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by Marcia Thornton Jones

Logan has been looking forward to getting a pet since his parents promised him one. But there's a change of plans when Logan's grandfather moves in with the family, bringing with him a ton of problems. Pretending to be a bird, picking somebody else's petunias naked-Logan's parents decide they don't have time for a pet, too. Logan is devastated.

Then his life takes another turn for the worse when new girl Emily Scott, the snot, decides it's her life's work to make Logan miserable. She'll do anything to get him into trouble. Which really hurts, because Logan's parents have agreed to really get him his pet if he doesn't stir up trouble for two weeks. That goal becomes a million miles away, especially when Logan gets mad at Emily when she writes-and reads-her piece about how not to be a ratfink, and puts in examples that obviously describe Logan as one. Even so, he manages to get down to one last day of the two weeks.

There's one problem. The snot is blackmailing Logan with an embarrassing photo his grandfather refused to delete, and Logan has to choose: face everybody laughing at him, or betray his best friend's biggest friend and admit that Emily is right, he is a ratfink.

The next day is school carnival day, the last day before he can get a pet, and the day Logan has to decide. But there may be something Logan hasn't thought about before...and the ending of this tale may not be what you'd expect.

Rating: 4.25

Genre: Humorous Fiction/Realistic Fiction

Ages Recommended: 9-11

Kaza Kingsley

When Erec Rex’s mother mysteriously disappears, Erec, naturally, is worried. Then he gets a cloudy thought—a mental command he has no control over that forces him to do something. So far, all of Erec’s cloudy thoughts have helped someone, but this time Erec isn’t sure it’s the right thing to do. (Still, it’s not like he has a choice.)

The cloudy thought takes him to Grand Central Station, where he asks passerby if they have seen his mother. It seems that nobody has, until he finally gets a lead.

He ends up traveling with—and quickly becoming friends with—Bethany Evirly, who tells him where his mother has gone. They journey to an underground realm called Alypium, where flying and magic are considered normal and the castle is turned on its side.

Erec’s only goal when he enters Alympium is to save his mother, no matter what. But he has some questions for his mother, who is suspiciously avoiding answering them. On top of that, Erec doesn’t know who he can trust, besides Bethany. And at the same time, he’s entered into a contest (with a huge reward) next to cheaters.

Yet amidst dragons, thieves, sirens, bullies, kings, queens, and scepters, Erec may just play a bigger part in this brand-new world than he thinks he does, and his adventures are just beginning.

Rating: 4.5

Genre: Fantasy

Ages Recommended: 10-14

Gitty Daneshvari

Meet Garrison: your typical hansome jock. But he's unusual in one way-at the thought of a stream, he breaks out in a sweat. And Madeleine: her car has to be fumigated every few hours to make sure there aren't any bugs, she always wears a veil, and would be terrified with a leaf touching her face. Then there's Theo, who makes his family text him every hour-alive or dead. And lastly, Lulu, who threatens a burly security guard so she can go up the stairs instead of the elevator.

They all have extreme phobias-of water, bugs, death, and enclosed spaces-that cause their lives to be twisted and turned to accommodate them, and it seems the problem is irreversible. Yet there is one last chance: the secretive School of Fear.

Their teacher, Mrs. Wellington, is a bit strange. But when she unexpectedly-dies?-the kids are worried all the same. And then something else happens. Mrs. Wellington gives almost all her money to her dog.

With someone who doesn't deserve it trying to snatch the dog, Garrison, Madeleine, Lulu, and Theo go on a quest...of sorts...to retrieve the dog and return it to who really deserves it. But Mrs. Wellington may have had more than a few tricks up her sleeve...

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

Genre: Adventure/Realistic Fiction

Ages Recommended: 10-13

Maiya Williams

Mitch Mathis doesn't own a television. He hasn't seen Star Wars. So how did someone like him end up being famous-for a TV commercial?

It all started on Mitch's first day at a new school. See, Mitch moves often, so he has one rule for starting a new school: DON'T STAND OUT. But then he finds out that almost everybody in his class has something to do with the media: been in a commercial, dad's a director, mom's a stunt double-and Mitch figures out that he might have to change his rule in a school named after a famous movie director.

Determined to fit in to his new surroundings, Mitch goes to an audition for a small part in a commercial. He messes up-and ends up getting the part! But just when Mitch is starting to think that this is the life for him, something makes him not so sure. He realizes he's been really selfish and hasn't paid attention to the people he cares about. But he loves acting, he really does! Now Mitch is faced with a dilemma: filming or friends?

