Ms. Sue's Staff Picks

The third and last book of the Kane Chronicles.

This third and final book of the Kane Chronicles is the best of the three.  The saga concludes as Carter and Sadie Kane once again try to save the world from the forces of Chaos. The giant Chaos snake Apophis and his rebel magician allies are on the rise. Luckily, Carter and Sadie Kane are back, ready to fight Apophis and restore Ma'at, the order of the universe.  There are some sub plots that Carter and Amy must face in their quest.  Carter needs to help Zia and Ra; and Amy needs to help Walt and at the same time deal with her emotions about Anubis, the god of funerals and death. 

The title implies the basis for the book’s content.  The Serpent refers to the Chaos snake Apophis.  Amy and Carter must capture the snake’s shadow in order to free the world.  The story moves along quickly and is action-packed.  The gods and heroes (or magicians) must work together to save the world in just a few days.  There is plenty of humor, a little romance, and some crazy outfits in this action-packed fantasy.  Again the story is narrated by both Amy and Carter taking turns in recording the events.

If you have read any of the Kane Chronicles you will warm up to this final book and enjoy reading about Amy and Dan’s determination to fight the forces of evil.  They cannot do it without the help of the Egyptian gods and their friends.

I would recommend this fantasy fiction story about mythology for children in grades 4 – 8.

In a letter to her English teacher Lizzy Mortimer tells her story about how she discovered that she was a Death Catcher, formally known as “The Hands of Fate”, like her grandmother.  She has this gift to see the future death of people that are close to her.  She finds out that she is related to Morgan le Faye and the sisters of Avalon.  She uncovers the Arthurian origins of her destiny and is charged with saving the last descendant of King Arthur from an untimely death that would endanger the world.  This last descendant of King Arthur is her secret crush, Drake Westfall, a student at her school and a very close neighbor.

There are many funny situations involving Bizzy, her grandmother and some narrow escapes by Lizzy and her friends, especially Jodi and Drake.  The story has a creative mix of Arthurian legend, romance, and fantasy.  The plots include a planned robbery, a vision of Jodi dying and Lizzy’s attempts to save Drake.  The characters are likeable and realistic, particularly Lizzy and her grandmother.

This first book in a series should appeal to a wide range of fantasy lovers.  The book is geared towards students in  grades 5 – 8.

The first book of the Infinity Ring

This book is the first of a seven book series written by various authors about time travel.  Every book in the series will portray some type of historical location and some major break in history’s time line.  History as we know it has been altered by an organization called SQ. It is up to our newly appointed Historians Dak, Sera and Riq to set the past right and restore the rifts made in time.

The main characters, fifth graders, Dak Smyth and Sera Froste, and a young historian, Riq, live in an alternate America, consisting of 48 states, with the capital in Philadelphia, and ruled by the mysterious evil power known as SQ.  These three heroes are sent back in time to fix one of the great breaks in history.  The Hystorians was a secret society set up by Aristotle after the assassination of Alexander.  This secret organization was to assist travelers from the future in fixing history’s Great Breaks and to fight against the SQ who want to stop the “good guys” from accomplishing their mission.  Dak’s parents were working secretly on a time travel device, known as the Infinity Ring, in order to help correct the disasters that were destroying the world.  When testing the device, Dak’s parents disappear.  Thus Dak, Sera, and Riq are sent to Spain to prevent a mutiny against Christopher Columbus aboard the Santa Maria and to make sure the right person gets credit for discovering America.  At the same time they must try to find Dak’s parents who are lost in time.

The characters are likeable and knowledgeable.  Additional characters that give some depth to the story include Christopher Columbus; the Amancio brothers – Salvador and Raul; Gloria; Eyeball; and Brint and Mari – leaders of the Hystorians.  The story has just the right mix of history, science, intrigue, and thrill to keep the reader interested. The story is action-packed and fast-paced.

