Review: Bloodlines: Heart of War by M. Zachary Sherman

Bloodlines: Heart of War by M. Zachary Sherman. A Bloodlines Novel.

Capstone Young Readers
Publication Date: February 2013
List Price: $7.95
ISBN-13: 9781623700027

Review: If you could take a closer look at war, would you? Well now you can with Bloodlines: Heart of War written by M. Zachary Sherman. Bloodlines takes you back to WWII and other wars, including the Iraq War and a part of the Afghan War. Relive those war times with the Donovan family.

The action never stops as you feel the same terror the Donovan family feels as you go through war all over again. Travel through a rough journey of hiding from Germans, Koreans, and other enemies. Place yourself into the life of one of the Donovan's as you go through an adventure of what it is like to be a soldier, rising in the ranks with each family member. Try a different perspective with a member of the family. Start with PFC Michael Donovan and rise from a low rank all the way through to LTDR Lester Donovan. Fly over the enemy lines with Michael Donovan. Escape a submarine with your life with First Lieutenant Aaron Donovan. Explore unknown territory in Korea with Captain Everett Donovan. Repair a damaged vehicle from a crashed plane in Korea with Private First Class Tony Donovan. Receive air support while pinned in Vietnam with Lieutenant Verner Donovan. Help out as a medic on Hamburger Hill with Captain Anne Donovan. After crashing in a helicopter over an Afghan desert, try to find your missing squad with Lieutenant Commander Lester Donovan. Capture a terrorist in Iraq as Lester Donovan's adventure continues. Prepare yourself for a tale of destruction and heartbreak as the Donovan family does its part in this war.

I enjoyed Bloodlines: Heart of War. The author's use of multiple perspectives is what I liked most. The suspense in every chapter pushed me to keep reading another. Before reading this book, war never interested me. However, this book has changed my mind regarding WWII. I was able to visualize how terrifying war can be; and now, I have a newfound respect for soldiers in the military. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it didn't tell how the people grew up or how they were trained. This book is good for young readers who play the videogame Call of Duty, or for anyone who enjoys war stories. The intense action of war will keep you reading!

Review written by Alex (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Media Masters Publicity for providing a copy of Bloodlines: Heart of War for this review.

Have you read Bloodlines: Heart of War? How would you rate it?

Review: Prettiest Doll by Gina Willner-Pardo

Prettiest Doll by Gina Willner-Pardo.

Clarion Books
Publication Date: November 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547681702

Review: Do you like stories that are adventurous and that action-packed? Do you like reading books that are hard to put down and that are extremely fascinating? Well, I think that Prettiest Doll is the book for you! From the author Gina Willner-Pardo comes a magnificent new book that is a really great and exciting read for many different ages!

The protagonist, Olivia, age 13, has been competing in pageants since she was three years old. Liv, as Olivia is called, is often referred to as ÒprettyÓ by many different people. Now, she is getting ready for a huge pageant called ÒThe Prettiest Doll Pageant.Ó With the help of her mother, her coach Miss Denise, and another coach Mrs. Drucker, she might be able to win this tough competition. However, Liv is afraid. She is fearful that ÒprettyÓ won't cut it, and she wants to be more than pretty. On schedule, Liv goes to Miss Denise's house to prepare and practice for the competition, but she takes a quick break to go to Turner's General Store, her favorite place to buy fudge. There, she meets a boy named Danny, and he is the first one to ever say that she seems Òsmart.Ó Liv thinks that being intelligent might help her win the pageant, but when she goes to Miss Denise's, Denise is disappointed in her walking, smiling and singing. Liv is not performing well, and there are only three weeks until the pageant---three weeks to practice her pageant and interview skills. Miss Denise tells Liv that she plans to send her to Mrs. Drucker's house for additional coaching. Mrs. Drucker is very stern, and Liv is certainly not ready to go there. Later on, Liv connects with Danny, and they set off on a journey of discovery about each other and life!

In my opinion, Prettiest Doll is a great read for both girls and boys in grades four to seven. There are some dull parts of the book, but don't all books have slow parts? I love Prettiest Doll because of its humor and adventure, and I believe that you will agree that it is an awesome book. Also, I enjoyed learning about the nature of beauty pageants, the behind the scenes preparation and happenings. What an amazing adventure can begin with a beauty pageant! Most people have no idea how much preparation and practice is required for a person to compete in a beauty pageant. Once I started reading, I could not put it down!! So if you are interested in a book that is a fascinating and exciting, I would strongly suggest that you check out the novel titled Prettiest Doll!

Review written by Caroline (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Prettiest Doll? How would you rate it?

