DWEEB: Burgers, Beasts, and Brainwashed Bullies- Starmer

Five of the smartest boys in their school have been framed for stealing Bake Sale money.  They know they are innocent but what can they do?  The principal says he has fingerprint evidence and he says the money was found in their lockers. How can that be? 

The Principal's solution to the "crime" is to imprison the boys in a small room under the school.  The boys must work together and use their academic talents to expose the Principal for the fiend he truly is.

Cloaked in Red- Vande Velde

Ever wish you could rewrite a fairy tale and give the story a new twist?  That is exactly what Vivian Vande Velde has done with this book.  She has taken the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood and given the reader eight new views.  She is pretty insightful really, I mean, who does send their young daughter on a walk through the woods knowing that there is danger there?  Why doesn't her mother take the basket of goodies herself?  Shouldn't Red Riding Hood recognize her grandmother? (I think the hairy arms should have been a clue that something was up.) 

Anyway,  I liked her idea of rewriting the fairy tale.  I'll bet you could come up with some creative versions of your favorite stories as well.

Mrs. G

Slathbog's Gold- Forman

Fifteen-year-old Alex Taylor answers an advertisement for an adventurer in Mr. Clutter's bookshop window and is swept away to a faraway land where he is charged with trying to find the lair of the evil dragon Slathbog the Red and retrieving a legendary treasure. Alex meets king, oracles, trolls, elves, and drawfs on his adventure and now is reluctant to have his journey come to an end.  I was sad this book came to an end as well because I really love the characters.  Happily, I have learned that the sequel is due out very soon!

If you like the Harry Potter series or the Last Olympian series you are going to love the Adventurer's Wanted series. Highly Recommended!

Heist Society- Carter

Katarina (Kat) Bishop wants to leave the family business.  She is ready to start living the life of a "normal" teenager.  Just when she thinks she's made a clean break, she gets dragged back in and the stakes are higher than ever.  You see, Kat's family business is crime and her father has been accused of stealing several famous and very expensive paintings from an evil man.  If the paintings are not returned within two weeks her father's life is going to be in danger.  The problem is Kat's father claims he didn't do it.  How will Kat find the paintings, get them returned, and keep her father safe?  It is time to call for reinforcements.

This books is full of unexpected twists and turns.  It reminds me a little of the movies, "Ocean's Eleven" and "Casino Royale" because the characters don't fit our usual stereotypical criminals.  Oh and guys....don't let the cover fool you.  Just because there is a girl on the cover it doesn't mean it is a "girl" book.  Think Julia Roberts in "Ocean's Eleven" and who could forget all the fabulous Bond" girls. 

Invisible Lines-Amato

Trevor is of three children growing up in a poor, single-parent family.  Trevor and his younger brother just want to fit in among the students at their new school but their mother is currently unemployed and there is no money for anything new.  Trevor must rely on his intelligence, artistic ability, quick wit, and soccer skills to win friends.  Unfortunately, rich and popular Xander seems determined to cause him trouble.  When Trevor’s life starts to spiral out-of –control he manages to make things right with the support of a teacher, a couple of unexpected friends, and Charlie.  

This story is great for all of you interested in art.  Lots of Trevor's art is featured throughout the book.  It is also a great book for building tolerance and helping us to learn to judge the person not their situation.

Project Sweet Life- Hartinger

Dave, Curtis, and Victor are looking forward to summer vacation.  They are fifteen, the summer of the optional job. Right? Well, not according to their fathers who also happen to be good friends.  The boys get together in their "club house" to discuss their imposed summer situation where instead of coming up with employment opportunities they hatch a plan to make money without taking on summer jobs.  They call their plan "Project Sweet Life."  The boys are very creative when it comes to ideas for fake jobs and ideas for making money.

The book is a fun read.  While their schemes are pretty "out there" at times,  I had no problem with the fact that the young men really put twice the effort into their plan then they ever would have had to by simply going to work.  I also know they never would have learned the lessons they did along the way.  

Lawn Boy Returns-Paulsen

Gary Paulsen picks up right where Lawn Boy leaves off and continues this outrageous story of a young entrepreneur who is incredibly lucky.  Everything is going great the business has expanded, new business opportunities develop, even corporate sponsorship money starts to roll in. What's a twelve year old boy to do? Good thing he has hired only the best employees because their loyalty is the only thing that is going to help him out of his latest trouble.

Bravo Zulu, Samantha! - Duble

Samantha has to spend a month at her grandparents house this summer and she is dreading it! He grandfather is a retired military pilot and he is one crabby fellow. What is she going to do? The answer to that question comes up very unexpectedly when Samantha finds out that her grandfather is keeping a secret. Once Samantha discovers his secret her summer becomes much more exciting and she gains a whole new respect for her grandfather.

