Summer 2004 Authors and Titles

Eddie was asleep at Awful End (his new home) when he was awakened by an electric eel that fell out of his great uncle's top pocket. His great uncle had come to get Eddie to show him something in their driveway. In their driveway was a hearse with a coffin in the back. Eddie didn't want to wake his parents so his great uncle went to get his nephew's gentleman's gentleman to help them move the coffin to the stables. Before his great uncle left, one part of the house blew-up. They moved the coffin but only when the coffin was down it opened and out came the great escapologist, The Great Zucchini. 
The Great Zucchini and Eddie were walking around talking when Eddie found Malcolm. He decided to take it to his Great Aunt Maud, who now lived in a hollowed out cow. The Great Zucchini went along too because they were in the middle of a deep discussion of escapology. 
After delivering Malcolm they sat down on a garden bench when a hot air balloon came crashing down. In it was Daniella, Zucchini's helper (Zucchini's real name is Herald). There was also another surprise, about an hour later police officers came. Daniella had stolen the famous photographer's hot air balloon. They were all taken to jail, Eddie was found innocent and was let go about a week later, but Herald and Daniella were found guilty. Eddie was trying to find the famous photographer when he found himself in the moors. He was found by three men who escaped from Grimpen Jail. He was to help them escape for good ,but that didn't happen! I really enjoyed this book, I must say it was better than the first. I would recommend this to middle school students. 

~Ashley Aldan, grade 6, Boardman Center Middle School

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Eddie Dickens was about 11 years old when his mother and father caught a disease that made them turn yellow and crinkly on the edges, so they sent Eddie to go and live with his Mad Great Uncle Jack and Even-Madder Great Aunt Maud. Eddie was to go and live with them at their house Awful End. 
They traveled by carriage and stopped at an inn. Eddie slept in the barn, but he didn't sleep--he stayed awake because there was a group rehearsing for a play, led by Mr. Pumblesnook. They left the next day. 
While riding on the road Mad Aunt Maud was waving her stuffed stoat, Malcolm, around when she took out a gold pocket watch. She told Eddie he could have it, then yelled at him and threw it out the window. It hit someone in the head but they weren't sure who. After a little fighting he took out a gun and threatened to use it. Mad Aunt Maud got out and started hitting him with Malcolm. 
He droped the gun and it blew, but there wasn't a bullet but a small flag that said, "PUMBLESNOOK". It was Mr. Pumblesnook the actor! He got into the carriage with the other two, then made a deal with them: Eddie had to pretend or act like he was an orphan boy. 
They were then stopped by a police officer who believed that Eddie was the escaped orphan. He took Eddie to the orphanage where Eddie escaped from, but he had a little help from some "friends". 
I really enjoyed this book, but the author explained things too much, then got off the main topic. I would recommend this to middle school students. 

~Ashley Aldan, grade 6, Boardman Center Middle School

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 Twelve-year-old Margaret, known as Midge, is being sent to her Uncle Brian's home on Mill Farm because her mother has to go on tour with the Philharmonic Orchestra for a while. When she steps off of the train from London onto the platform, she recognizes Uncle Brian immediately, even though the last time she saw him was when she was still too young to remember all that much. When the strange pair arrive at the farm, Midge automatically feels at home. She's not sure why, but she feels as if she belongs here. It's not until later that day when she's in her room that Uncle Brian gives her a brief explanation to why he gave her that room: she was born there. 
After her uncle left to take his dog, Phoebe, for a walk, Midge decided to take a tour around the farm, since it would only be her and Uncle Brian until his children George and Katie arrived from being with their mother. During her tour, she came across the old, empty pig barn. There she sat down outside to eat the lunch she had packed. She had no sooner sat down when she heard someone ask her for help, but in the strangest way. The voice seemed to be appearing inside of her head in brilliant colors. She thought the sound was coming from inside the barn, but she wasn't sure. So after much discrimination, she finally got the door open. When Midge had stepped across the threshold and her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw the most beautiful creature. It was a snow white, winged horse named Pegs who was trapped under some sort of gardening mechanism. After a few days time, she had rescued, cleaned, and bandaged the horse. She told him that her uncle was planning to sell the forest not far from the barn because he needed money. 
Before she knew it, she had the horse draped around her shoulders and was carrying it in the direction of the wood. Pegs told her to wait for him outside for he would be back. When Pegs did come back, he asked Midge to follow him into the wood. After the two had entered, Pegs lead the way to the meeting area. There the three Elders of the upper tribes (Ickri, Naiad, and Wisp) and the Queen would be assembled to hear what Midge had to say. The Tinklers and Trogglers who were underground dwellers did not have Elders because they kept to themselves inside their caves. All five tribes are known as the Various. Midge wondered if they would listen to her because she is a Gorji and Gorjis are not allowed to enter the forest. She was a guest, but she soon realized that she was not safe inside the forest after she was almost killed by an Ickri hunter and his team. She was told she would have to return, but there was no way she was going to reenter the forest without some kind of protection from the hunters. 
I think that this is one of the best novels I've ever read! Midge is an ordinary girl who gets caught up in something she wasn't meant to get stuck in, but she may not survive through the problems the Various are going through. I think that she had quite an adventure at her uncle's and would never leave if she could stay. I'd recommend this book for ages 12 and up because some people may not understand the language used in England, but anyone who wants to read it are welcome. This is a book I'll read over and over. 

