Book Review: The Fiend and the Forge by Henry Neff

The Fiend and the Forge
by Henry Neff
Tapestry Series

A Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-83898-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-83898-9
Publication Date: November, 2010
List Price: $17.99

Review: Prisoner, Gladiator, Assassin. What more does Max McDaniels not want to be? The Fiend and the Forge by Henry H. Neff is a third in the series of The Tapestry. The journey of Max McDaniels starts back in the Rowan Academy. Being burned to embers by Astaroth and his army, the Rowan Academy regrows its stock and rebuilds its buildings. With his good friend David, they go on little hunts throughout the city having a fun time. Now they think they are big boys and are exploring the wilderness. To them, the wilderness is never safe with Astaroth in control of the Book of Thoth. As Max is going through much of the training in camp, he goes to weaponry school to learn about fighting techniques and about how he should be able to live in the wilderness. Once they leave, they encounter many new people ranging from normal people to flying goblins! Max McDaniels finds the town where he newly has a relaxed life and settles in. Once again Astaroth comes in to invade the town. David sacrifices his own life for the Book of Thoth. Now Max McDaniels has another thought in his head, where is David? As Max McDaniels hides in the wilderness, the Book of Thoth is in his control. As he runs back to town to safely secure the book, the town has disappeared. The entire town moved away to another location. As Max looks for David and the town, tigers, bears and other animals are on the hunt for food, and Max is their first target. Will Max ever find David or is he gone? Is the town still there, or in ruins?

The Fiend and the Forgeis an amazing book. It is very to catch on to the book. I started in the middle of the series and I'm already hooked. Henry H. Neff is an astounding author. The book goes into very much detail. You can notice right from the first page that the detail makes you feel like you're in the book. I almost forgot that I'm not in the book! Henry H. Neff is a person who could put suspense, mystery, and humor all in one book. This is one great book, and I'm waiting for the next one.

Review written by Max (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Fiend and the Forge for this review.

Have you read The Fiend and the Forge? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon

Kevin's Point of View
by Del Shannon
Non-series

Flatiron View Books
ISBN-10: 0-615-40123-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-615-40123-2
Publication Date: October, 2010
List Price: $12.99

Review: Imaginative, smart, and creative are all words that describe Kevin's Point of View. Del Shannon does an amazing job putting together so many details to create a story that is full of adventure. Some of the craziest things happen to the main character Kevin Tobin. This twelve-year-old boy has a lot of imagination letting different characters "run" his mind. This adventure book takes through time and catches the reader by surprise every time.

The story begins with Pudge running through the streets of New York City with a package that Pudge needs to mail to Devin in Colorado. The package's delivery is messed up; a boy named Kevin Tobin ends up getting the package. Not sure, what the package is Kevin toys around and gets into trouble. When Devin finds out who received the package he does not intend to get it. He will do anything even kill. Devin finds Kevin and his best friend Tony and tries to get the package. Devin chases them through streets, mountains, canyons, minds, and on trains. Nothing stops Devin from getting what he wants. Traveling through time does not even stop him. As he chases Kevin and Tony through the streets of Boulder, Colorado yet again, Devin is still unsuccessful. A thriller that changes Kevin's life comes with a surprise at every turn. Can the unthinkable really happen?
I absolutely loved this book. I never wanted to go to sleep because I could not leave Kevin and Tony hanging. I did not want to leave the world that was being painted in my head as I read it. Not only being suspenseful but often times funny Kevin's Point of View makes you want to keep reading and not stop for anything. The setting develops throughout the story with the mountains and canyons becoming visible in your mind. Del Shannon takes you into the mind of Devin and into the mind of Kevin. The book shows what they both are thinking and what is going on around them. The way Kevin puts himself in a different situations really adds uniqueness to the novel. It makes it interesting to read and lets the reader come with Kevin on a different journey. Only someone with a creative mind could come up with something so great. I hope Del Shannon writes a sequel to the story. I will be the first one in line at the bookstore the day it comes out. A five star book that really deserves six stars but the scale does not go that high. Kevin's Point of View is an amazing story written by an amazing author!

Review written by Kathryn (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Del Shannon for providing a copy of Kevin's Point of View for this review.

Have you read Kevin's Point of View? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Dreadful Fates: What a Shocking Way to Go! by Tracey Turner

Dreadful Fates: What a Shocking Way to Go!
by Tracey Turner
Non-series

Kids Can Press
ISBN-10: 1-554-53644-8
ISBN-13: 978-1-554-53644-3
Publication Date: February, 2011
List Price: $14.95

Review: Have you ever thought about getting killed by a turnip? Did you ever think you would die from a poodle or molasses? In the nonfiction book, Dreadful Fates by Tracey Turner and Sally Kindburg you learn of the strangest ways to die as well as some of the weirdest human events in history.