Review: A Perfect Time for Pandas by Mary Pope Osborne

A Perfect Time for Pandas by Mary Pope Osborne. A Magic Tree House Book.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 2012
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780375868269

Review: Are you the type of person who likes adventure, tenderness, and enjoys animals? Well, then A Perfect Time for Pandas is just for you. This book is by Mary Pope Osborne, and is number 48 in the Magic Tree House series. Imagine going to a bamboo forest in China with endangered animals and all of a sudden the Earth begins trembling and you find in order to search for the strayed animals. Will Jack and Annie find them and the last clue to save Penny?

Is there a puzzle you need to solve, but can't? Well that's what Jack and Annie are faced to do. It's like a stubborn child not wanting to do something. They travel to China and have to find something that is healthy, grainy, good, baked with love, tough as wood, round in shape, the color of sand, and given to those who have lost their land. Okay so they're in China and don't know how to figure out the riddle so they head to the Wolong National Reserve where there is an Earthquake that is destructive and trembling. The reserve can't find some pandas; will Jack and Annie find the lost pandas and still have time to figure out the clue?

A Perfect Time for Pandas is a wonderful book for early chapter book readers. The setting is intriguing as they go to a bamboo forest that is home to endangered species. It's easy to get caught up ion the excitement. The characters also add to the overall story. One character that I found interesting is Bing-Bing. Bing-Bing is a panda that makes Jack feel like the panda is completely full of wisdom and in the end renders him speechless; not even words can explain what he feels. The overall moral of this story is also an important idea that needs to be expressed. It is that we humans need to speak up for the animals so we can protect them and defend them because they can't do it for themselves. This story would be appreciated, adored, and loved by younger kids like kids in elementary school. I yearned to continue reading to find out what would happen next, like will they find the missing pandas and have sufficient time to figure out the clue? A Perfect Time for Pandas is a great book for readers of all ages.

Review written by Omar (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of A Perfect Time for Pandas for this review.

Have you read A Perfect Time for Pandas? How would you rate it?

Review: Pocket Cats: Feline Charm by Kitty Wells

Pocket Cats: Feline Charm by Kitty Wells. A Pocket Cats Book.

David Fickling Books
Publication Date: November 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780385752121

Review: Do you like books about animals? Do you like books with magic in them? If you answered ÒYesÓ to those questions and you are in the upper elementary grades, Feline Charm by Kitty Wells is a good book for you.

Feline Charm is the story of two best friends, Maddy and Rachel, who love to dance ballet together. However, Rachel wants to quit ballet, so Maddy uses cat power to boost her confidence. Ironically, when the cast for the huge recital is revealed, Rachel finds herself with the lead part. Maddy becomes jealous, and this leads to the dilemma. Will Maddy support Rachel on opening night or not? Will she use cat power? You will have to read the book to find out!

In my opinion, Feline Charm is suited for girls in grades three to five. Since I am a sixth grader, I really didn't like the book. Also, I felt that the book moved along too slowly. I would have enjoyed it more if it had a quicker pace. Additionally, the book had a few words in what I think was French; that seemed unnecessary to me. I did enjoy the character development, particularly of Maddy. The book contains twists and turns in Maddy's attitude toward Rachel. In conclusion, I didn't like the book, and perhaps if I were a little younger, I would've found it more interesting. Without a doubt, I recommend Feline Charm for girls eight to ten years old. You will enjoy this book if you are a girl in elementary school who loves cats and animals with special powers!

Review written by Bianca (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Pocket Cats: Feline Charm for this review.

Have you read Pocket Cats: Feline Charm? How would you rate it?

Review: The FitzOsbornes at War by Michelle Cooper

The FitzOsbornes at War by Michelle Cooper. The Montmaray Jounals, Book III.

Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 2012
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780375870507

Review: How would you have liked it if the Nazis forced you out of your homeland? This happens to Sophie FitzOsborne, a princess of Montmaray, a fictitious island near Cornwall, England. Sophie takes refuge with her cousins in Britain. Michelle Cooper creates an extremely realistic setting in her conclusion to the Montmaray Journals Trilogy, The FitzOsbornes at War.

The FitzOsbornes at War begins as Britain declares war on Germany. Sophie's brother Toby joins the RAF to help the war effort while Sophie goes to London to work at the Ministry Of Food. A family friend, the Colonel, gets her to infiltrate cocktail parties at the American Embassy to find out if there is a spy in the midst. A couple years later, Toby gets shot down over Belgium, Axis territory, and his chances of survival are slim. Read the book to find out what happens to Sophie and the FitzOsbornes.

