Wishes, Kisses and Pigs by Betsy Hearne

Wishes, Kisses and Pigs by Betsy Hearne is mostly about a little girl named Louise who tries to learn magic and spells.  Did she turn her brother into a pig?  What will break the spell?  Why is her father missing?  Can her mother help?  You'll have to read the book to find out.

Reviewed by pupcup123

Sasquatch by Roland Smith

Sasquatch by Roland Smith is a great book for people who believe in mythical creatures like Big Foot.  The story takes place in present time in the woods.  Dylan’s Dad joins a group called the B.I.C.  The people in the B.I.C. want to hunt the Sasquatch and study it to know if it’s more man or ape.  People should want to read Sasquatch because it is a book that people will be entertained by and informed about Sasquatch.

Reviewed by brownie20

Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes

Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes is a book about five high school students that lose a lemonade machine.  The students decide to make a band to try to raise the money to get the school to buy the machine back.  The group goes through a lot of family and social problems.  This book is very interesting and I promise you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time you are reading it.  It's just one of those books you can't put down.  This book involves romance, sadness, and there are some happy parts too.  I hope you get as much joy out of this book as I did!  They made this book into a movie too.

Reviewed by Woods

The Christmas Rat by Avi

The Christmas Rat by Avi is a really good book.  It is also unique.  Eric, Anje, and the Christmas Rat are the main characters in the story.  I like them because the author made them very realistic.  This book is very funny and entertaining.  The theme is about Christmas vacation, and Eric and Anje fight over killing and keeping the rat alive.  Anje wants it dead by Christmas Day, but Eric is trying to keep it alive so he can let it outside for fresh air and to be free.  I think you should read this book because it’s really funny, and it’s a really good book.  It’s one of those books that when you read it, you never want to stop reading it!!

Reviewed by marylou12xo

The Ghost of Fossil Glen by Cynthia DeFelice

First of all, the main characters are Allie, Dub, Lucy, and Raymond Gagney.  This story is basically about an 11 year old named Allie Nichols, and she is greeted by a ghost named Lucy Stiles.  Allie and her friend Dub have to figure out who murdered Lucy.  This book is around present time and mostly takes place at school and the Fossil Glen. The Ghost of Fossil Glen is very entertaining and always has moments when things just POP out at you!  In this book, there are never moments when you get bored, it is always very exciting.  There is another book after The Ghost of Fossil Glen called, The Ghost and Mrs. Hobbs.  I would definitely recommend this book, but some parts may scare younger readers so I would say that grade 3+ would be a good range for age.  Will Allie find out who Lucy’s murderer is? 

Reviewed by Minichi6

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

This book is amazing!  I would totally recommend it any day of the week.  It drops you right in Venice, Italy with Prosper and Bo, two runaway orphans.  They only ran away because of their mother’s stories of Venice.  They join up with the Thief Lord and his gang.  The Thief Lord and gang steal items from the rich to make money to survive, but Prosper does not feel right.  Their Aunt sends a famous detective after them.  Secrets can be dangerous.  The book is edge of your seat exciting!  You will learn something you never would guess about the Thief Lord.  If you liked Harry Potter, you will like this book.  Can you handle it?

Reviewed by Cupcake333

Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith

Out From Boneville is book one of the Bone series by Jeff Smith.  It is a great graphic novel book for children in elementary school.  The characters are Fone bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone.  The three cousins get separated in a desert by a swarm of Locust in book one Out From Bonesville.  The series is funny and adventurous and at the end of each book, the author leaves you in suspense to read the next in the series.  If you like humorous books you would love Bone.

Reviewed by Monkey Man

Bone: Out from Boneville is from a very interesting series, written and drawn by Jeff Smith.  The three cousins, Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone are run out of town and lost in a desert.  Then  they are separated by a swarm of locusts and get lost in a forest.  Fone Bone soon makes a few friends, while Phoney Bone, Smiley Bone, and himself, are being hunted.  Will the three Bone cousins unite?  Or will they never see each other again?  I would recommend this book if you like a good laugh or adventure.

