Allende, Isabel.  City of the Beasts

When 14-year-old Alexander Cold's mother is sick with cancer, he is sent to his crazy Grandmother Kate who nearly drowned him  as a young child to "help him learn to swim".  He arrives at Kate's just as she is scheduled to  leave for the Amazon to track down an infamous "beast" that lurks deep in the rainforest and is said to kill anyone who goes into its territory.  Along the way he meets a gorgeous doctor, a crazy anthropologist, a crooked South American entrepreneur and a honey colored girl who may become the love of his life.  This is a nerve- wracking, heartwarming adventure into the unknown that anybody would love to read.  ~Cameron Driscoll  10/04.

Barron, T.A. The Lost Years of Merlin

This book is about a boy named Emrys who knows nothing about his past. He travels to a faraway land, Fincayra, in search of his history. In Fincayra he finds that the evil king, Stangmar, is really his father. It is up to Emyrs to destroy his father and bring back peace to Fincayra. Will Emrys destroy his Stangmar? Will peace be restored? Read The Lost Years of Merlin and find out. ~John Tormondsen.

Booth, Martin. War Dog

War Dog takes place during World War II. It is a story about a dog named Jet and her owner Fred Parry. Fred is an English poacher. He and Jet go poaching a lot together. Once Jet and Fred were poaching at about 4:00 am, when it was still chilly out. Fred had just caught a pheasant. Then Jet heard a boom. It was the police. They arrested Fred for poaching on someone else’s property. Fred’s last words to Jet were, "When I get out, I’ll come back to get you." So Jet got signed in to the Army a few days later. Read War Dog to find out if Fred ever sees Jet again and to see if Jet survives during the War. ~Parker Hurst.

 Brown, Dan.  The  Da Vinci Code

      The four men who know where the location of the Holy Grail are all killed, so Robert Langdon has to interpret a series of clues left behind by Jacques Saniere, with his granddaughter Sophia.  Excellent, exciting, with several large twists. ~Tyler Marks, 3/04.

Clement-Davies, David. The Sight

The Sight is about some wolves and three rare gifts that some of them have. There are three kinds of gifts, which are called "The Sight". The first gift enables them to see what a rabbit sees. The second is to speak to birds. The third is to look into water and see either the past or the future. Evil Aunt (Mogra) and Larka, the main character, have the power to speak to birds. Fell, Larka’s brother, on the other hand, has the power to look into the water and see either the past or the future, although he doesn’t know he has this power. Larka goes to her aunt’s old master (Slavka) to harness her powers. The old wolf tells her that she dismissed her old apprentice when she sensed darkness in Mogra’s heart. Will Larka defeat her evil aunt who wants to call forth the wolves Satan (Wolfbane) so that she can have the power to rule the world and will Fell realize he too has special gifts that can be useful to Larka and her battles against Mogra? You will have to read the book to find out who wins. I found this book exhilarating and a good read. ~Joe Greenlees.

 Christie, Agatha. And Then There Were None

     Ten guests are sent to an island mansion.  Soon after they arrive, they find that an insane madman is after them.  This madman bases his killings on a nursery rhyme, “Ten Little Indians”.  The island is searched, and nobody is seen.  It is sure that one of the ten is a killer.  Do you know who? ~William Biondi  2/04.

Christopher, Matt.  Fighting Tackle

Fighting Tackle is a story of a middle school boy named Terry.  If you like football, you'll love this book.  It is a story of companionship, and learning never to quit, even in the hardest times. 

The author is Matt Christopher, a great sports writer.  Terry and his brother have to work together in the end to accomplish a great task.  What's this task?  Read and find out.  This book will be on your favorites list for a long time.  So read Fighting Tackle.   ~Ross Holzschuh  10/04.

 Colfer, Eoin.  Artemis Fowl

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, super genius, and criminal master- mind.  Even Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnapped a fairy.  These fairiess aren’t nice fairies.  They are dangerous.  Find out what happens by reading this book. ~Cole Fisher, 10/03

**Artemis Fowl makes all other science fiction books seem childish.  It is extremely creative and smartly funny.  The whay he uses fairy tales and creatively winds real life with fake is awesome.  Artemis Fowl is making a super computer which businessman Jon Spiro steals.  Artemis Fowl must get the cube back before all the secrets of  are unlocked. ~Leo Russell.

 Colfer, Eoin.  Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code

      Artemis Fowl is the BEST book in the WORLD!  Thirteen-year-old Artemis Fowl, his bodyguard Butler, a fairy named Holly, and Foley, a centaur technologist, join forces to destroy the business of greedy Spiro.  Artemis makes a box out of fairy technology called the C-Cube that is stolen from him by Spiro.  Artemis has to go up against the toughest security in the world to save the fairy secrets and the world. 

     Read this book to find out how Artemis and Holly save Butler’s life, get back the C-Cube, and put Spiro in jail.  Learn how Artemis loses his memory of the fairy civilization.  We also recommend the author’s books:  Artemis Fowl and Artemis Fowl, the Arctic Incident.  In the end they leave you at a cliff edge for the next book.  Artemis Fowl RULES!  ~Ned Whelan.

**Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code is a great book.  It is about a boy named Artemis Fowl who is rich and intelligent, who invents something called the "C Cube".  The "C Cube" can control all human technology, and Artemis is trying to sell it.  Then, the "C Cube" is stolen.  How does Artemis get it back?  You'll have to read the book to find out.  This book is very interesting with many twists and turns, and I would recommend it to people ten years old or older.  It also has many fantasy creatures, such as fairies and goblins.  This book is one of my favorite books.  ~Cameron Biondi  10/04.

Curtis, Christopher Paul.  Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, the main character in Bud, Not Buddy, has no mother and has a life of his own.  He is the author of Bud Caldwell's "How to Have a Funner Life and Make a Better Liar of Yourself."  He has escaped from an orphanage and wants to find his father.  Read Bud, Not Buddy and find his father.  ~ Luke Lorentzen 9/03.

Dahl, Roald. Boy

I wrote about Boy because I think it is a great book. It is about Roald Dahl’s childhood. The book has many interesting stories about adventures he had during his school years, from Kindergarten to High School. One of the stories is about him and five of his friends putting a dead mouse in a candy jar. They do not like the old lady who runs the sweet shop. There are more interesting stories. There is a sequel that I have not read, but hope to read soon. The sequel is called Going Solo. I hope you read it because you should! ~Robin Mallock.

