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Silver, Lisa Packard
Silver, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Paul and Mark go to the same school and have absolutely nothing in common until they have to fight for their lives. It's a normal day until Mark discovers a silver beetle, metallic with circuits. Meanwhile, Paul sees a large silver dog outside his window and chases after it, almost getting killed by the dog. They soon discover that the metal creatures have an incurable disease and are infecting everyone. The infected turn into zombies and try to infect anyone they can get their hands on. Barricading themselves in a building, Paul, Mark, and three other students are barely able …
Messenger Of Fear, Ashley Roggow
Messenger Of Fear, Ashley Roggow
Children's Book and Media Review
In this suspenseful, gripping tale, the Messenger of Fear inflicts an awful cat and mouse game upon unsuspecting victims, who may or may not deserve their worst fears coming true. In the most recent game, Mara, a young girl, wakes up in an eerie, misty field with no recollection of how she got there. She soon learns that she has been chosen as the Messenger’s apprentice, to help him guide his twisted game. If those chosen to play lose, their worst fears will become reality. Mara feels like a pawn rather than an apprentice in the Messenger’s creepy game, but …
The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner And Other Stories, Olivia Noli
The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner And Other Stories, Olivia Noli
Children's Book and Media Review
The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories is a collection of short stories written by Terry Pratchett when he was seventeen. The stories were published weekly in his local newspaper when he was working as a junior reporter. Pratchett promises a series of adventure in his newly edited and compiled anthology. The first story is "The Witch's Vacuum Cleaner," in which a party magician is cursed by a witch for disturbing her vacuum cleaner. Throughout the story, Ron Swimble, the party magician, becomes enamored with the witch and proposes marriage (and asks her to lift her troublesome spell). The book …
The Graveyard Book, Olivia Noli
The Graveyard Book, Olivia Noli
Children's Book and Media Review
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is the story of a boy who is cared for by the residents of a graveyard after his family is murdered. Named "Nobody Owens" to protect his identity, he is raised by the ghosts and a vampire, all the while hiding from the real world outside the borders of the graveyard. Silas, his vampire guardian, investigates throughout the novel who wants to murder "Bod" (short for Nobody). As he grows up, Bod learns many things about life from the ghosts and Miss Lupescu, a werewolf who occasionally visits. In the end, he learns why …
A Year Down Yonder, Sydnee Burr
A Year Down Yonder, Sydnee Burr
Children's Book and Media Review
The Great Depression has ended, but the ripples of its effects are far from over. Unable to feed their whole family, Mary Alice's parents are forced to split their family apart and farm their children out to relatives. Arriving at the train depot, Mary Alice is greeted by her disgruntled and rough Grandma who will be her caretaker for a foreseeable future. Adjusting to an old house, a country life, a tiny school house, and small town ways is no easy feat. Eventually Mary Alice is charmed by her new life, makes friends, and discovers the sweet side of her …
Save Me A Seat, Sarah Rawle
Save Me A Seat, Sarah Rawle
Children's Book and Media Review
Sixteen-year-old Charlotte sees the future, but the unpredictable episodes cause blackouts, and classmates avoid her because of her bizarre behavior. But Charlotte feels that it is best they stay away: after the death of her father, she knows the conseque
He Has Shot The President!, Kristie Hinckley
He Has Shot The President!, Kristie Hinckley
Children's Book and Media Review
He Has Shot the President! recounts the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. Booth, a popular and handsome actor who regularly performed at Ford’s Theater, knew that Lincoln planned to be at the theater that night. He didn’t agree with Lincoln’s political decisions so he plotted to kill Lincoln, carrying out his assassination. When Booth shot Lincoln during the show, confused audience members initially thought it was part of the show. This book also recounts the aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination, the attempted assassination of Secretary of State William Seward and President Andrew Johnson, and the eventual capture …
The Revolution Of Evelyn Serrano, Sarah Rawle
The Revolution Of Evelyn Serrano, Sarah Rawle
Children's Book and Media Review
