Review: Emily and Jackson Hiding Out by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Emily and Jackson Hiding Out by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. The Companion to Emily's Fortune.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2012
List Price: $14.99
ISBN-13: 9780385740975

Review: Have you ever liked old western fiction? Have you ever wanted to read dialect, action, and suspense at the end of every chapter? Then Emily and Jackson: Hiding Out by Phillis Reynolds is just the right book for you. The main character is a girl named Emily.

It starts out when Emily, who has inherited a big fortune from her mother, escapes the mean clutches of her Uncle Victor who wants to spend it on himself. She goes to her nice Aunt Hilda's house with an orphan boy who helped her get away from Uncle Victor. She gets settled with her Aunt Hilda and one day goes to the bank to take some money out. But there's danger. They encounter the "Catchum Child Catching Services", and are asked if they have seen a boy who's supposed to go to work in a mill. Plus, Emily's mean Uncle Victor is up and about, trying to find a way to get Emily's fortune. There are a lot of exciting events along the way, and questions will be answered. Will Jackson be sent to the mill? Will Uncle Victor get Emily's 10 million dollars? Or will Emily and Jackson be safe? You have to read the book to find out.

I like Emily and Jackson: Hiding Out because there is a lot of suspense; you can feel the excitement, and it ends in a cheerful way. After every chapter, there is a whole sentence of suspenseful words like, "And what in jumping Joseph do you think they saw?" or, "And what in the rooster's rompers do you think happened next?". It makes me think of the movies where it goes, *DUH-DUH-DUH!*, which I think is both humorous and a good way to end a scene. I also liked that it was a fairly easy book to read and it wasn't like those tedious nonfiction textbooks. I can't think of anything that was bad other than it was too short for me. Things happened a little too fast. However, other than that, this book is a good holiday read. I recommend it for anyone ages 7-9.

Review written by Nathan (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Emily and Jackson Hiding Out for this review.

Have you read Emily and Jackson Hiding Out? How would you rate it?

Review: Bill the Boy Wonder by Marc Tyler Nobleman

Bill the Boy Wonder by Marc Tyler Nobleman.

Charlesbridge Publishing
Publication Date: July 2012
List Price: $17.95
ISBN-13: 9781580892896

Review: Do you think you know who the creator of Batman is? Well if you guessed Bob Kane, then you would be wrong. Yes he did help, but Bill Finger wrote the Batman stories. Bob illustrated, Bill wrote. Bill had a tough life as a kid. His parents wanted him to become a doctor, but he was interested in art and writing. Journey through the rest Bill's life as you read this book.

Bill The Boy Wonder was a quick read for me. It isn't very long and doesn't have much text on each page. It is not like any other ordinary book though. Bill The Boy Wonder is a biography about Bill Finger, written like a comic with illustrations from his life as pictures. That is how Batman started; Detective Comics. This book is very interesting and I DO recommend it. It's perfect for kids ages 5-10 for easy vocabulary. I give it a seven out of ten. Hope you like this book!

Review written by Alex (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Charlesbridge Press for providing a copy of Bill the Boy Wonder for this review.

Have you read Bill the Boy Wonder? How would you rate it?

Review: Ambition's Not An Awful Word by Zack Zage

Ambition's Not An Awful Word by Zack Zage.

Ivy Court Press
Publication Date: March 2012
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9780983607823

Review: "Oh, the moon left you this message 'It's ok to dream.'" This is a quote from the book I will be reviewing today which is Ambition's Not an Awful Word written by Zack Zage. It is a relatively short poetry book, and although I honestly didn't really like this book, I respect it and love this book's moral.

Ambition's Not an Awful Word starts with a boy in class , Zack Zage, who has just been asked the question; "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The boy loves this subject and had answers various answers in a speech. Here are two pages from the book Ambition's Not an Awful Word. "If I were an artist, the critics all would flip. The bigs at New York's MOMA would cry, 'This guy's really hip.' From musicians by Picasso and the night skies of Van Gogh, to Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and ME, a one man show. 'Oh your canvas is no Pollock. It is just a muddy mess.' Our teacher, Mrs. Grundy, thinks it's awful, more or less. 'You had better stick with finger paint, rubber stamps, and glue. 'Cause all that junk that you call are is really double doo.'" Now you're probably thinking, "Hey! What just happened? It just went completely from ambition to putdowns!" Well, yeah, that's what just happened. I can't really explain why, but he just puts himself down in all of his ambitious thoughts. This happens on every page. He'll be all excited about a career and on the next page thinks of every single possible letdown there is to that job. This is one of the main reasons I don't really love this book. In another page, he says he could be a banker; and a very successful one too. But then, on the next page, he says he'll go to jail because he would be so bad. Again, I think that is a big letdown. However, the end does make up for the rest of the book. The boy's mother does in the end teach the boy a lesson - and it's a very valuable lesson too.

