The Hunger Games

One of the favorite books that I 've read this this year would have to be The Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games is written by Suzanne Collins. This book is about a girl named Katniss and a boy named Peeta who grow closer and closer through something called The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a fight to the death between two kids from each district. This happens every year. Kids try to stay out of it.  Through the book you wonder will Katniss and Peeta have to kill each other at the end?

    Katniss is very scared to be in the Hunger Games. She knows that at home her sister and mother are suffering without Katniss looking over them and getting them food.

   This is an action packed book full of amazing, terrific surprises that will keep you reading. Will Katniss or Peeta make it or will they sacrifice themselves for the other?

   I think age 9 and older would be the best age to read this book because it has scary things in it, including blood. This is an amazing book you should read.  Boys love this book, but who said a girl couldn't? I know I did!

If Your Reading This It's Too Late

I just finished the second book of the series, Secret. ( FYI the book after The Name Of This Book Is A Secret.) The second book is called If Your Reading This It's Too Late it is also by the author Pseudonymous Bosch.

This book is about the same main characters, Cass and Max- Ernest. Now, I have to stop telling you everything in this book because if you haven't read the other book yet I can't tell you anything not even a little snip of information. Maybe, maybe, just a little bit of information; Cass and Max-Ernest are on a journey to find a homunculus! A homunculus is a little man made in a jar that is made from, let's just say dung. He or she acts like a human, but is really not. I mean for heaven sakes he or she is born in a jar of dung that is definately not human. This homunculus was created by a mysterious magician/mad scientest. The weird homunculus' name is Cabbage Face; you'll have to find out why. This is a mystery for Cass and Max-Ernest and of course the reader.

I recommend this book for mystery solvers. I also think readers 8 and up will love this book. Now, you have to go check it out or go buy it. Good luck finding it, it might be sold out or checked out because it is such a great book, so hurry and get it soon!

Knock at a Star

My first poem anthology book that I read this year was Knock at a Star. This book of poems is by X.J. Kennedy and Dorothy M. Kennedy. The Kennedys have put famous poems written by various poets into their book. This book is full of children friendly poems that make you laugh or even cry. One of my favorite poem in this book is " Two People" by Eve Merriam.

                                                                 Two People
                                                           She reads the paper,
                                                           while he turns on TV;
                                                           she likes the mountians
                                                           he craves the sea.
                                                          

                                                           He'd rather drive,
                                                           she'll take a plane;
                                                           he waits for sunshine,
                                                           she walks in the rain.

                                                           He gulps down cold drinks,
                                                           she sips hot;
                                                           he asks, " Why go?"
                                                           she asks, " Why not?"

                                                          In just about everything
                                                          they disagree,
                                                          but they love one another
                                                          and they love me.

                                                                            Eve Merriam
                            

If you liked this poem there are many more like it. The Kennedy's walk you through the process of creating and reading poems. Dorothy and X.J. Kennedy have a strong writing career. X.J. has written books on science fiction, illustrated, and written many poems. Dorothy and X.J. are husband and wife. They have received many awards for their books. The Kennedys write both adult and children books. They have written hundreds of books.  Knock at a Star being one of the many.

I think anyone would enjoy this book. It has many different types of poems. If you like rhyming poems, then read this book. If you like hiakus, then read this book. If you like any kind of poem, read this book now!!!

The Shadow Thieves

  An amazing book you just have to read is The Shadow Thieves.  This book is written by Anne Ursu. Anne Ursu has written a series called the Cronus Chronicles. The Cronus Chronicles is a three book series. The first book is called The Shadow Thieves.

 The Shadow Thieves is about a girl named Charlotte and a boy named Zachary, or Zee for short. The two are cousins. Ever since Zee came from his homeland of England, he believes that he has brought a mysterious sickness with him called Piper's Flu. Piper's Flu only seems to affect children, causing them to lose their energy. So many children have gotten it that they have shut down all the schools. Charlotte and Zee are the only children that don't have the sickness. The two of them soon go on an adventure into Greek Mytholgy's, Underworld to find a cure to Piper's Flu.

This book is a great book for those of all ages with an amazing imagination, probably ages 9 and up would be the best. This book is an interesting book that keeps you reading all night. Attention: Teachers and parents this is a great read aloud for children 7 and older.

Mary's Son

     If you love reading Christmas books, then you should read a tale called Mary's Son.  This book is written by Darryl Nyznyk.  This book is for children about age 10 and up.  Children will love this book because it tells the true story of Jesus' birth in a fun way.

     


    Every book you read has a few main characters and Mary's Son has a few too.  Sarah and Jarod are mostly the main characters.  Both Jarod and Sarah have problems in their life like everyone.  Sarah is spoiled and rich. Jarod is poor and has to work for money for his family.  Let's just say Jarod and Sarah need a little joy in the Christmas season, and they need to know what Christmas is all about.  What Jarod and Sarah don't know is that the person who tells the true meaning could be ..... the true Santa Clause.
      This is a great book to get you in the Christmas spirit, or just to read.  This book is definitely a book you'll have to read each year, it's so great!

Dear Mr. President

If you're looking for a great book for children and young adults to read on the Civil War, and also the hard life of a slave ; then you should read Dear Mr. President.  Dear Mr. President is written by Andrea Davis Pinkney.  This book uses letters between a slave girl, Lettie Tucker, and Abe Lincoln to tell the story.

     Dear Mr. President is a historical fiction book.  Lettie writes to Abe about how hard it is to be a slave and how she hopes that Mr. President can stop slavery and the Civil War.  Abe writes things to Lettie like;  he hopes to stop slavery by killing all the Confederates.

     This book is a great book for 2nd grade and older.  If you're interested in what went on during the Civil War, Abe and Lettie will tell all about it.  We all know how the  Civil War ends, but this book digs deeper into the war between the states.

The Name Of This Book Is A Secret

' I...I... can't think of the name of the book I just read. Oh, I know!' The book I just read was,  The Name Of This Book Is A Secret! No, I am not kidding. That is the name of the book. The author of the book is Pseudonymous Bosch. I know, what a weird name.

The Name Of This Book Is A Secret is about a girl named Cass who has pointy ears like an elf.  She is a survivalist who always carries a backpack full of supplies for emergencies. This book is also about a boy named Max-Ernest, who has a disease that doctors can't treat. His symptoms of the unknown disease are non-stop talking. When Cass and Max-Ernest get involved in a mystery about a dead magician they can't stop in the middle of it. They have to find out the conclusion.

My favorite part of this book is when Cass and Max-Ernest go to the Midnight Sun Spa. I loved the parts when you would find out something that you predicted and then you start to scream, " See, I told you so, I told you, I told you!"

I think what the author really wanted to show his readers is that even though you may be different than other kids, your still an  amazing person who can do lots of things like solve mysteries. I think he also wanted to give children a creative,funny, and imaginative book to read.

I recommend this book for kids who love to imagine and be creative. Students in grades 5th and older would probably understand it more than others, because this book has some very hard words. You should get this book to fill your suffering for a great book to read.