Tag archives for Mystery
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BOOK NAME: I, Q: Book One, Independence Hall
AUTHOR: Roland Smith
What if your parents were major rock stars, had a contract signed, and were traversing the entire country performing on a tour? And what if you found out that your stepsister’s mom was a secret service agent, and you also noticed some weird creeps stalking after you? These questions are what stepsiblings Q (Quest) and Angela must come face to face with in the start of a thrilling series by Roland Smith.
Q and Angela’s parents are pop stars, and the entire family is now on a tour performing across the U.S. It seems as if nothing strange could ever occur as the family heads from city to city on a mega RV. Everything, however, changes when an old roadie (people who set up equipment during a stage performance) named Boone spontaneously appears and decides to become the family’s driver. To top that off, Angela begins to harbor strange feelings that someone is following them. That’s when Q discovers that his stepsister’s deceased mother was a former Secret Service operative who was killed by foreign terrorists. Before long, Q and Angela manage to get involved in the secretive, deadly world of intelligence and espionage, as they must encounter and deal with Israeli Mossad agents, private intelligence agencies, and the conspiracy surrounding Angela’s mother’s death. Can Q and Angela uncover the truth behind the death and reveal who the actual villains are?
IQ Book 1: Independence Hall is one of the best modern day thrillers I have ever read. Roland Smith, who is usually an expert author when it comes to nature and animals, finally takes his renowned writing career and steers it into the genre of action/thrillers. The great thing about this book is that instead of featuring just adult characters, Roland Smith is able to include characters who are young adults. As a result, this allows young readers to connect with the main characters, mainly Q and Angela, and therefore, enjoy an amazing reading experience. When Smith writes other novels, he usually enables them to bring forth an excellent plot and at the same time, enlighten readers about the phenomena of science, nature, and biology. Another laudable feature of this book is that Smith decides to put aside scientific topics and brings politics into the mix. IQ Book 1 takes a dive into the world of intelligence and counter-terrorism, political situations affecting the world today, and the hectic lifestyle of renowned rock stars. The cast of the book is a unique one filled with a variety of intriguing, interesting, and even comedic characters. Interesting characters in this book included Q (the main character), who is adept at magician skills and devouring hamburgers in three bites; Angela, whose intelligence, instinct, and coolness allow her to overcome any situation; Boone, the book guru who owns a book collection that would have made the Library of Congress seem like a simple shelf; and Israeli agent Eben, who always seems to daunt the audience with his relentless determination to accomplish a mission. The plot and humor are what certainly define the book, as readers will be hooked onto the plot and laugh at the numerous moments of humor found in abundance throughout the book. The plot, though, may seem a bit too intricate and complicated to understand at first (that’s why I had to read it more than once), but this is a Roland Smith book that you do not want to miss out on!
This book is definitely interesting for any reader out there who’s got nothing on their desk to read. On a scale of 1-10, I’d grant this book a 10.
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BOOK NAME: Rucker Park Setup
AUTHOR: Paul Volponi
This book isn’t anything like a fairy tale. It isn’t a thing like any of the other basketball books and movies I’ve seen before. Through a murder mystery, it teaches a lesson through the harsh experience of a teenage boy named Mackey.
Mackey was a boy who never got to meet his father; he died before he was born. His mother didn’t have many words of advice to give Mackey about anything, and his step-dad wasn’t much help either. His only friend was J.R., and the only person who helped guide him through life was J.R.’s dad, Stove.
Mackey and J.R. were offered a chance to play on the Greenbacks basketball team. This was not only Mackey’s dream, but J.R.’s especially. They played extremely well throughout the season, and right before they play Fat Anthony’s team in the tournament, J.R is killed. The book then focuses on who did it, how and why.
The entire book is based on foreshadowing, and some of the best I’ve ever seen too. You know that J.R. is going to be killed when reading the prologue, and that it is somehow Mackey’s fault. Once you figure out who did it and how, you will have an “Ohh… That makes sense!” moment.
