Fablehaven Fablehaven #1 by Brandon Mull Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) “Fablehaven” is about two kids named Kendra and Seth who are visiting their grandparents while their parents go on vacation. Halfway into the visit they find out they are visiting a magical preserve. It is an epic tale that you should read! I loved it because I couldn’t put it down, it was so good!
El Deafo by Cece Bell Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction Recommended for readers 4th grade and up * * * * Stars (Great!) Have you walked around with your eyes closed to see how it would feel to be blind? Think about what it might be like to be deaf. What would you miss hearing? Music? Television shows? Voices of family, friends, teachers? Take a look at El Deafo by Cece Bell. In this graphic novel, the author/artist tells … Read more
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Wimpy Kid #9 by Jeff Kinney Funny Illustrated Fiction Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Greg Heffley’s mom has the brilliant idea of taking an educational family road trip after she reads about it in a glossy issue of “Family Frolic” – her favorite magazine. It’s pretty much a disaster from start to finish. The Heffleys have crammed everyone and everything into their van and … Read more
Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Danny Dragonbreath is a dragon, but so far he’s not a very good one – he can’t even breathe fire, no matter how much he practices (and he’s getting tired of his dad’s long-winded lectures on the subject). He goes to a school for reptiles and amphibians and his best friend, Wendell, is an iguana. When Danny receives a failing grade on his report … Read more
Mr. & Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath Fantasy Funny Mystery * * * * Stars (Great!) Mr. & Mrs. Bunny have just decided (one of Mrs. Bunny’s many whims) to become detectives when Madeline’s parents (humans) go missing. Madeline is a responsible young girl, who is about to graduate from the 5th grade, and she’s accustomed to taking care of her folks. When they are abducted … Read more
Masterpiece by Elise Broach Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Martin is a young beetle who lives in the walls of the Pompadays’ apartment in New York City. The beetles don’t think much of Mr. & Mrs. Pompaday or bouncing baby William, but they are quite fond of 11-year old James (Mrs. Pompaday’s son from a previous marriage). Martin wants to do something special for James on his birthday, so he uses James’ new … Read more
Wild Things by Clay Carmichael Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) When 11-year old Zoë’s mother passes away, she is taken in by her uncle, Dr. Henry Royster. Both are accustomed to being on their own – Zoë had to take care of herself because of her mom’s mental illness and poor choices, and Henry lost wife #3 and became an artist (he makes large metal sculptures) – and both are rather independent … Read more
The Aviary by Kathleen O’Dell Juvenile Fiction Mystery * * * * Stars (Great!) Eleven year old Clara lives with her mother in the old Glendoveer mansion, where mom and another caretaker (Ruby) look after old Mrs. Glendoveer. Clara has never been to school, nor is she allowed to leave the house or have any friends because of her poor health. She has a weak heart, her mother tells her, so it isn’t good for … Read more
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Minli lives in a small, poor, rural village in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain (called so because it is barren of life). Her parents – Ma and Ba – work hard cultivating crops, but barely manage to get by. Ma is bitter and resentful about their misfortune and poor circumstances, and when Minli uses one of her copper coins … Read more
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool Realistic Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) 12-year-old Abilene Tucker’s father has raised her “on the rails”, but now he has chosen to abandon her in the town of Manifest where he spent his youth, as he heads back to his wanderer’s life. Abilene discovers a hidden box of keepsakes, which leads her and her new friends on a search for a spy. The objects in the … Read more