Dahl, Roald. Going Solo

It is pre-World War II and Roald Dahl is in Africa working for Shell Gas. He travels all over Eastern Africa delivering gas to people there. Suddenly, World War II breaks out, and he decides to train as a pilot and join the RAF, the British Air Force. He travels to find his squadron and along the way he crashes. After being kept in a hospital, he is assigned to go to Greece. The Germans keep attacking Greece and soon only 7 pilots and planes remain in Greece. The RAF needs to leave Greece. Unfortunately, they may have stayed too long. Will the British get out of Greece with all pilots and planes, or will the Germans blast them away. Find out by reading Going Solo, Roald Dahl’s memoir and the sequel to Boy. ~Christopher Baldock..

Dixon, Franklin W. The Hardy Boys: The House on the Cliff

If you like action, exciting mysteries, and cliff-hanging suspense, then you should read this book. It’s about two kids, Joe and Frank, who both get caught up in a mystery where they have to spy on a boat with a very valuable microscope. But, by the time they found the boat, they found screaming coming from the house nearby. So they were lured inside and ended up being locked in the attic. Luckily, they were able to break the door down and escape. When they got outside they saw the microscope was there, but the lenses were not. Next, they witness a dramatic boating accident where a man throws a hand grenade into the other man’s boat! Although the man is alive, he is also unconscious! Will the Hardy Boys be in time to save this man, or will he drown? Find out by reading this book. ~Peter Kiernan.

Doyle,  Sir Arthur Conan.  Classic Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

England's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, is back.  Sherlock Holmes is asked to solve more mind-boggling cases.  In this book there are seven exciting stories, each more mysteriously thrilling than the last.  With his keen senses and super intelligence, nothing can get past Sherlock Holmes...or maybe not.  Will he make or break it?  Find out in this spectacular novel which will surprise all young and curious detectives.  ~Robert Fernandez  10/04

Doyle, Roddy.  The Giggler Treatment

The Giggler Treatment is my favorite book because it is very funny.  It is funny because it is about people who step on dog doo doo and the creatures that put it there called The Gigglers.  They give the Giggler Treatment to grownups who are mean to kids.  The Gigglers look like furry babies.  They can change colors but they aren't very good at changing to purple.  So if you want to read something funny and weird at the same time, read this book.  ~Jamie Kirchen 9/03.

 du Bois, William Pene.  Twenty-one Balloons

      Twenty-one Balloons is a book about a man with a dream.  His dream is to go around the world in a balloon.  He designs his balloon and has a balloon company make it.  His balloon has the characteristics of a real home.  He stocks up on food and drinks and sets out on his journey.

      His journey comes to a stop at a tiny unknown island.  The island has people living on it and is highly advanced.  The people have wondrous inventions.  One invention was a big balloon platform in case of an emergency.  The island had a volcano on it and within the volcano was a cavern of diamonds.  This is how they afforded all their things.  Once a year they would go back to the main land and get all their supplies.  One day the volcano erupts and the iinhabitants of the island boarded the platform.  Once they flew for awhile, each person jumped off with a parachute.

      The man fell into the Atlantic Ocean and was found by a boat.  He got back to the United States, where he lived.  He became instantly famous for his story and lived happily ever after.~ Sam Vallely, 3/04.

 Dumas, Alexandre.  The Three Musketeers

      A tale of adventure, in which a young man from Gascony seeks his fortune.  He sets out on a yellow horse with only a few ecus in his pocket and a letter of introduction to the musketeers, the king’s best men.  When the letter is stolen what will happen to the Gascon?  What happens in the many adventures the youth encounters?  Will he join the musketeers?  Or will he be thrown into the Bastille by the cardinal, King Louis’ enemy? ~Gage Wells, 10/03.

DuPrau, Jeanne.  The City of Ember

Lina Mayfleet and her acquaintance, Doon Harrow, live in the city of Ember.  The only light they have is from street lamps.  When they have blackouts nobody can see.  The rumor is that supplies of everything are running low, especially light bulbs.  Lina finds a piece of paper that has been chewed up by her baby sister.  She must decode the letter to find out what it says.  Maybe it can lead to some other place outside of Ember.  Maybe it will mean nothing and the city of Ember will become the city of Darkness.  ~Nick Kono  10/04.

 Elish, Dan.  Born Too Short

      Born too Short is about a boy named Matt Greene.  He is about 5’1”.  Most people think he is a nerd.  Matt is in the 8^th grade and his best friend  is Keith.  He goes to a private school in New York City that is called Hannaford.  Everyone says that Keith is the coolest and has the best smile; all of the girls like him too.  None of the girls even notice Matt so this makes Matt jealous of Keith.  Then Matt wishes for Keith’s life to fall apart.  Suddenly things go very wrong.  Read Born too Short and find out what happens. ~Chris Simonson. 2/04.

 Feist, Raymond E.  Talon of the Silver Hawk

      Talon of the Silver Hawk is an enchanting fantasy.  Raymond E. Feist shows his powerful imagination and skill toward writing.

      The boy sat atop a ledge waiting for his naming vision.  Weak from hunger and lack of sleep, the boy thinks he sees signs of battle in the distance over his own town.  He runs home and finds that he is too late to make a difference, the raiders have already destroyed the majority of the houses and he was soon wounded by an enemy.  Weeks later he wakes up in a barn.  He measures his naming day and finds his name is to be Talon for he would strike out to avenge his people.  The mysterious man who tended to him and saved him seems to have other plans.  The other people he meets in his new home are also strange and mysterious.  Will Talon be able to seek and destroy the men who committed this regicide?  What are these mysterious plans his savior has? ~Alan Keegan  2/04.

Fink, Sam.  The Declaration of Independence: The Words That Made America

This is a funny and educational book.  It has hilarious quotes and pictures of when they were making the Declaration of Independence.  Some of these are pictures making fun of King George.  It is easy for kids to understand and to read.  This is a great way to teach about the Declaration of Independence.  So go to your nearest library and CHECK IT OUT!

 Funke, Cornelia.  The Thief Lord

      The Thief Lord is a really great book!  It magically transports you to the mysterious city of Venice, Italy where you meet Prosper, Bo, Hornet, Riccio, Mosca, and Scipio.  Prosper and Bo have run away from their mean Aunt and Uncle who have hired a detective to find them.  In Venice they meet up with a gang of young thieves living in an old boarded up movie theater who take them in.  The gang is lead by a boy named Scipio.  He is also known as the Thief Lord.  Not much is known about the Thief Lord except that he is full of secrets.  The others in the gang wonder what these secrets are.