All of the parts fit together really well. My favorites are when you here from the view of a different character of the book for about a page at a time, and then it goes back to Mackey’s view. It can really reveal a lot of the hidden parts of the book. I highly suggest that you read this. It teaches a great lesson, and you’ll want to read it again to look at all of the hints that it gave you about who did it.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Project Jackalope
AUTHOR: Emily Ecton
One of the most famous mythical animals is the jackalope. According to legend, jackalopes are rabbits
that sprout massive antlers. They are known to like whiskey, sing campfire songs, and wreak havoc with
their deadly deer-like appendages.
Jeremy doesn’t think anything of jackalopes, mostly just trying to earn a C- on his 8 th grade science
fair project. That’s when a live jackalope turns up in his room, courtesy of his crazy scientist neighbor,
Professor Twitchett. Not only is a make-believe creature chewing on his dirty laundry, it seems that a
bunch of shady men in suits are after Twitchett and his experiment, the experiment that Jeremy now
has. Jeremy doesn’t want the jackalope, and would gladly get rid of it, but there is something about
these men that is just too sinister.
Jeremy needs help, so he asks his know-it-all classmate Agatha for assistance. Now Jeremy, his partner
in crime, and their fuzzy little killer, are on the run. They need to find Twitchett, rid themselves of the
jackalope, and get out of this mess.
This book was pretty good. It was very funny. Jeremy incorporated his sarcastic personality into the
storyline with humorous comments and side notes. It really added to the reading experience. I found
it unique that this story made the concept of creating a jackalope somewhat believable. Through some
DNA transplants, Twitchett created an animal hybrid with the body of a rabbit and the antlers of a deer.
It was quite an interesting experiment, and was written about in such a way that it sounded nearly
doable. I enjoyed the surprising way the story concluded, although I won’t spoil any of it. This book is
short and is not overly difficult to read, so it would be good for anyone in elementary or middle school.
Want another opinion? Read Parker’s review!
BOOK NAME: Tales of the Cryptids: Mysterious Creatures That May or May Not Exist
AUTHORS: Kelly Milner Halls, Rick Spears, and Roxyanne Young
A cryptid is a creature that can’t be proven to be 100 percent real. The most famous
cryptids are perhaps bigfoot and aliens, but there are many more out there. Are you familiar
with the Kraken from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series? It turns out that it is a real
creature, except not the way you think it is. It is actually a giant squid that sailors would call
the Kraken. It wasn’t proven to exist until 2004.
Reading this book, I learned that things really can be misinterpreted. One of the cryptids
that has been spotted near Loveland, Colorado, is the Loveland Frog, which is apparently
a giant walking frog that carries a wand that sparkles. This may sound stupid at first, but
most of the sightings occurred at night, so the witnesses may have seen silhouettes from
two different figures overlapping each other. The sparkles that people say they saw from the
wand may come from the stars in the background. Because of the many possibilities that
the witness could have seen, that makes it hard to prove whether a cryptid is real or not.
There was cryptid called the Dover Demon, which looks like a classic alien from the movies
with large eyes and an oversized head. The thing is, it has only been spotted twice, both
on the same weekend. One of the witnesses took a brilliant photo of it. But if that only
happened one night, there are two ways to interpret it. First, an alien might have visited but
only for that weekend. Second, someone went a little bit crazy that weekend.
Overall, my favorite cryptid described in the book is the giant squid because they
eventually determined it was real and it’s large enough to kill a whale. I found this entire
book very interesting and highly recommend that you read it.
BOOK NAME: Project Jackalope
AUTHOR: Emily Ecton
When I first saw the cover of this book, I thought it would be boring and about talking animals with the main character being a jackalope–a jackrabbit with antelope horns. But this book really was something else.
This book reminded me of a past book that I’ve read called Boom! Both books have a kid who feels that he can’t trust anyone, and both include creepy guys in suits. One of the main differences is that Boom! went from realistic fiction to extreme sci-fi, and this book went from realistic fiction to minor sci-fi.