Rating: 4.5

Genre: Realsitic Fiction

Ages Recommended: 10-13

by Jason McCammon

When Bomani's older brother Mongo saves the kingdom of Ufalme from a vicious lion, it's the last straw for Bomani. He's always being compared to his older brother by other people, and his worst fear is that his father will think the same way, deeming him unworthy of being the next king. So when he overhears the king talking to the royal gardener, and the idea is proposed, Bomani goes for it. It's foolish and dangerous, but Bomani needs to prove himself-to his father, to his brother, to his kingdom, to himself-and show everyone he is good as Mongo.

Ufalme is having a terrible drought, and the crops are failing. The idea is: the gardener spoke of a scepter, the Ifa Scepter, that helped renew bonds with the gods, making the crops succeed and the drought vanish. So Bomani secretly runs off to the Forbidden Expanse, with a stolen map to the scepter. But there's something he didn't count on. Farra, a talkative sorceress who Bomani meets before even getting out of Ufalme, begs to join his quest to deepen the bond she has with Pupa, her young wolf. And nothing will stop her. So together they venture into the Forbidden Expanse.

They'll have to face ogres, strong magicians, and a temple where few come out alive with only a few magical runes and some bandages. They'll need strength of mind, heart, and body to take the scepter from evil Hatari, who has it. Many unknown challenges will await them. Together, can they save the kingdom? Or is it too much for Farra and Bomani?

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Ages Recommended: 10+

by Gordon Korman

Savannah Drysdale is crazy about animals. She has at least twenty of them, ranging from dogs to rabbits to--a capuchin monkey? And she knows more about animals than any zookeeper. So when her monkey, Cleo, is missing, she's devastated. Then at school, Savannah and her friends go on a field trip to a zoo on a boat called All Aboard Animals. Normally, Savannah would be ecstatic to go to a zoo, but not this time. The owner of All Aboard Animals is a greedy man who only cares about money. He treats the animals like they're not important--just money-making tools. So Savannah is annoyed at the owner, named Mr. Nastase. But when the final exhibit is shown, Savannah is wild with anger. The final exhibit is Cleo! Since everyone knows Savannah is the best animal expert, they all agree that if Savannah says it's her monkey, it's her monkey. But cruel Mr. Nastase won't give his monkey away, because it's the main attraction. Luckily, Savannah's friend Griffin Bing is "The Man With The Plan" who's already helped retrieve a stolen Babe Ruth card and is the expert at making plans. So they plan Operation Zoobreak: a complex plan including a technological genius and possibly their worst enemy...but, as things always do, things go wrong.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Animal Fiction

Ages Recommended: 10-12

by Ann Haywood Leal

Harper Lee Morgan, natural poet, is about to be evicted from her house. It's not her fault, either. It's her father's, who walked out after drinking too much and spending too much, leaving them with tons of bills and nothing to pay them with. But even when Harper tears down the notices on their front door, it's not enough to stop their heartless landlord. She moves all the furniture out of their house and locks it up.

Suddenly homeless, Harper and her mother and younger brother Hemingway have to live somewhere. They spend a few nights in a cheap motel, but after a few days can't even afford that. Harper's mother loses job after job, and Harper has to stay home from school to take care of Hemingway. That wouldn't be much of a problem--Hemingway is an okay sibling. But the school poetry contest is coming up, and if she can't get her poems approved by the teacher she can't compete. Just when everything seems as complicated as it can get, more things enter the big picture: neighbors, enemies, houses, a potential friend, and even less money. What can Harper do?

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Realsitic Fiction

Ages Recommended: 10-12

by Gennifer Choldenko

12-year-old Moose Flanagan already has a hard life, because he has to care for his older sister Natalie, who has mental problems seemingly unsolvable at that time. But things get worse when Moose and Natalie's father is hired by Alcatraz Prison as a guard and electrician! Suddenly Moose is surrounded by murderers, cons, and almost every other type of criminal he can imagine. Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly, two of the most dangerous men in the world, are separated from Moose by a mere fence! And there are only a few other kids on the island with Moose and Natalie, one of whom is Piper Williams, the warden's daughter who is sweet around grownups but not to Moose and lies to her father to get out of trouble.

