Book Review: Andrew North Blows Up the World by Adam Selzer

Andrew North Blows Up the World
by Adam Selzer
Non-series

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-385-73648-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73648-0
Publication Date: September, 2009
List Price: $15.99

Review: Never in life is the imagination as strong as it is in a child - particularly in a 3rd grade boy named Andrew North. Adam Selzer has written a work of comic genius in his newest children's book Andrew North Blows Up the World. The focus of the story is on a young boy who idolizes his older brother to the point that he honestly believes everything he says. His brother has concocted an entire story about how he and their father are spies - and very secret spies at that! They belong to a secret organization of spies, and it is Andrew's goal to become a member of that group. He steals a graphing calculator from his brother's room - knowing that it's not really a calculator, but rather it's a way to communicate with the spy headquarters and ultimately has the power to blow up the world. Chaos hits when the calculator/communicator is taken away during math class and given to the janitor (whom Andrew believes to be an evil spy) to be placed in the most secretive room in the entire school. Can Andrew retrieve the calculator without being caught and killed? Will Andrew ever be able to prove that he's worthy of becoming a spy? And, will Andrew make it through singing a solo in a concert in a ridiculous sweater - knowing all along that the head of the spy group is watching him? Andrew’s antics make for a fantastically funny adventure.

Selzer has struck gold with Andrew North Blows Up the World. Andrew represents a little of everyone's inner child. He's gullible beyond belief, but honestly believes he's not! For example Andrew's analysis of how he's different from gullible people is, "Personally, I only believe stuff when I've thought it over and decided it really makes sense. Like when my brother, Jack, told me that our dad is a spy and that he was training to be one, too, I didn't believe him at first. . . . What really tipped me off was his [dad's] job. He tells people - including me - that he's an insurance salesman. But he can't even talk me into eating peas! How could he talk people into buying life insurance?" The entire book is filled with humor such as this. Plus, every chapter begins with a page that sounds like it's right out of a spy journal. "Secret Agent Andrew 'Danger' North moved like a cat through the Forbidden Zone." The reader can easily imagine the dark serious voice reading these sections in a mysterious fashion. Selzer's writing style is such that young readers will giggle and anxiously turn the pages to see what happens next, and older readers will knowingly laugh at the over enthusiastic, highly confident boy with the most bizarre, yet innocent interpretations of everyday life. What makes children's literature an excellent work of fiction? It's the ability to transcend generations. Anyone who picks up this book will put it down with a smile on their face - regardless of age. That's an excellent book. Hopefully Andrew North with not stop here. The character is so well developed that it would be a shame to have this be his last spy mission. Hopefully one day there will be a collection of Andrew North novels. Andrew North just may be the perfect book to get that young reluctant reader excited about literature!

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

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Andrew North Blows Up the World for this review.

Have you read Andrew North Blows Up the World? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner

Sphinx's Princess
by Esther Friesner
Non-series

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85654-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85654-9
Publication Date: September, 2009
List Price: $17.99

Review: Passion, love, and music, Esther Friesner the author of Sphinx’s Princess did an impressive job writing this book. She really brought out the characters and the events. In Sphinx’s Princess, Nefertiti is a princess in Egypt with passion for dancing and writing.

Nefertiti was born, and her mother died during labor. Every night for four years Nefertiti has these horrible nightmares about a sphinx, a sphinx is a god of Egypt with a lion’s body. Nefertiti and her father went to a festival one day and there she saw a group of beautiful young women dancing to praise their god, and she loved it! That month, Nefertiti’s father married one of their maids. Together, they had a child named Mutnodjmet, but they called her Bit-Bit. When Nefertiti was five years old, her father’s friend, Henenu was teaching her to become a scribe. Nobody else knew about the lessons and when her father found out about them he was furious because her mother was also a scribe. Nefertiti’s aunt, the queen had taken advantage of Nefertiti’s mother and her power. Nefertiti’s father didn’t want it to happen to Nefertiti. Nefertiti loved to sing and dance for the sphinx almost as much as she loved to write. How will Nefertiti become Sphinx’s princess?

