The 39 Clues: Vespers Rising

By: Ian, Grade 5

This is another book in the extremely popular 39 Clues series. In this book you will learn about the serum and the hunt. You will learn how it started and who the Vespers are. You will discover how the family was split up and why the Madrigals haven’t succeeded in bringing the family together, and continue the journey while earning 6 new cards in the process contained in one book. If you have started this series (39 Clues), you should continue it. If you haven’t started, find a boxed set of 1-10, then buy the 11^th. You’ll love it just like everybody else, but the best part about this series is that you'll discover that power you’ve always wanted lies within. Also buy the Buried Book of Black Secrets to learn more.

The Ranger Apprentice: Book 1

The Ranger’s Apprentice: Book 1 Ruins of Gorlan is a book set in the time of kings, barons, dukes, and knights.  15 year old Will was left on the steps of Baron Arald, in a crib with a note attached saying “Take care of him.  His name is Will.  His father died a hero.  His mother died in childbirth.”   He grew up with 4 others in a camp.  Next it is Choosing Day.  The Rangers, with their shadowy ways, have always made Will nervous.  Now, he has been chosen as one’s apprentice.  But what he doesn’t yet know is that the rangers are the ones who fight the wars before they make it to the people.  There is a humongous battle between the Aruelans and Morgarath, the lord of the mountains of rain and darkness.  Morgarath is gathering his most powerful allies.  The two empires are going to collide more violently then they have ever before.  Now, it’s up to Will to will to save the day.  He will find allies in the unlikeliest of places, and even then that might not be enough to stop the mighty lord Morgarath…

    My favorite part in the book is when Will is out hunting a wild boar with a group of 13 other people and one of the knights stabbed the wild boar in the neck with a spear.  While everyone else is admiring the dead animal, and commenting on how much meat they could get, and then Will sees another boar, at least twice as big as the first one.  The other boar charges at an apprentice knight, and Will yells, “Watch OUT!!”  The apprentice knight turns around and just barely dodges the razor sharp tusks.  With unnatural speed, the boar turns around and charges at Will.  He takes out his knife and gets ready to stab the beast.  Suddenly, Will hears the sound of a Longbow twanging, and the boar falls dead at his feet.  His teacher takes the Knife and says,
“What were you planning to do with this?!”  Will shrugs and takes his Knife back.

    This book is special and unique from other books because most books in this time and setting would be all, like, oh, you’re a sorcerer or magician, or, if you can believe this “story” is a story, I envy you or something like that.  This isn’t like that.  It starts like a lot of other books, creating a picture of them in your head, and what they would be like.  Also, this book is the only book I’ve read that tells their (the main character’s) life history before that.

    People I would recommend this book for are people who are looking for anything exciting and love books that have gone back to, like, the 700 A.D’s and ages 12+ up to 22.  Because I’m 10, and I’ve read books for teenagers, that’s where I placed the age group.  But if you like time travel, spell casting, ECT, this book is not for you. You will probably get bored within the first few chapters, but don’t take my word for it, because, hey, I’m 10, what do I know about what people will and won’t like?

 Review By:  Gabe, age 10

p.s. If you don’t remember, the name of the book is Ranger’s Apprentice: Book 1 Ruins of Gorlan.

Number the Stars

Number the Stars
By: Lois Lowry
Review By: Grace, Grade 6

Have you learned about World War II? Well, if you have it will help you understand the historical setting of this book. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is about these two girls who are best friends and they just don’t understand why the war had to start in the first place but Annemaire’s little sister Kirsti has only ever known war. The Nazis are trying to get all the Jews out Denmark and Annemarie and her family is trying to help the Jews. Annemaire is asked to be brave and risk her life for her best friend Ellen and everyone else who needs to be protected. Can Annemaire be as brave as everyone else wants her to be? Will she be able to help save her friend from the Nazi soldiers? To find out why I love this book and find out what Annemarie does and if she is able to help her friend, you will have to read this book. This book also won a Newbery Medal.

Junie B. First Grader Aloha

Review By: Julianna, Grade 5 

Junie B. First Grader Aloha is an awesome book by Barbara Park. Junie B. Jones is a series about a girl named Junie B. Jones. She is sassy and funny. The books go from kindergarten to first grade. In this book, she is in first grade. It is #26 in the series. In this book Junie B. flies to Hawaii with her family. My favorite part is when Junie B. puts lots of flowers in her hair and a bird flies in her hair and gets stuck. It was hilarious! If you like funny books, this is the book for you.  

Today I Feel Silly

Today I Feel Silly:
Just Another Mood That Makes Up My Day
By Jamie Lee Curtis

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Review By: Grace, grade 6

    Today I Feel Silly is funny book to read. The colors in the pictures help the story go on. The pictures are very bright so it is a good book for young ages. In the book, this little girl is full of emotions. She reminds me of a roller coaster. The emotions are great on the faces in the illustrations. It made me wonder what I look like when I’m mad, happy or sad. This book is would be perfect for you if you just need a good story to read to your little sister or brother. My little sister feel in love with this book when she was only a year old. This book has a lesson to be taught. To find what this lesson is and how this little girl goes from happy to furious in a blink of an eye you have to read this book.

Because of Winn-Dixie

By Kate DiCamillo

Review by Rose, Grade 5

Because of Winn-Dixie is a book about friendship that will touch your heart. In this book there’s a girl named Opal. She lost her mama when she was 3. Her daddy is a preacher. They moved to a new town and Opal is very lonely. She takes a trip to the grocery store and finds a dog, which she names Winn-Dixie, and that leads to her making friends. The funniest part of the book when they didn’t know why Winn-Dixie went crazy during the storm. Winn-Dixie got scared and ran around the trailer knocking ever thing down. The special thing about this book is the way Opal talks and talks. I recommend this book to a teacher that loves to read books to their class.   

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

Written By: Ian, Grade 5

    Sophie and Josh have normal lives, or so they thought. Come along on this incredible journey where myths and legends come alive and magic is their best defense against Dark Elders. Perenelle has been captured by a follower of the Dark Elders, Dr. John Dee. Sophie, Josh and Nicholas go to a vampire warrior, Scathach. Sophie and Josh also meet the goddesses Hekate and the Witch of Endor. Unfortunately, only Sophie gets her powers awakened. Sophie is also trained in the elemental magic of air. My personal favorite part is when Josh uses a car to distract Dr. John Dee so his army falls when he loses focus. I recommend this book to anyone who likes magic, action and adventure.