So Moose is pretty overwhelmed with all this, and then he has to take care of Natalie almost 24/7 because his mom teaches piano. Yet Moose has hope: Natalie is testing into Esther P. Marinoff, a school for children with mental problems. But when Natalie fails the test--twice--Moose is ready to give up hope. He just has one more idea. Moose secretly sends a note to Al Capone, asking him to help get Natalie into Esther P. Marinoff. But what can a man (even the worst criminal in the world) locked up in prison do...?

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Genre: Historical Fiction

Ages Recommended: 9-12

by Wilson Rawls

Eleven-year-old Billy Coleman, who lives near the Ozark Mountains, has the "dog-wanting sickness". He wants nothing more than a good pair of hunting hounds. But unfortunately, his Ma and Pa have no money to spare.

So Billy takes matters into his own hands: picking berries, fishing, and doing odd jobs to earn fifty dollars (a large sum back then). He at last earns the money, and buys his own pups! Billy names them Old Dan and Little Ann.

Throughout the story, Billy, Ann, and Dan have adventures, catch raccoons, enter competitions, and sometimes even get themselves into trouble. The dogs grow and develop a strong bond with each other and their owner, for none will go hunting without the other.

Old Dan and Little Ann are soon known as two of the best hounds in the country. But can any good thing last forever?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Genre: Fiction

Ages Recommended: 10-14

by Neal Shusterman

Sixteen-year-old Blake is sensible, calm, and intelligent...which means he's exactly the opposite of his younger brother, Quinn. Quinn has rings all over his face, climbs a rollercoaster in the middle of a ride to get his hat back, and loves the thought of the car he's in exploding. So Blake is constantly chasing after Quinn...for Quinn's own safety!

But it doesn't stop there. When Quinn enters a demonic theme park and can't escape, Blake and his friends has to come save him. But each must ride seven rides by dawn before they can get out.

It's not as simple as it seems. Each ride--from a cursed hall of mirrors that changes you into a monster to a kamikaze ride with real bullets--represents a terrible fear. And ultimately, Blake has to relive the greatest secret--and the worst one--in his life to get out...if he makes it in time.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy

Ages Recommended: 10-14

by Ann Rinaldi

Oney Judge and her mother are two of George Washington's many servants. That's what they are called-servants. Yet Oney knows they are really slaves. But Oney is no ordinary servant. At a young age, she is selected to become Martha Washington's personal lady and from then on, her life is bliss...mostly. She feels part of the Washington family and develops a bond with Ms. Washington quickly. But alongside, her relationship with her mother declines until her own mother doesn't even recognize Oney.

All throughout her life, though, Oney is thinking about slavery in the back of her mind. She is encouraged by her fellow servants to take a chance while traveling with Martha Washington (in abolitionist states) and run away. She meets an ex-slave named Louise who pushes her to leave and even offers to help. But Oney hasn't decided yet...until something tips the scales.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Genre: Historical Fiction

Ages Recommended: 9-12

by Gail Carson Levine

How could a hideous girl named Aza, abandoned in a tiny inn, become the lady-in-waiting for a queen? The answer is simple-if you're in Ayortha, that is, where they treasure voices and have Sings instead of balls. That's right: Aza has one of the most beautiful voices in all of Ayortha. Yes, some would go as far to say with Aza's voice, if she was pretty she could become queen.

And then Aza gets to meet the real queen, newlywed Queen Ivi. The queen is kind and caring. Amazingly, she makes Aza her lady-in-waiting! While in the service of the queen, Aza discovers her hidden talent: she can match any voice she hears and then throw it to make it sound like an apple, a lamp--even another person--is the one talking or singing.

But there is one flaw of Queen Ivi, from foreign Kyrria. She has a voice that does not match her wondrous beauty, and fears she could be shamed for it in Ayortha. So when she discovers Aza's secret, Ivi blackmails Aza into singing for her!

Then the king is injured.

So now Aza's got to worry about His Majesty, Oscaro; Ivi using her power wrongly; the handsome prince Ijori she's fawning over, composing songs for both Ivi and herself, contemplating her ugliness, and dealing with Ivi's threats.

And something's sure to go wrong...as it always does.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy

Ages Recommended: 10-12

Note: If you liked Fairest, try Ella Enchanted by the same author.

by Carolyn Hennesy

Pandora-or Pandy-isn't a truly bad maiden. Well, it wasn't her fault she released all the evils into the world and shut in hope. Honestly, it wasn't. But....maybe it would make more sense if you knew the whole story.

