Review: Gabriel's Clock by Hilton Pashley

Gabriel's Clock by Hilton Pashley.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: October 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780544301764

Review: Watch out for demons! In Gabriel's Clock by Hilton Pashley, Jonathan and his new friends must stop Belial and his minions from the destroying the village of Hobbes End. Read this adventure novel and join Jonathan in saving both the village and his family.

In Gabriel's Clock, Jonathan, who all his life believed he was normal, and his family are assaulted by faceless demons. Jonathan's mother brings him to Hobbes End, a village that is highly secured, and abandons him there to seek help as his dad fights off the monsters. Jonathan soon discovers that he is half angel, half demon, and the arch demon Belial desires to use him as a powerful weapon to demolish Heaven. Teamed up with new friends from the community, Jonathan has to defeat Belial to save the small town-and his family. Will the forces of Belial and his Corvidae servants wreck Hobbes End and Jonathan's family? Or can Jonathan gather the power inside him to rescue those he loves? Find out by reading this action-packed book.

Gabriel's Clock is a thrilling book and there is so much that make it interesting. For example, the setting, a village, has unusual features, such as a lake with glass and a crater at the bottom and a dark forest. These aspects set up the perfect hiding place for the Corvidae. Also, the characters make the novel amusing because they are special-Jonathan is half angel, half demon, Cay's dad is a werewolf, and Elgar is a talking cat. Because the characters are unique, they create suspense, which makes the book more enjoyable. In addition, the author, Hilton Pashley's, style of writing keeps the story fascinating because he switches between from the townsfolk's' point of view and the devils' point of view. He also wrote in third person omniscient. These characteristics produce excitement throughout the story by letting the reader know what both the villagers are doing and thinking and what Belial is doing to shatter their plans. I recommend this book to everyone who is 8-11 years old because there are both boy and girl characters in the story and Gabriel's Clock. is an easy read.

In conclusion, Gabriel's Clock by Hilton Pashley is a compelling read filled with dramatic events. Wait a minute-is that a demon? AH!

Review written by Madison (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Gabriel's Clock for this review.

Have you read Gabriel's Clock? How would you rate it?

Review: Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World by Nancy F. Castaldo

Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World by Nancy F. Castaldo.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: July 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780544088931

Review: Growl! Bark! Pant! These are some things that rescue dogs do on the job. Sniffer Dogs, a nonfiction book, stars dogs and their trainers rescuing people in life threatening situations. This book tells how dogs and their noses can save peoples lives. If that sounds interesting, then you should read Sniffer Dogs by Nancy F. Castaldo.

Sniffer Dogs is a collection of real life stories that involve dogs that rescue people in frightening settings like fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes. This book is filled with photographs and stories of all kinds. For example, one story was about the 9-11 catastrophe when a girl was trapped on the top floor of one of the buildings that was hit. The book gives details about how one of the rescue dogs uses his fantastic sense of smell to find her. Is she dead or is she alive? Read Sniffer Dogs to find out.

In my opinion, Sniffer Dogs was really interesting, and the pictures helped me visualize some of the more complex stories. Each page kept me reeled in, and the stories sometimes made me want to cry and sometimes laugh out loud. I recommend this book to people 10 and older because of the complicated vocabulary that might be challenging for younger ages. Examples of higher level words are smuggling, boisterous, and biology. I would also say that this book is meant for dog lovers, because it is all about dogs. I wish that the author had been clearer with some of the events in the story. For instance, when she was describing the cone formation, I had to look at the picture twice to fully understand what she was saying. Overall, Sniffer Dogs was fascinating and kept my interest all the way through the book.

Review written by Makayla (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World for this review.

Have you read Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World? How would you rate it?

Review: Timmy Failure Now Look What You've Done by Stephan Pastis

Timmy Failure Now Look What You've Done by Stephan Pastis. Book 2 in the Timmy Failure Series.

Candlewick Press
Publication Date: February 2014
List Price: $14.99
ISBN-13: 9780763660512

Review: Imagine this. You are a helpless little boy running his own business; he has a mom, a great aunt, a girl that's totally crazy for him, and a 1,500-pound polar bear as a work partner. What can possibly go wrong? In the book Timmy Failure Now Look What You've Done by Stephan Pastis, learn exactly what it is to be a professional detective, or you might just figure out the mystery of the millennium.