      In Venice they run into all sorts of trouble.  First, the detective, Victor, is getting closer every second and second, they are stealing priceless items.  Every move they make could be the worst or possibly the best.  It goes round and round.  You will just have to read the book to find out. I am sorry I just can’t tell you any more.  You must read this excellent book!  As for me, I can’t wait for the sequel.    ~Edward Carroll 10/03.

  **   The Thief Lord is about two boys who run away to Venice. They meet a group of street kids who live in an old movie theater that is unoccupied.  They get their money from a boy that is fairly older than them.  He steals valuables from homes all around Venice.  They then sell their goods to a man by the name of  Barbarossa.  One day he has a huge job for them.  He tells them to meet a man in a confession booth in a church.  They do and get themselves into a lot of trouble.  It is a great book and I liked it a lot because it is very suspenseful once you get inot it.  I would suggest it to most people. ~Robin Malloch 2/04.

Gantos, Jack.  Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

This book is about a boy named Joey. He has a problem. He can’t sit still for a long period of time. He has done a lot of bad things, like putting his finger in the pencil sharpener which made a bloody mess, or cutting off a piece of someone’s nose with scissors. If you want to find out what other bad things he did, find out by reading this book. I liked this book because I never knew what was going to happen next. ~Jamie Davies.

Gormley, Beatrice.  President George W. Bush: Our Forty Third President

This book is about George W. Bush's childhood.  This book was probably one of the best biographies I have ever read.  This book tells us that George W. Bush did not want to be President .  He wanted to be a professional baseball player.  He was born in Texas and attended Yale University.  He was trained as a Texas Air National Guard, before beginning his business career.  George W. Bush began his political career in 1994 (he was 48).  He began his political career as a governor, and never thought of becoming a President.  ~John Torell 2/04

Grahame, Kenneth.  The Wind in the Willows

The Wind in the Willows is about Mole and his river friends.  They love to relax outside during the summer and take naps in front of the fire during the cold winter months.  One of Mole's  friends is the rather rich and eccentric Toad.  Toad loves to go through fads.  For him, it is boating one day, horse-riding the next.  But one day, he is arrested for stealing a car (his fad this month was automobiles).  He is arrested and put in prison.  Soon the weasels take control of Toad Hall.  Will Toad escape, and will Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad get Toad Hall back?  Read for yourself and find out!  ~Carter Johnson  10/04

Gutman, Dan. Jackie and Me

I think Jackie and Me is one of the best books of all time. If you like baseball, you should absolutely read this book. It was very suspenseful and I never wanted to put the book down. While it explained a lot about baseball, it also revealed a lot about history and how badly black people were treated back then. I highly recommend reading the entire "And Me" series which is equipped with Honus and Me, Jackie and Me, Babe and Me and Shoeless Joe and Me. I loved this book. ~Michael Marx.

Gutman, Dan.  Shoeless Joe and Me

Shoeless Joe and Me is about a boy who has the power to travel back in time with baseball cards.  The entire "Baseball and Me" series is very good, but this is my favorite of the five.  Shoeless Joe and Me is about a boy named Joe who goes back in time to stop the famous 1919 Black Sox scandal.  While doing this, he meets Shoeless Joe, one of the most well-known players of his time. Can Joe stop the scandal from happening and make it so Shoeless Joe does not bet on the game?  Can he help Shoeless Joe reserve his rightful spot in the Hall of Fame?  Find out in Shoeless Joe and Me.                  ~Ryan Gartin 9/03.

Gutman, Dan.  Mickey and Me

Mickey and Me is about a boy named Joey who has the power to travel in time with baseball cards.  Whenever he picks up a baseball card he feels a tingling sensation and if he holds the card long enough he goes to the time and place where the baseball player is.  But when his dad tells him to go back in time and warn Mickey Mantle about the drain in the outfield that Mickey tripped on in 1951, his cousin that he is babysitting slips a different baseball card in his hand when his eyes are closed and he is just about to travel through time.  The next thing he knows he finds himself lost in the 1940's.

Dan Gutman. The Kid Who Became President

If you have not read the book The Kid who Became President by Dan Gutman, you should.  It’s about this kid named Judson Moon and he runs for president.  His friend Lane helps him become a better President.  Did you know that the President made $400,000 a year?  First he needed to find a first lady he found one named Chelsea she was beautiful in all but she couldn’t dance, she couldn’t play a musical instrument.  She started to sing and Lane’s dog ran away and she’s dumb as a block of wood.  He also has to wear a bullet vest every day on his body.  In this book, he throws lots of parties, balls for famous people and tells them to come over.  Judson has a tutor that’s really mean.  On Christmas he wakes up at 3:00 in the morning and they tell him that a terrorist army is attacking the oil supply. ~Andrew Duplessie 10/03.

Hamilton, Virginia. M.C. Higgins the Great

Mayo Cornelius Higgins, or M.C., is an African American boy who lives on Sarah’s Mountain. He lives with his father Jones, his mother Banina, his two younger brothers, Lennie Pool and Harper, and his little sister, Macie Pearl. M.C. sits on a gleaming 40-foot steel pole. His dream is for him and his family to get off the mountain. Ever since workers started knocking rubble down the mountainside, M.C. knew that he and his family would have to get out. There had already been a rock fall that damaged the roof and almost hurt Macie Pearl. So when atop this pole he thinks he sees two strangers approaching Sarah’s Mountain, M.C. is very excited. It turns out that one has the ability to make Banina famous, and the other has the kind of freedom that M.C. has never considered. To find out more about M.C. and his family, read this book. Two other great books by Virginia Hamilton are: The Planet of Junior Brown and The House of Dies Drear. ~Alex Shibutani.

Hiaasen, Carl.  Hoot

Hoot is about a boy names Roy who moves to Florida.  On his way to school, he sees a barefoot boy running by his bus stop.  The next day, on his way to school, Roy decides to chase the barefoot boy.  What will happen to Roy, the barefoot boy, Curly the construction worker, Dana Matherson the school bully, or the burrowing owls?  To find out, read Hoot.  ~Peter Gatto 10/04.

