Review: Soccer by Mary Pope Osborne

Soccer by Mary Pope Osborne. A Magic Tree House Fact Tracker Book.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 2014
List Price: $4.99
ISBN-13: 9780385386296

Review: Do you like soccer; want to know more about it? Well Soccer will teach you every last detail about soccer. Annie and Jack will find and discover new and amazing facts about soccer. Did you know that in China, the Chinese people were the ones who created the roots of soccer? Soccera nonfiction book by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce will answer the many questions kids ask about soccer today. Such as, who was the best soccer player? Who started soccer? What is the World Cup?

Soccer is filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun pieces from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures. Soccer explains to young readers about the many facts about soccer.

At the end of the book, if you want to have more information about soccer, Jack and Annie explains the websites you could use, the books, also Jack and Annie teach how to use the websites and book properly. Also they give you some tips and pointers along the way at the end just to make sure they aren't forgetting anything.

I recommend for both boys and girls that are 7-10 years old. The reason I chose this age group was that this book is short. (123 pages) Soccer also has some challenging words for young readers. This book is an exciting and educational book that will teach and explain soccer to young readers.

Review written by Khushali (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Soccer? How would you rate it?

Review: The Gloomy Ghost by David Lubar

The Gloomy Ghost by David Lubar. A Monsterific Tale.

Starscape
Publication Date: July 2014
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780765330802

Review: Do you like short spooky books? Well if you do then you will love The Gloomy Ghost written by David Lubar. In this book a boy named Rory has turned into a ghost; he is in the middle of life and death. He tries to tell his parents, but because he is a ghost, they can't hear him. The worst part is that if he doesn't hurry, he will stay a ghost forever. Do you think he will be able to turn back to human?

Rory is always getting into trouble. But one day he takes it way to far, he breaks the living room TV. He knows he is going to get in big trouble, so he hides in the bushes outside his house for a long time, until he gets hungry and eats the berries on his bush. Now he is feeling weirder than usual and suddenly he can't move. After a while, he realizes that he has become a ghost, he also realizes that the body he is looking at is his. Now he will do all it takes to show his family where he is and save himself from staying a ghost forever. Will he be able to save himself or will he stay ghost forever?

The Gloomy Ghost is perfect for children of age 8-12. They will love it. It is full of adventure, humor, and surprise, everything a child would love in a book. It is also easy to read and understand which is better, that way people will get the hang of it and love it even more. It is also a great book for 8-12 year olds because it is a short book, and I know some children miss great books because they are long, but this one is perfect size for upper elementary students. So check this book out because it is perfect for you.

Review written by Ashley (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Starscape/TOR for Teens for providing a copy of The Gloomy Ghost for this review.

Have you read The Gloomy Ghost? How would you rate it?

Review: Parched by Melanie Crowder

Parched by Melanie Crowder.

Harcourt Childrens Books
Publication Date: June 2013
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780547976518

Review: If you like dogs and suspenseful stories, then Parched is the book for you. Parched, by Melanie Crowder is a realistic fiction book and is about a dog and its journey with the small group of kids. The small group of friends needs to survive in a harsh barren land. But the dog is older and might not make the journey. These friends need to find food to eat and take care of a dog. Can they survive?

Parched begins with group of teenage kids playing with the dog having fun and just being kids. But they have to use what they can to survive. All they have is a dog that keeps them company. They start moving in search for a more civilized area with pre-made food and purified water but they will have little success. They have to struggle in the wild and collect food for themselves and the dog. They are running low on supplies and the dog is getting older. Will they find civilized land? Will they survive?

I think Parched is okay because the book is very suspenseful and you want to know what will happen. But I think that the plot would be uninteresting to a 6th grader like me because the book moves slowly so they can find food and other objects. The characters personalities are all kind of the same and no one has their unique traits like in real life fore example no one is more funny or serious than the other person. This book can happen in real life but the way they describe the land and the setting makes it sound like a science fiction novel instead of a realistic fiction book. I think the book is best for middle school readers that like a suspenseful story with not much action.

Review written by Eric (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Parched? How would you rate it?

Review: Bad Luck Girl by Sarah Zettel

Bad Luck Girl by Sarah Zettel. Book 3 of the American Fairy Trilogy.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 2014
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780375869402

