How to Be a Pirate by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III as told to Cressida Cowell

Continuing the stories of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III that we first meet in How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse, this book does not disappoint. Hiccup is heir to the throne of the Hooligan Tribe living in Isle of Berk. Unlike his father who is the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived, Hiccup has trouble learning to tricks to being a pirate. With the help of his young dragon, Toothless (who looks and acts less like a dragon than all the other boys in Viking/Pirate school), Hiccup somehow overcomes fear, danger, and even death.

How to Be a Pirate takes Hiccup and the reader on a journey through land and sea. As Hiccup goes through Pirate school and takes each test, the reader is right beside him. This story is completely funny and well written. Fans of the other books in the series will enjoy this one as well. Anyone new to the series will not have any trouble enjoying this book. It is a great, fun read!

Mister Monday by Garth Nix

Unusual as it is complicated, the story surrounding Arthur Penhaligon is truly fascinating. 12 year old Arthur, the youngest in his family and a severe asthmatic has trouble on his very first day of school. Surrounded by many new faces and the pain inside his chest, he must run as fast as possible during P.E. Not wanting to look weak, he takes off at a fast pace and soon feels his chest tightening. Standing alone, Arthur wheezes and almost faints just as a strange man pushing a bathtub containing an even odder man arrives. The man inside the bathtub says something weird to Arthur and shoves a sword-like medal object and red book into Arthur's hands. Thus, making Arthur the heir to the lower house. Arthur now is the keeper of one of the keys for each of the seven days.

Mister Monday is the first book in the The Keys to the Kingdom series. Each book details the activities of part of another realm that is controlled by a person representing each day of the week. Time and space are important and yet appear as nothing in this series. If this write-up seems complicated, so will the book. However, if you are interested in a journey that includes Improbable Stairs, clocks, calendars, mystery, power, and writing called "The Will", then this book is certainly for you.

This book started slowly for me but I am glad I stuck it out. By the middle, the action picked up. I imagine being the first in a series, the book needed to help explain more than the remainders will. Eagerly, I look forward to reading the remaining books in this series.

The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret

Every Summer brings a time when kids plan for exciting adventures whether it be playing games, going on vacation, or swimming at the local pool. Josh did not realize that his summer would involve a mystery, but it did. When Josh's mother and step-father travel to India for a few months, he is sent to spend summer vacation with his great-aunt Ethel who lives in Carbon City. Upon arriving at her home out deep in the country, he is convinced this will be a dull summer. However, he soon learns there is a "tree house" on his aunt's property and it is haunted! The ghost needs Josh's help. If Josh helps the ghost, then he will be involved in one of Carbon City's biggest mysteries ever. If not, then his summer just might be dull after all.

This book was one of the most exciting and fast paced books I have recently read. Truly, I could not put it down until the last page.

Found--The Missing: Book 1 by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Simon and Schuster

Copyright 2008

Wow! The most compelling book I have read in a long time. Found begins with Jonah telling his new friend, Chip, that he is adopted. Very quickly a mystery begins.

Jonah has received a strange anonymous letter with only 6 words typed. To complicate matters, Chip receives one too. A couple of weeks later, they receive other letters. Jonah, Chip, and Katherine (Jonah's sister) determine they most try to figure out the meaning of these letters and who is sending them. This mystery has the three crossing paths with many people including the F.B.I. One thing is for certain, this mystery seems almost super-natural.

For fans love mysteries, realistic fiction, fantasy, even science fiction, this book has it all. I do not believe the ending is as strongly written as the rest of the story however, it does set up for more books to come in what I believe will be a fun new series. Recommended for 4th and up.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Dial Books for Young Readers

Copyright 2008

Imagine having the ability to create rainstorms or turn off all the electricity in an entire city by just getting upset. This is the life for the Beaumont family. When a Beaumont turns 13, their superpower or "savvy".

In this unusual tale about Mibs is curious about what her savvy will be when suddenly her father is injured. Determined that her savvy will heal him, she risks the lives of herself, her friends and family to get to her father in time. This story is compelling and moving. Oftentimes I thought for sure I had figured out how this book would end when suddenly, I was proved wrong by a change in the story.

The story light-heartily deals with teen aged crushes. It is a great book for mature 4th graders and up.

Welcome!

Hello to all. Often I am asked for book suggestions from my friends, family, and mostly the students for whom I work. A book recommendation is the number one question asked to me. The second most popular question is what am I reading. Therefore I decided to answer both of those questions in this blog.

My goal is to post weekly a review of a fiction book that I am reading. The book will be aimed for audiences ranging grades 4 to 7. The students I teach often read in this range so I wanted to target their needs. It is my sincere hope that you find the reviews not only informative (and hopefully entertaining) but also useful.