Horowitz, Anthony.  Point Blank

It all starts when Alex is called up by Alan Blunt. His first thought is, "Who is Alan Blunt?" He soon finds out that Alan Blunt is the head of MI6 (MI6 is kind of like the FBI) in London. He is asked to be a spy. At first he refuses, then he agrees. He is sent to a school for multi-billionaire’s sons. He is trying to investigate a murder. He soon finds himself surrounded by hundred of mysteries. Will he be able to solve them in time to save the world? ~Schuyler M. Stitzer.

**Anthony Horowitz has written another hair-raising, spine-tingling Alex Rider adventure, Point Blank.   Hugo Grief the evil principal of Point Blanc Academy in the Swiss Alps is trying to take over the world!  Alex is sent to Point Blanc under cover as Alex Friend.  Alex finds out Dr. Grief has made 16 clones of himself! Each clone looks like a student from Point Blanc Academy including Alex.  Will Alex stop Dr. Grief and his clones before they spread across the world and take over?  Read Point Blanc to find out. ~William Curry 9/03

***Point Blank by Anthony Horowitz is a scary adventure full of suspense.  I would recommend this book if you like adventures.  It is about a man getting killed by a man who is faking to be the janitor.  He made the special elevator go up one more floor than it is supposed to go.  If you want to find out more about the man and his company, you should read this book.  ~ Nicky Spyrou 10/04

****Point Blank is about a mysterious school for rich boys by the same name.  When boys enter the school they are out of control.  By the time their term is done, however, they are acting perfectly.  Two boys in particular who go into the school have a strange thing in common: both of their fathers have been killed in unexplained accidents.  Alex Rider, who is disguised as Alex Friend, is the hero in the book series.  He is a fourteen-year-old spy who is sent in by the spy network called MI6 to investigate the school

There are many strange things about the school.  One example is that it impossible to leave the school grounds.  There is also a history behind the school.  It was built by a lunatic in the 19th century.  When he died, the Germans took it over in World War II to use as a front.  When the Germans left, a man named Hugo Grief rebuilt it and and became the principal of the school.  It is easy to see that he is up to something, and it is up to Alex to find out what it is.

So, is it school out for Dr. Grief, or is Alex going to have permanent detention?  ~Robbie Rovelli  10/04.

Horowitz, Anthony.  Stormbreaker

This is a fabulous book and it is about a fourteen-year-old spy and he works for MI6, a spy agency in London.  Alex is athletic and is given gadgets to complete missions.  One example is when Alex has to stop the Stormbreaker computers from spreading all over London and killing thousands of people.  To find out if this mission is successful, read this book.  ~Matthew Shang..

  **  Alex Rider is a normal boy who lives with his uncle, Ian Rider, and a housekeeper, Jack Starbright.  That is until his uncle, who Alex thinks is any normal guy, dies because a contract killer named Yassen Gregorvich killed him.  Why would anyone want to kill Ian Rider?  Well, Ian Rider isn't that normal guy you thought he was.  He was a secret agent working for MI6 on a mission.  When he found out something so important that he had to get to MI6 right before he was killed.  Now Alex must take his place.                                       First, he must attend a training camp where he is bullied and made fun of.  After that, Alan Blunt, the man Ian Rider worked for, and Mrs. Jones sends him on his first mission, but not any old mission.  The mission Ian Rider died on is the mission Ian Rider is forced to do.  It is the mission that will save all of England from a madman named Herod Sayle, and his Stormbreaker computers everyone wants but has no idea what happens when you TURN...THEM...ON.

I recommend the first Alex Rider book from Anthony Horowitz to everyone who wants to feel the action inside you as you read. Just when I read that sentence of the first chapter, "Funeral Bells"..."When the doorbell rings at two in the morning it is never good news."  I knew I was hooked and already reeled in.  ~Joey Doyle  11/03.

***Most people want to be a spy under cover and under fire.  They are secretly looking for undiscovered evidence of an evil plot to do something insane.  Alex Rider thinks the exact opposite.

    They told him that his Uncle died in a car crash.  Alex, knowing is Uncle was very cautious, knew that would never happen.  Finding bullet holes in the windshield of  his Uncle's car is weird, but finding out that he worked for MI6 is even weirder.  Sent to finish his Uncle's mission, Alex finds himself in the middle of one "deadly game of cat and mouse, with no way out"  ~Mac Singer 10/04.

Hughes, Carol.  Jack Black and the Ship of Thieves

I think you should read the book Jack Black and the Ship of Thieves.  It is a great book with lots of fun filled adventures and action.  It is about a boy named Jack Black whose father is going on a ship called the Belltrom.  My favorite part is when they are on the island and they are trying to find Jack’s father.  So I think you should read Jack Black and the Ship of Thieves today! ~Thomas Wilson, 10/03.

Jacques, Brian. Redwall

Brian Jacques’ Redwall is an intriguing book. It is the story of a mouse named Matthias and the adventures he encounters. This is a great book because it considers an animal’s point of view about other animals. For example, the sparrows in the book call snakes "poison teeth". The mice also have enemies like foxes, weasels, ferrets and rats. Even though there are a lot of different types of animals in this book, and each speaks a different language, they all understand each other.

One example of an adventure is when Redtooth and Fangburn have a duel. They keep fighting and clawing at each other and then they finally stop and go off in different directions. Redtooth meets a badger named Constance and they have a fierce battle. It is an even fight until Constance gets hold of Redtooth and throws him into the woods. This adventure is really exciting. It makes Redwall a really wonderful book to read. ~David Blumenthal.

Juster, Norton.  The Phantom Tollbooth

To Milo, everything is boring.  When a mysterious tollbooth appears in his room, he drives through it only because there is nothing else to do.

On the other side of the tollbooth, he finds himself on the island (you get there by jumping).  Milo learns the time from a ticking watchdog named Tock.  Milo embarks on a journey to save Rhyme and Reason.  On his journey Milo learns that life is anything but boring.  In fact, it is the most exciting thing ever.  That is why you should read The Phantom Tollbooth.  ~Jack Griffith  10/04.