~Kayla Aldan, 8th grade, Boardman Center Middle School

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Three people must learn to control a power in their land of Farsala through self-discovery. For many years their land has been rivaled to be one of the greatest parts of the world, and for hundreds of years no one in the country has asked for help. However, this time is different: they do need help from the three most important characters because one of the greatest armies ever will attack their land: the Hrum. The three main characters are named Jiaan, who wants to become a squire, Soraya, the daughter of a father who is an officer of the Farsalan army, and Kavi, who is a peddler.
In the beginning Jiaan learns that his father must sacrifice his daughter so he can stay Farsalan leader. His father objects and says that he will not do this; he wants to keep his daughter safe in the mountains. So everything unfolds. Jiaan goes with Soraya to a ceremony before she is sacrificed. After this Jiaan's father insists that Jiaan must take her to the mountains before it is too late, and so he does.  
While traveling he meets Kavi who has sold false gold pots and gets in trouble. The peddler runs away to the Hrum's camp where he becomes a spy for them.  
 After Soray's journey is complete and Jiaan has protected her well, he goes back with his father to fight the Hrum. Soraya survives in the mountains because of a tribe who teaches her magic. In the home country there are many hardfought battles and Jiaan tries to help his father as much as possible. The conclusion of the tale is extremely interesting and ends with happiness.

 I enjoyed the book very much because the author has a very good writing style, and she describes all of the events very clearly so that you can picture them in your mind. When the next book in the series comes out I want to read more and see what will happen. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read books about bravery, danger, and magic.

~Joy Mistovich, 8th Grade, Boardman Center Middle School

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Henry's family is falling apart. His father told him on the way to Mr. Fogarty's that his mother was having an affair with his dad's secretary, Anais. Mr. Fogarty is an elderly man who needs help around the house and believes in fairies. At Mr. Forgarty's, Henry helps him tidy up the house, the garden, and the shed. The same day he found out his mother was a lesbian, he noticed Mr. Fogarty's cat had caught a butterfly. But it wasn't a butterfly, he didn't think it looked like one so he managed to get the cat's jaws off of the creature so he could make sure he wasn't dreaming. It was a fairy the feline had caught, not a butterfly. Henry takes the fairy to Mr. Fogarty to see what he can do about communication because he can't hear the fairy and the fairy covers his ears when Henry speaks. In a matter of time, Mr. Fogarty has a device with a microphone for the fairy. With the machine, they learn that the fairy's name is Pyrgus Malvae and that he wasn't supposed to be there in that form. He wasn't supposed to have wings and he wasn't supposed to be there, but he believes that something went wrong with the portal in the fairy world. He also tells them that he was sent to this world because he'd be safer here than in the fairy world because two factory owners by the names Brimstone and Chalkhill. Both are Faeries of the Night which is a community of fairies who are against the ways of the Faeries of the Light. Pyrgus's father is the Purple Emperor of the Faeries of the Light and he knows that his son is in danger which lead to Pyrgus being sent to the human world. Will Henry and Mr. Fogarty be able to help Pyrgus get back to his home safely so that Pyrgaus can tell his father he's all right and that he's still alive in the human world? 

I thought this was an unbelievably outstanding novel! I was excited when I got it because Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl, had given his idea of the book. The Artemis Fowl books are probably the best books I've ever read so when I saw that Mr. Colfer's ideas were on the cover, I knew it would be a great book. I'd recommend this book for ages 12 and older because younger children may not understand much of what's being said in the novel. This book was one of the best I've ever read! 