I personally loved this book; it is full of passion and love. Nefertiti loves to dance and sing but she also appreciates writing. Not many girls back then were scribes. She really tried her hardest to learn all the symbols of their writing. If your hobby is to sing and dance this is the book for you. It really made me feel like I was in Egypt with Nefertiti because it gave great details. For instance, the book said “running across the red land where nothing grew but stones and bones.” Plus, Nefertiti is always following her heart and that can be very inspiring. I would give this book a four and a half star rating out of five. I lowered the rating only because the vocabulary is really hard to understand. For example, it uses a word like Amenhotep’s and if you don’t have a background about Egypt you might not understand what that means. Due to the vocabulary; I would say this book is for kids eleven years and up. Esther is well known for writing thirty other novels and one hundred fifty short stories. A few of the novels she wrote are My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding, Nobody’s Princess, and Nobody’s Prize. One of her short stories is Thunderbolt. She did a great job of making me want to read more of her stories. Sphinx’s Princess is one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time.

Review written by Sara (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Sphinx's Princess? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Voices in the Dark by Catherine Banner

Voices in the Dark
by Catherine Banner
The Last Descendents

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-83877-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-83877-4
Publication Date: September, 2009
List Price: $16.99

Review: Have you ever dreamed of having powers? The book Voices in the Dark (By Catherine Banner), the second book in The Last Descendants Trilogy, deals with magic and many more surprises. In Voices in the Dark, the main character Anselm, a boy who is obedient and kind, is trying to find out things about his real father, when he didn’t even know his father’s name! But when Anselm discovers the truth, it takes him on a rollercoaster of danger that he didn’t see coming.

Once, a long time ago, a boy of 16, Anselm, was riding in an old carriage to find his family. During that ride Anselm meets a mysterious old man named Mr. Hardy and starts telling him the story of his life before he had met him. He had been living in his hometown of Malonia, a small kingdom north of England, with his mother Maria, whom had given birth to him at age 15, his step-father Leo, whom owns a second-hand shop, his 6 year old little sister Jasmine, who's got magical abilities, and his best friend next door, Michael. Suddenly, the city’s only known magic teacher, Aldebaran (who had been training Jasmine) is shot and killed. Michael flees the country because Alcyria is invading in the north. Unfortunately, Leo’s past has caught up with him, and he also gets drafted into war. During this time the family doesn’t have enough income to pay their rent, and Maria just happens to be pregnant. Will Anselm be able to find clues linked to his real father? Will the baby be born safely? Will the war ever end?

Voices in the Dark is an action packed book with war, magic, and a family coming together when times get tough. When Alcyria invaded, I couldn’t put the book down! This book was fantastic! If there was a 5-star rating, I’d give it 5 stars! I could tell that the author took a lot of time composing Voices in the Dark, and with great effort. Voices in the Dark seems to be carefully written with an incredible amount of detail; “I walked quickly until I was lost among the ancient tombs, and stopped. I stood there watching the dark beyond the far gate. Alcyria was over those mountains, the army’s machine guns trained on all passes, their armored vehicles rolling slowly across our soil.” I felt as though I were living in the story. This book is appropriate for ages 11-14 (because of some minor cursing) boys & girls who really love a great mystery. I can’t wait to get my hands on the first and third book in the series, and I’m sure you won’t be able to either!

Review written by Lynnea (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Voices in the Dark for this review.

Have you read Voices in the Dark? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Nine Pound Hammer by John Claude Bemis

The Nine Pound Hammer
by John Claude Bemis
Clockwork Dark

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85564-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85564-1
Publication Date: August, 2009
List Price: $18.99

Review: Fighting, medicine shows, and pirates all in one book. There is not much that the Nine Pound Hammer can do to get much better. In this fun and adventurous book, 12-year-old Ray meets giants, pirates, and Ramblers. This is the 1st of the series called The Clockwork Dark. This book would be good for middle school and up, but it is appropriate for younger kids too.

Ray has been an orphan for a long time. His father vanished eight years ago. After Ray jumps off a moving train, he finds Conker & Si who work in a medicine show. Ray finds out, while working in the medicine show, that his father was a rambler. With the help of Conker, Si, Buck, and the Pirate Queen, they find the nine-pound hammer, John Henry’s weapon. Ray finds out about the Gog and his machine and the siren, Jolie. After a twist, the evil people get sucked into bottles. The rest of the book gets dangerous with guns, fires and friends lost forever.

The Nine Pound Hammer is a great book. The only thing that I thought was disappointing is that this book doesn’t mention Johnny Appleseed (which is on the fold) or the legend of John Henry. Nonetheless, I felt as if I was in the book! With sword-swallowing, fire-eating, and blind sharp shooting, this book is one of the best books I have ever read. The plot to destroy the Gog (or Ray’s former train master), was amazing. The best part in this story is during the medicine show when somebody is able to get out of anything. I was taught that no matter how big a goal is, you can do it if you try.

