Wonder

Title: Wonder
Author: R. J. Palacio
Hannah's Rating: 4 and 1/2 Stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Level: 8-12
Grade Level: 3-7
Pages: 320

Summary: "August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance."

My Review: This was Battle of the Books Books (or as every call them, B.O.B. books), and I enjoyed reading it. It switches to many points of view, but it's engaging and heartwarming. If you read it, make sure to read the Julian Chapter.

I recommend this book for girls and boys ages 9 and up. It's a good book, but it took me a while to get into and through.

Ever

Title: Ever

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Hannah's Rating: 4 and 1/2 Stars

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 8-12

Grade Level: 3-7

Pages: 288

Summary: Falling in love is easy for Kezi, a beautiful mortal, dancer, and rug weaver, and for Olus, Akkan god of the winds. Their love brings Kezi the strength to fight her fate, and it gives Olus the strength to confront his fears. Together—and apart—they encounter spiders with webs of iron, the cruel lord of the land of the dead, the mysterious god of destiny, and the tests of the Akkan gods. If they succeed, they will be together; but if they fail, Olus will have to endure the ultimate loss, and Kezi will have to make the supreme sacrifice.

My review: I think that it is a very interesting book. When I read it over the summer, i read straight for 3 hours and nearly finished it. 

I recommend this book for girls and boys (but mostly girls) who enjoy fantasy. 

Ella Enchanted

Title: Ella Enchanted

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Hannah's Rating: 5 Stars

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 8-12

Grade Level: 3-7

Pages: 240

Summary: "How can a fairy's blessing be such a curse? At her birth, Ella of Frell was given a foolish fairy's gift—the "gift" of obedience. Ella must obey any order given to her, whether it's hopping on one foot for a day or chopping off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not tamely accept her fate. She goes on a quest, encountering ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, fairy godmothers, and handsome princes, determined to break the curse—and live happily ever after."

My review: This book is much like Cinderella with some twists. Not at all like the movie!!! The book is way better!

I recommend this book for girls and boys (though boys might not want to read it) who are ages 8-11, or grades 3-6. 

Fairest

Title: Fairest

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Hannah's Rating: 4 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Age Level: 8-12

Grade Level: 3-7

Pages: 352

Summary: Aza's singing is the fairest in all the land, and the most unusual. She can "throw" her voice so it seems to come from anywhere. But singing is only one of the two qualities prized in the Kingdom of Ayortha. Aza doesn't possess the other: beauty. Not even close. She's hidden in the shadows in her parents' inn, but when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the new queen, she has to step into the light—especially when the queen demands a dangerous favor. A magic mirror, a charming prince, a jealous queen, palace intrigue, and an injured king twine into a maze that Aza must penetrate to save herself and her beloved kingdom.

My review: This book is not as good as ella enchanted in my opinion, but still pretty good. Like Ella Enchanted, it's based of a fairy tale. 

I recommend this book for girls at least older than 9 and who likes fairy tales with twists.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Title: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Author: Chris Grabenstein

Hannah's Rating: 4 and 1/2 stars

Genre: Fiction

Age Level: 8-12

Grade Level: 3-7

Pages: 320

Summary: "Kyle Keeley is the class clown and a huge fan of all games—board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the construction of the new town library. Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot as one of twelve kids invited for an overnight sleepover in the library, hosted by Mr. Lemoncello and riddled with lots and lots of games. But when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must solve every clue and figure out every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route!"

My review: I read this for Battle of the Books and think it's a great read. Super fun and easy going, and it's like the kids are in a game show. 

I recommend this book for any boy or girl who likes adventure and a story that you can't put down.

A Little Princess (Adapted)

Title: A Little Princess (Junior Classics for Young Readers)
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Hannah's Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction


Age Level: 8 and up
Grade Level: 3 and up
Pages: 178

Summary: "Sara Crewe looks like a little princess - that's what her schoolmates say when Sara's rich father brings her to Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for girls.  Yet when Sara's fortunes vanish and she must live as a servant in a cold attic room, she proves that being a real princess takes heart, hope, and perhaps a little Magic."

Hannah's Review: I like this book because it's magical.  My favorite part of the book was when her dad came back from the war.  She was so happy.

