Rose Kent Vist

I had lunch with an author! Rose Kent, the author of Rocky Road and Kimchi and Calamari came to my school. I have read both of her books, and I loved them. Rose talked to us about her journey and how she got to be a writer. It really inspired me. I learned about how hard it really is to be a writer. Its not just a walk in the park! A few days after she talked to my class about writing, a few people and I got invited to have lunch with Rose! She asked us about her writing and gave us advice. It was so cool! She talked to us about how to continue with our writing and to not give up. I will be writing reviews on Rose's books, so stay tuned! Here is the link to Rose Kent's website- http://www.rosekent.com/index.html.
If you read her books tell me what you think!

My Life in Pink and Green by Lisi Greenwald

Twelve-year old Lucy helps out at her family's drugstore. Things are not like they used to be, back in the day. The drugstore used to busy and lively. Now people want to go to the big chain stores. This has really affected the drugstore. Her mom and grandma might even have to sell the store, or their house! One day at the store the local homecoming queen walks in.  She is having a very bad hair day. Lucy offeres to help, she knows what she's talking about. She makes the homecoming queen look better than ever. Soon more people want Lucy to do their makeup. While this is going on, Lucy is going through crushes and a best friend. Is her makeover business enough to save the drugstore? Will her family be able to trust a seventh-grader?

I thought My life in Pink and Green was a really good book. I liked how the main character was twelve--I am too, so I feel like I could relate to her. I liked how in the begining of each chapter there was a beauty or business tip. I learned some stuff by reading this. This book was very interesting and had a good plot. It was a little slow at times but I still liked it. Most of the time it grabbed your attention and you wanted to know what happened next. I liked it so much I read it in two days! I could imangine this happening in real life, it is really realistic. This is a great book that you should read. Tell me what you think!

I'm Back!

Hey guys, sorry I have not written a post latley! I am really busy with school, friends and everything else. But I promise that you will be seeing many more book reviews! Stay posted!

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Raina is a normal 6th grader. Well that's what she wants to be. While racing back to her house from Girl Scouts, with her friends, Raina takes a very bad fall. A fall so bad that it knocks out her two front teeth.  She has to go through braces (a few times), surgery, headgear, and a retainer with fake teeth! Her friends are making fun of her while going through all this. They tell her to lighten up and chill when she gets mad, but they're not being very friendly. And then there are boys. While going through all this Raina realizes her true self and what she loves.

Smile was a great book. When I first got this book I was really surprised when I opened it up. It's a graphic novel! I don't really read graphic novels so this was a change for me. I really liked it!! I liked how this book is like a timeline, it starts when Raina is in 6th grade and ends when she's in high school. I also liked how this book was a true story. I could really connect with the book because I knew this really happened in real life. This was a great book!! If you are looking for something different to read, this is the book for you!!

The 39 Clues- The Emperor's Code by Gordon Korman

Amy and Dan know they are good. Even though they are in the worst Cahill branch, they know they are good. They make a shocking discovery about their parents, that doesn't go along with what they think about themselves. When Amy tells Dan something she thinks about their parents he runs away. In China, by himself. This makes Amy go crazy. How will she find Dan in China??? She has to find him...but she also has to find the next clue. Which one will she choose?

The Emperors Code was a great book. This book was different from many of the other 39 Clues books. In most of this book Amy and Dan were separated. Every chapter or so it would go back and forth from what Dan was doing to Amy. One of Amy and Dan's family members were in a lot of this book. In the other books he wasn't there a lot so it was nice to learn about a new character. Like all the other books, there was a lot of details and I learned a lot about history. This is a great book!

The 39 Clues - In Too Deep by Jude Watson

Amy and Dan head to the Land Down Under to figure out what their parents knew about the 39 Clues. Following their parents brings up more and more memories for Amy. Some are so bad she can't share them with anyone...not even Dan. Amy and Dan know they can't trust anyone, and right now they they don't know who is a enemy and who is a friend. They don't even know if they can trust each other. This leads them to a terrible mistake and the death of someone who they once thought was a enemy.

