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Friday, December 30, 2011

Review: Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde

Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde.

Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde

Magic Carpet Books
Publication Date: June 2004
List Price: $6.95
ISBN-13: 9780152051259

Review: Rassuman Gaming Center can be fun; however, it's also very dangerous. It depends if anybody breaks in and ruins the equipment. That happened only once, but of course, they had to be when Gianinne's hooked up to a game called Heir Apparent, which is also the title of this tragic, mysterious novel, written by Vivian Vande Velde.

Gianinne visits the Rassuman Gaming Center and all is fine, until some people - who are wrong to believe they are civilized- break into the control center, and alter the technology while Gianinne is hooked up to a game! As a result, she is trapped Heir Apparent, and she cannot get out unless she wins this impossible puzzle. That means Gianinne must find the magic ring, answer a sort of dwarf, troll, wizard thing and his stupid riddles, create a poem for the head-chopping statue, make dozens of ghosts disappear, and return to the barbarians the crown that turns objects into gold. Oh! Did I forget to mention that the crown is guarded by a man-eating dragon? And that Janine, Gianinne's character, has limited life... and time? Yeah, there are way too many ways to get killed. Unfortunately for Janine, this is her first time playing this game, so the odds are against her. Is it possible that she will win the game in the limited time she has? Or will she be mentally demented for the rest of her life? Read Heir Apparent to find out!

I personally, strongly, believe that I've been blessed with great books. Vivian Vande Velde is a better author than I can ever imagine. If there is a sequel to this book, I'll be sure that get my hands on it; I can promise anybody that. Not only does the book have a setting that in a technologically advanced world, Velde also manages to make it mimic medieval life too! However, as much praise I give, I still have to admit that I rate this book 4.999 stars. First of all, the characters are not developed enough for my liking. When I was trying to sketch the characters, I really struggled. It was like a mystery to me. On the other hand, I loved her writing style. For instance, "It was my fourteenth birthday, and I was arguing with a bus. How pathetic was that?" Another example of just plain fun writing is, "Just then, her desk dragon pooped on the desk. I should have taken it as an omen." She reveals a lot about her characters though the dialogue, "Ouch. Not a very good first impression on my family. And what was that awful smell? Oh yeah. That was me."

Review written by Tam (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Heir Apparent for this review.

Have you read Heir Apparent? How would you rate it?

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Review: Dogs in the Dead of the Night by Mary Pope Osborne

Dogs in the Dead of the Night by Mary Pope Osborne. A Magic Tree House Book.

Dogs in the Dead of the Night by Mary Pope Osborne

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2011
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780375868245

Review: Have you ever had to search for something small in a large, uncommon place? In the book, Dogs in the Dead of Night (Dogs in the Dead of Night #46 in Magic Treehouse series) by Mary Pope Osborne, brother and sister Jack and Annie have to travel back in time to the Swiss Alps during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte. Their task is to find a rare flower to save their friends. On their quest, they then meet a dog named Barry and offer to train him, but he runs away. Now they have a new task…. To find Barry!

Jack and Annie better prepare for the worst! After they are sent back in time to the Swiss Alps in search of a wild flower, Jack and Annie are caught up in an avalanche. Fortunately, they are rescued by monks and Saint Bernard's who live at a nearby monastery. It is there where Annie makes a big mistake. One of the mischief-making Saint Bernard's named Barry is causing ruckus around the monastery, so Annie offers to train him. While attempting to train him, Barry accidently rips up a book and runs away from the monastery out of shame. Scared and worried, Jack and Annie head out to search for Barry. Will Jack and Annie find Barry and the flower to save their friends?

Dogs in the Dead of Night is a very entertaining, funny book with many thrills. I liked how the author describes the characters emotions. For example when Barry tears up Jack's Alps book, Jack is enraged with anger as he walks in the room and sees the mess. I also really liked the setting of the story. For example, the Swiss Alps and the monastery are an unusual and interesting setting for the story. But the setting also gives it a twist because of the effect it had on the problems that jack and Annie faced. For example, when jack and Annie were searching for Barry, an avalanche occurred and became an obstacle. Although the book is fantastic, it seemed as if the book was rushed and before I knew it was already the ending. I this book would be for kids who are new to chapter books. All in all, I think that this book is great for a reader who loves good laughs and adventures. Dogs in the Dead of Night deserves 4 out of 5 stars.

Review written by Sam K. (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Dogs in the Dead of the Night for this review.

Have you read Dogs in the Dead of the Night? How would you rate it?

Monday, December 26, 2011

Review: Paintings from the Cave: Three Novellas by Gary Paulsen

Paintings from the Cave: Three Novellas by Gary Paulsen.

Paintings from the Cave: Three Novellas by Gary Paulsen

Wendy Lamb Books
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780385746847

Review: Everyone always has something, some object, thought, or task, they do or think of to get away from unfortunate things in their lives. Whether it's loving animals, reading a book, or hiding somewhere; there is always something; that being said, what do you do to escape reality? I have read many Gary Paulsen books; therefore I know he's an unbelievably talented author. To me, Paintings from the Cave by Gary Paulsen is quite possibly one of his best novels yet. Like many of his books, the main characters include kids, teenagers, and or animals.

One aspect of this book is that it was divided into three stories. Each 40-64 page story includes three different characters: in the first story the main character is a boy named Jake, the second story is a girl named Jo, and in the third story's main character was a boy named Jamie. Each story is incredibly different however, all of the stories have one thing in common; they are all about kids facing difficulties within their families and aren't exactly living the life they would want to live. For instance, in the first book, Jake, who has always believed that if "you stop moving, you're done", lives with an aunt that is an alcoholic and doesn't pay any attention to him. Jake adapts this motto because of the fear he feels toward a character named Blade. Blade is a criminal, a drug dealer who scares the living daylights out of Jake, so Jake does everything in his power to avoid him. Blade is never arrested [not that the police wouldn't bother to show up to those run down apartments], and is always on the lookout for more henchmen to do his dirty work. Jake has learned to keep a low profile, but that isn't enough. The infamous criminal Blade wants him now. But the real question is, can he escape from Blade, or will he end up working for the criminal, like most of the other young kids in the apartment complex for the rest of his life? Read the Paintings from the Cave to find out.

Secondly, the next story is about a girl named Jo who like Jake isn't living how she would like to live. Joe lives in a trailer with her mom and dad who are horrific parents and alcoholics. They are constantly screaming at each other and fighting. Luckily, she too learns how to fly below the radar and passes by unnoticed. Joe's way to forget about her life is to surround herself with dogs of any kind. Like any other dog owner, Joe takes her dogs for daily walks. Unlike many dog owners however, she takes her dogs to the woods where she met another girl that love dogs just as much as she does, her name is Rose. Jo and Rose quickly became best friends but sadly isn't long before Joe discovers that Rose has been diagnosed with leukemia. The more time the girls spend together the more affectionate Joe's dogs become towards Rose. Rose is embarrassed by her illness and tries to isolate herself. Can their friendship be saved? Will Rose survive through her experience? Read the Paintings from the Cave to find out.

Lastly, the third and final story included in this book is about a girl named Jamie. Like the second story, this girl has a special love for dogs. Unfortunately Jamie and her older brother are being physically abused .so they decide to move out of that house. Her brother Erik is very serious and understands that in order to support his sister and himself he needs to work two jobs. Erik relentlessly works around the clock to provide and is very strict about money. In contrast, Jamie is loving and more of a free spirit. She finds herself drawn to a local dog park; where she spends the day sketching dogs. She is noticed by a volunteer from the pet shelter and is offered a deal. His offer is to give her ten dollars per portrait, he believes that her drawings will aid in finding dogs new homes. Things seem to be looking up for the siblings, or so it seems. Are Jamie and Erik really capable of balancing their new life? Can Eric keep working two jobs or will he start to crack? Will Jaime take the generous offer and sell her sketches? If you truly want to dig down deeper read Paintings from the Cave and find out what mysteries lay behind the cover of this book.