Reviewed by WhoopieMaster101 

Poppy by Avi

Poppy by Avi is a fable, fiction, adventure book.  If you like reading adventure books, this is a book you should read.  It makes you want to never stop reading it.  The main characters are Poppy a mouse, Mr. Ocax an owl, and Ereth the porcupine.  Poppy and Ereth are nice animals, but Mr. Ocax is mean.  This book has a lot of twists and turns, but in the end it makes you want to read it again.

                 ~Koala3773

Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park

Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park is about a girl named Pheobe dealing with the loss of her brother, Mick.  Pheobe and Mick are very close in age, still in elementary school.  During the whole story you will see how Pheobe’s family loses their appetite, quit their jobs, and are depressed, staying in bed all day long. You can find this book in your school library.  If you have someone that was close to you that passed away, you can make a great connection with Mick Harte Was Here.

Reviewed by Foreveryoung123

Skellig by David Almond

Skellig is a very good book! All I am going to say is that the characters are Mina, Baby, Michael, Dad, Mom, and a …… I’m not telling you who else is left.  The author is David Almond.  The book is really good, but sad.  The main part is about a boy and a girl who find a strange beast in their garage.  This book is really good.  If you want to read it, go to the public library.

Reviewed by Destroyer.

Who Stole Uncle Sam by Martha Freeman

Who Stole Uncle Sam is a mystery book by Martha Freeman about a boy named Alex and his friend Yasmeen.  At first Alex didn’t want to investigate problems.  But later on his coach is kidnapped, then they find him in a porta-potty at a race.  They investigate over school break to find out who did this.  They ask their friend who was in Vietnam War for help and he does all he can to help.  To find out more, read the book! 

Reviewed by Volcano Boom

Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher

Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher is about a twelve year old boy.  George Chapman was a normal boy until he breaks the head of a stone statue at a museum.  Suddenly George is pulled into a world were statues come to life.  Along with him a girl named Edie, who has a strange power to see the past must try to get George back to reality. But with war brewing amongst the statues, hope and time are running out.  This book is the first in a series, just like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.  And it is a must read series.  I highly recommend it.  The second book is Iron Hand and the third is Silver Tongue.  I am excited to read them.  Will George escape this world or will he be stuck there forever?  You'll have to check this one out from the Public Library.

Reviewed by 3ds

     

Don’t Hurt Laurie by Willo Davis Roberts

The book Don’t Hurt Laurie is about a girl named Laurie being abused by her mother.  It is realistic fiction and the main characters are Laurie and her mom Annabelle.  The theme of the book is child abuse and the story takes place at her house and school even though she moves all the time.  I think the author’s message is to inform you that this stuff really happens.  The mood of the book is sad but I would definitely recommend it.  I made a connection in knowing that, this stuff happens everyday.  The author has written other books such as Hostage and Kidnapped.  The author is Willo Davis Roberts and she is an amazing writer.  If you read the book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Reviewed by Foreverlove_XOXO

Don’t Hurt Laurie is about a girl who has a very abusive mother named Annabelle.  It’s realistic fiction because it could happen.  Laurie's mother only hits her when there are no witnesses.  Annabelle marries a guy named Jack, Laurie’s stepfather.  She also has a brother named Tim and a sister named Shelly.  One day Annabelle comes home from the hospital and gets mad and hits Laurie.  Tim yells and tells her to stop.  She hits Tim throughout the story.  Annabelle does injure Laurie, but never hurts Jack's kids.  What will the kids do?

Reviewed by Barbie_xoxo

Middle School, Get Me Out of Here, by James Patterson

If you like books that are funny, sad or exciting, try out the book Middle School, Get Me Out of Here, by James Patterson!  Your main characters in the story are Rafe and Leo.  Leo is Rafe’s brother that died at birth, but helps him with Get Me Out of Here.  Rafe and his family move to the city and his life kind of changes.  This lead to Rafe getting transferred into an art school where he finds a friend named Matty, but makes enemies too.  If you want find out how it really began, read James Patterson’s first book Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life!  I would definitely recommend this book and the first one! 