Pandy was failing her class and her teacher was making horrific threats. So when the final project is coming, Pandora's not going to take the usual object, her father Promethus's liver. And she won't take her mother's exquisite jewelry from her boss, Zeus, because everybody's mom has that. (The theme is Enduring Presence of the Greek Gods and Goddesses.) Oh, no, she'll need something truly extraordinary to bring up her grade.

A bad feeling came with the box, but it went dangerously unnoticed. Pandy only saw it for what it was to her: an alpha-worthy Final Project, not a deadly weapon. She reassured herself she would be very, very, careful.

Enough chit-chat. We'll get to the point.

She wasn't.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology

Ages Recommended: 9-11

by Eva Ibbotson

The witches of Todcaster are an...unusual...bunch. There's a once-been mermaid, two twins fighting over chickens, one who can't stop turning into a table, one with manure-dirtied Wellies, and one who's not very dark. But they are all excited when Arriman the Awful, the blackest wizard ever, announces that he is looking for a witch of Todcaster to be his bride.

Although all the witches are awed, to tell the truth none of them would ever have a chance of marrying Arriman. And when a new witch comes in and says that a Todcaster resident has suddenly sold her house, everybody knows she means buisness, which is especially heartbreaking for Belladonna: the white witch who is entranced by the sight of Arriman.

But then a few things change Belladonna's chances: a boy, an actor, and--a worm?

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy

Ages Recommended: 9-12

by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson has problems. He has ADHD and can't focus. He's been going through a school a year-and being kicked out of each one. But that wasn't because he was stirring up trouble purposely. At each school, something weird has happened...Anyway-on Percy's vacation, driving with his mom and friend Grover, they get attacked by the legendary Minotaur-half human, half bull monster. What is going on? Percy, on his mom's last instructions, enters the property of a mysterious summer camp...

Percy doesn't believe that the Greek gods are real. Ares, Demeter-Pegasus, the Minotaur-they're just stories. Right?

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology

Ages Recommended: 9-12

by Jeanne DuPrau

The City of Ember is an underground city that has prospered-so far. But the lights are going out for much longer now...

Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow, in the same class at school, are coming of age and it is time to pick their jobs. But they don't get to choose jobs in Ember! Instead they pick slips of paper out of a bag. Lina gets Pipeworks Laborer-one of the most detested jobs. Lina wants to get Messenger!!! Doon picks Messenger, and-SURPRISE-wants to swap with Lina! Lina and Doon are both joyful. Then the trouble begins. The lights turn off even more. And then Lina accidentally discovers a secret that leads to her and Doon's greatest adventure ever...

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy

Ages Recommended: 10-13

by Mark Walden

Otto Malpense, age thirteen, was kidnapped and taken to the school for villainous education after creating a genius device to rewrite the Prime Minister's big speech. There he learns that he has been selected to be trained to become an evil minion! Otto needs to get off the island where the school is located and back to his home. But he quickly discovers that, in HIVE, 'leaving is not an option'. The staff has modern, cutting-edge technology and weapons, defenses and the awe filled creation, HIVE Mind, a system that watches over and protects all of HIVE. Along with his friend Wing and others, Otto devises an escape plan. Can the friends succeed in doing the seemingly impossible?

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Science Fiction

Ages Recommended: 10-13

by Michael Morpurgo

His parents having lost their jobs, Michael thinks all hope is lost. But then Michael's dad suggests that they go on the adventure they've always wanted to try: living on a boat. The family-Michael, his mom and dad, and Stella, their dog, tour the world and have the time of their lives. Suddenly disaster strikes: a large storm comes and Stella is thrown off the boat! Determined to save his dog, Michael jumps overboard!Michael is tossed around in the waves! He grabs Stella-but then realizes that there is no hope of getting back on board the boat. His soccer ball, thrown overboard with him, is his only way to float. Slowly, he and Stella paddle to a nearby island...