In closing, and as I mentioned earlier, I think Paintings from the Cave includes many elements essential for a great novel and is a ideal example of what young readers books should be like. One thing I was pleased about was the flow of the book, It is imperative that every book has a good flow and isn't choppy as many books are. Books that go too far off track always make me lose interest. Gary Paulsen has made himself of the best authors of all time. Paulsen has written brilliant book after book including Hatchet, Dog song, and The Rifle. Therefore, I agree with Publishers Weekly when they say "Paulsen writes another touching story about human kindness and humanity…… This emotional coming of - age journey about taking responsibility for one's own happiness and making personal connections will not disappoint". The reason I agree so greatly with Publisher Weekly on this particular quote is because Paulsen's books truly are touching are I can always count on his books to excite, inspire and certainly not disappoint me. Gary Paulsen has created a legacy and it is in fact an honor to be reviewing one of his books. To conclude, I am very eager to dive into another one of Gary Paulsen's epic works of art.

Review written by Kaleb (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Paintings from the Cave: Three Novellas for this review.

Have you read Paintings from the Cave: Three Novellas? How would you rate it?

Friday, December 23, 2011

Review: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan. A Heroes of Olympus Book.

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Hyperion Books
Publication Date: October 2011
List Price: $19.99
ISBN-13: 9781423140597

Review: Do you ever wonder what it is like to be a child of a god? In The Son of Neptune written by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson has lost his memory. Percy has to fight monsters, go to a camp of warriors, and survive getting attacked by giants. And if you think that is hard, try making some friends along the way. Percy meets a few new people to the Heroes of Olympus series. Those people begin with Frank, Hazel, Octavian, Reyna, Terminus, and last but not least, the giants. But when Thanatos is captured by Gaea, and her son Alcaeus, It is up to Percy and friends to save the day. And what is worse than having a time limit. With the Feast of Fortuna coming up and an attack by a giant's army, will they escape this adventure with their lives?

The Romans and Greeks have never been friends. In The Lost Hero,the first book in the series, Jason is barely kept alive a result of conflict. In The Son of Neptune Percy could have been killed if hadn't been for Juno. They are also very similar. Jason is a son of a forbidden god and so is Percy. They meet up with the rivals to their gods and have to face-off with them. Percy and Jason have unique fighting strategies. Jason forces a god to teleport, but can Percy kill one? And how will the other similarities affect Percy's quest? Will those similarities save Percy and his friends?

The Son of Neptune is a tremendous book. It fills you with all sorts of emotions and surprises you every time you turn the page. This book can be viewed as many genres and is a book for all ages. If your friend says they can't read it because it is so long, then tell them that its length is what makes it so an excellent read. It tells of a great story and its many details keep you up to pace. This book is a must read and will also teach you Roman words. The Son of Neptune is one book that is perfect for a long trip when you can get brought up to date in Rick Riordan's novels. This book was one of the greatest I have ever read. In fact I cannot wait for Rick Riordan's next book. The Son of Neptune sets high standards for authors worldwide. Individual parts of the book shined the most. I would even say Athena's wisdom would be rivaled by Rick Riordan. The quote that I thought was important to the book was when Juno says, "So what will it be? Safety, or a future of pain and possibility?" That meant a lot to me because if he crossed over he could die and if he didn't, he would get chased by gorgons until they find his weak spot and kill him. So he has to make the choice that is better for everybody else. It also shows that he is as selfless as a true warrior that wants to win a battle even if it means he would sacrifice himself. "All hail Rick Riordan" will fill everybody's mind once they read The Son of Neptune.

Review written by Joseph (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Joseph for providing a copy of The Son of Neptune for this review.

Have you read The Son of Neptune? How would you rate it?

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Review: The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster with annotations by Leonard S. Marcus

The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster with annotations by Leonard S. Marcus.

The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster with annotations by Leonard S. Marcus

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 2011
List Price: $29.99
ISBN-13: 9780375857157

Review: Fifty years ago, a young architect who was given a grant to write a children's book about urban planning & design felt as if he was "about to be buried alive under a mountain of facts." During an escape he met a young boy who was bound and determined to find, once and for all, the largest number. Completely amused by the young boy, this architect was filled with new life and a new idea for a book. Little did he know his book would still be celebrated fifty years later! This young architect was Norton Juster, and his novel is The Phantom Tollbooth - a book that has not only been a staple in classrooms across the country, but has also been made into a musical! Today, Leonard S. Marcus has made a classic even better. The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth is the original story supplemented by an intriguing introduction and hundreds of annotations.

The Phantom Tollbooth is an exercise in figurative language. It is the type of story that can be read over and over again at different stages of a reader's development and take on new meanings each time! Now with the annotated edition, the depth of understand a reader will have is astounding. Marcus' annotations are clearly the result of extensive research and richly support the text. He includes information that he learned as a result of interviews and his own analysis of the book. He also has incorporated actually copies of notes that Juster took when he was planning his novel. For example, in the story it says "Easy as falling off a log." Apparently Juster did an entire warm-up exercise to brainstorm idiomatic expressions that might lend themselves to comedy. A copy of his notes is included in the annotations! The annotations provide the reader with a much deeper understanding of the story and provide ideas for even further information. Juster uses verbal paradoxes throughout the novel, and Marcus offers a suggestion for further reading on such a literary style. As a teacher, The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth is essential to teaching the novel, however, even for the casual reader, the annotations will make an already amazing story even more thought-provoking and fascinating!

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth for this review.

Have you read The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth? How would you rate it?

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Review: Show Time by Sue Stauffacher

Show Time by Sue Stauffacher. An Animal Rescue Team Book.

Show Time by Sue Stauffacher

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 2011
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780375858505

Review: Have you ever had to deal with squirrels that were too friendly with people terrorizing a college and a veteran's facility and also winning a jump rope competition at the same time? Well, an ordinary girl named Keisha has to deal with both of these. In the book Show Time (from the Animal Rescue Team series) by Sue Stauffacher, squirrels had been scaring some of the students and staff at a local college and it's up to Keisha and the Animal Rescue Team to stop them! But Keisha also has a jump rope competition to win. Can she do it all?

Keisha Carter and her family's problems all change when they get a call from Mt. Mercy College, about squirrels frightening the students and staff! So the Animal Rescue Team (Keisha and her family) arrives at the scene to investigate. In order to gather up more clues about the situation, the team has to make some careful decisions about the squirrel situation. Meanwhile, Keisha has to deal with some of her own problems. The Grand River Steppers jump rope team has a chance of placing in the finals, but Keisha is so nervous that she keeps messing up her routine! While working on the squirrel situation, Keisha meets Sergeant Pinkham, a retired war veteran that is getting used to his new prosthetic. Keisha tells Sarge about her problems with her jump rope routine and her squirrel situation. He encourages her and tells her she will succeed but only if she stays focused and practices the routine. He just might be the person to help Keisha calm down, have fun and do well at the competition. Can Keisha get over her problems and do well in the competition? And will the team finish their problem with the squirrels?

Show Time is a great book for kids from 2nd to 4th grade. It is a book full of laughs and surprises that make the reader want to continue reading. A part of the book that made me laugh was when Razi was performing his tap dance routine at the school performance and he fell on his bottom! Also, I liked how the author made the reader think of how the characters were going to solve their problems and decisions. For example, when they first wet to the Mt. Mercy College they didn't know where to start with their investigation. This made me think of where would be a good place for them to look first. I did not like that in one chapter it would talk about the squirrel situation but in the next chapter it would be something different with a new place and new characters. All in all, I think this book is great for someone who loves a few jokes and many surprises. Show Time deserves 4 out 5 stars.

Review written by Sam K. (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Show Time for this review.

Have you read Show Time? How would you rate it?

Friday, December 16, 2011

Review: Also Known as Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher

Also Known as Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher.

