Review: The Heartlight Saga by T. A. Barron

The Heartlight Saga by T. A. Barron.

Puffin Books
Publication Date: February 2014
List Price: $10.99
ISBN-13: 9780147510327

Review: One girl, Kate Gordon, and three fantastic adventures are featured in The Heartlight Saga. In T. A. Barron's Heartlight, the story tells about Kate and her grandfather's adventures. The Ancient One is about the adventures of Kate and her Aunt Melanie. In The Merlin Effect, Kate and her dad are the main characters. There are three different books published in one book so the readers will never have to wait to see what happens next.

In Heartlight, Kate Gordon's grandfather creates something called PCL, or pure condensed light, which is in all stars. The sun and a distant star named Trethoniel are losing their supply of PCL and the only one who can save them is Kate and her grandfather. In The Ancient One, Kate and her Aunt Melanie venture into a crater, which is going to be stripped of its forest. As Kate tries to save it she travels back in time and gets stuck there for a while. Finally in The Merlin Effect, Kate and her father are traveling through the sea trying to find the Horn of Merlin, which can grant eternal life. But it is not as easy as it seems, because it is hidden in a ship that may or may not exist.

T. A. Barron is an excellent author. He makes the characters in the book come to life. Each book is unique in what the story is about, but each book is tied together through the main character, Kate. Heartlight shows the bond between family members. It includes stories about science and is recommended for people that like sci-fi, The Ancient One shows magic and time travel, and The Merlin Effect shows the troubles between father and daughter and how they deal with the problems and resolve them together. It uses magic and mostly science to keep people reading. It is recommended for all readers between the ages 9 and 14 who enjoy science fiction and fantasy. The whole Heartlight saga is a great trilogy.

That sends important messages through science, science fiction, and fantasy to interest any reader.

Review written by Jarred (6th grade student).

We would like to thank T. A. Barron for providing a copy of The Heartlight Saga for this review.

Have you read The Heartlight Saga? How would you rate it?

Review: Firstborn by Lorie Ann Grover

Firstborn by Lorie Ann Grover.

Blink
Publication Date: January 2014
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780310739302

Review: Imagine a world where the live you live is a lie. That is exactly what teenager, Tiadone has to go through. She has been untruthful to her friends, community, and her commanders for years now. Suddenly when she gets a bird to lead her, she wonders if this a sign of destiny or evil? Will she survive her life as a male or will she fail? Find out in the smash-hitting book Firstborn by the award winning author, Lorie Ann Grover.

Tiadone at birth was declared as a male, because her parents only had two choices; leave her to suffer out in the woods or raise her as a male. As she was raised she had to give up her female traits and learn how to be a male. As she grew up and learned the ways of a male, she received a bird and eventually hatched the bird and named it Mirko. As seen by her parents, they found Mirko as a sign of good luck, and destiny. However, Tiadone gets visions of her bird and fears it is asign of evil. When its time to fulfill her duty as a male and head to camp to learn how to defend her community; will she make it? At the camp she doesn't find it easy, keeping her female traits to her self as easy as it use to be. She finds herself struggling to keep her secret. With all of the new skills she is learning she seems to be doing fine, but everybody has a close eye on her. When she seems to find a close friend at the camp, she is starting to be drawn to him in ways that shows her female traits. Upset, puzzled, and so much more, will she be able to find her true destiny and stand up for her rights? Or, will she not make it and eventually have to die because of her actions? Find out in the fantastic book Firstborn.

Firstborn is a marvelous book. I could never put the book down it was too fascinating. I hope Grover makes a sequel to this terrific book. I know that just by looking at the cover, boys may find this book unappealing. However, you should give this a try and you might find out that this book is amazing. Firstborn has an excellent exposition and plot, is very creative and has realistic characters and an ending that will leave you wanting more. It has a blend that will appeal to all genders. For the boys, it's the fact that there are a lot of boys in the book. So even though it is told through the eyes of a girl, boys will enjoy her experiences. Everyone can also relate to the problems that Tiadone faces such like family relationships and struggling with her identity. Grover also leaves the audience with a mood of wanting and thinking more about the book. She leaves the audience with some good questions that extended far from what is in the book. This book would be best for 5th to 8th grade students because it has a lot of vivid words and complex ideas. Younger readers might not be able to understand what is happening in the book. I recommend Firstborn to middle school students who would want to try something new and be immersed in a cruel world where living a lie is essential for survival. After reading Firstborn, you'll be dying to read more!

