This symbolic story, written during the dawning of the Communist Revolution in Russia, is an interesting and unique book. It is a quick read, and I was very engaged by the storyline and the characters. Although it was rather slow to start, it gained momentum as it became evident that corruption and greed go hand-in-hand with power. It provoked awareness of the complexities of leadership and government, and how important it is to participate in the government. I was slightly disappointed by the conclusion because it didn't end on an up-note. Overall, I would recommend Animal Farm to anyone who's interested in politics and history.
Reviewed by Eamon P., Grade 9
Montrose Library
14 comments:
Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory of the Russian Revolution. The animals of the farm plan a revolution to overthrow their neglecting caretaker, Mr. Jones. They succeed in the plot and the pigs take over as heads of the farm. They create the Seven Commandments of Animalism. Over time, the ideals of equality and Animalism become corrupted as the pigs' greed grows. Will the other animals of the farm recognize and stand up to the pigs' hypocrisy?
I've always wanted to read Animal Farm, so I created very high expectations for the book and I'm glad to say they held up and even surpassed them. The beginning was a bit difficult for me because several characters are introduced at once, but within the next few pages everything made sense. The book has a lot of representations of the Russian Revolution, every character in the novel represents some historical figure in Russian history, and Orwell made it incredibly obvious who was who so it's easy to follow. I would recommend this book to any student who is learning about the Russian Revolution and needs help remembering the people and their actions or if you like Orwell's other famous book 1984.
Reviewed by Nayri T., Grade 10
Casa Verdugo Library
Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, is a book describing an animal-led revolution on a human-operated farm. The animals on the farm fiercely battle their way to freedom, but they come to face tremendous challenges when attempting to establish a functioning and fair governmental system. Read along to find some of the most interesting political and moral struggles to challenge the residents of Animal Farm.
I enjoyed this book very much. I very much liked the unique plot, which included numerous unexpected twists. I think any person who enjoys history will be fond of this book, as it is very closely related to a real-world event that took place in the past. This book made me think about the way that animals are treated on farms, and I wondered if they would feel the need to rebel if they had the ability to do so.
Reviewed by Alec S., Grade 10
Glendale Central Library
Animal farm, the title of this story, kind of gives away the main idea. Its about a farm dictated by animals. Slowly, throughout time, animals revolt against their human dictator of their farm, The Manor Farm. After being successful, they change the name of the farm to Animal Farm. Eventually, Napoleon, a pig, becomes the head of the farm, and it is said in newspapers, that other animals in different farms will be revolting too. But as the humans try to take back what was theirs in the first place, the leadership in a farm, will they be met with success, or failure?
Honestly, I thought this book was nowhere near interesting. It was very boring and stupid, and had no point. I had no interest in watching animals try to take over a farm whereas us humans were trying to take the farm back. It shows how weak humans are even though we are not. I only read the book because it was mandatory for my entire class. It might be interesting for any reader interested in political allegories, but it just wasn't for me.
Reviewed by Mary A., Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
The novel starts off with Old Major teaching all the farm animals the song "Beasts of England". Old Major encourages all the animals to rebel against the humans. Three days later he dies, leaving Napoleon and Snowball in charge. With Snowball's intelligence and the animals strength they push all the humans out of the farm. The main characters are Boxer- a strong horse, Squealer- Napoleon's right hand man, Clover- a female horse, Moses- a raven, Mollie- a mare who misses the humans, Benjamin- a donkey, Muriel- a goat, Jessie, and Bluebell- dogs. After taking over the farm Snowball teaches the animals how to read while Napoleon teaches the puppies about Animalism. Snowball and Napoleon create the Seven Commandments which say that all animals are equal, four legs good, two legs bad, no animal shall wear clothes or sleep in a bed, no animal shall drink alchol or kill another anima.l Over time Napoleon and Snowball argue about the farm's future and Napoleon throws Snowball away from the farm. Later on Napoleon changes the Seven Commandments so that it benefits pigs, he teams up with humans, and tortures all the animals. At the end we see how the animals have turned into humans and how power can turn organisms into maniacs.