~ Kayla Aldan, 8th grade, Boardman Center Middle School

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Mr. Margo has a different extra credit project each month, and this month it was the SOS File. Twelve students participated and their stories were all different. Liz had trouble with a go-cart she and her friend were building. Randy was terrified in baseball, and was freaking because his father had gone to watch him play. Jerry's SOS was from eating all the candy bars he was supposed to sell for band. 
Augustus' SOS was caused from a bear, on a camping trip. Robbie's goat caused his SOS, by running away and going into his neighbor's yard. His neighbor is extremely rude and mean. Corky had a bunch of SOSs that she wrote about. Joy's SOS was very interesting--it had how she was saved as a baby, and how she met who saved her life! Red wrote about how he was almost shark food. Gipper had an identity crisis when he lost his favorite hat. Brianna wrote about how her grandmother's favorite horse saved her from the lake by her house. Her grandmother didn't and doesn't let her go swimming in the lake because she lost a cousin to the lake. Kyle was stung by bees and couldn't see one day at camp. His friend had to lead him back to the tent. They forgot something so his friend had to go back. Kyle went through the wrong door and that's when his major SOS happened. The last one was from the teacher. He wrote about an SOS he had when he was still in school. 
I really enjoyed this book because it had lots of different experiences. I would recommend this for middle school students. 

~Ashley Aldan, 6th grade, Boardman Center Middle School 

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 This story is told through the eyes of sixteen year old Hiram Hillburn. 
When Hiram goes back to Greenwood, Mississippi to visit his grandfather, he begins to see the Delta with new eyes. This is not his beloved childhood home. Over the course of his visit, he begins to understand why his father hates the South. Desegregation is shunned and the truth about Greenwood becomes all too clear when a young African-American boy is kidnapped, tortured and murdered. 
When Hiram is asked to testify in court, he must make a decision--choose what is easy or choose what is right. 
The characters in this book have depth and are very interesting to read about. The relationships between the characters were just complex enough. The book gives a realistic perspective of the feelings of Hiram, the citizens of Greenwood, and Emmett Till, the boy that was murdered. 
When I was reading the book, I had a taste of the racial tension of the 1950's. I got a personal look at the complexities of the decision that Hiram had to make. 
From reading this book, you can begin to understand the intensity of segregation, especially in the South. 
This is a truly wonderful book and I highly recommend it. I think that middle school-aged people would enjoy this book the most.

~ Jordyn Grzelewski, 7th grade, the Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley (MSMV)

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Torren is a young boy living in a city called Sparks. He happens to be where he's not supposed to, climbing the wind tower in the cabbage field. He was supposed to be picking cabbage heads for Dr. Hester, but his disobedient self always seems to be in charge. While he's on the tower, he sees what looks like a swarm of bugs gathering on the hills. Those "bugs" are the people of Ember who have finally left their dying city under the ground. When the Emberites enter Sparks, they continue to walk towards what they believe is the town's gathering area. They are greeted by the town's three leaders, Mary Walters, Ben Barlow, and Wilmer Dent. Lina and Doon, the two children from Ember explain how and where they came from to the leaders. For a while, both groups live together without trouble, but soon trouble starts. It all begins when Torren throws tomatoes at a building and blames it on Doon. Things begin to worsen between the two groups as the tension grows. Will there be another war that almost wipes out the entire human race again because the people of Sparks and Ember can't learn to accept the way things are done between them? 
I believe that this novel was outstanding! Lina and Doon were partners again who save the day from the problems that befall the city of Sparks like they did for Ember as it was dying. Torren learns to change his ways because these two Emberites did what was close to the impossible. I'd recommend this book for grades 5 through 9 because it's a great book and it's perfect for that age area. 

~Kayla Aldan, grade 8, Boardman Center Middle School

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In The Adventures of Samuel Blackthorne, dogs act, eat, and dress like humans.  The year is 1887, and the main character, Edward R. Smithfield, has just stepped off a navy ship and meets Samuel Blackthorne.  Edward soon finds himself befriending the small terrier, and learns that Samuel is somewhat of a detective.  When one night a dog goes missing, they embark on an adventure to find him.  What starts off as a missing person, soon unravels into something much more.