The chapters in Dreadful Fates are "Squashed, Bashed, Speared and Tripped" which includes unusual ways to die. Next, there is "Dying of Laughter" and "Bits and Pieces" which has information about what happened to famous peoples' body parts after death, The next chapters are "Fatal Foods", "Animal Encounters", "Unusual Funerals" and "Curious Coffins" which has a story in it about a candy maker with a chocolate coffin. The other chapters are "Died in Action", "Murders and Executions", "Life After Death" which is a chapter about famous people after they die. The next three chapters are "Fatal Mistakes", "Ironic Fates" and "Last Words and Epitaphs". Each chapter has many short stories and some of them are illustrated by pictures.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the history. Some parts of the book show you the past cultures and ways of life of the past. There also are many historical figures such as tyrants, rulers, explorers and philosophers. Some of the stories are even humorous such as the one about Virgil and his funeral for his pet fly. Some of them are so strange that they are unbelievable, such as the one about the teenagers in the golf course. I also like how the deaths are unusual instead of boring. One thing I dislike though is some of the gruesome parts which at first made me feel uneasy about reading the book, but in the end, it is too interesting to stop reading. Although some of the pictures are funny a couple put images in my head that I was trying to block out. For those who are very easily disgusted I suggest that you do not read this book. Most of the stories are interesting though and make you want to learn more about the people in it. Since the stories are short and are bullet points it creates a flow to the book that makes it go at a fast pace. I rate this book a 9/10 because it is great, but not the best book I have ever read. I also suggest this book for kids in middle school or anyone older. So the next time you are out for a drive, double check to make sure the people in the car next to you have no turnips.

Review written by Shannon (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Raab Associates, Inc. for providing a copy of Dreadful Fates: What a Shocking Way to Go! for this review.

Have you read Dreadful Fates: What a Shocking Way to Go!? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Lunch Lady Series

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-86729-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-86729-3
Publication Date: December, 2010
List Price: $6.99

Review: The scene is set. It's dark, a little too dark. The spy music plays as out jumps…Lunch Lady?!! That's right. Lunch Lady. Usually it would be Superman or Batman. But at this school, the Lunch Lady is the hero. The Lunch Lady's magnificent action-packed story comes to life in Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit, written by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit is the fifth book in the Lunch Ladyseries.

It's a rainy day as bus-driver Brenda pulls up to the next stop, as usual. The Breakfast Bunch, Dee, Hector, and Terrence, climb aboard. As soon as they arrive at school, there is already lots of commotion because today is the bake sale! Everyone drops their treats off in the cafeteria and goes to class. Of course, everyone is tempted to grab a sweet throughout the day, but Lunch Lady protects the bake sale treats. Suddenly, the power goes out. But then, it instantly comes back on, and when it does, the bake sale treats are gone! The Breakfast Club and the Lunch Lady are on the case searching everywhere for clues. Maybe it's him or maybe her? No one knows. Soon they figure out the Bake Sale Bandit is …

Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit is a wonderful book. It gives me a lot of laughs. It's an action-packed story with a Lunch Lady twist. I especially love the "mirror broom" and "ketchup laser." I enjoy how the story is like a real school, where everyone loves the Lunch Lady. Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit has amazing graphics and colors. I love the design of all the characters. The author did a great job with the plot of the story. It is very realistic, but still fun and silly. Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit is a great read for anyone looking for action, adventure, and a good laugh.

Review written by Savannah (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit for this review.

Have you read Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Witches' Brew by Mary Labatt

Witches' Brew
by Mary Labatt
Sam and Friends

Kids Can Press
ISBN-10: 1-55453-472-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-55453-472-2
Publication Date: March, 2011
List Price: $16.95

Review: Witches', mysteries, spying, and a K9 detective? That's right, a dog who can communicate! Mary Labatt has written a short, yet totally comical, graphic novel. The Witches' Brew is the 4th book in the Sam & Friends Mystery series. The main characters are Sam (a dog) and Jenny.

In The Witches' Brew, Jenny, the detective dog Sam, and her friend Beth are getting new neighbors. Three strange sisters move in, and Sam becomes suspicious. She thinks the sisters are Witches'! After coming across some witch books, they feel they have found evidence to prove their claim and Sam and the girls decide to investigate. They strongly believe that the disappearing animals and weird weather have something to do with their evil witch scheme. Strange things keep happening and when another witch arrives, something "terrible" occurs. Have Jenny, Sam, and Beth been put under a spell?