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Genre: Adventure

Ages Recommended: 8-10

Gordon Korman

Capricorn (Cap) Anderson has been living in a commune for all his life accompanied only by his grandmother, Rain. So when Rain is injured slipping out of a tree, Cap is forced to go to Claverage Middle School (he's usually home schooled). Confronted immediately with foreign concepts-he's never heard of pizza or checks-and voted president (at Claverage, that's the biggest dork), everyone thinks Cap is a weirdo. But their opinions might change...One thing is for sure: Cap's experience at Claverage will be one to remember-for him and everyone else.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction

Ages Recommended: 9-13

by Brandon Mull

Nate is the new kid at Mt. Diablo school, so it's a relief when he meets Summer, Pigeon and Trevor and joins their club, the Blue Falcons. One hot day, the four go to the new candy/ice cream shop in town. There they earn delicious treats in exchange for doing various chores. Then the shop owner, Mrs. White, accidentally lets something slip about "special" candy. Curious, the Blue Falcons inquire: and find themselves let in on a secret. Mrs. White can make magical candy that gives the takers superpowers! Nate, Summer, Pigeon and Trevor quickly agree to do more difficult tasks to earn the special treats-but where do they draw the line? Do they trust Mrs. White enough to steal for her?

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy

Ages Recommended: 9-11

by Gordon Korman

Dominic is a natural-born climber. Need to get out of the house from your bedroom? For Dominic, there's an easier solution then going out the door: climbing down. His brother, Chris, is already experienced on real mountains. That's Dominic's dream. So Dominic enters the Everest contest. To win, you must be able to spell out E-V-E-R-E-S-T using the letters inside SummitEnergy food and drink. Dominic gets a stroke of luck: he gets a rare V and is part of the Everest team. But he's not guaranteed a spot on the final climb team: some of them will be sent home. Does Dominic have what it takes to beat out the older climbers and earn a place on the Everest team?

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Adventure

Ages Recommended: 9-12

by Suzanne Collins

When eleven-year-old Gregor's little sister, Boots, accidentally discovers a passageway in their laundry room and goes in, naturally Gregor follows. He falls into an underground land-the Underland-and is taken to a city called Regalia, where humans live. Now Gregor just wants to go home and live his life. To tell the truth, he's a bit scared of the Regalian's neighbor bats, spiders, roaches and rats. But the Underlanders believe that Gregor is special, that he is "the Warrior" involved in one of their prophecies. At first Gregor refuses. But then he discovers that it might lead to a reward more valuable than anything else...

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy

Ages Recommended: 9-12

by Jacqueline Wilson

They have wonderful presents and a great meal. Em thinks it's the perfect Christmas! Until she walks into the kitchen at the wrong time-and discovers her dad's secret. The whole family's world is suddenly turned upside down. Dad and Mum get a divorce. Gran becomes even meaner. Mum is always crying. Vita and Maxie, Em's siblings, constantly whine. So even though she's about to crack inside, Em tries to cheer them up. But there's still one thing on her mind-and everyone else's. Will Dad ever come back to them? But the answer isn't revealed until after surprises, sorrows, and a few important trips...

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Ages Recommended: 9-11

Andrew Clements

Nick, rising fifth grader in Westfield, is...unique. He's famous for his "homework-stopper" last-minute questions in class. But Nick knows the amount of leeway he's getting is going to change. Because of Ms. Granger, the infamous fifth grade teacher. As all kids say, no one messes with the Lone Granger. So Nick tries an experiment. A few minutes before his first class with Ms. Granger ends, Nick asks ["Who says, like, dog means that furry, four legged pet?"] And Ms. Granger simply replies, "You do, Nicholas." Well, that sparks an inspiration for Nick. Before anyone knows it, Nicholas has started a school rebellion...against the dictionary.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction

Ages Recommended: 8-10

Andrew Clements

When Abby Carson gets the news that she's failing sixth grade, she's scared. How could she get left behind, away from all her friends? It's not that she can't do the work-she's plenty smart-she just doesn't. Abby skips homework for adventuring into the woods. So she comes up with an immediate plan of action. Abby meets with the teachers, does all her homework on time, and even agrees to do a special project so she won't get left behind. She picks the project randomly: and it is...become pen pals with someone in a different country. She begins corresponding to a girl in Afghanistan, excited to be hearing from someone so far away. But then she finds out about something her pen pal didn't tell her...