The FitzOsbornes at War did not appeal to me. Although there are historical facts, realistic characters, and compelling details of the Blitz, I found that I was not the best audience for what the book has to offer. First, I felt it was inappropriate for my age group because it includes mature content that made me uncomfortable. Also, because the book is written from a girl's perspective, girls would most likely enjoy it more. Probably the most significant reason that I did not fully enjoy The FitzOsbornes at War has more to do with the fact that I hadn't read the first two books. Without reading the first two books, it is hard to follow the characters. For instance, I didn't know what happened to their mother and father, so I wasn't up to date. Therefore it is critical that the first two books are read before beginning this one. Overall, the right audience for the book might have truly enjoyed the realism and strong historical story line, but I did not. I might have enjoyed this better if I had read the first two books. So I would not rule out The FitzOsbornes at War, but I would recommend that the readers know the background and are more prepared for the mature content.

Review written by Ian (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The FitzOsbornes at War for this review.

Have you read The FitzOsbornes at War? How would you rate it?

Review: The Unfailing Light by Robin Bridges

The Unfailing Light by Robin Bridges. Volume II in The Katerina Trilogy.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 2012
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780385740241

Review: Thrilling, heart pounding and romantic are some words that describe a sensational story. But these characters aren't people that you would meet anytime because this book is all about paranormal activity. The Unfailing Light is an amazing sequel to the first book, the Gathering Storm which are both part of the magnificent Katerina trilogy written by Robin Bridges.

Katerina Alexandrovna is a necromancer. She can bring dead things back to life. She has always dreamed of becoming a doctor instead of going to a tedious school to learn how to become a better woman. But then one day her whole world crashes. There is a mysterious dark force called Konstantin the Deathless that Katerina can only be safe from if she stays in Russia. That means no medical school. Her boyfriend George Alexandrovich will stop at nothing to keep her safe. Depressed, Katerina goes back to finishing school to continue her studies there where the empress casts a spell to keep her safe from the evil Prince Danilo. However her spell awakens a bitter ghost who poses an even bigger threat.

I really enjoyed The Unfailing Light. It is suspensful at some parts but fun and playful at other times. I like all the romance it involves. I give this book five out of five stars. If you love reading books placed in the past you will adore this book. All the girls dress up for fancy events and do ballroom dancing. If that sounds like your style then this is a great book for you! I especially like the scene when Katerina and her friend Dariya are doing the performance in front of everybody. I like it because it is something I can connect to because I try to set up plays with my friends too. You need to make sure that you read the first book, the Gathering Storm first because there are some characters in it that the second book talks about as well. You need to know the information from the first book to understand the second. The Unfailing Light should be targeted towards people ages ten and up because younger kids might not understand some of the story. All in all, this is a fantastic book and I encourage you too read it.

Review written by Lilia (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The Unfailing Light? How would you rate it?

Review: Prettiest Doll by Gina Willner-Pardo

Prettiest Doll by Gina Willner-Pardo.

Clarion Books
Publication Date: November 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547681702

Review: Do you think you're pretty? If so do you think you're lucky to look like that? In the book Prettiest Doll, written by Gina Willner-Pando, Olivia ÒLivÓ Jane thinks that it's good to be pretty, but begins to feel differently when she starts to notice that being pretty is the only thing that people see in her. When she meets a runaway boy, she realizes that she can change how people see her. Liv is a normal 13-year-old girl who's been doing pageants as long as she can remember, but once the Prettiest Doll pageant comes; she realizes that she will have to sing. Liv thinks that she can't sing well, so she decides to run away from home.

While escaping the demands of the pageant, Olivia meets a runaway named Dan who has left home to get away from his problems. She begins to think that running away is the right idea for her too. She decides to go with Dan and together they go to many places and, along the way, Liv learns that she wants to be more than just pretty and decides to change that. On their trip, Liv and Dan learn a lot about themselves that they didn't know. For example they realize that they shouldn't care about what other people think about them.

I enjoyed Prettiest Doll very much. I recommend this book for teenage girls, because many girls can probably relate to Liv and her wish to be seen as more than just pretty. Teenage girls can most likely have some connection the frustration that comes with someone making them do something that causes them to just want to run away from home and be alone or with someone who understands what they are going through. This is a really good book that shows people that there is always someone who will understand you.

Review written by Lindsey (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Prettiest Doll? How would you rate it?

Review: Bears Beware by Patricia Reilly Giff

Bears Beware by Patricia Reilly Giff. A Zigzag Kids Book.

Wendy Lamb Books
Publication Date: April 2012
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780385738897

Review: Camping can be a lot of fun. Reading about camping adventures can be a lot of fun too. The story in Bears Beware is about an unusal group of kids that go camping together. This book may be entertaining to a young audience, like 2nd graders. Patricia Reilly Giff is an award winning author, and Bears Beware is the 5th book in the ZigZag Kids series.