I love this book and everybody with time should read it. If you read the book you have to understand it in a symbolic way rather than literally, because the book is very symbolic.
Reviewed by A.J., Grade 10
Grandview Branch
The novel starts off with Old Major teaching all the farm animals the song "Beasts of England". Old Major encourages all the animals to rebel against the humans. Three days later he dies, leaving Napoleon and Snowball in charge. With Snowball's intelligence and the animals strength they push all the humans out of the farm. The main characters are Boxer- a strong horse, Squealer- Napoleon's right hand man, Clover- a female horse, Moses- a raven, Mollie- a mare who misses the humans, Benjamin- a donkey, Muriel- a goat, Jessie, and Bluebell- dogs. After taking over the farm Snowball teaches the animals how to read while Napoleon teaches the puppies about Animalism. Snowball and Napoleon create the Seven Commandments which say that all animals are equal, four legs good, two legs bad, no animal shall wear clothes or sleep in a bed, no animal shall drink alchol or kill another anima.l Over time Napoleon and Snowball argue about the farm's future and Napoleon throws Snowball away from the farm. Later on Napoleon changes the Seven Commandments so that it benefits pigs, he teams up with humans, and tortures all the animals. At the end we see how the animals have turned into humans and how power can turn organisms into maniacs.
I love this book and everybody with time should read it. If you read the book you have to understand it in a symbolic way rather than literally, because the book is very symbolic.
Reviewed by A.J., Grade 10
Grandview Branch
Animal Farm is about animals who signify a specific leaders during Communism. These animals try to overthrow their farmer and try to set their own regulations for themselves. There are two main pigs who are competing to be the leader of the farm. Soon enough the animals cant choose and follow whoever they think is a odd leader. One of the pigs gets very cruel and tries to get rid of the other leader who is more popular and is liked for his kindness. A lot of big events happen that change the way animals view themselves and the world.
Honestly,I think this book was one of the worst books I've ever read. I was very bored when I read this book and I didn't even understand the concept of it. I wouldn't recommend this book because personally for me it was really boring and I didn't enjoy it at all. Usually in a book I like to be excited to see whats going to happen next and be surprised ar be amazed. Unfortunately, I didn't experience anything like this in this book.
Reviewed by TA, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
Animal Farm by George Orwell is probably the most thought-provoking book I have ever read. The plot and the setting I will discuss in the review may seem unrealistic and will probably resemble a fairy tale, but after reading the book, you will for sure need to think about symbolism (the whole book).
The book takes place on a farm owned by a "slave-owning" farmer. The slaves, unlike from what you might have thought, are the domesticated farming animals (which will later prove to be wilder than a lion). Tired of their despotic leader, The Man, they organize a revolution, kick the farmer out of the farm (literally), and take over. It's as simple as that! After the farmer is kicked out, the Pigs, the "wisest" leaders of all, take over. As I do not want to spoil your amazing experience, I will not go further. Just start thinking about the symbolism before you dive in to the book. I will just give one hint- USSR at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, as I do like to think about what I read after I am done with it. In my opinion, anyone would enjoy reading Orwell's Animal Farm, a book which has humor, history, animals, and everything else imaginable brilliantly incorporated in it. Orwell's language and vocabulary choice, simple and sophisticated at the same time, will amuse any reader. I do really recommend anyone to read Animal Farm, and hope that you will enjoy this amazing book!