I have positive and negative thoughts about this book. To start, Mary Labatt was tremendously creative when she wrote The Witches' Brew. Sam communicates through thoughts, and only Jenny can hear her. Also, the ending is very surprising and unique. I think those are good qualities for a conclusion. As much as I enjoyed this book, I feel there are a couple of flaws. First, there is not enough suspense throughout the book. Despite the one semi-suspenseful part in the middle, the story is pretty predictable. More importantly, the book is very short! I wish there was a little more to the storyline to make it longer. I finished it in about an hour and my younger 7 yr. old sister read it in a day! If you are looking for a longer, in-depth book with a big plot, this 95 page graphic novel should be out of the picture! I know that The Witches' Brew will be an enjoyable book for anyone who likes mysteries or wants to read something for fun and relaxation. Because of the length, I recommend this humorous mystery book to anybody ages 7-10, and I rate this novel an 8 out of 10.

Review written by Sahil (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Raab Associates, Inc. for providing a copy of Witches' Brew for this review.

Have you read Witches' Brew? How would you rate it?

Book Review: So Shelly by Ty Roth

So Shelly
by Ty Roth
Non-series

Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-385-73958-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73958-0
Publication Date: February, 2011
List Price: $17.99

Review: I pressed pause, closed my eyes, and tried to imagine Shelly's face, but it's weird how soon you forget a dead person's face. I think it's because people wear so many of them that when you try to recall just one, you get a blurred blending that renders that one version, which you're trying so desperately to see, unrecognizable. This quote encapsulates the underlying theme in So Shelly, Ty Roth's debut novel. Loosely based on the lives of Lord Byron, John Keats, Percy Blysshe Shelley, and Mary Shelley, So Shelly tells the story of three unique teens who are thrown together in an impossible time.

Told through the eyes of Keats, an academically advanced teen who is confident his early death is eminent, So Shelly tells the story of how he, young, skinny, and poor, comes to be friends with Byron, a published wealthy author who has broken every rule, traveled the world, and is the envy of all teen boys and girl's dream. Shelly is a romantic, an activist, and is generally unaccepted at school. She heads the school paper, which is where she meets Keats. Byron, on the other hand is Shelly's childhood best friend who barely speaks to her at school. However, when Shelly "mysteriously" drowns, Keats and Byron are pulled together to fulfill Shelly's final wish. They must steal her urn and spread her ashes along the coast of her favorite island while playing her favorite CD. Through this feat, they learn infinitely more about themselves than they'd ever expected, and they realize Shelly's death serves a far greater purpose than they'd realized.

As a character study, So Shelly, can't be beat. The three main characters in the story are described in exceptional depth. Keats has watched his father die, his mother die, and now he is watching his brother die. He "knows" he too will die young. This completely shapes his worldview which is shattered when he meets his polar opposite, Byron. Byron is the teen that every boy yearns to be. He has everything - money, looks, and girls - lots of girls. But it is through his interaction with Keats, that he realizes he really has nothing. And Shelly, on the other hand, is a bundle of energy, always looking for a cause, wanting to make a change in the world, possibly because she knows everything inside is falling apart. Roth's writing enraptures the reader into these teen's lives - some of it unbelievable, but all of it recognizable as they look through the high school hallways. Everyone knows a Shelly, a Keats, and a Byron, and So Shelly opens readers' eyes as to what makes them the way they are. So Shelly is filled with plenty of intrigue, romance, and humor to keep teen readers entertained, eagerly wanting more. But, what really adds a different dimension to So Shelly is the afterword where the author explains the connection between the characters and their namesakes. What a clever basis for a novel! Due to some explicit content and mature themes, So Shelly is best suited to older teen readers.

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

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of So Shelly for this review.

Have you read So Shelly? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

The Emerald Atlas
by John Stephens
Books of Beginning

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-86870-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-86870-2
Publication Date: April, 2011
List Price: $17.99

Review: Imagine yourself as an orphan with no real home. Traveling from orphanage to orphanage, each one worse than the last. That is how Kate, Michael and Emma feel every single day in the Emerald Atlas by John Stephens.

Kate and her two younger siblings, Michael and Emma, think that they have hit rock bottom. They are wrong. They are moved to another orphanage, which they believe to be worse than a nightmare. Upon their arrival, they find a secret laboratory. In the laboratory they find a leather bound book that is the color of an emerald gem. They put a picture in the book to keep it safe and suddenly they are lost in time. The adventure continues as they work to defeat an evil countess who's using the kids of Cambridge Falls as slaves.

This book is full of never-ending suspense, fast-paced action, and loads of adventure. I love all of the figurative language the author used. Emerald Atlas is an amazing fantasy novel that teaches how nothing matters without family. The characters are very well developed. The book opens with a great prologue that sets the scene for the rest of the novel. The plot is full of action. Emerald Atlas is impossibly exiting. I could not put this book down no matter how hard I tried. The ending is so awesome; I cannot wait until the next book comes out. I rate this book a 5 out of 5.

Review written by Anthony (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The Emerald Atlas? How would you rate it?