This was one of my favorite books in middle school. A big fan of authors such as Christopher Pike and Lois Duncan at this time in my life ran right alThis was one of my favorite books in middle school. A big fan of authors such as Christopher Pike and Lois Duncan at this time in my life ran right along side Cusicks dark mysteries. I read it several times and pulled it off the shelf for one of my 13-yr olds when we were looking for something to read together. Hoping to share my love of mystery, we both began reading it, me, for probably the 10th time in my life, but the first time as an adult. My son hasn't finished it yet, but he keeps going back and forth on who the killer is and it tickles me pink, enjoying him working thru the clues that lead up to the end, that I so dearly love. As an adult, it's not the most engaging mystery in the world and a little easy to guess at times, but for kids, it's wonderful. Highly recommended for middle schoolers....more
The best parenting book I've ever read, and I've read a lot. This principle is based on making your children independent by having them make their ownThe best parenting book I've ever read, and I've read a lot. This principle is based on making your children independent by having them make their own choices from a young age. The difficult thing is to let your children fail. Instead of telling them to get their coat, the premise is, tell them it's chilly and ask them if they want a coat or not. But if they say no, you have to let them be cold. This is hard for parents, but letting them fail at a young age like this, helps them make smarter decisions when they're older.
That's a simple way of putting it, and I really don't do it justice. They have tons of examples and ways to implement this in the book, and I've just started reading the one about teens and am excited to start implementing it. It's hard to be strong sometimes and put the decision into their hands and let go, but it's so worth it in the long run. I feel like it really works. I'd recommend this book to anyone with kids....more
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
One of the most iconic quotes of Dr. Suess"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
One of the most iconic quotes of Dr. Suess as well as my favorite, this book talks about the different ways in which to read and all the things you can learn about when you read. One of my favorites of his, Dr. Suess will always be on the top of my list of classical and influential authors of all time....more
Good story, but I kind of felt like it was all over the place. Disjointed. The two lead characters were solid and fun to follow but their speech took Good story, but I kind of felt like it was all over the place. Disjointed. The two lead characters were solid and fun to follow but their speech took me out of the story occasionally. I'm not sure if it was the author trying to do kid slang, or the London accent but I had to go back and read some of the sentences again because of the way they talked. Because it was so unusual, I wasn't always sure what was coming next, so I wanted to make sure I understood everything. It made it harder for me to read and not as much fun. Middle schoolers might like this one. Kind of reminded me of the Phantom Tollbooth I read as a kid, which I liked a lot better than this one. To each his own, I guess....more
My 3 yr old twins love this book. Great learning to read book. Besides being about trains, each sentence begins with "This train" and so the twins areMy 3 yr old twins love this book. Great learning to read book. Besides being about trains, each sentence begins with "This train" and so the twins are starting to recognize these words already. The trains also show opposites on each page (this train is short/this train is long) and so there are many learning opportunities to be had here. The pictures are bright and colorful and engaging, but most of all, the preschoolers love it.
Merged review:
My 3 yr old twins love this book. Great learning to read book. Besides being about trains, each sentence begins with "This train" and so the twins are starting to recognize these words already. The trains also show opposites on each page (this train is short/this train is long) and so there are many learning opportunities to be had here. The pictures are bright and colorful and engaging, but most of all, the preschoolers love it....more
In the end I think a 3.5 is the most accurate, not quite a 4 but better than average.
So I picked up this book because I loved the Little House on the In the end I think a 3.5 is the most accurate, not quite a 4 but better than average.
So I picked up this book because I loved the Little House on the Prairie series when I was a kid and am reading them with all my kids right now. I thought maybe this would be something that they might want to read when we're done with the series, but I don't think they'll be able to relate to it too much. We'll be going to a pioneer activity park in the fall, and hopefully we'll be done with the books by then.