Besides being a great introduction to different periods in history, A Mutiny in Time is a good introduction to the topic of time travel.  It will provide children with the opportunity to ask good questions about the nature of time: Can you really change history?  Is it possible to change time so much that you cease to exist?  What happens to the changes you made if you are never born?  If you had lived all your life remembering history a certain way, only to learn that it had been tampered with, how would you know what was supposed to happen and what needed to be fixed?

This series is similar to the 39 Clues series and will appeal to the same audience.  Cliff-hangers at the end of the book lead into the next book.  The second book of the series, Divide and Conquer, takes our heroes on a quest to stop a Viking invasion.

Fantasy lovers will enjoy this book and will want to read the other books in the series.  I would recommend this series for children in grades 4 through 6^th.

Book 4 of the Cahills vs. Vespers

Amy and Dan Cahill, with their friends, Atticus and Jake Rosenbloom, are on the run from Interpol. They have no choice but to fulfill every demand of Vesper One or else one of the hostages will die.  They are ordered to steal the world’s largest diamond from one of Berlin’s famous museums.  If they do not succeed, what will become of them or the hostages?

The story contains many subplots that keep the reader in suspense.  One episode takes Hamilton, Jonah, and Erasmus on the search for Luna Amato.  Another suspenseful plot involves tracking down the mole at the Cahill compound.  Also the hostages attempt to escape and what happens to them is another plot. Amy and Dan are sent all over the world to fulfill every demand of Vesper One.  They are sent to Timbuktu, Africa to go through thousands of manuscripts looking for “The Apology for a Great Transgression", which was an emblem engraved on a salt tablet.  All of these plot episodes are either revealed during the course of the story or left as a cliff-hanger at the end of the book.  Who is the mole –Ian, Evan or Sinead?  Who dies?  Who escapes and is presumed dead?  These and many more questions are answered or are left for the reader to find out in the next book of the series.  The cliff hanger will keep you on edge for the next book in the series, Trust No One.

This is definitely the best so far of the Cahills vs. the Vespers.  The story is fast-paced, suspenseful, exciting, adventurous and intriguing.  I would recommend this book and the series for children ages 9 – 12.

This is the second book of the Saranormal Series

This second installment of this paranormal series finds Sara Collins settling into her new home in Stellamar.  Sara has an unusual gift, she can see ghosts and now she is able to communicate with them.  At the end of book one, Ghost Town, Sara finds out that she is not the only one who can see ghosts.  Her landlady, Lady Azura, a fortunate teller, can see spirits and tries to help Sara explore her abilities.  Summer is over and Sara is ready to start school.  She has a vision of meeting a cute stranger and then when school starts she meets him.  His name is Jayden Mendes.  Sara somehow knows that he is destined to be her first boyfriend.  But he has a ghostly companion who stays by his side at all times.  The ghost seems intent on keeping Sara and Jayden apart. Who is this ghost, and what is his problem with Sara? What secrets does Jayden hold—and will these secrets keep Sara from falling in love?

There is another plot twist in the story.  Sara is somehow signed up as a contestant for the election of the Harvest Queen at her school, but she does not want to do it.  A ghost, named Alice, signed her name to the ballot and wants Sara to become the Queen so she can feel like she had won the crown and thus be able to move on.  Sara explores the history of Stellamar and discovers that Alice was a victim of polio and was accused of spreading it to the other children in Stellamar.  One of the humorous scenes of the story is when the Harvest Queen contestants give their speeches, or attempts to give their speeches.  Alice has a part in the performances of these contestants.

The book ends with a happy resolution but raises questions about Jayden's ghost and what the future will bring. What will Sara face in the third book, Mischief Night. 

This is an easy and fun book to read, for those who like ghost stories that are not too scary.  The story moves along quickly and will keep your attention.  I would recommend it for ages 9 – 12, or grades 4-7.

Book 1 of the Saranormal Series

The first book in this new series is about a young girl, Sara Collins, twelve-years-old, who has a psychic ability to see ghosts.  She’s had this ability for as long as she can remember, but she hopes that if she ignores the spirits that they will go away.  When she and her father move from California to a small seashore town in New Jersey she discovers that her new home has ghosts in every room.  Sara also discovers that for the first time the ghosts can communicate with her.  One ghost keeps trying to get Sara to help him.  But Sara hopes that if she ignores him that he will vanish and leave her alone. 

