Mrs. Sheskey's Summer Reads!

Deep and Dark and Dangerous!

Hannah

Deep and Dark and Dangerous

ISBN-13: 978-0-547-07

Mary Downing Hahn

Mystery

Have you ever found yourself wallowing in a mystery? Ali has, for sure. When Ali’s aunt, Darcie, comes by and asks Ali if she would like to come to the cottage with her and Darcie’s daughter, Emma, Ali’s mother suddenly starts to freak out. Earlier, Ali had found a torn picture of Aunt Darcie, Ali’s mother, and a strange girl who has been torn out. Later at the cottage, Ali sees Emma playing with a girl in a faded blue swimsuit. The girl’s name is Sissy and she is not very nice. Sissy influences Emma to do the meanest things. Who was the strange girl in the torn picture? Why didn’t Ali’s mother want Ali to go to the cottage? Why is Sissy making Emma do all these mean things? Little did Ali know, the cottage held the scariest mystery of all. Will anything ever be the same again?

This book is easily in my top five favorite books (and I’ve read a lot). I wouldn’t change anything in this book. There are many mysteries Ali needs to solve. This book I could not (and I mean could not) put down! The book is like a vortex, you enter the eerie Maine cottage with Emma, Ali, Sissy, and Darcie. Deep and Dark and Dangerous is filled with creepy mysteries and every turn of the page unlocks a clue to this frightening ghost story.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to sit around the campfire and tell scary stories. I give this book 5 stars. This book has a great plot, and always keeps you entertained. 187 pages of pure mystery, starting on page 1. Happy reading! If you like Mary Downing Hahn check out these scary books: The Doll in the Garden, All the Lovely Bad Ones, and Wait till Helen Comes.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer!

Ben

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer

James L Swanson

ISBN:0-439-90354-8

Historical Fiction

“He cocked the hammer into firing position. His hand reached for the doorknob.” Follow John Wilkes Booth on his twelve-day journey as he assassinated President Lincoln. From Washington DC through Maryland and Virginia, he hid for twelve days. On his attempted escape from capture, he braved swamps and survived in a forest. All in the hope of avoiding capture from man hunters after him.

In April 9, 1865 the Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. The bloody Civil War was over! John Wilkes Booth, being mad at President Lincoln because President Lincoln freed the slaves, shot President Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre on Good Friday. John Wilkes Booth then escaped, and after some near captures, John Wilkes Booth left the United States and entered the remaining Confederate States (Southern States). I liked this book because it makes you feel like you are with John Wilkes Booth on his journey of betrayal. This book gives detailed information, like when John Booth crosses the Navy Yard Bridge and his sneaky lies. I enjoyed the part in the theatre; it is suspenseful as Booth gets ready to assassinate President Lincoln. The book does lack some information like what did Booth say when he was hiding in a forest? It would be very hard to find that now. It is written as if John Booth is speaking, so you can understand his character.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about President Lincoln or his assassin. This book makes you feel like you are really there. You learn John Booth’s inner thoughts. When John Booth was hiding in the woods, you feel like John Booth with little information about the outcome of assassination. In addition you feel the sadness of President Lincoln’s death, and learn about John Wilkes Booth’s plans to divide the Union.

New TEEN Authors! New Books!

I just spent the last two days at the Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books!! It was, in a word, wonderful! Two whole days of meeting authors, listening to how they great their great ideas, go through the writing process, from research to publishing. I am so inspired I don't know what I want to do first...start reading , or get out a notebook and write! I just wish all of my students that love to read and write could have been there too.

I actually met three teen authors that have published books. Markelle Garbo, author of The Elf Girl, is from New Berlin. She knew she wanted to be a writer when she was in fifth grade (sound familiar anyone?). She wrote Elf Girl when she was only 16. Now a senior in high school, she has already written several more books in the series and has plans for other books. I will definitely be reading her book this summer along with several others from the festival.

