Abby Carnelia's One and Only Magical Power by David Pogue

Abby thought she was normal like every one else her age. And she was, except for one thing. When getting out hard boiled eggs for a salad, she pulled on her ears to check to see if her earrings were in. Then the eggs started to move. They spun slowly with nothing attached. After this she gets sent to magic camp, which for its extremely low prices had 4 star hotel accommodations. When the camp finds out her powers, it sends her to a special camp for people with similar useless powers. It turns out that they are a drug company and are trying to cure a disease and make millions. Abbey and her friends escape and hitchhike back home. She opens up programs nationwide as she gets older to help people find their own power.

This is a very good book and I would recommend it to other people.

Review by Sabrina.

The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin

This book is about the general who fought in the American Revolution. He starts as a very patriotic American who wants freedom from the British. He ends up getting injured and starts to become very resentful of some of the other men in charge. With his sharp bullheaded attitude he has made many enemies within various councils and also Congress. He turns against the Patriots and starts spying for the British. Benedict Arnold comes up with a plan to eliminate George Washington and give control of West Point over to the British. West Point being a very strategic point could have meant British success in the War. Benedict gets to the British controlled land but the plan does fail. He dies in a pool of hatred against him in Britain.

This book is fairly well written but is a biography so it can get a bit boring. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history.

Reviewed by Axel.

You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin

In this mysterious and dark mystery Dalton Rev is a high school detective called upon to uncover the murderer behind the beloved student, Wesley Payne's death. Along with a twisted and unpredictable plot is action, deceit, trickery, lies and a little romance. Not to mention all the cliques and the mysterious cult like Lee Harvies. Can he solve the case coming out in one piece? It's hard to tell in this twisty-turny book.

You Killed Wesley Payne was one of the best books I've read all year. I couldn't put it down. But while it was a great book I'd recommend it for teens because there are a few inappropriate moments and language. But overall it was a great book and I would definitely recommend it to my friends. 5 stars!

Reviewed by Josh.
Reviewed from an advanced reader copy.

School! Adventures at the Harvey N. Trouble Elementary School by Kate McMullan and Illustrated by George Booth

School! Adventures at the Harvey N. Trouble Elementary School written by Kate McMullan and Illustrated by George Booth was a "punny" book. It was about a kid named Ron Faster. He goes to Harvey N. Trouble Elementary School with Luke Out, Dewey Haveto, Oopsie Spiller, Ivanna Shack, Viola Fuss, Adam Up, Izzy Normal, Gladys Friday, Iona Tricycle, Anita Dawg, and Chucky Upkins. Mr. Stuckinaditch drives Ron's bus and loves Ms. Gelia Seeyalater. Later in the book he proposes to Ms. Seeyalater. Ron's parents are retired cooks and race car drivers. He has a sub every day except Friday when Mrs. Petzgalore is back. He has beenie weanies on a bun every day except Friday. Janitor Iquit and Assistant Quitoo quiet every day except Friday. His parents look for jobs every day except for Friday. His bus driver gets stuck in a ditch every day except for Friday. If you want to find out what happens on every day except for Friday, read the book.

I think this book is for seven or eight year old boys because it is a story about an elementary school aged boy. The comics were funny and I thought the illustrations were good. Overall it was an okay book.

My eight year old brother read it and this was what he thought of it. He didn't really like it. He liked the fifth chapter where Viola Fuss said "Wowee, Friday". He didn't get the puns and didn't like chapter one.

Reviewed by Grace and Jacob.

Alexander Hamilton by Jean Fritz

Alexander Hamilton by Jean Fritz was a book full of facts about Alexander Hamilton. In the very beginning it talks about his childhood. Later in the book Alexander goes to college. At the end of chapter two, Alexander became a patriot. I also learned how Alexander Hamilton served the United States of America during war, before George Washington was the first president. It also mentioned that the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was drafted on July 2, 1776.

