Long Shadows

By Erin Hunter
*****

ShadowClan has lost all faith in StarClan and it's up to Jaypaw, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf to restore their faith. If you like adventure and cats, this is your type of book!!!! It is the last book in Power of Three. The next series is called Omen of the Stars and it focuses on Dovekit when she has a strange dream. - K.S. (5th gr.) 1/28/10

House of the Scorpion

by Nancy Farmer
FIC FAR, Teen section
****



This story is about a cloned kid named Matt. He is a "captive" of this drug lord, and he struggles to gain respect in this futuristic setting.

What I like best was that the topic was interesting. The author had lots of descriptions which I liked. - P.H.B. (7th gr.) 12/13/07

Matt's struggles are very realistic and so are the other characters. READ THIS AWESOME BOOK!!!!! - A.S. (7th gr.) 12/13/07

Martin the Warrior

by Brian Jacques

*****

FIC JAC

At the begining we find a young mouse named Martin getting really mad at Badrang and his horde. Then he gets put up on the wall top of Marshank to get devoured in the morning by seagulls. But then from down at the foot of Marshhank, he hears a mouse named Rose and a mole named Grumm. Have Rose and Grumm come too late? Find out in Martin the Warrior. P.S. It's the 2nd book in the Redwall series. The 1st one is Lord Brocktree and the 3rd is Mossflower. It is suspenseful and has a lot of action, but is sad at parts and can also be funny.

-- reviewed by K.S., 6th gr.

Secret Identity, Shredderman book 1

by Wendenlin Van Draanen

****

FIC VAN

This is about a boy named Nolan who gets picked on by a bully named Bubba. Watch him battle Bubba and make Shredderman.com in this fun filled adventure! It is cool and funny at the same time

--reviewed by K.S., 3rd gr.

Firestar's Quest

by Erin Hunter
*****

This book is about how Firestar has weird dreams, and by asking Starclan, he finds out that they had lied to him. He has to go on a quest to set things right. What I liked best about the book is that you learn a lot about the characters in it.

- reviewed by E. S., 5th gr.

Freak the Mighty

by Rodman Philbrick
****
FIC PHI

Maxwell Kane is thought of as stupid, freakishly large for his thirteen years, and the son of a killer. He has no friends, preferring to spend his life in his dark basement room, avoiding other kids, who think he is a bully. Then he meets Freak, an enormously smart kid with a birth defect that reduces him to the size of a toddler. After a close encounter with Tony D., the local juvenile delinquent, Freak and Max realize that together they can be unstoppable. Together they can be Freak the Mighty, and go on adventures, slaying dragons and rescuing people. But what happens when Freak's heart gets too big for his body? Will Max be able to go on?

I really liked that Freak helped Max learn that he had his own brain, and that he could live down his dad's reputation. I thought that it was really sad that Freak died, but I thought that it was really nice how brave he was, even though he knew that he would die young. I also enjoyed how Freak had tons of imagination, and how he combined fantasy with science to have one of a kind adventures with Max.

Reviewed by M. P., (8th gr.)

Warriors series

by Erin Hunter
FIC HUN

Into the Wild (Book 1)

*****
At the start, we find a young house cat named Rusty. He wants to go out into the forest to explore, but then he meets a group of Thunderclan cats (Lionheart, Graypaw and Bluestar). They tell Rusty of a life in the forest with lots of other cats, and he wants to check it out. So the next morning, Rusty goes out to explore the life of the clan cats. I really like the action and suspense. The book sucks you in and makes you feel like you are a warrior cat.
-- Reviewed by K. S. (6th gr.)

***** Serious and silly too. -- Reviewed by K. S. (3rd gr.)

Fire and Ice (Book 2)

*****

At the start young Fireheart and Graystripe (former apprentice names, Firepaw and Graypaw) find themselves driving WindClan back into their territory. Cinderpaw gets seriously injured, and Yellowfang does everything she can to help. Princess gives one of her own kits so Fireheart can have a apprentice as Cinderpaw cannot become a warrior now.

-- reviewed by K. S. (3rd gr.)

Evil Genius

by Catherine Jinks
***
FIC JIN (Teen section)

This book is about a boy named Cadel who is a genius and is invited to go to a criminal college known as Axis Institute. I did not really enjoy this book because: (1) it is a mystery story, and (2) it is dificult to follow.

Reviewed by A.S. (7th gr.)

If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period

by Gennifer Choldenko
FIC CHO (Teen section)

Kirsten's life is falling apart. Her parents aren't speaking, her best friend has ditched her, and her only ally is her geeky sister. Walker is trying to fit in at the predominantly white middle school his mom forced him to attend, so he wouldn't "screw up" like his cousin. But when Kirsten's and Walker's lives collide after an incident with the school's queen bee, Brianna, and being paired for a school project, they discover something that can change the way Brianna is seen-- and help repair Kirsten's reputation.

Reviewed by K. M., 6th gr.

The Year of the Dog: a novel

by Grace Lin
FIC LIN

The Year of the Dog is about a young girl who is Taiwanese-American. She can only speak English. Her name is Grace (Pacy) Lin. She just moved to America and is starting school. She has an older sister named Lizzy (Taiwanese name) or Beatrice (American name). It's the year of the dog and Pacy needs to find her talent before the end of the year. At school there will be a book project contest. The students will write a book authored and illustrated by themselves. Pacy is having trouble. Her teacher says she has writer's block. When Pacy comes home, her mom somehow convinces her to help her plant a special kind of Chinese vegetable that look very ugly but tastes very good. After helping her mom, Pacy has a great idea for her book.

Reviewed by S. S. (5th gr.)