This book is about a kid named Jeremy who has a crazy full-grown neighbor named Professor Twitchett, who is still into the little kid spy stuff that I liked when I was in third grade. He left a jackalope that he created at Jeremy’s apartment, which immediately brought a government agency to his door. Obviously, Jeremy wasn’t big on an organization, the FBI for all he knows, chasing him, so he contacted Agatha, who knows Professor Twitchett way better than Jeremy. She panicked and said the Jackalope was her idea, and it all went downhill from there. Who knew the guys chasing them had puke-ray guns and man-eating robots? These guys never do give up!
My favorite character is Agatha because she always had a plan. I highly recommend reading this book. It will make you want to keep reading.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Midnight for Charlie Bone
AUTHOR: Jenny Nimmo
Charlie Bone always knew that his family was “Endowed”. Endowed families are certain families that have special powers. No, we’re not talking about super powers but more magical powers.
Charlie’s special power is discovered when his friend, Benjamin, is having s birthday party. Charlie decides to get a picture of Benjamin’s dog, Runner Bean, as a birthday card. He ends up getting the wrong card, though. It is a picture of a man who is holding a baby. That is when Charlie discovers that he is Endowed!
Charlie has the power to see and hear what is going on in pictures. In the picture that he is holding, the man and woman who are taking the photo are fighting about what to do with their orphan niece. The woman wants to keep her while the man does not. Charlie is very puzzled, but doesn’t know the dark secret, behind this photo.
Grandma Bone has been waiting for Charlie to get his powers. Charlie’s father was Endowed but he died in a deadly car crash, so Grandma Bone is so excited when she finds out that Charlie is finally Endowed. Grandma Bone calls her sisters over to see if Charlie is worthy to go to school at Bloor’s Academy. All Endowed children go there along with good musicians, artists and actors. Charlie is heartbroken that he has to leave his best friend Benjamin behind but on the bright side, he gets to come home for the weekends.
Charlie will meet new friends and, with the help of them and Benjamin, they will solve the mystery of the orphan girl. This book is a lot like Harry Potter and it is a very exiting book. I tore through it and I hope that you will, too. See ya later alligator!
BOOK NAME: Every You, Every Me
AUTHOR: David Leviathan
Evan is wracked with guilt. He feels responsible for the disappearance of his friend Ariel and as a result, is engulfed by waves of depression and regret almost everyday. Everything changes when Evan is walking to school one morning and discovers an envelope with a photo inside. The photo shows nothing but the exact spot he is standing on! Soon afterwards, more envelopes begin to appear with more photos of him, his friends, and even the private places where he would hang out with his friends! Evan soon begins to grow suspicious and paranoid and begins to ponder what the photos could mean. Has Ariel returned and is haunting him with photos to remind him of his actions? Or could it be someone else who’s been close with Ariel before? As Evan conducts his own investigation to reveal the truth behind the photos, he must find the photographer before he is completely trapped within the walls of lies, conspiracy, and unreality that threaten to tear him apart. Read Every You, Every Me to find out what happens to Evan as he combats the ever-growing darkness clutching at his heart!
Every You, Every Me by David Levithan was a decent book. On a scale of 1-10, I’d give it a 7.5. I think it’s unique that the author employed the photographic novel concept in his story, but the story also lacks crucial elements. For one thing, the author fails to begin to draw in the reader’s attention in the beginning/middle sections of the story and only succeeds in doing this by the near end of the book. The story was also a bit enigmatic and secretive for most of the time, as readers can’t really understand what happened to Evan’s friend Ariel during the course of the story.