I really liked this book because I enjoy historical information and facts about every day faces. This book is about the man on the ten dollar bill. Jean Fritz added lots of facts and detailed information. I thought the way it was pieced together was good and it had interesting pictures. Over all, Alexander Hamilton by Jean Fritz was really good.

Reviewed by Grace.
Reviewed from an advanced reader copy.

Under a Red Sky: Memoirs of a Childhood in Communist Romania by Haya Leah Molnar

Under a Red Sky by Haya Leah Molnar was a fantastic book. I really liked the story. The book was about a girl named Eva. She lived in communist Romania growing up. She lived with most of her family and the house maid Sabina. One of my favorite scenes was when Grandpa Yosef took Eva to the market for the first time. One of my other favorite scenes was the end when Eva went to Israel, and got her Hebrew name, Haya, and was known by Haya for the rest of her life.

I really enjoyed this book because I enjoy historical fiction. This book was full of mysterious scenes and details. I liked Sabina, the house maid, because she was kind and caring to Eva.

Reviewed by Grace.

Press Here by Herve Tullet

Press Here is a fun book to read because you really get to interact with the book. One example of this is when one of the pages of the book tells you to tap the blue dot five times and on the next page there will be five blue dots. There are many more things to do like that. One time you will shake the book. The next time you might blow on the dots.

My favorite part of the book is when you get to tilt the book to one side and the dots almost fall off the page. My little brother Tristan, who is five, loved the book Press Here. Press Here is an easy read. It has lots of pictures. I would recommend this book to anyone ages 2 years and up.

Reviewed by Morgan.

The Children of the Lost by David Whitley

Thrown out of the city of Agora, Mark and Lily get lost in a terrifying forest where the Nightmare dwells. When they go to places where their opinions clash they slowly realize that they only people they can trust is themselves. In all the different places they visit they come no closer to understanding the mystifying prophecy of The Midnight Charter. The sequel to The Midnight Charter, The Children of the Lost is truly a miraculous book.

I loved this book because it had so many surprises. I would give this book 4 1/2 stars and rate it ages eleven and up.

Reviewed by Shannen.

Under the Green Hill by Laura Sullivan

I enjoyed this book because of the action in it and because it was fantasy. I believe that Laura Sullivan did a good job at making the characters relatable and interesting. To me, this book had all of the key components a fantasy book should have - action, adventure, good characters, and mystery. I am happy that Laura Sullivan left you with a little question, but not so much that you can't stop thinking about it. Over all, I would rank this book 9 1/2 out of 10. I would only rate it 9 1/2 because at some times it was a little confusing. All in all, I am happy I got this book to read and I would recommend it to anyone.

Reviewed by Lexxi.

Hurricane Dancers by Margarita Engle

The book Hurricane Dancers was a great book told by many points of view. It was a poetic way of telling history before your eyes. The book is about four main people; Quebrado, the young slave of Spanish and Taino ancestry on the ship; Bernardino de Talavera, the Caribbean's first pirate; Alonso de Ojeda, a brutal fighter and a pirate's hostage; Narido, a young boy from Ciboney Island who is also a fisherman; Caucubu, the young daughter of a Ciboney chief who has an arranged marriage to a person she doesn't know at all but she is in love with another man.

Hurricane Dancers is a very good book and it's easy to figure out how the characters are feeling and I guess a lot of people could connect to the characters emotions. The book is filled with emotion, drama, and connections. It's a very easily understood poetry book, except children a few years younger than in fifth grade might get lost in the point of this book. It could also get confusing at times and a little annoying, but I still recommend this book to children my age.

Reviewed by Sofia.

Is It Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman

I thought this book was sad and interesting. In the book a girl had to move from her home in Germany. On her way to America she meets some friends. After the boat ride she had to leave her friends to go with her Uncle Jakob. When she gets to her uncles after 2 years she gets a letter from her "sister" saying her parents died. After that she said to herself "We have to live, we have to".

I liked the book. I liked when the girl made new friends.

Reviewed by Madelyn.