Christopher Pike - a young reader's favorite
341682
I discovered Mr. Pike's books when I was about 12 or 13 years old back in the late 80s and was immediately hooked.  I am 30 now, and remember how much I enjoyed his stories and how they were at just the right reading level for a young teen looking for a suspenseful, sometimes gory, and challenging storyline.  I didn't care about stupid New Kids on the Block, I wanted to know how Pike's Final Friends trilogy was going to end.  Who did it?!  My friends and I had our own theories and analyzed the facts together.  Mr. Pike is writing for the future fans of such writers as Patricia Cornwell and David Baldacci and I highly recommend him for any young, maturing reader.
2713609
I couldn't put this down. I was up till 6:30 am to finish it. Christopher Pike is a master story teller!!!! One of his best works
4595857
I bought this thinking my son might like it. He read the whole thing in one sitting. My only problem is he now wants ALL of the books by Christopher.
If this keeps him off the computer it's fine with me.
542672
I was introduced to Carl Ashmore when a discussion led me to his book The Time Hunters.  I so thoroughly enjoyed that book that I was excited to hear he was releasing a Christmas book.  Mr. Ashmore says the book is geared for the 5 to 8 year child, but, believe me, THIS child (who has grandchildren in that range)loved it. The story centers on a young boy who has to lead the quest to save a kidnapped Santa. The author paints vivid pictures with his words and I got quite a few smiles for my pennies.  The story is a quick read and I look forward to reading it to my grandchildren upon our next visit.  If you want a feel good, fun to read book that the entire family might enjoy, give this one a try.  Personally, I am looking forward to more of Mr. Ashmore's books since his first two gave me such pleasure.
2912899
I love how characters are born in these children's books! I mean, a mouse named Pepper? How did that come about? Grips my curiosity, as I'm sure it will preschool readers and listeners. And children love birthdays, their own or those of their friends. So "if you go down into Hazelwood Forest" today, you're in for a BIG SURPRISE. A tea party for Pepper! And 10 -- count them, 10 -- wonderful things are going to happen. That is sure to grip and hold a child's attention. I wish this book counted to 20 at least!

The artwork for this story is gentle, subdued and imaginative. Wonderful as a bedtime story! Reminds me of Peter Rabbit and Winnie-the-Pooh books. I'm sure you'll also enjoy the author/artist's website. You can tell she loves children and wants the best books for them.
3532671
Anything written by Christopher Pike is sure to impress. He draws you into his books and keeps you wanting more. I would recommend any one of his books they are all thrilling
3233734
My 4th grade son brought this book home from school for a reading assignment. He was having some trouble getting into it at first, and was frustrated. So I read him a couple chapters out loud, and got hooked, myself.

Part of what is frustrating, is also part of what gives the book sparkle: it jumps in at different points, and then fills in what has been skipped. I loved it. The style and the vocabulary expect intelligence in the reader, while the story itself keeps to the appropriate level of 11-year-old Primrose, the central character. She is as bright as the audience is expected to be.

I particularly liked the realistic hard-edge of problems that Primrose has to face, along with her extreme optimism, even as she faces life's trials head on. Lots of things go wrong. People die, get in trouble with the law, get seriously injured, lose their homes, and even lose a toe. But through it all, Primrose responds with reasonable emotion (sadness, frustration, annoyance, joy, excitement, boredom) without become dramatic or depressed.

Some here have complained of the ending, but I thought it was perfectly balanced to the rest of the book. A nice balance of encouraging realistic perceptions of the troubles of life, along with the reasonableness of keeping up hope.

A worthwhile read. Particularly well suited to gifted kids at the 4th through 6th grade level. But easily enjoyable at any age beyond that.
1069711
In the tradition of C. S. Lewis' Narnia books, and Madeleine L'Engle's Time series, Markos' book The Dreaming Stone enchants and captivates the reader. Delightfully told stories of mythology from the point of view of modern day children transported to the origin of the myths beg to be read aloud. This book is great for reading to younger children, and a marvelous gift for the young budding reader.
1810857
Twelve year old Phinnegan Qwyk loves to read and fairy tales at that. Rushing home from school one day, his father has a new book for him. When he falls asleep reading that night, he awakes to find his window open and wet footprints on the floor. When he goes to investigate, he find a curious looking fellow in his father's office. What he has come across is a Fae named Periwinkle Lark. A Fae! Just like in his fairy tales! When the Fae is summoned back to his land on charges of treason, among other bogus charges, Phinnegan accidentally goes with him. On a quest to find his way home, he comes across all sorts of "make believe" creatures including pixies, trolls, and giants. The road home is long, and not everyone Phinnegan comes across is what they seem but our young hero learns a lot about himself and magic along the way.

