Strange Happenings by: Avi

If you like the excitement to start at the beggining of the book, Strange happenings is for you! This book is complete with 5 stories of traneformation. My personal favorites are called Bored Tom and Simon.

-Dot

Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell

Another story based on the legends of King Arthur. They never get old and never cease to fire up the imagination. This one is based on the character, Elaine, also known as The Lady of Shallot and the subject of a romantic poem by Tennyson. This novel is written in verse form which makes for interesting word play and also for a quick read. It has a fairly narrow focus on life in the armed camp during the time of the Saxon invasions and the beginning of Arthur's reign. I especially enjoyed the characterization of Gwyneveire.

by Ms. R.

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan

This book is about a kid named Jake Semple, who has been taught to swear his whole life, his parents growing marijuana in their basement, his parents now in jail, and has been kicked out of almost every public school in the state of Rhode Island. He goes to another middle school in North Carolina, but he gets kicked out of there, too. Now he has to stay with the Applewhites and go to thier homeschool, called the Creative Academy, that specializes in (what else) creativity and the arts (there is a poet, a dancer, a writer, two woodcarvers, and a play director in the Applewhite clan, and NO smoking. The plan is that delinquent boy will just go along for the ride, or will he? An unforgettalbe tale of huge heart.
Rating: 15
by Calvin Kocher

by C.S. Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

This timeless classic all happens when a mad Uncle traps his nephew and his nephew's friend in a world of fantasy where all types of things can happen, such as animals talking and magical beings.
There are 6 books in all and everyone of them has a few plot twists and characters that would catch your attention and raise a few questions as to loyalty and pride.
This book is good for people of all ages who like fantasy.

Rating: "bob's your uncle" 10/10 or as some people would give it a 79/10

Post by Luke Hamilton

THR3E by Ted Dekker

A man with a demented past gets a phone call from a man who calls himself Slater saying that he will blow his car sky-high in 3 minutes. 3 minutes later that's exactly what happens.
I would say that this book is exciting all the way through but has a twist that you thought you could see coming but couldn't. I would reccomend this book if you like phycological thrillers and an intruiging storyline.

By Luke Hamilton

Rating 10/10

The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix

The first book in this trilogy is called Sabriel, and is about a woman named Sabriel who can use charter magic, and, with her companions Mogget the cat and Touchstone, must defeat an evil being named Kerrigor. The second book is called Lirael, and the third Abhorsen. These books have great new concepts, ideas, and plots, and feature a distinct kind of magic that doesn't show similarity to those in other books that I've read. The Oregonian gave Sabriel an A, and for once I agree with their grading!
~Carrie G.

Rating: >10/10

Showdown by Ted Dekker

A strange man named Marsuvius Black comes into town and claims he can do anything while somebody saw him kill an old timer by reaching through his eye sockets. There is also a strange experimental monastery in the mountains testing humans to see if evil is something that comes from the inside or outside.
I think this book is a really good read. Very action-packed and raises a few questions about the leaders we have in position.

Posted by Luke Hamilton


Rating 9/10

Bartimaeus book ii The Golems Eye by Jonathan Stroud

Bartimaeus is a Djinni who is summoned by a young magician in the first book, and through a great adventure and much life saving, Nathaniel, the magician, agrees to set Bartimius free and never summon him again. In book two a monster is running rapid and Nathaniel must break his promis and summon Bartimius once again. And thats not all, there is a resistance forming against the magicians and Nathaniel is commanded to catch them. All of this seems to be directed by someone, but who could be doing it. To make things worst, all the ministers in the government seem to be against Nathaniel, so theres no reinforcements coming to back up Bartimaeus. I highly recommend the Bartimaeus trillogy!

Rating 9/10

--Demitri Hopkins--

Life of Pi By Yann Martel

Life of Pi is one of the best books I have ever read. It is packed with action, comedy, and great moral values. Life of Pi is about a 16 year old Indian named Piscine Molitor Patel, he is a devout Christian, Hindu, and Muslim. On his Trip to Canada there is a little problem on the ship and he gets stranded on a life boat with a four hundred pound Bengal tiger. This book is the story of his life.

-Pierce Thieme

Rating 10/10

The Great Tree of Avalon Book 1: Child of the Dark Prophecy by T. A. Barron

This book is the first in a trilogy. It is sort of an epilogue to the Lost Years of Merlin series. When Merlin planted the seed that beat like a heart, it grew, and grew, and grew, creating a new land-- The Great Tree of Avalon. It has seven root "realms" for each of the seven elements. This series is about two adopted brothers, Tamwyn and Scree, and a priest girl named Elli. They must venture through Avalon to find the Lady of the Lake and stop the peril that is falling over the land.

Rating: 9.6/10

-Matt Enloe

The Teachers Funeral by Richard Peck

This bookis a good book for anybody who likes historical fiction. It is 1904 and it follows the story of Russel Culver. He wamts to go out to the Dakotas, but school stands in his way. When his teacher dies of a heart failure during the summer, he hopes that school will be cancelled. Not a chance! Because just as he was getting packed, a new teacher comes. But no teacher is a match for him and his classmates...