Review: Step into the world of the fairies in Bad Luck Girl by Sarah Zettel. It's about a girl named Callie who's the daughter of a fairy prince of the Midnight Throne. Because her dad is the only fairy in the family, she's half fairy and half human. Eventually, her mom, dad, and she are together in the bustling city of Chicago. But being the daughter of a fairy prince isn't all it seems to be when she starts a war between the Sunlit fairies (another ruling kingdom) and the Midnight Throne fairies (where her dad's from, and essentially where she's from.) It started when Callie shoots the daughter of the king of the Sunlit Kingdom, Ivy. When the king hears of the news, he decides to wage war. Callie's dad reveals that his kingdom and the other kingdom are always ready to get up and fight, but they are just waiting for the moment. Callie takes her family and her best friend Jack (who knows about her dad being a fairy) into safety. But it isn't so easy, as a group of fairies called the Halfers are interested in the problem. The Halfers are, like Callie, half human. But they are also half whatever, such as half clock, half book, etc. But they all have magic within them. Soon, despair arrives and Callie is the only one who can save her family, Jack, the Halfers , and the Midnight Throne kingdom. Unfortunately, nobody in the fairy world believes that the girl who caused the war can fix it, and her name in the fairy world becomes the Bad Luck Girl. Is Callie going to live up to her nickname, or is she going to fight for her life and many others?

I like this book because it talks about believing in yourself when times are tough and knowing that inside everybody lies the courage to do anything. -Nothing's impossible if you say it isn't- is the lesson that Callie learns, and its one that can save her life. My favorite part is when she finally musters up the courage and goes to face her fate head on. It is a fantasy book, but I think that even if some people don't like fantasy books, this book is a lot more than that. I would recommend this book for 9 year olds and beyond, and anybody else who likes fantasy and/or adventure books.

Review written by Athira (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Bad Luck Girl? How would you rate it?

Review: Lenny Cyrus School Virus by Joe Schreiber

Lenny Cyrus School Virus by Joe Schreiber.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: April 2013
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780547893150

Review: Have you ever wondered if you could change the way a person thinks about you? Lenny has, in Lenny Cyrus: School Virus, Lenny, a teenage boy has had a crush on Zooey since third grade but he can't get her to feel the same way about him. He believes that he can make his way into her brain and change the way she feels about him.

Lenny, a super smart boy that has two Nobel Prize winning parents decides that he will take matters into his own hands. He uses a shrinking device to make him super small and with the help of his friend Harlan he is able to make it into Zooey's Diet Coke. Zooey, not noticing, drinks the Diet Coke, and Lenny makes it into Zooey's body. Lenny's goal is to get to Zooey's brain in less than six hours and make her feel the same way for him before he runs out of oxygen in his gas tank. Lenny makes a deal with a bacteria named Astro to get him to the brain safely without any virus or bacteria discovering Lenny. Things are starting to get very strange, Zooey starts feeling sick, and she is feeling a mood of love towards people. Will Lenny and Zooey survive this crazy experiment?

Lenny Cyrus: School Virus is intended for readers ages 10-13 because this book has many words in a page and it has many pages. This is a great book for reading in spare time. This book has some challenging scientific words that could be hard for young readers to pronounce and define. This book also has very exciting parts that will have you not want to stop reading. Lenny Cyrus: School Virus makes the impossible sound possible. Check out Lenny Cyrus: School Virus today!

Review written by Christian (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Lenny Cyrus School Virus for this review.

Have you read Lenny Cyrus School Virus? How would you rate it?

Review: Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting by Erin Dionne

Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting by Erin Dionne. A 14 Day Mystery.

Dial
Publication Date: July 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780803738720

Review: If you want a book that gives you mystery and adventure in one book, Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting by Erin Dionne is perfect. Ollie gets sent to summer camp to stay out of trouble after busting some criminals, but that's harder than it sounds. Ollie is soon mixed up in yet another attention grabbing adventure.

In Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting, Ollie gets sent to summer camp to follow an F.B.I agent's orders: stay out of trouble, but Ollie finds that harder than expected. Ollie has to find a way to not draw attention to himself after busting a stolen art crime. Camp proves to be more fun than Ollie thought, and he gets caught up in all sorts of trouble.

Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting is a great book for kids 10-11 years old. It has some references to stronger language, which is intended for more mature audiences. The book also has some elements that smaller children wouldn't understand. Besides that, the book is very child friendly. The plot develops in a very intense way and has a lot of cliffhangers. Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting is perfect for someone that wants a mystery, adventure, and a bit of comedy rolled all in to one.

Review written by Michael (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Penguin Young Readers Group for providing a copy of Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting for this review.

Have you read Ollie and the Science of Treasure Hunting? How would you rate it?

Review: Hollywood, Dead Ahead by Kate Klise

Hollywood, Dead Ahead by Kate Klise. Book 5 in the 43 Old Cemetery Road Series.

Harcourt Childrens Books
Publication Date: April 2013
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780547852836

Review: Lights, camera, action! Ignatius B. Grumply, Olive C. Spence and Seymour Hope are all set for Hollywood to make their book 43 Old Cemetery Road a new blockbuster film! Film producer Moe Block Buster is sure to make them stars, and the movie a big hit! But all goes wrong with one signature Mr. Grumply is sure too regret. Read on Hollywood, Dead Ahead!

