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Review by Kennedy H.

Who would like this book? People who love a fun-filled, high-spirited book with a plot twist at the end would like this book. Ages about 11 and up.

The goods on this book: Logan Sweet has waited 12 years to enter the candy contest along with Myles, Philip, and Daisy. Their whole future will be determined on one extraordinary candy. They face many conflicts as they proceed with the candy making process and the contest itself! This book keeps you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know more! I would definitely recommend this book if someone asked.

The details: 453 pages; 2010          Review by Kennedy H.

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Who would like this book? Readers looking for a funny book that has something for everyone will find it in Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman with illustrations by Skottie Young.

The goods on this book: Narrated by the serious brother, the wacky plot starts out with a common family dilemma: they are out of milk. Unfortunately for this particular family, their highly capable mother has left, so their father must now take on the responsibility of going to the shop on the corner to pick up some milk.

The brother and sister wait and wait for “Ages and ages” for their father to return with the milk. When he arrives back home with the milk (fortunately), he must explain what took him so long. His explanation catapults the book into a convoluted, fantastical adventure in which the hapless father saves the world.

It turns out that their father, after purchasing the milk, was whisked up into the spaceship of globby green aliens bent on redecorating the Earth with plastic flamingoes. He escapes their threats and falls through the space-time continuum into a pirate ship, where he stands up to the Queen of Pirates, insisting that he must help his children with their breakfast instead of joining her. He demands to walk the plank, from which he is rescued by the time-traveling stegosaurus Professor Steg in the “Floaty-Ball-Person-Carrier.”

At this point in the book, the father’s wild ride has just begun. As he and Professor Steg try to return him to his children and their breakfast, they encounter a parade of preposterous characters that will delight any reader with a silly bone. The added complexity of Professor Steg’s Time Machine will captivate the reader who prefers to figure out puzzling plot twists that offer simple amusement on the surface but carry social commentary for those inclined to notice.

The imaginative pen-and-ink illustrations by Skottie Young also work on two levels, both as wonderful illustrations that complement the text and also as part of the story itself. One wonders about whether the text motivated the illustrations or vice versa.

It’s tempting to read this book quickly and be entertained by its hilarity, but rewards await those who take the time to savor the book’s language and consider its careful construction. Many satisfying discoveries hide in the humor of both text and illustrations in Fortunately, the Milk!

The details: 101 pages, 2013           Review by Samrarian

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Review by Sophie U.

Who would like this book? Anyone who likes mysteries would like this book.

The good on this book: The Clue in the Diary (Nancy Drew #7) by Carolyn Keene takes place in the towns River Heights, Stanford, and Sandy Creek. In this mystery, Nancy Drew and her friends, Bess Marvin, George Fayne, and Ned Nickerson, are trying to find a thief, clear an unjustly accused man, and help a family that needs money. Things get more difficult when people start getting framed. Will they find the man they are looking for? The moral of the story is that you should not believe everything you hear. Filled with action and hidden clues, this book is great for anyone who loves mysteries.

The details: 174 pages; 1990      Review by Sophie U.

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Review by Nick H.

Who would like this book?  Fans of the first and second book in The Genius series would like this book. Read those books first.

The goods on this book: Cadel is living a completely normal life in Sydney, Australia, until Prosper English, alias Thaddeus Roth, returns. Prosper being back makes it so Cadel has to go back to the safe house. Cadel hates it. He see seven video clips of Prosper walking across a street. Cadel watches the clip multiple times and remembers what he heard about a digital double. Cadel realizes that Prosper is not actually in Sydney, so Cadel gets out of the safe house. Cadel tries to figure out where Prosper is and stop him from putting Cadel’s friends in the hospital. Read the book to find out what happens! I thought this book was amazing. I loved the mystery. Prosper may be the villain, but he is still my favorite character.

The details: 378 pages, 2009    Review by Nick H.

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Review by Aidan S.

Who would like this book? People who would like this book could be ages 10 and up.

The goods on this book: The book Ten by Gretchen McNell is one of my favorite murder mysteries. Ten teenagers spend three days at an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Suddenly, people are dying and it’s up to the surviving teens to figure out who the killer is. A huge storm hits the island and knocks out the power, so there is no way of escaping. Can Meg, the main character, figure out who the murderer is before it’s too late? I think this book is great for kids who love a great thriller. The author uses descriptive, suspenseful words to help keep the reader captivated. I think everyone who reads this will not be disappointed.