This book may not capture your attention from the beginning, but as you go along you will find it hard to put down.  Except for the fact that the characters are dogs, this unique adventure could very well happen.  The characters are very interesting, and the author goes into great detail about everything they do, so you will find it easy to figure out their personalities.  Most of the characters are very friendly, although some are people you probably never want to meet.

I think this book was pretty good.  Everything in the story flows smoothly, and the author, Scott Emerson, takes time to explain everything that happens in the book.  Everything is written in great detail, from what they are eating, to the conclusions and ideas they have. 

I would recommend this book to fourth, fifth, and maybe even sixth graders, as some of the vocabulary is intermediate, and the dialogue is very old-fashioned.  I think this book is worth reading, and it is unlike any other book I have ever read.

~Virginia Li, 6^th Grade, Canfield Village Middle School

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Syeira is an orphan who works in the king's stables. Her "home" is in the stable that's used for the old chargers and three wild horses. It's by the River Hawkey in the country of Haysele where the king lives. No one usually comes near these stables because there aren't any horses that could be of use to them. Her favorite horses are the wild Arva horses, the blue roan and her two black colts. One day King Ran of Thurkport (a city in Stormsythe) would be coming to Haysele to purchase new chargers for his rebellion against the country of Broak. All of the stable hands had to help out in the main stables, perfecting all of the young horses who were strong enough for battle. After King Ran left, Syeira went sleepily back to her stable to find that the colts had been taken by Ran. After a while, the Arva mare trusts Syeira enough to let her help in the journey to find her colts. Along their journey, the pair meet a few people who help them get to Thurkport. When they arrive, however, there is a problem; they are not allowed onto the grounds unless they have something of value to sell, trade, or are talented in an area of expertise specialized here. Syeira knew they'd never be able to get in, unless they had inside help or by transport of the canal. There was another problem; if they succeeded in entering the city, would they be able to find the colts and get to freedom? I loved this book! I had trouble putting it down when it was time to go to sleep! Syeira is a very curious and determined girl, which leads to a heart-stopping ending. 
I'd recommend this book for ages 9 to 15 or to anyone who has a great fascination for adventure and horses.

 ~Kayla Aldan, 8th grade, Boardman Center Middle School

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Colman, Wise Child's best friend and cousin, is with Juniper, Wise Child, and Finbar on their journey to Juniper's homeland, Cornwall. There, she is princess, daughter of King Mark and Queen Erlain. Her younger brother, Prince Brangwyn is the rightful heir to the throne, but when the travelers arrive at Castle Dore, they find it burned and desolate. They also discover that Prince Brangwyn was kidnapped by Meroot and the Gray Knight. Colman tells Juniper that he remembers seeing this image of Castle Dore and the Prince being taken in a scrying bowl. Juniper tells him that he has the skills of a doran. Dorans are like witches who do good for people and try to get rid of the evil in the world. Together Wise Child, Colman and two experienced dorans Juniper and her teacher Euny, are going to try to save Prince Brangwyn with the help of Cormac and Finbar's army. 
I really enjoyed the sequel to Wise Child. Colman really wanted to help rescue the prince and rightful heir of Cornwall. Together, all of the travelers, to me, would remind someone of King Arthur and his knights of the round table, that's how willing and determined these people were. I enjoy reading about King Arthur and this novel reminded me of that legendary figure. I would recommend this book for grades 4 through 12. Also anyone who thought it looked like a good book should read it because that's how much I liked it.

~Kayla Aldan, 8th Grade, Boardman Center Middle School

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Princess Ninnoc was born to King Mark and Queen Erlain on a night of frost and darkness in a dreary January. White owls were endlessly hooting and flying while no one slept as she was told. She was born, astronomers studied the stars and read their meanings, copying them onto a piece of paper. The paper was put into a small horn case which hung from a leather thong around her neck. When Ninnoc was old enough to read, she would take out the paper and read it. She never understood its meaning, but its meaning would become clear as she got older. As time passed, Ninnoc was asked by her godmother, Euny, to spend a year and a day with her at her home. There she would be taught powers that would help her to rule her father's kingdom after he died, since she was an only child. When she went to Euny's, Ninnoc would be called by the name Euny whispered in her ear when she was born, Juniper. With Euny, she learned how to be a doran. She also had help from one of Euny's best friends, Angharad. Angharad taught Juniper how to spin wool and how to weave. Then she helped Juniper make her doran cloak, which would keep her safe from evil spells and such. After Juniper's time at Euny's was over, she went back to Castle Dore and was about to embark on the greatest adventure of her life. I thought this book was wonderful! I liked Juniper's will to become a doran and how she made it though life out of a castle for a year and a day to live in poverty with Euny. I thought the ending was the best part! I'd recommend this book for mainly ages 9 to 15, but anyone else who wants to read it will be happy they did!