Keith, Harold.  Rifles for Watie

 Rifles for Watie is a great War book, Adventure book, and a great book altogether. It is about a man named Jefferson Davis Bussy who is in the Kansas Volunteer militia for the Civil War. He hates his captain and has to suffer some very ruthless punishments. Then he is asked to go behind Rebel lines and be a spy. When Jeff gets there everybody is nice to him and he wonders if he should go back to the Union Army or stay with the Rebels. Then he finds out that a Union Officer is double-crossing the North and is selling hundreds of automatic pistols to the South. If the South gets the guns they would win the war. So it’s up to Jeff if he wants to go, report the Union Officer, and save the Union Army or stay with the Rebels who have been so kind to him.  ~Jake Matthews  10/04

 Lally, Richard.  Bombers

      This is a book that goes beyond the Curse of the Bambino, Bill Buckner, or the tale of “1918”.  It goes deep into the heart of the Bronx Bombers aka. The New York Yankees and takes you through the best and the worst, the top and the bottom.  This book will show any people who say that Yankees are pure money that they are sadly mistaken.  If you are looking for an action packed Indiana Jones book, stay away.  If you are looking for Sherlock Holmes stay away.  But if you are looking for an almost fairy tale story of the history of those “Damn Yankees”, you’re welcome in. BEWARE: Red Sox Fans are strongly cautioned due to the unbelievable truth.  ~Charlie vonArentschildt.

L'Engle, Madeleine.  A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time is a book about a girl named Meg, her friends Kalvin, and her brother Charles Wallace.  They travel through dimensions in an exciting journey in search for their father.  They run into many exciting troubles on planets.  I suggest you read this book because it is a great story with many surprises.  Will they find their dad?  Read the book and find out.  ~Jack Schneider 10/04.

Lewis, C.S.  The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

If you like fairy tale creatures, battles, and time traveling, then you will love The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.  It is about these four siblings who were sent away from the war in London.  They were put in an old Professor's mansion where you could get lost.  One day it was raining and they were around when a lady on the staff was showing the house (because it was like a museum) and she got mad when they were in the way so they quickly hid in a wardrobe.  Then they got a bit cramped so they kept moving back and back until they came to a snowy forest.  They met a beaver who talked and he brought them to his house, (or dam), and told them what was going on.  There was a witch who now controlled Narnia (the land they are in) and she put a spell on Narnia that it would be winter forever but no Christmas.  There was a great lion named Aslan who is coming back.  Now the witch's spell is wearing off and the witch and all the bad creatures, and Aslan and the four children and the good creatures fight.  See what happens in this great book.  ~Tate Dougherty  9/03.

Lowry, Lois. The Giver

Jonas’ world is painless. No color, no music, and what seems like no happiness. In his community every person is given a job and age 12 and they work until they are too old to manage. Jonas was given his job as receiver and he is supposed to receive and keep the memories of the past (our present time). Now Jonas is faced with hardship, loss, and loneliness, but worst of all he is forbidden to share the memories with other people. A receiver comes along only about once a generation, so for Jonas there is no turning back. After learning the cruelties and joys of life, Jonas is faced with a decision. Will he choose the old life, or venture off in search of change? Find out by reading The Giver. ~Oliver Citrin.

 Mallozzi, Vincent M.  Asphalt Gods

     If you like the sport of basketball, this is the book for you!  Asphalt Gods is about basketball and the history of basketball and its legendary players.  The book tells about all of the important creators of basketball like Holcombe Rucker who invented the Rucker Park Tournament, which attracted many great players.  Each chapter talks about the amazing people who represented the fantastic sport.  For instance, one chapter is all about Julius Erving, (a.k.a. Dr. J.) who was the first one ever to dunk and was an amazing blacktop player.

      Each page in this action-packed book is full of exciting stories and talks about people who played an important role in the sport of basketball and what they have achieved on and off the court up until today.  I encourage you basketball lovers to read this book because you can store a lot of important knowledge that could be useful later in life.  Asphalt Gods is available at your nearest library, so when you get a chance go out and get this outstanding book.  ~Colton Kempf, 10/03.

McDonell, Chris,  The Game I'll Never Forget: 100 Hockey Stars' Stories

I recommend this book because it is so interesting.  I like the way that it tells you background information about the players.  This is a great book for anyone who likes hockey.  ~Andrew Allen 10?04.

Nimmo, Jenny.  Charlie Bone and the Time Twister

Charlie Bone is one of the endowed children.  He has a special magical gift.  He can hear what is being said in photographs.  He lives with his mother, his Uncle Paton and his grandmothers.  During the week he goes to Bloor Academy for endowed children.  The adventure begins when he meets his cousin, Henry Yewbeam, who has traveled from the 1900's into Charlie's world.  At Bloor Academy there are evil people who want to kill Charlie and Henry.  Charlie Bone is a really exciting book.  I really recommend it.  ~Caleb Moran 10/04.

 Nix, Garth  The  Fall

The Fall by Garth Nix is on of the best books of all time.  Tal Graile-Rerem climbs one of the seven towers to get a Primary Sunstone.  Read as Tal  makes an enemy who will help him on his journey.  Will his father ever return?  Will his mother ever get well again?  Read the book and find out.  ~Jack Fisher, 10/03.

 Paolini, Christopher.  Eragon

Eragon is an amazing book that you won’t want to put down.  It has twists and turns at every part of this book.  If you like magic dragons, and lots of action, you should read this book.  When Eragon’s foster father is killed by a mysterious pair of creatures, he’s out for revenge.  What he finds out will blow you away.  If that sound good, then you’ll love Eragon! ~Nick Skelsey, 10/03.

 **    Eragon is about a poor farm boy from the village of Carvahall.  He finds a dragon egg in the mountains and to avenge his uncle’s murder he chases Razae, the evil emperor’s dragon hunters.  He and his dragon travel with Brom, a mysterious storyteller and Murtagh, the son of an ancient, evil dragon rider.  Eragon encounters an elf, an army of urgals, a shade, and reaches the Varden rebels in the hidden dwarf city of Tronjheim.  The story continues in the second part of the trilogy. ~Bowen Dunnan 3/04.