The story plot thickens when Sara makes friends with Lilly and David.  Lilly is related to almost everyone in the small town and becomes a close friend to Sara.  David works at the Haunted House and has the same interest in photography. David’s job has something to do with the ghost and his need of Sara’s help.  Will Sara listen to the ghost?  Will she do the right thing?

This book is an easy read and very enjoyable.  It is a perfect “scary” story for a summer vacation at the beach or the lake.  It is recommended for middle school readers, age 6 through 12.

Sinister Scenes is the 3rd book of the series about the eerier town of Spooking.  Joy Wells is the heroine of the book. When a movie company comes to Spooking to film a movie based on one of E. A. Pengeot’s horror books, Joy is convinced that Spooking will be recognized as the hometown of her favorite author.  Joy is also an advent admirer of aviator Melody Huxley, who was a former occupant of her home.  When the young star of the horror movie disappears, Joy is asked to audition for the role.  This is the beginning of many events that Joy must face, with the help of her friend and gypsy, Madame Portia, and Al, the elderly groundskeeper.  Subplots include her new role as a movie star, her graduation from elementary school, the upcoming school dance, her crush on Louden Primrose, her annoying brother, and her confrontations with the “villain” Mr. Phipps.  All of these events will lead Joy on a roller coaster ride that will climax at the town’s cemetery.

This is a humorous scary horror story that will keep you guessing.  Joy is a lovable and warm hearted character. You will want to find out what happens to Joy and the movie, what she finds out about Melody Huxley and her connection to E. A. Pengeot. 

The story is a good read on its own, but I would recommend reading the first two books in the series first in order to find out more about the characters, the book’s plot, and the history of Spooking.

The series is recommended for middle school age students in grades 4 through 7.

Book 2 of the Keepers Trilogy

In this second book, Goldie Roth is accompanied by her friends from the first book on another adventure. New characters are introduced and assist Goldie and Toadspit in their adventure. Goldie is reluctant to become the fifth Keeper of the mysterious Museum of Dunt. Even though she wants to be a keeper, she feels a duty to protect and take care of her sick parents.

While going to the museum to give them her answer, she meets Toadspit and his sister, Bonnie. Bonnie is kidnapped and the two of them stow away on a boat to follow the child-stealers to the neighboring city of Spoke. Along the way, Toadspit is captured also, and Goldie is caught up in the Festival of Lies, where every word she says means something else and no one can be trusted. Some of the characters that Goldie meets includes the two street urchins, Pounce and Mouse, Mouse’s pet mice, a mysterious cat, the Museum’s slaughter bird, Morg, the bandmaster, and the villains, Cord and Smudge.

The plot becomes more intriguing and mysterious when Goldie becomes involved in a “Big Lie”. She learns some hidden secrets about the kidnappers and the villainess Fugleman back in the city of Jewel. This fast-paced and lively fantasy sequel to Museum of Thieves will keep readers involved with finding the solutions. The end of the novel leads the group back to Jewel to fight the Fugleman.

The story is appropriate for grades 4 through 8, and even older readers will enjoy the series.

This easy to read mystery takes place in an unusual setting. The story depicts the legends centering on Iowa City’s Oakland Cemetery’s Black Angel monument. Linc (Lincoln Raintree Crenshaw), 12-years-old, and his mother, Lottie Landers, an absent-minded professor who studies burial customs, live in a house bordering the cemetery. Linc’s struggle in starting public school and leaving his private Home-Away-From-Home School, known as the Ho-Hos brings many challenges. His struggles in junior high and his and his mother’s grief over their father’s sudden death are problems that are resolved at the conclusion of the story.