The main character in this story is Mitchell McCabe who has an older sister Angel and a best friend named Habib. They are a little quirky but likable at the same time. They all belong to the Zigzag Afternoon Center where they go after school every day. The Center is taking them all on a camping trip. Mitchell is afraid of bears and throughout the story tries to convince himself to be brave like his imaginary character Gary Bopper. An additional story line is how his birthday is the same weekend as the camping trip.

Mitchell is paired up with a new kid instead of his best friend. Owen is a very unusual boy in first impressions but has no fear of the animals. Owen and Mitchell together help each other. By the end of the story will Mitchell overcome his fear of creepy crawlies and find a way to celebrate his birthday too?

Bears Beware has a lot of fun illustrations by Alasdair Bright. Her pictures help young readers identify the characters and the setting. The story is about everyday events similar to the Hank Zipzer series. The plot and events are those that could happen in any boy's gradeschool life but are unique because of the way they think or interact with other quirky people. Mitchell McCabe is funny, and without realizing it he teaches himself how to be brave in a scary situation.

Review written by David (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Bears Beware for this review.

Have you read Bears Beware? How would you rate it?

Review: Presidential Pets: The Weird, Wacky, Little, Big, Scary, Strange Animals That Have Lived in the White House by Julia Moberg

Presidential Pets: The Weird, Wacky, Little, Big, Scary, Strange Animals That Have Lived in the White House by Julia Moberg.

Imagine Publishing
Publication Date: July 2012
List Price: $14.95
ISBN-13: 9781936140794

Review: Have you ever read a book with an amazing start, one that has an opening that draws you into the book? Well, in Presidential Pets by Julia Moberg, it does just that. It makes me want to read more immediately. But then, when I turn the page, I am not too impressed. Only one-fourth of the page has cute, fun, little facts about the pets. The rest of the page contains statistics, accomplishments, and facts about the presidents' lives and terms. A small bullet list of other information completes the page.

Based on the title, Presidential Pets is expected to be a book about all of the pets of our previous presidents (George Washington through Barack Obama). But, it contains facts about the presidents' terms and their lives. This book is better for getting some facts for a research project rather than learning about pets. Presidential Pets will appeal to people who are interested in the accomplishments of presidents more than people seeking fun facts about pets. I prefer the author's fun, Dr. Seuss - like wording that she uses to begin the story. It is a fun, engaging, interesting style that has readers laughing and enjoying the book.

This fun style is contrasted with awkward sayings such as, ÒMany called him Walrus for his mustache silhouette and despite his animal nickname, Chester Arthur did not own any pets.Ó Ms. Moberg also includes other interesting quotes that have little to do with presidential pets. For example, one quote is about Ronald Reagan and Jelly-Belly jelly beans. However, even though I am not a fan of this book, I do think that the illustrator, Jeff Albrecht Studios, is an amazing artist. The illustrations are greatly detailed, comical, and overall impressive. This book does not live up to the expectations set from looking at the cover. But, when read for the right purpose, it is interesting. Unfortunately, I give Presidential Pets two stars for being inconsistent.

Review written by Allie (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Charlesbridge Press for providing a copy of Presidential Pets: The Weird, Wacky, Little, Big, Scary, Strange Animals That Have Lived in the White House for this review.

Have you read Presidential Pets: The Weird, Wacky, Little, Big, Scary, Strange Animals That Have Lived in the White House? How would you rate it?

Review: What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt

What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt.

Clarion Books
Publication Date: September 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547612133

Review: Mystery, confusion, and destruction are three words that describe a wonderful book titled What Came from the Stars written by Gary D. Schmidt. In this mystery because many houses are being destroyed and all the police and residents try to find who is behind the destruction. It is confusing, however, because whoever is wrecking the houses is not doing it at the same time or in a noticeable pattern.

At the beginning of the book a necklace travels from another planet, Valorm, which is a civilization of humans with Valorm as its capital, and lands in Tommy Pepper's lunchbox, which belongs to Tommy Pepper. He begins to wear it and he finds himself thinking of different things such as the two suns that the planet has and the O'Mondims Eventually, Tommy's house is broken into, and he and his family have to clean up the mess and fix everything that is broken. Tommy realizes the necklace may have something to do with the chaos, but will he be able to solve the mystery before the town is destroyed?

What Came from the Stars is an amazingly well-written book. I particularly enjoyed reading about when Tommy received his necklace and when the major storm occurs. The necklace added a lot to the book because Tommy has no idea what is happening and everyone laughed at him. I liked the major storm is exciting because he has to build a fire and he plays a Bach musical piece perfectly on the piano. Certain parts were less enjoyable, such as when I couldn't understand a language that Tommy and a fighter from Valorm were speaking to one another. Although Tommy automatically could understand because of the necklace the reader is confused. Overall, What Came from the Stars is amazing; I really enjoyed reading it.