~ Kayla Aldan, 8th grade, Boardman Center Middle School

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Pictures of Hollis Woods is about a girl named Hollis Woods after the place she was abandoned as a baby. She has stayed with many people on her quest for a home and a family. After an accident, she runs away from the Regans, who wanted to keep her, and is put with an old, forgetful woman named Josie. Hollis has many adventures while staying with Josie, and she draws pictures of what she remembers, and looks back at the. The story has a happy ending with a twinge of sadness. 
I can see why this book won a Newbery Honor. Its an enticing story, full of plot twists, and through the whole book, you want to know what made her run away from the Regans, but you don't find out until the end, which reminded me of another book I reviewed called The Truth About Twelve with the same technique used to draw you in. I would recommend this book to anyone from fourth grade to eighth grade. Its a fairly easy read and it goes deep into the meaning of love for Hollis Woods. If anyone were looking for a deep read, I would definitely recommend this book to them.

~ Emma Shebat, 7th grade, Canfield Village Middle School 

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This book is about a cane toad who wants to know why humans hate cane toads. He lives in Australia where his family is constantly being run over. He embarks on a journey to a gas station where he hops onto a truck that takes him to the Olympic games. There he finds out why humans hate cane toads…because we think they are ugly. So Limpy (the toad’s name) decides to become a mascot for the games. He has to travel with his cousin, a very stupid toad who wants to hurt humans, and with an Olympian who is in the finals and takes a liking toward the toads. As they leave the girl Olympian, the toads form an animal Olympics but are disclosed from it. They finally become popular with humans when they help the girl from getting banned because of supposed steroids she used. Limpy had actually scratched her and that was the causing of the “steroids.” In the end, the humans want to stuff toads because they are so popular so Limpy and his cousin become very repulsive creatures so all the toads would be safe.
This is a story that will probably interest readers from grades 5-9. The book was extremely boring and I kept putting it down over and over again. I don’t know about you but I really don’t want to read about a cane toad who keeps his flattened aunts and uncles in his bedroom. It is a boring book, one that I might read again if it was the only book left in my room. I did not like the book at all. The best part was reading all the Australian words in the book. Sometimes the book was exciting, especially at the end, but most of the time it was boring. I did not like it at all.

~Vincent Calautti, grade 9, Boardman High School

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Even though I'm twelve myself, almost all the aspects of Lindy Perkins life are very different from mine. I live a comfortable life, in a nice house, but Lindy lives in a rented shack-like house near the highway. Her dad picks through trash cans to make trash sculptures. She and her dad have gone off the cliff ever since her little sister, Rebecca, died as a small baby. Lindy, A Philadelphian city girl, has to get used to suburban life in Shelbourne, from her knack for getting into trouble to her huge secrets which she hides from her new friends.  

Theresa Martin Golding, the author, has written other books I've never heard of, but may considering reading. At the beginning, I was having trouble getting through, but that was mainly because I was unsuccessfully trying to multitask. Once I abandoned my other activities and sat down to read, I was happy to find that my eyes didn't wander off the page. No, it wasn't utterly terrific, but I read through it with ease.

Through almost the entire book, the reader is left in suspense of Lindy's guilt about her baby sister's death. That's one thing that keeps you reading, you need to find out what happened there. Its a clever trick used by the author to hold your attention and, in this case, it works especially well.  

Lindy is also hiding from her friends and teachers where she lives and who her family is. A popular girl in her grade, Melissa, is determined to get through Lindy's lies. Lindy thinks Melissa will completely humiliate her, and things get worse when she sees a girl she thought she'd left behind at a softball game. This girl, Morgan, knows things about Lindy's past that she could reveal if provoked.  

