Review: The Lesson by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Lesson by Suzanne Woods Fisher. A Stoney Ridge Seasons Book.

Revell
Publication Date: January 2013
List Price: $14.99
ISBN-13: 9780800719890

Review: What's that, a flying red scooter? Probably M.K. from the wonderful new book The Lesson. It is by Susanne Woods Fisher and is the third book in the Stony Ridge Seasons series.

M.K. is an Amish girl who wants to see the world and get away from the Amish lifestyle. One day, she accidentally ran over the teacher to the local school with her scooter and has to take her place. She has no idea how to teach and doesn't even try. Chris is a young man coming to Stony Ridge with his younger sister Jenny to have a better life. Their caretaker, Old Debra, passed away, his dad left him when he was young and his mom is in rehab again. He moved to his Grandfather's old house, which needs a lot of work. He needs to stay quiet for only a few more months, then the house will be his and he will be 21. What happens next? You'll have to find out!

I really liked the book, The Lesson. It has adventure, romance, and mystery that will keep you wanting more! The storyline goes back and forth between Chris and M.K.'s story and it adds a nice touch to it. It is 304 pages and is challenging for the number of pages. It is good for kids ages 10 and up. I would say that only girls would like it because there is romance, the main character is a girl, and most boys don't like stories about girls. If you like Little House on the Prairie and Amish books, you will like The Stony Ridge series. There is another book coming soon and there are two other books before this one. The author also has more books in another Amish series. There are no pictures so you will have to process the story in your head. All in all, The Lesson is a read that will make you wanting more. I hope you love the book as much as I did. Enjoy!

Review written by Katlyn (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Revell for providing a copy of The Lesson for this review.

Have you read The Lesson? How would you rate it?

Review: Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon.

Blink
Publication Date: August 2013
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780310742302

Review: I think I'm going crazy," says Veronica. "Oh come on! It's probably just your imagination," replies Kenna. Have you ever seen something that you couldn't believe was real? Did you doubt that it was real, but you kept having this sensation, that tingly sensation that it is right behind your back? It might be real or it might just be you imagination. You are not alone though, because Veronica, one of the main characters from Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon, believes she hopped on the crazy train, but on the other hand she can never convince herself her "visions" are fake. Can these visions be linking her to something very special in Scotland? Doon is a great fantasy book, with a realistic feel.

Veronica is just a normal girl, breaking up with her boyfriend, hanging out with her friends. But in other ways she is different. For example, her parents are divorced, her mom has a vile boyfriend, she has to teach ballet classes while still going to high school, and she starts having visions of a boy named James Thomas Kellan MacCrae IV. Her visions begin right after she and her boyfriend break up. Veronica sees a strange boy standing in the middle of the parking lot at her school.

In a soft voice he says, "Don't cry, lass." He is dressed in very unusual clothes; he is wearing a kilt. The her phone rings, and when she answers it, she hears, "The moors of Scotland are callingÉare you coming or not?" After escaping to Scotland to prove her sanity, she learns of a saying in Scotland that the Brig o' Doon (a famous bridge in Scotland) connects some people to a magical land named Doon. Is the magical world of Doon real? Did the girls have a duty to go there? Will this clear up the confusion started by a strange boy in a kilt?

Doon is suspenseful, riveting, interesting, and a great read. A lot of readers could probably relate to Veronica's situation in a home with parents who are divorced, and boy drama. Others can relate to Kenna the other main character who, still mourns over the death of her aunt, like most people after their family members die. The challenging and sometimes more mature vocabulary makes it a good book for middle school and early high school readers. This is a fantasy book, so people that like fantasy would love this book. But it has action, love, heartbreak, and friendship. Over all, Doon is a great book and I would recommend it to all of my friends. It is interesting and detailed and will keep you reading for hours and hours.

Review written by Jamie (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Blink for providing a copy of Doon for this review.

Have you read Doon? How would you rate it?

Review: Skull Creek Stakeout by Eddie Jones

Skull Creek Stakeout by Eddie Jones. Book 2 in The Caden Chronicles.