Review written by Dalton (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for providing a copy of What Came From the Stars for this review.

Have you read What Came From the Stars? How would you rate it?

Review: Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt. A Companion to The Wednesday Wars.

Sandpiper
Publication Date: April 2011
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780544022805

Review: Doug Swieteck's life is a mess. Doug's brother beat him up and stole his most prized possession; a baseball hat autographed by his idol, Yankee's slugger, Joe Pepitone. Doug's dad is fired because he tried to punch his boss, forcing them to move to a new city to get a new job. In Okay For Now Gary Schmidt paints a picture of life with new meaning.

When Doug arrives in Marysville, he spends time at the library to escape his family. Doug is mesmerized when he first sets his sights on the Arctic Tern, a drawing in John James Audubon's Birds of America book. Mr. Powell, a librarian, informs Doug that the town has auctioned off drawings from Birds of America to raise money to pay various bills. Doug becomes a man on a mission to recover the drawings taken from the book.

I rate Okay For Now a 4.5 stars out of 5 for several reasons. To start, I can relate to some of Doug's situations. Also, Doug has determination because he does everything in his power to get back the missing pages. Finally, Doug repairs some of his family's relationships, especially his and his brother's. Doug thought leaving his friends to move to Marysville would be negative, he even called it "The Dump," but Doug seems happier in the end than the beginning.

Review written by Ian (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for providing a copy of Okay for Now for this review.

Have you read Okay for Now? How would you rate it?

Review: Curse of the Thirteenth Fey: The True Tale of Sleeping Beauty by Jane Yolen

Curse of the Thirteenth Fey: The True Tale of Sleeping Beauty by Jane Yolen.

Philomel Books
Publication Date: November 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780399256646

Review: Faeries, fey, shouting, and family all bind themselves together to make Curse of the Thirteenth Fey written by Jane Yolen. If you like the original tale of Sleeping Beauty, then this book is a definite must-read book for you. Gorse is the thirteenth child in a Shouting Fey family. Follow Gorse's crazy wild ride as she discovers lies, secrets, information, and maybe even herself.

Gorse has always had a hard life growing up in her family, being the thirteenth child, because the great aunts and her mother had a hunch that she was the 'one' in all of Shouting Fey history. The Shouting Fey, have been bound to the land until a curse is broken, and only then will they be able to go wherever they want. Shouting Fey has the ability to shout out a riddle or scream and they're predator would be curse or injured by the shout. They also have wings to fly. Since she is the thirteenth child in the family, the family easily gives up their beliefs of Gorse being the one to break the curse because she would often have nightmares or get sick throughout her short childhood. Gorse is very unique. Instead of frolicking in the meadow wearing a pink frilly dress like other girls, she chooses to read in the library with her elf father. She has a special connection with her father that no one could ever break. When Gorse is very shaken by a cold, she has to stay in bed while her entire family attends Princess Talia's christening. Gorse, feeling better, decides to go on her own, and while walking along the Wooing Path, she falls into a hole, that changes her life forever. Will anyone be able to break the spell? Is Gorse really the 'one'? Read and find out!

Because I enjoy the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty, I found Curse of the Thirteenth Fey to be somewhat boring. I was confused for a large amount of time while reading which did not allow me to fully enjoy the story. I loved the idea of another Sleeping Beauty, but was disappointed in the turnout of the book. However, I also think that my opinion is somewhat biased since I generally do not enjoy fairytales. That being said, Jane Yolen clearly has a talent for writing old-fashioned princess books, so I do encourage you to read her other books, but you could pass this one up. Gorse's adventures in the book are what kept me from closing the book and placing it back on the shelf. Her adventures are fun and exciting but also kept me guessing and helped me to continue on throughout the book. I feel that anyone over the age of en could read this book because they're no cuss words in the book but the writing is often hard to understand. Both genders would enjoy the book as well, but most girls would probably relate to the characters and like the book more. I only give this book two and a half stars for the overall lack of excitement in the plot, but the redeeming factors are the intellectual and relatable characters and writing. In the end, unless you are a person who loves fairytales and would not be swayed by the Disney version, Curse of the Thirteenth Fey is a book you can definitely skip over when trying to find a new book to read.

Review written by Abby (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Raab Associates for providing a copy of Curse of the Thirteenth Fey: The True Tale of Sleeping Beauty for this review.

Have you read Curse of the Thirteenth Fey: The True Tale of Sleeping Beauty? How would you rate it?

Review: The Scorpions of Zahir by Christine Brodien-Jones

The Scorpions of Zahir by Christine Brodien-Jones.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 2012
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780385739337

Review: Do you love stories about desert adventurers and huge animals? Well if you do then you should read The Scorpions of Zahir. The characters are Zagora, Duncan, Razziq, Mina, and Dr.Pym.