Linc is determined to be just a normal kid with a normal social life. Everything goes according to plan until his first research assignment, Adopt-a-Grave Project, takes his class to the local cemetery to study graves. When he finds out that his mother is to lead the tour he convinces her to pretend he’s just another student, but the plan backfires. He decides to be cool by researching the Black Angel, the scariest grave in the cemetery. As Linc and a new friend, Delaney, discover the truth, they also discover a secret linked to Linc’s own family.

Additional dilemmas that arise include: Linc’s run-in with the new warden of the cemetery; his relationship with his old friend, Jeeter, the cemetery’s handyman; his relationship with a former classmate, Mellecker, a popular 7th grader; the mysterious woman who visits the Raintree gravesite each Monday; his relationship with an elderly neighbor, Mr. Krasny, who helps Linc translate the strange epitaph on the base of the Black Angel; and the mysterious connection to his father with the grave adopted by Delaney.

The story ends with Delaney and Linc presenting their reports to their family and friends in front of the Black Angel Statute. Each chapter of the book starts with actual epitaphs from gravestones around the world.

There are additional notes from the author about the Black Angel Statue and its background. The story is recommended for grades 4 through 8.

The story is a typical who-done-it mystery. The story begins with 13 year-old, Oz Keiller opening the refrigerator door at his family's restaurant and discovering the body of Aaron Sneider, a journalist. He discovers that Sneider was a reporter who had accused his deceased father of being a spy and a traitor. His father was accused of stealing nuclear secrets from the company he had worked for. If this isn’t bad enough his older brother is arrested for the murder and Oz jumps into action to save him. With the help of his friend, Rusty, they try to solve the mystery and clear his father’s name. During the investigation of the murder, Oz and Rusty, find that maybe his father was being framed for a much larger conspiracy. In solving the mystery their search leads them closer to the real killer and also closer to real danger. There are some unexpected twists to the plot.

Readers will enjoy the action and fast paced story line. It is a likeable mystery that keeps readers motivated to finding out the solution along with the characters.

I would recommend the story for both boys and girls in grades 4th through 7th who enjoy mysteries that are not too complicated.

Book 1 of the Books of Beginning Series. This fantasy adventure story starts off with the main characters, Kate - 14, Michael-12, and Emma – 11 left as orphans when they were taken from their home at night during Christmas. The children are passed from one orphanage to another within a ten year span until they end up at a secluded orphanage operated by Dr. Stanislaus Pym. The mansion is located in the remote town of Cambridge Falls and the children find out they are the only ones there. While investigating the house they discover a magical door that reveals a hidden study. In the study they find a magical book that allows them to travel through time. Michael takes a picture and places it inside the book and the children are transported to an early Cambridge Falls. While there they encounter an evil witch, her guardians, the Screechers, and other monstrous creatures.

The Countess, the evil witch, is holding the children hostage and forcing the men to hunt and dig for a hidden treasure. Kate realizes that she has a special relationship with the magic book and she learns by traveling back in time she has the power to change the course of history and discover their parent’s fate. Even though Katie has seen her mother in the past she cannot connect her to the present.

The children realize that they have special powers and are destined to go on a quest to find out the purpose of the book. The cliffhanger leaves the reader waiting for the next book in the trilogy.

The age group for this series is grades 4 through 8.

This is book 2 of 3 in The Kane Chronicles. It is preceded by The Red Pyramid, and followed by The Serpent's Shadow.  The Throne of Fire is a 2011 fantasy adventure novel based on Egyptian mythology.

The Kane children are on another adventure to save the world from chaos.  Carter Kane, age 15 and Sadie Kane, age 13, are the main characters.  The story is told in chapters by both Carter and Sadie in the form of an audio tape recording.  With the help of the newly trained magicians, Jaz and Walt, they set off to find the Book of Ra, which will allow them to raise Ra, the Egyptian god of the sun, in order to help them imprison Apophis, the lord of chaos.  If they do not prevent Apophis from breaking free from the underworld than the world will come to an end.  The Book of Ra is broken up into three separate scrolls and scattered all over the World.    Their adventure takes them to the Brooklyn museum, Russia, and Egypt in the pursuit of the Book.  After obtaining all three scrolls they are then transported to the Duat, the Egyptian version of the underworld.  In the Duat there are 12 Houses.  There they encounter other demons and traps, and eventually they find Ra and revive him.