So this book is written from the point of view of a 7th grade girl who moved around a lot and at first doesn't really like the series which the town is named after because Laura Ingalls actually lived there. So despite the fact it's a historical site, the charm doesn't quite affect Charlotte in the way her mother hoped. It's not until her teacher makes her do some research on pioneer times and the transcontinental railroad that Charlotte begins to relate to what Laura had to go through. She begins to see parallels in her life to the books and struggles with everything from making friends to the rough winters. Charlotte has a younger sister, Rose, and a twin brother, Freddy. These relationships are also tested throughout the book with faith and looking at things from the worst possible angle being conflicts she has to overcome. It was a solid middle school read with many comparisons and fun facts for the Little House on the Prairie fan, but it just didn't live up to it's title as much as I hoped it would. I can't help thinking I might have enjoyed it more as a middle schooler.
In any case, I don't know if I'll make my twin 12-yr-olds read it when we're done with the series, as their reading level is beyond this book. Even though we're reading the series as a family, the books they read on their own surpass the Lexile score of this book and I'm afraid they'd be bored. Then again, maybe it'd be a fun, easy, read before we start our next heavier book. I won't make my 14-yr-old read it unless he wants to, but I don't see that happening.
This book caters to middle schoolers who struggle with family dynamics or who have read the series, and possibly adults like me, who have read the series and are captivated by the idea of the book. I'd like to think that the kids that read this that have never read the series, might be inspired to read the series after reading the book. I can see this being used in a classroom as lots of themes and relatable content hits that middle school age well.
Wow, what an eye opener. I read all of these when I was young, not because I wanted to, but because going to the library every two weeks wasn't enoughWow, what an eye opener. I read all of these when I was young, not because I wanted to, but because going to the library every two weeks wasn't enough to get the load of books I wanted and we had these on a bookshelf in our house. I remember mildly enjoying them then, the characters uninteresting, the mystery subpar.
Now, as an adult, I am making my way through the Rory Gilmore reading list and since this was on it, I decided to read it again, to see how it held up over time. Wow. First let me say, that I was constantly laughing at how awful it was. It was probably excellent for the time period it was written in, and ok, for my young childhood in the 80's, but in today's world, it just doesn't withstand the test of time. Cliches and sexism abound throughout, with 60's trope and ideals prominent in every chapter. At one point, a character tells Nancy she should be at home "cooking and taking care of the house", not being a detective. And in another scene, when the boyfriends show up Nancy says "I'm so glad you're here. We can really use a man's help." Which is funny in and of itself because Nancy has pretty much been doing hard core police work that's so dangerous, most detective's wouldn't go at it alone. But it's ok, even though mom's(this might be a maid/caretaker/mom type and I'm remembering wrong. I got the book from the library and can't double check) a bit worried, and doesn't think Nancy should go after a long time criminal that's gotten out of jail all by herself, she reluctantly relents with an "Ok, just be careful, dear." Which I think, in that day and age, would have be highly unrealistic for a girl.
The writing is stilted and just overall lame, but I understand why it might have been popular during the timeframe in which in was published. However, there are so many better mysteries out there now for kids. I'd even recommend any of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for children before I'd recommend this series. Read this for a good laugh....more
Read all of these as a kid. I'm a huge mystery fan and I think this was probably was one of the first series that got me on my mystery book kick. HighRead all of these as a kid. I'm a huge mystery fan and I think this was probably was one of the first series that got me on my mystery book kick. Highly recommended for elementary aged kids....more
An amazing story for children of all ages. Fantastical imagination with colorful characters and great poetry gets me every time. I reread this again bAn amazing story for children of all ages. Fantastical imagination with colorful characters and great poetry gets me every time. I reread this again because I want to read Through the looking glass and wanted to make sure this one was fresh in my mind before I did. For as silly as some say this one is, I just can't get these amazingly developed characters out of my mind. From the Mad Hatter, to the Walrus and all those in between, they are all memorable. This is a book every parent should read with their child. Highly recommended....more
This is not my kind of book. I don't enjoy graphic novels and these true stories are so sad. HOWEVER, and this is a big however, I read this because mThis is not my kind of book. I don't enjoy graphic novels and these true stories are so sad. HOWEVER, and this is a big however, I read this because my 12 yr old son read it and was confused on a few points and wanted to talk to me about it. I love this about my kids and will never say no to this request. After reading this book, I felt it was excellent and even feel like this would be AMAZING required material in schools today. Especially inner city schools. Our main character's brother is killed in a drive by shooting and because of the rules that have been passed on down through his family, believes it's his job to avenge his brother's death. But when he starts to meet the ghosts of his brother's life, he realizes that his story isn't so cut and dry. At the end the brother asks if he's coming and it can be debated long and hard on what that means. Is the brother asking him to commit revenge, and in doing so, will join the ranks of the dead? Or is he asking him to step away from the ghosts and the ending story of shootings and revenge to break the cycle. There is a lot of meat here for so simple a book and I find it very interesting and a great conversation starter for kids and teens. I'll probably make all my kids read it.