You might think having your own detective business is an easy thing, well trust me, it's not! Timmy has no time for shenanigans, he would much rather admire his greatness than do anything, but the point is that he has no time for that either, the Worldwide Enemy of Da Goodness In Everything (aka the wedgie) will do everything in her power to make herself sound like the best person in the world, but Timmy will not let that get in his way to becoming the greatest detective there ever was. All is peaceful, but not until the superintendent announces a multi-school best detective contest makes Timmy loose his mind. When anyone mentions anything about contests or detectives, Timmy must win. But when Timmy gets in trouble one day and cannot turn in his participation form, he is not able to win unless he goes to another school with a later due date. Timmy is now on a mission to get moved to a school for bad kids, Glouberman academy.

This book is a perfect book for both girls and boys young and old. Although this book has some vocabulary that may not be understood by little children, it is still the perfect book. And do you know what's even better? There is a whole series of Timmy Failure books written by Stephan Pastis. This book is a great choice for anyone who is a mystery, comedy, or Stephan Pastis fan. This book will also help children find out how important friendship is and that in every situation you should be supported. Learn what it's like to be a true detective as you go on exciting and ironic adventures with Timmy and friends. So you probably think that you have everything down and understand all of this so well, you can just go to the store and buy this book right now, but there is just one more thing you need to know, Timmy's quote and this just might be the only three things you need to know about him; I was born, I founded an empire, I exhibit greatness, said by Timmy Failure.

Review written by Julie (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Candlewick Press for providing a copy of Timmy Failure Now Look What You've Done for this review.

Have you read Timmy Failure Now Look What You've Done? How would you rate it?

Review: The Monster's Ring by Bruce Coville

The Monster's Ring by Bruce Coville. A Magic Shop Book.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: October 2008
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780152064426

Review: If you're looking for a book that middle school kids would enjoy then The Monster's Ring by Bruce Conville is the perfect book. This book has suspense, action, and mystery. This one of the books in the Magic Shop Book series. There are four books in this series.

In The Monster's Ring there is a fifth grade boy named Russell who gets bullied a lot by another fifth grader named Eddie. Russell finds this magic shop and is given a magic ring with a monster engraved into the stone. He reads the directions but not carefully and gets himself into a lot of trouble. Then he does the same thing again but something worse happens. He does it a third time and thinks he can't go back to normal. With the ring rats told him to go back to the magic shop and he told him to stay over night and when he woke up it was gone. And with the bullying he scared the bully and he did not bully him again.

I liked a lot of things in this book like how it was about a boy changing into three different monsters, and that how tried to resolve his problems on his own if he didn't need help. The thing I didn't like was that they portrayed the principal as a very bad man yet he wasn't that bad he was just doing his job. People should read this book because it has a lot of mystery and that people that are into mythical creatures would like how he changes from creature to creature with each twist of the ring. A boy or a girl would like this book because it is not really about one or the other it is basically just about how he resolves all of his problems and how he changes back into normal Russell. So if you like mythical creatures this book is the perfect fit.

Review written by Kerstin (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The Monster's Ring for this review.

Have you read The Monster's Ring? How would you rate it?

Review: The Missing Chancleta and Other Top-Secret Cases by Alidis Vicente

The Missing Chancleta and Other Top-Secret Cases by Alidis Vicente.

Pinata Books
Publication Date: November 2013
List Price: $9.95
ISBN-13: 9781558857797

Review: In a world, where an eight-year-old detective has cases to solve... and assassins to findÉ she does what she can to solveÉ theseÉ cases.

The Missing Chancleta AND OTHER TOP-SECRET CASES By Alidis Vicente is a book that is about an 8-year-old girl, named Flaca that is a detective and loves to solve cases. In The Missing Chancleta AND OTHER TOP-SECRET CASES you get to know three epic mysteries being solved byÉ DETECTIVE FLACA! You don't get to decide who did the crime, but its fun to see WHOÉ WASÉ THEÉ CULPRET? She does the work in a fun way for kids to have fun while they read.

The Missing Chancleta AND OTHER TOP-SECRET CASES is good for kids 8 and up. You read better in Spanish? Hmmmmm, I hear this book is Spanish and English. This book would be interesting for kids that are interested in detective books. It is an amazing book that should be great for a kid that also wants a smile on their face.

Review written by Yesenia (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Pinata Books for providing a copy of The Missing Chancleta and Other Top-Secret Cases for this review.

Have you read The Missing Chancleta and Other Top-Secret Cases? How would you rate it?

Review: Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson

Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780449816738

Review: Imagine yourself running through the woods, badly bruised and cut being chased by a deadly stank. The sugar cane is burning; you're running as fast as the speed of light, not daring to look back. All of a sudden, you feel a painful sensation on the back of your head, and you are suddenly falling to the ground unconscious. Slowly feeling your life draining away, you're either quickÉor you're dead. This is just a small section of Boys of Blur by N.D Wilson.