Review written by Ian (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Blink for providing a copy of Firstborn for this review.

Have you read Firstborn? How would you rate it?

Review: Fates by Lanie Bross

Fates by Lanie Bross.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 2014
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780385742825

Review: Imagine you are exiled from your homeland to a different world for ten years. To return home you must complete people's fates. You have one more to complete, but it is to kill the one you love. Would it be worth it? That is the question Corinthe, from Lanie Bross's book Fates, has to answer.

Corinthe has been banished from her peaceful home of Pyralis Terra and sent to the unknown human world. She lives with her guardian and completes fates of humans given to her by the Unseen Ones. She has been there for ten years and starts to adapt. One night while she is completing a fate, she runs into Lucas, a boy about her age, and begins to feel strange feelings she had never felt before - human feelings. Eventually the time comes for Corinthe to return home. But first she must finish her last fate - to kill Lucas. Is killing the one she loves worth it? Will she complete the fate? You can find out if you read Fates.

Fates has a fascinating story line and is overall a wonderful book, but for some readers, there are a few cautions you might want to be aware of before reading it. As I told you earlier, Corinthe is exiled to Earth and has to complete fates of humans. This can be getting people together, or breaking them up, but most of the fates have to do with making sure people die. She doesn't always kill them directly, but she does make sure they die. So in a way, the book focuses on death. This may not be a good book for sensitive readers or young children for this reason; not only does it talk a lot about death, but it also could be frightening. Older children or teenagers should read this book. It also mentions alcohol once or twice, which may not be appropriate for younger readers. But, older kids, teenagers, and adults will enjoy Fates for the interesting, complex storyline.

Review written by Ashley (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Fates? How would you rate it?

Review: Enders by Lissa Price

Enders by Lissa Price. The Sequel to Starters.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 2012
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780385742498

Review: Have you ever felt as if your friends weren't acting like themselves? Was there another person inside them, controlling them? In our reality, no, but in Enders the sequel to Starters by Lissa Price that is a common occurrence. Many poor starters need money after the war, and without middles to provide it for them, the next best option is the chip implant a metal chip that allows Enders to access your body and take control while you take a little nap. Prime is gone, so Callie can't be accessed with her special chip, or so she thinks. Being an M.A.D (Multiple Access Donner) is no laughing matter. Now Callie must go on a journey to save her family and friends, and herself.

Callie Woodland knows that she is special. Now with a M.A.D chip implanted in her brain, she has a direct line to the Old Man. To save her little brother's life, she must go to him, but a roadblock stands in her way. Now presenting himself as the Old Man's son, Hyden works to help Callie block out his evil father. But Callie doesn't want to be the only one protected, she persuades Hyden to help her rescue other starters, gaining their trust. Old friends are reunited, but one voice blocks them all out. A father's voice. Callie's father has returned to her head, convincing Hyden; Michael, Hyden, and her set off to find him, but along the way Callie will meet people, trouble, and see things she has never wanted to see.

Enders is a great successor of Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games, with riveting romance, breathtaking twists, and surprising secrets; Enders will have anyone on the edge of their seats. It would be intended for higher-level readers due to larger and complicated words. Will Callie reunite her family? Can she find out the old man's ticks or will she have to unlock untold histories to find out? Discover them along with her in Enders.

Review written by Emily (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Enders? How would you rate it?

Review: Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 2014
List Price: $10.99
ISBN-13: 9780385737388

Review: Reading thoughts. Knowing people's crushes, acing tests, and knowing what others think of your clothes. Those are only a few gifts of telepathy in Don't Even Think About It, written by Sarah Mlynowski. Don't Even Think About It is based on a whole homeroom class. Everyone in the homeroom class, 10b, is a part of this amazing book. The second book that continues Don't Even Think About It comes out in 2015, how exciting! The title of the second book is Think Twice, so make sure to look for it.