Will the children overcome the many obstacles that they face and save the world?  Will Sadie be able to help Walt from his curse he has inherited from his Egyptian ancestors?  The curse causes its victims to die at a very young age and the more they practice magic, the faster it progresses. What happens back at Brooklyn House?  These are just a few of the challenges and problems that Carter and Sadie and their friends face in their quest.

Readers who have read other books by Rick Riordan will definitely enjoy this new series.  If you have read the first in this series, than this second book is a must to read.

The book is geared for grades 5 – 8.

This is the first book in a series designed for young readers who like fast-paced, space, science fiction adventures.  There are many elements of space machines, large fighting insects, and alien interactions. 

The action will make it hard to put the book down.  The story is geared for Ages 9 – 12 or grades 4 – 8.

This fast-paced thriller includes intriguing characters, realistic events, and many surprising story twists.  Pre-teens and teenagers who like spy stories with a lot of intrigue and action will enjoy this book.

The story follows the clever and resourceful twelve-year-old twins Katie and David as they race across the country in a game of cat and mouse with an international team of European revolutionaries to rescues their parents who have been kidnapped.   The children are unaware that the kidnapping has something to do with the top secret governmental program called Rover that their parents and uncle worked for years to create.  The children must first find their uncle, whom they have never met to help them locate their parents.  Their journey takes them across the country to Vermont and back to Washington D. C.

The story portrays the children as typical siblings with some bickering and disagreements, but a strong sense of family prevails in the plot.   The action is a cross between the Alex Rider adventures and a modern day Nancy Drew mystery.

Readers who enjoy adventure and espionage books will enjoy this story.  It is geared for grades 4^th through 8^th.

The story is an enjoyable dystopian fantasy centering around the city of Quill and the hidden magical city of Artimé. In the city of Quill, every year the thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the Wanteds – the strong, intelligent children that attend the University; the Necessary – the children who do manual labor; and the Unwanteds – the artistic, creative children who are sent to the “Death Farm”. Alex and Aaron Stowe are twins who are separated into different categories. Alex is sorted into the Unwanteds and is sent to the death farm, while Aaron is sorted into the Wanteds and will stay in Quill.

When Alex and the other Unwanteds arrive at the Death Farm they find a secret world known as Artimé. Artimé, governed by Mr. Marcus Today, a magician, is a magical world filled with magical creatures. Just a few of the amazing creatures found here include animated origami dragons; giant talking tortoises; talking blackboards; intelligent statues; and a winged cheetah named Simber. Each student in Artimé is taught to use their individual creative abilities magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. There is a struggle between Alex and Aaron, in which Alex wants Aaron to come to his world and leave Quill.

The future of Artimé is threatened and eventually there is a showdown between the magical weapons of Artimé and the military strength of Quill, with the brothers divided. The ending leads into a future sequel to continue the saga. Readers who enjoyed reading Harry Potter and the Hunger Games will enjoy this story and look forward to continuing sequels.

The recommended reading age level is grades 4^th  through 7^th.

Book two of the Ring of Five trilogy

Danny Caulfield has been recruited to a school known as Wilsons Academy of Devious Arts, a mysterious and secretive school for the training of spies. Danny is caught up in the struggle between the Upper and Lower World. The Ring of Five, the ruling power of the Lower World is struggling to control the entire Lower World in order to invade the Upper World. They must defeat the officials of Wilsons Academy to successfully complete this mission. The Ring of Five tries to persuade Danny, through trickery and deception, to become the true fifth. They believe he is the one to complete the Ring and give them extreme magical power.