I hope that in the next book in the series they destroy the Gog’s machine, which needs a siren to guide people to the machine so it can get more power. Out of 10 stars, I give it a ‘9’ because of all the exciting adventures Ray and his friends have. But unfortunately everything good must come to an end. This book was amazing.

Review written by Adam (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Nine Pound Hammer for this review.

Have you read The Nine Pound Hammer? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Catwalk: Strike a Pose by Deborah Gregory

Catwalk: Strike a Pose
by Deborah Gregory
Catwalk

Delacorte Press for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-385-73458-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73458-5
Publication Date: September, 2009
List Price: $8.99

Review: Fashion, fun, and friends. If you love all these things, then Catwalk: Strike a Pose is the book for you! This is the second book in a sort of series by Deborah Gregory. The first book is called Catwalk. Pashmina Purrstein and her best buds go to a school for the fun and the fashionable.

Pashmina and her BFFS Aphro, Felinez, and Angora go to Fashion International, a high ranking high school for learning….about clothes?! Pashmina has hazel eyes, a pushed-in nose, and golden-auburn hair (she looks like her cat, Fabbie Tabby!). There is a huge competition called Catwalk that the school holds every year where competitors try to get nominated for their own “House of _______”. The five Houses, or the ‘fabbie five’, are Pash, Willi Ninja Jr., Anna Rex, Moet Major(After Chandelier Spinelli was disqualified), and Shalimar Jackson. This year, if the House of Pashmina wins the competition, they get an awesome trip to Firenze, Italy to shop and meet some great designers! Also, the winning team will star on a TV show. Pash is super excited and wants to get the most votes at the Catwalk competition for her purrfect designs, and also wants to beat Shalimar, her enemy at Fashion International. But wait… a twist? In Catwalk, Pashmina’s super cool teacher, Miss Lynx announces that there will be a film crew filming their every move… including meetings for the Houses, and arguments. Will Pashmina keep her cattitude? Or will she lose it in front of the camera, and her friends? In a subplot, Pash and Aphro try to get jobs. Aphro tells Laretha Jones, the African American owner of a new boutique in town that if she succeeds in the Catwalk competition, she will open a store called Aphro Puffs. Pashmina trys to take back the spotlight by telling Laretha that she will open a store called Purr Unlimited, as in unlimited sizes. But when Laretha immediately takes to Aphro and hires her, Pashmina is left in the dust as she trys to regain her dignity. Also, a member of her House, Nole Canoli, is getting on her nerves. Can she stay mellow or will she be embarrassed by her act? It’s up to Pashmina now to save her House’s chance of winning the Catwalk competition and winning a trip to Italy.

This book had some great fashion fun! I loved the way the author used catchy cat-related phrases like cattitude, purrfect, and meowch! Since I have cats, I really liked how she did that. Also, I liked how this book had some really great friends and how the author intertwined their lives very closely. If I could give this book any number out of 5 stars, I would totally give it 4. I definitely liked Pashmina’s personality! I thought she had some major attitude, but the good kind. Also, I liked the many people in the book, and they had some pretty interesting names such as Shalimar, Bobby Beat (House of Pashmina’s awesome makeup artist), Ice Tres, and Chandelier! I also loved how the author managed to keep you in suspense, even though usually book about fashion don’t use suspense. When I went to sleep every night, I couldn’t stop thinking ‘Is Pashmina going to win the competition? Will she go to Firenze?’ However, I was disappointed in how the author wrote the ending. There was merely a conglomeration of various blogs in her book, written by different people. Nonetheless, the exciting scenes when something big happens and the author makes you feel like you were there, but the author merely put it in a blog instead of making you a part of the action. All in all, I would definitely give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Make Catwal k a must read on your booklist!

Deborah Gregory has written a few books, including the Catwalk books and the 4 Cheetah Girls volumes. She earned an AAS from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Review written by Emily (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Catwalk: Strike a Pose for this review.

Have you read Catwalk: Strike a Pose? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Long Wait for Tomorrow by Joaquin Dorfman

The Long Wait for Tomorrow
by Joaquin Dorfman
Non-series

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-84694-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-84694-6
Publication Date: September, 2009
List Price: $16.99

Review: Action, drama, jokes, wonders, & happiness! A Long Wait for Tomorrow , by Joaquin Dorfman is filled with emotion, realistic problems that need to be solved, & three young teenagers just trying to figure out life. Patrick is the designated driver, the eagle taking children under his wing and trying to fly them in a new direction, & the one who is in love with his best friend’s girlfriend, Jenna. Jenna is the head cheerleader who parties hard, lives life, and has fun! Kelly McDermott, Jenna’s boyfriend is the quarterback for his school, and the bully trying hard to become a better person.