I would recommend this book to any girl who likes an old-fashioned story.  I will review The Secret Garden once I read it.

about the author: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett (24 November 1849 – 29 October 1924) was an English playwright and author. She is best known for her children's stories, in particular The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy.

When her father died, the family was forced to sell their home and move to Salford, England. When she was sixteen, the family emigrated to Knoxville, Tennessee.

In 1872 she married Swan Burnett. They lived in Paris for two years, where their two sons were born, before returning to the United States to live in Washington D.C. When her oldest son died of Tuberculosis, she was very sad.  She divorced her husband and remarried, but it only lasted a year.  She died in New York at age 74.

We have a few things in common.  My little sister's name is Eliza.  I used to live in Tennessee.  And Frances died on my birthday, October 29.  I do wish Frances would have made different choices so she could have had a happier life.  I was sad to hear about the sad parts of her life.

Little Women (Adapted)

Title: Little Women (Junior Classics for Young Readers)
Author: Louisa May Alcott
Hannah's Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction


Age Level: 8 and up
Grade Level: 3 and up
Pages: 178

Summary: "Little Women is the story of four girls - pretty Meg, headstrong Jo, sweet Beth and spoiled Amy - growing up with plenty of spirit but little money during the Civil War era in New England. Little Women is more than a story. It is a timeless book of lessons, a classic tale of laughter and tears, and a tribute to home and family."

Hannah's Review: I like this book because it's a sweet story about sisters.  My favorite part of the book was when their dad came home from the civil war.

I would recommend this book to any girl who likes old-fashioned sweet stories and friendship.

about the author: Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888) was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women.

The Alcott girls were mostly educated at home. "I never went to school," Louisa wrote, "except to my father or such governesses as from time to time came into the family. . . . so we had lessons each morning in the study. And very happy hours they were to us, for my father taught in the wise way which unfolds what lies in the child's nature as a flower blooms, rather than crammed it, like a Strasburg goose, with more than it could digest. I never liked arithmetic nor grammar . . . but reading, writing, composition, history, and geography I enjoyed, as well as the stories read to us with a skill peculiarly his own."

Running in the Concord woods early one fall morning, she stopped to see the sunshine over the meadows. "A very strange and solemn feeling came over me as I stood there," she wrote in her journal, "with no sound but the rustle of the pines, no one near me, and the sun so glorious, as for me alone. It seemed as if I felt God as I never did before, and I prayed in my heart that I might keep that happy sense of nearness all my life."

Poverty made it necessary for Alcott to go to work at an early age as an occasional teacher, seamstress, governess, domestic helper, and writer. When the American Civil War broke out, she served as a nurse in the Union Hospital at Georgetown, D.C., for six weeks.

Louisa May Alcott never married. She was a guardian for her sister's daughter and adopted a nephew. Two days after her father died, Louisa died of a stroke at the age of 55.

Anne of Green Gables - Abridged

Title: Anne of Green Gables (Dover Thrift Classics - Abridged)
Author: L.M. Montgomery
Hannah's Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction


Age Level: 8 and up
Grade Level: 3 and up
Pages: 91

Summary: "Among the most popular and enduring children's books of the first half of the twentieth century, Anne of Green Gables tells the story of an endearingly talkative and precocious 11-year-old orphan who comes to live on the farm of an elderly brother and sister on Prince Edward Island. Red-haired and irrepressible, Anne causes a major disruption in the quite lives of Matthew and Marilla Cuthburt, the people who take her in, but her honesty, intelligence, and good heart soon make her the light of their lives and the object of great affection in the community. Newly abridged and enhanced with six new illustrations, this warm and nostalgic tale will enchant readers today as it has since its first publication in 1908"

Hannah's Review: I like this book because it's funny how much she loves "puff" sleeves.  My favorite part of the book was when Anne died her hair green.

I would recommend this book to any girl who likes funny stories and adventures.  I'm excited to read the real Anne of Green Gables series when I get older.

about the author: L.M. Montgomery

Lucy Maud Montgomery lived from November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942. She was born on Prince Edward Island in Canada.

Her mother, Clara, died of tuberculosis when Maud was 21 months old. She was raised by her grandparents who were very strict. She had a very lonely childhood. To cope with her loneliness she created imaginary friends and worlds.