In this second book, Danny is sent on a dangerous mission to find a way to protect the Treaty Stone that keeps peace between the Upper and Lower worlds. The Ring of Five is also after the stone and they also have sent two children to retrieve the stone. These children arrive at the Kingdom of Morne, where the stone is kept, before Danny and Dixie. Now the four of them are sent on a contest by the king and whoever solves his riddle will get to leave and whoever doesn’t must stay forever with the “living dead” of the kingdom. Thus there is conflict on both sides to find the answer to the riddle and to be the first ones to find the stone. Lilly, a Cherb, sent by the Ring, tells Danny that she is his sister and they must retrieve the stone and bring it back to the Ring. He must betray his friends Dixie and Les and all of the teachers of Wilson’s. This presents a big dilemma for Danny. Whose side is he on – Wilsons or the Ring of Five? Should he trust Lily? Does he betray his friends? What happens to the Treaty Stone? Some of these questions are answered in this book, but many are left for the last book of the trilogy.

The story is full of secrets, betrayal, friendship, and spy inventions. Fans of the Harry Potter books will enjoy this series.

I recommend this book to both boys and girls in grades 6th and above.

Volume 2 of The Books of Elsewhere

This second Book of Elsewhere is a good follow up to “The Shadows.” It has a mixture of humor, suspense, mystery, and magic. The story takes off right where the first story ended. Olive, the heroine, is right in the thick of things when she tries to solve the mysteries of her creepy Victorian mansion. Her neighbor, Rutherford Dewey, joins her and the cats in the search for the McMartin Book of Spells. She is determined to use the spells of the witches who built the house to uncover the house’s magic. But the spell book is more evil than Olive realizes. She becomes obsessed with the book and won’t let it out of her sight. It has a sinister spell on her. Olive still has not found a way to rescue her friend Morton from being a painting. With the help of the three cats, Harvey, Horatio and Leopold, she unravels the mystery around Morton’s captivity.

The story’s ending reveals the solution to Morton’s existence and leads into a third book with more mysterious events to follow. Readers will watch Olive mature and accept new friendships and learns to trust others around her.

The reading level is for ages 10 and up.

Volume 1 of The Books of Elsewhere

The story begins with a family of three, eleven-year-old Olive and her parents, moving into an old Victorian mansion. Olive notices something odd about the house, especially the mysterious paintings. She is unable to take the paintings off the wall. She sees things moving in them. When she discovers an old-fashioned pair of glasses and puts them on she realizes she is able to travel inside the paintings to a place called Elsewhere. Here she is able to talk to the people in the paintings. In one of the paintings Olive meets a boy named Morton, who was forced into the painting. The house is also guarded by three talking cats. Horatio, one of the cats, warns Olive not to spend too much time in the paintings or to lose the glasses. But the suspense and mystery doesn’t stop with one painting. Olive visits other paintings and is left with some eerie feelings. She is warned that the family is not welcomed in the house. The relatives of the previous owners, the McMartins, have some sinister plans. In one of the paintings she sees a white shadow among the trees. Olive is determined to piece the clues together in order to find out more about the house. But she is not sure who to trust, the neighbors, the cats, or the people in the paintings.

Readers will not be disappointed with this book. The commentaries of the cats keep the story moving and add some light humor to this spooky, exciting, mysterious adventure. By the end of the book, Olive has discovered some of the mysteries of her new home, but there are more things to solve and she is left with other adventures to follow.

I would recommend this story to both boys and girls in Grades 4-6.

This book is a typical science fiction story about aliens living on earth for a number of years and the co-existence of an alternate world.

The book is recommended for ages 9 – 12; or Grades 3 – 8

Book One of The 13th Reality Series

This fantasy contains mystery, danger, riddles, alternate worlds, known as realities, and 13 curious letters. These mysterious letters are sent to many children from all over the world. Thirteen-year old Atticus Higgenbottom, better known as Tick, receives his first letter, postmarked from Alaska, from MG (later you learn that MG stands for Master George). In the letter, Tick is told that he will be receiving 12 more letters with clues that he must solve in order to save the lives of many people. Each clue contains a riddle which must be solved by a certain date in order to complete the mission. MG warns him that it will be dangerous and challenging. He must solve the riddles to prove that he is up to the challenge. Tick with the help of his internet friends, Sophia, from Italy, and Paul, from California, attempt to solve the clues. During their adventure they meet two characters from alternate realities sent to help them: Mothball, a tall and slender lady who is almost 8 feet tall, and Rutger, a short and stout man. This leads into the theory of Quantum Physics and parallel worlds in relation to the 13 Realities.

