Review: Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects by Sophie Maletsky

Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects by Sophie Maletsky.

Zest Books
Publication Date: July 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9781936976546

Review: Imagine that you are a duct tape wizard. How fast could you make purses, pencil cases, bags and anything else you wanted? If you want to improve on your duct tape use, then you should read Sticky Fingers by Sophie Maletsky. This book teaches you the best tricks and tips to make the coolest duct tape creations. Sophie makes the duct tape book so interesting that everyone needs to get a copy. Sticky Fingers is a step-by-step duct tape book that helps you learn how to make duct tape projects. It is a must read book, and it could be yours! It's easy to pick up and hard to put down.

The book Sticky Fingers is a nonfiction book for simple to advanced duct tape projects. It even has a whole section for the last bit of duct tape on the roll. The projects vary from making pencil cases to making a full duct tape backpack! Making a duct tape would be great fun on a rainy day or anytime you're free. Also Sticky Fingers has tons of other great projects like wallets and purses. How would you like to learn how to make your customizable wallets or purses? The projects all have level ratings and the time amounts it will take you to complete the project. This book also includes instruction for how to organize your duct tape in the best ways you can think of. This is a tip and tricks book for duct tape lovers!

I love this book, and I think all of you will like it too. This book is great for ages 6 and up. It will inspire you to create your own types of great duct tape projects. This book has many fun and amazing things that I could not think of. Every little kid should own this book. I give it 4 stars for the creativity and the awesome descriptions that little kids would understand. I think it has awesome projects that you will be amazed with. Little kids would also understand what the author is trying to tell them, especially all the tips. Enjoy the book Sticky Fingers!

Review written by Olivia (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects for this review.

Have you read Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects? How would you rate it?

Review: The Perfect Place by Teresa E. Harris

The Perfect Place by Teresa E. Harris.

Clarion Books
Publication Date: November 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780547255194

Review: Treasure is a 12-year-old girl who has courage and strength. Her father left her, her mother, and her 7-year-old sister Tiffany alone. Treasure feels like since her father left she has taken over the role of a parent. She walks Tiffany to school everyday, buys the groceries, and makes sure that there is food on Tiffany's plate. Treasure's father is somewhere out there and she wants to find him. When Treasure's mom takes her to her Great aunt's house -a place she thought she would never go- Treasures life is turned upside down. Will Treasure ever turn it around again?

In The Perfect Place by Teresa E. Harris, Treasure learns that she has to find happiness; happiness will not always come to her. Treasure and Tiffany are left in the dust when their father leaves them with their mother. Leaving the apartment is not easy; the only way for them to get out is to sneak out at night because Treasure's mom is not paying the bills. Treasure's dad has left her family many times before, but he had never been gone for this long. Will Treasure be able to escape from her life? Will she ever be able to find her? Treasure has been forced to grow up to fast and leave her childhood behind.

The Perfect Place is a great book for someone who enjoys books that include surprising endings. I enjoyed this book so much because of its moral, which is you have to find happiness; happiness will not always come to you. Thanks to Theresa E. Harris I now know that if I wish for it, I can find happiness. This book has some rough language so I recommend it for ages 12 and up. The Perfect Place is such an amazing book from its details to its characters to its moral. I hope to find more books written by Theresa E. Harris.

Review written by Kyra (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The Perfect Place? How would you rate it?

Review: Get Outside Guide by Nancy Honovich and Julie Beer

Get Outside Guide by Nancy Honovich and Julie Beer.

National Geographic Kids
Publication Date: April 2014
List Price: $14.99
ISBN-13: 9781426315022

Review: Ready to have fun anywhere you go? If you are, then take the National Geographic Kids Get Outside Guide by Nancy Honovich and Julie Beer with you. It will provide you with many different ways to have fun.

In The Get Outside Guide, you will find plenty of games and projects like an underwater telescope. Also you can see if you can find the animals that are shown in the book. The Get Outside Guide helps readers find way to have fun anywhere from the beach to your own back yard. If you are going camping or hiking you might as well bring this book along.