I thought The 39 Clues - In Too Deep was a good book. There was a lot of drama in this book because Amy and Dan don't know who they can trust and someone helps them, and dies helping them. I felt bad for Amy in this book because she kept having these flashbacks about different things that happened before her parents died in a fire.  She knew they would scare Dan but she wanted to tell him. She was stuck in a uncomfortable  position. I also felt bad for Dan because he is still a kid and taking this all in was hard for him. He was always trying to act fine and tough but really he was just really scared at some points. This book was really good, you should read it!

The 39 Clues - The Black Circle by Patrick Carman

A telegram brings Amy and Dan to Russia and away from Nellie, their au pair. The telegram leads them to uncover a stolen treasure by the Nazis and to find out the truth about the murder of the last royal Russian family. Amy and Dan still don't know if they can trust the person who signed the telegram, NRR. They start to get skeptical about whether this is a trap or not. Will Amy and Dan risk anything to find out what really happened the night their parents died?

I thought the book The 39 Clues - The Black Circle was a great book.  As soon as I read the cover I immediately wanted to read the book. I wanted to know everything about what really happened the night Amy and Dans parents died. This book had a lot of suspense. I wanted to know if they were being set up or if this NRR person was really going to help them. Amy and Dan start working with Hamilton Holt, one of their cousins, so it was nice meeting another character in the book and seeing what he was like. If you liked all the other 39 Clues books you will love this one.

Nice and Mean by Jessica Leader

Sachi is a very nice girl. In fact she was voted "nicest" in a poll. She doesn't care if she's not wearing the latest trends and she's a good student. On the other hand, Marina is the mean one. She is always wearing make up and she does wear the latest trends. Both girls decided to take video class, for different reasons. One the first day Sachi and Marina are forced to be partners and make a video together. They both have different ideas and different styles. Will sisters, friends, family and drama ruin their their video class experience?

I thought Nice and Mean was a great book. There was lot of drama in this book. Things that would really happen  in real life happened in this book, so it was realistic. I liked Sachi. She was really nice. I felt bad for her because her parents are really strict and all they care about is Sachi and her sisters getting a good education. She could never got to go out with friends and her parents didn't want her taking video in the first place! I also felt bad for Marina's "friends." She was really mean to them and she always wanted them to do things her way. I liked how this book went back and forth on the chapters. The first chapter is Marina talking and the next is Sachi. It went back and forth like that and I liked it because I saw both their points of view on different things. This is a great book!

The 39 Clues - Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson

Amy and Dan are ready to move on. They have just been abandoned by their uncle, and betrayed by their cousins, but the worst part of it all is they barely know where to go next.  All they know is to go to Egypt and soon they are on their way. When they get to Egypt they get something that they thought would never happen - a message from their dead grandmother, Grace.  Amy and Dan turned to Grace after their parents died in a fire. When she died they felt abandoned. Now they know she was hunting for the clues too, and she might be able to help them. Could it be a lead to the next clue, or a trick from one of their deadly relatives?

I thought the book The 39 Clues - Beyond the Grave was a good book. They're in Egypt now, so it was cool. Amy and Dan met a lot of new people,so they have more people to be suspicious of. They had to go into Tombs and Dan had asthma so it was scary at times because you thought something might happen to him. I like how Grace was talked about in this book. They were following her lead and talking to the people she has met before, so Amy and Dan learned more stuff about her. Over all this was a good book!

Canterwood Crest- Take the Reins by Jessica Burkhart

Sasha Silver and her horse are new to Canterwood Crest Academy. This boarding school is so different from her old school and their stables. Everything is bigger and better, and school is a lot harder. One group of girls decides that they don't like Sasha the minute they meet her. Is it because she is a better rider, or because she's smarter? Well, whatever it is this group is out to get her. Sasha doesn't even know anyone at this school, and she has a dorm she has to share with a stranger. That means no parents to save her if anything happens. Will Sasha survive the first day, and all the others?