It all started with a flu shot. Most people in the school got it. There was one special batch of shots that one homeroom class got. The people in the homeroom class who got the flu shot started getting headaches and they could read people's minds. The homeroom class developed telepathy and they were scared, but they found the others who had also developed it. They would meet up and talk. In many ways it was great, you could know what people thought of you and what people's crushes were. You could even ace a test by sitting next to the smartest person in class. This crazy incident changed all of their lives. Can't wait to see what happens next! The students' houses and the high school that the homeroom class goes to, goes along with the story. It makes the story understandable. I cannot relate to the characters, I am not yet in high school. Each of the characters in the homeroom class is very unique. They each have special personalities. Sarah's writing style is very suspenseful. For example,

What's she doing? Teddy wondered.

Carrie's weird, Keith thought.

Did Keith just say that out loud? Sadie wondered.

No, Tess thought. Just come with me and I'll explain, okay?

This conversation gets you thinking about what Tess will explain and why the girl, Sadie, is freaking out? This story also got right into the exciting stuff. Right away you don't want to put down the book. Don't Even Think About It is written in third person omniscient. This most definitely made the story more interesting. With the telepathy, the characters can hear other people thoughts, which makes the story funny as well. This story doesn't really teach a lesson other than people can lie, and to find out the truth isn't so easy.

Review written by Ada (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Don't Even Think About It for this review.

Have you read Don't Even Think About It? How would you rate it?

Review: The League by Thatcher Heldring

The League by Thatcher Heldring.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 2013
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780385741811

Review: Suspense, action, inspiring characters. These are the things I look for in a book, but never found in the book The League by Thatcher Heldring. I found the book to be boring, never got engaged in the characters, and couldn't wait for it to end.

With the school year almost over, and summer just around the corner, every one in Pilchuk is excited and ready for summer. Everyone except Wyatt Parker. Wyatt Parker is in 8th and has always followed the rules. Even if it means getting picked on by bullies, and disregarded by girls. Does he want it this way? Would you? It has finally gone too far when Spencer Randell, the school bully, takes his lunch money for the last time. Wyatt is sick of it and decides to toughen up during the summer by playing football. The only problem is that his parents have signed him up for golf camp. Golf camp is the last place Wyatt wants to be. Without football, Wyatt would continue his life of being bullied and being ignored. But when Wyatt fails to plead his case to his parents about football, his brother informs him about concealed league The League of Pain. Can Wyatt keep the league a secret and lie, stop getting bullied and neglected, or better yet, survive in The League of Pain?

While reading The League I found myself wondering where the climax was. To me the book repeated the same cycle. I think this because the book repeated fake going to golf, play football, go home. There was no suspense or foreshadowing in between chapters. For example ÒI wondered if Brian Braun's parents entered him in the tournament without askingÓ and ÒI set the phone down and spent the next 20 minutes trying to spin football on my finger. I would recommend this book for younger children from 4th to 5th grade. I think this because there were no sophisticated words, or hard plot. Also, there were no inspiring characters in the book. I think this because in the story, Wyatt starts to steal from stores. He also lies to his parents, friends, and the people of Pilchuk. Even if he is trying to do what he wants to, I think lying and stealing is the wrong message. Overall, after reading The League I think the story is dull, with little suspense and action, and should be read by 4th and 5th graders.

Review written by Sam (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The League? How would you rate it?

Review: The Art of Secrets by James Klise

The Art of Secrets by James Klise.

Algonquin Young Readers
Publication Date: April 2014
List Price: $17.95
ISBN-13: 9781616201951

Review: James Klise's novel, The Art of Secrets, involves the main character, Saba Kahn, an ordinary sophomore in high school. James Klise summarizes his book with, "A fire destroysÉ A treasure appearsÉ A crime unfoldsÉ" Saba Kahn's life turns upside down when her apartment is burned to pieces in a mysterious hate crime. Suddenly, she's the most well known person ever. That's where the crime unfolds, although it is hidden. Everything changes from that point.

