The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine - Review by Keri

In The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Princess Addie and Meril are the best of sisters and love their life in Bamarre. The adventures and the castle are perfect.

But then, Meril has caught a sickness. The doctors all say she has caught the Gray Death. Meril refuses to believe them. Princess Addie searches for the cure of the Gray Death.

There is a catch to the journey. Only fairies and dragons know the cure. To find out what it is, Addie must serve the dragon.

Finally, Addie gets to the point where the dragon tells her where she can find the cure. But….. the dragon has locked her in. Successfully, Addie has escaped and sets out for the dragon.

Unfortunately, Addie must stab the dragon in order to continue her quest. In search of the fountain where the cure lies, she faces many obstacles.

Finally she has found the fountain. There is a trick: she cannot bring the cure to Meril, she must bring Meril to the cure. Addie rushes home with her magic boots and brings Meril to the fountain. Uh, Oh!! The creatures have arrived. The beasts and dragons and ogres fight against the mortals and delay their mission. Addie yells for help.

Meril rushes to help her with all the strength that she had. Then Meril jumped down to the fountain and hurried for the cure. SOMETHING happened!

But what? Will Meril survive the Gray Death or will Sr. Gray Death snatch her to his collection of patients? Find out in Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

Number Devil by Hans Enzenberger - Review by Keri

Do YOU hate math? Are YOU scared of numbers? Maybe you should come along with Robert on his mathematical journey in the Number Devil!

In The Number Devil by Hans Enzenberger, Robert wasn’t fond of math or school. His school teacher was boring and all Mr. Bockel (his math teacher) did was eat pretzels while he taught.

And when Robert went to sleep, he would dream about nightmares: getting eaten up by fish, freezing to death and more. Then, that one night came where the Number Devil visited him. At first Robert wasn’t sure if he liked this Number Devil. But, every night Robert tried to have a normal night and sleep without a nightmare, the Number Devil came and visited Robert in his dreams. Soon, Robert is getting the hang of math. He is finding more and more fun.

The Number Devil is a book where it takes you and Robert through a mathematician’s adventure. Robert loves the little tricks and helpers to math that the Number Devil has shown him. Before, Robert was horrible, a disaster and the loser to math but now he can master almost any problem with the help of the Number Devil.

What will happen to Robert? Will he continue to like math or we he finally give up? Read the Number Devil by Hans Enzenberger to find out!! If you love journeys, then you will love this book because while Robert is on his mathematical adventure, you can come along and learn too!!!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - Review by Keri

Lyra is like everyone in Oxford! She loves her life and where she lives. But then, one ordinary day, she learned about Dust and going North.

She learned about this adventure and wanted to go so badly. They will not accept her as part of her team. She finds the alethiometer, which tells the truth and soon learns how to read it. One day a strange woman comes and introduces herself as Mrs. Coulter. Mrs. Coulter wants to take in Lyra as a daughter. Lyra decides she will take it.

She follows Mrs. Coulter like if she were her daemon (a sort of pet). Soon, her and the alethiometer become a very important part of the journey up North. They will have to take her.
When Lyra arrives she discovers that the journey was also to help find the missing children taken by the Gobblers. There, she finds the place where all children are kept. She decides to try and free them.

The plan works successfully. There she meets Iorek, the armored bear. They become very close.

She has come this far: reaching the palace. But to give the alethiometer to her father she must trick the bear king. She has tricked the king into fighting Iorek. Breaking the hard news to Iorek, Lyra is worried for Iorek. For he must fight for Lyra and himself.

Will Lyra be able to free everyone including Iorek, Roger, Billy from Lord Asriel and her friends? Will she be able to reach her father and give him the althiometer? Read: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman to find out what happens to Lyra!

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is a must-read book for suspense lovers!!!!!!!!!!!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

Time and Again by Jack Finney - Review by Holly

Time is not a substance binding us to the world. We are the objects that bind ourselves to time. Imagine if we could go back several years and witness the meeting of our parents or even see the Declaration of Independence signed. Imagine if we could walk through time and ban all beliefs of the past, present, and future. Imagine all this achieved upon personal mere whim.

