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

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.

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.

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.)

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

The Eyes of the Dragon

by Stephen King
*****

It tells about two princes, an evil magician and a quest to save the kingdom. Flagg, the evil royal advisor/magician, murders the king, imprisons the prince who knows how to lead the kingdom, and makes the other one the king. What I liked about the book was how adventurous it was. And for those of you who like a little (or big) scare and adventure, this is the book for you. Remember...I DON'T THINK IT'S IN THE LIBRARY!!! And have a good time reading.
R.R. (5th gr.) 2007

Warriors series

by Erin Hunter

FIC HUN

Book 1: Into the Wild

*****

A cat...a house cat keeps dreaming about chasing a mouse and then something happening. One day his dream comes true and he meets a free cat callled Lionheart. Our main character ends up becoming part of a clan and sets off on an adventure. I liked the adventure and setting of the forest and how they described things.

R.R. (5th gr.) 2007

Book 6: The Darkest Hour

*****

This story is about Firestar (formerly known as Rusty the housecat, Firepaw, and Fireheart in earlier books in this series), the young leader of ThunderClan. (There are four clans in the forest, and they are all made of cats.) He and his clan must fight to save the forest from a vicious new clan, BloodClan. Can they save their beloved forest? I loved this book because of Erin Hunter's style of making things exciting. It was fun to try and figure out how the story would end. Erin's writing style makes the story flow. She also thinks up interesting characters, such as Tigerstar, the clan leader of ShadowClan. You really should read this book.

M.P. (6th gr.) 2006

Harry Potter

by J.K Rowling
FIC ROW

Book 1: HP and the Sorcerer's Stone
*****
This book is about a boy who finds out that he is a wizard. But when he goes to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a 7-year-long adventure starts. An evil wizard named Voldemort tries to kill Harry for the sorcerer's stone so he can have eternal life and not have to use the back of Professor Quirrel's head.

Book 2: HP and the Chamber of Secrets
*****
Harry gets visited by a house elf named Dobby, who tries to tell him bad things are going to happen, so he should not go back to Hogwarts. Of course, he does not listen and goes back to school.

Book 3: HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
*****
Harry finds out Sirius Black is his godfather. He gets into trouble with dementors and goes back in time 50 years before.

Book 4: HP and the Goblet of Fire
*****
Harry Potter is a fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry battles lots of ferocious monsters, including Lord Voldemort. The great Twizard Tournament is being held at Hogwarts, and the Goblet of Fire will decide 1 winner from each of three schools; Durmstrang, Hogwarts, and a Bulgarian school. When Harry gets entered into the Tournament, everybody gets suspicious.

Book 5: HP and the Half-Blood Prince
****
Harry gets a second-hand book from the school that was owned by the Half-blood Prince, and Harry wants to find out what who he is. What Iliked best was the good adventures in finding out stuff.

T.S. (5th grade)

Silverwing and Sunwing

by Kenneth Oppel

***

FIC OPP

This story is about a young bat named Shade who is on his first migration. On the way, he gets separated from his colony in a storm. Soon Shade finds out that he is far away from his colony. There is only one other bat on the island, and her name is Merina. Together they try to find Shade's colony.

L.G. (6th grade), 2004

Sunwing

****

FIC OPP

The story is a sequel to Silverwing. It is about a small bat, named Shade, who gets himself and his friends into a lot of trouble. Trouble that almost kills him. It is very exciting. I think Kenneth Oppel is a very good writer.

B.K. (6th gr.) 2006

Gregor the Overlander

by Suzanne Collins

*****

FIC COL

It's about a boy who goes after his little sister Boots down a chute. He finds himself in a word under New York. I like it because it is a book for both girls and boys. It is full of great writing from start to finsh. Good for teens and pre-teens.

K.R. (6th gr.) 2006

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

by Kate DiCamillo

*****

FIC DIC

It's about a china rabbit named Edward and how Edward goes from being a spoiled toy to rock bottom. This book is good because it as a real page turner and it has a great structure.

J.T. (6th gr.) 2006

The City of Ember

by Jeanne DuPrau

****

FIC DUP, Teen section

The city of Ember is a city that never receives sunlight. The artificial light is about to go out. And it's up to Lina and Doon to lead the people of Ember to light. The author writes with a sense of humor and a serious plot. This is a good book for people that like adventure.

