I read this book for two reasons: because I loved the rest of the series and I am doing a school report on it. Arch Enemy is a great book, as is my review...

Arch Enemy
By: Frank Beddor

A Review by: Chase Pixley

All imagination is gone from Wonderland thanks to King Arch of Borderland’s Weapon of Inconceivable Loss and Massive Annihilation, or WILMA. Queen Alyss Heart is barely holding on to the throne of Wonderland while one of Wonderland’s four founding families, the Clubs, are believed to be responsible for the disappearance of imaginationists throughout the kingdom.
Milliners Hatter Madigan and Homburg Molly, on top of Talon Point grieving for the loss of Weaver, Hatter’s wife and Molly’s mother. As father and daughter returned to civilization the blue caterpillar oracle gave a prophecy to Molly: you. At the same time, while spying on an anti-imagination meeting she and guardsman Dodge Anders are captured and trapped in “limbo coops”, or tiny holding pens for imaginationists. Meanwhile, Redd Heart and her top mercenaries were turned on by Arch and became fugitives from Borderland’s king.
Can these groups put aside their former hate and work together to reclaim Wonderland? How does Alyss truly feel about Dodge? And, most importantly, who is the fabled “Everqueen”?
The final book in the trilogy, it deserves a place on the shelf of Classics right there next to the original “Alice in Wonderland”. There is never a stop in the twisting mysteries, the stunning betrayals, or the breakneck pace. This is the perfect ending to the trilogy. Though this story is great, you may want to begin with the heart-stopping book “The Looking Glass Wars” also by Frank Beddor.