Nancy Drew (book reviews)

I read three Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene, The
Clue of the Tapping Heels, The Haunted Bridge, and the Secret of the Golden Pavilion. In the first book, the intrepid detective Nancy Drew has to tackle two mysteries at once. She must catch both a mysterious catnapper and a strange code tapper. All the while, she has to watch her step--because someone (or something) is following her, and leaving a trail of sabotage behind.

In the second book, Nancy and her friends head to the Deer Mountain lodge to participate in a golf tournament, while Nancy works on her latest case with her father, who is trying to catch a ring of jewel thieves. Although Nancy is already busy, she can't resist investigating a so-called "haunted" bridge deep in the woods. But what Nancy finds may lead to one of her most difficult cases yet...

The final Nancy Drew book that I read for this challenge was set in Hawaii. Nancy and her father are trying to catch an elusive gang called the Double Scorps. Then, Nancy gets an invitation from one of her father's friends to his mansion in Hawaii, along with her friends! While there, mysteries keep popping up. Who are the two twins who claim to have inherited a share of the mansion from their grandfather? What is the secret of the strange golden pavilion down by the beach? Is it haunted? Are members of the Double Scorps hiding out in Hawaii? And, most important of all, how are these events all connected? Find out the answers to all these questions when you read The Secret of the Golden Pavilion!

I enjoyed all of these books, but the Haunted Bridge was my favorite. It was just the right mixture of creepy, funny, and suspenseful to make a great mystery book. I thought The Secret of the Golden Pavilion was interesting, especially because, when this book was written, Hawaii had just joined the Union. I was wondering...if Carolyn Keene had written the book in today's time, would it have been different? The Clue of the Tapping Heels was a good book too, and I liked how the separate events all connected in the end.

The Wright 3 (book review)

The Wright 3, by Blue Balliet, is a sequel to the bestselling book Chasing Vermeer. In the book, best friends Calder and Petra find themselves involved in another art mystery--this one involving the Robie House, a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The town plans on demolishing the house, but Calder and Petra know that can't happen. As they try to save the house, they notice eerie things happening. Mysterious voices drift out from inside the house, the patterns of its windows change, and its roof occasionally "ripples", like a waking beast. As what started out as a quest to save a piece of art turns into a hunt for ghosts, the story is complicated by yet another factor: Calder's old best friend Tommy is back, and he hasn't been counting on Calder hanging out with someone else.

This story was funny and engaging, but I didn't think it was as good as the first book. I didn't like Tommy being added into the picture, and I thought the book would have been better without him.

Stargirl (book review)

Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli, is the story of a normal high school with normal students (including Leo, the story's narrator). But all that changes when Stargirl comes to school. She wears outrageous clothes, plays the ukelele, and brings her pet rat, Cinammon, to school.

At first, the students of Mica High are dazzled by Stargirl. She suddenly becomes the most popular girl in school. Everybody is strumming their ukelele at lunch, and the pet store is sold out of rats. Then, people begin to turn on her for everything that makes her different. Leo, who finds himself fascinated by her, urges Stargirl to change her ways and try to fit in with everybody else. This is the very thing that could destroy her.

I love this book! It's a moving story about a typical high school and about girl who thought differently than most. I am excited to read the sequel, which is told from Stargirl's point of view.

A Great and Terrible Beauty (book review)

A Great and Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray, is the story of Gemma Doyle. Gemma isn't like other girls, in more ways than one. You could say that she's a rebel, not always willing to sit back and do what she's told. And she's also prone to visions.

When Gemma's mother is brutally murdered in India, Gemma is sent to Spence Academy in London. She's treated like an outcast at first, but she manages to make a few friends. Then, in her art class, she learns about a shadowy women's group called the Order, who presumably deals with magic. Gemma and her friends decide to make their own Order, and soon they have magic power beyond their dreams. At first they're simply having fun. But then things begin to go horribly wrong. A deadly beast stalks their every move, and the girls' incredible powers start to spin out of control!

I absolutely LOVED this book! The fantasy, horror, and historical elements spin together and weave the perfect tale. I didn't want to put it down! I bought the sequel last night, Rebel Angels, and I hope to read it soon!