Just Ella

Alyssa R

Just Ella

ISBN:0-689-82186-7

Margaret Peterson Haddix

Do you like the original Cinderella story? You know, the classic princess story- a girl escapes her evil stepmother, sweeps into the ball, wins the prince, and lives happily ever after. Right? Wrong! In Just Ella, a country girl is a servant to her evil stepmother, and she wants to make a living in life. So, she goes to the ball in search of someone who will employ her as a tutor. A strange man asks her to dance, and, as it turns out, he’s the prince! Now Ella is living the sweet life at the castle. Until she has to learn boring princess lessons. This leads her to a harsh awakening, she love the prince! So, she tells the prince that and they get into a little tussle. That lands her in the dungeon until the wedding, so she won’t cause anymore trouble. Will Ella be able to escape before the wedding?

This fiction story is full of Ella’s trying adventures. You’ll have to read the book to see what I mean. One of this book’s many strengths is that it can relate to many readers. I mean, wouldn’t you ( if you’re a girl) like to marry a handsome prince? Live in a life of servants waiting on you hand and foot? Would you try to escape if you find out that the prince is actually, as they say in the book, Prince Boring? The only weakness that I found in this book was that there was some words that were hard to understand.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, romance gone wrong, comedy, and, of course, a little bit of girl power. While I was reading this book, I just could not put it down because I was wondering ,what would happen to Ella? Other books by Margaret Peterson Haddix are: Among the Hidden, Running out of time, and Leaving Fishers.

Alex Rider Ark Angel

Alex M

Alex Rider Ark Angel

Anthony Horowitz

ISBN: 0-399-24152-3

Mystery/Adventure

Do you like secret agent/spy mystery adventures? Alex Rider Ark Angel is about a 14 year old boy named Alex, who wants to be normal. No, he doesn’t shoot fire or launch missiles out of his toes. But he is a spy. When he saves a boy his age, named Paul Drevin, everything causes disorder. Paul’s dad, Nikolai Drevin, is a Russian billionaire who built the first ever space hotel, Ark Angel. He invites Alex on a vacation to Flamingo Bay to watch the launch. But soon Alex is questioning this father. Alex finds out that he has planted a bomb in Ark Angel that will blow it down at Washington. Will Alex be able to save the world? Again?

I really like how the book slowly gives you the feeling that something is wrong. Drevin took Alex to a soccer game, but something was wrong. Next minute he was captured by a group named Force Three. What I don’t like about the book is that it is not the first book in the series, so it may throw you off. It will help if you read the other ones first.

I recommend this book to people who like action packed adventures. Also mysteries and lies make this book a cliffhanger so you keep reading. Once you start the series, you won’t stop. They are remarkable books. Each one of them is an outstanding action packed adventure waiting to be read!

The Last Olympian

Chris

The Last Olympian

Rick Riordan

ISBN: 978-0-329-72209-8

Mythology

Did you ever fight a monster? In the book The Last Olympian Percy does. Percy and his army of demi-gods have a war against the Titan army in New York. During the war Percy’s brother Tyson (a Cyclops) has his brothers (more Cyclops) help them. Also Chiron Percy’s trainer gets all his brothers to help. Will they beat the Titans or will Mt.Olympus be destroyed?

I liked the action of this book it kept me on the edge of my seat. The things I dislike about this book are the dreams. They usually make no sense, or are very confusing. The author is very descriptive, and has very good hooks. I also don’t like when they turn flowers into things or the other way around.

In conclusion I recommend this book to readers 8+. I do this because it has pretty big words little kids wouldn’t know. For example Pegasus, commando, and scorched are tough words. Before you read this you should read the books before this The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titans Curse, and The battle in the Labyrinth. I hope you enjoy The Last Olympian.

The First in the Hunger Games Trilogy!

