Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul – Read It and Rate It

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

Fourteenth Goldfish – book review

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm Science Fiction Tween – grades 5-8 * * *  Stars (Pretty good) Ellie, sixth-grader, takes it in stride when her grandfather – who has cultured the elixir of youth from a heretofore unknown jellyfish – comes to live with her and her mother after being arrested for breaking into his own lab.  Because his elixir works.  And he’s now the same cantankerous and opinionated old man (who loves Chinese … Read more

Heroes of Olympus Olympics – October 2011

To celebrate the release of Rick Riordan’s new book, “Son of Neptune,” the Huntley Area Public Library invited fans of the series to participate in an Olympics event – Camp Half-Blood style! In addition to trivia contests, toga relays, and a scavenger hunt, the kids got to slay Medusa (a bunch of times). If Huntley is ever invaded by Gorgons, we can feel comfortable knowing our fate is in the hands of these young heroes!