Skullduggery Pleasant-Landy

Stephanie Edgely was unaware of just how much her life was going to change as she sat in the lawyer's office that day. Her uncle had passed away and she was there to hear the reading of his will, not that she expected to gain anything, but because she had been requested to attend. Stephanie was curious about a stranger in the room who must of been a friend of her uncle's because he certainly wasn't family. As it turns out Stephanie inherits her uncle's house and that is where her troubles begin. On the first night she decides to stay there alone someone breaks in and threatens to harm her. During her struggle to get away she hears the front door explode open and the stranger from the lawyer's office comes in and sends the intruder running. The stranger, as she later finds out, is Skullduggery Pleasant, a well dressed, living-dead, wizard-detective who knows a little something about the intruder's reason for being at the house.

As it turns out there is a war brewing between to opposing forces and the evil "Faceless Ones" are gaining strength which would be very bad for Stephanie, Skullduggery, and the rest of the world. The intruder stated that he was after a key so now Stephanie and Skullduggery had a mystery to solve. They need to find the key and figure out how it was going to be used by the evil forces.

I enjoyed the humor in the story and was caught up in the adventure from the beginning. I like the pace of the story and look forward to the next book in this series. I can't wait to hear your opinions of this book!

Mrs. G

Maximun Ride: School's Out - Forever -Patterson

This is the second book in the Maximum Ride series and it remains very true to the story as well as excitement level of the first book. BOOKLIST review states that this series is "An action-packed cross between Gertrude Chandler Warner's Boxcar Children and Marvel Comics' X-Men." I think that is a great comparison but they forget to mention that it is most definitely written for the young adult reader. Who else can appreciate how Max and her flock feels about no adults to "boss them around" and the fact they they don't have to until school....oops, until now.

Enjoy this one, I'm on the the next book

When the Black Girl Sings- Wright

Beautifully written story about a young black girl, Lahni, who was adopted by a white couple as a baby. She is their only child and while she knows she is loved by both of her parents, she also knows that things are not going well in their marriage. Lahni attends an all girls prep school where she is one of a very few minority students. Lahni is nominated by her friend to participate in a singing contest at school. It is quite an honor but Lahni is not sure she wants to participate. She has way to many other things to think about right now like graduating from middle school, her parents situation, and this creepy guy who seems to be stalking her.

I love Lahni's sense of self in this story. The author includes events in the story that show how young adults can empower themselves. I will be looking for more books by this author.

39 Clues: The Sword Thief - Lerangis

Dan and Amy collaborate for a brief time with Alistair Oh and the Kabras during the search for the third clue in the series. This time the clues and adventure lead them to parts of Asia. Peter Lerangis does a great job of weaving threads from the past two books into the third so the story flows smoothly and the suspense continues to build. I can't want for the next book to be released. I love the concept of many writers collaborating on one storyline. I hope you will share your thoughts about this as well.

Mrs. G.

Titan's Curse-Riordan

This is the third book of Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. The stirring of monsters has begun. Monsters not seen for thousands of years threaten to unleash death and destruction on an unprecedented scale and destroy Olympus, and it's up to Percy Jackson and his friends Grover, Annabeth and Thalia to stop them, though Percy is embarrassed to have to depend on his mother to drive him to his battles. Percy, Annabeth and Thalia are demigods, Grover is a satyr and their quest is to find the missing Artemis and the monster she was hunting. Riordan's sense of humor and and use of pop culture makes this series a hit!

39 Clues: One False Note-Korman

39 Clues: One False Note by Gordon Korman is the second book in the series. This story picks up with Dan, Amy and their au pair Nellie in Europe. The note reference in the title lets you know that music is the focus for their next clue, specifically the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is another well written adventure that keeps you looking over your shoulder for the next bad guy (or relative) as you try to help Dan and Amy fit the clues together. I like that mini history lessons that are woven into the stories as well. Did you notice the new author on this book? Book 3 is due out soon and it is also written by a different author. Interesting concept.

Into the Wild- Durst

Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst is a wonderfully creative story that blends characters from today with characters from fairy-tales. The Wild is a fairy-tale world that has recently escaped from captivity. Characters such as Cinderella and Rapunzel, who had escaped from the wild and have been living quietly among us are now being sucked back in to their former roles. Who will rescue them and tame the Wild? The answer will surprise you.

The Sea of Monsters- Riordan

The Sea of Monsters is the second book in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series by Rick Riordan. It's the last day of school and Percy has almost completed a successful school year (finally)! Oops, I said almost. The last day ends with a bang that sends Percy on his next big adventure. This time he is on a quest to save Grover. Written with the same interesting mix of contemporary characters and mythological characters, Mr Riordan does a wonderful job of weaving together an adventure full of suspense and humor. This series has been flying off the shelves!

Lightning Thief- Riordan

Lightning Thief-Riordan
Mr. Riordan is a middle school teacher and it shows. He really knows how to write for his audience. Lightning Thief has just enough twists and turns in the story plot that you don't mind getting a class in Mythology along the way. Gods and Goddesses with super powers and jealous streaks can cause a lot of havoc in a young man's life. Just ask Percy Jackson!