ZonderKidz
Publication Date: July 2013
List Price: $7.99
ISBN-13: 9780310723905

Review: The good news is vampires aren't real, but the bad news is there may be something out there to get us! Nick a reporter for the "Cool Ghoul Gazette" thinks vampires are real and he will do anything in these stories to find a worthy news-breaking story, and Skull Creek Stakeout, the second book in the Caden Chronicles by Eddie Jones is no exception.

Nick's role as a journalist for the "Cool Ghoul Gazette" is to focus on Vampires. But when Nick is called in to explore a murder mystery, a cold case he is ready to explore. Having to stay in a weird manor with his aunt and meet some odd people is it possible to actually get some work done? He doesn't have a lot of time to pull off this story without a lot of facts and a culprit, But after observing a mysterious man, he thinks he's getting closeÉthat is until another murder twist the plot. Nick just may be in over his head this time.

Overall, this is a good book written by Jones. At first, I questioned whether or not I'd actually enjoy this book since I am not the kind of person who likes the entire ghost and vampire nonsense, but this was a good surprise. It turns out that this book has a little bit of everything. Skull Creek Stakeout includes fantasy, adventure and so much more. Even though I had never read books in this series, it did not stop me from enjoying it. Skull Creek Stakeout is good for middle grade readers-particularly boys. It has higher-level words descriptive settings, an exciting climax and so much more! Some people may not like the book because they don't like the supernatural, but give it a try. It's important to try different things.

Review written by Ian (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Zonderkidz for providing a copy of Skull Creek Stakeout for this review.

Have you read Skull Creek Stakeout? How would you rate it?

Review: Spirit's Chosen by Esther Friesner

Spirit's Chosen by Esther Friesner. Sequel to Spirit's Princess.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 2013
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780375869082

Review: In the country of Japan, where war rages, clans fall, chieftains die, the Ookami finally make their mark on the Matsu clan. In Spirit's Chosen written by Esther Friesner, a young shaman and chieftain's daughter, Himeko finds her village in ruins. While she was away on a shaman trip with her sister of her heart, Kaya, the wolves attacked her land and captured most of the Matsu women and children. She returns to her family and finds her little brothers, Sanjirou and Noboru have been taken along with her step mother Emi and most of her clan. Her father and her older brother Aki are dead, and her mother has gone insane. Now the young princess must go on her life's adventure, but she is not expecting the wolves to be waiting for her. She and Kaya are captured and enslaved to Lord Ryu. Himeko must find her way out of the wolves' den and back to her family, before her mother will be put to death.

Spirit's Chosen is recommended for third grade and up for higher-level words and meanings. Most would enjoy this book because of its daringness like traveling into the greatest enemies territory, fighting the mysterious Oni, and trying to escape from the Ookami. It also is a sad love story where Himeko's new love has freed her from captivity, but was killed while saving Lord Ryu during the Golden Dragons Dance. Some might also enjoy learning the path of Himeko with the gods and other Shamans. During Spirit's Chosen Himeko travels into the spirit world many times, finding the bones of Oni, seeing her spirit prince, and talking to the shinning goddess.

Review written by Emily (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Spirit's Chosen for this review.

Have you read Spirit's Chosen? How would you rate it?

Review: Expressionista by Jackie Walker & Pamela Dittmer McKuen

Expressionista by Jackie Walker & Pamela Dittmer McKuen.

Beyond Words Publishing
Publication Date: September 2013
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9781582704296

Review: Do you love clothes? Then Expressionista is a perfect book for you. Expressionista written by Jackie Walker & Pamela Dittmer McKuen is all about clothes and fitting in. This is a nonfiction book that lets you look into the world of fashion.

Expressionista is all about how to express yourself through fashion. There are 5 main personas. Personas are types of fashion aspects. You will learn a lot of information about fashion from this book. All throughout the book there are quotes from all of your favorite pop, stars such as Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepson, and Lady Gaga. Lastly this book is able to help you understand what you need to do to like yourself and the clothes that you wear. If finding your true fashion is exciting to you than read the book!

Expressionista didn't really capture my attention. Some parts of Expressionista were good and kept me wanting to read like when it says the 5 types of personas I wanted to learn more about them. However I wouldn't recommend this book unless you're all about fashion and clothing. If you're the type of person that takes 2 minutes in the mourning to pick out your clothes, then Expressionista isn't the book for you. It's for serious fashion girls who might love reading what their favorite pop stars have to say about fashion and how the most of what's in their closet.