Also Known as Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher

Clarion Books
Publication Date: November 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547572086

Review: A once in a lifetime opportunity, an application to Whitestone Prep, and the hands of Bobby Steele. You'd never guess how it ends up. The author of, Also Known As Rowan Pohi, is Ralph Fletcher. Fletcher takes you on a wild and crazy adventure as we follow "Rowan Pohi."

Soon-to-be 16 year old Bobby Steele and his friends, (Marcus and Big Poobs) are sitting at their local hangout, IHOP, when they come across an application to Whitestone Prep. Whitestone is a very fancy private school where only rich kids go. But when the boys decide to mess around and send a fake application in, under the fake name Rowan Pohi, they end up in a sticky situation. The application is actually accepted! And Bobby decides to become Rowan Pohi! But Bobby decides not to tell any one that he is going to Whitestone. Now, Bobby doesn't have the best background either, so when he gets a chance he takes it. Bobby's father went to jail for hurting his wife a year ago. Now he is back, but his wife left. At first Bobby's plan is working well, he even develops a relationship with a few people. But, soon a school bully and his friends figure out his secret! With upset friends and a threatening school bully, what will Bobby do? Will he run away and hide? Or, will he stand up for himself?

Also Known As Rowan Pohi is a great book. It includes drama, comedy, and even a little romance. I love the character that Fletcher made. Bobby sounds like a regular boy just trying to get by. I also very much enjoyed the comedic feel that Fletcher gave it. It helps make the story more interesting. At the same time I would not let an under-aged child read this book because it does have some foul language. Other than that it's the perfect story. The graphics supplied in Also Known As Rowan Pohi allow you to imagine yourself there next to Bobby, experiencing what he experiences. As much as this book is funny, it is emotional as well. Fletcher's amazing detail makes you feel how Bobby feels. And when he's in trouble, you feel sympathy for him. I cherish that in books. One of my favorite things about fictional books is that you get to "live" out your fantasies through the characters. And that is exactly what happened in Also Known As Rowan Pohi. That is my favorite quality in a book. So, if you've got some extra time, pick up Also Known As Rowan Pohi, I think you'll enjoy it.

Review written by Savannah (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Also Known as Rowan Pohi for this review.

Have you read Also Known as Rowan Pohi? How would you rate it?

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Review: The White City by John Claude Bemis

The White City by John Claude Bemis. A Clockwork Dark Book.

The White City by John Claude Bemis

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2011
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780375855689

Review: A fantastic and adventurous tale, The White City, written by John Claude Bemis, is a blast of fantasy in the bustling city of Chicago. Action swarms around every corner as Ray and his friends fight off the darkness that could change the fate of the world. But as this daunting battle transforms to complete war, the World hangs on its final thread. No matter what the result of the war is, Ray's and Conker's lives are about to change forever.

As the Clockwork Series draws into its third book, Ray and his friends work together from both sides in order to bring down the Gog. Ray and Jolie chase after Ray's sister while searching for his father in the Gloaming. Conker and his friends are already in Chicago and are attempting to retrieve the Nine Pound Hammer. Although the numbers are against them, and most of Chicago is under the influence of the Gog, the Ramblers are determined to foil his evil plans. But Ray and Conker are quickly running out of time. The Gog's machine, the machine of death destroyed by John Henry, is almost rebuilt. Ray and Conker must drive the hammer into the machine's heart before it awakes. But killing the machine is not enough. In order for the machine to truly be destroyed forever, the idea of it must be destroyed as well. This means that the Gog must die as well. Will Ray and Conker be able to save the world, or will the world's final thread snap after their failure?

An amazing story of great courage and strength, The White City perfectly drew together American myths and legends into a fantastic fantasy. I would recommend this story and series to anyone who has an interest in fantasy or who wants to pick up a good book. I feel that The White City will attract readers ten and up mainly for its vocabulary. Before reading this series, I had no interest in mythology and very limited love for fantasy. By reading these books however, I have learned to give them a chance and have found that I enjoy them very much. I give this book five stars for its ties to mythology, fantasy, and historic America. John Claude Bemis is an inspiring author and I have high hopes that he will continue his writing career. In fact, I am positive that this is not the last time we will hear his name.

Review written by Brandon (8th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The White City for this review.

Have you read The White City? How would you rate it?

Monday, December 12, 2011

Review: The White Fox by James Bartholomeusz

The White Fox by James Bartholomeusz.

The White Fox by James Bartholomeusz

Medallion Press
Publication Date: December 2011
List Price: $9.95
ISBN-13: 9781605424620

Review: Have you ever been out of this universe to a different planet and had to learn alchemy? Jack Lawson has this experience with his friend, Lucy. When the Cult of Dionysus, the people of dark alchemy, attacks Earth in search for the Door of Darkness, tragedy strikes the town of Birchford. Jack and Lucy flee Earth to go to the planet of Rauthr. After weeks of combat and alchemy training, Jack and Lucy meet up with the Cult once again. In this stand-alone book, The White Fox by James Bartholomeusz, will Jack survive?

Jack and Lucy barely survive on Earth. While traveling to Rauthr, a white fox follows him. Upon arriving there, Jack and Lucy meet elves and dwarves. They look for the leader of the Apollonians, Sardar, who guides the people of light alchemy. Jack and Lucy go through weeks of combat and alchemy training to prepare for battle. The Cult of Dionysus appears unexpectedly and battle takes place.

I rate this book a five out of five. The White Fox is very suspenseful, keeping me on the edge of my seat almost every second. I found it difficult to put the book down. "The beast's body fell into the heart of the volcano and its spirit was fused with the mountain itself." is an example of how the author's writing kept me captivated. The story is also OUTSTANDING. The various planets, creatures and state of involving alchemy are very interesting to me. I like how the author uses his imagination to create this extraordinary story. I would recommend this book to a friend, but only with a high reading level. There are a few words that I stumbled on, but managed to understand. The author should make a series of this story. There are no downsides to this book, being one of the best I have ever read.

In my opinion, The White Fox should win many awards. A good story lies within this book. It was very enjoyable to read and I will read it again.

Review written by William (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Medallion Press for providing a copy of The White Fox for this review.

Have you read The White Fox? How would you rate it?

Friday, December 9, 2011

Review: In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton. A Goblin Wars Book.

In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

Clarion Books
Publication Date: November 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547435602

Review: Imagine this: you have goblin blood inside you. There's no way to get it out, and you desperately want to get rid of it. Goblins are ready to kill, kill, KILL! You're a good person, and you're in love! But you have a decision ahead of you, that you can change your life. You could kill and pretend that you have no idea, or curl up in a ball and die. But, you can also fight the fight, even though it might be useless. Well, this is the situation that Teagan Wylltston faces, just inside the pages of In the Forest of the Night, from the Goblin Wars series, by Kersten Hamilton. This is, however, the second book, so consider reading the first book before reading this one.

Teagan (or Rosebud, as her dad formally calls her) has recently fallen in love with Finn. However, she cannot lead the life she wants, not until they banish all evil from Mag Mell, a magical place in which magical creatures roam. And she's is becoming sicker by the second, and it just so happens that the sickness is growing because of Fear Doirich. He's not bad, no, he's EVIL! But he's not the only one, Kyle, who's body is asleep in Mag Mell, is dangerous! He, too, is ready to kill, just like others who have goblin blood. The rest? You'll just have to read this book and find out.

For a series like this, I can't think of a better author than Kersten Hamilton. She used such descriptive phrases! In the Forest of the Night includes romance, adventure, and mystery. The combination of all three caused a lot of emotions to explode inside me. Excitement, anxiousness, and I constantly felt on the edge, as if I couldn't stop reading until I finished the book. If my memory was constantly being erased like Mr. Wylltston's memory, I would keep rereading this book. It's that good. At first, I didn't really understand the plot, because I had not read the first book, and maybe, if I looked at the cover closer, I would have noticed that it said "Book Two". However, this is not the first series that I've read the second book before the first one. I WILL, though, make sure that I read the first book, Tyger Tyger. And once the third book comes out, I'll make sure I'll read that one too. I rate In the Forest of the Night five stars.