Paulsen, Gary.  Hatchet

Thirteen-year old Brian crash lands the plane in the Canadian wilderness when the pilot has a heart attack.  He is left alone with nothing but clothes and a hatchet his mother gave him.  Brian has to survive in the wilderness until he is rescued.  He has to find food and make a home for himself.  Brian has to trust himself and not make mistakes as he learns the way of the wilderness.  ~Kyle Wolstencroft 9/03

**This is another of Gary Paulsen's hits!  A Newbery Award put this book on the map!  A survivor book bout a 13-year-old boy surviving in the Canadian wilderness grabs you by the horn and sucks you in.  This book is fantastic and I hope you love it.  ~Brian MacFarlane 9/03

Paulsen, Gary. Brian's Winter

Gary Paulsen nails it again with Brian's Winter!  This is a great book, and it is a sequel to a book I love, Hatchet.  In Hatchet, Brian is rescued at the end of the summer.  but Brian's Winter is what would happen if Brian wasn't rescued.  Gary Paulsen in my favorite author.  Brian is stranded in the dangerous Canadian wilderness and survived a deadly plane crash!  Brian has to use his intelligence and instincts to survive.  In this book, he gets attacked my many animals.  When Brian hunts, he kills animals with his bow and sometimes hits the animal, but the animals often fight back and Brian has to fight to survive!  Each chapter has surprises that will make his winter easier or much worse than it already is.  Brian has many rainy days, and snowy ones.  Brian has to get firewood, hunt, fish, make tools, and make a shelter for him to survive this hostile environment.  Will Brian survive and get rescued or will he have to spend his life in the wilderness?  Read the book and you will find out.  ~Chris Kenny

 **We all know Brian got rescued in Hatchet, right?  Well, did you ever wonder what would have happened if Brian had not been rescued?  His most deadly enemy would come - an enemy so powerful it could turn a huge forest white.  That enemy's name is Winter.  This book is a definite cliffhanger and will keep you guessing until the end.  If you ever liked Hatchet then you'll love Brian's Winter.  A big thumb's up to this book.  Gary Paulsen explodes with this book.  It's a story that sweeps you off your feet.  ~Alex Gatinella  11/03.

   *** Gary Paulsen has made another very good book called Brian’s Winter.  This is an awesome book, which is out of this world.  If you liked Hatchet you will love this book filled with excitement.

      Brian is stranded in a forest in Canada where his plane crashed while going to visit his father.  Brian has made himself a bow and knows how to use it.  He has survived for almost two months, but will he be able to survive the freezing temperatures of the winter, to tell the tale?~ Alejandro Ceballos 10/03.

****Brian's Winter is an amazing story of a 13-year-old boy named Brian Robeson.  Brian is trapped in the Canadian wilderness with only a little knowledge of the wilderness and his most reliable tool, a hatchet, that was given to him by his mother. 

    Brian must survive in a treacherous Canadian winter.  He must endure exploding trees, dense snows, sub-zero temperature and be wary of wild animals until help comes.  But will it come?  Will he survive or will he not?  Read the book to find out.  ~David Russell 10/04.

Paulsen, Gary.  The River

Author Gary Paulsen has hit another home run!  Paulsen has inspired many with his thrilling and exciting adventures and his latest book, The River, will not disappoint any reader.  If you loved Hatchet, a Newbery Honor Book, then this book is calling your name.  The River is the compelling companion to Hatchet, but even if this is your first Paulsen book, it won't be your last!

The River picks up where Hatchet left off.  The book continues the story about a boy named Brian Robeson.  Brian was asked to go out in the wilderness again and to teach a man named Derek to live there.  But, the wilderness is a place you can't predict.  So Derek, in a freak storm, is shocked by lightning and falls into a coma.  It is up to Brian to build a raft and go 100 miles down the river to save Derek.  Can Brian save Derek, or will Derek become a fish sandwich?         ~Westen Koorbusch 9/03.

**The River, by Gary Paulsen, is a book about a boy named Brian.  Brian is in the woods with a psychologist named Derek who is in a coma.  Brian must raft down a river that according to his map will bring him to the saw mill.  Will Brian successfully bring Derek to safety?

    There are three main reasons I liked The River.  The first reason is that I like the survival adventure theme and this book is exactly that genre.  Secondly it is very realistic.  Lastly it is filled with excitement and really makes you want to keep reading.  ~Matthew Cassoli  10/04.

Paulsen, Gary.  Brian's Hunt

In the book, Brian's Hunt, there is a boy and his name is Brian.  He is a teenager and he lives in forests.  When he got older he left home and he quit school.  When he started living in the wilderness he start to home school himself.  He left school because he really wanted to live in the wilderness.  He loved it.  He had a textbook, paper to write on, and pens and pencils.  Brian traveled in a canoe and had a bow and arrow to hunt with.  Brian one day was traveling down a river and there was some kind of animal with torn flesh hanging from its side.  The animal ran to him panting heavily.

The book goes on to tell you all about the adventures of Brian and this mysterious animal.  You should read Brian's Hunt if you like a book with a lot of action and adventure and a gruesome story.  ~Graham Miller  10/04

Paulsen, Gary.  My Life in Dog Years

      Do you love dogs?  Is Gary Paulsen one of your favorite authors?  If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, then you have to read My Life in Dog Years.  This book is written by one of my favorite authors, Gary Paulsen.  It is an autobiography about all of his nine dogs and how each one has either saved his life or done something amazing that Paulsen will never forget.  His dog’s names are Cookie, Ike, Snowball, Dirk, Rex, Caesar, Fred, Quincy, and finally Josh.  Within every chapter, there is excitement, excitement, and more excitement as Paulsen introduces his dogs.  Cookie: the lookout; Ike: the follower, Snowball: the savior, Rex: the farmer, Caesar: the enormous one and my personal favorite, Dirk: the protector.

      When Gary was a little boy, he always got robbed and beaten up by a group of teenagers, whose leader was named Happy.  One night while Gary was walking home, he found an old street dog that started to follow him everywhere he went.  He named the dog Dirk.  One night Gary’s whole life changed when Dirk beat up Happy and his gang so badly that every bit of their clothes was in tatters.  After that night, the mean teenagers never come within fifty feet of Gary every again.

      For more cool stories about Gary’s dogs, remember to read My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen. Take my word for it, you won’t regret it!! ~Matty Henkel, 9/03.

Philbrick, Nathaniel.  Revenge of the Whale

Revenge of the Whale is an amazing, excellent, two-thumbs-up, story thriller.  It is an incredible story about a whaleship named the Essex.  It's east of South America, when an angry sperm whale splits the boat right in half.  The sailors are forced to set out on the lifeboats and have to try to survive.  By the end of the book, the few sailors who were left are forced to eat the others who are dead.  The thing that makes it interesting is that it is a true story.  I definitely recommend this great book to everyone.  It is a terrific book that I found was hard to put down.         ~Sammy MacFarlane 9/03.