One thing that was a little strange was Lindy's fear of two dogs living down her street. They were behind an invisible fence, but Lindy tells us she doesn't believe in anything invisible. Lindy thinks said dogs are going to kill her and her brother and then eat their mangled bodies. She throws gravel at them to prevent this, and she thinks the dogs owner is just trying to scare her when Mrs. Petra says she'll call the police. Honestly, though, any good owner would call the police at such unprovoked harassment to her pets, especially that with crazy reasoning behind it, with no basis in fact. Lindy is a fine character otherwise, but as a reader I saw this gesture as quite violent on her part, but I would still recommend this book to someone in fifth or sixth grade, because it shows you a real world that a lot of people dont know.

~ Emma Shebat, 7th grade, Canfield Village Middle School

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Olive Barstow is dead. She was only twelve years old, but a car hit her while she was biking down Monroe street , and she flew across the road, and she was dead. Martha Boyle, the main character, knew Olive, bur was never friends with her. Olive’s mother brings Martha a page from Olive’s journal, which states that Martha is the nicest girl in the class. Martha becomes confused, and the book tells of her vacation shortly after Olive’s death, with many lifelike characters and situations.

Few have known someone young, of their own age, that died. Kevin Henkes, the author, writes as if he is one of the unlucky few that has experienced such trauma. His creation of the character Martha, and the other characters, and their traits, shows great skill as a writer. By the way, you may also know Kevin Henkes as the author of many picture books about mice, as I do. I’ve never read a chapter book of his before, and I think he should write more.

I think this book would be confusing and difficult for anyone under, say, the age of twelve or thirteen to read. Some parts of the book were so sad that I felt like I just couldn’t keep reading, and Martha’s feelings can be pretty intense. I already recommended this book to my friend, because I think the feelings and settings expressed are very well written, and that others should be able to experience the joy and immense healthy sadness that I experienced when I read Olive’s Ocean.

~ Emma Shebat, grade 7, Canfield Village Middle School

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The time was the twenty-first century, the setting London, England. A young girl named Georgia could not withstand her stepbrother Russell and his taunting words. The days stretched on forever in endless misery until one day a small hope sparked up in an old antique shop upon the spotting of an exquisite Etruscan horse model in the window. After Georgia fell asleep that night though, the horse miraculously transported her to another time and place known as Remora, which she later discovered was similar to her present-day Siena, Italy. Soon, venturing to this place at night and returning to England during the day became part of her routine, providing her with a place to meet new friends and escape her terrors at home. Little did she know she would meet a fellow student, believed to be dead in her world, and eventually bring someone else back with her, let alone witness a grueling horse race held once a year between the twelve houses in Remora.

Mary Hoffman's Stravaganza II: City of Stars was a fascinating story with a unique setting. It would probably best suit readers ranging from sixth to ninth grade, but others should also find it enjoyable to read. Although I found it to be a bit confusing at first because various threads of the plot wove into and out of each other, making the story complex and sometimes hard to follow, I tried to keep in mind that I had not yet read its prequel Stravaganza: City of Masks. However, it captivated the reader's attention before the story even began to unfold by means of a secret with an importance so grand that it could eventually affect the entire town. The novel began with two youths who magically met in a world called Talia, one a horse master's son and the other an average but unhappy girl. Then came the introduction of the famous Stellata, a horse race all of Remora and its twelve houses revolved around, and the discovery that it was rigged every year in favor of the royal di Chimici family. Furthermore, while this was occurring, the di Chimicis continuously used politics to entwine several plots to achieve more power in Talia and plot against enemies using extremely cunning methods. Overall, Stravaganza: City of Stars provided a path through a remarkable imaginary world and allowed me as a reader to experience a different taste of life (prequel is The Divide). 

~Rebecca Theophanous, 10th grade, Boardman High School, Boardman, OH

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Ghost Fever is a bilingual book, meaning that each section of a story is written in both English and Spanish. The book is of a somewhat short length already, for a chapter book, so if you, like me, only read the English sections, you can imagine how short the book is, when all is said and done.

The book is about a man named Frank, and his 14-year-old daughter, Elena. They are living in a rental house the landlord rents for free because no one wants to live there. They don’t want to live there, because the house is haunted by the ghost of a girl Elena’s age who died falling off the roof of her house. Elena tried to do a deed the girl requested, and failed. She then came down with a terrible fever, and her grandmother insisted that they complete the task. Once Elena has, the fever goes away almost instantly. The book is always spooky that way.

And interesting style of writing is adopted by Joe Hayes. He writes through a first-person narrator, yet this narrator isn’t one of the characters, really, just someone who knows the stories well. He is actually another child that lives in this same small town.