Review written by Tam (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of In the Forests of the Night for this review.

Have you read In the Forests of the Night? How would you rate it?

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Review: The Sign of the Black Rock by Scott Chantler

The Sign of the Black Rock by Scott Chantler. A Three Thieves Book.

The Sign of the Black Rock by Scott Chantler

Kids Can Press
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $17.95
ISBN-13: 9781554534166

Review: There are many books about thieves, right? True, however, none of the thieves are like the ones we deal with in this story. These thieves are not the parkour action escape type. These thieves are actually much nicer ones. Scott Chantler has written an eye capturing graphic novel that will be good for a wide range of kids and adults. It is a fun and exciting read for a diverse group of people. The Sign of the Black Rock is the second book in the Three Thieves series. The main characters are the Three Thieves (a girl - Dessa, a norker-a small grumpy creature, and fisk- a very large and strong creature), and an innkeeper.

After attempting to steal from the queen's treasury, the 3 thieves, now fugitives are on the run to avoid being caught. It won't be too easy with the queen's dragons after them. They are even offering a "reward" for them. Eventually, they find themselves trapped. That happens after someone tricks them and they do not have Fisk to help them. The innkeeper does not really care for his wife Eudora, and puts her in charge of watching over the thieves but she and Dessa become friends. With dragons after them, escape is far away, but at the same time much closer than they think.

This book is filled with suspense which is one of the many things I enjoyed about this book. You never know what is going to happen next as the 3 fugitives are on the run to safety. The highlight of the book is definitely the suspense because for the most part you don't know what will happen next. Dessa has something "valuable" that was taken. She wants "it" so badly that she has to escape in order to get it. There are only a few negative parts about this novel which actually do not have to do with the storyline. An example of this is that the name of the book does not have anything to do with the story itself, so that kind of threw me off. A title I would suggest for this story is Thieves on the Run . This addition to the first book in the series is an attention-grabbing read. I recommend it to anyone 9-13 who is looking for a fascinating and fun, relaxing read. Overall, I feel this book is well written and entertaining. I rate it a solid 7 out of 10.

Review written by Sahil (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Raab Associates for providing a copy of The Sign of the Black Rock for this review.

Have you read The Sign of the Black Rock? How would you rate it?

Monday, December 5, 2011

Review: Who Cares? by Krista Blakeney Bell

Who Cares? by Krista Blakeney Bell.

Who Cares? by Krista Blakeney Bell

Kane Miller
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $4.99
ISBN-13: 9780734404664

Review: Krista Blakeney Bell outdoes herself in this tale of secrets and surfers. Who Cares is a must-read, so start reading. Toby and Rhys are your average 14-year-old boys. They have hobbies of their own, families of their own, and of course…there's always that one big secret hiding behind the walls of every person. Toby attends an all-boys school, which makes his love for tap-dancing something he needs to keep quiet. Rhys, who goes to school with Toby, has a huge secret of his own, something no one can know about.

Toby and Rhys' moms are old friends from college. When they accidentally run into each other at the grocery store, things for Toby and Rhys get interest. Rhys' family owns a beach house in Lorne, and Toby's mom wants him to spend the week there while she's on a business trip in Hong Kong. Toby isn't too keen on the idea, but he goes along for his mother's sake. Toby and Rhys don't know each other very well. Other than the fact that they both enjoy surfing, they have nothing in common. But when Toby tells Rhys of his passion for tap-dancing, Rhys feels the need to keep his own secret far from the ears of his new friend. The only thing is…Rhys' secret is turning ugly, fast. And he has to get Toby out of Lorne before he discovers any more about it. Everyone has secrets. And one way or another, they always come out.

When I look at any other book I have ever read about the bond between children, this has to be one of the best. The author takes some of the most incomprehensible thoughts that almost all children have and turns it into a great novel. When someone tells you to read Harry Potter or something, don't listen. Read this book. Read it, memorize it, and learn all you can from the words of Krista Blakeney Bell. Because what I only just figured out as I closed the back of this book is that a true friend won't care about what secrets you have. Every time you start worrying about what they're going to think, they surprise you by flat out saying, "Who cares?"

Review written by Amber (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Kane Miller for providing a copy of Who Cares? for this review.

Have you read Who Cares?? How would you rate it?

Friday, December 2, 2011

Review: The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric

The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric.

The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2011
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780385739993

Review: The city is sinking, the seagulls are murdering, and Teodora needs to hasten! In my opinion, The Undrowned Child written by Michelle Lovric is a very remarkable book. This thrilling book is about a thirteen year old girl named Teodora who isn't aware of the fact that she is already part of Venice history and more importantly doesn't even know that she was born in Venice. After begging her step-parents to take a trip to the strangely appealing city of Venice, she finally has the privilege of going to the slowly but surely sinking city. Being the bookworm she is, one of the first things Teodora does when she arrives in Venice is travel to the library. Unfortunately, she gets knocked down by a book [which as it turns out, is not a coincidence] gets awfully ill and enters a very peculiar world known as "between the linings" where only children, ghosts, and of course mermaids can she her. Luckily, she bears a book that gives her knowledge on how to overcome the challenges and tasks she will come across on her journey. She goes on a journey with a conceited; know it all, boy Renzo to attempt to revert Teodora to her ordinary life. But will she be able to overcome all the obstacles that await? Read The Undrowned Child to find out!

The Undrowned Child has a variety of great elements that I enjoyed. For instance, throughout the book, I felt like I was Teodora and was accompanying her in her journey. The book includes great tone and voice and I felt the energy as if I was traveling through the book. While reading the book, I was sucked into the excitement, feeling exactly what Renzo and Teodora felt. I also enjoyed the flow of the book. All of the events occurred in an order that made sense and was suitable to the reader. I agree with Jake Hope, Booksellers' Choice, when he said this book is "a stunning debut novel….. Part fairy tale, part historical fiction, this is writing that is alight and alive." Lastly, I favored the last chapter that includes facts about Venice. It includes sights you could still see in the ever so slightly sinking city of Venice and even more appealing facts of the ever so famous city. Therefore, The Undrowned Child is most definitely a book I'll never forget.

Review written by Kaleb (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Undrowned Child for this review.

Have you read The Undrowned Child? How would you rate it?

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Review: Ankylosaur Attack by Daniel Loxton

Ankylosaur Attack by Daniel Loxton. A Tales of Prehistoric Life Book.

Ankylosaur Attack by Daniel Loxton

Kids Can Press
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9781554536313

Review: It was a morning long, long ago - millions of years before humans walked the Earth. As the first rays of sunlight shone through the trees, a young ankylosaur opened his eyes. He looked around. The cool morning air began to warm up. He turned his huge armored body to bask in the sun. So begins Daniel Loxton's book Tales of Prehistoric Life: Ankylosaur Attack. Ankylosaur Attack is the story of a young ankylosaur who meets an older ankylosaur who has been injured. Knowing that ankylosaurs prefer to be alone, he doesn't bother him. However, when a tyrannosaur appears on the scene, the young ankylosaur must think fast if he is to save the older ankylosaur and even himself!

Ankylosaur Attack is a beautifully illustrated book. The pictures pop off the page engrossing the reader into the adventures an ankylosaur experiences. The life-like portrayals of the animals strengthen the story considerably. However, it is not simply a book full of neat pictures. The story itself is both interesting and informative. Loxton weaves in facts about ankylosaurs in such a way that the reader learns about dinosaurs without feeling as if they are reading a nonfiction text. Plus, at the end of the story, Loxton includes a brief section in which both the ankylosaur and tyrannosaur are explained in a more traditional nonfiction format. Tales of Prehistoric Life: Ankylosaur Attack is a perfect book for any young dinosaur enthusiast because it is well-researched and has rich, vivid illustrations; plus it's a great story!

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Raab Associates for providing a copy of Ankylosaur Attack for this review.

Have you read Ankylosaur Attack? How would you rate it?

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Review: A Plague Year by Edward Bloor

A Plague Year by Edward Bloor.