Also, the artwork is fantastic. Beautiful and haunting, it goes well with the prose and the storyline. Both the author and illustrator are very talented. I highly recommend this book....more
Cute, quick read. All about what happens after a D&D campaign. Where do the heroes go? Do they settle down? Do they have a family? I felt like the firCute, quick read. All about what happens after a D&D campaign. Where do the heroes go? Do they settle down? Do they have a family? I felt like the first half of the book was all about building. I kept waiting for the story to start. And then the relationship between our main girl and the girl succubus that works for her kinda fell flat for me. I didn't really see the buildup. I though her aloofness was more about her hiding something having to do with the plot. All in all, a cute, heartwarming, story, but didn't have the depth I was looking for. It didn't have to be a tome, but I just saw the new D&D movie and really enjoyed it. I felt all the characters and their love lives were accurately portrayed, and the storyline built up nicely. The ending rounded out all the characters and it was a feel good story. I expected something more like that for this book, but it just wasn't there. Great concept though.
Oh, side note though - I loved the sideline with the direcat. Absolutely a brilliant addition....more
A cute mystery about a ten year old with some unusual gifts. I didn't enjoy the imaginary friends as much as I enjoyed the mystery, but I think I'll hA cute mystery about a ten year old with some unusual gifts. I didn't enjoy the imaginary friends as much as I enjoyed the mystery, but I think I'll have my 6th grader read this and see what he thinks. A little bit of education and faith thrown in made it a well-rounded book, but not my favorite book series for middle schoolers by far. Gilmore definitely has some good meat in this story, and therefore her books are worthwhile to say the least. Only took a few hours and I wouldn't give this to anyone older than a middle school child....more
My son wanted me to read this because he really enjoyed the 2nd book and wanted me to read it. He agreed with me that this first one is lacking. It's My son wanted me to read this because he really enjoyed the 2nd book and wanted me to read it. He agreed with me that this first one is lacking. It's as if a cookie cutter YA outline was given to the author and she just followed it, throwing in the needed character here and there. It was fast paced and overall an easy read, but I kept waiting for more to happen. Our main character just kept increasing her internal monologue (some of which made me laugh out loud, but a lot of it seemed whiny), and wouldn't stop doing stupid things. I had a guess what would happen from the start and was able to figure out the killer and ending before it happened. It's a typical YA read, nothing special here. Still willing to give the next one a try and I'm hoping it's better....more
The Final book in the Wings of Fire series was both excellent and a highly satisfying ending. After a long-awaited interim, this book did not disappoiThe Final book in the Wings of Fire series was both excellent and a highly satisfying ending. After a long-awaited interim, this book did not disappoint. Excitement, action, and fantastic conclusions to all story lines left me feeling bereft, but still content. My son and I often talked about which dragon we were most like and I struggled with all the heroes and heroines of the books until this one. I am, without a doubt, Luna. My favorite dragon by far, her periods of self-doubt, depression, and her constant need to help in a non-violent way was something I could completely relate to. In her own way, she was the ultimate hero of the story, bringing everyone together at the end to do what was needed, and even going to far as to (almost) sacrifice herself for the greater good. Sutherland did an amazing job of reminding us of all the characters and their individual personality traits, even though there were so many, that we couldn’t fault her for such a long wait between books. I had forgotten much but was easily drawn back into the story with the subtle reminders of the storyline and where we left off. My most favorite part of the whole book, was the end, not the resolution per say, but the overall feeling of kindness and goodwill. Sutherland is an expert at addressing the issues of racism and hatred when we examine the differences between us, and showed this problem expertly, and even gave ways and ideas to deal with these problems, starting with looking into ourselves. We can see how Luna feels about Cricket, the Hivewing. How at first she almost despises her, because her people/dragons hurt so many of those that she loved. But through her thoughts and feelings, she can see her work through these feelings throughout the book, in the end, overcoming the hate and replacing it with love and friendship. Cheezy, yes, but so very much needed in today’s world. Whether it be race or gender or religion or political beliefs, this book showed that differences can be overcome and even result in positive outcomes so matter what those differences are. A message that I wish all children and adults could learn. So a lesson wrapped up in a phenomenal story, that was very well written. I highly recommend this series, for children, and for parents, to read with their children. It could be a great conversation starter....more