This book is for anyone that likes going outside or is bored and wants something to do. The Get Outside Guide gives you plenty of situations such as if you are at the beach it shows you how to build a sand castle. The author provides plenty of facts about animals and the instructions to make projects are very clear and easy to read. The text is fairly easy to read and no confusing lines too. With The Get Outside Guide, you will leave the phone and other electronics and enjoy the outside. You will have plenty of activities to do and maybe even a little competition. Now go get the book and add some fun into your life.

Review written by Jacob (6th grade student).

Have you read Get Outside Guide? How would you rate it?

Review: Family Ties by Gary Paulsen

Family Ties by Gary Paulsen. A Kevin Spencer Book.

Wendy Lamb Books
Publication Date: July 2014
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780385373807

Review: Do you like books about family mess-ups, and about teenage situations? Well then Family Ties is a great book for you written by Gary Paulsen. In this book Kevin Spencer a fourteen-year-old boy, is considered a family man. He also has a girlfriend of his own. But when his uncle comes, he now has to plan a wedding for them. But with his own troubles, and activities at school, will he be able to do it?

Family is important to Kevin; he's always bringing the family together. One Sunday afternoon while the Spencer family is minding its own business, uncle Will comes. It turns out that uncle Will comes to tell the Spencer's that he has gotten married. Nobody knew about their marriage and they want to see them get married in person, so they decide to make a new wedding. Since everybody is busy, Kevin has to plan it all on his own. Will he be able to do it while having schoolwork and his teenage problems? And will he be able to make it the special wedding he wants it to be?

Family Ties is intended to children 10-14 years of age. It has a few words young children might not understand and there are some feelings that older children can relate to better than younger readers. This story is great for young adults (10-14) because it has humor and excitement young adults will love. It is also filled with a range of emotions. Family Ties will catch your attention, and you will not want to put the book down. But if you don't believe me get it for yourself and have a great time reading Family Ties.

Review written by Ashley (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Family Ties? How would you rate it?

Review: The Fire Wish by Amber Lough

The Fire Wish by Amber Lough.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 2014
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780385369763

Review: Have you ever wondered what it was like to switch places with someone you've never even met? The Fire Wish by Amber Lough is the one to read for anyone who loves fantasy books!

The Fire Wish starts off in India, where there's a great war between the mystical jinni and the humans. A girl from a tribe near Baghdad named Zayele was picked (more like forced) by her father to be the bride of the prince of Baghdad. Najwa is one of the mystical jinni who wants to be one of the people in the Corps to fight in the war (they also grant and make wishes). While Zayele is on her way to the city of Baghdad to marry the prince, she wishes to run away and go back home. But Najwa appears and Zayele catches her to make a wish. Zayele wishes to have them switch roles and Najwa grants that wish. Want more? If so, then you'll just have to read this novel!

The Fire Wish is recommended for anyone who loves fantasy/fiction books. I loved how Lough incorporated humans and fairy-like people such as Najwa which for me, makes this such an interesting book! The book also includes two-sided perspectives, which can be confusing at first, but you'll get it once you know what's going on. It shows you that even though you want something, it doesn't really mean that it'll come out the exactly how you wanted it to go. You probably wouldn't even know how to solve it. I loved this book, and hopefully, others will read it too!

Review written by Carol (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The Fire Wish? How would you rate it?

Review: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan.

Disney Publishing Worldwide
Publication Date: August 2014
List Price: $24.99
ISBN-13: 9781423183648

Review: Imagine yourself as a Greek God's child, and you're about to tell about all your aunts and uncles who they were when you were not even thought of yet. Percy Jackson from Percy Jackson and the Olympians gives his amusing reviews on all of his aunts and uncles who are Olympians. Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan is written in the perspective of Percy Jackson. Apollo jumps up, turns to his mother and says, ÒI need a bow and arrow, asap!Ó He was just born, and he was demanding bows and arrows! Then he shoots Hera with the arrows! This is just a small excerpt from Percy Jackson's Greek Gods.