A Plague Year by Edward Bloor

Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780375856815

Review: Meth, a dangerous drug, turns a small town upside down. In the story A Plague Year by Edward Bloor, Tom Coleman, a normal boy who works at a local food store living a typical life is experiencing some bizarre things. For example, people are stealing unusual items from stores and grocery carts have gone missing. But that isn't what is really happening. Meth users have gotten arrested throughout the town for using, selling and cooking's a result Zombies appear all over the town threatening the lives of the residents of Black Water. Tom realizes that his life, as well as his family's lives, is in danger. He knows he must do everything he can to protect them.

Black Water Pennsylvania changes after 9/11, with an increase in the usage of illegal drugs. Tom is forced to join a counseling group with his sister, Lily that is geared to training kids to avoid drugs. They then learn about all the different drugs that are a big problem. And soon realize how big of an issue meth usage has become. People everywhere are taking this mysterious drug, thinking it makes them feel amazing. But they soon learn that it doesn't. The euphoria only lasts for about a week or two, and then it terrorizes users for the rest of their lives. People everywhere are found dead because of meth including some of Tom's closest friends and family. With everything on the line, Tom has to help his family and friends avoid meth, because if they do they will be lost forever. With everything happening, the question for Tom is: can he survive A Plague Year?

A Plague Year is a great book full of drama and action with some thrilling twists that made me not want to put the book down. For example, when Tom is working at the Food Giant, two men in ski masks were trying to steal ingredients for meth and Tom has to face who were behind those masks. I also liked how the author makes every part of the book a never-ending thrill ride. I think this book would be good for kids in 6th grade and above because of the content. All in all, I think the book is great book for someone who loves crime, drama, and suspense all throughout the book. A Plague Year deserves 5 out of 5 stars.

Review written by Sam K. (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of A Plague Year for this review.

Have you read A Plague Year? How would you rate it?

Monday, November 28, 2011

Review: Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett

Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett.

Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett

Harcourt Childrens Books
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547581323

Review: Tracy Barrett has created a new series that will surprise you - Dark of the Moon. Dark of the Moon is the first book in the series. The story starts with Ariadne who is preparing to become Goddess. Her brother named Asterion who is next in line to become the Minos, and her mother, Pasiphae, who is pregnant.

Ariadne's brother, Asterion, is locked under the palace. Ariadne's mother, Pasiphae, keeps Asterion confined under the palace by a magical ball of yarn that has many knots to make invisible binds that keep Asterion from roaming about the island. Children are brought to the palace by the guards to play with Asterion, who accidentally kills the children making other Greek communities think that Asterion is a monster living under the palace. Meanwhile, Pasiphae dies during the birth of her child-, and Ariadne is going to become Goddess following her mother's path. The ritual takes place shortly after Ariadne's mother dies. At the same time, the Minos is stepping down-, and Ariadne's brother, Asterion, is next in line to be the Minos. But, because of what he has done, the people do not want him to be Minos. Ariadne asks her friends to help Asterion escape from the city for his safety. Ariadne tries to help Asterion in a way you may never forget but something goes wrong.

Dark of the Moon really hooked me with all of its twists and turns. I always wanted to continue reading the book. The book is exciting because of the interesting characters that built up suspense. After the death of Pasiphae, everything that I was expecting changed. I could not predict what was going to happen next; I had to keep reading. I will never forget this Greek mythology book. It also has some fantasy in it. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.

Review written by Michael (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Raab Associates for providing a copy of Dark of the Moon for this review.

Have you read Dark of the Moon? How would you rate it?

Book Trends Welcomes Author Tracy Barrett: A Student Interview

Tracy Barrett holds a Bachelor's Degree with honors in Classics-Archaeology from Brown University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Italian Literature from the University of California, Berkeley. Her scholarly interests in the ancient and medieval worlds overlap in her fiction and nonfiction works, which is certainly reflected in her new young adult novel Dark of the Moon (Harcourt Children's Books, September 2011 print and ebook editions). Sixth grade student Michael recently had the opportunity to ask the author a few questions about the book.

Have you ever been to Greece, is this what inspired you to write about Greek mythology?

Tracy Barrett
Photo courtesy Tracy Barrett.
Photo credit John Russell.

I’ve been to Greece, but it didn’t inspire me to write books based on Greek mythology. It’s the other way around—my interest in the Classical world (ancient Greece and Rome), including Greek mythology, led me there! I spent my junior year of college at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome. We had a field trip to Greece, and when the field trip ended, it was spring break and I was on Crete, which was amazing. All the people I was with were classics majors so we spent the break wandering around the ancient Cretan ruins, trying to reconstruct what they must have looked like, and imagining the lives of the people who lived in them. The sand on most of Crete is black, by the way!

Why did you name the characters these names Ariadne, Asterion, and Pasiphae?

Their names come straight from the myth. “Ariadne” means “most pure” or “most holy,” “Asterion” has something to do with the stars (there’s probably some tie with the bull constellation, Taurus), and Pasiphaë means “she shines for all.” Many scholars think that this means that Pasiphaë was a title, not a name, for the priestess of the moon goddess or the incarnation of the moon goddess, Ariadne was the title of the priestess, and Asterion was the title of someone who incarnated the sun-god in the form of a bull.

Do you think that you could have written the book from a different place, time period, and point of view?

I have no doubt that someone could do that, but not me. At one point I tried to re-cast it in the modern day and had a great deal of trouble. I’m really interested in trying to reconstruct ancient cultures, and so I was happiest keeping the setting where the myth was born.

Why did you have Pasiphae die after she gave birth to Ariadne’s sister?

Pasiphaë disappears from the myth before the Minotaur is killed, and I had to explain that somehow.

Why did you have Ariadne tell Theseus that he should kill Asterion?

That was a hard call. I had set it up that Ariadne loved Asterion, and the myth says that she and Theseus fled after the Minotaur was killed. I couldn’t see her leaving Crete with someone she hated for killing her brother, and I didn’t want her to be kidnapped. This was her time for taking charge of her life, and being kidnapped is much too passive. The solution I came up with was that Ariadne approved of the mercy killing.

How did you decide that Theseus’s dad would jump off the cliff?

Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett

The myth says that Aegeus committed suicide by jumping off a cliff into the sea when he saw that his son’s ship was flying a black sail, which Theseus had told him would be a sign that he had been killed by the Minotaur. (This is one of the big problems I have with the version of the myth that we have, which is a Greek garbling of Minoan religion: How could you forget to take down a black sail if you knew it would make your father think you had been killed?) The way I had set up King Aegeus, he wouldn’t have done such a thing out of sorrow for the death of his son (whom he had sent to almost certain death—another problem I have with the myth: if Theseus had indeed been killed, it would hardly have been a surprise). The closest I could come to the myth and still stay true to my characters was for Aegeus to commit suicide rather than face the shame of being defeated in a duel.

Could there have been a way that Asterion could have gotten to Athens, and what is that way?

Oh, no. Not at all. The Minotaur is purely Cretan. Where the story we have most likely came from is that Greek travelers to Crete must have seen a priest wearing a mask shaped like the head of a bull taking part in religious ceremonies, and either misunderstood what was going on or deliberately made it out to be a barbaric ritual (the Minoans, who lived on Crete, were the Athenians’ big rival in the Aegean Sea, and they could have wanted to make them look bad). The Minotaur is Cretan, and could never have been possible anywhere else.

Why did you have the Goddess powers in yarn balls?

One of the most famous parts of the myth is when Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of yarn to help him find his way out of the labyrinth after killing the Minotaur. Women’s work in the ancient world, especially spinning and weaving, was a huge part of the economy and daily life, and there are many Greek myths about weaving and spinning. I wanted to make that ball of yarn have more importance than it had in the myth.

Did Ariadne’s ball of rope really rip the sail on the boat or was it the wind? Why did you make that choice?