In Time and Again by Jack Finney, Simon Morley, a struggling artist, becomes recruited into a classified government project where the belief of time is skewed. With vigorous mental training and research, Morley finds a personal reason to return to the 1880s. Landing in the heart of New York and residing in the Dakota, a magnificent apartment building, Simon (commonly known as Si), encounters a brave new world. There are clear hardships of the 1880s, but there is also life. These people aren¢t automatons living each day absentmindedly. These people have purpose and enthusiasm alive in their eyes. And a certain few also have secrets to hide.

Sometimes forgetting that he's in fact in the year of 1882, Si acts upon his instincts and ends up putting himself in the middle of trying situations. He encounters black mail, greed, corruption, and even romance.

Time and Again is an adventurous mystery speckled with twists and a question of ethics that we must ask the world. An unforgettable novel, Time and Again is a must-read for people of all ages.

--Holly, Middletown High School Junior

Time and Again by Jack Finney

The Vampire's Kiss by Jesse Harris - Review by Keri

McKenzie Gold is not extraordinary to herself, but someone thinks she is. When McKenzie is invited to a Halloween party she meets an intriguing guy named Micheal Blake.

Kenzie thinks he is the most romantic and thrilling guy she has ever met other than her boyfriend Aidan. Micheal and Kenzie take a sip together and soon McKenzie doesn’t know ANYTHING!

The next morning when she wakes up, she doesn’t remember coming home or anything. She thinks Micheal is so incredible that she has to avoid certain pecularities.

She can only see Micheal after dark, Micheal knows things about Kenzie and she doesn’t even know anything about him, he knows her most inner secrets and he appears out of thin air!

And soon McKenzie’s pyshic powers reveal Micheal real secret. And it’s obvious that he doesn’t want her to be his next victim! Then what does he want her to be?

Find out by reading: The Vampire’s Kiss

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

The Odd One Out by Lou Kassem - Review by Keri

Alison does what everyone expects her to do. But when chosen girls are invited to the Athena’s Maidens club, Alison doesn’t want to join.

Her best friend Deek says it’s okay to join. So many things are going on it’s confusing to Alison Grey. Alison’s athletic boyfriend, Nic Chandler takes advantage of her.

When there all alone enjoying themselves, Nic goes all the way he has to to win a bet he made. Alison doesn’t want to stay quiet and let rumors spread. But Alison learns it’s not easy to not keep quiet.

Lots of her friends turn their back on her. Things are not getting pretty. Will Alison survive her life or will she cave in?

Find out by reading: The Odd One Out!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

Pen Pals by Sharon Wyeth - Review by Keri

Everyone thinks Sharon Davis is the shy and quiet follower. She wants to prove that she can be a leader to everyone so she runs for the student council representative.

But Lisa, one of her best friends, decides she will also run for the student council representative.

Sharon’s pen pal: Mars has some wonderful ideas that could help her win her campaign but Rob, Lisa’s pen pal doesn’t even care.

Lisa feels that her friends have abandoned her and her pen pal doesn’t even care for her anymore. Will Lisa win and be recognized or will Sharon prove to everyone she can be a leader?

And will Lisa get her friendship back?

Read: Pen Pals and find out!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

Crystal by V.C. Andrews - Review by Keri

Crystal always wanted a family of her own, always wanted a place where she could call home and someone who she could call Mom and Dad. Crystal being an orphan girl was always alone.

She wanted one so bad. And one day the Morrises come and choose Crystal. She always dreamed of a wonderful life and love with happiness.

When she first moves in with the Morrisses, a girl named Helen introduced herself and showed her around the neighborhood. There she meets Bernie, someone also fond of math.

So far, Crystal is enjoying her life with the Morrisses. But Crystal realizes with a new family can comes with new worries.

Will Crystal’s new family come with new worries?

Read: Crystal and find out for yourself!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Age 10, Grade 5

Blindfold by Diane Hoh - Review by Keri

Maggie Keene is no one special. She was just living her life in Felicity when suddenly strange things start to happen. Mysterious events turn up in the town Maggie lives in.

A strange boy moves to the school, the gavel Scout had given Maggie had been sawed into alphabet blocks, a scale had been on her porch, and her friend Lane fell into a hole. Also Helen had been accused of hurting Lane, Chantilly and James Keith almost died and someone had tried to kill Maggie. Someone doesn’t want Maggie standing in their way.

Everyone is trying to find out WHO is the mysterious person. The sheriff and some people think Chantilly is the mysterious someone. Others think it is Dante Guardino.