I really liked the book Canterwood Crest- Take the Reins. Sasha is always riding her horse in this book so sometimes you learn different things about riding, which I thought was cool. There were good details in this book. My favorite character is Paige, Sasha's roommate. Paige is always worried about school but she is really fun and a good friend to Sasha. Paige is a great cook and she is always making good food. She's from New York City so she has a great sense of style. Sasha has to deal with some of the mean girls in this book, so I felt bad for her.  But she had Paige which was good. This book was a easy read but over all I thought this was a good book.

Checking In

Sorry that I haven't been reviewing books for a while but I just wanted you to know that I'm still here. This summer has been very busy with camps, going out and all that other stuff you do in summer. I have a lot more good book reviews for you so keep on reading! 

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

Amanda and Leo have been best friends for as long as they could remember. When they were born an old woman made their parents promise to celebrate each of their kids' birthdays together. And they did. On their tenth birthday Amanda heard Leo talking to some other guys about how he didn't want to have his birthday with her anymore and how his mom made him. Well that made Amanda really mad and she took off. A year after this she still has not talked to him .Now it's her 11th birthday and for once Amanda and Leo are not spending it together. He's having a cool party with a rock band and all she's having is a costume party. Amanda can't wait for this day to be over. But when she wakes up the next day her birthday starts all over again.

I thought 11 Birthdays was an OK book. It was different and interesting because Amanda kept on having the same day over and over again. But then it got a little boring because the same things kept on happening. It made you want to keep reading because at first you were all worried that something bad was going to happen. Amanda and someone else (if you want to know you have to read the book!!) try to solve the mystery and try to get their life normal again. The book was about making up with friends and and trying not to go crazy! I liked it because even though this book was really different it still had normal stuff kids would go through like embarrassing parents and fighting with your sister. Even though I thought this book was OK, it is still worth reading!!

The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne DuPrau

*This is the prequel to The City of Ember and The People of Sparks*

Nickie has a list of three things she wants to happen on her trip to Yonwood, North Carolina.
1. Keep Greenhaven.
Her family inherited an old mansion from her great-grandfather and she wants it to be her new home. She needs to get out of the city, where everyone is afraid that there will be war.
2. Fall in love.
3. Help the world.
She is hoping that Yonwood will be the place where Nickie can help the world.

But Yonwood isn't exactly how she imagined it. A old women had a vision of fire and the world ending. Now when the women mumbles everyone is trying to make sense of what she is saying. They think she is giving instructions of what they should do so war doesn't come. Along the way she also meets a mysterious boy who keeps snakes in his shed and a women who is trying to make the world perfect.The time of war is getting closer and closer. Can Nickie help the world? Or will war ruin all her plans?

The Prophet of Yonwood was a good book. It was different from other books I have read before. It was about God and how to help people do better in the world. It was very interesting. I really like the main character Nickie. Shes a year older than me so I felt like I could relate with her. I liked her because she was very brave, sometimes her braveness got hold of her and she would do daring things, which made the story more interesting. She was always exploring the old house and finding new things to do. She met new people and their personality types went well with the plot. I recommend this book.

Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull

Kendra and Seth are racing back to Fablehaven, a refuge for mythical and magical creatures. Their grandpa, the caretaker, needs help protecting Fablehaven from The Society of the Evening Star, a organization trying to steal a hidden artifact that holds great power. If the artifact falls into the wrong hands, it could destroy the other preserves and maybe even the world. While Kendra is learning how to use her fairy gifts, Seth is trying to learn more about Fablehaven .Will the use what they know and save the artifact form The Society of the Evening Star?

Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star was a good book. It was very adventurous and you thought the characters would die at some points. It made you want to keep on reading. My favorite character would be Kendra. In the book before this Kendra was kissed by all the fairies that live on Fablehaven. The fairies gave her powers which she had to learn to use in this book--I thought it was cool. There was lots of action in this book and it never really got boring. This book is very different. There are different mythical creatures that they describe in the book and it was fun learning about each one of them. This book was sort of a mystery, too. You ll figure it out why once you read it!! This is a book you should definitely read!