Zagora and her brother and embark on an adventure in the desert where Dr.Pym receives a letter from a lady named Olivia she tells him she is Pitblade's cousin. Olivia tells Dr.Pym that she needs help to find the long lost Oryx Stone. Intrigued by this quest, Dr.Pym takes his kids Zagora and Duncan to Morocco to help find the Oryx Stone. When they got there, Zagora finds the stone in a trunk in the attic, but she doesn't tell anyone. She has the stone the whole time and once they meet Olivia for dinner, Zagora finds out that Olivia is very mean. So Zagora decides to put a scorpion that she found on a stamp into Olivia's drink. When the scorpion touches the water it grows incredibly large. It doesn't take very long for Zagora to realize the evil lies within the scorpions and Olivia's evil plan. Can Zagora stop her in time? You'll have to read to find out!

I enjoyed The scorpions of Zahir in some parts more than others. Some of the book is filled with amazing details and awesome adventures, however, in other parts the story became boring, especially when the characters are just talking and not doing anything fun. I would recommend The Scorpions of Zahir for fourth graders or higher because there are a few higher-level vocabulary that might be challenging to younger readers. I think if someone wants to be an adventurer when they grow up, this book is perfect for them. The characters seem so real in this story because this could happen to anyone young or old. I love the part when Zagora finds he dad after looking for him non-stop. This story is heartwarming and makes you want to tear up sometimes. This story took me awhile to read because at times I lost interest. It may not be boring to other people. The adventure combined with mystery, suspense, heart-warming messages, and a few scary moments make The Scorpions of Zahir a worthy book to read.

Review written by Skyler (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The Scorpions of Zahir? How would you rate it?

Review: The Wondrous Journals of Dr. Wendell Wellington Wiggins by Lesley M. M. Blume

The Wondrous Journals of Dr. Wendell Wellington Wiggins by Lesley M. M. Blume.

Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375868504

Review: The Wondrous Journals of Dr. Wendell Wellington Wiggins is a book about the plump man, Wendell Wellington Wiggins. He is a lazy man that suddenly decides he wants to know about the Earth's unique past. He decided to go from South America, to every other continent to the poles! He finds fossils of unique umbrella fish to fossils of rainbow spitting cobras to the reason the Bermuda triangle is supposedly, ÒHauntedÓ! Along the time in South America, he finds a strange dog-like creature that he names Gibear. Gibear does many important and fantastical things in the story! Gibear and Dr. Wiggins develop a very strong bond and friendship. If you want to find out about more of the amazing of Dr. Wendell Wellington Wiggins, read the book! It Uses Journal entries of Wendell Wiggins himself!

This book is very good, I would rate it an eleven out of ten! This book took me only a week to read! Dr. Wiggins makes about six to seven discoveries per continent, adding up to about forty-two to forty-nine discoveries in all! This book I think is for all ages and does not have any inappropriate parts! This book was very good and entertaining! If you've got some time to kill then I would suggest reading this book! It never gets old! I enjoyed this a lot and I hope you enjoy it too!

Review written by Dylan (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Wondrous Journals of Dr. Wendell Wellington Wiggins for this review.

Have you read The Wondrous Journals of Dr. Wendell Wellington Wiggins? How would you rate it?

Review: Life with Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher

Life with Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher. Book One in The Adventures of Lily Lapp.

Revell
Publication Date: October 2012
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780800721329

Review: I read a book called Life with Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher. It is book one in The Adventures of Lily Lapp series. The main character in this book is an Amish girl named Lily Lapp.

This book takes place in an Amish community in New York State. Lily is six years old and has two brothers, Dannie and Joseph. She is also part of a big extended family including her aunts, uncles, cousins, and great grandmother. Half of the family lives in New York and the other half lives in Kentucky. The book follows Lily through her daily routines on the family farm. It is made up of various short stories about Lily's school, life at home, friends, love of animals, and family. Some of the events described are Lily's birthday, her visits with relatives and friends, and the family moving to Pennsylvania. At the end of the book, Lily's family decides to move to a new house in Pennsylvania so that Lily and her brothers have a good place to go to school.

One thing I liked about this book was when Lily's grandmother taught her about how important it is to choose your friends wisely. She gave a good example by putting white flowers in water with different colors of food coloring mixed in. She compared the colored flowers to flowers in clear water. However, there also were some things I didn't like about this book. For example, the characters are more or less static and do not change much throughout the book. Also, most of the short stories did not connect to each other, although they were in chronological order. The theme of the book was ineffective and could not be easily picked out from the text. There was no main plot in the book. The authors of the book have a slow-moving writing style with ideas that aren't well-developed and had few details that could let the reader picture the events.

