The Last Holiday Concert

Clements, Andrew. 2004. The Last Holiday Concert. New York: Aladdin.

Summary

The main character in this story is Hart Evans. He has just started middle school, and he is already the most popular guy in school. He likes school and his classes except for music class. To Hart this is the most boring class of the day. He decides to liven things up a bit by shooting a few rubber bands at Mr. Meinart, the music director. One of the rubber bands snaps the teacher on the neck and he over reacts and drags Hart down to the principal's office. Soon after this Mr. Meinart announces that the class will be producing the holiday concert on their own. Hart is elected to run the show. We get to see Hart learn to become a true leader who is not able to rely just on his popularity status, and we get to see how Mr. Meinart learns how to become a better teacher by taking a step back.

Impressions

This is a fun and entertaining story to read. The characters are interesting and engaging. The author lets us inside the character's thoughts and shows a variety of view points. Mr. Meinart is not portrayed as the typical "Mean" teacher, but rather as a human teacher. Hart learns that popularity really isn't that important, and he and his classmates learn that a lot can be accomplished with true team work. Children will definitely enjoy this well told and entertaining story.

Reviews

Booklist( October 15, 2004 ; 0-689-84516-2 ) Gr. 4-6. "After Hart shoots a rubber band at Mr. Meinert, he finds that the chorus teacher is not just annoyed but furious. Unbeknownst to Hart, all the faculty art and music positions have been eliminated, and Mr. Meinert will not be returning after the winter holiday concert. When the teacher unexpectedly turns the concert planning and preparation over to the students, they vote to make Hart their leader. This entertaining novel relates Hart's ups and downs in his challenging new role."--Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2004 Booklist

School Library Journal( October 01, 2004 ; 0-689-84516-2 ) Gr 4-7-"Clements is a master at taking elements of relatively common school situations and turning them into masterful stories with truly engaging characters. Foreshadowing provides glimpses of the program during the chapters leading up to the conclusion, but the climactic description of the event will leave youngsters teeming with emotion. The book's accessible language and quick pace will also appeal to reluctant readers."-Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

The Homework Machine

Gutman, Dan. 2006. The Homework Machine. New York: Simon & Schuster.



Summary
This book is written using several different character's voices. Each section begins with a person's name and then we hear their version of what is going on. The four main characters form a group called the D Squad. This group is initially formed becuase their teacher puts them all into a group alphabetically by their last names. They are all quit different from each other and are not friends at the beginning of the story. One of the boys in the group is pretty much a boy genius and invents a homework machine that will do each person's homework using that person's own handwritting. They name the machine Belch. Eventually the machine starts to take over and the foursome have to figure out how to get out of this situation.

Impressions
This book has a very unique and clever plot. The way that the characters are written makes them likeable and believeable. Children will love the plot revoloving around having a homework machine. The way that the four students form their friendship is also very believable. They don't start out having very much in common but through shared experiences they all develop strong and believable friendships.

Reviews

School Library Journal( December 01, 2007 ; 1-4281-4483-8 ) "Gr 4-6-When fifth-grade computer genius Brenton invents a machine that can do homework, it seems like a great idea to three other youngsters in his class. However, things quickly spiral out of control as "Belch" changes from a useful tool to a menacing threat."-Cindy Lombardo, Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia, OH Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Booklist( February 01, 2006 ; 0-689-87678-5 ) "Gr. 4-6. In a novel about a boy clever enough to make his computer do his homework for him, Gutman delivers a fresh take on an idea as old as Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine 0 (1958)." --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2006 Booklist

The Ghost's Grave

Kehret, Peg. 2005. The Ghost's Grave. New York: Penguin Group.






Summary
Josh is twelve years old and is sent to a small town to live with a distant relative for the summer. He thinks it is going to be the boringest summer of his life, but finds out it is just the opposite! On his first night there the seventy year old aunt that he is staying with shoots a bat in the kitchen. Things only get more exciting from there. He meets a ghost in the tree house out back, he finds a mother cat and her kittens, and then solves the town mystery- almost getting killed in the process.

Impressions
This a really good book. It has mystery and humor all rolled up into one good story. The characters are well developed and believable, and it has a fast paced plot. Children will love the entertaining characters and the scary plot.

Reviews

School Library Journal( October 01, 2005 ; 0-525-46162-0 ) "Gr 4-7-This fast-paced and engaging book should be a hit with fans of ghost stories. Josh is a rich character to whom readers can relate and they will cheer him on as he searches for the truth."-Alison Grant, West Bloomfield Township Public Library, MI Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Booklist( May 15, 2005 ; 0-525-46162-0 ) Gr. 5-8. By turns comic and scary, Kehret's seventeenth novel is rooted in both the supernatural and the gritty reality of coal miners' lives in the first years of the last century." --Connie Fletcher Copyright 2005 Booklist

Nancy Drew Tiger Counter

Petrucha, Kinney. Nancy Drew Tiger Counter. 2008. New York: Simon & Schuster.




Summary
This is a graphic novel of a Nancy Drew mystery based on the series by Carolyn Keene. In this story Nancy is volunteering at an animal protection center. The man running the center is Jack Kingsley. The mystery begins when they run across some missing tigers. Nancy becomes very suspicious of Jack after she sees him talking to a man about lost tigers. Nancy uses her natural instincts and detective skills and figures out who is behind the missing tigers.


Impressions
This is an interesting graphic novel. It is well written and easy to follow. It is a typical Nancy Drew mystery written as a graphic novel. The pictures are colorful and entertaining. The reader is able to follow the story by looking at the pictures.