39 Clues-The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis

Dan and Amy are back again--this time the next clue leads to Japan. The only way they are ever going to get there is to team up with their uncle, Alistari Oh. Not only does he speak Japanese but he has a lot of money. Will they make an alliance, even though they don't really like their uncle? They might have to if they want the clue.....but Amy and Dan have learned they cant trust ANYONE, even their own family members. Because in their family making a alliance with other members of the family can get you killed.....

The book 39 Clues- The Sword Thief was as good as the two books before this one!! My favorite character is Amy. She is really shy and stutters so everyone thinks she is not that smart but when she comes out of her shell she is fun and really smart. She is nothing like her brother Dan, who is very brave and energetic and does things without really thinking. These two siblings are very different so it makes things more interesting when they are planning ideas or fighting. Their family members are cool, too. There are a bunch of different people who are searching for the clues too, so it is interesting when they bump into each family member because they are all so different.

Even though this book isn't very long (it was a easy read to me) I still recommend this series because it  makes you want to keep reading at all time. This book also never gets boring. In this book Amy and Dan are are with their family members most of the time. Even though they are the youngest people in the competition they are always the first ones to get the next clue. All the other family members come to them and threaten them and do other stuff to get the information out of them. I thought that was cool because kids are leading the competition. This is a great book that you should read!!

How to Find a Good Book

When looking for a book just right for you....

• Make sure you understand most of the words by reading the first chapter or two
• Make sure the print is big enough for you to read
• Read the back of the book for a brief summary and see if you like what it's about

If you cant find any good books look for books.....

• That were once movies
• That other people are reading or that are popular
• That are in a series
• That have bold titles and that stand out
• That other people have recommended

If you need any help finding a good book just comment and I will try to find a great book that you would love!!

City of Ember - The Movie

Omi recently reviewed the book City of Ember. I haven't read it, but the other night our family watched the movie together, and it was really good! Of course, the whole time the movie was on I kept asking Omi to explain things to me, since she had read the book! It was a very interesting concept--a small underground city is started hundreds of years ago after some sort of catastophe occurs on earth. The people are given a secret box with instructions on how their decendents can exit back to the surface after a few hundred years, when presumedly it will be safe to return.

But as time passes, the box is lost, and the decendents of the underground civilization are left living with an ancient, failing generator and a dwindling food supply. They have no knowledge of how they came to be there or what lies outside their city. The story focuses on two teens who are determined to solve the mystery of why they are there and how they can help their people escape. The movie has a small, low-budget feel, but is very well done and includes key roles played by stars Bill Murray and Tim Robbins. I give it two thumbs up for a solid family movie.

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

*Read this book after you read The City of Ember*

Everything looks so different when Lina and Doon lead the city of Ember out of the underground hole they have been living in. The sky is blue, bugs are flying everywhere, soft green grass goes on for miles. After walking on a dirt path for a long time they come to a city-Sparks. The people of Ember were tired and hungry. Many of them were sick or hurt. The people of Sparks agreed to take them in and help them by providing them a place to stay and food. The Emberites think the people of Sparks will help them and the problems will disappear.... but they are wrong. Soon the people of Sparks and the Emberites are fighting over everything. Violence isn't far behind and war is something both the Emberites and the people of Sparks do not need. Can Lean and Doon figure out a way to bring the Emberites and the people of Sparks together before its too late?

I thought The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau was an OK book. Sometimes I got a little bored with it and the story felt like it would never end at some points. This book was cool though because they are saying air planes and flashlights are extinct so it's in the future. I think the City of Ember was better than this book beacause it was a little more interesting. This book just had the two cities fighting in most of it but this book was still ok. In the City of Ember the plot was something I have never seen before... people living in a gaint hole underground! Even though this book had its ups and downs I still recommend this book.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Kendra and her brother Seth have never been to their grandparents house before and when the do they discover great magic. They soon find out that their grandfather is the caretaker of Fablehaven, a hidden refuge for trolls, satyrs, witches, imps, fairies and more. When Seth and Kendra get a little too curious they unleash evil forces. Kendra and Seth must figure out how to save their family, Fablehaven and maybe even the world.