I don’t think I’d recommend this book to anyone, but I wouldn’t say it was bad. I just couldn’t relate, and the book was slow and drawn out. It was okay, but I wouldn’t read it again.

~ Emma Shebat, , Canfield Village Middle School

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Orban was walking away from Otmound so that he could show off his moves with his new sword. Adara, Orban's sister, had followed him because she was curious to know what he why he was going where he was. Although Orban was annoyed with her presence, he didn't want to get into trouble for not watching her. He knew she was afraid of the Giants and Dorig so when he saw a small bird he said the words that shift the animal back into its true shape. Being that Dorig are shapeshifters, they can become any animal they please, but when words are spoken on it, it cannot change shape again until sundown. In the Dorig's hands was an extremely fine collar that Orban believed was a stolen antique and Adara believed it belonged to the Dorig. Orban demanded the Dorig to give it to him, but since it refused, Orban said he'd kill it if it didn't give him the collar. The Dorig then spoke powerful words over it saying the curse couldn't be lifted until the Three Powers came and asked Orban if he still wanted it. He couldn't take it anymore, so he killed an unarmed Dorig to get a cursed collar which began by causing bad luck to his family and then spread throughout all of Otmound. 

Years later, a man named Gest asked Adara's hand in marriage because he had fallen in love with her. Her father had given Gest what he believed to be three impossible tasks, but Gest had succeeded in all three and then left with Adara. Together they had three children Ayna, Gair, and Ceri in Garholt. Ayna was born with the Gift of Sight which had not been seen in Garholt for two generations. When asked a question about the future, Ayna is able to answer a truthfully. Gair had believed he was just ordinary because people asked him questions and he just said the first thing that came to mind. Not too long after, it was discovered that Ceri had the Gift of Finding Sight which is when you can tell someone where the object is that they're looking for. When their cousin Ondo came, it was Discovered that Ceri also had the Gift of Thought which means you can think something on someone else. The Gift of Thought is also a rare Gift. The last person to have it died over a hundred years before. It wasn't until the three were on a quest to figure out how to keep the Moor from flooding that Gair learned he had the Gift of Sight Unasked which is so rare that there is hardly anything known about it. Together, the three children must use their Gifts to save the Moor, but will they be able to without causing anyone any harm? 

This was a wonderful book! I enjoyed reading about the different Gifts that the children had and how they met Giants and several Dorig as they tried to keep the Moor from being flooded. It's the perfect fantasy for anyone looking for a vacation from everyday life so that they can escape into the lives of these individuals and help them to save their home from a flood. I'd recommend this book for grades 5 to 12 or an adult looking for a nice getaway from bills and taxes. 

~ Kayla Aldan, 8th grade, Boardman Center Middle School

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Just when trouble seemed to calm down a bit for young Felix Sanders and his friends in their own magical world, a vexing villain known as Snakeweed returned with even crazier mad money schemes to become rich and famous. At first, he merely sought after the spell that would allow him to cross the divide and return to his own world. Then his greed led to turning both of Felix's parents into stone for amusement. Eventually, he stole brazzle gold, an otherworld land rover, and various other items without any concern for others. While this was occurring, another japegrin named Fleabane was busy ridding himself of the king and queen of Andria in order to become president of the city. After taking over the palace, he captured all the workers as prisoners and threatened to burn down the famous library. Moreover, Harshak, the most vicious and feared sinistrom, thought to be dead for hundreds of years, was once again released into the midst of the city to return to ripping apart flesh and bone. In an effort to save both Andria and Felix's parents, Felix and his previous friends, as well as several new acquaintances, worked together in numerous adventures to return everything to its natural state. 

Elizabeth Kay's The Return to the Divide creatively allows readers into a magical world of various creatures that interact with each other through events in the novel. For the most part, readers ranging from age eight to twelve would benefit most from Back to the Divide; however, other readers should also learn something from this amazing book. It provides plenty of interesting adventures throughout the magical world, as well as a variety of settings, and the characters continuously come across new problems that allow the plot to remain exciting. Furthermore, once again, Snakeweed and his evil plans always seem to prevail unjustly until near the end of the novel when the characters eventually defeat him. In this intriguing novel containing fascinating magical creatures and locations, as well as various allusions to the natural world and things of the past, Back to the Divide is an excellent continuation of its prequel that truly captivates the true meaning of friendship. 

