Review: Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky.

Hyperion
Publication Date: November 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9781423185277

Review: Have you ever wondered if you were not actually you, well Grayson did? In Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polansky, Grayson thinks he is a girl because he draws princesses and draws with pink sparkly pens. Grayson had a fear if someone knew his little secret. Did Grayson revile his secret? You will have to find out in Gracefully Grayson.

12-year-old Grayson fights the challenge of being who he is. He always ate lunch in the library until Amelia came to his school. He started eating in the cafeteria when she came along. HE was still afraid of all the people in the room. Just all to hide his secret. Grayson was a boy that felt like a girl and acted like a girl. He needed self-confidence to believe in who he is. She hated track pants and loved dresses. She knew that she was a girl inside. At the end she did a great job in the school play and her family and friends understood her better.

Gracefully Grayson is a wonderful book to teach kids about a sensitive issue and self-confidence. Grayson fights his own challenges but kids can relate to him. Kids can learn to believe in there selves. This is a very descriptive book that has very original characters. This book filled with real life plots that kids can relate from. This book shows that you don't have to be who people want you to be. You can be someone else. Grayson liked to draw girly things and that was when he learned that he was acting like a girl. That's why he never really ate lunch with everyone. He was too afraid to. This book shows how to make things better by fighting your challenges and he did that by trying out the school play and wanting to play the girl role. I would recommend this book for kids 10-13 because it is a novel and it has somewhat hard words. Also because it is about a boy that is a girl inside. One other theme is to believe in your self. Grayson wanted to believe in himself but was too afraid to, but not in the school play. This is a very good book and you should read it.

Review written by Devanshi (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Hyperion for providing a copy of Gracefully Grayson for this review.

Have you read Gracefully Grayson? How would you rate it?

Review: The Eiffel Tower Incident by Sir Steve Stevenson

The Eiffel Tower Incident by Sir Steve Stevenson. An Agatha: Girl of Mystery Book.

Grosset & Dunlap
Publication Date: March 2014
List Price: $5.99
ISBN-13: 9780448462233

Review: Are you looking for a good mystery? Do you love to read about detectives? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you will definitely enjoy this book! In Agatha, Girl of Mystery: The Eiffel Tower Incident, by Sir Steve Stevenson, Agatha, Dash, and Chandler are on an epic adventure! This is the 5th book in the series.

In The Eiffel Tower Incident, a team consisting of Agatha (the mystery writer), Dash (the spy), and Chandler (the butler and former boxer), travel to Paris to solve a mystery! Because of Dash's carelessness, he has been put in charge of the case after he accidently injures the chief of spies. All three of them must work hard to catch the criminal who has killed Boris Renko in the Eiffel Tower! The team goes nonstop to find the murderer with only the slightest clue of Red Rose. Agatha, Dash, and Chandler race to find the suspect at the scene of the murder. After going to all the suspect's houses, the team figures out little clues step by step. If you'd like to find out how they solve the mystery, you'll just have to read the book!

The Eiffel Tower Incident, is fun to read, and is mysterious at the same time. I really enjoyed the book. The author laid out the story very nicely. It is easy to read, and the chapters end at just the right times. For example, the author would end the chapter just before they are about to solve the crime, or right before they enter the murderer's house. I just couldn't put the book down. The entire mystery kept me on my toes and made me want to read more. I recommend this book to 9-11 year olds. The book's genre is realistic fiction. It is believable. This book is perfect for readers who are interested in mysteries.

Review written by Annika (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Penguin Young Readers Group for providing a copy of The Eiffel Tower Incident for this review.

Have you read The Eiffel Tower Incident? How would you rate it?

Review: A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn

A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: May 2014
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780544109353

Review: There are some things people don't dare to talk about. Most of those things are about the woods. Phoenixes, griffins, dwarfs, magical ladies, and a dragon living at the top of a great mountain haunt these woods, yet nobody has the guts to speak of them. They whisper to you and listen to your dreams as you sleep. They are the forest folk. The woods move in more and more bit-by-bit everyday. An addition to the other books this amazing author wrote comes the book A Creature Of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn, as magical as it sounds.

Taking care of flowers in a muddy garden since you were able to move around sounds like a lot of work, but it's even worse knowing that you are a born princess and heir to the throne yet you dig around in the dirt all day. The russet-haired Marni has no idea who or where her father is, she only knows that her evil uncle has murdered her mother and she was sent to live with her grandfather for all eternity. People are usually scared of her because they think she is the dragon's daughter, for no one knows who her father is. Legends are told that girls, especially girls with no fathers are called the daughters of the dragon, no one knows why exactly. Things are usually quiet in and around the hut, but when Marni comes back from her trip to the woods one day, she finds The Lord of Ontrei in her grandpa's chairÉ her grandpa is dead, or is he just gone? Marni is now on a double quest to get revenge from the king and to find out, who exactly is her father?

Any teenager or even young adult would immediately loose themselves in this A Creature of Moonlight, and the magical forest. Experience the taste of freedom as you fly across the sky with Marni or when you run with the wolves on the forest floor, bounding gracefully and avoiding all the massive trees. This book is for anyone who loves mysteries, mythical creatures, and magic (The 3 M's). Any child or even a young adult will fall in love with this book, others sure did. Come along with Marni on crazy adventures anywhere from the king's land to the enchanted woods. Relive the night of the murder when you come across the small hut in the forest. Get scared as the magical lady in the woods sings you her dark lullabies. Find out what life is about as you listen to the conversations between Marni and her family members. Jump into the book and help Marni find out, is her father the dragon living at the top of the mountain, and is he sending his magical forest to capture her?