The trio is packing up for Hollywood where their smash hit 43 Old Cemetery Road will hope to become a topper on the movie charts. Furthermore, the rode to fame took it's turn for the worst; the group has just found out that Olive will not be incorporated in the film nor Seymour. Mr. Grumply sorrowful of his mistake promises Olive the best of their trip to L.A; but poor Ignatius couldn't keep that up. Aforementioned, Olive would not be featured in the film, though Ivana Oscar has replaced her she is singed in to a one terrible contact. Olive finds out that Ivana is signed into a death clause, therefore saying that she would have to die with natural or unnatural causes. Want to find out the rest of the ghastly story well read on in Hollywood, Dead Ahead!

Hollywood, Dead Ahead is a fantastic book! The creators are very creative with their characters and the wondrous journeys the trio takes. Their books have humor a bit of suspense as well, which keeps you engaged throughout the book. Overall, I did enjoy this book and I feel the age range of 7-12 would fit their interest level.

Review written by Arsima (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Hollywood, Dead Ahead for this review.

Have you read Hollywood, Dead Ahead? How would you rate it?

Review: Under the Light by Laura Whitcomb

Under the Light by Laura Whitcomb.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: May 2013
List Price: $8.99
ISBN-13: 9780544302945

Review: Have you ever wondered if ordinary people had the power to shift out of their bodies? To be able to roam the earth as ghosts? Well if you were wondering that, the answer is obviously yes! If you had the power to bend light or stop time would you do it? These are just a fraction of the questions you will encounter while you read this amazing book called Under The Light by Laura Whitcomb.

Now you are probably asking yourself, What? Bending light? Stopping time? That is impossible! or is it? In this magical book, a young teenage girl named Jenny faces many problems. Her mom is way too religious and her dad hates the fact that she is growing up into a woman. Throwing away preciouses artifacts such as clothes and jewelry into the black bag because her parents think that it is to adult like or inappropriate for her age is really bad luck. Even if its just hoop earrings or brown panty hoses, or a black scarf! Having such strict parents might seem like the worst thing in the world, but it is actually a good thing. She thought living was a bust and a waste of time, until Helen arrived. At first she did not know who or what Helen was, what she did know was that once Helen came, she ruined everything. What will a person do to see his or her love again? That's one question that Helen did not mind asking. A person will do anything to see his or her loved on again, even if it meant invading the space and ruining the life of a hopeless teenager that has already had enough bad luck in her life. Helen is a ghost, she needed a body to see and touch the face of her long lost loved one. After Helen takes over Jenny's body, Jenny is now left to fly the world as a spirit, not a ghost. Along the way of finding herself a spirit shelter, she notices her body jumping and dancing with another boy at ballet, but she was too heavy, but then she finally realizes, as a spirit, no boy will ever pick her up. She is abandoned, with nobody to help her find her way, nobody to guide her, nobody to help her get her body back.

This book is great for anybody enjoys reading everything about love, revenge, and fighting for your rights and your freedoms. If you like spirits, ghosts, and phantoms, this is a very good book for you too. This book has a medium level of swears and bad words that may be inappropriate or unsafe for children. In some parts of the book the main characters tend to swear in times of need or during challenging times. This book is great for teenagers and young adults, and if you don't mind the swearing, this can also be a good book for kids. If you are a parent trying to buy a book for a child's birthday and are thinking of purchasing this book, be aware of the swear content. The author who wrote this book made it very serious so if you are a childish and immature person, than this book is not the best choice for you. Float along with Jenny's scared spirit and help her get back her body. Watch over her like her guardian ghost Helen. Stand with Jenny as she fights for her rights. But whatever you do, don't let get sucked into the dark and evil void, or else she will be lost forever.

Review written by Julie (6th grade student).

Have you read Under the Light? 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: Do you love a good mystery? Well, this book is for you! It's titled Timmy Failure- Now Look What You've Done by Stephan Pastis. It's a book about a kid named Timmy who thinks he is so great- but really isn't that great.

Timmy is the main character. Timmy Failure is a kid who can never seem to get things right. He thinks he is the best detective of all time, but he's really kind of clueless. He tries for a detective contest to see if he really is the best detective. He is always focused on other things when the answers and clues are right there! He thinks he's doing great whenÉ. I would tell you who wins, but you need to read this awesome book to find out!

Personally, I really enjoyed Timmy Failure- Now Look What You've Done. It is funny and fresh. Timmy Failure- Now Look What You've Done is a good fit for kids ages 8-13. Boys and girls can both enjoy this book. This book makes people laugh, no doubt. However, I think that the plot can be a bit confusing. It is a good book, though. He always tries to be serious, but makes seriousness funny. All the elements of this story make reading it worthwhile. I recommend this book to anyone needs- and wants- and good laugh.

Review written by Alison (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?