-Noah

Children of the Lamp by P.B. Kerr

This book is a good book for fantasy lovers. It is about a pair of twins, John and Philippa, who discover they have supernatural powers. Their Uncle Nimrod comes to them in a dream and tells them that they should come stay with him for the summer. When they do, he tells them that they are actually djenni, also called genies. They then travel to Cairo to stop an evil djinn from getting hold of a number of magical djinni. This a great book.

Rating:11/10

-Noah

The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy by Douglas Adams

This is a hilarious, adventurous book. It seems that we humans are not alone in this universe. This book starts out following the adventures of Arthur Dent, a middle aged english man. One morning he wakes up to find that his home is about to be torn down- litterally. Not only is his house about to be destroyed, but his friend Ford Prefect, really a Betulgese alien tells him that the earth is about to be destroyed to make an inter galactic highway. He then procedes to hitch a ride with the president of the universe, being pursued by every cop in the galaxy, visits a number of strange planets, including prehistoric earth, and finds out that the earth is really run by mice. This is a hilarious book that any kind of book lover will like. It has comedy, mystery, adventure, and science fiction.

-Noah

P.S. There are four seqeuls as well.

Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman? by Eleanor Updale

This book, and its sequel Montmorency on the Rocks take you on a fantastic adventure through Londons underworld in the year 1875. The Anti-hero of this tale is a petty thief who falls while running from the police, only to be rebuilt by the brilliant Doctor Farcett. The same young doctor exhibits him at scientific gatherings. Here he gets inspiration for a string of daring robberies he is to conduct when he is released from prison...the newly installed sewer system.

He takes on two quite different identities--The gentleman Montmorency and his evil counterpart, Scarper. While Scarper steals and robs by night, Montmorency enjoys the highlife by day. It's a perfect plan--But can Montmorency sustain this delicate lifestyle? Read the book to find out more.

9.5/10

Erin K.

Pendragon (series) by D. J. MacHale

This series is a great series because it combines adventure and fantasy. There are many different worlds, called territories. Bobby Pendragon, a 14 year old at the beginning of the story, is whisked off by his uncle to a place called Denduron. There, His uncle tels him about halla, which is every being in every time there ever was. There is an evil demon named Saint Dane, though, who is trying to stop them. This is a good series for ages 8-13. THere are currently 6 books out right now.

-Noah

Rating: 15/10

Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White

This story is about a girl who falls in love with a pig. One day the pig has to go away. While Wilber the pig is gone, Charlotte the spider is working on saving Wilber’s life from the mean Mr. Zuckerman. Can Charlotte save Wilber's life? Read Charlotte’s Web to find out.

A little less than 200 pages with medium-sized type.

9.5/10

Alexandra H-H (Nicholas H-H’s Sister)

The Secret of Platform 13, by Eva Ibbotson

A Harry Potter wannabe. What the world does not realize, it that deep under Platform 13 in one of London’s busiest train stations is an old doorway covered with peeling posters. To most, it is a myth, to others a legacy. Behind the door is a fantastic kingdom filled with an amazing place where humans live peacefully with other fantastic creatures. But when the young prince is kidnapped by a beastly woman named Mrs. Trottle, the job of rescuing him is bestowed upon an ogre, a hag, a wizard, and a fey. Can they rescue the little prince without being noticed by the outside world? And if he is found, what if he does not want to return to the kingdom? Or will the rescuers simply crack under the pressure?

A little more than 200 pages with medium-sized type.

8.5/10

Nicholas H-H

Sasquatch, by Roland Smith

A quick read about a boy named Dylan. His father had always been a little bit strange. He always begins “tinkering” with and random topic, then abruptly picks up a new topic in its place. When Dylan’s mother goes to Egypt to get experience in archeology before getting her Ph.D., Dylan’s father has been acting fairly regularly. All of this changes once his mom is one the plane. He takes Dylan to a meeting about the legendary Sasquatch. When his father decides to pay a great deal of money to join an expedition to go looking for the Sasquatch on the active mountain of Mt. St. Helens, Dylan swears to follow him. He seeks the help of a mysterious Mr. Johnson. However, it will take Dylan a matter of time to uncover Mr. Johnson’s secret.

A little less than 200 pages with big type.

8.5/10

Nicholas H-H

Stravaganza: City of Masks by Mary Hoffman

Stravaganza: City of Masks is the first in a trilogy of adventures between two dimensions. In the first book, a boy, Lucien, is sick with cancer. When he finds a marbeled notebook from Venice and sleeps while holding it in his hand, he is whisked away to a place that is similar to Italy but 6oo years earlier. The city he lands in is Bellezza, an equivlant to Venice. There he has adventures that he would never have dreamed of, and some almost taking his life. I think this book is great for people who like to read fantasy/realistic fiction.
Rating: 10/10

By Tanya Talkar

The Great Tree of Avalon by T.A. Barron

This series is a follow up series to The Lost Years of Merlin and it is really good, and in my opinion, better than The Lost Years of Merlin. It is about a boy named Tamwyn who is kind of clumsy, but strong, and he gets dragged on a quest to protect the tree of Avalon (which all the people in the land live on, it is Fincayra's successor). This is a really good book, but if you haven't read The Lost Years of Merlin, then read that first. The first two books, Child of the Dark Prophecy and Shadows on the Stars are out, and the third, The Eternal flame, he just released. All in all, a great series.

Rating: 10/10

By Jackson Poulos