Rules

by Cynthia Lord
FIC LOR

Catherine's younger brother David has utism which makes life hard on her family. David doesn't understand a lot of stuff about the world so Catherine makes rules for him like "no toys in the fish tank." Because her best friend is out of town, it's lika a dream come true when Kristi moves in next door. She also meets a boy at David's occupational therapy named Jason who can't speak or walk. Unfortunately Catherine feels she can't tell Kristi about David or Jason.

I really like this book because it's funny and has a good lesson.

Reviewed by R. M. (6th gr.)

Rules was a Newbery Honor book in 2007 and the winner of the Schneider Family Book Award. --Leslie

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: a novel in cartoons

by Jeff Kinney
FIC KIN

I liked this book because it was funny and artistic. There were pictures in this book that helped me think of what happened. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is so realistic that I'm sure I can match people up with the characters in the book!

I think that Greg shouldn't have done the things he did, such as chasing kindergarteners with a worm and sneaking to try and hear his brother's CD. I don't think I would have done anything like him!

Reviewed by H. Y. (6th gr.)

Paint the Wind

by Pam Munoz Ryan
FIC RYA

Maya's parents have died and she lives with her strict grandmother. She knows nothing about her mom except that she loved horses. When grandmother dies, Maya moves in with her mom's relatives. At first she's very obnoxious but becomes kind as she learns to ride horses. One day when an earthquake strikes Maya falls and hurts her leg miles from home. Her own hope is Artemisia, a wild mare her mom tamed. Will they make it back alive?

I thought this book was really well written and full of adventure.

Reviewed by R. M. (6th gr.)

Regarding the Fountain

by Kate Klise; illustrated by Sarah Klise
****
FIC KLI

Dry Creek Middle School's drinking fountain has sprung a leak and must be replaced. Principal Walter Russ sends a letter to the owner of Flowing Waters Fountains asking for an estimate on a new one. Little does he know that he's contacted a true individual, an artistic designer named Florence Waters, who will not settle for anything less than the most imaginative, creative, and pleasurable water fountain ever. Should it dispense shakes and ice cream? Should goldifsh live inside? Florence even contacts the 5th graders for their ideas. As the correspondence continues, clues appear that reveal a dastardly plot and secrets buried beneath the fountain. Are things in the town of Dry Creek as dry as they seem?

Regarding the Fountain and the other 4 books in the Regarding the ... series are funny and unusual. The story is told in a series of illustrated letters, phone messages, notes, newspaper clippings, postcards and drawings. You'll chuckle at the puns and the quirky sayings.

Submitted by Leslie Kanno

The Schwa Effect

by Neal Shusterman

****

FIC SHU, Teen section

Calvin Schwa seems to be invisible. People forget about him the minute he's no longer standing next to them. His friend Antsy calls it the Schwa Effect and hatches a moneymaking scheme based on Calvin's "talent." That is until they get caught by the neighborhood's legendary mean guy, Mr. Crawley, who forces them to walk his 14 dogs as punishment. Later Antsy and and Lexie, Crawley's blind granddaughter, try to figure out what happened to Calvin's missing mother. Will Calvin's greatest fear come true? Will he disappear completely like his mother?

I love Shusterman's books. They're exciting, fast-paced, unique. Other books that we have by him that I enjoyed are Everlost and Downsiders. The Schwa Effect is one of the California Young Reader Medal nominated titles for middle school students.

Little Secrets #1: Playing with Fire

by Emily Blake
*****

This book is about a girl who has a "famous" mother. When her mother gets taken away to jail, she doesn't know what to do. Thank godness she has her best friend, cousin and boyfriend to help straighten out this mess. They'll help her...right? The best part of this book is when in the very end she finds out that the house is on fire.
H.B. (6th gr.) 2007

Alex Rider: Skeleton Key

by Anthony Horowitz

*****

FIC HOR, Teen section

After fighting a Chinese gang at the Wimbledon tennis tournament, Alex Rider, the 14 year old teenage spy for MI6 (British military intellegence), has to go into hiding in Skeleton Key (an island near Cuba), supposedly just as part of 2 American CIA agent's cover. Then he finds out why they're there. They are looking for a nuclear bomb. I liked this book because it really showed how Alex feels about being a spy.

R.G. (5th gr.) 2007

Wolf Trails

by Nik Sawe
****
FIC SAW

This book is about a wolf pack that escapes from a laboratory that tests medicine on them, often killing them. Soon after they leave, they meet a dog (the wolves call dogs Teyens) called Salyr, who helps them. But the humans start a wolf hunt so the pack must escape from the humans. I really liked the book because: 1) I LOVE WOLVES!!!, 2) It was exciting!. It was sad, but I still really liked it.
K.S. (5th gr.) 2006

The Lightning Thief

by Rick Riordan

*****

FIC RIO, Teen section

Percy Jackson seem to be a normal 6th grade student with ADHD until he finds out that he is the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. When he goes to a camp and then on a quest to the Underworld to return his father's trident, he finds a greater evil rising to power. This book is super awesome in a way that is barely describeable!!! It is a cool mix of modern and fantasy, the plot is awesome, and so are the characters!!! This narrative has a style of writing that is undescribeble, but is very good. READ THIS BOOK!!!

A.S. (6th gr.) 2006

Alex Rider: Stormbreaker

by Anthony Horowitz

****

FIC HOR

Alex Rider becomes suspicious when his only living relative (his uncle) dies and Alex finds out his uncle was a spy. Then the M16 (basically Britain's CIA) abducts him and Alex has to figure out what is lethal about the new computers called the Stormbreakers. I liked the book because it's like a mini James Bond story without the mushy stuff.