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!!