Sunday, December 30, 2012

Bewtiching



Bewitching By: Alex Flinn


Kendra is a witch. She has know this most of her life, she was trained by a very talented witch who used to turn children into gingerbread.  She has had a long life and sometimes tires of being immortal. But then she finds Emma who she believes needs her help.    She tells Emma's story, Emma has had her father since she was three and always has felt very special to him.  Until one day Lisette, her father's real daughter, has come to live with them. Emma tries to be nice but finds out that Lisette is not really the nice sister that she had hoped to have, but someone who will do anything to take everything Emma has had away from her.    Kendra is watching all of this happen and trying to decide if she should step in and help Emma.  But, Kendra's help does not always have the outcomes that she hopes.

I loved this book.  I could not put it down.  It was a mix of many different fairy tales and had such wonderful characters. I felt horrible for Emma because you could see what she couldn't that Lisette was not going to be the person Emma thought she was.  I loved the play on the different fairy tales and the historical events that Kendra was a part of.  One of the best books I have read in a long time. Great for any high school or older reader.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-06-202414-5

Pop'ss Bridge



Pop's Bridge By: Eve Bunting Illustraed By: C.F. Payne

This is the story of how the Golden Gate Bridge was constructed.  It is told through the eyes of one of the workers son.  He tells the story of how excited everyone is about the bridge that is being built and how he feels when some of the men fall from the bridge when the scaffolding breaks. This book also shows how some of the workers must have felt as they worked on such an incredible bridge that was so important. At the end of the book the author's note tells more about the story. This is a fascinating book that shows just how scary the work on such a huge project was at the time it was built.  I think that it is perfect for anyone and the illustrations were wonderful.

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 0-15-204773-5

Dreaming Anastasia



Dreaming Anastasia By: Joy Preble


Anne lives with her mother and father, she has lost her brother who has died of cancer. Anne likes to do ballet and knows that her mother is not quite the same after the death.  Anne always has had strange dreams with a old lady that has metal teeth and she does not know why she has these.  One day she meets Ethan.  Ethan is part of a brotherhood that has sworn to rescue the princess Anastasia from Baba Yaga.  He knows he needs to find the one girl that can help him rescue her.  He has found her and now he must explain to Anne that she is the one and he needs her help.  Anne is hesitant to help at first but is definitely convinced when she is able to perform some magic and sees for herself that someone is out to get her. 

This was a great teen novel.  Normal girl meets guy who has immortality and they must set off on a quest to save someone and themselves.  I thought that the characters were likeable and had honor.  I would say that this would be great for high school readers and it is part of a series so the story continues.  Great read!

I purchased this in Kindle Edition from Amazon.com
ISBN: 978-1-4022-4440-7

Saturday, December 29, 2012

The Secret Tree



The Secret Tree By: Natalie Standiford

Minty and her best friend Paz love roller derby! That is what they want to be when they grow up, so on Halloween they dress like their favorite stars.  They are dared to go up to the Witch House and are scared to go.  The Witch House is just one mysterious thing that their neighborhood has along with strange things like the Man Bat, and the crazy Mean Boys.  One day Minty chases something she sees in the woods only to find The Secret Tree where someone is leaving notes about themselves. Minty also finds Raymond, a new strange boy in the neighborhood. But as Minty is headed one direction her friend Paz seems to be leaving her behind. Can Minty solve the mysterious notes?

This was a great book about solving mysteries and how growing up can be sort of hard.  It shows that Minty is trying to figure out how to keep her friend when they seem to be going in opposite directions and how Minty is dealing with her sister Thea changing and getting older too.  Secrets do have a way of changing the way things happen.  I think that any fourth to sixth grade reader would really enjoy this book.

I bought this from the Scholastic Book Fair.
ISBN: 978-0-545-48976-8

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Candyfloss



Candyfloss By: Jacqueline Wilson
Floss lives with her Mom, Stepfather, and her little brother Tiger.  She is happy that her birthday is coming soon and is always happy to see her father on the weekend.   For her birthday her mom gives her a lot of things that have to do with going to Australia, and Floss is very confused to find out that her mom and family is planning to move there.  She decides that she would like to instead live with her father. But life with her father is not easy as he is loosing his business and doesn't really know how to help Floss be ready for school.  Can Floss live with her father and keep her friends, or even stay the same person?

I thought that this book was a great one to teach kids that even if your life situation changes you can still be you.  It also shows that as you grow up sometimes you change, your friends change, and your life changes but that it will be okay.  This book would be great for sixth grade readers, as it shows how sometimes your relationships and friends have to change.

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-1-59643-241-3