Saba Kahn experiences some big changes in her life, some better than others. The Kahn family comes home one day from a nice day at a local park only to find that their apartment building was burned into a huge pile of soot. Most people believe it was a hate crime. Saba suddenly becomes one of the most popular sophomores in school. She is dating the hottest senior ever, her teachers finally notice her, and her tennis team is more triumphant than they have ever been. During this time, she has to battle her protecting father. Her closest friend, Kendra Spoon, and her brother discover a Henry Darger piece of artwork in a dirty alley while wandering the streets of Chicago. This painting is worth an immeasurable amount of money. Unfortunately, about 4 days before setting up the decorations for the event, the priceless painting is stolen and the detectives find no trace of anything or anyone. In this story, everyone's guilty until proven innocent, but who is guilty and who is innocent?

James Klise's writing style was expressive and intriguing, making me feel like my hands were glued to the suspense in the storyline. In the beginning of the book, I thought it was very suspenseful and exhilarating yet grounded. I think this book would be meant for an older age group (preferably the high school crowd) because of some of the mature content that might be inappropriate for younger kids. Most of the mature content involved cursing and profanity. I believe the author was mainly trying to express the characters' feelings, but it did make me feel slightly uncomfortable. As I headed towards the middle of the story, it was fast-paced and riveting. The author managed to fit in the development of each of the characters indirectly. I think that the way Klise formatted the book, where each chapter is one person's perspective of the crime, prevented me from losing interest. I thought that learning about each character's perspective would help me to connect the clues at the end of the novel. I also thought that I would find out who was proven guilty. When I reached the last 40 pages, I couldn't put it down. I kept reading, though I found myself very disappointed that all of the hints and clues that were given did not connect at all. Some people might enjoy cliffhangers, but I like a solid ending where everything is resolved. I learned to not trust everyone you know and regrettably, no one gets everything they want, nor will you always you figure everything out the first time. To conclude, at the beginning of the book, I was clueless; unfortunately, at the end, I was still clueless!

Review written by Anneliese (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Algonquin Young Readers for providing a copy of The Art of Secrets for this review.

Have you read The Art of Secrets? How would you rate it?

Review: Golden Girl by Sarah Zettel

Golden Girl by Sarah Zettel. Book 2 in The American Fairy Trilogy.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 2013
List Price: $17.90
ISBN-13: 9780375869396

Review: Callie has a secret and only Jack knows about it. In the beginning Golden Girl by Sara Zettle, Callie and Jack are caught in a fight with a small amount of people who want to capture Callie. They have to learn to survive in the golden age of Hollywood. Callie soon discovers where her missing parents are and lands a job with Ivy Bright a kid's actor. Callie, Jack, and Ivy go off on some adventures and a battle happens between Callie and Ivy. Will Callie find her missing parents? Who will win the war?

Golden Girl is fascinating because there are so many surprises. It is a good book for girls ages 10-13. It has some higher-level words so that is why it would appeal more to older girls. Golden Girl would probably not be as enjoyed by boys because the main character is a girl, and the story is about what girls like. It is a little confusing in the beginning, but all is explained throughout the story. Golden Girl even has some action in the end. The plotline is good and can be a little confusing, but once you get past those parts, it is a great book. This is a fantasy book so if you are a girl and like fantasy this is a great choice for you. Overall, Golden Girl is a great addition to the Fairies Trilogy.

Review written by Elizabeth (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Golden Girl? How would you rate it?

Review: Foul Trouble by John Feinstein

Foul Trouble by John Feinstein.

Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 2013
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375869648

Review: Have you ever been put in a place when you had to make a decision that would affect your whole future and career? Well, two eminent high school basketball players named Terrell Jamerson and Danny Wilcox find themselves in such a situation. In Foul Trouble by John Feinstein, two extremely talented high school basketball players face the quandary of picking which NCAA college to go to. The overflow of coaches from varying colleges after a very tiring basketball game doesn't sound terribly enjoyable for Terrell and Danny. The two best friends go through tough challenges but they go together in unity and conquer those obstacles.

Terrell Jamerson is the total star of the team. His extraordinary dribbling, his almost unerring shots, and his personality are what everyone likes about him, especially the coaches. Danny Wilcox is the team's point guard. He is the one who gets the ball to the net. Basically, he runs the offensive line. Terrell is the one everyone is talking about and Danny just keeps getting asked questions about Terrell in their interviews. Through challenges with jealousy, distrustful friends, and the stress of making a life-changing decision, the two very close companions plow through all the challenges no matter what lies ahead.