It's 1969 in El Barrio, Spanish Harlem, New York, and ever day feels the same to Evelyn. Every day Puerto Ricans work and work but don’t really get anywhere. But El Barrio takes a turn when the Young Lords activist group rises. Evelyn senses a change when her Abuela comes to stay with her family and she learns the history of her family and Puerto Rico. The activist group soon sets fire to the garbage that was not being picked up by the city’s sanitation department. They then petition and use the First Spanish Methodist Church building, lasting twelve days …
League Of Archers, Tessa Mcmillan
League Of Archers, Tessa Mcmillan
Children's Book and Media Review
Elinor Dray can’t handle being a novice nun. Mercifully, the Reverend Mother uses Elinor’s archery skills to supplement the nunnery’s scarce provisions. Escaping the abbey, Elinor rejoins her friends, the League of Archers, to hunt and daydream about Robin Hood’s deeds. One night, Elinor meets a mysterious archer who is shot by a poisoned arrow. While the man dies in the abbey, Elinor learns he is Robin Hood and the Reverend Mother is Maid Marion. As if planned, the constable arrives to arrest Marion (still a wanted criminal) and take Elinor to Baron Lord de Lay’s castle. The baron spreads …
The Hybrid Chronicles Book #3: Echoes Of Us, Lisa Packard
The Hybrid Chronicles Book #3: Echoes Of Us, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Addie and Eva sneak into another institution to record and expose the government’s secrets to the public, hoping to put a stop to the unethical hybrid program. But they linger too long and are recognized by one of the doctors, barley escaping. They finally find help, but Eva realizes Addie isn't there with her: she has disappeared. Realizing she can't stop moving, Eva and her friend travel to find Eva’s family. They find her family and Eva realizes she has to put an end to all the confusion before she loses them again. When Addie finally wakes up, both girls …
Amity, Lisa Packard
Amity, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Conner has just moved to a new house with his family. The first night, he wakes up at exactly 3:14 AM and sees a dead girl in the window, but then she disappears. Eventually the house, Amity, makes him have strange dreams that tell him what to do. One night he dreams about a binder that is full of newspaper clippings from the future that says that a family was killed at Amity and Conner was the murderer. Now driven mad, Conner sets out to kill his dad, but his twin sister follows him and Conner kills her by accident, …
The Hybrid Chronicles Book #2: Once We Were, Lisa Packard
The Hybrid Chronicles Book #2: Once We Were, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
As fugitives of the law, Eva and Addie are safe . . . for now. Although they have to stay indoors to remain unrecognized, they are still trying to find the other children that were taken from the hospital. They find other souls like them and come up with a plan to expose the corrupted government and their maltreatment of the hybrid population. Addie and Eva start to question how far they are willing to go for the hybrid cause when they discover that their friends are planning on blowing up a hospital with innocent people inside it. Eva and …
The Shady Tree, Sierra Beveridge
The Shady Tree, Sierra Beveridge
Children's Book and Media Review
Tan Tan is an angry rich boy who loves his Shady Tree. He lives in a big house and loves to play under the shade of the tree with all of his toys, but then Ping shows up. Tan Tan does not like Ping and tells him to leave. Ping gets the idea to buy the shade from the beautiful tree and Tan Tan agrees to sell Ping the shade because he thinks Ping is being silly. But Tan Tan slowly learns that this was a mistake as Ping invites his friends (and their animals) over to sit with him …
Chase Garrety #1: The Lost Planet, Emilee Bell
Chase Garrety #1: The Lost Planet, Emilee Bell
Children's Book and Media Review
Chase Garrety is literally dropped into the heart of the action in a galaxy connected by controversial political ties. As Chase deals with his amnesia and random powers, he must trust strangers to guide him in his journey to discover his past and find his mission. While unsettled by the conflict and lies that he encounters almost constantly, Chase chooses trust and honor, even when faced with death. Misunderstandings flush out both friend and foe, as well as a sister he can't even remember, and Chase discovers he has a major role to play in ending the corruption infiltrating the …
The Hybrid Chronicles #1: What's Left Of Me, Lisa Packard
The Hybrid Chronicles #1: What's Left Of Me, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Eva and Addie are two souls living in one body, just like everyone else, except they have a secret: Eva was supposed to disappear but she didn't. She's trapped inside their mind, unable to move. One day they meet Hally, who turns out to be a hybrid like her with two souls, and her brother Devon, who tries to help Eva be in control again. Unfortunately, the hybrids are found out and taken to an institution where they are operated on. Luckily, Eva and Addie, Hally, Devon, and two other children escape, marking the beginning of a revolution.