However, I enjoyed the end, when the the story reaches its climactic point. The author excellently came in strong by generating suspense that would make readers be at the edge of their seats. The main character is well depicted in the story and readers get to comprehend Evan’s inner feelings throughout much of the text (even the “crossed-out” ones). For example, Evan will recall random moments with Ariel such as their eccentric, philosophical conversations and their romantic dates. This book was neat in its own way and it was the first time I had the opportunity to acquire a glimpse of a photographic novel. The plot of the book also resembled that of an epic drama.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Scat
AUTHOR: Carl Hiaasen
Hi again blog readers! This is a review of my favorite book by Carl Hiaasen, Scat. It takes place in Florida near a huge swamp. Nick is the main character. His class goes on a field trip to the swamp. In the middle of the trip, a wildfire starts so everyone flees to the bus. Mrs. Starch, Nick’s teacher, goes back to the swamp to get Nick’s friend, Libby’s inhaler. The investigators think she is gone for good until the inhaler appears in Libby’s yard. The mystery of what happens to Mrs. Starch is really cool.
One of the reasons I like this book is because some of the characters are really likable. My favorite character is Twilly. He is very, very rich and he spends his money on donating wildlife preserves. He really stands up for what he believes in and doesn’t hesitate to show it. My other favorite character is Drake. I mostly like him because he adds humor to the book. He is the manager of an oil company in the area next to the swamp. He’s kind of foolish. He set up his business in Florida just so he can run the business while he spends his time water skiing!
Scat is one of the best books I have ever read. First of all, it’s about nature which I love. Also, it’s got some mystery, some great characters, some humor, and some interesting dialogue. I think you’ll really like it too.
Want another opinion? Read Jordan’s review!
BOOK NAME: Frozen in Time
AUTHOR: Ali Sparkes
Ben and Rachel are sure that their summer is going to be horribly boring and rainy. They’ve been forced to stay with their somewhat eccentric scientist Uncle Jerome. The final straw comes when the TV, the only entertaining device in the entire house, breaks. Devastated, Rachel and Ben decide to explore the garden and woods on the property, despite the foul weather. While trudging through the mud, they unearth a secret chamber. Inside, they discover something astonishing, two children, sleeping inside of a pair of torpedo-like chambers.
When Ben and Rachel awaken Freddy and Polly Emerson, they discover that the children have been asleep for more than fifty years! Shockingly Freddy and Polly haven’t aged at all; in fact, they still believe that they are in their own time. When Ben and Rachel tell them that five decades have passed, the horrified Emerson children complain that their genius father left them in hibernation. Apparently, Mr. Emerson had found a method to preserve the human body for extended periods of time, but it seems strange that he would abandon his children while they were in a state of suspended animation. Ben and Rachel want answers, but first, they have to get Freddy and Polly used to the 21st century. As Freddy and Polly marvel at fast food, modern fashion, and internet, an agency that has been lying in wait for their revival begins to push its own agenda. They want Mr. Emerson’s secrets, and Freddy and Polly are the best way to get what they desire.
Frozen in Time was a fairly good book. It was a little slow in parts, such as when Freddy and Polly were explaining their father’s work and their old lives, or when Ben and Rachel introduced the Emerson children to twenty-first century trends and technology. The excitement picked up toward the end, when the secret organization attacked. The storyline also had some humor thrown in. Freddy and Polly’s interpretations of and reactions to 21st century life were often quite funny to read about. For example, Polly thought a website was an area full of cobwebs. I thought that the prospect of placing someone in a state of hibernation to prevent them from aging was pretty cool, and I enjoyed reading about how the process worked. The book made me wonder what it would be like if I fell asleep and woke up fifty years in the future. How would I react to the new time and all its wonders and troubles?
BOOK NAME: The Westing Game
AUTHORS: Ellen Raskin
I have got to say, this is one of the most clever books I have ever read. At the very beginning, you are introduced to so many characters, but only by name. You come to know the characters better as you read on. I suggest that you read through the beginning of the book without any interruptions to avoid confusion later and to understand each character. My favorite character is Sydelle Pulaski, who will do anything to get attention including pretending that she’s crippled by walking everywhere on crutches.