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Ages Recommended: 8-10

by Cornelia Funke

Meg lives alone with her father, a book-binder. A long time ago, her mother mysteriously died. She wasn't told how. So now she thinks she's normal. Until a strange man begins hanging around their house-and it turns out her father Mo knows this man! Then they have to visit their aunt's house...Meg needs the answers. It turns out that Mo can read people into and out of books. Meg can't believe it! A long time ago, before he knew of his talent, Mo read an evil minion and his cronies out of a fairytale. Now they are coming after Mo and Meg!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy

Ages Recommended: 10-13

by Susan Runholt

When Kari Sundgren's mother gets an offer for a writing job, she almost turns it down. The job will require her to travel frequently, and Gillian Sundgren has to take care of Kari. Of course, Kari is all for it. So she goes to her best friend Lucas, and together they convince Gillian to take them both with her on the trips. Well, one of Gillian's assignments is in London. They all pack and head off. One day, Kari and Lucas are visiting the National Gallery when they spot a man copying a Remembrandt painting. Suddenly Kari recognizes the man from a while ago in an art museum in Minnesota! When Kari had taken a peek at the man's canvas, he had said, "Go a-way!" Now a boy looks at the canvas. The man snarls at the boy just like he did at Kari! Is is just Kari, or does "Gallery Guy" have something to hide?

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Mystery

Ages Recommended: 9-12

by Cornelia Funke

Bo and Prosper, two orphan brothers, have run away from their wicked aunt to the streets of Venice, Italy. There they discover group of children living off the money that Scipio "the Thief Lord" gets selling the things that he steals. Bo and Prosper soon get used to going to sell Scipio's stolen things and living in the old abandoned movie theater. Then a mysterious man asks Scipio to steal a special wing for him. Scipio agrees, and suggests that all the orphans help. But then Prosper discovers Scipio's secret...

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction

Ages Recommended: 9-13

by Ellen Miles

Charles and Lizzie Peterson's family fosters dogs. They take in abandoned canines for a while, train and support them, and then help find them the perfect homes. It's a difficult job, but dog lovers Charles and Lizzie think the work is definitely worth the reward of almost having a dog for a little. Each time they meet a dog they want to foster, Mom needs some convincing, but that's not hard. Together, Charles, Lizzie and their mom and dad help the dogs they foster find the perfect "forever home". But can they save every stray they come across?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Genre: Animal Fiction

Ages Recommended: 7-9

by Kate Saunders

When a new girl, Staffa, joins Jane's class, even kind Jane has to admit Staffa's very--different. She wears out-of-date clothing and uses the strangest vocabulary! But, feeling bad for Staffa, Jane invites her over-and soon finds that Staffa is surprisingly comfortable with her six brothers: 'shouting orders and throwing clods of dirt'! The girls begin to become good friends, and Staffa invites Jane on a short trip. Eagerly Jane accepts, and the trip starts out perfectly. Jane gets her own bathroom and is bought tons of new clothes-heaven for Jane, who has had boys' hand-me-downs forever. But sooner or later, Jane will have to find out some things Staffa hasn't been telling her...

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy

Ages Recommended: 8-9

by Ellen Raskin

The Westing Game begins with odd elements: a non-existant man selling houses, a senior delivery boy, a corpse in an old mansion. The sixteen tenants of Sunset Towers, specially selected, are called together, each being told they were an heir of rich and famous Samuel Westing. But they seem to have nothing in common: a pretty bride, a maid, a brat, a doctor, a lawyer, a doorman, a runner, two cripples, one who can't speak English, and two crabby restaurant owners. Separated into pairs, each team begins the seemingly impossible task. And not too much later, most of them are convinced that Samuel Westing, who is dead, was crazy. His will seemed like nonsense.

But sometimes things aren't what they seem.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Genre: Mystery

Ages Recommended: 9-11

Written by Michael Buckley

Storyline

In this amazing novel, sisters Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, descendants of the famous storytellers the Brothers Grimm, go to live with their grandma, Granny Relda, and her "bodyguard," Mr. Canis. Older sister Sabrina tries to convince happy Daphne that the old woman is a loon. But soon both sisters realize something-fairy-tale characters, also known as Everafters, are everywhere they go. Mr. Canis, Granny Relda, and Sabrina and Daphne uncover mysteries in hope of catching the Scarlet Hand, the group that has taken the sisters' parents.

Why should you read this book?

This book should be #1 on your list. I love it because it's a great twist of fact and fiction. The action-filled plot makes you want to read more, and when you do, more mysteries are at the Grimms' hands. Then when they solve the mysteries, WHAM, more problems to solve. I also like the Everafters. Their unusual characteristics make some seem nice-but some seem evil.The last thing I love about this series is that it never ends like a fairytale. There is no "happily ever after". like other books. Evil keeps on coming up and the Grimms still have to win a battle.

Book Reviews Coming Up

- Maximum Ride (series) by James Patterson

- Gone (series) by Michael Grant

- Boys Without Names by Kasmira Sheth

- Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins

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