I don’t know! What do you think? I made that choice because I wanted her to have some hand in her own destiny. The island of Naxos, where the myth says that Theseus abandoned Ariadne (and where she married the god Dionysus), turns out to be a very holy site in the religion of moon-goddess worship.

How long did it take you to write the book?

About two years, counting revisions.

When you started did you know what you were writing at the end when you were writing the beginning or was it a work in progress?

I hardly ever know the end of a book when I get started, which is why I don’t like to work with outlines. If I know too much of what’s going to happen, it feels like homework! I did know that Theseus had to kill the Minotaur, that Ariadne had to help him, that they had to leave Crete, and that Theseus had to leave Ariadne on the island of Naxos. Those were the basic elements in the myth that I couldn’t mess with. But the myth is very sparse on motivation, and that’s where I had to work the hardest—to make a very unlikely story emotionally believable.

Clearly, Dark of the Moon is based in Greek mythology, but did you use the myths more as a guide or do the story lines follow actual Greek myths?

The story line—the plot, the main characters, the setting—are from the myth. I invented almost everything else: details of the moon-goddess religion, the characters’ personalities, etc.

Review: Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.

Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547566870

Review: So you fall in love with someone who travels far, far away, what do you do? WRITE LETTERS! In Wisdom's Kiss, Fortitude, an orphaned maid falls in love with a boy named Tips, however, Tips decides to travel to earn money. The story of of their long-distance romance is written in letters, skits, and three knight's points of views. . .Wisdom's Kiss is another excellent novel written by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.

When Tips travels abroad, what do he and Fortitude(Trudy) do to keep their love alive? They write letters to each other, exchanging gifts, words, and thoughts. Princess Wisdom however, is a whole different story. She is another main character, and has a very important role to play. Wisdom is destined to always be the little sister of Montagne's queen, and is engaged to Lord Rodger, someone she loves and has accepted the proposal. Does she really love him though? Or is it just his attempts to woe her? Will either of the young women find their true love and uncover the truth about their destinies?

Murdock is a great, great, GREAT author! If I ever cross another of her books, I'll be sure to read it. To be able to write this book is a fascinating accomplishment. When I finished Wisdom's Kiss, I kept rereading the last page, just to make sure that that was really the ending. I didn't want to know it to be...I didn't want it to end. I doubt that with all the events in the book, there could be a sequel, but I want one anyway. I rate this book 4 out of 5. It was a really awesome book. It really is, but how it was told was kind of hard to understand at times. It was told through letters, skits, and knights, and that's really cool, but when I was reading it, I found it kind of hard to understand. I had to skip and reread a lot of parts, however, that might have also been my fault and not necessarily the fault of the author. But it is still worth mentioning. I didn't understand a lot of it, so when I got to the end of the book, I had to look through the book for clues as to how to understand how the story was organized. Finally, I found something useful, and I began to reread the book. The second time I read it, it made a LOT more sense to me. It was a good thing I found the information, because the story had such an intriguing plot! All in all, I highly recommend the book for advanced readers due to the complexity of the story line.

Review written by Tam (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Wisdom's Kiss for this review.

Have you read Wisdom's Kiss? How would you rate it?

Friday, November 25, 2011

Review: The Girl Behind the Glass by Jane Kelley

The Girl Behind the Glass by Jane Kelley.

The Girl Behind the Glass by Jane Kelley

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375862205

Review: Would you like to move out of your house? Your neighborhood? To a house that is haunted? This is what happened to 11 year old twins, Hannah and Anna in Jane Kelley's The Girl Behind the Glass. They have to move from Brooklyn, to a house on Hemlock Road because their older sister doesn't get into a decent private school. Now their life is going to go through some major changes that they are not ready for.

Hannah and Anna move to a house they are renting until the house they bought is ready. There are bats in the attic, mysterious winds, and a haunted closet. The twins want to use the houses' mysterious qualities against Selena, their older sister. But Selena and Anna start to adjust where Hannah does not. Hannah hears and sees strange things. Why is she the one that hears and sees all of these haunted and mysterious occurrences? Their mother considered them to be one person because they were so much alike and called them "HannahAnna." Hannah and Anna start to realize they are not one person, but two separate people. With all the noises and strange occurrences you start to try and figure out is someone or something trying to separate them and why.

While reading The Girl Behind the Glass by Jane Kelley, readers get involved with trying to figure out who is this ghost and why is this happening. Readers also are trying to gain an understanding about what families experience when life doesn't go the way they have planned. I would suggest this book to read as it is a book that always keeps readers wondering and interested because there are surprises in every chapter. I was interested in trying to figure out who the narrator is in the story. I think people from the age of 10 - 13 would enjoy this book. I rate this a 5 out of 5.

Review written by Cesco (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Girl Behind the Glass for this review.

Have you read The Girl Behind the Glass? How would you rate it?

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Review: Penny Dreadful by Laurel Snyder

Penny Dreadful by Laurel Snyder.

Penny Dreadful by Laurel Snyder

Yearling
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $7.99
ISBN-13: 9780375861697

Review: It wasn't dreadful at all when I read Penny Dreadful by Laurel Snyder! In this story, 7-year-old Penelope Grey is bored and lonely with no one to talk to except her parents and staff until her family inherits a house in Tennessee, where everything changes. Her parents start out incredibly wealthy until Dirk, Penelope's dad, loses his job, causing the three to struggle with money and finding a home. After Penny moves, she meets friends that help her along the way and show her what it's like to live in Thrush Junction. There's Luella, the crazy, spunky risk taker with an attitude that will definitely make you giggle. Jasper is an animal lover, with a house that's practically an animal shelter. Last but not least, there is Duncan who has over-protective parents that think he's allergic to almost every food. The four friends do amazing things together throughout the book, which is the main reason why I loved it.

The story begins with Penelope Grey sitting in her huge mansion of a home with nothing to do at all except read her book. She's always bored and thinks she always will be. Penelope is a home-schooled girl with no real friends. She waits for her father to come home from work, and when he does, she gets a big surprise. Her dad has quit his job. She doesn't mind that her father has done that. At that time, she doesn't care at all. However, a couple weeks later, she notices the staff that works at her house starts disappearing one by one. That's when Penelope gets confused and worried. Penelope tries to figure out what is happening. After over hearing her parents talk, she concludes that they are running out of money, and that the family would all have to move. One day, her mother gets a letter from Thrush Junction, Tennessee. They are inheriting a house from a deceased family member. This is the perfect solution for them all. After they get to their new home, Penelope finds a box of Penny Dreadfuls and decided to change her name and go meet some new friends. They all have something fun to do every day, whether it is having worm races or going to the shop to buy penny candy. Along the way, she finds a box that includes the amount of debt that Penny's mother and father need to pay off. It is definitely a big amount. Then, Penny gets worried, and is determined to make the money herself. She just HAS to do something. She just can't think of anything, but with the help of her friends, they finally decide to go search for gold in a huge cave. Is Penny successful? Does her family succeed?

I rate Penny Dreadful a ten out of ten because I enjoyed all the adventure that was in the book. I also liked the fact that there is a lot of teamwork in the story, which I enjoyed as well, because it's one of the most important things that you need in life. I could not attempt to put down this book down once I started reading! Penny Dreadful is so interesting. It shows readers the importance of never giving up, just like Penny. It gives many life lessons in the book like these and more. Once I finished reading, I actually felt a little sad because I wanted to read more! I wouldn't say that there is any bad language, but this story involves mature situations like losing a house or money, and people tend to be frustrated in many parts of the book, therefore I think this should be for middle-school readers and older.

Review written by Sofia (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Penny Dreadful for this review.

Have you read Penny Dreadful? How would you rate it?

Monday, November 21, 2011

Review: Following Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci

Following Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci.

Following Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci

Harcourt Childrens Books
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780152047597

Review: Have you ever read a website and then wanted to track down a run away person? Well in the fantastic written book titled Following Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci that is the case. In this book there are two main characters named Mike Mavic and Ray Ann. Mike is a reporter he read a website titled ChistopherCreed.com. He and his girlfriend Ray Ann are investigating the case of Christopher running away from home. It starts in a small town in Indiana.