Kelly McDermott, Jenna, and Patrick had just gotten accepted into Ohio State University. So that night they go out to celebrate, and Kelly has a little too much to drink. He wakes up the next morning hung over thinking that he is living 20 years in the past, but doesn’t know how to prove it! So he decides to go to Eddy who is nice and educated, but who is also the victim of most of the fights and asks for his help. Edmund (Eddy) has to think hard about helping Kelly, considering the fact that all Kelly does is beat him up, but he decides to help him anyway. Eddy tells Kelly that he believes Kelly’s mind is traveling through time, not him. Prom night arrives, supposedly the best night of kids’ lives, but not for one of them who must face guns, bullying, and verbal abuse. Someone’s life is ending, but whose?

I like how the book really makes you feel alive, a part of the characters’ lives. Also the book is VERY specific. For instance, a fight is going on, and Joaquin Dorfman is describing how it feels, and looks to be there. “Close body blows, arms a tangle as they continued to shoot through there clenched teeth.” With the detail, and action used in the sentence I feel like I am standing there witnessing the fight! I also like how the book can be brought to real life - there’s drama, fights, proms, relationships, and parties. But there are some cons, the language in the book is not quite appropriate for my age (a sixth grader). Also the underage drinking and the action is not appropriate, because not all kids may be able to understand what is going on. But over all, this book was the best book I’ve ever read. I hope Joaquin Dorfman will soon be writing another fantastic book!

Review written by Briana (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Long Wait for Tomorrow for this review.

Have you read The Long Wait for Tomorrow? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Diary of a Witness by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Diary of a Witness
by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Non-series

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85684-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85684-6
Publication Date: August, 2009
List Price: $16.99

Review: Do you like books about teen drama? Books where teens go a little over–board? Then Diary of a Witness is the book for you. In this book, teens Ernie and his best and only friend Will Manson are tortured by the school bullies, until one day it just gets out of control. Catherine Ryan Hyde, author some other young adults books such as Becoming Chloe, Miraculous Reappearance, and The Day I Killed James, brings teen life to the extreme in this wonderful new book. This is a standalone book.

This book is Ernie’s diary (or journal) and in it he has kept the most important parts of his teen life in it. Will Manson, his one and only best friend, and he have to deal with the worst bullies in the world…or so they think. One day Ernie and Will decide to make sure that Ernie, who suffers from obesity, won’t be tortured in the locker rooms by these bullies. Here’s Will’s idea; tell the Coach that Ernie is gay. Coach doesn’t buy it one bit. He makes a deal with Ernie. “Look, I’ll make you a deal. See that shower, that shower is your shower for the rest of the year. And this is your dressing room. Here’s what you have to do for me though. See that scale? When you get out of the shower, I want you to stand in front of the mirror and look at yourself. And then get on the scale.” This prompts him going to go on a diet, and his mom, who cooks the fattiest foods imaginable, doesn’t know. Awhile later, Will and he go on a fishing trip, and Will’s little brother, Sam, drowns. Will blames himself for everything causing Will to go through a depression where he tries to commit suicide. When Ernie saves Will, Will won’t speak unless spoken to; and later on his way home from school, Ernie gets caught by the bullies, and gets a rusty old fishhook stuck in the back of his head and then pulls it out himself! Afterward, Ernie and his Uncle Max take Will up to his cabin in Lemoore, California, to try and find a way to cheer him up. But can they?

The book is really good and time periods in the book are spaced nicely. Eddie is really an awesome character, and Mrs. Hyde is really an excellent author. If I could, I would give this 15 stars out of 5 stars. She has published many books for adults as well. So far I think this is the best book she’s written yet. She did a great job with Diary of a Witness really it was the best book I have read so far this year. I would recommend it mainly for middle school kids. And, I must say, that some adults might also like to read this. It is a fast paced book, but it does have some slow spots where not much goes on for a few pages. This book is very smooth when it comes to a reader and I would recommend this book for teens from 11-17 to read because of some language such as some uncommon swearing. Other than that I guarantee that almost anyone would like this book no matter what age or gender.

Review written by Willow (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Diary of a Witness for this review.

Have you read Diary of a Witness? How would you rate it?