I did not like this book because it was boring, had sketchy ideas, and was not very descriptive.

Review written by Laura (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Revell for providing a copy of Life with Lily for this review.

Have you read Life with Lily? How would you rate it?

Review: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban.

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2013
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780375870408

Review: What did you get on your tragedy paper? That is the ultimate question that runs through your head as you read The Tragedy Paper written by Elizabeth Laban. Duncan is an average boy who attends the Irving School where the motto is "Enter here to be and find a friend." He was a very normal boyÉ until he entered his senior year living in the worst dorm room at the entire school. In spite of his horrid living conditions, somehow Duncan finds himself.

At the end of their senior year, the students who attend the Irving School must leave a treasure in their dorm room for the future senior that will be living there. As Duncan enters his senior year the only thing he wants is to have a great normal year. Well that's everything he doesn't get. He gets stuck in the worst room at the end of the hall. He's also stuck in the room, where the albino kid, Tim, lived during the previous year. He opens his treasure box to see it's full of tapes that have different names on them. He starts to listen to them and soon realizes that the box is full of tapes that have Tim's voice on them. On the tapes, Tim tells his story and what happened that leads up to the big accident that happened at the end of the precious year. Tim also tells him about his life at the Irving School and how he fell in love with a girl, a girl he could never have. Duncan is horrified at what he learns. As Duncan tries to make sense of the tapes and his own life, he must also think about what he is going to write in the big assignment, the tragedy paper. The paper counts for 70 percent of the final grade and most people don't do very well on it. What do you think Duncan will do? And just what happened in the big accident of the precious year?

The Tragedy Paper is one of the most phenomenal books that I have ever read. Not only is the writing amazing, but the storyline and plot also capture you, and they don't let you go until the very end. Laban keeps you guessing and makes you rethink not only things in the book but your own life as well. I couldn't put this book down and found myself thinking about it all the time. Although, The Tragedy Paper has no inappropriate language, it does have a very mature feel so I strongly encourage people ten and older to read it because the storyline is somewhat difficult to wrap your head completely around. The book would also appeal to both genders fairly well since although the main character are boys, both genders would be able to connect to them. Laban also gives you room to imagine what happens next by giving you clues but not the whole story. I have not one single bad comment about The Tragedy Paper. I liked everything about the story. Laban closes this spectacular book with a very satisfying ending. Laban makes you happy, sad, and filled with joy throughout the entire book and really makes you feel what the characters are feeling. I give The Tragedy Paper five stars and if I had the ability to give more I would! I found The Tragedy Paper one of the best books I have ever read (and I've read a lot) so I know you will too!

Review written by Abby (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The Tragedy Paper? How would you rate it?

Review: Foretold: 14 Stories of Prophecy and Prediction by Carrie Ryan

Foretold: 14 Stories of Prophecy and Prediction by Carrie Ryan.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2012
List Price: $18.99
ISBN-13: 9780385741293

Review: Crystal balls, oracles, prophecy, prediction. Has prophecy and prediction ever interested you? Well Foretold would be a great book for you. The book Foretold is written by Richelle Mead, Lisa McMann, Laini Taylor, Meg Cabot, and about six or seven more authors. The book is not in any series and is edited by Carrie Ryan. Since the book is written by many authors and has many stories I'll just name a few of the characters. From Gentlemen Send Phantoms, there's Pippin or ÒCathyÓ. From Out of the Blue there's Kc Conrad and Kyle Conrad.

Again because the book is many stories I'll go over a few of my likes. One of my favorite stories is called The Chosen One by Saundra Mitchell; it's about a girl named Corvina who is the princesses' bed mistress. So the princess gets ill and Corvina is forced to go on a quest involving 'Óthe fabled cupÓ, flaming witches, breathless reaches, and an Earthenwork defiler. This particular story is good in my opinion because it has a satisfying ending, is full of action, and has believable characters. But just to give a small overview, all of the stories have something to do with prophesy and prediction.

But with the good comes bad, some of the stories might be exciting to you ,but if you like fantasy and adventure like me, I don't think that you'll find this book pleasing to read. I guess it's because the stories are short but almost all of the characters are flat and static. Also, some of the plots are predictable and have frustrating endings. But then again a lot of the themes were important in my eyes. Like never give up, and most of the time you should wait before you act. I would rate this book a 6 out of10.

The mystical art of prophecy, will it ever be revealed?

Review written by Mark (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Foretold: 14 Stories of Prophecy and Prediction for this review.

Have you read Foretold: 14 Stories of Prophecy and Prediction? How would you rate it?