It starts with sixteen people getting a chance to buy an apartment at Sunset Towers, on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is an old hotel that most people thought went out of business because of how long it’s been since its last use. Most of the individuals were invited to the Westing House, an old building that a wealthy man by the name of Sam Westing lived in before his death, to hear the reading of his will. But this wasn’t a normal will. Westing, who was an amazing chess player, set up a game to see who should become the heir to his fortune. The answer to the game was simple: Who killed Sam Westing? But you will learn that the answer to Westing’s game is far more clever than just “Mr. Green did it in the ballroom with a revolver!”
If you like mysteries, you’re going to love this book.
BOOK NAME: Belly Up
AUTHOR: Stuart Gibbs
Hippos may not be the cutest and cuddliest of creatures. They rank second behind the Cape buffalo on the list of the most dangerous African animals. They are often ill-tempered and messy beasts. Henry the Hippo was no exception, but Henry’s special title was mascot for Funjungle, a brand-new and extremely popular zoo/theme park. Shortly after arriving at Funjungle, Henry mysteriously died.
12-year-old Teddy is determined to find the cause of Henry’s sudden and unexpected demise. Teddy is the son of a renowned gorilla researcher and expert wildlife photographer. He spent 10 years of his life in the Congo, so he knows his animals. Henry’s death may not have been from natural causes. When Teddy secretly attends Henry’s autopsy, he discovers that Henry was murdered! A small, sharp object was placed in his food, and it poked holes in his digestive tract, eventually killing him. Teddy decides to try and apprehend the perpetrator of this heinous crime. However, the case quickly gets complicated. It turns out that Henry was not well liked by many people, all of whom are possible suspects in Henry’s murder. Not only that, the real murderer wants Teddy off his/her case, immediately! If Teddy does not solve the mystery soon, he might be the next casualty!
I have high praise for Belly Up. The element of mystery regarding Henry’s death kept my interest. As the story unfolded and new clues were discovered, I kept trying to guess the culprit. In a startling twist, the real murder was someone I had never guessed. The book was also very suspenseful. The killer made several attempts on Teddy’s life throughout the story. Those parts were very exciting. I liked how the book included an element of humor. Teddy often uses sarcasm and makes many funny comparisons and points. For example, he compares one security guard’s physique to that of a rhinoceros. The story was told in first person point-of-view, which added depth to the plot. Seeing the events through Teddy’s eyes, and knowing what he heard, smelled, saw, felt, and thought made it seem as if I was experiencing the story myself.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Last Shot
AUTHOR: John Feinstein
Eighth grader Stevie Thomas is super-psyched when he finds out that he won the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s writing contest! As his prize, he gets to be a junior journalist at the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament! He is not so excited to find out that he’ll be joining another winner, Susan Carol Anderson. He doesn’t let that ruin his excitement, though, and counts down the days for he and his father to go to New Orleans for the tournament.
The big day comes, and Stevie soon arrives in New Orleans. He gets to meet many basketball reporters, and even staff from the different colleges participating in the Final Four. He meets Susan Carol, and as time passes by, he realizes that she’s not that bad. Both of them get to tour the Superdome, where the court, team locker rooms, and reporter rooms are located. They even get press credentials, which allow them to get anywhere.
As they are exploring the Superdome, they overhear someone blackmailing Chip Graber, the star player of Minnesota State University, saying that he had to lose the final game, or else… Who is the man? Why would he threaten a player? Stevie and Susan Carol are determined to solve the mystery! Through lies and even danger, they try their hardest to put the pieces together. Will they be successful?
I loved this book! I was glued to the pages from the day I started it, to the day I finished! I am not really interested in sports, but the author made everything easy to understand. This book is long and has some parts that may be scary for some people. Be sure to ask your parents before reading it. I fell in love with this book, and I hope you will, too!
BOOK NAME: Silent Stranger: A Kaya Mystery
AUTHOR:Janet Shaw
A hawk frequently circles above the woman’s head, so Kaya thinks that a hawk may be the woman’s wyakin, or Guardian Spirit. She therefore calls the woman Hawk Woman. Hawk Woman kicks and punches in her sleep, as if she’s having a bad dream. Kaya still doesn’t know what this woman is doing in their tribe.