I though this was a great book. The author provided a lot of detail so I could really picture all the magical creatures. The book reminded me of the Harry Potter series. It was magical and very adventurous just like  Harry Potter. I always wanted to keep on reading this book- once I got started I couldn't put this book down!! I also liked this book because it seemed real, even though I know all these things could never happen. I can't wait to read the next book in this series..... you should really read this book!!

Summer Reading List

     School is out and summer has begun!! What's a better way to kick off the summer than reading a book? Now that summer has begun, in a few days, you will see a list on the side of this blog. After I read each book this summer I will write it down on this list. I will review some of the books and if there is one that you want me to review, that I haven't already, just comment on it and I will!
     Right now I am reading a few books, The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau (read this book after you read The City of Ember, which I reviewed on this blog before). Fablehaven by Brandon Mull is another book I am reading and it is very good. The last book I am reading right now is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling. I decided to read the whole Harry Potter series over again!
     So, get ready for more book reviews this summer!

Harry Potter

There is something about the Harry Potter books.... I could just keep on reading them. I think its because there's so much in the books. Everytime I read one of the books again I see something different that I didn't notice the other times I read it. I have read the series a few times and it's totally worth reading. It's so adventures and the author provides so many details. I wish every book was like that. The setting is really cool. I mean who wouldn't want to read about a wizard going to a special magic school?? It seemed so real even though you knew it wasn't. The characters fit perfect with the setting.It was adventurous, sad,exciting and a little scary all at the same time. Its a good series to start... and read over and over again!!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen hears her sisters name get called to participate in the annual Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is when one girl and one boy from each of the twelve district's in Panem between the ages twelve and eighteen fight to death on live TV. The last person standing wins. Katniss takes her sisters place in the Hunger Games because she is worried her little sister might not be able to survive. Katniss faces many different hardships(like starvation)while trying to win the Hunger Games... will she survive?

I thought the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins as a excellent book!I couldn't stop reading it. Romance, survival, and adventure were all put together to create this great book. I never wanted to stop reading because there really never was a boring part. There were lots of details used to describe the people and places and I really liked that. I was very suspenseful because you never knew if Katniss would be  the next to die or not. Overall I think you should read this book.

Schooled by Gordon Korman

 Capricorn (Cap for short) Anderson has been living on a farm commune with his hippie grandmother, Rain. Cap has never watched t.v and has never eaten pizza. He has been living on the farm commune all his life and he is home-schooled by Rain. When Rain falls out of a tree while picking plums Cap is forced to go to public school and live with another family while Rain is in the hospital. In Claverage Middle School, its a tradition to make the biggest nerd run for class president. No one runs against that person and the biggest nerd wins. Well right when Cap Anderson walks into the school everyone knows that his weirdness will make him win the title of president. Will he fall under the pressure or be the greatest president Claverage Middle School has ever seen? 

I loved the book Schooled by Gordon Korman! I like it so much I have read it about four times. All the characters seemed so real in this book. You could just imagine this as a movie playing in your mind, because everything was so well described. The whole book wasn't just about how Cap had to get through middle school, it was also about how Cap changed other peoples lives with his hippie style. I liked how peaceful he was and how he thought he could do anything when he put his mind to it. I thought it was funny how the kids made him think there were certain things that the class president had to do, like they told Cap he had to learn everyone's name in the whole entire school. Overall this was a great book and I think you should read it! 

Books + Movies

    OK, so there are two books that I really want to be made as movies. The first one is The Clique- Best Friends For Never. I saw the first movie and thought it was really good. Most girl tweens and teens would like this movie. If you like the movie you should definitely read the series. They are sooo good, I am almost done reading the whole series. I did some research on when the movie will come out and one place said that it will be out sometime in June. I don't know if that right but hopefully it is because June isn't that far away!!
    The second book I really want to come out as a movie is The Maximum Ride Series. The books are great!!!!! I also did some research and heard the first movie is coming out in 2013!! I can't wait that long!!!!! I am almost done with the series and I heard James Patterson, the author, is coming out with another book for the series. I recommend the book, its very adventurous. The main characters are humans but they have wings and some of them have other special  powers. It is soooooo cool!!!! I can't wait for the movies!!!