Mythology is the key to this book. Percy Jackson gave reports on Hestia, Demeter, Persephone, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus, Athena, Aphrodite, Ares, Hephaestus, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes and last but not least, Dionysus. These are the Greek Gods. The Greek Gods control basically the whole Earth. He enjoyed writing about his aunts, uncles and his own dad. I'm not going to tell you who his dad is; you need to read it to find out! No going on the Internet. He tells about how the Greek Gods were born and how they grew up to be adults. The setting is Mount Olympus. All the gods are normally on Olympus. In Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, there is a dice roll between the three most powerful gods. Whoever gets the lowest dice roll gets the gloomy underworld. Whoever gets 3-4 in the dice roll gets the sea. Whoever gets 5-6 gets the sky. The youngest brother, Hades got the underworld. The middle brother, Poseidon, got the sea. The oldest, Zeus got the sky and he became the ruler of the heavens. If you think about it, the dice roll wasn't fair. That's why Hades gets mad and wants- guess what? - Revenge.

I personally loved the book because I love mythology and humor. I love to read every single book from Rick Riordan, he tells his story in such detail. I can always picture what is happening. I find that very hard for someone to do, so I applaud him. This book informed me about the Greek Gods and mythology that I didn't know. Even if you think you know a lot about Greek mythology, you probably didn't know the vast amount of detail that Riordan includes in his book. Percy uses descriptive verbs such as trembled and shook with fear. Sometimes it gets confusing with all the marriages, so you might want to write them down. This would be a boy and girl book. I recommend the book for kids ages 10-13 because of length of the book and the sophisticated vocabulary. Overall, Percy Jackson's Greek Gods will be enjoyable for most upper elementary and middle school readers.

Review written by Sara (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing a copy of Percy Jackson's Greek Gods for this review.

Have you read Percy Jackson's Greek Gods? How would you rate it?

Review: October Ogre by Ron Roy

October Ogre by Ron Roy. A Calendar Mystery Book.

Stepping Stone Books
Publication Date: August 2013
List Price: $4.99
ISBN-13: 9780375868887

Review: Do you like a spooky, suspenseful story that is just right for Halloween season? If so, then Calendar Mysteries: October Ogre by Ron Roy is just right for you. It is a great mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You'll also be frightened with scary ogres, witches, and ghosts.

Take a frightening adventure with Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy, four friends that go to a hotel that has been transformed into a haunted house for Halloween. They have to try to take a candy basket that is protected with spooky things. If they do so, they'll get a special prize. They have noticed that every child that goes in does not come out. This gets Nate really frightened. They enter the haunted house and follow the green footprints that the ogre at the entrance tells them. They decide to spit up into pairs and see if they find the candy. Soon Brian disappears and the rest of the kids get scared. Will they ever find their friend and get out of this house?

I recommend Calendar Mysteries: October Ogre for kids 6-8 years old because the story is not intended to scare you in any way. It's written so that you could be on the edge of your seat wondering what will come next. It is also a short seventy-page book that is perfect for new chapter book readers. This book has some funny parts and suspenseful parts that get you wondering, Where did he go? It is a great book that I would recommend to any person that loves a good mystery. If your looking for a interesting mystery than check out Calendar Mysteries: October Ogre by Ron Roy today!

Review written by Christian (6th grade student).

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

Have you read October Ogre? How would you rate it?

Review: The Eiffel Tower Incident by Sir Steve Stevenson

The Eiffel Tower Incident by Sir Steve Stevenson. An Agatha: Girl of Mystery Book.

Grosset & Dunlap
Publication Date: March 2014
List Price: $5.99
ISBN-13: 9780448462233

Review: Do you like mystery novels? Well, this is the book for you. They are on a mission on who killed the Russian diplomat and to save dash's career as a detective. In Agatha the Girl of Mysteries: the Eiffel Tower Incident, by Sir Steve Stevenson and Stefano Turconi brings mystery into a whole different place on the other side of the world.