Foul Trouble is fantastic for people who love basketball! My favorites parts of the story are when they are playing the their intense games. Feinstein's writing makes you imagine that you are watching the games on the bench. John Feinstein does a terrific job illustrating the exciting games through descriptive words that hook you into the story. I enjoyed it so much that I would definitely read a sequel of what happens to them in college. Another trait I like about John Feinstein is his ability to take a "basketball" book and make it so much more. I really enjoy when a story is not just about one thing, and Feinstein does an excellent job incorporating side stories that do not take away from the primary plot. In my opinion, I get entertained when there is a side plot. Or in this case, the life outside of basketball. This is an outstanding book for middle school and high school readers! Foul Trouble would be fantastic for boys and girls who love basketball. I suggest all basketball lovers to read this astonishing, well-written novel written by John Feinstein.

Review written by Kenneth (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Foul Trouble? How would you rate it?

Review: The Hidden Kingdom by Tui T. Sutherland

The Hidden Kingdom by Tui T. Sutherland. A Wings of Fire Novel.

Scholastic Press
Publication Date: May 2013
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780545349208

Review: Do you love danger, suspense, and mystery? Well then The Hidden Kingdom by Tui T. Sutherland is your book. It is the third book in the Wings of Fire series so you should probably read the first two first, just to get to know Sunny, Clay, Starflight, Tsunami, and Glory. The Hidden Kingdom is a great book with action and suspense, and almost every other feeling you could imagine.

The plot of this story has all kinds of twist and turns. Readers are taken through rainforests, villages in the trees, the Kingdom of Sand, Icewing, and the Kingdom of Night. Throughout these enticing settings, the Dragonets of Destiny make their way to the rainforest where a major secret comes into play setting the stage for the rest of the tale. The Hidden Kingdom follows the adventures in the first two books of the series, so it is important to read them both first.

This book is fantastic. To start off, it has a lot of action-packed moments that don't always end the way you'd expect. It has a lot of mystery too. Moments were major events happen from the smallest events. The Hidden Kingdom also has suspense. One moment you think the main characters are perfectly safe, and the next they are gone. There are moments when someone is hurt and they might die and for some readers, that can be very scary. In fact, it does have one very graphic and violent scene. Readers have to be mature enough to handle this. Plus the plot can seem scattered making it hard to follow at times. One event leads to another and then another and another. It can be very confusing. Speaking of confusing, I found that this book is hard to read without rereading. It will most definitely confuse some readers. Overall, however, this story is very good, and I'll be anxiously awaiting the next book.

Review written by Sean (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Scholastic for providing a copy of The Hidden Kingdom for this review.

Have you read The Hidden Kingdom? How would you rate it?

Review: The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner

The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner.

Algonquin Young Readers
Publication Date: March 2014
List Price: $17.95
ISBN-13: 9781616202569

Review: Not even the ocean can drown our souls. That's the truth, I think. Not even. A depressed girl named Francesca has lost her younger brother and she believes that it's all her fault. In The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner, Francesca takes you on a crazy ride of her gloomy, isolated, but possibly rescued life.

It's been four years since Francesca's brother, Simon, drowned. Francesca believes that it is all her fault. Her mother is very depressed and her father has been strangely disappearing at times. Lisette, Francesca's best friend, tries to help Francesca by taking her to places to help her forget. There is a boy named Bradley, Lisette's boyfriend that Francesca adores. But, Francesca loves him so much that she wonders if anyone, even Bradley, would like her for what she has done. One day, Francesca meets a boy named Frankie Sky. As Francesca gets to know Frankie, she wonders if he may be Simon's reincarnation. Could Frankie Sky be Simon's reincarnation, if that's even possible? Read this outstanding book to find out!