A Place Beyond The Map is what children's dreams are made of. Well written enough for readers around the age of 8 or 9 but also an excellent read for adults. I loved reading this book! Not only did it keep me entertained from beginning to end, but it didn't feel like I was reading a book centered towards mid-grade readers. I can only hope that there will be another book to follow as some things were left hanging. I would love to read this to my two youngest step-daughters who are 9 and 11 (not that they couldn't read it themselves). I really liked how Phinnegan never looses hope, no matter how dire the circumstances he finds himself in. Thews has penned an excellent and  highly recommended tale for all ages of readers!
2094837
Rick Riordan, a young adult author, is quickly becoming a god figuratively speaking.  After the release of his novel The Lightning Thief in June of 2005, Riordan is quickly becoming well known because of his young adult series Percy Jackson and the Olympians.  This series is quickly becoming one of the newest young adult fads because of the interesting way the novels include facts about Greek mythology without being dull or unoriginal.
 One of the attention grabbers Riordan uses is his characters who allow the reader to quickly become absorbed in the book.  The first character introduced is Percy Jackson, a twelve year old boy diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia who seems to have extreme difficulty staying out of trouble and in a school district.  Riordan helps the reader to understand Jackson better by introducing his mom to the reader, as Jackson's father is mysteriously out of the picture.  Jackson's life is quickly turned upside down after a trip to the coast with his mother.  Some of the other characters readers quickly gain affection for are Annabeth, the lonely girl who lives at summer camp; Grover, Jackson's best friend who seems unnaturally nervous; Chiron, Jackson's teacher who has unnaturally high expectations for him; and Luke, the friendly camp counselor with a mysterious scar on his face.
 This series appeals to many readers, not just young adults.  The appeal for these novels is that it introduces Greek mythology in a way that is interesting and fun, putting their experiences in the present time while still being correct.  Also, the books allow for the reader to understand what the characters are going through by using dream sequences to show how they feel about situations.  The most important appeal that Riordan uses is the fact that the characters in his books are still going through the adolescent changes that every person went through in life.  The characters deal with everything from understanding their parents and teachers to trying to figure out what that girl over there is thinking.
 While the writing style of these novels may not be up to Dante's standards, it is simple enough for children to be comfortable reading while still allowing adults to be entertained as well.  One of the best parts of the novels is the fact that the series leads seamlessly from one book to the next.  All of the books have flawless transitions, allowing the reader to quickly move through the series without confusion.
 The most important part of this series is the fact that they are education without the reader knowing it.  The Greek facts are included in a way that does not allow the reader to realize they are learning something, while reading questions are found in the back of the book to provoke thought.  Also the novels help to promote morals for children and adults alike, teaching them to stand up for themselves and what is right and wrong.  Riordan has stumbled upon a creative way to teach children about the history intertwined in our present while enthralling adults as well.
2619414
What kid wouldn't enjoy a story about a self-assured 11-year old set loose in a museum who handles magical Egyptian artifacts and fights an evil secret society? We enjoyed reading the 'Staff of Osiris'; the magical elements are along the lines of Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl, while the museum mysteries are reminiscent  of '<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/From-the-Mixed-up-Files-of-Mrs-Basil-E-Frankweiler/dp/1416949755/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler</a>.' We'll probably get the first in the 'Theodosia' series as well.
3385420
This is perfect for my 8 year old son.  He had tremendous advances in his reading this year (thank you Mrs. Christopher, his most excellent second grade teacher!!) and one of the series he was interested in was Chris D'Lacey's Last Dragon series.  That series is a LITTLE tough for him--he started reading them with my husband but is able to read on his own as well.

This series is a nice 'prequel' series and is aimed at a little younger readers.  Consequently, my son picked up this one and took off--great characters in a familiar story/world but ones he could do completely independantly.  He is still enjoying the more advanced series, but this one gives him a little easier break and allows him to increase his confidence.