I recommend Ambition's Not an Awful Wordto parents reading this book as a story to younger kids anytime. It is not as interesting to older kids, but it does have a more sophisticated vocabulary. That is why I recommend it to parents reading to their kids. It also teaches a great lesson, which that is thinking you will be successful later on in life is very good for you. It encourages you to do better. In the end, although I did not particularly love the book, it does have a valuable lesson.

Review written by Dylan (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Ivy Court Press for providing a copy of Ambition's Not An Awful Word for this review.

Have you read Ambition's Not An Awful Word? How would you rate it?

Review: Batman: The Revenge of Clayface by Eric Stevens

Batman: The Revenge of Clayface by Eric Stevens. A Super D.C. Heroes Book.

Stone Arch Books
Publication Date: January 2009
List Price: $5.95
ISBN-13: 9781434213693

Review: If you are looking for a quick easy novel, Batman, The Revenge Of Clayface, written by Eric Stevens, is for you! In Gotham City, a new weapon is being developed when an evil villain wants to steal it right out of Bruce Wayne's hands and send it to a black market. If you like other DC Super Heroes, then this story about Batman will amuse you. Batman chases down criminals as Clayface plots his devious scheme. If you aren't familiar with these enemies the book includes a short glossary of some of the characters in the back of the book.

I enjoyed this book even though it is short. It has colorful illustrations; and I like that it has a brief summary of information as a source for the characters in the back. It is a quick read and is interesting. The action and suspense of what happens next keeps you turning to the next page. It reminded me of some of my most favorite villains in previous Batman books. The only thing I didn't like about the book is that it is written for a younger audience with a lower level vocabulary. I would love to read a similar book for older readers. But, for the intended audience of younger readers, Batman, the Revenge of Clayface is an amazing book.

Review written by (th grade student).

We would like to thank Media Masters Publicity for providing a copy of Batman: The Revenge of Clayface for this review.

Have you read Batman: The Revenge of Clayface? How would you rate it?

Review: Peanut by Ayun Halliday & Paul Hoppe

Peanut by Ayun Halliday & Paul Hoppe.

Schwartz & Wade Books
Publication Date: September 2012
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780375865909

Review: Have you ever felt trapped by a lie that you told, or did you tell a lie to try to impress or make friends? Peanut, by Ayun Halliday, is about a teenage girl named Sadie Wildhack whose lie turns into a disaster. Sadie has recently moved to a new school, Plainfield Community High School, and plans to make friends by getting attention through a lie. Unfortunately, her plan to lie about having a serious peanut allergy is not the best choice. Instead of telling the truth, Sadie builds on her lies with even more of them. This does not just affect her. It affects the whole school community. But, every time Sadie feels like telling the truth, she chokes up and finds a lame excuse. Even though Sadie does make quality friends, she lies to them, which only makes her fearful of losing them more and more each day that the lies continue. Will Sadie tell the truth, or will she suffocate from all the lies?

Readers can relate to Sadie's problem since many kids have to start over and make new friends at different schools. Peanut is a good moral reminder to never tell a lie. Lies can all snowball into gigantic messes. As a teacher in the book says, "Next time you're tempted to bend the truth, take my advice and don'tÉ Sooner or later it will all come outÉ And then you'll wish you really had gone into anaphylactic shockÉ and diedÉ" This book is more appropriate for ages 12 and up due to the occasional mature subjects, hand gestures, foul language, romance, and cruelty. Besides that, readers will stay engaged to find out if Sadie tells the truth, and if she faces consequences for her actions. Ayun Halliday and Paul Hoppe deserve 4.5 stars for great comics, writing, illustrations, suspense, and for an overall amazing book.

Review written by Allie (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Peanut? How would you rate it?

Review: Flutter by Gina Linko

Flutter by Gina Linko.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375869969

Review: Have you ever read a book about some thing very unusual but is fun to read? The story Flutter by Gina Linko is exactly like that. The book Flutter is about a girl with a special ability to mentally and physically travel to another dimension. Along the way she meets a guy named Ash and falls in love with him. I personally like reading about science fiction so I really enjoyed Flutter. It starts off a little slow in the beginning, not a lot happening, but then it picks up towards the middle of the story causing you to not want to put the book down.