In Boys of Blur, courage is a trait you need to survive in the woods. That's exactly what Charlie and Cotton have. It all starts at a funeral for the death of Willie Wisdom, a former football coach. Charlie doesn't know it, but he has a step cousin, Cotton. Once Charlie meets him at the sugar cane farm, Cotton shows Charlie something that no one else knows. The church they were at was vandalized, but even more surprising, there was an unknown warrior trying to steal the body of Willie Wisdom! There is much more danger than the animals and the occasional burning of the sugar cane. Stanks are an unknown species of a ghost like creature, who can hunt you down. The horrible smell can knock you out or even worse, kill you! The three of them have to work together to survive, but there is much more ahead.

What I liked most about the book is that the author always had a suspenseful ending to each chapter. I always wanted to read more. Each chapter interested me, whether it was action or arguments. When Charlie and Cotton ran, it was so suspenseful; it made me fall off the edge of my seat! The reader never suspects what is going to happen! This book could be recommended to boys and girls. This is a good book for middle school students and elementary kids. The setting makes the plot eerie and spooky. You don't know what's going to happen to the characters or what's going to pop out from behind a bush. Every second, the protagonists had to be aware of their surroundings, especially if they were vulnerable to the stanks. The fate of the world depends on Charlie and Cotton, and that makes the book very exciting. In my opinion, the characters show admirable traits. Charlie would do anything to save some one's life. The way he risks his life to get the antidote for Cotton was really brave. Sugar also shows courage because he helps Charlie get across the swamp. If you enjoy books full of action, suspense, and surprising events you should read Boys of Blur.

Review written by Nicholas (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Boys of Blur? How would you rate it?

Review: Robots Rule! by C. J. Richards

Robots Rule! by C. J. Richards. A Junkyard Bot Book.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: November 2014
List Price: $13.99
ISBN-13: 9780544339351

Review: Robots Rule! For one town robots are not a convenience they are mandatory and for George Gearing they are his friends. Robots Rule by C.J Richards was well written, interesting, and really grabbed my attention. The book takes place in a town called Terabyte Heights and everybody has robots to help them with everyday chores or just to look cool but for George Gearing it is more than that.

George and his buddy Jackbot are friends. They do every thing together. They go fishing, play basketball, and play baseball they are best friends. George enjoys fixing robots that other people consider junk, but his Uncle Otto thinks George should work at the junkyard instead. But when his Jackbot is kidnapped George's life changes and the only question is, why would someone kidnap Jackbot?

I recommend Robots Rule to anyone that has an imagination because this book put a picture in my mind that was better than a movie. Great book, great setting, great plot, and perfect for young readers. Robots Rule will make you starve for a second book, really creates a big suspension it is a page-turner I started it reading it in the morning and did not put it down till it was done that night.

Review written by Patrick (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Robots Rule! for this review.

Have you read Robots Rule!? How would you rate it?

Review: Soccer on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne

Soccer on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne. A Magic Tree House Book.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 2014
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780307980533

Review: If you're a fan of adventurous books, then Soccer on Sunday is the perfect book. In this addition to the Magic Tree House Chronicles, Jack and Annie go somewhere they have only dreamt of going.

In Soccer on Sunday, Jack and Annie go to Brazil to find the fourth secret of greatness. After going to the World Cup to see Pele play, they still can't find the secret. They spend the rest of their day with a new friend that might be able to help solve all their problems.

Soccer on Sunday is a great book for 7-10 year olds. It has a simple but entertaining plot that is perfect for young readers. Soccer on Sunday is written for children who are just starting to read chapter books, and the vocabulary is appropriate for that level. Jack and Annie are wonderful characters that will appeal to all readers. Plus, like every other Magic Tree House book, it is filled with adventure, excitement, and learning too.

Review written by Michael (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Soccer on Sunday for this review.

Have you read Soccer on Sunday? How would you rate it?

Review: Togo by Kate Klimo

Togo by Kate Klimo. A Dog Diaries Book.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2014
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780385373357

Review: Do you like fiction and history? This book is a historical fiction and fantasy book, but has a lot of action and adventure. In the Dog Diaries: Togo by Kate Klimo, it follows a husky sled dog from Nome, Alaska's journey to the lower 48 States of America in a competition to become the most well none dog in the land. This book is a part of a series called Dog Diaries with other installments named Ginger, Buddy, and Barry.

