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Summary: Set in 1904 these six story tell about Samantha Parkington. She reaches out to her friend who works in the factories. She also learns about the fight for women's right to vote.  Attention Span/reading level: Small chapter books, 8+. I listed to them in the car with my three year old and while she may not understand everything she asks for it every time we get in the car.  Good uses for book in teaching: What working conditions in factories were like in the early 1900's, being a friend, women's voting movement  Favorite part:      Mine: How all the characters work so well together. I really genuinely liked each character in these stories.  Least favorite part: The dog. I really hated almost every part of the story that had the dog in it.  W arnings/negative feedback?: (Spoiler alert*) I appreciated a lot of what Samantha did for Nellie, but she did most of it by sneaking around. She went to a bad part of the city al...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Artemis Fowl is the smartest criminal mastermind in the world, and he's a teenager. But he's mellowing out, becoming less interested in crime. His father is working to make the world a better place as well, so Artemis's life is changing significantly. Let's see what a little trip back in time will do to him. Category YA Fiction Why I chose this book Next in the series My personal opinion (the review) The previous book in the series left me a little disinterested. This one pulled me right back in. It's a fun series, not too serious. There was a tiny bit of romance in there at one point, and I was sad to see it fizzle out. Plenty of action, motion, magic, and plots within plots. Warnings (language, violence, "adult" situations, death, etc.) None Movie rating equivalent PG Protagonist description Artemis is brilliant and frustrating, but he's trying to be better Point of view of story Third, omn...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Scientist Peter Bernhardt has dedicated his life to nanotechnology, the science of manipulating matter on the atomic scale. As the founder of Biogineers, he is on the cusp of revolutionizing brain therapies with microscopic nanorobots that will make certain degenerative diseases become a thing of the past. But after his research is stolen by an unknown enemy, seventy thousand people die in Las Vegas in one abominable moment. No one is more horrified than Peter, as this catastrophe sets in motion events that will forever change not only his life but also the course of human evolution. (from Amazon) Category Fiction Why I chose this book Kindle First My personal opinion (the review) I didn't get past the fourth chapter. Too much bad language. Too bad, too. It seemed like it was going to be good! Warnings Language: frequent and heavy Movie rating equivalent R, for language alone Protagonist description N/A Point of view of sto...

Summary : A set of six stories that take place in 1774 that follow the story of Felicity Meriman. It covers challenges of growing up in pre-revolutionary America. Attention Span/reading level: Small chapter books, ages 8+ Good uses for book in teaching: Conditions in pre-revolutionary America, kindness to those who aren't kind to you, settling differences, manners,  Favorite part:       Child: We listened to these stories in the car and my daughter loved the parts about Felicity's horse Penny.       Mine:  Her relationship with her grandfather Least favorite part: That Jiggy Nye treats Penny so terribly.  W arnings/negative feedback:       The characters drink tea (but Felicity must face how to politely decline tea when her family chooses to stops       drinking it)      Conditions in a  debtors  prison (cold, people sick)      ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) John and Henri are aliens from Lorien, hiding from the Mogadorians here on Earth. John is one of nine survivors of a special race, and Henri is charged with protecting him. They are nomads- never living in large towns, never staying in small towns for more than a few months. They've been on the run for 10 years. As each of the nine dies, the others can feel the loss. The first 3 are dead, John is number 4. Category Sci-Fi Why I chose this book Sounded interesting on the library website My personal opinion (the review) Excellent book! I'm excited about the series. I like the special powers aspect, and that they can be developed with training. I like the small "battles" against minor bad guys, followed by big battles with real bad guys. I like that John, Sam, and Sarah were all down-to-earth, approachable, credible. Even though John has superhuman abilities, he's not cocky or a bully. Warnings Language: rare and mild ...