The main character in this story is Emery Land who is an 18 year-old girl that experiences what they call, "loops" or seizures where she travels to another dimension. Her father who is a scientist is always trying to figure out why she is having these loops. Emery gets sick of it and wants to live life like every body else. Because of this, she escapes to the town of Esperanza where she meets some interesting people. She meets one boy named Asher Clarke who known a secret that has gone on for years that helps Emery figure out why she is having her loops.

Over all, Flutter is a very good book that gives a lot of suspense towards the end. Flutter has a very high vocabulary and strong language, which means it is most appropriate for readers age 13 and older because of the dialogue. I give Flutter a four out of five stars because it is very entertaining to read but the language was unnecessary and kind of made me uncomfortable. It gives so much detail about Emery's life that it feels like you are there with her experiencing every moment of it. All in all, if you are looking for a good book, check out Flutter.

Review written by Morgan (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Flutter? How would you rate it?

Review: A Thunderous Whisper by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

A Thunderous Whisper by Christina Diaz Gonzalez.

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375869297

Review: Touching, realistic, and heartwarming are three words that describe a historical and captivating story about a girl named Ani. She is just an insignificant girl who can't make a difference. That is what her mom has been telling her and she has started to believe as well. In the story titled A Thunderous Whisper, by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Ani's life completely changes in just a small period of time.

Ani lives in a small town in Guernica. She is an unpopular, unimportant girl nicknamed ÒSardine girl.Ó Her father is the only person who has the ability to make her feel important, but he is off fighting in the Civil War. She is miserable and lonely, living in the small town. That changes when she meets Mathias. His father is part of a secret spy network. Ani and Mathias become part of the group, delivering messages to an underground resistance. Ani finally feels like she can make a difference. Then, one day, the Nazis bomb Guernica. Ani helps the survivors recover and take care of them. While doing that she gains a sense of her own strength. Ani is forced to move to England, but she and Mathias plan to continue to fight back as much as they can.

I love this book! I usually do not like historical fiction books but A Thunderous Whisper made it super interesting. I like how they would have Spanish words thrown in at some parts. It made me feel like I was part of the book. It really helped to have the glossary at the end. I think that this book should be targeted towards people ages ten and up. It gives the reader a new sense of confidence and freedom and inspires readers to make a difference as well. I especially like that Ani stays strong throughout the whole book. Even when her mother is killed, she does forget her dreams. Although she is heartbroken, she continues to push on. Ani is a great example for all kids. Ani is encouragement to anybody who feels insignificant. She shows that even though she is in a horrible situation that it is still important to be strong. She pushes through all her fears and weaknesses. I give this book all five stars. They are well deserved. Christina Diaz Gonzalez is a wonderful author!

Review written by Lilia (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of A Thunderous Whisper for this review.

Have you read A Thunderous Whisper? How would you rate it?

Review: Super by Matthew Cody

Super by Matthew Cody. Sequel to Powerless.

Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375868948

Review: Do you love fantasies and wish you could have super powers? Then you have to read Super. The book Super by Mathew Cody is a terrific book and one of the best I've ever read. I loved the book! Mathew Cody also wrote the book Powerless and if you have ever read that book, Super is the sequel to that book. Although Powerless is a Fantastic book, I'd have to say Super is even better! The book is called Super because all the characters have super powers. Eric, can fly and has super strength. His friend, Rohan, has super senses. Daniel, the main character, doesn't appear to have any powers that come naturally to him, but can he steal powers?

Super was well written and had many magnificent qualities. For example, as you read the book, you experience many different emotions and really care what happens to the characters. I found myself thinking: "Wow, what if he gets hurt?" or "I was really not expecting that!" Also, this book has many complications like defeating their enemy once again, deciding who to trust and what to trust them with, trying to stay united as one and agreeing with each other instead of fighting and arguing. Also, all the kids, Daniel, Eric, Rohan, Luisa, and Mollie, go on a journey to end the Shroud once and for all, but are they able to? All of these different twists and complications make the book even more exciting and very hard to stop reading!

Overall, I give Super 5 stars out of a possible 5 stars. I loved this book and recommend this book to anyone who is between the ages 8-15. This is because this book doesn't have any bad language or hard words that an 8 year old wouldn't be able to understand. Also, since it is so exciting, kids up to 15 years old wouldn't find it boring. To find out more, Read the story Super.

Review written by Anthony (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Super? How would you rate it?

Review: Malcolm at Midnight by W.H. Beck

Malcolm at Midnight by W.H. Beck.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: September 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547681009

Review: Do you like to read books about animals talking to each other? Do you like to read about action, adventure, and mystery? Well then Malcolm at Midnight is the book for you! Malcolm at Midnight by W.H Beck is a book about a mouse, well, technically a rat but everyone thinks he's a mouse because he is so small! The rat's name is Malcolm. So when Malcolm is bought from a pet store by a teacher, he is taken to another world he has never seen, a school. Then on his first night there he meets the Midnight Academy, a secret alliance of pets that keeps the school in control (secretly). Well, at least that's what they think they are doing.