Dog Diaries: Togo, begins with a group of sled dogs in Nome, Alaska that transport their owner from place to place and race in local dog races. The owner's favorite is Balto, another sled dog. He is the fastest sled dog in Nome, and all the other dogs are jealous. One dog-named Togo is very jealous and determined to become more popular. Balto is old now so Togo tries to run faster than the other dogs to beat Balto's record. Togo runs so fast that his trainer brings him and all the other dogs down to the lower 48 states of America to show off their talent. Starting off in the Northwest, Togo sees a challenge because the running place is a roller rink with wood not snow. Togo accepts the challenge and runs. The crowd is surprised at how fast he can run. He ran in rinks in Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, and other North and Southwestern states. Then Togo's owner got a call and Tago has to race Balto back in Nome, Alaska. Who will win the race? Can he beat Balto? Only the book knows.

Overall Dog Diaries: Togo is good. It has a solid storyline and plot and the characters are developed well. The book pulled me into the story line as if I was in the audience at the races. I think that if you read Togo you will want to read the other books in the series. Togo has a lot of courage to go up against Balto in the race and is an inspiration to me for over coming challenges. The trainer inspires you to have someone by your side after every move you make. But most of all, the crowds of people at the races spoke to me in a way neither Togo nor the trainer did, they always push you to keep going during challenges. The book has an adventurous plot that I really enjoyed. I recommend this book for middle school readers. This is the best book I have read so far this year.

Review written by Eric (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Togo? How would you rate it?

Review: The Morning Star by Robin Bridges

The Morning Star by Robin Bridges. Volume 3 of the Katerina Trilogy.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2013
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780385740265

Review: Duchess? Are you all right? Duchess?

I blinked slowly at her, ignoring the tears rolling down my cheeks.

Masha, what have I done?

This book is called The Morning Star written by Robin Bridges. The main characters in this book are Katarina, also known as Katiya, George, maman, Alix, tsar, lich tsar, and danilo. This book is fiction, and it is the third book of a series called The Katerina Trilogy.

Katerina is 18 years old; she has too many choices, decisions, and problems going on in her life. One of the decisions she has to make is whether she could either marry George, the tsar's son, or keep studying medicine. She could only pick one. She has been studying medicine for a very long time and doesn't want to give up. However, at the same time, she has loved George for a very long time. Katerina picks medicine over George, she doesn't know if she made the right choice. Katerina has doesn't know what to do! Later on, other troubles come along the way. Danilo, the crown prince, kidnaps her because the lich tsar possesses him and is using his body to talk to Katerina. What is Katerina going to do next? Is she going to get George back? Will George save her?

Robin Bridges' amazing writing makes me want to keep reading. I couldn't stop reading. Some of my favorite parts of the story were when she added a bit of ancient Egyptian history and Egyptian setting in the story. Every time I had to stop reading, I would want to continue because of the great description. I think girls would like reading this book more than boys because there is a bit of romance, and the main character is a girl. Overall, this book is great, and I think people over the age of 12 might like it because of the complexity of the words. It's an amazing book, and the plot is really interesting. Every time I finished a chapter, I would want to keep reading and never stop. My eyes were glued to the book! I think any person who reads this book will love it!

Review written by Kezia (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The Morning Star? How would you rate it?

Review: The Trouble With Magic by Ruth Chew

The Trouble With Magic by Ruth Chew. A Matter-of-Fact Magic Book.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2014
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780449813799

Review: Have you ever wondered what would happen if you opened a bottle, a wizard would come out instead of a genie? Could there be bad wizards that can't get rid of roses in your room or even a forest. Well, in The Trouble With Magic by Ruth Chew, a wizard named Harrison Peabody is a bad wizard. Not evil, but cannot undo things that he has created. Harry has an umbrella that gives him the magic. The kids Barbara and Rick are on a mission to find out how to undo the magic by finding his umbrella.

In The Trouble With Magic, Barbara and Rick need to find Harry's umbrella to make him happy again. Harry has lost his umbrella that gives him the magic when they all had gone to the park to have a picnic. While they were there they saw something in the water. That something was Harry's friend George that was a sea serpent. This story was fun and filled with adventure. Barbara and Rick go on the mission and find that umbrella. They make Harry happy again. Harry finally gets the umbrella and fixes the made with the magic that he created.