~Rebecca Theophanous, 10th grade, Boardman High School, Boardman, OH

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~ Emma Shebat, 7th grade, Canfield Village Middle School

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Nobody Was Here: 7th Grade in the Life of Me, Penelope is about a girl who feels like she is growing distant from her best friend, Stacy. She feels like Stacy is making all of the decisions, and she doesn't agree with them. Penelope is starting to feel like a follower of a follower, a nobody. Throughout the story, you will find that she makes friends with a seemingly strange new girl and a rich girl whose parents are getting divorced. At the end of the story, she feels as if she finally belongs. 
This book is set in New York City, in our present time. Penelope, the main character, is finding it hard to deal with seventh grade life, the homework, her friends, and her mother's new helper. She feels like everything is going against her, and she can't solve the problems. I find this book very believable. This book involves a girl in a realistic life setting, with problems that could occur in reality. This book was very interesting, although at times it is hard to figure out what were her dreams and imagination, and what's actually happening in the story. 
I thought that this was a great book. All of the characters are interesting, although some aren't the best people in the world. The book gives people something to relate to, even if the problems aren't exactly the same. This book was exciting with many problems and events, I couldn't stop until I was done reading it. The ending I thought was the best, it really tied up the story, and gave satisfying end. 

~Virginia Li, 6^th Grade, Canfield Village Middle School

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When Ned Kington dies, he leaves his Jamaican sugar plantation to his only daughter, Nancy.  At sixteen Nancy is now a very wealthy girl who becomes a desirable marriage prospect. Her brothers arrange one for her with a neighboring Brazilian planter. Bartholome is cruel and a lot older than Nancy. She knows she cannot marry him if she wants to ever be happy again, so she, along with three other slaves, (one unknowingly her half sister) runs away.
When her newfound haven is threatened by the determined Bartholome, she joins a band of pirates rather than risking the destruction of an entire village. Minerva, her ex-slave and half sister, goes with her.
Together, under Captain Broom, they become notorious pirates. All the while, Nancy searches for William, a sailor to whom she has promised her whole heart. Still, she is chased by Bartholome who will stop at nothing to find her a get his revenge.
The story was a little slow to start but overall it was an excellent book. It shows that the bond of sisters is even stronger than you can imagine. They were drawn together at day one, before they even knew they were sisters, and went through many adventures and trials together, yet through it all, remained close.
Pirates is also a great example of following your heart. William and Nancy were always being separated from each other for one reason or another yet remained loyal to one another and never gave up on the dream that they would one day be together forever.
A terrific book! This story shows how two brave girls followed their hearts and their dreams and still remained true to each other. Nancy Kington and Minerva Sharpe are perfect examples of going against all odds to achieve your goals and follow your dreams.

~Jane Besze, 12th grade, Hubbard High School, Hubbard, Ohio

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~Emma Shebat, 7th grade, Canfield Village Middle School

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Amalee was with her dad and his four best friends who were going out to get pizza. John started complaining about his job when Amalee got a temper and started saying mean things to John. Her dad David, Phyllis, Joyce, and Carolyn were horrified. Amalee's mother died in a car crash after she had walked out on her father. Amalee didn't have any friends at school, but she tried to make friends. She had two friends, Hally and Ellen, but their friendship didn't last long. Ms. Severance, Amalee's favorite teacher, got upset with Amalee when she didn't have her notebooks. Amalee's old friend Lenore invited her to a sleepover but Amalee said she couldn't go because she had to take care of her dad who was suffering from a spine illness. She had to listen to Dr. Nurstrom's orders. The next day Lenore said Amalee was lying about why she couldn't go to the sleepover. Amalee turned around to talk to Lenore and accidentally pushed her down the stairs. Lenore had on a neckbrace and said she would sue Amalee. Amalee's new friend Sarah was trying to help but it didn't work. When Amalee got home Phyllis and Carolyn knew something was wrong so they forced Amalee to tell them. Phyllis decided to bring Amalee to Lenore's house and sort everything out, and it worked. Amalee felt better about going to school the next day. Sarah invited Amalee to the school play Bye Bye Birdie. After the play Sarah went home with Amalee to discover a wonderful surprise. I thought this book was very good because it had the words of the day that Amalee actually learned. I think this book would be better for middle school students. 

~Ashley Aldan, 6th grade, Boardman Center Middle School 

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