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

The Sea Trolls

This book is about a boy living in a mystical 6th century. When his sister gets captured by the terrifying northmen, the boy, Jack, alows himself to be captured with her. The leader of the northmen finds out that Jack is a bard he presents him to the queen. The queen takes Jacks siter, and in order to rescue her he has to cross into Jotunheim, a land full of trolls and where everything is more dangerous. This is a good book who likes fantasy/adventure.

Rating10:10

-Noah

The Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini

The Inheritance Trilogy is a series of books that have a boy named Eragon as the main character. The first book, Eragon, starts when Eragon finds a "rock" while hunting. When he takes it home, though, it hatches into a dragon! After his uncle was killed by some things that were hunting him, he flees with his dragon, and a storyteller named Brom, not knowing that he is soon to face almost infinite evil. Eldest is a continuation. The third book is coming out soon.
Some Inheritance websites are:
http://www.alagaesia.com/
http://www.shurtugal.com/
by Calvin Kocher
Rating: 20

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

This is a book about a boy, Percy Jackson, with dyslexia and ADHD who discovers that he is a half-blood. He is the son of one of the Greek gods or goddesses and once he discovers this, he goes to a camp for other half-bloods. This book is very good because it is a fresh plot and storyline combining mythology with the modern world. The writing is very good first person narration and the story never gets dull. There is a second book out (The Sea of Monsters) and the third is coming out in 2007.

Rating:10/10

By Jackson Poulos

The Fires of Merlin by T. A. Barron

Third in the Lost Years of Merlin series, the author has imagined Merlin the Magician's childhood before he entered the King Arthur story as an adult and a wizard. They really don't have anything to do with the Arthur legend, but they are fun fantasy stories. This one has dragons, dwarves, people who can turn into deer, a hag, magical gems, and much much more. It took me a little while to get into the story, but by the middle, I could hardly stop turning the pages. The author has a new book set in Avalon (I believe) and is speaking on Thursday, 11/9, at the Borders in Bridgeport Village at 7 p.m.

Rating 9

by Ms. R.

Homeland by R. A. Salvatore

Homeland is the first book in an expansive (but very good) series. This book follows the adventures of dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden as he struggles to survive in the world of the evil drow. He becomes known as one of the drow city Menzoberranzan's best warriors, but Drizzt doesn't want to kill. His heart is light while the other drow's are dark, and he stuggles to hide that secret. But soon his family find out, and on top of their wanting him dead, a conspiring house seeks to kill him to sate their vengeance upon House Do'Urden. Now Drizzt's only choice is to leave Menzoberranzan... but it won't be easy to escape his pursuers.
I liked this book for its humor, characters, writing, and plotline. It's set in a world of primarily black and white with a few shades of grey, but the point of view these books are written in blurrs that distinction. They're really good, and I recommend them to anyone who enjoys high fantasy, amazing battle scenes, and evil stuff.

Rating: 10

By Carrie Gonzalez

The Rangers Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan

This is about an orphan named Will who dreams of becoming a knight, but he is too small, and gets apprenticed to a Ranger, a mysterious person that is an expert with arrows and knives. This book has adventures for Will and the reader beyond their wildest dreams.
Rating: 15
by Calvin Kocher

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

This book is about a story that comes alive. A girl Meggie tries to stop an evil villain, Capricorn. Everything in her life changes. I think this is a great book because it pulls you in with its fantasy.

Rating 10/10
by Justine Nguyen

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

The Amulet of Samarkand is about a boy living in a modern day London, with one twist-it is a world with demons and magicians. The boy, who's name is Nathaniel, is an apprentiec magician who has been humiliated by another magician. To get revenge, he must summon the quirky yet dangerous demon, Bartimaes. In doing so, he uncovers a sinister conspirisy.
Rating: 8/10

-noah

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan

Naomi is a girl in the fifth-grade who lives in a trailer with her grandma and her younger brother, Owen. Her life stays pretty normal until one night when her mom suddenly shows up at their doorstep. Skyla, Naomi and Owen's mom, expects her children to forget about their complicated & depressing past and immediately accept her as their mother, but instead, she stirs up a lot of trouble for everyone. If you've read Esperanza Rising and you like it, I'd recommend this book since their stories are somewhat the same, and they're by the same author.

Rating: 10/10

Alison Wong

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke

Dragon Rider is based in a roughly modern world, although it doesn't matter too much since most of the book takes place in a humanless environment. It covers the exploits of Firedrake, a young dragon who is forced out of his home valley by the ever increasing human population. He sets out on an epic quest to dicover the "Rim of Heaven," an ancient dragon haven that the humans will never dicover, all the while escaping an ever lurking evil entity. Dragon Rider is a new twist on an old topic, and an interesting read. There are a few repetative plotlines, and you can generally guess what's going to happen next, but overall, it's a great book.


Rating: 9/10

-Jake Kane

Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter

I would've made a post for the whole series, but there is too much to say about each book for that. Anyways, Warriors: Into the Wild is about a housecat--or kittypet--named Rusty, who dreams of living in the forest by his home, despite his friend's warnings of savage wild cats who dwell within. One day, though, he makes up his mind and finally runs away from home to live in the forest. He soon finds himslef invited to join Thunderclan, a clan of wild warrior cats. He joins, and soon becomes Firepaw, an apprentice training under the Clan leader Bluestar's mentoring. Many don't trust this former kittypet at first, but it isn't long before he proves he may well be the bravest cat in the Clan...
I absolutely LOVE these books, and think that this book is spectacular, and the rest of the books are even better! The Warriors books are great for all who like cats, [somewhat gorey] battles, and/or just a good page-turner.

Rating:12

By Carrie Gonzalez

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle is a great book. It's about a girl and her voyage from England to America. She is traveling by herself because her accompanying families didn't show up. She is stuck in the middle of a rebel crew and an unfair captain. Read and see how her decisions end up affecting the crew and the captain.

Rating 8

by Rachel Mackay

Congo by Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton has done it again! This book is full of awesome suspense, nice adventure, and the Crichton blood and gore. It is the perfect version of the classic story of the expedition team searching for a lost city. It is a must read for all Crichton fans and non-fans alike.

Rating 10

by Brandon Carlson

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer

This is the latest addition to the Artemis Fowl series, and the only one that has caused me to read straight for 5 hours without stopping. It is the best book in the series, in my opinion, and comes right after the third book chronologically. Artemis Fowl's old enemy, Opal Koboi, has come out of her self-induced coma, and now is attempting to get revenge on the LEP and Artemis Fowl. I recommend it to everyone.

Rating 10

by Howard Chung

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman by Brian Jacques

This book is about a boy named Ben and his dog called Ned, who were on the Flying Dutchman when the angel cursed it. They were cursed with eternal life, but did not have to sail the seas forever with Captain Vanderdecken and crew. They have many (inland) adventures together, but can never stay in o ne place for very long. The Angel's Command is the second book in this series, and continues their adventures.

Rated 10

by Lydia Simmons

Children of the River by Linda Crew

Great story set in Oregon of a Cambodian family who survived the "killing fields," an episode mose kids have never heard of, even Cambodian-American kids, whose parents don't like to talk about such traumatic memories. The conflict between the younger, more American generation and the older "survivor" generation is well done, with the reader sympathizing with both sides before the story's over. I cried (that means I liked it!).

Rating 9/10

by Ms. R.