Reviewed by Henry G., Grade 11
Pacific Park Library
This book is a book based on the Russian Revolution but animals portray the people in the event.This literary term is called allegory.The book starts of at the Manor Farm.The farm animals are living in this farm with Mr.Jones which portrays Nicholas the second.In the farm specific animals are mentioned.The pigs,horses,sheep,cat,cows,hens,dogs,donkey,goat,ect.Each or said in the rank order.So the book starts of with Old Major (a pig) having a dream and this dream is an idea for the animals to rebel against Mr.Jones because humans are the problem.Old Major starts giving them evidence on his statement .Three days later he dies and the idea is put to action.Just like how the Russian Revolution began.Toward the beginning the pigs are the ones in charge because they are smarter.Napoleon and Squealer are the main pigs in the story which represents Stalin and Trotsky.Toward the middle things do not go well and Napoleon takes dictatorship of the animals(Stalin exiles Trotsky and he gets full power of the farm and he starts controlling them).The deal is that all animals are equal and they even create these seven amendments ,so they wont do human things.Many animals in the farm Question is actions and get punished while others say "Napoelon is always right" said by Boxer the horse.The story is parallel to the Russian Revolution so you have an idea what is there to come.My question is "Was this revolution worth while"
I enjoyed how Orwell used something else like animals to represent such a big idea .I was able to image what was next and I was able to connect it to history.It was a combination of both.I think all history lovers will love this book,people who love to analyse ideas,and teens/adults of course.It made me wonder at first on where this was going to take me to.I knew it used allegory but I dint see if it was possible and it was!You should also read other books from George Orwell.His style is very similar and they all mostly portray the truth in a hidden way,so go check those out..like 1984.
Reviewed by Andrea V., Grade 10
Glendale Central Library
George Orwell tells the tale of a group of English farm animals who lead a rebellion against their cruel human owners in an attempt to established their own self managed utopian society - only to be betrayed by their own animal rulers (the pigs), who created a set of contradictory rules that evolved into one main sentence: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Disguised as a simple animal fable, this piece of literature was a metaphorical comparison with the Russian Revolution, communicating the theme of man’s struggle for power and domination.
Orwell wrote a critique of socialist ideals in the USSR through this story, warning people about the consequences of a society with dictators.
Each character depicted represents a key figure or group in the Russian Revolution: Napoleon (Stalin), Snowball (Leon Trotsky), Boxer (working classes), Squealer (Russian Media), Old Major (Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin), Mollie (Bourgeoisie), and last but not least, Mr. Jones ( Tsar Nicholas II). Their development throughout the story was as history allowed it.
The surfacing plot was very simplistic- a clever move by George Orwell, for it allows readers to contemplate the motives of the author and the symbolism of the characters.
After the farm rebellion, the pigs claimed authority and imposed a state of totalitarianism, in which they recognized no limit to their authority over the other animals and strived to have control over every aspect of their new lives. There was great tension among the pigs as to who would be the leader, while the rest of the animals either passively or wholeheartedly agreed with whatever happened (needless to say those who caused any trouble were executed). The dark humor in the story is that although the rebellion that created Animal Farm was against all things related to mankind, the pigs slowly evolved to display and adapt human structure, thought processes, and needs. Haunting, the sentence closing off the book was: “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” (148, 2:3-5)
Reviewed by RO, Grade 10
Casa Verdugo Library
The owner of Manor Farm is Mr. Jones, who was always drunk and a rude man. The animals in Manor farm were always mistreated. Then one day the old pig who was the animals leaders, Old Major, called for a meeting. All the animals had to attend. The meeting was about the dream that Old Major had last night. Old Major's dream was about an old song, 'beasts of England'. In the song they started to resist against humans. Old Major sang the song to the animals. The animals got motivated by the song, like Old Major, to rebel against their cruel farmer Mr. Jones. Sadly Old Major died a few days after. Napoleon and Snowball, two young pigs, took the matter into their own hands and started leading the rebellion. Three months later they revolted and took the farm. After their victory they changed the name of the farm from "Manor Farm", to "Animal Farm". The two leaders Snowball and Napoleon got greedy and started fighting for leadership. While that was happening Mr. Jones was planning an attack to get the farm back. When He did attack the animals wan a battle called "The Battle of the Cowshed". Since they won the battle Mr. Jones was forced to stay away from Animal Farm. After this Snowball had plans to build a windmill, Napoleon didn't like them (They are still fighting for control), and Snowball, so he brought in big dogs and threatened him. Snowball ran away. After this, Napoleon became a tyrant and the leader of Animal Farm. Napoleon doesn't have pity on any of the animals now.