Books I Need

So I still have not gotten all the books I need! People have been telling me about these other series so I had to add them to my list. Some of the books on the list are the same from the other list. Here is my new list-

39 Clues book 3- The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis
Violet in Bloom by Lauren Mcracle
Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
Tunnels by Roderic Gordon and Brain Williams
Much Ado About Anne by Heather Vogel Frederick
Circ Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan
Eleven Birthdays by Wendy Mass
The Clique book 7-It's Not Easy Being Mean by Lisi Harrison
The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau (This is the book that follows The City of Ember)

Hopefully I get these books soon!!!

The 39 Clues Book Two One False Note by Gordon Korman

*See older posts for book review on 39 Clues Book 1 The Maze of Bones*

Dan and Amy Cahill are back and this time they are looking for the second clue out of 39. There search has been taking them all over the world and right now they are in Vienna with a coded piece of sheet music that Mozart happened to have written. Dan and Amy think that this sheet of music will lead them to the second clue. Are they right or is this just another deadly trap?

I thought the book 39 Clues Book Two One Flase Note was just as good as the first one!!! I always feel so bad for Dan and Amy- they always look like they were just sleeping on the street. Sometimes they barely have enough money to stay at a decent hotel. I also feel bad for their au pair--Dan and Amy always tell her that they will be back from someplace in a hour but they usually go a hour over the time they said! The au pair, Nellie, is always worried sick and I would be, too. To make Dan and Amy seem real they are always fighting, in the first book I didn't see as much of the brother and sister fighting and now that they are, they seem more believable as brother and sister. At the end of the book there's always a cliffhanger sort of thing that makes me want to start reading the next book right away! I cant wait to get the next book! Overall, this was a great book.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Lina Mayfleet and Doon  Harrow both live in the city of Ember. Ember is in the middle of darkness. People have tried to find their way out of ember but know one has found out and come back to Ember alive. People have been living in ember for many, many, many years but suddenly things seem to be falling apart- people are running out of light bulbs, some everyday foods are becoming hard to get, and the city keeps getting blackouts. Know one knows what to do and everyone is relying on the weird Governor who doesn't know how to fix this problem much more than a child. When Lina finds a weird box with paper inside it she calls Doon for help. Lina's little sister,Poppy, chewed up most of the paper but they think they know what it is. The start to call the paper The Instructions, and Lina and Doon think The Instructions will lead them out of Ember.


The book The City of Ember was a good book. The City of Ember was a easy read for me but it might be just right or hard for others. It was adventures and the author provided good details. It had a mix of all different emotions- during some parts I felt bad for someone or I  felt happy for a character. I was more interested in some parts than I was in others. Sometimes it lost my interest but most of the time it made me want to keep reading. I was a little wary when I first started the book because it is science fiction and I don't really like science fiction but it actually didn't seem like a lot of other science fiction book I read so I was happy about that. I cant wait to start the book that follows this one- The People of Sparks.

Checking In

Hey, whats up? Sorry I have'nt been blogging in a long time but Big D will be doing a new review on How to Train Your Dragon book/movie. Right now I am reading the book The City of Ember and when I finish that I will write a review on it. I still need some of the books I wrote down on the other blog post but I got the book The Clique. It was a good book and I also saw the movie they were both great. I am also starting the book Among the Hidden in a book club at school. When I read the back of the book I imeaditly wanted to start reading it!!!! I also want to start the seires Fablehaven, I heard it was a good series. So that is an update of all the books I want to read!!!!!!

The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary by Jeff Kinney

Have you ever wondered how a movie was made? Well in this book, The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary  you can learn all about how Diary of a Wimpy Kid books got made into a movie. Learn about the characters and their life and all about the sets and costumes that were made. Also inside are photographs, script pages and more!