The danger and secrecy makes Tick unsure about facing his challenge alone. Tick finally asks his father for advice. His father takes Tick to Alaska to talk to the postmaster about the first letter. While there they meet Sophia and together they seek out the postmaster. They find him hiding in his house scared from his encounter with MG and Mistress Jane.

Will Tick have the courage to follow the twelve clues M.G. sends to him? Will the children be able to solve the riddles in time? What will happen if they fail? Will they learn the meaning of the 13th Reality?

Readers will have a hard time putting this book down. The reader will want to find out what the 13th Reality is and if Tick, Sophia, and Paul find out the answers. The ending will reveal some surprises and lead into the next book of the series.

I would recommend this book to both boys and girls ages 8 and up. The reading level is for Grades 5-8.

A delightful story about two mice, Pip and Squeak, who build a snowman on Christmas Day. When it's time to come inside, they worry about leaving their snowman all alone outside in the cold. They quietly sneak him inside and hide him behind the Christmas tree. When this doesn't work out, the whole family go outside and keep Mr. Snowman company. Soon the whole neighborhood is outside singing and playing in the snow.

A good story to share with your preschooler. The watercolor illustrations are inviting and cozy, depicting an old-fashioned house with mice dressed in sweaters and slippers. I would recommend this book to any preschooler through first grade.

If you like a James Bond mystery you will definitely like Alex Rider, a 14 year old miniature James Bond spy. After finding out that his uncle was killed and not in a car accident, Alex is reluctantly recruited by M16, a British intelligence agency. Equipped with his own special gadgets Alex is off on his first mission. He is sent to Cornwall to investigate a new computer system which Darrius Sayle has created. Sayle is donating a free Stormbreaker mega-computer to every school in Britain. But there is some underlying scheme connected with these Stormbreakers and Alex is sent to stop Sayle and his plans. After finding out the truth, Alex is in grave danger and must return to Britain to stop Sayle and save England. Will he succeed? 

There are some additional characters both good and evil that Alex encounters during his mission. There is the evil publicist, Nadia Vole, and the disfigured mute, Mr. Grim, assisting Darius Sayle. There is Jack Starbright and Sabina Pleasure helping Alex. Both Jack and Sabina are recurring characters in the other books of the series. 

The storyline is simple and the good guy/bad guy characters are easily defined. The story is fast paced and the cliff-hanger chapters leave the book hard to put down. Readers will enjoy Alex and his many talents. He has a knack for finding trouble and numerous ways of escaping it. The book will leave the reader wanting to explore the next one and eventually reading all of the books in the series. 

The recommended age level is for grades 5 through 9.

Book 1 of the Heroes of Olympus Series 

The story is a spinoff from the Percy Jackson series. Three new characters are introduced to Camp Half-blood, Jason, Piper, and Leo. They are reunited with previous characters from the Percy Jackson series and learn that they are also demigods. Leo learns he is a son of Hephaestus, Piper is a daughter of Aphrodite, and Jason is a son of Zeus. They are recruited for a quest to free Hera, who has been imprisoned by Mother Earth. The heroes are plunged into exciting and dangerous adventures. Leo invents a flying fire breathing dragon robot that takes the three of them on their perilous journey. The journey takes them across the United States, meeting Cyclopes in Detroit, Medea in Chicago, and Midas in Omaha. The final battle takes place at the Wolves Den, former home of Jack London, in Sonoma, California. 