 Raskin, Ellen. The Westing Game

Sam Westing wrote a letter to his servant that he was murdered and that he was one of  the six people who killed him.  As more and more people got involved, the clues narrowed down.  Was Sam Westing a crazy guy trying to kill everybody for a game, was he still alive, or is he really dead?  This book has it all, from elevator bombings to exploding wedding gifts.  Ellen Raskin did a great job on this book. ~ Thomas Dwyer, 10/03.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter

Imagine having your parents killed early in your life, and living with your mean aunt and uncle ever since. Even worse, your mean cousin Dudley beats you up all the time and your room is a small closet under the stairs. This was the horrible life of Harry Potter and it all change when Hagrid, keeper of the keys in the magical Hogwarts School, comes and visits after Harry receives many letters inviting him to attend the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He finds out about his mysterious past and goes places never imaginable to anyone who is a Muggle. Have you ever played a sport while flying on a broomstick? Have you ever imagined a school that only teaches magic tricks? Well, there is a school that does those things and more absurd stuff. You can read about all these thing in all the other Harry Potter books in the series. For more information about Harry check out these websites: http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/, (Main Harry Potter site) http://users3.ev1.net/~dexr/hogwarts/, (Take Harry Potter classes online) http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter, (Harry Potter games and reviews) http://222.i2k.com/svderak/lexicon/index-2html (Encyclopedia of everything Harry Potter) ~Alex Jonokuchi

 Rowling, J.K.  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

      Harry Potter is entering his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Harry has been a major part in why Hogwarts is still running for his heroic actions in taking down Lord Voldemort in his first two years at this magical school.

      Now he has to protect himself.  For many years a prisoner called Sirius Black was in a most horrifying jail called Azkaban for murdering many people.  He has now escaped and left a clue to where he is going.  The guards at the jail heard him say he’s at Hogwarts in his sleep and Sirius is said to be related to Voldemort.  Harry is in trouble.  Will Harry be safe even in his loving magical school filled with great teachers and friends?  If you want to find out, read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.      For more information on Harry Potter go to:   http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/home.html ~Elliott Bostrom 2/04.

  Rowling, J.K.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

      Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a great book.  It has action and adventure.  Voldmort and all his death eaters are trying to steal an orb call “The Prophecy”, which will give him an ultimate power.  Harry with help from Ron, Hermione, and Neveille have to go to the Ministry of Magic to stop Voldemort and all his death eaters and also save Sirius.  If you liked the first four, this one will blow you away.  With two unltimate duels, there’s scary horrific nightmares and attacks by snakes.  You won’t put this book down.  So read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and find all the mystery and magic inside. ~Brendon Hardin  10/03.

**J.K. Rowling has written another action packed adventure.  The fifth Harry Potter is awesome.  Harry must follow his nightmares to find out a big secret about his life in the Ministry of Magic.  Dumbledore finally duels Voldemort.  Read this fabulous book to find out many secrets to his life, how Dumbledore defeats Voldemort, and how a teacher almost ruins his life. ~Ernie Rosato 10/03.

Sachar, Louis. Holes

Stanley Yelnats is sent to a camp, a camp of misery for he is believed to have committed a crime. Not a big crime, but he did inadvertently take something that did not belong to him. Stanley is in a camp that is run by a mean sheriff who makes him dig holes everyday. Hole that are 5 feet wide and 5 feet deep! He tries to escape the horrible camp. Will Stanley Yelnats succeed with his plan? Or will the sheriff catch him? Find out by reading Holes. ~Julien Riverain

 **Holes is a book about an 11 year-old boy who has lots of problems.  His family has a cure.  They always are at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Stanley’s family is poor and live in an apartment in New York.  His father is ?.  His father never has much luck though.  His dad tries to make a potion for shoes to smell good.  Well, this doesn’t work because of the curse.  One day Stanley was walking to his house from school when two shoes fell from the sky and hit his back.  He started running because he thought these would be helpful to his dad.  The police thought he stole the shoes and arrested him.  Stanley gets sent on a bus to find himself in the middle of a desert in Texas. ~Josh Rosenbach 10/03.

   ***  Holes is a great book.  It consist of excitement, adventure, and suspense.  I believe that Holes is one of the greats books of all time.  Holes is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats.  Stanley is sent away to a reformatory camp.  Stanley has to spend his days out in the sun digging holes that are five feet wide and five feet deep.  Stanley also has to endure mean inmates at the camp.  Will Stanley survive?  Read Holes to find out! ~Brendan Potocki, 2/04.

****Holes is about a kid named Stanley Yelnats.  Stanley isn't the most popular kid at school.  He lives in a cramped apartment with his parents and grandfather.  His dad is trying to make a solution for foot odor, so the whole apartment smells like feet.  His grandfather is constantly talking about the family curse and his mom makes the meals.  One day, when walking home from school, a pair of shoes hit Stanley.  They end up belonging to a famous baseball player, Clyde Livingston.  Stanley is accused of stealing them and is sent to Camp Greenlake.  At Camp Greenlake Staley has to dig 5 feet deep and 5 feet wide holes in the blazing hot sun.  What Stanely doesn't know is that Camp Greenlake is going to change his life forever.  ~Ray Tierney  10/04

Sachar, Louis.  A Boy in the Girls Bathroom

The book A Boy in the Girls Bathroom is about a fifth grade boy named Bradley Chalkers, who is a bully and tells lots of lies.  In the beginning of the book, he meets a kid named Jaeff and he is his only friend.  Then his mom makes him go to see a councilor named Carla who will help him become a better person.  In the middle of the book, Bradley gets beaten up by a girl and everyone started making fun of him.  He also loses Jeff as a friend because he meets some cooler kids.  Once Bradley hears the bell ring he runs to the library or Carla’s office to talk to her about the day because he is afraid of Jeff’s “gang”.  Read the book to see what happens in the end. ~Billy Murphy, 10/03.

 Snicket, Lemony. The Unfortunate Events Series

      The Unfortunate Events series is the best I’ve ever read.  It is about three orphans – Sunny, who is a baby, Klaus who is 12, and 14 year-old Violet.  Their parents die in a fire but they think one may have lived.  In each book of 10, their evil uncle, Count Olaf, tries to steal their fortune.  In the books, the kids either escape or save their fortune from the evil man.  I am on the 9^th book right now.  You should read the Unfortunate Events Series.  They’re great!!  ~Dylan Robbins 10/03.