Review written by Julie (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of A Creature of Moonlight for this review.

Have you read A Creature of Moonlight? How would you rate it?

Review: Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman

Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: August 2014
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780547722429

Review: Have you ever wondered what it's like to have an unexpected new beginning to your life? Well, Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman is the perfect book to tell the story of new beginnings for all readers in grades three or higher.

Matilda is sent off by Father Leufredus to Blood and Bone Alley, home of leech, barber surgeon, and apothecary, where she is supposed to be assisting and be raised by Red Peg the Bonesetter. But she was taught Latin and French, and none of what she will ever do will involve any of it! Instead, she spends her time caring and assisting for Peg's patients, tending to the fires, going to the market where you can get scammed, and mixing up remedies to help the patients. She's basically living in a new world without she praying for some of the Christian Saints and learning what Father Leufredus teaches her. But even so, once she gets used to it, it's not so bad, and if not, she will always have them to pray to, right?

Matilda Bone can be a page turner for anyone over the age of 8-9 or more because it teaches morals or life lessons. It can also be recommended for anyone that likes medieval times since it takes place during that time period. Cushman's writing brings this medieval period to life in her writing. The best part of the book for me was how hard life was for Matilda and how she tunneled through those hardships. Overall, Matilda Bone is a great book, and I will positively read more Karen Cushman books!

Review written by Carol (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Matilda Bone? How would you rate it?

Review: Winter Sky by Patricia Reilly Giff

Winter Sky by Patricia Reilly Giff.

Wendy Lamb Books
Publication Date: January 2014
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780375838927

Review: Winter Sky by Patricia Reilly Giff is a book that brings joy and fear for the character and reader. Siria is a brave, noble little girl who isn't one to be messed with. Her dad is a firefighter who has risked his life to save others.

Siria, named after a star only known to come out during winter, is the daughter of a brave firefighter. Her mom has died, and she is living with her Pop. He is brave, but Siria doesn't want him to get hurt. Every time the sirens go off, she rushes out to chase the big fire trucks so she can watch them and give them luck on the job. One day, her pop gets hurt, and Siria gets caught when she rushes to go see him. He is in the hospital until he can get better, which will be by Christmas Eve. In that time, she finds a puppy and solves a mysterious fire crime she accidentally blames on her friend.

Winter Sky is a great book for anyone who likes reading about action and mystery all in one. It seems like a good book for anyone who can understand the situation of the character. Even though she does get in trouble, it's for a good reason. It helps you see how it helps to be brave and not scared to do what you think is right. Sooner or later, it will all pay off, just like in the book Winter Sky by Patricia Reilly Giff.

Review written by Faith (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Winter Sky for this review.

Have you read Winter Sky? How would you rate it?

Review: Loretta Mason Potts by Mary Chase

Loretta Mason Potts by Mary Chase. A Reprint of the Classic Novel.

The New York Review Children's Collection
Publication Date: July 2014
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9781590177570

Review: Do you like mysteries? Do you like suspense? Well then, Loretta Mason Potts is the book for you! This book has both suspense and mystery. If you like both, well you're in for a ride.

There is this boy Colin and he is the oldest child in the Mason family. Or so he thinks. He goes to a market and finds out that he actually has a sister named Loretta Mason Potts. They say she is a really bad girl who would lie to circumvent the rules. One day, she comes to live at Colin's house. What Colin's mom doesn't know, is that Loretta is a thief and a liar. There is this dream that both Loretta and Colin have one night, and then it actually happens to happen in real life. What was the dream all about? Read the book for your self and find out!

I recommend Loretta Mason Potts to 9-12 year olds for the difficult words. Every page you read slowly builds suspense and you won't want to stop reading! If you've read Sherlock Holmes books, you're sure to love this book! So go and get a copy of this and read it now!

Review written by Dye (6th grade student).

We would like to thank The New York Review Children's Collection for providing a copy of Loretta Mason Potts for this review.

Have you read Loretta Mason Potts? How would you rate it?

Review: The Case of the Buried Bones by Lewis B. Montgomery

The Case of the Buried Bones by Lewis B. Montgomery. A Milo & Jazz Mystery.

Kane Miller
Publication Date: April 2014
List Price: $6.95
ISBN-13: 9781575656410

Review: Wait where is it? The time capsule is supposed to be here. In the book from the Milo & Jazz Mysteries, The Case of The Buried Bones by Lewis B. Montgomery, will Milo and Jazz be able to solve this 75-year-old case?

In Milo & Jazz Mysteries the Case of the Buried Bones, Milo and Jazz are solving the case of the missing time capsule. They keep getting tiny hints that they think are worthless. Will Milo and Jazz find the capsule or will Gordy the grandchild of the man who hid it find it first?

The Case of the Buried Bones is perfect younger chapter book readers because it has easy words. It only contains simple words and is just a fun book to read. The author makes the setting clear and stays on track. For example, he tells you right from the beginning that it takes place in Westview. The book has simple vocab but you can learn a couple of new words here and there. I like how the author wrote the book in third person because I know what everyone is thinking not just the main character. The main lesson in the book is don't always believe what you read because it may try to mislead you.

Review written by Jacob (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Kane Press for providing a copy of The Case of the Buried Bones for this review.

Have you read The Case of the Buried Bones? How would you rate it?