Agatha, who is the mystery girl in her family, Dash who is the detective in the family, Chandler who is Agatha's helpful butler, and their cat, Watson are on a mission to find the murderer who killed the Russian diplomat in at the Eiffel Tower. With only the diplomat's final words "Red Rose", they try to hunt down the culprit. They first think it is a brand of wine, but they have no luck with that. After they notice the two pictures in the newspaper, their adventure begins.

If you are a mystery lover you should read Agatha's whole series. This book I would recommend for ages 10-12 because even though it looks like an easy book, there are challenging words in there. I liked this book because each page has something good or entertaining to read. Her clues and ideas are constantly bringing her into different situations and different places. Agatha will continue her journey soon in Sir Steve Stevenson and Stefano Turconi's next book.

Review written by Khushali (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Penguin Young Readers Group for providing a copy of The Eiffel Tower Incident for this review.

Have you read The Eiffel Tower Incident? How would you rate it?

Review: Miles from Nowhere by Amy Clipston

Miles from Nowhere by Amy Clipston. The Final Book in the Roadside Assistance Trilogy.

Zondervan
Publication Date: April 2015
List Price: $9.99
ISBN-13: 9780310736707

Review: God puts special people in our lives for a reason. In Amy Clipston's Miles from Nowhere you will read about how one girl, Chelsea Morris, finds herself as she follows her heart. This book will lift up your heart about faith towards you beliefs and trust in other people.

Chelsea Morris plans on having the perfect summer. She has a part time job at the Fork & Knife where her boyfriend works, and she is the head designer for the community production of Grease. Everything seems to be going swell for Chelsea. But then table's turn at the Fork & Knife, the main cook Maggie, just recently had a baby and now is on maternity leave. Todd parents own the Fork & Knife and he is also Chelsea's boyfriend. This was a totally bummer for Chels is pretty upset about this because this is the last summer before they headed off to state university; and she wanted to spend some quality time with her boyfriend. Being the unselfless girl she is supported him with his full time job but this meant he couldn't be part of the production of Grease. Which also leads back to spending less time with each other. As she spends her time at the playhouse she met a boy named Dylan a sophomore at the university. Everyday they have met each other's eyes but never spoke to each other. Eventually though Dylan asks her and her assistant designer to come to a cast party. This one cast party starts a chain of events that changed Chelsea. Now she is now breaking the rules at the theater, her new personality is interfering with her job and her relationship; she has now transformed into the party animal; drinking, ditching her brothers, hanging out with friends instead of doing her priorities. No one seems to know who Chelsea is anymore. Will Chelsea ever find her way back to her true self? Or has she become her true self? Find out the rest in Miles from Nowhere.

This is a spectacular novel. I am an Amy Clipston fan; I have read most of her book and they all relate to the same thesis, to having faith in your beliefs. This book really pulled me compared to her other novels this one has a plot teens can relate to finding who you are within a difficult situation. The plot is well organized, not messy or rushed. I enjoyed the main character, Chelsea's, her personality. She is able to relate in a way that teens can see themselves in. For example, her friends support when she needs it the most; they helped her with finding herself. I recommend Miles from Nowhere for 12-15 year old girls because girls can gather a stronger moral from a girl's point of view.

Review written by Arsima (6th grade student).

We would like to thank ZonderKidz for providing a copy of Miles from Nowhere for this review.

Have you read Miles from Nowhere? How would you rate it?

Review: Three Bird Summer by Sara St. Antoine

Three Bird Summer by Sara St. Antoine.

Candlewick Press
Publication Date: May 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780763665647

Review: The idea of a neighbor girl filled me with dread, Adam said in the car driving to his grandma's cabin. The book, Three Bird Summer, written by Sara St. Antoine, contains many outstanding adventures. The main character, Adam, finds notes in his Grandma's cabin saying there is a hidden treasure, and he needs the new neighbor, Alice, to help him. Will Alice try to find it with him? Will they spy the treasure? Read Three Bird Summer to find out!!