And behind that name there is a legend almost long forgotten. About Dante and Christi. One night Christi said she had to put on make up and everything. Dante thought she meant she was going out with someone.

Although Dante didn’t know, someone who cared for Dante told Christi, Dante wanted to meet her. Someone is mixing things up here. When Christi was walking, thinking to meet Dante when BAM! She was killed. Now everyone thinks Dante is back for revenge on whoever killed Christi and wants everyone out of his way.

Will everyone find out the to be killer of Maggie is Dante or someone else no one even thought of?!

Read Blindfold written by: Diane Hoh and find out who is Maggie’s to be killer!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

Premonitions by Jude Watson - Review by Holly

What if you could predict the death of someone you loved? What if you could see their pain before it happened? What if you could save them from that torment? Would risk your life in an attempt to save theirs?

In Jude Watson's suspense novel Premonitions, the protagonist Gracie has visions of unfortunate events. She saw that her mom's plane was going to crash and pleaded with her not to leave. She now lives her aunt. But the thing about Gracie's visions is that she's not always certain about what she's seeing. She sometimes sees the future, past, present, and sometimes even confuses what she sees. However, when her best friend goes missing and the only clues present are in Gracie's mind, she finds herself in a rush against time and images as she struggles to save her friend.

A psychological suspense thriller, Premonitions delivers an unexpected fast-pace read from beginning to end.

--Holly, MHS, Junior

Fingerprints: Betrayed by Melinda Metz - Review by Keri

Rae Voight was like everyone else. Until her mental breakdown. She thought she was losing it. She had found out her new powers

But someone is trying to kill Rae because of her powers. Now Rae finally knows who has been trying to kill her. And know when Rae needs Anthony and Yana the most, they’re not even there for her.

They’ve turned behind her back and they’re hiding something. Until Rae knows WHAT they’re hiding… Rae has to find the killer by herself. And Rae’s dad wants to arrange a birthday party for her sixteenth birthday.

But she doesn’t want anyone coming.

Rae’s dad surprises Rae by bringing Anthony and Yana to her party. But is that the surprise Rae wants? One little mishap causes everything to change. Nothing’s different.

Why? Find out in Betrayed!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Age 10, Grade 5

Fingerprints: Revelations by Melinda Metz - Review by Keri

Rae Voight was like everyone else. Until her mental breakdown. She thought she was losing it. She had found out her new powers.

But someone is trying to kill Rae because of her powers. And Rae found out who was the killer. But secretly someone behind her back is ALSO trying to get Rae back for something buried deep in the past.

But Rae doesn’t suspect anything. In fact, Rae believes she is now safe that she has eliminated the killer. She wants to live her normal life with no killer on the loose, searching and hunting just waiting to grasp and torture Rae.

She wants some peace for a while. And Rae gets her peace. But then the killer is ready, more than ever and this time is determined to kill Rae.

Rae knows very little that someone is trying deliberating to try and kill her more than EVER. Rae thought that if she knew the truth she would be safe. And now, Rae is in more danger than ever. Now, Rae is ready to fight back.

Will Rae find out who the real killer is? Read Revelations and find out for yourself!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Age 10, Grade 5

Fingerprints: Secrets by Melinda Metz - Review by Keri

Rae Voight was like everyone else. Until her mental breakdown. She thought she was losing it. But then she discovered she wasn’t going crazy, she has powers which no one else has.

Some one is hunting Rae down. SOMEONE wants Rae Voight dead. And Rae’s best friends: Yana and Anthony were there for her. But then everyone Rae ever confided in turned away. Luckily, Anthony and Yana were there for her. Well, at least Yana was. Ever since Anthony got accepted into Sanderson Prep, he’s got more important things to do then to watch Rae’s back. So it’s just Yana and Rae together waiting for that SOMEONE to make their move. And altogether at once, secrets are unveiling themselves from their cover that’s been protecting them. The secrets from everybody are now spilling. What are the secrets? Find out in Fingerprints the fourth: Secrets!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Age 10, Grade 5

Color Me Dark by Patricia McKissack - Review by Keri

Nellie Lee Love is just like everyone else in the Bradford Corners. During her life, her brother William goes off to work, her brother Erma Jean can’t speak because of the death of Uncle Pace, and they have to move! Erma Jean and Nellie Lee are not very excited about the big move to Chicago.