Reviews
None available for this particular graphic novel.

The Legend of Spud Murphy

Colfer, Eoin. 2004. The Legend of Spud Murphy. New York: Miramax Books.

Summary
The book begins with two brothers being forced to go to the library because their parents feel it will be "educational" and they won't be able to get into any trouble there. The parents decide that the children should spend two hours a week there. The librarian is referred to as Spud Murphy because she has a reputation for shooting potatoes at children who misbehave in the library. The boys are afraid of her. They get their library cards and are told that they are allowed only in Junior section and they are not to move off the carpet. Both boys start out by pretending to read, and then a funny thing happens and they actually start to read and enjoy the books they are reading. They end up reading everything in the Junior section and devise a great scheme to sneak books out of the adult adventure section. They get caught and are scared to death, but a funny thing happens and the librarian gives one of the brothers a blue library card for the adult part of the library.

Impressions
This was a great story. It was fast paced and entertaining. I enjoyed the way the character of the librarian was done. She was so funny. At one point she told one of the boys that she was going to give one of them a stamp of a pirate, but she actually stamped him with a stamp that said "I love Barbie". The story had this kind of humor throughout, and would definitely be a good choice for reluctant readers. The story has pencil drawn pictures throughout that lend themselves nicely to the story. This was one of my favorite books and I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Reviews

Publishers Weekly( October 03, 2005 ; 0-7868-5504-5 ) "The titular librarian grumbles when two brothers arrive, but softens when she finds them hooked on books. "The story's comic moments, brevity and message are well targeted to reluctant readers," according to PW. Ages 7-11. (Sept.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal( October 01, 2004 ; 0-7868-5501-0 ) "Gr 2-4-This hilarious offering is the first in a new chapter-book series. The cartoon illustrations enhance the funny mood of the story. Youngsters, especially reluctant readers, will laugh out loud at this clever book, which can also be read aloud. A good choice for fans of Dav Pilkey, Jon Scieszka, and Ian Whybrow."-Christine McGinty, Albany Public Library, NY Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

The Tale of Despereaux

Dicamillo, Kate. 2003. The Tale of Despereaux. Cambridge: Candlewick Press.






Summary
This is the story of mouse called Despereaux. He was "different" from the day he was born. He was born with his eyes open, big ears and a tiny body. His mother named him Despereaux because of all the dispair in her life. He was not even expected to live, but he did. Despereaux was never able to fit in with his family. He just didn't like to do typical "mice" things. He was always daydreaming and he liked to read - which is very un-mouse like. Despereaux falls in love with the princess of the castle. This causes great frustration to the mice of the castle and they throw little Despereaux into the dungeon with the rats. Despereaux is such a good storyteller that the keeper of the dungeon lets Despereaux survive. He is even able to escape the dungeon. Despereaux finds out that his princess has been captured and he finds a way to save her.

Impressions

This entertaining and well written story is sure to be a kid pleaser. I think it would even be a good story to read aloud. This book has pencil drawn illustrations that compliment the text. The story has a good plot and an interesting narrator who keeps the story moving. The characters are well thought out and well developed.

Reviews

Publishers Weekly( April 24, 2006 ; 0-7636-2529-9 ) In our Best Books citation, PW wrote, "The omniscient narrator recalls Henry Fielding's Tom Jones, assuming a similarly irreverent yet compassionate tone and also addressing readers directly." Ages 7-12. (May) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal( October 01, 2004 ; 0-7636-1722-9 ) Gr 3 Up-In this delightful novel, a tiny mouse risks all to save the princess he loves from the clutches of a devious rat and a slow-witted serving girl. With memorable characters, brief chapters, and inventive plot twists, this fast-paced romp is perfect for reading alone or sharing aloud. Winner of the 2004 Newbery Medal. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

How Angel Peterson Got His Name

Paulsen, Gary. 2003. How Angel Peterson Got His Name. New York: Yearling.







Summary
This is considered a biography of Gary Paulsen. It is not his whole life story, but a look into his crazy teenage years. He tells about the many wild and crazy adventures he and his friends had while growing up in Minnesota. He goes into quite a bit of detail and his stories are all quite humorous.

Impressions

This book is laugh out loud funny. From the very first page the reader is entertained by these wild stories. He admits throughout the book that the stuff they did was really stupid, and that his escapades should not be repeated by anyone. He is such a gifted writer that he made a biography that was actually fun and entertaining to read. He writes about the crazy adventures in way that makes you "see" what is happening. He gets into the details by writing about what the person was actually thinking about at the time, and then ties everything together and turns it into a funny story. This book can be enjoyed by young adults and older adults! This is a very entertaining book.

Reviews
Publishers Weekly, 11/01/2004
"Paulsen once again reaches back to his northern Minnesota boyhood to recount his and his pals' attempt to pull off stunts that live up to their billing as "outrageous" and "extreme," even by today's standards. According to PW , "This collection will likely hook adults as much as young readers." Ages 10-up. (Sept.) Publishers Weekly, A Reed Business Information Publication

Booklist( December 15, 2002 ; 0-385-90090-2 ) "Gr. 6^-9. Every boy who is 13 or about to be 13 or who remembers being 13 should read this short story collection based on people and events from Paulsen's own life. None of them dies (amazingly), and even if Paulsen exaggerates the teensiest bit, his tales are side-splittingly funny and more than a little frightening."--GraceAnne A. DeCandido