For as long as he could remember, Adam went to his grandma's cabin in the summer with his crazy cousins who always pulled pranks on him, his Mom, and Dad. This year, only his mom and he were going because in the winter his parents got divorced. He soon found out that a new neighbor moved in next door to Grandma's, and her name was Alice. He thought she was going to be just like the popular girls at school, but it turned out that she was different than them and wanted to be friends with him. Soon, he started finding notes in his room saying there was a treasure nearby. He needed Alice to help him find it. Many exciting adventures followed, and if you want to know what happened, read the book to find out!!

I think the book Three Bird Summer is really great. It always left me thinking, and I could NOT set it down. I just wish the book were longer because it was incredible. I would love it if there were another book, maybe even a whole series!! I think both boys and girls would like it because it's about camping and going on interesting expeditions. It is very adventurous. I think it is for grades 4-8 because even though it is 246 pages; the vocabulary words aren't too difficult or too easy. If you love camping and going exploring, I would really recommend reading this book.

Review written by Mia (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Candlewick Press for providing a copy of Three Bird Summer for this review.

Have you read Three Bird Summer? How would you rate it?

Review: Queen of the World! by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Queen of the World! by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm. A Babymouse Book.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 2013
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780375832291

Review: Are you the one always with big ideas? Then this book is for you. It's called Babymouse: Queen Of The World! by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. So if you're the one daydreaming instead of paying attention, read this book. You may find you have something in common!

In Babymouse: Queen Of The World!, the main character is Babymouse. She is a middle school girl, and she is a mouse. She really wants to be popular - queen of the world, if you will. But she can't be the queen of the world. That position is already taken by Felicia Furrypaws, a cat. Baymouse wants to be just like her. When Felicia has a sleepover party, it feels like everyone is invited but her. One day Felicia forgets her book report. She says if Babymouse gives her the report, she'll invite her to the party. When she is about to leave for the sleepover, she realizes she already has plans with her best friend, Wilson. Many things go wrong at the sleepover, and Babymouse realizes that Wilson is a true friend.

I enjoyed Babymouse: Queen Of The World!, even though the reading level is more for early elementary readers. A girl would probably enjoy it more than a boy, but it is a good book for all readers. I think this is a good book because it has a really sweet message, that true friends forgive you no matter what. It's really sweet, and I think a lot of girls can relate to it. It is also a funny book; she daydreams a lot. Jennifer L. Holm tells girls to be what they want to be through this funny, amazing story. Sure, she isn't the most popular, but she realizes she has everything she needs and life is good. If you read Babymouse: Queen Of The World! and enjoy it - Good News! There are 9 other books in this series. I recommend this book to all the dreamers and lovers of all things girly.

Review written by Alison (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Queen of the World! for this review.

Have you read Queen of the World!? How would you rate it?

Review: Watch the Cookie by Nancy Cote

Watch the Cookie by Nancy Cote.

Sky Pony Press
Publication Date: October 2014
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9781629146300

Review: Have you ever just done everything with your best friend? You feel as if you guys are almost connected. There is a very similar situation in the book Watch the Cookie by Nancy Cote except in Watch the Cookie something happens and tears them apart.

In Watch the Cookie, a boy named Sam and a mouse named Mousey are very close. But then Sammy has to go somewhere and they get separated. And something happens to Mousey. What is Mousey going to do?

Watch the Cookie is a wonderful picture book for a five or six year old. The writing isn't very hard to read and there very few words on the pages so they could read it and it won't take them a long time. The illustrations help the book and make you understand the book better. A boy or girl would enjoy this book. It is a good book for early readers and for parents to read to younger children.

Review written by Isabella (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Sky Pony Press for providing a copy of Watch the Cookie for this review.

Have you read Watch the Cookie? How would you rate it?