Mike is on the website he visits ChristopherCreed.com- which is run by the "famous" Torey Adams. So since the two college students are on break they decided that they should go to the town were Chris once lived and investigate. When they reach their destination, they are met by some high school students. Who tell them that if they wanted to try to find Chris they should go to Lighting Field where Chris' bother Justin is hanging out. This starts a surreal chain of events as Mike and Ray Ann embark on an adventure filled with death, mystery, and crazy people. If you want to figure out what happens looks like you are just going to have to read the book yourself.

Following Christopher Creed is an amazing book to read. I would recommend this book to anyone 14 and up. The reason I would recommend this book to this age level is because there are some words that aren't suitable for younger kids. So I highly recommend asking your parents to read a couple chapters so they know what kind of words are being used in the book, however the words are sometimes appropriate for the situation, but other times its just bad language. But besides that this book is the best book I have ever read. The plot is very tense which is my favorite type of book. I also think this book is thrilling because everyone in the book is only looking for one person Chris, and Chris is e-mailing Justin to look for him and he appears then vanishes. Even if you don't like mysteries or thrillers I think you will still love this amazing book. The reason is because at first before this book I really preferred sports books. But after I read this book I changed my opinion a lot. I hope that Carol Plum - Ucci makes more amazing books like this. From the beginning I thought this book would be a boring book, but that shows you can't judge a book by its cover. Lastly I think that Following Christopher Creed deserves a five out of five because of all the reasons I listed. So please just read the book- you won't be disappointed.

Review written by Ryan (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Following Christopher Creed for this review.

Have you read Following Christopher Creed? How would you rate it?

Friday, November 18, 2011

Review: The Battle for Tomorrow: A Fable by Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall

The Battle for Tomorrow: A Fable by Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall.

The Battle for Tomorrow: A Fable by Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall

Eloquent Books
Publication Date: April 2011
List Price: $18.95
ISBN-13: 9781612042190

Review: A book with so many life lessons and about this girl who is stuck in a rut is a good read for many ages is called The Battle for Tomorrow by Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall, an author originally from the U.S. who moved to New Zealand. This book is about many good and just regular acts made by Angela Jones; a thirteen-years-old who had undergone her first abortion and soon decides to go Goth as well. Although this book isn't part of a series, it is phenomenal and I will reread it many times to come.

The Battle for Tomorrow is much more than a fable; it is also heart warming, tear-jerking, and suprising to many who will it, and its message rings true to all. The story takes place close to Washington D.C., as well as many other places like Africa for one chapter. Angela must help take care of her mother because her mother, Diane, is paralyzed on her whole right side and cannot speak as the result of a recent stroke just after Angela's 13th birthday. Due to the recent abortion, Ange takes a counseling class plus a pregnancy test weekly. Soon she starts to date a twenty-three-year-old political activist who soon opens up her eyes to see the importance of the urgent political and environmental issues facing humanity all around her; a bankrupt global economy, catastrophic climate change, and looming water, energy and food shortages. These crises are all around her, happening all throughout the book, all leading to alarming consequences for her new life as an adult.

I think many other people should read this book, especially readers age 13 and older, because it is filled with many life lessons throughout the plot of the story. It shares issues that are not only close to home, but also following what happens all over the world today. Sometimes teenagers don't listen, but maybe after reading this book, they will. The Battle for Tomorrow also explains many other things that can be good, bad, fun, or cool to do depending on the reader's interest. But the major reason this book should be recommended to people all over is because overall, this book is absolutely phenomenal. Since The Battle for Tomorrow is outstanding, I recommend it to all of you who are bored on vacations and days off. Read this book, and trust me; --- it will be outstanding and flabbergasting in many ways.

The Battle for Tomorrow received the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award which is given out to very few gifted authors. Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall earned his award in the category of Juvenile Fiction. Bramhall has not always been an author: he is a retired psychiatrist who is using his exceptional writing skills to bring a very important message to young adult readers. I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars because of depth of the storytelling and exceptional voice used throughout the book.

Review written by Sam P (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Stuart Bramhall for providing a copy of The Battle for Tomorrow: A Fable for this review.

Have you read The Battle for Tomorrow: A Fable? How would you rate it?

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Review: The Dragon in the Volcano by Kate Klimo

The Dragon in the Volcano by Kate Klimo. A Dragon Keepers Book.

The Dragon in the Volcano by Kate Klimo

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 2011
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780375866920

Review: Have you ever had an unusual friend? What about a dragon? The Dragon in the Volcano by Kate Klimo is the 4th installment of the Dragon Keepers series. The main characters are Jessie, Daisy, Emma, and more.

The Dragon in the Volcano is about two cousins, Jesse and Daisy, who are Dragon Keepers, and their pet dragon, Emma. Emma usually disappears when the cousins go to school, but she comes home all of the time. However, one day, when Jesse and Daisy come home from school, they find that Emma is missing! They ask for help from their friends and follow a trail of socks that Emma has left behind that leads into the Fire Realm. The Fire Realm is a magical realm where dragons and fire fairies live. Jesse and Daisy find Emma there, but she wants to mate and live in the Fire Realm. Can the cousins bring Emma back to their home or will they lose Emma in the Fire Realm forever?

The Dragon in the Volcano is an adventurous story! I really liked it because the plot of the book is very well done. When Jessie and Daisy found Emma in a volcano, I thought that she would go with them to her home. But, the plot twist excited me. I didn't know that Emma wanted to stay in the Fire Realm and not go with her friends. It was surprising to me. This book is equally compelling as the Magic Treehouse series. Kids should read this if they like magic, adventure, and lovable characters! The Dragon Keepers series is written for children ages 7 to 12.

Review written by Sharielle (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Dragon in the Volcano for this review.

Have you read The Dragon in the Volcano? How would you rate it?

Monday, November 14, 2011

Review: Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber.

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: October 2001
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547577388

Review: You'll find action explosions and more when you read Au Revoir Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber. It is a fast paced book that will have you hooked from page one all the way to the end. With twists and unexpected turns, Au Revoir Crazy European Chick is exciting and adventurous.

Au Revoir Crazy European Chick begins when foreign exchange student Gobija Zaksauskas asks Perry Stormaries to the prom. Perry doesn't know what he's in for. At the prom he's nearly mugged but amazingly, Gobi hurts the mugger and sends him to the Emergency Room. Subsequently, Perry finds out Gobi is actually an assassin and has five targets she must kill. As a result, this takes them to New York City. Even though Perry doesn't want to go, he follows Gobi. Perry's band is expecting him in New York but Gobi threatens to kill him if he doesn't help her find her targets. Will Perry help Gobi? What will happen to Perry? Find out these answers when you read Au Revoir Crazy European Chick.

Au Revoir Crazy European Chick gets five out of five stars. It has action on every page. This is a great book for people ten and older. You can sometimes relate to the characters and other times you can't because of all the action. Nevertheless, you won't want to miss a page. Because of all the action, you won't put this book down. Schreiber keeps readers on the edge of their seats because of his writing! "The glass shattered when the bomb hit the window" just makes readers get excited! It is great for any occasion, and it can be enjoyed anywhere. If you like action and adventure combined with some awesome espionage, you will want this on your bookshelf TODAY! This is by best-selling author, Joe Schriber, and Au Revoir Crazy European Chick will definitely not disappoint Schriber fans, and it is certain to gain even more fans.

Review written by Max (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick for this review.

Have you read Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick? How would you rate it?

Friday, November 11, 2011

Review: Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull & Kathryn Hewitt

Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull & Kathryn Hewitt. Part of the Lives of the … Series.

Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull & Kathryn Hewitt

Sandpiper
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780152046064

Review: Writing, Writing, Writing! Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies, (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull & Kathryn Hewitt is part of the Lives of the… series. This series' characters are 20 famous writers of varying genre and background.