She married a minister, Ewan, when she was 34.  They had 3 boys.  The second baby was still born.  Even though she shared so much joy through her stories, she lived a sad life caring for her husband who was mentally ill.

During her lifetime, Montgomery published 20 novels, 500 short stories, an autobiography, and a book of poetry.  Her most-loved story was Anne of Green Gables.

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters

Title: Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters
Author: Lesley M. M. Blume
Hannah's Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction


Age Level:  8 and up
Grade Level:  3 and up
Pages: 264

Summary: "Eleven-year-old Cornelia is the daughter of two world-famous pianists—a legacy that should feel fabulous, but instead feels just plain lonely. She surrounds herself with dictionaries and other books to isolate herself from the outside world. But when a glamorous neighbor named Virginia Somerset moves next door with her servant Patel and a mischievous French bulldog named Mister Kinyatta, Cornelia discovers that the world is a much more exciting place than she had originally thought."

Hannah's Review: I like this book because it has a lot of adventures about the Somerset Sisters.  My favorite part of the book was when they went to India and met Patel.  Patel was an orphan and Virginia let him come with her and her sisters on their adventures in India.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventures.

about the author: Lesley M. M. Blume

Lesley M. M. Blume is an author, journalist, columnist, and cultural observer based in New York City. She is the daughter of a classical pianist and a journalist. She has written 3 children's books including "Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters."

The Penderwicks

Title: The Penderwicks
Author: Jeanne Birdsall
Hannah's Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: "This summer the Penderwick sisters have a wonderful surprise: a holiday on the grounds of a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon they are busy discovering the summertime magic of Arundel’s sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. But the best discovery of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel’s owner, who quickly proves to be the perfect companion for their adventures. The icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is not as pleased with the Penderwicks as Jeffrey is, though, and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble. Which, of course, they will—won’t they? One thing’s for sure: it will be a summer the Penderwicks will never forget."

Hannah's Review: I like this book because it's so funny.  It just is.  My favorite part of the book was when Rosalind meets Cagney because she liked him.

I would recommend this book to any kid who likes funny stories and adventures. It is recommended for age 8+.

This is the first book in the series.  I haven't read the 2nd or 3rd books because they are just coming out.

about the author: Jeanne Birdsall

Jeanne Birdsall wrote The Penderwick Series.

"Jeanne Birdsall grew up in the suburbs west of Philadelphia, where she attended wonderful public schools. Jeanne had lots of great teachers, but her favorites were: Mrs. Corkhill, sixth grade, who encouraged her intellectual curiosity; Mr. Tremonte, eighth grade algebra, who taught Jeanne to love and respect math; and Miss Basehore, second and fourth year Latin, to whom Jeanne (and Mr. Penderwick) will be forever grateful. 

"Although she first decided to become a writer when she was ten years old, it took Jeanne until she was forty-one to get started.

"In the years in between, Jeanne had many strange jobs to support herself, and also worked hard as a photographer, the kind that makes art.

"Jeanne's home now is with her husband in Northampton, Massachusetts. Their house is old and comfortable, full of unruly animals, and surrounded by gardens."

Peter and the Sword of Mercy

Title: Peter and the Sword of Mercy
Author: Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Hannah's Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy

Summary: "The year is 1901—it’s been twenty-three years since Peter and the Lost Boys returned from Rundoon. Since then, nobody on the island has grown a day older, and the Lost Boys continue their friendship with the Mollusk tribe and their rivalry with Captain Hook. Meanwhile, in London, Molly has married George Darling and is raising three children: Wendy, Michael, and John. One night, a visitor appears at her door; it’s James, one of Peter’s original Lost Boys. He is now working for Scotland Yard and suspects that the heir to England’s throne, Prince Albert Edward, is under the influence of shadow creatures. These shadow creatures are determined to find a secret cache of starstuff, which fell to London many centuries ago. The starstuff is hidden in an underground vault, which has only one key: the Sword of Mercy, a legendary weapon kept with the crown jewels. Molly is determined to locate and protect, but when she suddenly goes missing, it is up to her eleven-year-old daughter, Wendy, to keep it out of the Others’ clutches. Wendy has heard her mother’s stories of a flying boy named Peter Pan, and he may be her only hope of saving the world from a shadowy doom. . . ."