They realize things are not the same but they are different in their own and special way. Back in the Corners, everyone wasn’t all Colored people. Colored people were looked down on in the Bradford Corners, but in Chicago, it didn’t matter to anyone whether you were Colored or White.

Find out what great adventures Erma Jean and Nellie Lee take in Color Me Dark!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

Fingerprints: Trust Me by Melinda Metz - Review by Keri

Rae Voight was like everyone else. Until her mental breakdown. She thought she was losing it. She had found out her new powers.

Reading people’s mind by touching their fingerprints. Rae thought she was going insane until Anthony understood what Rae could do. He helped Rae in every problem she had encountered.

So Rae thanks Anthony for what he did by finding what Anthony wanted his whole life: his father Tony Fascinelli. But now Anthony thinks Rae is betraying him. Anthony doesn’t know that the answers Rae has discovered aren’t what they expected. The truth could hurt Rae as much as it hurts Anthony.

And Marcus is trying to act all friendly for how he was acting. In all the action that is happening, one small truth could change everything. Including Anthony and Rae’s friendship!

Will Anthony trust Rae? Find out by reading: Fingerprints: Trust Me!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Age 10, Grade 5

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling - Review by Keri

The suspense heats up again!!

Harry Potter is back again and this time he’s better, fiercer and tougher! Harry is in more danger than ever. The Order of Phoenix tries to transport Harry safely to Mr. And Mrs. Tonk’s house. They take the poly juice potion and transforms themselves into Harry so that if the Death Eaters came they wouldn’t know who was the real Harry.

But then that plans backfires and the Death Eaters are after them!!

Harry cannot go back to Hogwarts this year. He must stick together with Hermione and Ron. And Harry goes looking for Horcruxes on Dumbledore’s orders. But on his way he stops at several places.

When they stopped at Godric’s Hollow, they see an inscription. Suddenly they get an idea! Harry, Hermione and Ron decided to give Mr. Lovegood a visit. They asked him about the inscription.

That led to an old children’s story about the Three Brothers. They soon learn about the Three Deathly Hallows. And for some reason the Horcruxes and the Hallows have something to do with Lord Voldemort. Soon Voldemort meets up with Harry.

Who will survive? Harry or Voldemort? Read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!

A Stir of Bones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman - Review by Keri

Susan doesn’t have the best life ever. She can’t do ANYTHING fun. Then one day, she sees Deidre, Edmund, and Julio talking in school. Susan notices they are talking secretly among themselves. Something about a place for them to do something… secretly. Susan wants to join them. But she holds herself back.

They’re talking about a haunted house somewhere near. Susan wants to go with them. She picks up her courage and asks them. Together they go and visit the haunted house. They find a ghost named Nathan. And Nathan calls the house: House. The House isn’t like the normal houses we live in. The House can control itself.

If House doesn’t want someone to leave the house, House won’t let them open the door.

Susan finds a bone of Nathan’s and discovers she can do magical things when she’s holding the bone. Susan can rearrange the furniture, open doors without asking House, and when Susan goes out with the bone, Nathan can go out too! Will Susan give up her powers to live her normal life or will she keep her magical, relaxing life in the Haunted House with Nathan?

If you want to find out what happens to Deidre, Edmund, Susan and Julio… read A Stir Of Bones!!!

Haunted by Melinda Metz - Review by Keri

Oh no! Rae can read your mind by touching your fingerprints! Ever since Rae found out that she could read minds, things have changed. And the people she loves are being hurt because of her. Jesse is missing! Anthony (her friend) and Rae are trying their hardest and best to find out where Jesse is. Rae uses her new-found power to try and gather up some clues. And luckily some of the thoughts Rae has read were from Jesse! And at the same time, someone is spying. But little does Rae know that someone is working alone. Will Rae find out that someone is watching her and Anthony? Will someone else get hurt? Will Rae and Anthony find Jesse? Read Haunted and find out!

*This is the second book in the series: Fingerprints. This is the sequel to the first Fingerprints: Gifted Touch

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

Gifted Touch by Melinda Metz - Review by Keri

Rating 3 stars. I would have given it a four but because of the language the book mentions I give it a three stars

Rae is like everyone else in her school. Until she gets her mental breakdown. She suddenly gets these thoughts. When she touches things thoughts fill her head that aren't even hers.