The details: 294 pages; 2013     Review by Aidan S.

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Review by Aidan S.

Who would like this book? I think this book is great for ages ten and up.

The goods on this book: A girl named Noa wakes up on a metal bed with an IV in her arm. Later she finds out that wherever she was, it wasn’t a good place. She made a plan to escape and get out of there as fast as she can. She was an orphan at a young age and had learned how to find money and stay under the radar from cops. She feels this aching pain in her chest and found that there was a big bandage there. She knew that the people she escaped from had done something to her. The book introduces a new character, Peter, and together they help find out what happened to Noa and try and stop them from experimenting on other kids. I thought that this book was a great thriller and a cool mystery.

The details: 310 pages; 2012   Review by Aidan S.

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Review by Nick Y.

Who would like this book? If you have read A Christmas Carol, you’d probably love to read The Chimes. This book has a great moral and is greatly written. It may be difficult for someone who doesn’t know many archaic English words.

The goods on this book: The Chimes is a story about Toby Veck (better known as Trotty Veck) who is in his sixties and is very, very poor. When his daughter comes to him and asks for his blessing to get married, what would he say? Trotty Veck seems to have this gift with these chimes that can tell him of burdens or of great fortunes. But when Trotty got up to the chimes (of a church), he saw something much different than just chimes.

The details 96 pages; originally published in 1844    Review by Nick Y.

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Who would like this book? Readers, 12 and up, who like actin-packed, edge of-your-seat thrillers.

The goods on this book: Don’t Turn Around starts with Noa, a 16-year-old foster kid runaway, waking up on a metal bed with no memory of where she is or how she got there. Noa does remember how to be resourceful, cunning, and courageous: she escapes with hair-raising flair. Meanwhile, a wealthy young suburbanite, Peter, gets a brutal surprise after stumbling into the protected website of a secret enterprise that involves his parents. Though Noa and Peter seem to have nothing in common, their skills with hacking bring them together. When they discover that they also share the same enemy who is relentlessly tracking them, they join forces to try to elude the thugs who will stop at nothing to capture them. This book offers plenty of action and many intriguing plot twists but doesn’t reconcile many incongruities in the world in which they live. It also doesn’t offer any closure. Be ready with the second book in the trilogy (Don’t Look Now)  since Don’t Turn Around ends on a cliff-hanger.

The details: 310 pages; 2012   Review by Samrarian

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Review by Spencer D.

Who would like this book? Anyone who read the first two books and who wants to read about retired spies, adventure, mystery, and other amazing stuff like that. Also, those who love good books by Roland Smith!

The goods on this book: This book takes place in Washington D.C., where Q and Angela find out Boone has unusual powers! He can do the impossible and appears to be ageless! Same with Croc, Boone’s old dog, who is older than 12 (human) years!  Q and Angela follow the president’s daughter, Bethany, who was kidnapped by terrorists, and is riding in a truck to Kitty Hawk Harbor! What is going on with Boone and Croc? Why are they supposedly ageless? Why was Bethany kidnapped? And why is Malak now in “The Five”? Find out when you read more about I.Q.!

The details: 229 pages; 2012    Review by Spencer D.

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Review by Spencer D.

Who would like this book? Anyone who read the first book and who likes to read about mystery, secret service agents, agent stuff, and more! (Come on, I’m not going to spoil it!)

The goods on this book: In this book, Angela and Q meet Malak, the Angel, who is secretly taking her twin sister’s place. That sister was Anmar, who died November 30, and everyone thought it was Malak. Only a select few knew of her twin sister, and now, Q and Angela know, too! Mystery rises as the White House is under attack by a ghost cell, and Mr. Potus, or POTUS, President Of The United States, knows a lot more than you’d think! He has some old friends, (more like Some Old Spooks, or SOS) who need help from Malak herself, and everyone wants to know: Who is attacking the White House? Who can we trust? Well, you don’t need a high IQ to know you; just read the book! 😀

The details: 256 pages; 2010    Review by Spencer D.

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