Most importantly of course, the story is great and well written...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

JTG

The Books (from Chris D'Lacey's website)

The Dragons of Wayward Cresecent
1. Gruffen
2.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Gauge-The-Dragons-Of-Wayward-Crescent/dp/0545168317/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Gauge (The Dragons Of Wayward Crescent)</a>
3.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Glade-Dragons-of-Wayward-Crescent/dp/184616611X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Glade (Dragons of Wayward Crescent)</a>
4.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Grabber-Dragons-of-Wayward-Crescent/dp/1846166128/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Grabber (Dragons of Wayward Crescent)</a>

The Last Dragon Chronicles
1.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Fire-Within/dp/0439672449/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Fire Within</a>
2.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Icefire-Last-Dragon-Chronicles/dp/0439672465/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Icefire (Last Dragon Chronicles)</a>
3.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Fire-Star-Last-Dragon-Chronicles/dp/0439901855/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Fire Star (Last Dragon Chronicles)</a>
4.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Fire-Eternal-Last-Dragon-Chronicles/dp/0545051649/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Fire Eternal (Last Dragon Chronicles)</a>
5.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Dark-Fire-Last-Dragon-Chronicles/dp/0545102731/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Dark Fire (Last Dragon Chronicles)</a>
6.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Rain-and-Fire-Last-Dragon-Chronicles/dp/1408312697/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Rain and Fire (Last Dragon Chronicles)</a>
3934585
The book I read was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time as made famous by Mark Haddon. The book is about a boy with autism who finds a dead dog on his neighbor's lawn. The boy's name is Christopher John Francis Boone and he is a very interesting boy with many strange habits. He likes to count the cars he sees on the way to school. He also has a habit of going off topic a lot.

  Christopher is a very smart boy. He knows about space, quadratic equations and he is very good at logic puzzles. He also knows all the prime numbers up to 7057. The problem is that Christopher can't understand human emotions so he doesn't respond to people in expected ways.

This is a very good book. When you read it, it makes you feel many different emotions. You hate his dad one minute and the next thing you know you feel sorry for him. One example is when his dad tells Christopher that he can't write a book about the dead dog. But when you find out why he can't, you begin to feel sympathy for what Christopher's dad is going through. I really liked this book. If you don't like bad language, don't read this book because there are a lot of bad words. The father swears a lot at Christopher because he is frustrated with him. If you like books about dead dogs and people with autism then you'll love this book.
698005
I received a copy of this book in a giveaway held by the author and the following is my honest review for it.

I found Melinda Kinsman a marvelous, innovative treat for its young readers, which Id place between 5  8 years old; perhaps even 4 depending on the child. By giving human qualities to an inanimate object, in this case a sock; the author uses the childs imagination to communicate the different things a child should know about activities surrounding the Christmas holiday in an easy going manner. The author also kindly tells the child that everyone doesnt celebrate the holiday, and thats another holiday which comes around the same time, Chanukah [theres several ways to spell this holiday] which are celebrated by children who are Jewish.

While the first portion of this beautifully illustrated book by the author herself deals with the items above the second portion goes on to tell its readers facts about Santa, what Christmas is all about, its traditions, etc. The third and final section of the book gives children and their parents several activities to enjoy which are all connected to the holiday in one way or another.