Danny

December 1, 2010

Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

ISBN 978-0-439-023528

Science Fiction

The Hunger Games is the best book I’ve read by far and I give it an absolute 2 thumbs up. North America is destroyed by terrible raging storms and creates a country known as Panem divided into 12 districts. In this science fiction packed book 2 tributes from each district a boy and a girl between the ages of 12-18 are chosen randomly to compete in the annual Hunger games. The 24 tributes compete in an arena made by the capital, which could be just about any environment, killing each other, until last one standing is crowned winner. Who gets picked to compete? Who is victor of the games? Why were the games created? The only way you can find out is if you read the book.

This book only had strengths, no weaknesses what so ever. Every page builds up suspense like when they’re competing. Almost every single chapter ends in cliffhangers for example when in the arena main characters come face to face like Katniss and Cato. The most unexpected events happen in this book like kills, injuries, and victories. Only a few from Katniss who competes in the arena with her ally Rue but others seem to be built like killing machines.

I would recommend this book to any one 11 and older, even if you don’t like science fiction. Even my mom who is not at all a fan of any science fiction loves this book. Some reasons why you might like this book is because there is true friendship between Katniss and Rue but bitter enemies like them and Cato. The Hunger Games also includes a faked relation ship between 2 tributes from district 12 Katniss and Peeta, flinging fireballs, and a pack of mutated wolfs. The thrilling sequel to this book is Catching Fire and I highly recommend any one who reads Hunger Games to read it.

Kidnapped!

Jessica

December 1, 2010

Kidnapped Book One: The Abduction

Gordon Korman

ISBN 0-439-84777-X

Realistic Fiction

Do you like books that have you at the edge of your seat, or that leave you wondering what will happen next? If so, Kidnapped Book One: The Abduction, by Gordon Korman is obviously for you. This Realistic Fiction is about a girl, named Meg Falconer, daughter of alleged terrorists, John and Louise Falconer. Many people believe the Falconers are guilty, even though proven innocent. Now the Falconers are back to living a normal life, or so they thought. In a matter of seconds, Meg was kidnapped as her brother Aiden watched in horror. Is this an act of revenge, or are the kidnappers in it for money? What lengths will the Falconers go to, to get their precious Meg back?

In this book, I get a new meaning of the word family. The Falconers even call in the hated Agent Harris (the person from the FBI that arrested John and Louise Falconer) to try and find their beloved Meg. Also, this was a real page-turner because I felt that I was there in the very room with the Falconers as they went through this terrible ordeal. I felt like I was hearing about this and seeing their terrified faces on the 5:00 news. There are also lots of surprises in the story. Like when one of the kidnappers wanted to play paper airplanes with Meg. Have you ever heard of any kidnappers who “play” with their prisoners?

I strongly recommend this book for kids 4-6 grade. I have to warn you though, this book is so suspenseful that you won’t want to put it down. It’s very suspenseful because you can feel the tension in the air, as the FBI goes to investigate a sighting of a girl that fits Meg’s description. Was it her? Could this finally be the end of the Falconer saga? Or is it too good to be true? Also, when you finish this book, there are other flabbergasting choices about the Falconer saga, before Meg’s kidnapping, like the On the Run series. Some of the books are, Hunting the Hunter, Public Enemies, and The Stowaway Solution.

The Report Card

Nathan

December 1^st 2010

Report Card

Andrew Clements

ISBN-13: 978-0-439-90678-4

Realistic fiction

The Report Card

Have you ever gotten bad grades? It doesn’t feel good. The Report Card by Andrew Clements is about a genius a named Nora who keeps her talents a secret. Her best friend Stephen got a bad grade on the CMT (Connecticut Mastery Test) so she gets Ds for him. She is trying to prove that grades don’t matter and she has a plan. Will this plan work? Read this book now if you want to know.

This book’s strength is that kids are doing amazing things that can really happen. Also this book uses easy understandable words the reader can read. This book has no pictures and puts all the imagination into the words. This can also be a weakness for visual learners though. This is a great book for creative people.

I recommend this book to all ages, because it is fun and is appropriate for younger readers. This book can help younger readers’ reading knowledge get better. This is a great book with an outstanding story. This books genre is realistic fiction. You should really read this book.