Reviewed by HopieDopie123
 

The River by Gary Paulsen

Well, to make it short, we want you to do it again.”  These were the words spoken by Derek, a survival psychologist, to Brian Robeson.  When Derek says that, he means he wants Brian to go and survive in the woods again.  Anyone who loves survival shows and books should definitely read The River by Gary Paulsen, which is the sequel to Hatchet. The problem occurs when Brian tries to demonstrate his brave survival skills to Derek by going in the woods again.  After about a week of being there, Derek gets struck by lightning and is in a coma.  Also, the radio transmitter got struck!  Brian knows he can’t leave Derek to die so he comes up with a plan to go down the river on a raft to a trading post.  Will they make it to the trading post alive?

Reviewed by gymnast0421

Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow and Nathan Whitaker

Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow and Nathan Whitaker is an autobiography about Tim Tebow.  He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and became a Hisemen Trophy winner on the Florida Gators team.  Then went to the Denver Bronco’s in the NFL and became a star.  This book gives lots of info on how his life went from nothing to something.  I connect this book to how I play football and how I never give up, like he didn’t.  I highly recommend this book to people that like football.  You will find this in the school library.  


Reviewed by RayRay52

Beaten by Susanne Weyn

Beaten is written by Susanne Weyn.  It is an easy read but you will not find it in your elementary school library.  The main characters are Paige and Ty.  Paige starts dating her crush, Ty.   She cheers him up about losing a football game.  He gets so mad that he hits her and she falls to the ground.  Then Paige lies to her mother about how she got hurt.  Unfortunately, Ty hits her again after another losing game, but this time it’s worse.  Read the book to find out what Paige decides to do.  It’s a great story.

Susanne Weyn describes the events that happen in the story so well that I feel like I am there seeing it.  I have heard of stories similar to this story from my grandmother because she worked at the "Women’s Center”.  The “Women’s Center” is where women go when they have been abused.  I hope you check this great story out of the public library.  It’s a really good book for older readers.

Reviewed by ipj_buggie

Hatchet by Gary Paulson

In Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, twelve year old Brian Robeson got sent on a private plane to his father´s house. During the plane ride the pilot of the plane has a heart attack and the plane crashes in the middle of a random forest. Brian has to try to survive in the forest with only himself and the hatchet he brought with him. Will he survive?

I  would highly recommend that you read the book Hatchet. It is full of many different turns and surprises. A connection I can make is that  I have been in a plane before, just like Bryan. It makes you very nervous when the plane is crashing and Bryan can not do anything and is just alone in the forest by himself. The question is, will he make it out alive? Read more to learn about what Bryan does alone in the forest with himself and his hatchet.

Review by Flamingo

I chose Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Brian is stranded in the middle of Canada and may face very challenging obstacles and may be in very big trouble. His parents are divorced because of a secret his mom kept. His mom gives Brian a hatchet for a present. His plane to go see his dad crashes on an island. The unconscious pilot may die or will he survive?

I personally loved the book and wanted another Hatchet book to be written. The part of the book that I loved the most was when he tries to go back to the plane. Wait wait a minute! If I tell this part, I’ll be spoiling the book for you, so you’re going to have to read for yourself. I hope you would like to read this book and I hope you love it!

Review by STINGIESTFAUN62

The book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is about a thirteen year old boy named Brian Robinson who is on an airplane flight to see his dad. Before Brian had got on the flight his mom gifted him with a hatchet. Brian and the pilot were getting along, when something terribly wrong happens to the pilot. Brian freaks out and about an hour later the plane starts to go down. The plane lands in the woods in the middle of nowhere. Brian is dehydrated and tired. Will Brian survive the wilderness or will he not make it?

I really like how the book Hatchet reminds me of hard times and still being able to find a way to have fun. It is a good book to read if you need an adventurous book or even a suspenseful book. I love how the author includes details to make you feel like you are there in the woods with Brian. I definitely recommend this book.

Review By Puppylover1234

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, starts out with the main character, Brian. His parents get divorced and his father moves to Canada. On a trip to see his father in Canada he  travels on a plane. After a while, the pilot has a heart attack and dies with Brian not knowing how to fly a plane. The plane goes tumbling down to the ground. Brian crashes. And the only thing he has to survive is a Hatchet that his mother gave him for his birthday.