Given the above, Im happy to give this 5 STARS.
381275
Start the New Year with a recently released chapter book for children (8-12 y), THE KEY.  It is written by Jackie Mae and her granddaughter, Alison Taylor.  The authors do a fine job of quickly capturing and then holding the readers attention!
  Gently woven into an intriguing story are interesting historical facts, as well as a particularly pertinent lesson for our timerespect for the environment.  Importantly, it does so without preaching; perhaps hitting the right tone because a child is the co-author.  The book provides a good sense of place and would be of special interest to those who live in the Delaware-Maryland-DC-Virginia area.  A few minor concerns:  there were some formatting problems with the Kindle version and a few blips related to style, i.e., the identity of the narrator was not always clear.  Overall, however, these issues did not distract from a fun and educational story that would make for an independent read or a good bedtime story that might involve some interesting discussions with your child.
  The story involves a brother and sister, Alan and Taylor, who previously had found themselves involved in an adventure in the Land of Spark (Twilight of Doom: the first in this series).  The Key opens with the family going to the mall to shop and attend a movie.  After loading up with popcorn and drinks, they walk into the wrong theatre and into another adventure.  The children set out to help defeat the evil wizard, Jalabar, who seeks to gain power and do harm to the Land of Baltimore.  In addition to Jalabar, children will enjoy coming to know Bella, Swing, Mrs. Taylor, Wee Willie, Sarah, Daisy, and Billy.  There are many important lessons; albeit subtle.  One of the most striking in the importance of compassion for others and for the environment (the children belong to a recycling club at school).  At the end of the book is a vocabulary section and a brief explanation of historical references.
  Zanzar is a code word for what?  What is the Chest of Treasures?  You will have to read THE KEY to discover the answers to those questions and others!  What role do the catacombs play in the story?  What are skinks?  This is definitely a fun read!  A hint is dropped by a Unicorn who appears at the end of the story as Alan and Taylor return to their family:  In your future travels, beware of Tarina.  It sounds like there is soon to be a third book in the series!  Do not delay in reading of the adventures of Alan and Taylor in The Key and the first in the series, Twilight of Doom.
4384614
I was curious to read E.E. Martin's first book for a younger audience, as I am a fan of this author's writing. I was not disappointed, and will be purchasing this book for the young readers in my life for upcoming birthdays and special holidays. The story moves along at a great speed, and leaves the reader wondering what details will be revealed in the sequel. The characters are cleverly fleshed out, and the friendship between the children, despite their differences, are inspirational. Sofia and Toby can especially show your young reader how communication and trust between friends is important, and making assumptions will only cause bigger problems. Purchase this book for your child, nephew or niece, brother or sister, etc. Your young reader will be begging for more of the Squid Files at the end of the book.
4253947
Crispin the Cross of Lead is a great book for young children. This book is about a boy, Crispin, who is declared a "wolf's head" and is wanted for dead.  At the end of Crispin's journey, he learns something very important about himself. He learns why his enemies are so determined to kill him. This book is a good book for many reasons. First, the characters and setting are unique and believeable. The book takes place in medieval England, a time period where peasants were poor and put to work. Crispin's mother died, and he was left with no home or family. After Crispin was declared a "wolf's head," he was forced to leave his village. He did not know where to go until he met a man named Bear, who took Crispin as his servant. Bear and Crispin became good friends. Second, the vocabulary used in the book is precise and figurative language is used. Avi uses dialogue that relates to medieval times. Third, the dialogue provides insight into the characters. For example, the reader can get a mental picture about Crispin and Bear through the following quotes. "Your tunic is equal parts dirt, rags, and rents. Your face is scratched and mucked as are your naked arms and legs. Your hair is long and unkempt. I can barely count your fingers for the caked filth. In short, you're more cur than boy." "At first, all I saw was rubble and rot. Then, partly hidden in the shadows, I saw a man who was anything but a skeleton. On the contrary, he was a mountain of flesh, a great barrel of a fellow, whose arms and legs were as thick as tree limbs, and with a tublike belly before all." Fourth, the plot has subtle major dramatic question, meaning that the reader starts to wonder something. Crispin has a cross that his mother gave him before she died. There is an inscription on the cross, however Crispin never learned to read. Crispin eventually learns what is on the cross, and he realizes why John Aycliffe is trying to kill him. Crispin is supposedly declared a "wolf's head" for stealing money. The reader starts to wonder if there is another reason why Crispin is wanted, the reason that Crispin learns at the end of the novel. Finally, the mood and tone of the story facilitate suspension of disbelief, meaning that the story feels real. The reader can put themselves in Crispin's shoes and feel how difficult his life is and how hard he fights to stay alive.
The audience would enjoy Avi's specific and sequential dialogue, which helps readers understand and relate the story to medieval times. Crispin is about twelve years old in this story, which is similar to the age of young children reading this book. These young readers can get a feel as to the hardships of a young boy during medieval times. This story is suspenseful and mysterious, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat.  Avi also adds an exciting twist to the end of the story. This book would be excellent to use in the classroom to connect a literature lesson along with a lesson about medieval times. I highly recommend this book to all young children. It's a must read that the reader will not be able to put down.