The Trouble With Magic is very entertaining. It is a fantasy book with wizards and sea serpents. This book has adventurous characters (Barbara and Rick) that will do anything to help someone in need (Harrison Peabody the wizard). The story focuses on the need to help. The author wants the people reading this book to imagine themselves in the book and play the role of the main character. This is a good book for kids 8-10 years of age because the book has mostly easy vocabulary and it's not that long. Trouble with magic would be perfect for kids to teach them to never give up. Barbara and Rick don't give up on finding the umbrella and finally do. The plot is original It was fun to read. The Trouble With Magic has strong details and very descriptive writing. This is one of the many books that Ruth Chew has written. So, do you want to know if Rick and Barbara find Harry's umbrella and make him happy again? Then read The Trouble With Magic By Ruth Chew.

Review written by Devanshi (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The Trouble With Magic? How would you rate it?

Review: The Skull of Truth by Bruce Coville

The Skull of Truth by Bruce Coville. A Magic Shop Book.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780152060848

Review: Are you looking for the creepiest, yet most interesting book in town? If you are interested in reading a book that will take you on an adventure, you will love The Skull of Truth by Coville. In The Skull of Truth, Charlie has taken something that he will never forget. This is one of several books in the series.

In The Skull of Truth, Charlie is forced to take the skull of the truth. Now that he has stolen it, he has to keep it until Mr. Elives, the shopkeeper, returns to give it back. Everyone knows that Charlie lies a lot, but now that the skull is here, things have changed. Now that he possesses the skull, he must always tell the truth. In the process Charlie loses some friends, but in the end he regains them and even makes more! I've said too much; if you want more, you'll just have to read the book.

The Skull of Truth is really fun, and it is an adventurous book to read. It is exciting and mysterious at the same time. The book kept me on my toes too. Whenever I had free time, I wanted to read that book. I was anxiously waiting to find out what would next. The author ends the chapters very nicely just in the right place. For example, at the end of the book, when Charlie has to return the skull to Mr. Elives, the chapter ends right before he decides what he is going to do. I recommend this book to third-sixth graders. This is because the concept might be too hard to grasp for a younger age group, and might be too easy for an older age group. This book is wonderful, adventurous, and eerie in all the best ways!

Review written by Annika (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of The Skull of Truth for this review.

Have you read The Skull of Truth? How would you rate it?

Review: National Geographic Kids Almanac 2015 by National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2015 by National Geographic Kids.

National Geographic Kids
Publication Date: May 2014
List Price: $14.99
ISBN-13: 9781426314612

Review: Do you know what was found in a lake in Louisiana? A pink dolphin! People can learn facts like this in National Geographic Almanac 2015, a nonfiction reference book. It has many interesting facts about science, animals, events all around the world, and other topics.

The book National Geographic Almanac 2015 contains sections on a variety of topics. One section, ÒOur World,Ó tells about events like the Women's FIFA World Cup, inventions like real light sabers, and animal species like a flying frog. Amazing Animals includes facts about animals. It tells about animal relationships, families, tricks, cute animals, and naughty pets. Also, facts about helping the environment are explained in the section Going Green. In addition, Awesome Adventure tells about jobs, facts about survival, and extreme sports. Furthermore, Super Science and Wonders of Nature have facts about space, eyes, rocks, disasters, weather, and biomes. Fun and Games includes different activities you can do. Facts about horoscopes, foods, languages, and mythology fill the section Culture Connection. Another interesting section, History Happens, informs the reader of presidents, cultures, and government. ÒGeography RocksÓ contains facts about continents, oceans, landforms, weird things like an apple-shaped racecar, vacation spots like Hawaii, and roller coasters in the chapter. In summary, there are a wide variety of sections in National Geographic Almanac 2015.

National Geographic Almanac 2015 was amazing. I would recommend it to anybody who is interested in nonfiction and learning. This book includes cool facts, photos, quizzes about each section, an activity section, and homework helps. The Almanac covers topics about everything from dolphins to Earth. My favorite sections are Amazing Animals, Super Science, and Culture Connection. It includes cute animals like meerkats, Amazonian milk frogs, harp seals, baby Emperor penguins, deer, and pandas and gross animals like the puss moth caterpillar. If you think that insects are gross, stay off of page 56. Those who are interested in science, history, geography, and nonfiction will like the book National Geographic Almanac 2015. It has fun family activities and cool crafts. Since so many topics are included, it has something everyone will enjoy. This book exceeded my expectations, and I hope you will like this book as much as I did.

Review written by Anna (6th grade student).

We would like to thank National Geographic Kids for providing a copy of National Geographic Kids Almanac 2015 for this review.

Have you read National Geographic Kids Almanac 2015? How would you rate it?