This is a good book and I really liked it. . My favorite part of the book is when these two hamsters, Jesse and Billy, take Malcolm around the school to look for food. Then Malcolm accidently gets into an elevator that takes him to the fourth floor. From there he goes into a storage room where he meets an evil cat, Snip, that chases him until his friend Aggy, an iguana, is at the bottom of the stairs when Malcolm is pinned by Snip. Then Aggy starts making a weird sound, like a hiss. Snip gets a little frightened by the sound bounds back up the stairs. Malcolm leaps down the stairs and then Aggy takes him back to his room where he goes into his cage and lays down on his Com-Fe-Cube, and drifts off into a sleep.

I liked Malcolm at Midnight because it had a good mystery and some action. It also had suspense, like when you wonder what's going to happen next. I also liked the setting of the book. It was at a school, which was pretty interesting. So I'd recommend this book maybe at a grade level from 4th grade to 6th grade. I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Review written by Noah (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Malcolm at Midnight for this review.

Have you read Malcolm at Midnight? How would you rate it?

Review: Darcy by Whitney Sanderson

Darcy by Whitney Sanderson. A Horse Diaries Book.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2013
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780307976352

Review: Have you ever read a book with a unique, original theme and a concept that easily draws you in? Well, that's exactly what Horse Diaries: Darcy does. This book is very interesting and although the subject has been attempted before, this book has a new outlook on animals narrating or speaking in a story. With very detailed, beautiful artwork and in-depth descriptions to match, Horse Diaries completely drew me in after just the first page. In this book, the pretty illustrations just add to the picture in your head that can be created by the author's words. This story lures you in as easily as a horse is lured to waterÉ

This book is about a horse named Darcy, who, at a young age, is torn from her small filly friend Ciara in an unfortunate accident. She is raised up by two mares, and is eventually auctioned off to a new family, the McKennas. After eventually accepting her new home, she bonds with her large family and learns the ins and outs of her new farm. After she meets the new rich family in town some 20 miles away, she can see that not all families are as nice as hers. She discovers her talent when she is put up against all odds, and is tested later when she is expected by everyone to fail. The McKennas however, keep their faith in the trusty old mare. Will her families encouragement, and the memories of late Òshadow sisterÓ Ciara be enough to help her defeat all odds, or will she let the pressure get to her?

I think this is an awesome book, because not only does it keep you interested with quirky characters and interesting twists and turns, but helps you learn more about Irish culture and common horses in that area. This amazing book is both entertaining and educational. It's intriguing Irish dialect keeps you thinking, yet it is easily to figure out what the equivalent in English is. The title completely describes the book very well, and is not misleading. You can easily figure out what the book is about without being too predictable. The title fits the book perfectly because it is just like a diary, it tells about her own (Darcy's) life, and explains the other people in her life while expressing her own thoughts, opinions and feelings to the audience who is reading. Darcy almost engages the reader, by giving her opinion, but leaving you with her own thoughts with you to think about and try to understand with her. Having her own opinions and thoughts stated further intrigue readers, because many would want to confer with her imaginary character their own opinions and thoughts. When a reader feels welcomed or invited to want to agree, disagree or ponder about the actions or thoughts a character does or expresses, most will want to keep reading and will enjoy getting a chance to be so involved in the story. Overall, this is an awesome book with quirky characters, an interesting setting, beautiful illustrations and descriptions, and is a story that gets the reader involved. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes animal stories (especially fiction ones) or anyone who would just like to learn more about horses or Ireland.

Review written by (th grade student).

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

Have you read Darcy? How would you rate it?

Review: Sumi's Book by Jan Bozarth

Sumi's Book by Jan Bozarth. A Fairy Godmother Academy Adventure.

Yearling
Publication Date: December 2011
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780375865756

Review: What would you be if you could shape shift - a soaring bird, a swimming fish, or a slithering snake? Who or what would you defeat, if you were to conquer over evil? Sumi's Book, the fifth book in The Fairy Godmother Academy book series, is a captivating read written by Jan Bozarth.

Sumi is an everyday girl who is all about fashion and her mother is a bit differentÉ ok more like a lot different! She can find the beauty in the very ugly, old things. It all begins when Sumi and her mom go shopping in an antiques store and Sumi finds an interesting box. When she opens it, she finds a mirror. She picks it up to look at herself, but when she looks, the glass is gone and she can't see herself. Sumi shows her mom what she has found and her mom takes it and says ÒThis mirror has special meaning for youÓ. Sumi is confused, she thought it was just a broken mirror, but she is wrong!