Hawk Woman has a strange connection to Kaya’s dog, Talto. One day, she disappears with Talto, and Kaya must follow the footsteps to uncover her story. Read The Silent Stranger to find out what Hawk Woman’s story is.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved reading about the Native Americans. Their culture always fascinates me. I also love all the Native American names, which are so different from ours. They name their children according to things in nature. I find that very interesting.
Throughout the book, Kaya’s feelings change towards Hawk Woman. Kaya keeps trying to convince herself not to have bad feelings with Hawk Woman. I think this is a very important lesson. Just because a person may be strange on the outside, we should not have bad feelings towards them, because they most probably are good people.
Posted by BOOK NAME: The Strange Message in the Parchment (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, No 54)
AUTHOR: Carolyn Keene
Do you want to get involved in some detective work? Read The Strange Message in the Parchment by Carolyn Keene. This is a mystery which is part of the Nancy Drew series, one of my all time favorites.
Nancy Drew is an amateur detective who is working diligently to decipher a message in a parchment. Nancy’s friend, Junie, and her family have a parchment with paintings which they bought from their neighbor, Mr. Rocco. They need to decode the hidden message in the paintings. Nancy and Junie question Mr. Rocco about the parchment, but he keeps quiet – which is suspicious. Also, the girls meet young Tony, a worker for Mr. Rocco, who tells them that Mr. Rocco treats him cruelly and that someday he wants to find his family. Nancy’s biggest disappointment comes when the parchment is stolen. However, her picture perfect memory helps her track down the artist. Read the book to see if Nancy is successful in catching the thief and finding Tony’s family. How do the paintings on the parchment weave into the whole mystery?
Kids would love reading this book filled with endless suspense. Each chapter ended with excitement or left me hanging on a thread that I never felt like letting go of the book. Also, this book is composed of couple of mysteries which are interconnected making the book more complex and interesting to read. The way the clues are put together, I myself felt like a detective trying to solve the case. So pick this spine-tingling book off the library shelf and start reading.
BOOK NAME: Atlas’ Revenge: Another Mad Myth Mystery
AUTHOR: Robyn DiTocco
Imagine if you had to fight ferocious monsters and battle evildoers while attempting to save the world all at the same time! For PJ Allen, that is exactly what he has to do. This task becomes daunting at times. PJ appears to be a typical college student in California. If you didn’t include his recent adventure involving the Olympian Gods, Titans, and Medusa, his life mainly revolves around college life. Out of the blue, PJ is called upon by the messenger god, Hermes, requesting that PJ aid the Olympians again! He told PJ that Atlas, the Titan who holds up the heavens, is missing. Hercules is holding up the sky in Titan’s place, but cannot bear its weight much longer. The messenger also reveals that Hercules’ Twelve Labors need to be accomplished in order to save innocent people from deadly beasts. PJ must complete these tasks in Hercules’ place. In addition, he must find where Atlas is hiding and restore him to his rightful place before Hercules falls. PJ must also choose between his ex-girlfriend and his new girlfriend. Little does PJ know that one the girls is the mastermind behind the disappearance of Atlas.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It had just the right amount of suspense and humor. For example, PJ must battle powerful foes, but still manages to find humor in the situation. The plot was both exciting and entertaining. I also like the fact that you can learn a little about Greek mythology, such as the names of the Greek gods, monsters, and other beings from the book. This story nicely blended fact and fiction. Many of PJ’s close friends actually turned out to be mythical beings. I encourage you to read the book and uncover the answers.
Posted by Beginning on April 4, kids will be able to participate in an 8-week online-offline mystery game called VANISHED. The game, developed and curated by MIT’s Education Arcade and the Smithsonian Institution, includes puzzles, real-world museum challenges, and sample collecting. Players will race to solve an environmental disaster mystery by using real scientific techniques. Do you think you have what it takes to play the game and solve the mystery?
The game is open to players across the United States, and registration begins this week. Visit http://vanished.mit.edu if you’d like to join in!