Falling Into The Dragon's Mouth, Jarrett Bell
Falling Into The Dragon's Mouth, Jarrett Bell
Children's Book and Media Review
Jason Parker is an American foreigner in sixth-grade attending a Japanese public school. Despite the advice of his parents to keep his head held high, Jason keeps his head low to avoid detection and constant harassment at his local middle school in Japan. He finds himself in a culture that condones corporal punishment and turns a blind eye to bullying, and the locals find every excuse to harass Jason just because he is different. His only solace is his brave little sister and his ability to find his center in the Aikido martial arts.
Animal Rescue Center: The Injured Fox Kit, Amanda Durrant
Animal Rescue Center: The Injured Fox Kit, Amanda Durrant
Children's Book and Media Review
Ella and her family run the Animal Magic Rescue Center that takes in all sorts of animals in need, including a stubborn and ornery goat named Gordon. When young Ella goes to check the gate before closing the rescue center for the night, she hears a faint animal cry from the forest. She finds an injured fox kit who they take back to the rescue center and nurse back to health. As the fox, named Copper, is recovering, Ella falls in love with him even after the warning from her mother that he is a wild animal. Ella and her …
Maybe A Fox, Abigail Packard
Maybe A Fox, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Jules and Sylvie have been each other’s rock since their mother died. Behind their home in the forests of Vermont runs a river that disappears into the Slip and reappears a short walk away. It’s here that Jules and Sylvie throw their wish rocks despite the rule to never go there. When Sylvie runs down to the Slip to throw a wish rock but fails to return, Jules and her father are forced to cope with yet another loss to their family. At the same time, a baby vixen names Senna is born. She loves to run and she’s fast. …
The Stray, Phyllis Rosen
The Stray, Phyllis Rosen
Children's Book and Media Review
A young family is falling apart because the father is never home due to the pressures of his job. The dad suggests getting a dog, but his wife concedes only if a stray magically shows up on their doorstep. Soon after, a stray does show up! The dog protects the kids, gives the family lots of love, and becomes a member of the family. When the family moves to Colorado, the young father takes his nine-year-old son, the family dog, and two of his son's friends backpacking in the mountains. However, the group is literally struck by lightning. The dad …
Fablehaven: Dragonwatch, Olivia Noli
Fablehaven: Dragonwatch, Olivia Noli
Children's Book and Media Review
Dragonwatch is the first novel in the second Fablehaven series. The story continues just a couple months after the finale of the previous series. Kendra and Seth Sorensen are on their grandparent's magical preserve during the summer, but trouble soon takes them to Wyrmroost, a magical preserve for dragons. Kendra and Seth's powers make them the only eligible candidates as the new caretakers. Accepting the job has its risks as enemies exist within and without the magical stronghold, but Kendra and Seth ultimately save the day and strengthen their preserve. Unfortunately, word spreads that another dragon preserve has fallen, leading …
Cloudwish, Lisa Packard
Cloudwish, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Van Uoc Phan makes a wish that her long time crush, Billy Gardiner, would notice her for once. She didn’t think her wish would come true, but it does! As Van Uoc gets to know Billy better she starts to discover things about herself. She doesn't want to be what everyone expects her to be. She wants to be an artist and a normal girl with a cute boyfriend; she wants to have parents who understand her and let her be the kid for once. Van decides to take back her wish and begins to realize she can do anything …
Michael Vey #6: Fall Of Hades, Abigail Packard
Michael Vey #6: Fall Of Hades, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Michael and his friends are to capture the Joule to cut off the Elgen’s money and power. Michael and the Electroclan go to Taiwan to rescue Hatch’s ex-right-hand man, Welch, who has extensive knowledge of Elgen protocol. They also rescue Tara, Torstyn, and Quentin, three of Hatch’s rogue electric children. Michael and the crew head to Hades, a newly rechristened island that hosts the Elgen’s main headquarters. But on the way, Gervaso’s friend betrays them and their plan is compromised. The team is able to make it to Hades and into the prison that dominates the island. They recruit the …
Steve Jobs: Insanely Great, Jarrett Bell
Steve Jobs: Insanely Great, Jarrett Bell
Children's Book and Media Review
Entrepreneur. Rule-breaker. Designer. Inventor. While other authors have attempted to create a biography about the man behind Apple appropriate for children, this is the first biography, presented as a graphic novel, written and drawn from the perspective and level of a sixth grader. The life of Steve Jobs is a story of revolutionary change; a man who significantly affected how the technology industry perceives design, functionality, and the power of thinking outside the box.