Summary: Follow the rescue of orphaned polar bear Kali (pronounced Cully) from the Inupiat village of Kali (Point Lay in English) to the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage to his new home at the Buffalo Zoo in New York with Luna, a female polar bear. (Amazon) Attention Span/reading level: I skipped a few details here or there, but was able to read most of it with my three year-old. It's probably meant for kids 5-10 years old.  Good uses for book in teaching: Animal habits, what happens to animals when they are rescued from the wild Favorite part:       Child - The pictures     Mine - Learning about the process of changing an animal from one zoo to another and finding a new friend from Kali.  Least favorite part: Knowing that Kali's mother died.  W arnings/negative feedback: Opening page: "Don't bite me little one...Your Momma just died. Without her, you won't last long out here by yourself." That's blunt if I've ever heard it. I know ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Twins Alex (girl) and Conner (boy) are having a hard time adjusting to life after their father dies. Their mother and grandmother are doing their best to give them love and attention, but life just isn't the same. Through an amazing act of magic, they are transported to the Land of Stories, and must find a way to return. Category YA Fiction Why I chose this book Reviewed by my sister previously (C reviewer) My personal opinion (the review) I had a hard time liking the style of the book. It has some dry humor and complex words that only adults would get, but it has a decidedly kid-centric story line and personality. Alex and Conner are 12 or 13, with all that that entails. The story starts out very detailed, but by the end it zooms by. It's like the author thought, "OK, this has taken long enough. Let's wrap it up." All in all, it was a good book. No bad language, no inappropriate scenes, good lessons taught, and intere...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): Five teenagers have been selected to become part of the new Disney Host Interactive (or DHI program). They are made into holographic hosts for the Magic Kingdom park where they give tours and answer questions about attractions. However, once they fall asleep in their beds at night they wake up in the Magic Kingdom. They soon learn that their help is needed to keep the Magic Kingdom from being overthrown. Category: The library put it in the YA section. I see no reason why it couldn't have been put in the juvenile section.  Why I chose this book: Saw a display for it at the bookstore and a friend put it on their to-read list (Goodreads) My personal opinion: I wanted this to be good. I really did. If for no other reason than it's got 8 books in the series (I enjoy reading series). The premise also sounds pretty cool, right? First, teens turned into holographic tour guides. Seriously cool science. Second, Disney villains running a muck i...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers) After her twin sister’s brutal murder, former US Army Sergeant Allison “Lex” Luther vowed to protect her niece, Charlie. So when two vampires try to kidnap the baby, it quickly turns into a fight to the death—Lex’s death, that is. (from Amazon) Category YA Fantasy Why I chose this book Kindle First My personal opinion (the review) Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches in the modern world. I'll admit that I groaned a little when I first read that. And I truly almost put the book down when I crossed the first f-word. But I justified the language for its density- most chapters are clean, so I "rounded down" in the vulgarity percentage. If it were possible to rip out the bad words, the story line would be just as good. I liked the story and the interaction between the different groups- magical and non-magical, witches and vampires, working class and high class. The characters felt very "real", three-dimensional. All in...

Summary:"Pick whatever you like most. Then I’ll tell you its story." When a little girl visits her great-grandfather at his curio-filled home, she chooses an unusual object to learn about: an old cigar box. What she finds inside surprises her: a collection of matchboxes making up her great-grandfather’s diary, harboring objects she can hold in her hand, each one evoking a memory. Together they tell of his journey from Italy to a new country, before he could read and write — the olive pit his mother gave him to suck on when there wasn’t enough food; a bottle cap he saw on his way to the boat; a ticket still retaining the thrill of his first baseball game. With a narrative entirely in dialogue, Paul Fleischman makes immediate the two characters’ foray into the past. With warmth and an uncanny eye for detail, Bagram Ibatoulline gives expressive life to their journey through time — and toward each other. (Amazon) Attention Span/reading level: At least a full paragraph on each pag...

Summary: A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire? With supple line, luminous color, and nimble flights of fancy, author-illustrator Aaron Becker launches an ordinary child on an extraordinary journey toward her greatest and most exciting adventure of all. (Amazon) Attention Span/reading level: No words, just pictures. I was able to look through it with my three year old, but had to guide her to look for details to explain what was going on. She did quite well at narrating the story for me though. I'd say it's geared toward 5-10 years old, but could be used with any age.  Good uses for...

Summary: Every book needs you to turn the pages. But not every book needs you to tap it, shake it, jiggle it, or even blow it a kiss. Innovative and timeless, Tap the Magic Tree asks you to help one lonely tree change with the seasons. It begins with a bare brown tree. But tap that tree, turn the page, and one bright green leaf has sprouted! Tap again—one, two, three, four—and four more leaves have grown on the next page. Pat, clap, wiggle, jiggle, and see blossoms bloom, apples grow, and the leaves swirl away with the autumn breeze. (Amazon) Attention Span/reading level: Perfect for my three year old. I would say that ages 2-10 would really enjoy something like this. It really keeps kids engaged and makes them feel like part of the story. There is one word to one sentence per page. Good uses for book in teaching: Interaction, that the reader takes part in making the story, what a tree can do (leaves, blossoms, fruit) Favorite part:      Child: The fact that ...

Brief synopsis (no spoilers): What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. Category: YA dystopian Why I chose this b...

Summary: Cat the Cat visits with her friends.  Attention Span/reading level: Easy reader, very  repetitive . Few words, large print. Good for those just learning to read.  Good uses for book in teaching: Reading, cadence, caring for friends  Favorite part:     Child: The  repetitiveness  and predictability of the story (until the "turning" point"). The ending    Mine: The ending Least favorite part?  W arnings/negative feedback?: None.  Review: What's good about these books is their repetitiveness. My three year old gets into the rhythm and can "read the book to me" after only one or two times of reading the book. I like this book in particular because of it's humor and typical Willems "twist." In most of his books you think you see where the story is headed and then something unexpected breaks the mold (both of the story up to that point and of the rhyming pattern itself). Without spoiling anything, ...