Learn more about VANISHED on the game’s website.
Want to find out if a museum near you is participating? Check out the list of affiliate museums on the Smithsonian Affiliations blog.
BOOK NAME: The Mystery at Disney World
AUTHOR: Carole Marsh
Christina, Grant, and their grandparents were getting ready for their first day at Disney World. Just as they were ready to leave for the park, they were greeted by Mick and Crystal, who were going to give them a personal tour. When they got to the park, the kids and grandparents parted. Mick and Crystal would be giving Christina and Grant a tour, and their father would be giving the grandparents a tour. To keep in touch with their grandparents, Christina and Grant were given walkie-talkies. “Stay on channel twelve,” their grandmother said. “That way you can stay in touch with us.” Grant then decided to change the channel to thirteen. “Then we won’t bother them with our talking,” he said. Christina agreed.
But it wasn’t such a good choice. Christina started getting weird messages on her walkie-talkie. As they went on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, Grant disappeared! When they got off the Haunted Mansion ride, Crystal disappeared! And as they exited Mickey’s house, Mick disappeared, too! Now Christina was left to find them all before the fireworks at 8:30!
The Mystery at Disney World is a great book. It’s appropriate reading for all ages. Carole Marsh used real places and real people which make it seem so… real! This was the third time I read the book, yet I never get tired of it. Every time I read it, I can never put it down. For people who have been to Disney World, like me, reading this book is so cool because you know exactly what places they’re talking about. And if you haven’t been to Disney World, I think you’ll know the next place you want to go for vacation.
BOOK NAME: Dweeb
AUTHOR:
By Aaron Starmer
Five 8th grade students, all geniuses in some kind of way, are accused by their school’s mean assistant principal, Snodgrass, of stealing money from a bake sale. The book is all about how they get out of this problem, and it’s quite amazing. The students are Denton, the negotiator; Wendell, the computer whiz; Eddie, the athlete; Elijah, the writer; and Bijay, the performer. Snodgrass locks them in a room under the school and forces them to study for the hardest test on Earth. To escape, they use a hole in the wall full of toilet pipes, a pile of computer scraps, and a Sudoku puzzle that is impossible to solve. (Don’t ask. You’ll have to read the book to believe it.) It ends with a maniac nurse on the loose trying to take over all students’ minds.
This book was so exciting at times that I read it for hours before my Mom would tell me to so I could get other things done. If it didn’t end with a such a cliff hanger, this would be a perfect book. It would make a great movie. I can only explain it as a book full of untold mysteries that are constantly being solved and created. You should read it.
Posted by BOOK NAME: The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn
AUTHOR: Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler
Seikei dreams of becoming a samurai, but he knows his fate cannot be like one of a samurai. Being a tea merchant’s son, he is expected to grow up and inherit his father’s trade. Living life by one day at a time, Seikei becomes familiar with the tea his father sells and almost gives up on his dream of being a samurai. Soon after, a ruby sent to the shogun (the military governor of Japan) is stolen by a ghost. Being the only witness, Seikei is required to assist the famous samurai magistrate, Judge Ooka, in his adventure to find the thief and return the ruby.
The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn is a book apart of the “Sleuth Puffin” group so it’s a mystery/adventure. This book was one I was to read for school. In full honesty, I read the summary on the back which covered most of the whole story like the paragraph above and I deeply sighed. A Japanese boy with a dream. A dream that couldn’t come true. Then something gets stolen and he has to help. So typical, right? After the second chapter in this book I kept reading and reading. I loved it so much! The storyline is admittedly common, but the authors, Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler, dazzled up the plot and the whole story came alive. No inappropriate content and a fabulous story! I suggest it to reading levels of 3rd grade and up!
BOOK NAME: Middleworld (Jaguar Stones Trilogy Book One)
AUTHOR: Jon and Pamela Voelkel
Hi guys, it’s me again. This time I got an action packed adventure book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s called Middleworld. It’s about a boy named Max (which is short for Massimo) whose parents are archeologists and go to San Xavier because of a very important dig. They wouldn’t let Max come, but the housekeeper was told to buy Max a ticket to San Xavier. That’s when the adventure kicks in.
