OCTOBER 28, 2008
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Stephanie is a 12-year-old girl from Ireland who has just inherited her beloved uncle's grand house and instantly becomes involved with a strange-looking man who attends the funeral. He's a skeleton named Skulduggery Pleasant who happens to also be a detective and her uncle's ex-partner. But Stephanie soon learns that they were involved in another world entirely - one that involves magic and an evil adversary named Serpine who intends to find a legendary Sceptor that will allow him to overpower the Ancients and take over the world. Replacing her uncle as Skulduggery's partner they battle the evil forces as she discovers some truths about her family's history. It's a thick book with a sequel "Playing with Fire", which refers to one of Skulduggery's powers. The dialogue between Stephanie and Skulduggery is quite amusing and the ineptitude of the characters is humorous throughout the book. I highly recommend this one to middle grade fantasy lovers.
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OCTOBER 23, 2008
Mrs. Patty is Batty by Dan Gutman Weird School Series # 13
The kids at Ella Mentry School are getting ready for Halloween. Everyone comes to school in their costumes, including Mrs. Patty, the school secretary. Mrs. Patty just LOVES Halloween. She is dressed up as witch. Some kids say she really IS a witch. Every day, she will wear skeleton earrings and decorates her desk in cobwebs and spiders. This doesn't happen just in October, but everyday throughout the year. Like Mrs. Patty, A.J. also love Halloween. He may not be as batty as Mrs. Patty, but he sure does enjoy getting all of that candy. This year, A.J. is dressed up as a killer zombie penguin and feels very scary! He intends to get the most candy ever! Mrs. Patty claims that she has the best candy in town, if A.J. and his friends dare to go to her house. And, they need to be aware of the...Halloween monster! Will A.J. and his friends risk their lives to get the best candy ever? Will the Halloween monster be out to scare all the kids? What is really in Mrs. Patty's basement? Is Mrs. Patty REALLY a witch? Is her husband really a ghost? For the answers to these questions, read this book. Kids will chuckle at the corny humor and will enjoy the other books in the My Weird School series. Recommended for Grades 2-5.
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OCTOBER 14, 2008
Adam Canfield of the Slash by Michael Winerip
Following Adam Canfield - coeditor of the Harris school newspaper, in training for both the quiz bowl and the geography bee, participant in jazz band, member of the basketball team - you name the activity, he's involved in it and is hard to keep up with. Luckily, Jennifer (coeditor and best friend) is super-organized. Together they try to apply the best journalistic principles as they supervise the production of each issue of The Slash. Unfortunately, a major stumbling block on the way to their goal is the Principal, Mrs. Marris. She is not concerned with truth or fairness, but sees the newspaper as a tool to be used to slant the news in whichever way it benefits her the most. Despite being threatened with expulsion, Adam and Jennifer, with the full support of the other newspaper staff members, devise a way to challenge the censorship of the paper.This is a fast-paced, easily read book with touches of humor throughout. Will be of interest to grades 3 - 6.
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OCTOBER 14, 2008
Well Witched by Frances Hardinge
Needing some change for the bus ride home, Josh, Ryan, and Chelle remove some coins from an old well, unaware that they have binded themselves to the Well Witch who must grant the wishes to those throwing the coins. Quickly they discover that each has a new and strange power...Ryan grows eyes between his knuckles from which he sees, Chelle is able to read the minds of the well wishers, and Josh has an ability to effect anything electronic. The three begin to grant the wishes... a motorcycle to a teenage geek, matchmaking for a lonely young girl...but soon find that what they think is a good deed actually has underlying evil. The trouble is, the Well Witch will not let them just stop granting wishes and shows how deadly her powers can be. This is a well-developed story that will captivate middle school readers. I highly recommend this one.
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