SOMEONE is trying to kill Rae. And right after the accident, she starts getting thoughts. And she doesn't even know where they're coming from. She's starting to think she's going crazy, until she meets Anthony.

At first Anthony doesn't seem great, but he becomes the best friend Rae had ever had. And Anthony helps Rae calm down and realize she has the power that no one else has: to read minds. But not in the way of mind reading would really be: she can read thoughts from FINGERPRINTS.

She knows what you're thinking if she's touching your fingerprints. Will Rae have the greatest power ever? Find out by reading: Gifted Touch!!

The greatest book ever made for supsense, horror and thinking lovers!!!! This book is the first in the series: Fingerprints!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

The Fever by Diane Hoh - Review by Keri

Deadly things can happen with fevers. What will happen to the girl who has had the highest fever ever?

Duffy is like any other kid, but she's in the hospital. Why? Because she has a fever. And it's deadly. Duffy is being attacked by someone mysterious. First someone puts the elevator sign on the wrong elevator and Duffy almost plummeted to her death, someone comes into the shower room, turns off the lights, and almost drowned Duffy, someone pushed Duffy down the hill in her wheelchair, someone mixed up Duffy's capsules, and someone is behind all this. But WHY and WHO? But the problem is no one trusts her and because she has a fever everyone doesn't believe her. They just say "Go rest! You're probably just seeing things and hearing things!" So no one thinks that she is telling the truth. Will Duffy recover from her terrible fever? And will the culprit behind this reveal themself? Read The Fever! This is a mystery of a dream, betrayal, friendship, loyalty, trust, and more!

This is a "MUST READ" book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Grade 5, Age 10

The Accident by Diane Hoh - Review by Keri

This book is definitely made for those who love horror, suspense, and mystery books out there! This book is very intriguing!

What happens when an ordinary girl, a ghost and unexplained events cross? You get a mystery! Megan was just a regular kid, like everyone else. She didn't know what was going to happen to her. One day, a ghost named Juliet appears in Megan's mirror. The plume was wispy, floating in the mirror, and looked a little purple. Juliet talked to Megan. Soon Juliet made the move. She asked Megan if they could trade places for a week. Puzzled, Megan thinks about it. But at the same time.... people are nearly dying mysteriously. Megan's friends almost got killed in a car crash, Hilary was dangling on a rope and was pushed to the ground. All her friends just escaped death's cold grasp, dark and fearful feeling. Megan's mother was lying face-down in the water, unconscious! Soon after that, Megan's little brother was riding his bike and suddenly he couldn't stop his brakes. He slammed into a car and almost got killed. Who is behind these attacks? Why is someone doing this? And Megan agrees to Juliet's strange proposal. And.. HOW are they going to do this? Slowly Juliet gains Megan's trust by showing her things: drawings and items. Also Juliet starts talking to her. But does Megan know that Juliet is doing something dangerous behind Megan's back? It's been a week and Megan waits for Juliet to switch back with her. But Juliet doesn't come. All at once, strange, dangerous, and mysterious events have been taking place. Megan's friends and family are nearly being killed by someone. But WHO? Why don't you read The Accident and find out yourself?

Ghost Canoe by Will Hobbs - Review by Keri

Ghost Canoe... An Adventure beyond ALL adventures!

Nathan MacAllister.... he's just a regular boy that's living the same life as everyone else. Except his family lives near a lighthouse. His dad is in charge of it.
Nathan and his father take turns having the shift to watch over the lighthouse at night. Then one day a sailing ship breaks up on the shore of Washington, Cape Flattery. The authorities announced that there were no survivors from the ship.
Nathan refuses to believe them. Footprints are visible on a desolate beach and things are missing at the trading post. But these events aren't the only mystery around Cape Flattery. A so called, "Hairy Man" is seen and convinces Nathan that SOMEONE is definately hiding in the caves along the coast. Nathan meets a new friend: Lighthouse George and together they venture the fierce and rough waters of the Pacific ocean: hunting seals, going fishing, and searching for clues. Lighthouse George warns Nathan about a forest. Too bad Nathan didn't take it seriously because all alone in there he finds a ghostly canoe and a skeleton. But does Nathan know that they MAY unlock the mystery about the long lost ancient treasure, betrayal and murder? Find out yourself by reading the book!

It is an absolute "MUST READ" book if you're a big fan of adventure, mystery, and much more!

--Keri, Gaudet Middle School, Age 10