Max flew in to stay with his Mom and Dad but they couldn’t come to pick him up so they sent one of their workers, Oscar. Oscar brought Max to a bus that took him to the place where his Uncle Ted would pick him up. His Uncle works in the banana business. This is the start of Max’s adventure of a lifetime.
On his adventure to find his parents he meets a few friends, including Lola, who is Mayan and lives in the jungle. Lola’s eccentric friend was working with Max’s parents when they disappeared. Lola’s friend said that his parents got transported to the Mayan Underworld.
You may be wondering about the Jaguar Stones mentioned in the title. Well, there are five of them and they all have powers that are very strong. They can even heal themselves if they get chipped or broken. There are five pyramids that the stones belong in. Each stone has a matching pyramid. A long time ago there were five kings and each one had a stone. The stones were lost and some people have them and are trying to keep it a secret.
Max is trying to find the stone that will help him get to the Underworld and find his parents.
This book has action, adventure and a little bit of mystery. This is one of the best books I’ve ever done a review on. I recommend this book for everyone.
Bye ’til next time!
Posted by BOOK NAME: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
AUTHOR: Wendy Mass
Welcome to the book club meeting! This week, we are finished reading Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. If you’ve finished the book, let’s get started.
We’re still looking for suggestions for future books to read! If you have a book you’ve been itching to read and talk about, leave the a comment with the title.
If you have finished the story, click “See More” to get to the discussion.
If you haven’t read that far yet, stop here!
BOOK NAME: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
AUTHOR: Wendy Mass
Welcome to the book club meeting! This week, we are continuing to read Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. Have you read through chapter 15? Let’s get going!
If you have read through chapter 15, click “See More” to get to the discussion.
If you haven’t read that far yet, stop here!
Last chance! Spoilers ahead!
Read the whole post »
BOOK NAME: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
AUTHOR: Wendy Mass
Welcome to the book club meeting! This week, we are continuing to read Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. Have you read through chapter 10? Yes? Then let’s get started!
If you have read through chapter 10, click “See More” to get to the discussion.
If you haven’t read that far yet, or if you’re still looking for a copy, stop here!
Read the whole post »
BOOK NAME: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
AUTHOR: Wendy Mass
Welcome to the book club meeting! This week, we started Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. It’s another mystery, but the tone’s a bit lighter than our last book. If you’re ready to talk about the book through chapter five, let’s get started!
If you have read through the first five chapters, click “See More” to get to the discussion.
If you haven’t read that far yet, or if you’re still looking for a copy, stop here!
Read the whole post »
Posted by BOOK NAME: Holes
AUTHOR: Louis Sachar
Holes seems to be commonly used as a school book that the whole class reads at the same time. I read this book in 4th grade and now I’m reading it again in 6th grade. It is an amazing book and I especially love the simple yet enticing title. While reading this for class, I was supposed to read until Chapter 7, but I accidentally read the whole book! It is a real page turner and very creative.
Holes can be a grueling book. It is about some juvenile delinquents digging holes every day in the bed of a dried up lake. They are called “campers” and have a choice between Camp Green Lake or jail. Sounds like a lovely time, right? I love the strange connections in the book. They talk about the dreaded yellow spotted lizards (by the way they are very important to the story). These strange lizards are supposed to be Gila monsters.
Well this story is mostly focused on one specific camper called Stanley Yelnats. If you have sharp eyes or have already read the book then you would know that his name is spelled the same forwards and backwards! This camper has been convicted of a crime he did not commit and was sent to Camp Green Lake. He knows there is something fishy going on that involves the Warden (the Warden is the boss of the camp) and that they’re not just digging for character, they are really looking for something. Overall this is a book to remember–10 out of 10! The unique setting, phrases and dialogue will intrigue you and make you remember this book for a long time.