Hannah's Review: I like this book because Peter meets Wendy, Molly's daughter.  My favorite part of the book was when Peter rescued Wendy because Wendy was falling from the flying train.

I would recommend this book to any kid who likes adventures and Peter Pan. It is recommended for 4th-6th graders(age 9+), but I was able to read it in 2nd Grade (age 8).

This is the fourth book in the series.  The fifth book in this series, The Bridge to Never Land, will be released in June 2012 and hopefully I can check it out of the library, read it, and share my review here on this site.

Peter and the Secret of Rundoon

Title: Peter and the Secret of Rundoon
Author: Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Hannah's Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy

Summary: "In this action-packed third installment in the Starcatchers series, Peter and Molly find themselves in the dangerous land of Rundoon, ruled by an evil king who enjoys watching his pet snake consume those who displease him. But that’s just the beginning of problems facing our heroes, who once again find themselves pitted against the evil shadow-creature Lord Ombra in a struggle to save themselves, not to mention the planet. It’s a wild desert adventure, with rockets, carpets, and camels all flying through the air, zooming toward an unforgettable climax... "

Hannah's Review: I like this book because everything is exciting with the rocket.  My favorite part of the book was when Peter saved Tinkerbell because she was going to drown.

I would recommend this book to any kid who likes adventures and Peter Pan. It is recommended for 5th graders(age 10+), but I was able to read it in 2nd Grade (age 8).

This is the third book in the series.

Peter and the Shadow Thieves

Title: Peter and the Shadow Thieves
Author: Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Hannah's Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy

Summary: "In this riveting and adventure-packed follow-up to Peter and the Starcatchers, we discover Peter leaving the relative safety of Mollusk Island—along with his trusted companion Tinker Bell—for the cold, damp streets of London. On a difficult journey across the sea, he and Tink discover the dark and deadly, slithering part-man/part-creature Lord Ombra. It seems that the dreaded Ombra has a variety of mysterious powers including the ability to make shadows disappear. When Peter reaches London, he sets out to find the indomitable Molly. Together they must combat Ombra’s terrible forces to both protect the Starcatchers and the treasured starstuff and most importantly to rescue Molly’s mother from the clutches of evil."

Hannah's Review: I like this book because the shadow thieves are interesting but the leader is scary (but not too scary though!).  My favorite part of the book was when Peter saved Molly because it was cool.

I would recommend this book to any kid who likes adventures and Peter Pan. It is recommended for 5th graders, but I was able to read it in 2nd Grade.

This is the second book in the series.

Peter and the Star Catchers

Title: Peter and the Star Catchers
Author: Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Hannah's Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy

Summary: "Don't even think of starting this book unless you're sitting in a comfortable chair and have lots of time. A fast-paced, impossible-to-put-down adventure awaits as the young orphan Peter and his mates are dispatched to an island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They set sail aboard the Never Land, a ship carrying a precious and mysterious trunk in its cargo hold-and the journey quickly becomes fraught with excitement and danger. Discover richly developed characters in the sweet but sophisticated Molly, the scary but familiar Black Stache, and the fearless Peter. Treacherous battles with pirates, foreboding thunderstorms at sea, and evocative writing immerse the reader in a story that slowly and finally reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved Peter Pan."

Hannah's Review: I LOVE this book because it's so magical and cool.  My favorite part of the book was when Peter finds out about the star catchers because it's cool that he can fly permanently.

I would recommend this book to any kid who likes adventures and Peter Pan. It is recommended for 5th graders, but I was able to read it in 2nd Grade.

This is the first book in the series.

about the authors: Ridley Pearson, Dave Barry

Ridley Pearson began writing at the age of ten when he taught himself to touch type and found himself with nothing to type. ... Ridley is the #1 nationally bestselling author of a dozen YA novels and picture books, including the Peter and the Starcatchers series and the Neverland Books. ... He and his wife, Marcelle, have two daughters, Paige and Storey. (That's right: page and story.)

Dave Barry has written 30 or so books. Most of them are for adults, but he wrote Peter and the Starcatchers with his fellow band member, Ridley Pearson. I don't think my parents would like me to read any of his other books except the ones about Peter Pan and Neverland.