T.Z. & M.P. (6th grade), 2004

The Lost Years of Merlin series

by T.A. Barron

FIC BAR, Teen section

Book 1

****

Merlin (then known as Emerys) washes up on a shore with a woman who claims she's not his mother. Emerys soon figures out he has powers when he gets mad at a boy who calls him "demon's son." Emerys gets mad (who wouldn't!) and thinks "Burn. Burn to hell." The tree in back of the boy suddenly catches on fire, and the kid gets stuck under the tree. Emerys tries to save him in vain, also blinding himself. Then Emerys sets out on a journey to Fincayra, meeting Rhia, Cwen, and many other creatures and humans. I liked best that there was always action, and there were many characters. Emerys always seemed to be moving, and that kept the story going. I was happy when I found out there were four more in the series. There are more and more characters, like the great Dagda, whso can transform into a stag, and the evil Rhita Gawr, who can transform into a boar, Trouble, a hawk, Stangmar, the evil king of Fincayra, and Shim, the short and big-nosed giant.

E.K. (5th grade), 2004

Book 3: The Mirror of Merlin

****

Merlin is forced to fight the evil Nimue, who has prisoned the Marsh Ghouls. He also must travel to the future to see what happens and save his best friend. This is indeed very interesting and suspenseful. It will hook you on to reading it.

S.N. (8th gr.) 2005

Airborn

by Kenneth Oppel

*****

FIC OPP, Teen section

The story is about a boy named Matt Cruise, and he's the cabin's boy on an airship called the Aurora. The Aurora carries passengers across the ocean. He loves being in the air, and it feels like home to him. One day, they find a falling hot air balloon with a dying man aboard. The man's last words are of seeing amazing creatures on his journey. Matt doesn't believe him, because people see things like this that are really mirages. A year later, one of the passengers on the Aurora is the man's granddaughter, Kate. She shows him her grandfather's journal, and it has notes about the creatures. Matt begins to believe that they really could be real. The ship is later attacked by sky pirates, and the Aurora lands on an island. On the island, Matt and Kate begin to discover clues about the mysterious animals. I liked this book because it was very exciting. It was also very interesting and the characters were believable. The whole idea just fascinated me. I definitely recommend this book.

M. A. (8th gr.) 2005

Faerie Wars

by Herbie Brennan

*****

FIC BRE, Teen section

The Faeries of Night and the Faeries of Light may soon begin a civil war. Pyrgus, son of the Purple Emperor, is warped to the human world, where Mr. Fogarty and Henry find him. They embark on an adventure like no other, spanning the human world, the realm of Faerie, and even the demon world. I liked this book because the characters are realistic. The author reveals what you need to know as it becomes needed, not all at once. I also like the author's tendency to make you expect one thing, then do something completely different.

A.N. (7th grade), 2005

The Tiger's Apprentice, book #1

by Laurence Yep

*****

FIC YEP

This book is about a boy named Tom whose grandmom has been killed by an ancient evil. Tom, a tiger (Mr. Hu), a dragon (Mistral), and a mischief-making ape are out to save the world and themselves. I liked the book because I like action and learning only if it's fun.

A. H. (5th grade), 2005

Trickster's Choice

by Tamora Pierce
*****
FIC PIE, Teen section

This book is about a girl who gets kidnapped and is sold into slavery. She becomes a spymaster for a big conspiracy that plans to put a new queen on the throne. I liked this book because it is very exciting and believable, and the character of Ally is very interesting and she sounds hot.
A. G. (7th grade), 2005

Dragon Rider

by Cornelia Funke

*****

FIC FUN

This is about some dragons that are mistreated by humans. So the only peaceful place is the rim of heaven, the place were the sky touches the earth. They go to a human city to find a map maker. They find a boy and he helps them. What I liked best was when the humans were gone.

M.C. (3rd grade), 2005

The Series of Unfortunate Events #1: The Bad Beginning

by Lemony Snickett
*****
FIC SNI, Series section

This story is about the Baudelaire children. Their parents died in a terrible fire and left behind a humongous fortune and Count Olaf is trying steal it by dressing in disguises. The Baudelaire children go through very hard times and some very adventurous times trying to escape from Count Olaf's clutches. What I liked best was that Violet was very smart with her inventions, Klaus was so cool with his research and reading books, and Sunny was amazing with her teeth and her abilities to do things no other baby could do.
S. J. (5th grade), 2005