The Summer of Letting Go is a wonderful, romantic story. The setting of the beach and the salty water, the rain and the isolation, and the warm beating sun makes the setting give full feelings. I can somehow relate to Francesca because at times I would feel the same way she does about life. Francesca is a very unique character in many ways. She is someone who has lost a dear family member and she has gone through what many people never experience. The Summer of Letting Go is a great book that is filled with suspense. For example, this quote shows that Gae Polisner's writing style is beyond comparison to any other writer. I take it and reach out to touch his arm, only to thank him, I think, and the next thing I know-I really don't know howÉ This is something that's suspenseful! What will happen? Read this romantic book to find out! This book would be great for children in 6th grade or older. The Summer of Letting Go begins slowly with sadness and loneliness. But then, the story gets exciting with action, romance, and suspense. The Summer of Letting Go is written in Francesca's point of view, and it can teach anyone that anything can happen. Things such as romance can show up at any time. Also, believe in yourself and never blame yourself for the big stuff.

Review written by Ada (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Algonquin Young Readers for providing a copy of The Summer of Letting Go for this review.

Have you read The Summer of Letting Go? How would you rate it?

Review: The Ugly One by Leanne Stratland Ellis

The Ugly One by Leanne Stratland Ellis.

Clarion Books
Publication Date: June 2013
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547640235

Review: I am Millay, the ugly one. I have a deep scar that runs like a river from my right eye down my cheek to my lip and it lowers my mouth in a permanent half frown. In The Ugly One, Micay is a girl that has a deep scar. She believes that she will always be ugly, but she stays strong and brave. Leanne Statland Ellis wrote this amazing book.

Her village rejects her and she has a deep scar that runs down her face. She is Micay, Smooth Round Face; thought people call her Millay, The Ugly One. She wants to get rid of this scar. A stranger comes to the village one day, and he talks to Micay and saves an innocent bird from a group of insolent boys. The stranger hands this bird to Micay. This bird is named Sumac Huanacauri, meaning handsome rainbow. Micay and Sumac become best friends. Sumac flies one day into the shaman's wasi, house, which terrifies Micay. What will happen? How will she get out of the mess she has made? Read and you will find out.

The setting of avocado-green forests and a great attractive and captivating capitol city, make the story more interesting. The setting gives the story beauty. I am nothing like Micay. She is very intelligent, but at times she doesn't stick up for herself. She is strong in different ways. Micay is very unique and she is fascinating. The way she thinks of herself is sad, but the way she tries to deal with it is astonishing. I would mostly recommend The Ugly One for girls between the ages of 10-12. But, anyone within these ages would enjoy this book. This story begins slowly with understanding, but it soon gets very interesting as suspense fills the pages. This story is told in Micay's point of view. This does make the story more interesting because it describes the sorrowful pain and the joyful happiness that Micay goes through. There is a moral to this story too. The Ugly One teaches you that the way you look on the outside is different from the inside. Remember to NEVER judge a book by its cover.

Review written by Ada (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin for providing a copy of The Ugly One for this review.

Have you read The Ugly One? How would you rate it?

Review: Catch Rider by Jennifer H. Lyne

Catch Rider by Jennifer H. Lyne.

Clarion Books
Publication Date: June 2013
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547868714

Review: A catch rider is a horse rider who can ride many kinds of horses. This is the kind of rider Sid wants to be. Sid is the main character of Catch Rider, by Jennifer H. Lyne and it tells Sid's story trying to reach the top.

Sid loves horses and wants to be a catch rider. She spends a lot of time with her Uncle Wayne, who trades horses and works and a horse stable for wealthy people. Sid goes to work with her uncle to make some money, and there she meets rude kids who she feels don't care for their horses. One day she is the first to ride a new fancy horse, and the trainers think she is great! She is so excited that she gets to enter a show with that horse. Will this be the beginning of many shows for Sid, or is it only a once in a lifetime chance?

Catch Rider is a perfect book for horse lovers, since there are a lot of horses. In fact if you are an animal lover, you may have a connection with the main character Sid since she cares a lot about horses. Because of a violent scene, the book is probably best for younger children to pass by even though it is short, which might be preferred for some younger readers. The story is realistic fiction so it is easy to relate with. However_beginning is a little slow. When the book does get going, it is a fairly good book. So, if you're an animal lover check out Catch Rider.

Review written by Ashley (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin for providing a copy of Catch Rider for this review.

Have you read Catch Rider? How would you rate it?