This is a good book! I read this, and I have not seen the movie yet so it was like a sneak peek to the movie. I learned so much about how a movie works and it seems like a lot of work! Ever since I read this book I see movies a little differently. They give so much detail about what the actors had to do and how every little thing counts. They showed pictures of all Greg's family members in the movie and their houses. I liked how in the book they also talked about things they cut or new things they added to the movie that weren't in the book. Jeff Kinney also added his drawings into the book. I liked the mix of real pictures and drawings. I think this is good book weather you read it before or after you see the movie.

Library

I really have have to go to the library! I just finished all my books and I need more books to read. Books are part of me,without my books I feel empty. I don't know what to do because I don't have any books. The books I need are...

*39 Clues Book 2-One False Note by Gordon Korman
*Violet in Bloom by Lauren Myracle (This book is the sequel to the book Luv Ya Bunches)
*Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
*Much Ado About Anne by Heather Vogel Frederick (Sequel to the book The Mother-Daughter Book Club)
*Eleven Birthdays by Wendy Mass
* The Clique Book 1 by Lisi Harrison

Well, those are the six books I need! I can't wait to start reading them. When I finish them I will write reviews! Bye!!!!

James and the Gaint Peach by Roald Dahl

James lives with his mom and dad and had a great life. One day a giant rhinoceros escaped from the zoo and ate James parents. Because of this he now lives with his two aunts and has a miserable life. One day James runs away and finds a person who gives him a bag of magic crystals and he accidentally drops them on to a peach tree. Suddenly a peach appears on the tree which doesn't happen very often. The peach grows and grows until it turns into a giant peach! James is very hungry and hasn't had food in many days. He was about to bite into the peach but then he saw a tunnel and decided to climb in . In the tunnel he finds different bugs and they will soon become his friends. Suddenly the peach starts rolling away and they are tumbling around in the peach--will they survive?

**NOTE: Omi helped Big D write this review.**

I thought the book James and the Giant Peach was great. I liked it because was very adventurous, and funny. I just couldnt put it down. There were some pictures on the side of the pages and I liked that because it was it showed what some of the characters looked like and it showed their emotions. It had awsome details like... " The hill was so high that from almost anywhere in the garden James could look down and see miles and miles across a marvelous landscape of woods and fields..." Its an exciting because you never know what will happen next. It suprised me often. You should read this book!!!

Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle

Its the beginning of fifth grade and know one knows what to expect.
Violet is  the new girl.
Katie-Rose is a little too excited.
Yasaman is shy.
And Milla is  the popular girl.

When Milla tripped, her bobble-head turtle fell out of her backpack. Modessa and Quinn (the mean girls) take the turtle and use it to come up with a mean plan that will cause a huge mess. While Violet, Katie-Rose, and Yasaman try to help Milla  untangle the mess they figure out what friendship really is.

I thought Luv Ya Bunches was a good book. Anyone who reads this can connect with the characters because there are all different personality types and no one is alike. That's one of the reasons I like this book. Every chapter is in a different person's point of view (example: chapter 1- Katie-Rose, Chapter 2- Yasaman etc.) and I thought it was cool because I knew how each of the main characters was feeling at the time. There were different dramas during the school day that seemed like they could really happen in fifth grade so it felt very real. I recommend this book!

A Trip to the Library

In our house, a trip to the local library is like a trip to the toy store. The kids have been off for the spring break this week, so we had time for an extended visit. We walked out with a few dozen books between the three of them, and they have been reading pretty much non-stop for the past few days. I love it!

Kiki picked out some good books - two by Todd Parr that I hadn't come across before -Otto Goes to School and The Feel Good Book. I love Todd Parr's illustrations - the colors are so vibrant that they seem to leap off the pages. In fact, the colors are so bold and contrasting that sometimes they seem to jiggle when you look at them. Kiki even kept reaching out to touch the pictures and saying, "Why are the pictures moving?"