The Magician's Bird, Sarah Rawle
The Magician's Bird, Sarah Rawle
Children's Book and Media Review
Bud and Laurie soon find themselves fighting to save their school, Tuckernuck Hall, from closing down. This time, Walker LeFranco, former school board president, claims that that the founder of the school is a murderer. Bud and Laurie stumble upon a secret room in the school and find the Marchetti’s bird, the only proof that could save the school’s reputation. Walker LeFranco tries to pass off a fake Marchetti’s bird, unaware of Bud and Laurie’s discovery. The seventh graders and the school librarian prove Maria Tutweiler’s innocence and save the school by revealing that LeFranco’s bird is false.
America Is Under Attack, Kristie Hinckley
America Is Under Attack, Kristie Hinckley
Children's Book and Media Review
America is Under Attack is a picture book about the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. In this book, Don Brown portrays the ordinary day on which these terrible events occurred and the ordinary, innocent people that were affected. Readers will get an inside look of this day in the life of a firefighter, a worker in the world trade center, and an army officer at the Pentagon. Strangers who worked many floors away from one another suddenly became friends and allies as they tried to escape the burning building in one piece. By the end of this book, readers …
Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life, Lisa Packard
Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
After being kicked out of school after school, Rafe has one last chance before he has to go to a military school. When he arrives to his new middle school, he discovers the principle is crazy about rules and keeping all creativity out, which Rafe disagrees with. Leo, Rafe's best friend, comes up with a crazy plan to break all the school rules so that the students can have more fun. Slowly, things start to spiral out of control until Rafe and his entire homeroom is suspended and his teacher fired. Trying to fix the problem, Rafe tells the truth, …
The West Wing: Evidence Of Things Not Seen, Emilee Bell
The West Wing: Evidence Of Things Not Seen, Emilee Bell
Children's Book and Media Review
Just as with most episodes of The West Wing, many things are happening simultaneously: A spy drone went down in Russia and the president has to try to ask for it back without telling the Russian leader they were taking pictures. The entire episode revolves around Leo and the staff trying to convince the president he can lie to the the Russian president about the situation. President Bartlett takes their advice, but makes no progress until he tells the truth to his Russian counterpart. Josh interviews a Republican lawyer to take Ainsley Hayes' place in the legal counsel office of …
(Don't You) Forget About Me, Lisa Packard
(Don't You) Forget About Me, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Skylar lives in a special place called Gardnerville where no one ever gets sick and no one ever dies, but it comes at a cost. Every fourth year something happens to the teenagers of the town and their emotions get out of control. Sometimes people get turned into trees or their lips are glued together. Skylar's sister, Piper, killed sixteen people when they followed her to a bridge and drowned. Skylar, full of despair, starts to take forget-me-not pills so she won't remember anything. When people start escaping from the prison, Skylar realizes that she must break her sister out …
The Girl Who Drank The Moon, Rachel Wadham
The Girl Who Drank The Moon, Rachel Wadham
Children's Book and Media Review
Each year the Protectorate sacrifices a baby, but what the townspeople don’t know is that the kind Witch Xan safely retrieves them all. The year she retrieves Luna, Xan realizes only she can guide the child infused with moon magic, and she takes her home. Back in the Protectorate, Antian begins to question the practice of infant sacrifice as he sees Luna’s mother driven to madness from loss, and his son is marked as the next sacrifice for the Witch. As the pair set out to put an end to the ritual, Luna nears her thirteenth birthday and her long-suppressed …
Pocket Points, Kiersten Carr
Pocket Points, Kiersten Carr
Children's Book and Media Review
Pocket Points is a free app designed to incentivize staying off cell phones at school. After downloading, the student enters the name of their school, and if that school is offered as an option (there are schools listed nationwide), the app uses GPS tracking to determine if the student is on campus when the app is in use. If this is the case, the student simply starts the app before class begins, then locks their phone. The app logs a certain amount of points per minute the phone is not in use and stops logging once the phone is opened …