Personally I think Sumi's Book is a must read. It has a lot of suspense, adventure, magic, and it's a thrilling story that teaches you to look on the inside of someone and not just the outside. Readers will find out that sometimes the ugly things (like dull gray fish) can be the most valuable. I recommended this book for kids in 3rd grade to 6th grade because it is a very easy read with only a few difficult words. Also, I would recommend this book more for girls because it includes a lot of talk about girl crushes and fashion, which would most likely interest girls more. I would definitely search for Sumi's book next time you go to the library and I recommend you read it!

Review written by Karissa (th grade student).

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

Have you read Sumi's Book? How would you rate it?

Review: The Bronte Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily and Anne by Catherine Reef

The Bronte Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily and Anne by Catherine Reef.

Clarion Books
Publication Date: October 2012
List Price: $18.99
ISBN-13: 9780547579665

Review: Inspiring, fascinating, these are all words to describe The Bronte Sisters written by Catherine Reef. In Yorkshire, England around the 1800's, the idea of a woman writing and publishing books was absurd. Even with the limitation for women, the three Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne produced each of their own nineteenth century stories that are now very famous.

"You know full well as I do the value of sisters' affections: There is nothing like it in this world," said Charlotte Bronte once. These words are truly inspirational to her and every young female who strives to do something that is discouraged by others. I think that these words meant a lot to her because after her mother and other sisters had died from the plague she and her sisters Emily and Anne had lost hope in writing. After years struggling with boarding schools and illness's they knew that their loved ones would not want to give up on their dreams just because of a few unfortunate events.

Even though personally I was not fond of this book I have to admit that it is a very inspiring story. I would give The Bronte Sisters 3 stars because it is a good story and I admire all of the Bronte sisters but it did not necessarily fit into my preferred book genre. I recommend The Bronte Sisters to anyone that just jumps into a historical nonfiction book or an aspiring writer with big dreams but small chances.

Review written by Lauren (th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The Bronte Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily and Anne for this review.

Have you read The Bronte Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily and Anne? How would you rate it?

Review: Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky

Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky. The Sequel to Awaken.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: November 2012
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780546863368

Review: When you live in a world of technology that is only beginning peak of its potential, only one book makes us truly wonder about where technology can lead us, where the steady rate its development is going. Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky, the sequel to Awaken, is a fantastic story, with thorough details, independent but vulnerable characters, and a storyline which pieces together writing that gets better with each turn of a page. Though the author eloquently writes her story and distributes a great amount of details, something that really stands out to me is the message and the characters' development throughout the story. Characters Justin and Maddie are really unique because their personalities are well rounded and multidimensional- they turned out better people at the end of the story and were capable of change.

Middle Ground takes place in the year 2050, a time where electronics have brainwashed the human race to have their lives based solely on computer time and to avoid human interaction. The heroine, or protagonist, Maddie, is a rebellious teenager who wants to stop the madness. The problem is that her dad is one of the main people who developed the program. Additionally, his boss could fire him if Maddie keeps up with her rebellious streak. Of course, Maddie is even more determined because her boyfriend, Justin, is one of the main leaders that fight back at technology. Soon Maddie's one act of resistance ends up getting her caught and stuck inside what is considered a prison, where kids who don't cooperate are drugged. They have it drummed into their heads that technology is great and good for them. To make it even worse, Maddie's dad thinks it's beneficial for her! Maddie is unsure if she can survive through the harsh and unforgiving conditions. Maybe, if she can stay strong, and remember Justin, she might pull through this tremendously challenging situation.

In my opinion, Middle Ground is a great story because of its memorable message and its unparalleled characters. Kacvinsky managed to develop the characters and make them fit their wiser personalities after reflecting on their experiences. Justin's mysterious past and Maddie's determined nature not only brought them closer to learning to trust each other and hold on, but it helped make their relationship work better. Another notable element Kacvinsky has excelled in was her theme. In the real world today, technology has now become a big part of our lives. Middle Ground shows the potential of what technology can become because of its rapid growth. The theme for the reader is also something worth remembering, in fact, Kacvinsky layered many themes into the story. The overall messages are many: hold on, love can conquer anything, and friendship is of key importance. For example, when Maddie gets stuck in prison, everything is a bit more bearable at the thought of Justin, someone she loves. I could relate to the book in many ways, so this book belongs to the age group of students in middle school or junior high; students that age can appreciate the crude humor. Overall, I would give Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky four stars because of its great storyline and characters.

Review written by Sachi (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Middle Ground? How would you rate it?