Lives of the Writers is about what famous writers did when they weren't writing. Some writers that are included in the book are William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, and E.B. White, to name just a few. The focus of the book is to mostly show who these writers really were as "people" and what other people thought about them. It lets readers know how they began writing and answers questions about their very lives. Lives of the Writers provides information about their family and their life - from their birth to their death. In a fun way, it helps readers better understand these writers. It shows who they really were before they started writing poems or stories.

I think Lives of the Writers is AMAZING. I love how it shows all about different writers and their lives. I also like the descriptive stories about them. What I like most of all is their interests. They were all very different people and somehow each of them ended up becoming a notable writer. Each writer dealt with many problems in life, and they wrote stories and poetry based on their everyday life which eventually led each writer to become famous worldwide. Oddly enough, many people thought of them as unusual or in some cases, people just plain hated them. I just totally admire how all the craziness in their lives added up to creating a famous writer. An unusual life would equal a story. I think others should really read this book not only because it gives a lot of information about … Lives of the Writers, but it also shows how all the trials in life can come to greatness in this world. I certainly expect to read many more books in this series. I rate this book 5 out of 5. If you like comedies, tragedies and opinions, this is the book for you.

Review written by Anjan (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought) for this review.

Have you read Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought)? How would you rate it?

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Review: Mistress of the Storm by M. L. Welsh

Mistress of the Storm by M. L. Welsh.

Mistress of the Storm by M. L. Welsh

David Fickling Books
Publication Date: June 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780385752442

Review: Have you ever desired to read a book that holds mystery, suspense, action, and fantasy? Well, Mistress of the Storm is the book to read! Mistress of the Storm is written by M.L. Welsh and is about Verity Gallant, just another unpopular girl, until one day when she receives an ancient book from a stranger along with a small, wooden ball. At school Verity has never been very well liked, but when she becomes friends with Henry and Martha, they work together to find out the information behind these mysteries. In their town, Wellow, they uncover little-known history, and the more they know, the more people get involved with the mystery.

Everything in Verity's life is unexpected. She finds out that her mother is pregnant soon after receiving the two gifts. Verity also finds out she's a natural at sailing. She has discovered that stories in her new book are actually true and not just legends. Plus, Verity has been noticing a boy following her. As if that is not enough, in the autumn, her unknown grandmother comes over after hearing about the pregnancy. A story that was written is destined to come true, and Verity has a big part in it. Everything is complicated, but Verity knows she can't give up, because if she does, she could lose her new sister and possibly more. Nothing is as easy as she imagines.

M.L. Welsh is an amazing author and makes you feel almost as if you're a part of the story. The characters are very well described; you could imagine their appearance exactly. The author is very imaginative to make up all of the characters, setting, and plot. The whole story is creative! Points of view are added, apart from Verity's, so readers can see what other think of a particular situation. Mistress of the Storm is very suspenseful and mysterious. Everything you know might be only what you think. Verity learns a lot about life in this book. She learns to sail, to stand up for herself, and to do what she feels is right.

Review written by Kelly (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Mistress of the Storm for this review.

Have you read Mistress of the Storm? How would you rate it?

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Review: The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg.

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: October 2011
List Price: $24.99
ISBN-13: 9780547548104

Review: Harris Burdick has cast a long and strange shadow across the reading world, not unlike a man, lit by the moon, hiding in the branches of a tree, staring through a window and holding a rare and sinister object, who cast a long and strange shadow across your bedroom wall last night. And so begins Lemony Snicket's introduction to the long-awaited compilation book that brings some kind of closure to the illustrations that have puzzled readers for more than twenty-five years. The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is a compendium of 14 amazing stories told by 14 highly-acclaimed authors.

In 1984, Chris Van Allsburg published a collection of illustrations with a most mysterious premise titled The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. This book was merely a collection of some of the most thought-provoking illustrations with a title and subheading. For example, one picture is of a woman getting ready to carve a pumpkin that is glowing. The title is "Just Desert" and the subheading is "She lowered the knife and it grew even brighter." Yes, the word is "desert" NOT "dessert." Teachers have been using The Mysteries of Harris Burdick for over two decades as creative writing prompts and springboards for problem-based learning activities. Now, Chris Van Allsburg has teamed together some of the best writers of this generation to bring words to these pictures. Some of the stories are funny, some are magical, some are thought-provoking, and some are just plain creepy.

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick is amazing. Certainly some stories are better than others; in fact a few are disappointing. But, most stories are simply astounding. As with any short story compilation, readers will prefer certain stories over others. The introduction by Lemony Snicket draws readers in immediately. As he says, "As you reread the stories, stare at the images, and ponder the mysteries of Harris Burdick, you will find yourself in a mystery that joins so many authors and readers together in breathless wonder." Having read the stories as a reader and as a teacher, most stories do not disappoint. After reading "Just Desert" to my 6th grade class on Halloween, they were beyond excited and sufficiently "creeped out" by the end. And, "The Third-Floor Bedroom" is filled with such symbolism and character development that we were able to spend an entire class period analyzing it! Readers have been creating their own stories to accompany the Harris Burdick illustrations, and it is so exciting to finally read what others have seen. Lemony Snicket says it best when he writes "the mysteries of Harris Burdick continue, and if you open this book, you will likely be mystified yourself."

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The Chronicles of Harris Burdick for this review.

Have you read The Chronicles of Harris Burdick? How would you rate it?

Monday, November 7, 2011

Review: Gifts from the Gods: Ancient Words & Wisdom from Greek & Roman Mythology by Lise Lunge-Larsen

Gifts from the Gods: Ancient Words & Wisdom from Greek & Roman Mythology by Lise Lunge-Larsen.

Gifts from the Gods: Ancient Words & Wisdom from Greek & Roman Mythology by Lise Lunge-Larsen

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: October 2011
List Price: $18.99
ISBN-13: 9780547152295

Review: "How dare you shame the gods?" That's what the mortals in ancient Rome and Greece were often told by a god after a foolish thing that they had done. They can never escape from the gods and after they die, they are punished forever. The book, Gifts from the Gods by Lise Lunge Larsen is about words that we use in the present, but originated from ancient Greeks and ancient Romans. It takes the word, tells its definition, uses it in a sentence and then, tells the story of where the word came from. These stories involve the gods and usually a mortal who is foolish and does something they regret.

Gifts from the Gods is a really interesting book about Greek and Roman mythology. I like this book because of the way the author explains the stories and because I really like anything with Greek and Roman mythology. The book is educational, yet fun to read. I also like the book because it is simple, yet complicated. It tells the stories of heroes, gods and mortals. Readers are kept on the edge of their seats wondering what they will do next. The gods could punish the mortals or take pity on them. The hero might successfully battle or might be killed in the fight. The mortal could make a very wise decision or make the most ridiculous decision ever. The book always kept me guessing. It has taught me so many myths and words. I also loved hearing how alert some gods were, while other gods hardly noticed what happened. Some gods were mighty and all powerful, but some were often overlooked. It was intriguing to see how different the gods were from one another. My favorite goddess is Athena, the goddess of wisdom, war strategy and weaving. But the stories are not the only things I liked. The pictures are absolutely amazing. They almost seemed to move! At the end of every story, there is a short section that includes information about the story to help it make more sense.

Gifts from the Gods is a book that you should definitely read if you like mythology. It is a captivating book that I couldn't put down. Literally, I finished the book in a day. The author did an amazing job with this book, and it would satisfy anyone who is looking for a thrilling book. I recommend Gifts from the Gods to anybody, especially if they are interested in mythology. Lise Lunge-Larsen is a really creative author who did an astounding job writing this book. I give it five stars because that's exactly what this book deserves. It kept me hooked, amazed, entranced, etc. This should be read by many people, and I hope that happens. Gifts from the Gods will most definitely catch a reader's eye.

Review written by Abigail (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Gifts from the Gods: Ancient Words & Wisdom from Greek & Roman Mythology for this review.

Have you read Gifts from the Gods: Ancient Words & Wisdom from Greek & Roman Mythology? How would you rate it?