This book is the best book I have ever read. It is heartwarming and heart pounding. It had gotten a Newbery prize and I think it deserved it. This is a realistic, survival story that I personally loved. If you want to read the book, buy it or check it out of the library to learn what happens in the rest of the book.

Reviewed by Assassinkitty419

Hatchet by Gary Paulson is about a boy named Brian.  Brian’s parents are divorced.  When Brian is going to see his father in Canada, his pilot has a heart attack.  The plane crashes, Brian is left to survive in the wilderness with only a hatchet.  How long will Brian last?  Will he last?  This book is heart pounding, sad and interesting!

Reviewed by--Herobrine

This realistic, survival, Newbery Honor book is called Hatchet. This book is written by Gary Paulsen. The characters in this book are Brian, his mom, his dad, and the pilot. My favorite character is Brian. Brian was on a plane to Canada to see his dad when the pilot passed out of a heart attack. Then the plane crashed in the woods.  This book is sad because Brian is lost in the woods and doesn’t know where he is. But then again no one knows where he is either. The theme of this book is survival.  I would highly recommend this book to readers who like survival stories. If you read this, boom you will love it!!!

Reviewed by: Koala_Bear_

The author Gary Paulson writes a book on survival called Hatchet.  The book is about Brian Robeson, a thirteen year old boy who has gotten into a plane crash after the pilot flying the plane has a heart attack and dies.  He is now stuck in the Canadian wilderness by himself with nothing but the hatchet his mom left him and a painful memory of his mom’s divorce.  He asks himself one question- what do I have to do in order to survive?  This book will surely leave you on the edge of your seat.  It left me on the edge of mine.  I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who’s interested in books with survival and divorce.

Reviewed by swimm101

Do you like survival stories?  If you said yes, then you should read this book.  Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is about a boy named Brian.  He is going to see his dad but his dad lives in Canada, so he will have to take a plane.  His mom does not want him to take a public plane, so his mom hires a helicopter driver that they don’t even know.  When they take off, they fly about two miles and the pilot had a HEART ATTACK AND THEY CRASH!  They crash into a lake, but Brian is the only one who survived.  Read more to find out what happens.

Reviewed by FootballMan567    
      

Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Laura Tarshis

Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree is a great book.  It is sad and happy, full of friendship and love. The main characters are Emma Jean, Mrs. Lazarus, Collen, Laura, Virkman and Will Keller.  Emma Jean gets herself involved in a problem that ends surprisingly.  The story takes place at Emma's school and home.  I think the author's message is that you should never get involved in other peoples' problems and to stand up to bullies.  Two words to describe this story are sad and exciting.  I would recommend this book.  If you read this book, tell me if you like it or not.  Please comment below.  

Reviewed by Enchanted15

The End of the Beginning by Avi

The End of the Beginning by Avi is an amazing book.  It is about Avon the snail, and Edward, an ant. Avon wants to go on an adventure.  Before he leaves, he meets Edward.  Then he ends up going on his adventure with Edward.  If you like adventure stories, this book is for you.  This is one reason I fell in love with it!  On his travels he helps insects and such.  But this is just the end of the beginning.  Will they manage to find their way home?    

Reviewed by soccer16

 

Have you ever read a book called The End of The Beginning? If you want to read a book that has adventure, a fantasy, or is exciting, you should read this book.  It’s about a small snail named Avon and an even smaller ant named Edward.  The story's setting is in the woods with Avon and Edward where they see all sorts of small, large, and big creatures.  I would recommend this book and any books by Avi

Reviewed by onedirection101

Do you like books about adventures? If you do, the book The End of the Beginning is a book for you! This book is an exciting tale by Avi, the author, about a snail, Avon, who reads books about people who go on great adventures, but it is sad because he wants to go on adventures too.  Then on one day he decides to go on an adventure, but right before he got to walk out the door, he finds an ant, Edward. Edward and Avon become great friends and go on an exciting adventure.  I can relate to this book because, I’ve always wanted to go adventures like the ones in this book.  Do they succeed?  Do they get to the end of their adventure?  

Reviewed by Sosassy311