The Hypnotists Hypnotists #1 by Gordon Korman Adventure Science Fiction Supernatural Review #1 Jax Opus’s family is one of the most powerful families of Hypnotists in the world, and Jax doesn’t even know it until he meets Dr. Elias Mako, who wants to teach Jax to use his power. But what will Dr. Mako use Jax’s powers for – good or evil? And when he finds out, will Jax join him or not?
The Island Stallion by Walter Farley Adventure Fantasy Mystery Thriller Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) It all started when people came by boat to the Azul Island. They were hunting for horses and a stallion. They would use a bull whip to break the horses and the stallion in. But the man on the boat got separated. By nightfall it was too dark, so they camped out, when they suddenly came across … Read more
El Deafo by Cece Bell Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction Recommended for readers 4th grade and up * * * * Stars (Great!) Have you walked around with your eyes closed to see how it would feel to be blind? Think about what it might be like to be deaf. What would you miss hearing? Music? Television shows? Voices of family, friends, teachers? Take a look at El Deafo by Cece Bell. In this graphic novel, the author/artist tells … Read more
Christmas After All: The Diary of Minnie Swift Dear America series by Kathryn Lasky Historical Fiction Review # 1 * * * * Stars (Great!) I love how this book is combined with history. The Great Depression was a very hard time, and this book describes some of the hardship very well. I am overjoyed to have books like this one. Without them, we wouldn’t be interested in our history. And before we know it, … Read more
Diamond Willow by Helen Frost Novel in Verse Realistic Fiction Review # 1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Diamond Willow is about a girl named Diamond Willow who loves dog sledding. But, when her lead dog (Roxy) gets badly hurt because of Willow, her world changes. Will Willow be able to save Roxy or will there be one less dog on their team?
The Grimm Conclusion Companion to A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz Adventure Fantasy Review # 1 * * * * Stars (Great!) This book is a really great book. It has some of the characters and settings from the other two books. There is one part where it’s really confusing, but you then understand it. This book is really good, but not my favorite of the whole series.
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick Adventure Realistic Fiction Review # 1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Freak the Mighty was an interesting book with a tall boy named Max and a tiny boy named Kevin (or Freak). Freak has a disorder and was told he would not live a long life, but was abnormally intelligent. Through this book, these two boys become best friends and go on quests and adventures together. Sadly, at … Read more
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate Fantasy Review # 1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) I liked this book because it was about a gorilla named Ivan. One of his friends is a dog. I love dogs. The dog’s name is Bob. In this story he talks about how it’s not easy being a gorilla. He has a best friend named Stella and when she was in the circus, they chained … Read more
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Wimpy Kid #9 by Jeff Kinney Funny Illustrated Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Greg Heffley’s mom has the brilliant idea of taking an educational family road trip after she reads about it in a glossy issue of “Family Frolic” – her favorite magazine. It’s pretty much a disaster from start to finish. The Heffleys have crammed everyone and everything into their van and … Read more
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm Science Fiction Tween – grades 5-8 * * * Stars (Pretty good) Ellie, sixth-grader, takes it in stride when her grandfather – who has cultured the elixir of youth from a heretofore unknown jellyfish – comes to live with her and her mother after being arrested for breaking into his own lab. Because his elixir works. And he’s now the same cantankerous and opinionated old man (who loves Chinese … Read more