Review written by Sydney (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Beyond Words Publishing for providing a copy of Expressionista for this review.

Have you read Expressionista? How would you rate it?

Review: Smith: The Story of a Pickpocket by Leon Garfield

Smith: The Story of a Pickpocket by Leon Garfield.

The New York Review Chilren's Collection
Publication Date: November 2013
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9781590176757

Review: Heroes are handsome, charming, and good people, right? Wrong! In Smith the Story of a Pickpocket by Leon Garfield a dirty pickpocket actually saves the day and helps people.

The main character Smith is an interesting, dirty, and a daring boy who is twelve-years-old boy who lives in the busy and winding streets of eighteenth century London. Smith has two sisters Miss Fanny and Miss Bridget that tease him. One day he quietly and cautiously follows a man with a noisy pocket, and is lead into a whole heap of trouble. Smith swiftly picks the man's pocket and quickly escapes. Afterwards Smith hides in a doorway and sees two men murder the man and search his pockets. After so he runs into a blind man who is somehow connected to this but Smith doesn't know it and aids the man. What was so important that they a man's life? What has Smith found gotten himself into? What role does this blind man play? Can Smith escape or will he find himself dead like that man? All these questions and more can be answered when you read Smith the Story of a Pickpocket.

Smith The Story of a Pickpocket is a clever mystery and adventure for elementary students. The book has many good points such as the realistic characters that accurately depict life in 18th century London. For example, Miss Bridget and Miss Fanny are annoying and clever sisters of Smith that knit. Plus there's saint Miss Mansfield, who tends to her blind father the magistrate. Not only are the characters interesting, but also it is a fast-paced adventure so you won't be left unsatisfied. It has many twists and turns in the story. An example would be the forever chase between Smith and the two men in the pitch-black night. But keeping up with plot can be challenging, as the book is a little confusing at times. So if you can hang on tight and don't get confused, you would be glued to the story like a cat on a mouse.

So be sure to check out Smith The Story of a Pickpocket by Leon Garfield.

Review written by Tej (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Media Masters Publicity for providing a copy of Smith: The Story of a Pickpocket for this review.

Have you read Smith: The Story of a Pickpocket? How would you rate it?

Review: The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson

The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson.

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 2013
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375848186

Review: It all begins with the air filled with pollution, or so I think. Suddenly it finally strikes when Mr. Griggs becomes sick and dies. Then more people die. After investigation, it becomes clear it's not pollution, but instead it's cholera! If you want to find out what disease killed so many and more about this real tragic event, read the nonfiction book The Great Trouble, written by award writing author Deborah Hopkinson.

Eel, a mud lark that walks the streets in London has a heap of jobs and knows hundreds of people, including two of his former employers Mr. Griggs and Dr. John Snow. But when he gets fired from his main job at "The Lion" he can only work at his part time jobs with the shoe tailor and the doctor. Then when cholera strikes down Mr. Griggs, Eel knows he must do something. But when Eel gets this crazy idea to study this horrible disease he's putting his life in danger. Finally after reaching the doctor they can get some work done. After conducting the necessary research, he needs, can they get the town board to do what's right or will it be to late?

The Great Trouble, I would say has become one of my favorite books! I just loved how Hopkinson made this a first person point of view book. You could really feel the moods throughout the book. I also loved how this was based on a real event; it was really descriptive and I felt like I was even there experiencing it. The Great Trouble includes a lot vivid words, which gave me very clear images of what was happening in the book, which I just loved. The book uses some words that are older and you might need to find definitions, but it will make you have a higher vocabulary. I also learned so many interesting facts in the book. For example they have a building with a few people and they recorded everybody who died. I just find it fascinating how they can record everybody who dies because within a day in the book, over 100s of people die and it is amazing how they can update that every day. Also The Great Trouble is one of those kinds of books that you can't put down. It has a lot for everybody; it has adventure, mystery, and it is also very realistic. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to try something new.

Review written by Ian (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The Great Trouble? How would you rate it?