Chasing Redbird (book review)

Chasing Redbird, by Sharon Creech, is the story of thirteen-year-old Zinny. She lives in a family with six other children, and she is generally considered the nobody. Everyone else in the family seems to have their place as "the pretty one," or "the nice one," or "the clever one," or "the thoughtful one," etc. Her sisters call her the "strange and stingy one". When Zinny discovers an old trail in her backyard, she realizes that she finally has a chance to show everyone that she's a somebody. Although she doesn't realize it, the trail will bring her more than fame. She will also learn more about herself and her family than she ever would have guessed.

This was another of Sharon Creech's hits! I thought that she couldn't possibly have written a better book than Walk Two Moons, but apparently I was wrong! This story was deeply moving, sad and happy at the same time. It was a REAL winner!

I'd Tell You That I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You (book review)

I'd Tell You That I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You, by Ally Carter, is the story of Cammie Morgan. She goes to Gallagher's Academy for Exceptional Young Women. Gallagher has a secret--it's a school for spies! Sure, Cammie knows fourteen different languages and can kill a man with a piece of uncooked spaghetti, but when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's a normal girl, she doesn't know what to do. Can she maneuver a relationship with a person who can never know who she really is?

I really liked this book! It was funny, quick, and light. I'm waiting for the sequel, Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy, to come out in paperback.

Pieces of Georgia (book review)

Pieces of Georgia, by Jen Bryant, is the extremely moving story of a young girl whose life changes incredibly in one year. Georgia is an artist, but her father turns away whenever he sees her with a pad and pencil. It reminds him too much of dead Georgia's mother. Then, Georgia gets a mysterious card in the mail, a card that grants her permission to the Brandywine River Museum. There, Georgia discovers the power to look inside herself and find her true destiny.

As I said before, this book was incredibly moving. I found it similar to Pictures of Hollis Woods, as the protagonists are both young artists who have lost members of their family and both discover important things about themselves and the people around them. It was a great read!

The Real Benedict Arnold (book review)

The Real Benedict Arnold, by Jim Murphy, tells the story of Benedict Arnold, the famous traitor of the American Revolution. From his childhood to his death, this story tells it all. Unlike some books, it explains why he betrayed the American cause. In the book, the author says, "People have twisted his story to their needs until there is little of the real man left." This book tells the whole story of Benedict Arnold, who was a patriot and a traitor.

I'm glad I got this book, because I wanted to learn more about Benedict Arnold after we studied the Revolution last year. It was a perfect read for me, because it wasn't super easy but I didn't have to struggle through it either.

Starcross (book review)

Starcross, by Philip Reeve, is the exciting sequel to the novel Larklight. In this book, Art Mumby, his mother, and his annoying older sister Myrtle are invited to the asteroid hotel called Starcross.

Once they arrive, Art immediately notices strange things happening--like the sea disappearing and reappearing on a twenty-four hour schedule, and way the old hat sitting in his hotel room closet seems to be calling out to him...

When Art's old friends (see this review), controlled by evil hats called Moobs, and rather like the one in Art's hotel room closet, kidnap his mother (who isn't actually human but a Shaper, one of the most powerful creatures in the universe), it's up to Art and an unlikely band of followers to save them all. The fate of the universe lies in their hands!

I think I enjoyed this book even more than Larklight, and believe me, I loved Larklight! There was more action and sense of adventure. I also enjoyed the way this story was told from three points of view (Art's, Myrtle's, and a Moob's). I don't know if there's a sequel in the works, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Rules (book review)

Rules, by Cynthia Lord, is the story of twelve-year-old Catherine. She has always wanted a normal life, and that isn't easy with a brother who has autism. Then, Catherine meets Kristi and Jason. Jason is a surprising new friend, and Kristi is the next-door friend that Catherine has always wanted. But Jason and Kristi are very different. Catherine may have to choose between them, and conflict leaves her wondering: what is normal?

I liked this book a lot, and it left me wanting to read more books about this subject. Catherine was a special character, and she went through a lot of hard times. It's hard not to feel sympathy for her.

the spring reading thing 2

I'm excited to join the Spring Reading Thing challenge again, because it was the first challenge I joined. Here is my list:

Against the Storm by Gaye Hicyilmaz

It's Not the End of the World by Judy Blume

The Only Way Out by Deborah Kent

The Wright 3 by Blue Balliet

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

The Clue Of The Tapping Heels by Carolyn Keene

The Haunted Bridge by Carolyn Keene

The Secret of the Golden Pavilion by Carolyn Keene

The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne DuPrau

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle

Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle

The Mystery of Biltmore House by Carole Marsh

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Edited to add (3/25/08):

Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant

Starcross by Philip Reeve

The Real Benedict Arnold by Jim Murphy

Edited to add (4/10/08):

Best Dog Stories by varied authors

I'll Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech

Leonardo's Shadow by Christopher Grey

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

a final wrap-up

I'm so happy to have finished
the Spring Reading Thing reading challenge. I wasn't sure if I would make it, especially since I had 15 books to read for the Once Upon a Time Challenge at the same time. Here's my list of 30 books for this challenge:

1. A Rat's Tale by Tor Seidler (library book)
2. On the Wings of a Dragon by Cora Taylor (library book)
3. Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan (library book)
4. Danger After Dark by Ellie McDonald
5. One for Sorrow, Two for Joy by Clive Woodall (re-read)
6. The Naked Mole-Rat Letters by Mary Amato (re-read)
7. Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
8. Trixie Belden: The Gatehouse Mystery by Julie Campbell
9. Blue Jasmine by Kashmira Sheth (re-read)
10. The Keys to the Kingdom: Drowned Wednesday by Garth Nix
11. Nancy Drew: The Wrong Chemistry by Carolyn Keene
12. Nancy Drew: Out of Bounds by Carolyn Keene
13. Nancy Drew: Flirting with Danger by Carolyn Keene
14. Dear America: The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce-A Pilgrim Boy by Ann Rinaldi
15. Dear America: The Winter of Red Snow-The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart
16. Shiva's Fire by Suzanne Fisher Staples
17. Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
18. Charlie Bone and the Time Twister by Jenny Nimmo
19. Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy by Jenny Nimmo
20. Clara Barton and the American Red Cross by Eve Marko
21. The Little People: Stories of Fairies, Pixies, and Other Small Folk by Neil Philip
22. Meet Kit by Valerie Tripp
23. The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
24. Unearthing the Dragon by Mark Norell
25. Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi
26. Dragon: Hound of Honor by Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamelton
27. Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander
28. Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man by Wendelin Van Draanen
29. Pendragon: Black Water by D.J. MacHale
30. Tai Shan of the Dead by Jean Lightner Norum

It feels good to have met this challenge. Not only did I read a lot of good books, but now Mom and Dad owe me a new book for finishing! A few of my favorite reads from this list would have to be Diary of a Young Girl, Dragon: Hound of Honor, Blue Jasmine, and Tai Shan of the Dead. Anyway, I hope I can do as well on the
Non-Fiction Five Reading Challenge, The Newbery Challenge, and the Book Awards Challenge (which I haven't finished making my list for yet).

The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce (book review)

The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce is a Dear America book written by Kathryn Lasky. It is the story of a young orphan who comes to America as an indentured servant on the Mayflower. Jasper is exposed to a whole new world full of "savages", strange beasts, and hidden worlds. When two boys threaten Jasper after he bravely stops their duel in the village, he has no choice but to run away into the wild. Jasper is taken in by the Native Americans as one of their own, but he dreads the day when they must return him back to the village.

This was one of the best Dear America books I have read. The plot was interesting and you never knew what adventure Jasper was going to run into next!

I give this book 8.5 out of 10 stars.

The Spring Reading Thing reading challenge: 30 books down, 0 to go!

The Gatehouse Mystery (book review)

The Gatehouse Mystery, by Julie Campbell, is the third in the Trixie Belden series. In this book, Trixie and her rich friend Honey explore a gatehouse on the edge of the woods. They expect to find nothing more than a few bugs, so imagine their surprise when they find a diamond! Should Trixie and Honey keep the diamond a secret and solve the mystery, or should they turn it over to the police? And how did the diamond get there to start with?

This was the least interesting of the Trixie Belden books I've read so far, partly because I figured out the mystery early in the story. The plot was uninteresting and it wasn't full of twists and turns like #1 and #2.

I give this book 6 out of 10 stars.


The Spring Reading Thing reading challenge: 29 books down, 1 to go!

Tai Shan of the Dead (book review)

Tai Shan of the Dead was an action-packed story by Jean Lightner Norum. She is my dad's cousin and she wrote this book for the National Novel Writing Month. She really should get it published! It was a great story!