Review: Dead is a Killer Tune by Marlene Perez

Dead is a Killer Tune by Marlene Perez. A Dead Is Book.

Houghton Mifflin Children's Paperback
Publication Date: September 2012
List Price: $7.99
ISBN-13: 9780547608341

Review: Marlene Perez has seven books in the Dead IsÉ series. Here they are: Dead is a Killer Tune, Dead is the New Black, Dead is a State of Mind, Dead is So Last Year, Dead is Just a Rumor, Dead is Not an Option, and Dead is a Battlefield. Her latest book Dead is a Killer Tune does not disappoint dedicated Dead Is É series fans.

Jessica Walsh is a freshman in High School. She is also a virago, a woman warrior who must protect her town from danger. In the small town of Nightshade, California, trouble is always coming their way.

At Nightshade's Battle of the Bands, Jessica's boyfriend, Dominick, and his band, Side Effects May Vary, are playing against Hamelin, a band whose fans go everywhere that they go. Now the musicians are doing illegal, risky, and really dumb things. They say that they do this because of strange music that they hear. Could there be a magical musician? It's up to Jessica to find out.

I really liked this book. It was a quick read. I could always tell what was going to happen next. There was also action, which I love! Also, it's a magic and adventure story. I would give it a nine out of ten for great humor, a great story, and great characters. I would recommend this book for kids 10 and up. I hope you read this book!

Review written by Alex (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Dead is a Killer Tune for this review.

Have you read Dead is a Killer Tune? How would you rate it?

Review: Faces From the Past: Forgotten People of North America by James M. Deem

Faces From the Past: Forgotten People of North America by James M. Deem.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: November 2012
List Price: $18.99
ISBN-13: 9780547370248

Review: Imagine this: you're exploring a cave or some sort of shrine. Then you find a body! If you like to read something like this, then Faces from the Past by James M. Deem is for you. It has many different characters and stories, a different character in each story.

Faces from the Past is about people who find a mysterious or famous body, dig it up, investigate it and find out about it. Then they have an artist come in and try to see what that person looked like from what they know, and create their ÒfaceÓ. In one story, a couple was exploring caves before bat-guano miners and pot hunters got to them. They found a cave, called Spirit Cave, and inspected it. They dug a bit and found two inner mats. One small mat covered half of the body. The other larger mat covered the rest of the body. I won't reveal what he looked like or his history, but it was interesting. There are more stories such as a stranded sailor from France, a Mexican soldier from San Jacinto, six Chinese miners from Wyoming, Tomas Smith, a Buffalo Soldier, and more.

In my opinion, Faces from Past was satisfactory. It was slow in some parts, but some were really fascinating. The author blended the uninteresting details nicely with the attention-grabbing stories of the people who were found. If I were rating this book, I would give it a seven out of ten. The parts I really liked were the stories about the history of the people who were found. I also liked how sometimes they just found the body accidentally, and what amazes me is that when this occurred, they didn't panic. The parts that I didn't like were some of the stories of how they explored to find the bodies. Their emotions when they found the body are the only good parts in those areas. I would read Faces of the Past again, definitely check it out of the library if I saw it, and recommend it in a heartbeat to readers who like to read books on the history of people.

Review written by Kyle (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Faces From the Past: Forgotten People of North America for this review.

Have you read Faces From the Past: Forgotten People of North America? How would you rate it?

Review: Joshua Dread by Lee Bacon

Joshua Dread by Lee Bacon.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780385741859

Review: Have you ever read a book about an adult that has superpowers and hides their identity but helps the public? Well Joshua Dread takes that concept and flips it upside down. It was written by Lee Bacon, and it was the first novel he ever wrote! The main character is in fact a boy named Joshua Dread. All he wants to do in a situation like this is survive.

The character in the story is named Joshua Dread and he is a normal 6th grade boy being raised by two of the most notorious super-villains in the world. At least he thought so. It turns out he is a ticking time bomb that can explode at will. That's what his evil parents told him but his superpower had other plans. Then he finds a girl who lives a life like him but their parents are nothing alike. In fact, they are complete opposites. Can they co-exist or will their parents' way of life get the best of them?

A couple things I liked about the plot was that it was very suspenseful and had good pace from event to event. It also had some well-developed ideas and a satisfying ending, but I won't spoil it. You'll just have to read the book to find out. I liked some things about the characters like that they were original ideas and well-developed people who did realistic actions in their time of crisis. The theme was very powerful and memorable but it comes in very subtle. The authors writing style was one of the best parts about this book! Lee Bacon is very talented because this book is filled with metaphors, similes, and onomatopoeia. It is also very descriptive and lively. This book is full of action and excitement combined into one!

Review written by Marat (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Joshua Dread for this review.

Have you read Joshua Dread? How would you rate it?