A story about a young boy who is forced to spend time with his aging grandfather in an olden home. It shows his growth from a young boy who thinks he A story about a young boy who is forced to spend time with his aging grandfather in an olden home. It shows his growth from a young boy who thinks he has nothing to gain but boredom in this task, to a young boy who sees similarities between his grandfather and himself, a relationship forming. In the short span of an hour, the boy matures, and the story gives us insight into who the grandfather used to be and who he has become. The similes used in this story enhance the story significantly, and make for beautiful writing and an engaging story....more
An amazing short story that was both poignant and moving. Two brothers play a trick on an ethnic family that recently moved into town. Their father isAn amazing short story that was both poignant and moving. Two brothers play a trick on an ethnic family that recently moved into town. Their father is furious and gives them a punishment that ends up affecting the whole family. A wonderful story for all ages, Flack captures the mood perfectly and gives a very satisfying and enjoyable ending....more
A wonderful conclusion to this 5 book series. Sage's humor and wit shine through every page all the way until the end. The twists and turns kept me guA wonderful conclusion to this 5 book series. Sage's humor and wit shine through every page all the way until the end. The twists and turns kept me guessing, so I had no idea what would happen, which is so pleasant! It's so easy to guess these endings nowadays, it's wonderful to find a book where you just don't know what's going to happen! But there were enough hints that gave you a few clues to guess, which kept you intensely interested. I flew through these books, easy reading. My high school student told me about them, he loves them. We've currently given them to his middle school brother who is halfway through the first book and also loving it, although going a little slower. The only thing I would have changed about the book is that the fun, cheesy, feel-good elements of plot seemed to be over too quickly. For example, without giving too much away, a poor family helped him get through a rough patch and at the end, the king told his advisor to bring them a big bag of money and give the man of the family a title. It was a short line in a paragraph but I would have loved to see the family actually there and the king handing the money to them along with their reaction. I love that kind of stuff. In any case, it was my favorite YA/children's book in a while. Highly recommended and a good way to get a kid to enjoy books....more
The fourth installment in Jennifer A. Nielsen's Ascendance series. Just as good as the first three, Sage is witty and quick to think up new plans. I fThe fourth installment in Jennifer A. Nielsen's Ascendance series. Just as good as the first three, Sage is witty and quick to think up new plans. I feel like he's the star in one of those cheezy 80's flicks I love so much, because he's always getting hurt. Think about how Bruce Willis looks at the end of Die Hard - any of them - always hurt, beat up, and bloody, but ever the hero. This is our young Sage, who I call out of deference of those that have not finished the first book. No spoilers here. I love his slams to his enemies, often who don't even realize he's putting them down. He constantly makes me laugh, and it's been a while since I've read a book with a cliffhanger or strong urge to start the next chapter after every single one. Just can't put this book down. Started the 5th immediately and I can't wait to see how our young Sage will end up, and who will be alive with him!...more
So much action and adventure! Book three definitely feels like the end, and from what I've heard, was supposed to be. However, Nielsen soldiers on andSo much action and adventure! Book three definitely feels like the end, and from what I've heard, was supposed to be. However, Nielsen soldiers on and we have another book to look forward to. This one though, feels so conclusive it's hard to imagine where the next one will go. I loved every minute of it, with so many twists and turns it had me falling in love with Sage all over over again. Many times I could guess what would happen, but there were also many times I couldn't and was pleasantly surprised with Sage's wit and intelligence. Looking forward to the next one....more
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