The 4 beginning chapters focused on the different people involved--the teachers, the students, the Chinese, and the terrorists. And the story unfolds from there. The terrorists are planning on attacking the giant panda habitats in zoos across the country. This is disastrous not only because of the deaths of the pandas, but also because the Chinese have a secret: they have stored dormant copies of the virus that has the potential to turn people into zombies. When the pandas' bodies are blown up, people close to them are exposed to the virus, and this has devastating results on the country!

I give this book 9 out of 10 stars!

The Spring Reading Thing reading challenge: 28 books down, 2 to go.

Winter of Red Snow (book review)

Winter of Red Snow is a historical novel by Kristiana Gregory. The book is written like a diary. It's fictional, of course, but it does give you a lot of information. The girl who "wrote" this diary, Abigail Stewart, lives in colonial Valley Forge. She meets the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, George Washington, and she sees first hand the strife of the Continental soldiers. Abigail wants to help, but with the approaching winter, a new baby, and a disappearance in town, is there enough time?

This story was OK, but not one of the better Dear America books I've read. The characters were a mix of real people and fictional characters, which made it rather interesting.

I give this book 6 out of 10 stars.

The Spring Reading Thing reading challenge: 27 books down, 3 to go.

Drowned Wednesday (book review)

Drowned Wednesday, by Garth Nix, was a fantasy story, the third in its series. In this novel, Arthur Penhaligon and his pal Leaf get swept away from the hospital to a strange world called the House. The House is not new to Arthur--he has defeated two of the treacherous Morrow Days here during the past two days (House time is different than ours). Now on the third day, he must face drowned Wednesday. When Leaf gets swept away on the Border Sea and onto the ship of the pirate Feverfew, Arthur and his friend from the House, Suzy Blue, have to rescue her. Luckily, the Will is in the same place as Feverfew's hideout. Little do Arthur and Suzy know that their destination is inside Drowned Wednesday herself!

This book was the least interesting of the series so far. However, it ended in a cliffhanger, making me want to buy the next one! The characters were well developed and interesting, but there were so many that it was hard to remember who was who sometimes!

I give this book 7 out of 10 stars.

The Spring Reading Thing reading challenge: 26 books down, 4 to go.

Dragon: Hound of Honor (book review)

Dragon: Hound of Honor, is a historical mystery by Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton. The book is set in medieval France, where an inexplicable murder has just occurred. The valiant knight Aubrey de Montdidier, found in the woods near the castle, has been stabbed to death. Together with Aubrey's friend, Sier de NarSac, and a glorious white wolfhound called Dragon, the young page Thierry is determined to solve the crime. But it will be Dragon who, bit by bit, pieces the clues together to solve this shocking mystery.

The story was modeled after the legend of the Dog of Montargis. It was well written and suspenseful. The characters were interesting and well-developed and a few were simply put in the story to serve as red herrings! Dragon was a fast read, but it was a great story.

I give this book 9 out of 10 stars.

The Spring Reading Thing reading challenge: 25 books down, 5 to go.

Diary of a Young Girl (book review)

Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank, is her actual diary and the events it holds are real. Anne wrote the diary during the time of World War II. Her family was in hiding from the Nazis. Along with her family in hiding were some neighbors and a dentist, and there was a lot of conflict between everyone. Ann lived an extremely hard life.

The diary was certainly sad. She fought with the others a lot in hiding and the diary sometimes held unpleasant thoughts about them. It must have been an extremely difficult way to live. If what you wish is to know more about World War II and get the inside story on witnesses' lives, the diary is a must-read.

I give this book 9.5 out of 10 stars.

The Spring Reading Thing reading challenge: 24 books down, 6 to go.

Girl in Blue (book review)

Girl in Blue is a historical novel by Ann Rinaldi. In this story, 16-year-old Sarah Louisa works hard on her family's farm. She is skilled in shooting, swimming, and riding horses. When Sarah learns that she is going to be married off to her dirty and unkind neighbor, she runs away to join the army, pretending to be a boy. But once her secret is discovered, there is nowhere Sarah can run...that is, until her commander finds her a job as a detective. Soon, Sarah finds herself drawn into a web of romance, suspicion, and treachery.

This was one of Ann Rinaldi's best books. You get to know most of the characters very well, but just when you think you know all their secrets, they change...sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. The plot was interesting and suspenseful and never leaves you feeling bored!

I give this book 8 out of 10 stars.

The Spring Reading Thing reading challenge: 23 books down, 7 to go.