Kiki also brought home a wonderful book called I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother by Selina Alko. I was sitting in one of those kid-sized plastic chairs watching Kiki play with puzzles in the children's section when I happened to catch a glimpse of the title on the shelf. I was intrigued so I grabbed it, and I ended up being captivated by the quirky artwork and the poetic text. It's the story of a big brother eagerly awaiting the birth of his new sibling, and wondering what the baby will look like. Omi read it to Kiki tonight at bedtime and he loved it!

Omi brought home a selection of interesting books, and the one I am most excited for her to read is Small Steps by Louis Sachar. It's the same author who wrote Holes, so I am sure it'll be an interesting read. I might even read it when she's done!

Big D is on a Roald Dahl kick, and he's determined to read everything by his new favorite author. (He just finished James and the Giant Peach.) So he brought home the classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I am sure he'll love it. He also is into Andrew Clements these days, and checked out The Last Holiday Concert.

So many books the children have to read, and so little time! We are notorious for racking up late fees at the library--a habit I am determined to break!

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

Dan and Amy Cahill were at their Grandma Grace's funeral. When their parents passed away they were stuck with their Aunt Beatrice. Grace was very close to them and now she was gone, too. At the funeral there were so many people, people from all over the world were related to them. All of a sudden a man calls certain people over to a room inside a house. This is when Dan and Amy figure out that their family was one of the most powerful families in human history. The source of the power was hidden in the form of 39 clues. Dan, Amy and a bunch of other people get a choice- take a million dollars and walk away, or get the first clue. Well, Dan and Amy take the first clue and begin a dangerous race with their other relatives that could kill you or make you powerful beyond belief.

I thought The Maze of Bones was a good book. It was very adventurous. The book was so intense that I always wanted to keep reading on. In the book they give a lot of back round information so while I was reading this I felt like I was reading something important and I learned a lot, too. This book was also sad. Dan and Amy lost their parents and their Grandma. It was sort of violent because of Amy and Dan are always fighting for their life but that made it more interesting. I always had different emotions while I was reading which made it seem more real.

Finally by Wendy Mass

Rory Swenson is your average 11 year old girl. She wishes on everything--birthday candles, eyelashes, everything She wishes she could get a cell phone, stay home alone, wear makeup, go to the mall with her best friend without an adult, get contact lenses and attend a boy-girl party. Every time she asks her parents when she will be able to do any of these things she always gets the same answer-- " When you twelve." Well, Rory is finally turns twelve and everything is looking good- but then she gets stuck in a drainpipe and everything turns worse from there.

I loved the book Finally!!! I felt like I could relate to how Rory was feeling. I am 11, too, and some of the things that she wishes for I wish for. Rory also has a little brother who gets annoying sometimes. I have two brothers and they get very annoying. When Rory got embarrassed I did too because I felt like I could connect with her. Wendy Mass gave good details so I felt like I was Rory while I was reading this book. In the summary I said that she got stuck in a drainpipe and everything turns worse from there. When everything gets worse I felt like that it wasn't very realistic. Bad things just kept happening and happening. That is the only problem I had with the book but other that that it was a good book. You should read it!!!!

Welcome!

I'm very excited to introduce myself and my family to you! We'll be blogging about all of the books we are reading. Most of the book reviews will be written by Omi, age 11, and Big D, age 8. Kiki, who is 4, will also review books he is reading (with a little help!). My husband and I will also occasionally review books we have read. We will also provide some reviews and comments of other things, like movies, resturants, and other family adventures. But our main focus will be books!

Right now, Omi is reading The Maze of Bones, Book One of the 39 Clues series, by Rick Riordan. So far, she really likes it. She says that it is "very adventurous." I am sure when she is finished that she will provide a complete review.

Big D is reading No Talking by Andrew Clements. He says that it's an interesting book. He'll also provide a review when he's done with it.

Omi and Big D have read lots and lots of books over the past few years, so if you are looking for a review of a certain book, just ask - they might have read it!

We'll be back soon with some reviews of recently read books. Looking forward to growing this blog!