**The Austere Academy:  Book the Fifth

This book is about three orphans named Violet, Klaus, and Sunny.  They have been going through some very hard times throughout the other books.  Everywhere the orphans go they always run into an evil man named Count Olaf who in this book is disguised as Coach Genghis.  During the book the orphans are going to a school called Prufrock Preparatory School.  The man who is in charge of the orphans is Vice Principal Nero.  He makes the orphans stay in the Orphans' Shack which has little crabs on the floor and they have to sleep on bales of hay. Also, Vice Principal Nero gives the orphans the most outrageous job to do.  Sunny has to be Nero's secretary.  Then Coach Genghis makes the orphans do something called S.O.R.E. which is when they have to run laps all night long.  I recommend this book because it is a great book if you want to keep on reading.  ~Matthew Savitt  10/04.

Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

I’m sure you know about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. But do you know what lies in his lab? Dr. Jekyll, known by many people as a very nice doctor but inside him is a horrible monster waiting to come out. Every time he drinks the potion he makes, the monster comes out of him. Every day this monster gets stronger and stronger! It will someday take over his mind and come out whenever it wants. When it does, people will see him. He’ll be hanged for the murder of an old man. Will people find out that Dr. Jekyll is also Mr. Hyde? Find out by reading this book. ~Jake Brodsky

Stine, R.L. The Babysitter

Have you ever thought you are being followed?  Well if you want that feeling, read Babysitter.  R.L. Stine really puts a lot in this book.  The book has a great starting and you  will be blown away by the details and the things that happened to Jenny in the book.  The book is about a girl who has a babysitting job.  There is a murderer who killed all the babysitters and is now trying to kill her.  This book will amaze you on what Jenny has to go through.  Watch out so the book won’t make you want to be a babysitter!!  Your life will be haunted!! ~Allen Louis  10/03.

Taylor, Theodore.  The Cay

This is a very good book if you are into adventure.  It takes place during World War II when a child and an old man get shipwrecked on an island.  The book tells the story about how they survived on the island and what they need to do to survive.  ~Tommy O'Malley  10/04.

 Tharp, Louise. Tory Hole

Tory Hole is a book about an 18-year old boy named Steven Warring. The book takes place during Revolutionary War times in Darien, Connecticut. Steven has a younger brother, a younger sister, a mother, and a father who had to go to war. Since his father went to war he now has to protect his family from the Tories and all of their plans. Steven doesn’t only have to protect his family, but he also has to help protect all of Middlesex Parish (which is what Darien was called at that time). Can Steven’s take a man’s role and protect all of Middlesex Parish? Find out by reading Tory Hole. ~Ross Collins

Tolkein, J.R.R.  The Hobbit

      The Hobbit is an amazing story about a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins.  He hates noisy crowds and wants to be alone all of the time.  He gets convinced to go on a mission with a party of dwarves and the wizard Gandalf.  They have to go to the Lonely Mountain and fight the Dragon Smaug who is guarding the dwarfs’ former treasure.  Bilbo has to be the burglar because he is small and quiet.  He has to get some of the treasure for the dwarves and he has to help them kill the Dragon.  During their journey to the Lonely Mountain they have many exciting and dangerous adventured.

      The party of dwarves and the hobbit encounter many strange creatures like goblins, giant spider, orcs, and the dragon Smaug.  This book is a great prelude to the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings. ~Julien Riverrain 2/04.

**My favorite book is The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.  I like it because it is about a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins who is chosen to join a group of dwarves and a wizard named Gandalf to slay the evil dragon named Smaug and keep the riches that the dragon guards.  These warriors have to journey through thick forests and fight off mean goblins just to get to the mountain where Smaug lives.  I recommend this book to people who like to read detailed fantasy adventure stories.  Will the brave explorers make it?  You will have to find out for yourself when you read The Hobbit.

Twain, Mark.  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

My favorite book is The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  It is about a child named Tom Sawyer who is a boy who can beat anybody up.  Tom goes on some very adventurous missions throughout his childhood.  He becomes a pirate and then becomes homesick.  He goes to his own funeral when everybody thinks that he and his friends Huck and Joe are dead.  Tom finds his love even though they get in fights some time.  He even sees somebody get murdered and has to go to court.  This is a great, light-hearted story that combines adventure, love, war, and friendship.  I highly recommend this book.  ~Brendan Bozorgmir  10/04.

White, E.B.  Stuart Little

It was a weird surprise when all the Littles saw Stuart.  They were expecting somebody taller and that looked more like a child – not a mouse.  But they grew closer and closer until they didn’t even recognize the difference.  He was always helpful around the house.  For example, when Mrs. Little lost her ring down the drain Stuart went and got it.  But then one day Mrs. Little found a bird and the Littles worked together to nurse it back to health, Stuart started to like her.  But one night the Littles cat was going to eat the bird but a crow gave a letter to her and she flew away.  The next day Stuart decided that he liked her so much that he was going to find her.  He ends up in a little town that he thinks is the best town in the world, he finds another person his height and his age and gets together with her.  And then he sets off to finish his journey.

      In my opinion, the bird named Margalo is my favorite character because she does what she wants.  She was so free she left when she wanted to and she used the Littles.  I also think she is the best character because she didn’t let Stuart know when she left she just went and I think that is cool. 

     I also think Stuart is cool because instead of being weird and just let  Margalo go he went after her.  And I also think he is cool because he has his own car, he does what he wants and leaves when he wants. 

     I would recommend this book to other people because it is an adventure book and something new always happens.  It always leaves you hanging and it is just so interesting. ~James Woodruff, 10/03.

Whitesel, Cheryl Aylward.  Blue Fingers: A Ninja's Tale

Blue Fingers is a great book.  It is about a young twin boy, named Koji.  Twins are unlucky in Japan, so at the age of thirteen Koji's family sends him to a foster home.  They keep his twin brother.  Koji runs away from the foster home and gets lost in the woods.  He is scared and gets ambushed by a young ninja boy named Spider and taken to the ninja camp.  There he spends him time getting trained to become a ninja.  He sees many things that make him happy and sad at the camp.  Blue Fingers is the best book I ever read.  ~Alex Drakos  10/04.

Zindel, Paul.  Raptor

Zack knows a lot about dinosaurs.  Zack's father is a famous paleontologist.  He does not expect to have to deal with a real raptor.  He and his friend Uta discover a raptor egg.  A baby raptor actually comes alive.  They know they have made a bad decision when they are stuck in a mine with a herd of raptors.  Will they survive?  ~James Yacobucci 9/03.