This book was great. The only thing that is closest to this that I have read is "Charlotte's Web", but it isn't the same plot. The book was well written by George Orwell. I think that the characters in the story have helped shape the story great. I like the idea of animals fighting to take control but once they do the animals have to fight for leadership. Overall, I would recommend this book to a friend.
Reviewed by Aren, Grade 9
Pacific Park Library
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a timeless classic about becoming what we despise the most. It utilizes a farm of animals living harsh lives as the elder of the farm old major unites the animals to share his knowledge. After starving for two days the animals break into the shed and when their farmer Mr. Jones whips them, they drive him and his men out.
I enjoyed the book because of the endless allegories which a farm animal cast applies. It has a message about becoming what you hate. The satire is very subtle which often have to reread to understand. Another thing to admire is how much story was put into so few pages though it has the structure and plot of a much longer novel. Overall, Animal farm is a very intelligent look into the political changes within the last century and the idea of the pigs becoming men truly stands.
Reviewed by Parvaneh, Grade 9
Downtown Central Library
This classic revolves around a farm owned by an ordinary Mr. Jones located in a very small town near London. Many animals are under his care and there are many different types of animals such as Snowball the pig, Muriel the goat, Boxer the naive horse, Benjamin the donkey, Napoleon the leader of all animals, and many more! One day Mr. Jones heads out of town and all the animals find out he passed away from alcohol overdose. So now that leads to Napoleon trying to resolve all his ironic political and controversial problems. Especially since he has to find a solution on what he should do with all these animals living in the farm. Should he just keep the animals in the farm under his responsibility or let them go off to their own separate paths? "Animal Farm" is a novel involving a variety of emotion such as love, care, betrayal, and devastation that these animals experience.
I really liked the book. It was pretty simple and straightforward in my opinion. This gave a clear idea on what was really happening in the story. And it was pretty short too which is both good and bad. Good, because it doesn’t take that long to finish. Bad, because I wished for more detail. It would've been nicer if the author added a little bit more detail. I mean this book was pretty detailed but not enough. Also, this is one of the classics that anyone can take a look at as long as they have decent reading comprehension skills and vocabulary development too. Although, I kind of think that the book cover looked pretty basic. I visualized the book cover having some extra color rather than just a white background and a vibrant pink-colored pig on it. If this were to have a longer plot, maybe I would've liked it more, to be honest.
Review by Hannah R., Grade 9
Downtown Central Library
Animal farm is the representation of the Russia revolution through animals. The story shows betrayal, abuse of power, and goes over history through animals. Some get exiled and blamed for problems while the smartest, the pigs, opt for a communistic life style after the farmer gets overthrown. The pigs essentially don't do any work and reap off the hard work of other but get overthrown in the end.
If you enjoy world history or are to lazy to research about the Russian revolution, this book is the best way to learn about the revolution. It offers a funny way to learn about what really happened and displays dictatorship along with control through fear. The animals make a society at first but fail and it leads to chaos. This Novel is worth reading as it provides an interesting way of describing that time era, through farm animals, of rebellion and is a satirical piece.
Reviewed by E.N., Grade 12
Casa Verdugo Library
The animals of Manor Farm are sick and tired of the unfair treatment from the farmer Mr. Jones, so they overthrow him and adopt the philosophy of Animalism. They change the farm's name to Animal Farm, and three pigs--Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer--dedicate themselves to reforming it. They educate the animals and promise that they'd never again receive the mistreatment they'd endured from Mr. Jones. Soon, however, the animals doubt whether the pigs really have their best interest at heart.
I loved this book, and anyone who has an interest in Soviet history like I do would love it, too. This book has one of the best and most memorable endings I've ever read. The parallels between Napoleon and Joseph Stalin and Snowball and Leon Trotsky help the reader grasp a real life situation through fiction. I'm personally a fan of Orwell's literature because I think he describes political situations in a way that makes them so much easier to understand and much more interesting to read about.
Reviewed by Hailey P., Grade 12
Casa Verdugo Library
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