The end of the book reveals the true identity of Jason and his link to Percy Jackson. It leads into the next book of the series where the Roman and Greek demigods must unite to provide the prophesied group of seven heroes. The heroes must defeat the giants along with the gods. Within this quest, Jason, Leo, and Annabeth, have to find the Roman camp and convince them to help. 

The sequel released in October of 2011 is The Son of Neptune. 

Readers will be unable to put this exciting adventure down. The age appropriateness for this series is 6th - 8th grade.

The story starts with orphans, Dan and Amy, left with a decision to make. Their Grandmother, Grace Cahill, dies and leaves a very interesting will. Her descendants have the choice to take a million dollars or take up the family hunt for the 39 clues that will make them extremely powerful. The descendants that take up this hunt will travel all over the world in search of the 39 clues to the family’s fortune. As Amy and Dan compete with other members of the Cahill clan they learn about their dead parents and some world history. They discover that many famous people throughout history were related to the Cahill family. There are seven teams that take up the challenge and compete against each other. These include the Holt family, Irina Spasky, Ian and Natalie Kabara, the Starling family, Alistair Oh, Jonah Wizard, and Amy and Dan Cahill. As Amy and Dan travel in search for the clues they must decide what’s important: hunting clues or uncovering what really happened to their parents.

In this first book the children encounter some life threatening situations and face many challenges. The story is fast paced and the reader will keep wondering what will happen next and what clues will be found. In this first book of the series there are only two clues found. You will want to keep reading the rest of the series to discover all of the clues.

These books are recommended for ages 9 - 12 or grades 4 – 7.

Book 2 of the Ranger’s Apprentice series

This sequel is packed with exciting adventures. Will, his friend Horace, and the Ranger Gilan, travel to Celtica, a neighboring country to Arluen, to ask for their help in the battle against the rebel warlord Morgarath. When they arrive in Celtica they find all the people gone. They encounter a girl, Evanlyn, hiding from the Wargals. She describes how the Celts were either killed or enslaved by these creatures. Gilan rides to tell the king of the news and Will, Horace, and Evanlyn are left to find out what the Wargals want with the Celts. While following the Wargals they discover that a large bridge is being built across the Fissure for Morgarath’s warriors to cross. Thus the King’s army will be trapped. The three heroes must find some way to stop Morgarath’s plan and warn the king. During the battle that takes place, Will and Evanlyn are captured by a group of Skandians, ruled by Jarl Erak, who were helping Morgarath.

There are some surprising twists to the story and the capture of Will and Evanlyn, and the escape of the Skandians lead into the third book of the series, The Icebound Land.

Again fantasy readers will enjoy reading the continuation of the saga of the Ranger’s Apprentice and will become hooked on reading the rest of the books in the series.

The reading level for this book and the series is grades 4 through 8.

Book 1 of the Underland Chronicles 

In this fantasy, eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister, Boots, fall into an amazing underground world underneath New York City. This Underland is populated with humans and various giant-sized talking creatures. These creatures include bats called “fliers”, cockroaches called “crawlers”, spiders called “spinners”, and rats called “gnawers.” They have all lived in harmony but “The Prophecy of Gray” has changed that existence. The prophecy states that Gregor may be the “overlander” destined to save the humans from the warlike rats. Gregor is more interested in finding his way home, until he discovers that fulfilling the prophecy might also mean finding his father. Thus there are two quests unfolding in this story. One is that the Underlanders must fulfill the Prophecy of Gray and prevent being annihilated by the rats. The other is Gregor’s quest to find his father and bring him home. 

Eventually the reluctant Gregor is transformed into a warrior hero who leads a successful battle against the army of invading rats. The quest begins with a band of rescuers consisting of two overlanders: Gregor and his sister; two underlanders of royal descent: Luxa and Henry; two flyers: Aurora and Ares; two crawlers: Temp and Tick, and one rat: Ripred. Once the quest begins, the events happen very quickly and they are faced with many challenges to conquer. The ending leads right into the next book in the series, “Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane.” 

Fantasy readers will enjoy this tale and will be anxious to continue reading the other five books in the series. 

The intended audience is for grades 4 – 8.