Wings by E.D. Baker

Wings is about a girl named Tamisin. She has always been a little different than the others. Her freckles look more like sparkles and the full moon makes her want to dance. The day when real fairy wings sprout from her back is when her real adventure begins. Goblins start chasing her, and then Tamisin finds out that she can control the weather! When she masters her powers they really help her on her journey to meet the fairy queen. Tamisin isn’t alone on her adventure. A new “boy” from school joins her on her journey and Tamisin finds out she isn’t the only abnormal one in the world, it turns out this boy is a goblin! Eventually, her adventure pays off. Read the book to find out what happens!

This book was very exciting! It was a page-turner and it made my heart pound because I was so nervous! By the title you would think that it was a book for girls but I think that it could go either way. There are goblins so I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventures and magical creatures. If I were to rate this book I would rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Taylor C.

Woodridge School

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

I think that this book was kind of confusing, but I liked it. Miranda is living in her New York apartment with her mom. She is in the sixth grade, (like us). Her mom's boyfriend, "Mr. Perfect," is helping out too. But when Miranda's mom makes it on the 10,000 Dollar Pyramid, she starts getting these strange letters that are telling her to write back, but the problem is that she doesn't know what they mean and where to write back. With out her best friend, Sal, things are getting harder. Along the way Miranda makes new friends, like the "Laughing Man" and talks to people she never thought about talking to, like the "Gangsters" in the garage. Also, does she find out who the mysterious person is? Does her mom win the 10,000 Dollar Pyramid? Does "Mr. Perfect" get a key to the apartment and do Sal and Miranda become best friends again? What happens to the"Laughing Man?"

This book is part mystery, part science fiction. That is why so many things get so confusing. I also think that is why I liked it so much. The confusion was pulling me back into the book. I kept going back to find out or clear up the confusion.

The end of the book was the most confusing of all. It had a lot of references to A Wrinkle In Time, (which I have not read, yet). This book ended with a lot of questions for me. The questions were not literally in the book but in my mind. This is one of my favorite books, despite the fact it left me hanging. I hope that if you read this book it didn't leave you hanging. All in all, this was an amazing book.

Also, her website is very cool!

Anna W.

Grade 6

E. S. Rhodes School

Warriors Sign of the Moon by Erin Hunter

Warriors Sign of the Moon is about the powerful three (Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Dovewing) trying to find a way to stop the evil dark forest. The whole plot of this part of the warriors series is that the dead cats in the dark forest want to train living cats to destroy all good cats (both living and dead). Jayfeather receives a desperate plea for help from the tribe of rushing water. Jayfeather sets off, leaving Lionblaze and Dovewing to protect Thunderclan. Jayfeather finds a secret that connects Thunderclan and Tribe of Rushing Water in both the past and the future. What is it? You'll have to find your inner cat to find out. Word of wisdom though, read all the other books before this one. It will help you understand the book better.

Look at the Warriors website for more of the Warrior cats adventures.

Ayo G.

Grade 6

E.S Rhodes

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner is an enticing science fiction novel. The story is about a boy who is sent into a huge maze called the Glade. The people who live there are called gladers and have been trying to escape for eleven years, but they have had no success because of the things that lurk in the maze called the grievers. The grievers can’t go into the center of the maze where the gladers live but constantly run around the maze in search of lost gladers. The gladers might escape, but you’ll never know for sure until you read the book!

I thought The Maze Runner was very suspenseful and comedic at times. The book reminds me of a rat maze because the people are the rats and the maze is obviously the maze. My favorite part of the book was definitely the ending, but I can’t tell you the ending or I would ruin the book! My least favorite part, however, is the beginning because it is kind of slow. Even though the beginning is slow, the rest of the book surely makes up for it.

I would recommend The Maze Runner to anyone who likes a somewhat realistic, fantasy novel. I would also recommend it to a Star Wars fan because of its futuristic feel. Also, someone who likes The Hunger Games trilogy would love this book. -- S.L., Garden City

The Black Book Of Secrets by F.E. Higgins

The Black Book of Secrets is about a boy named Ludlow Fitch. He comes from the City, a foul place stinking of poverty, cruelty, and evil. His parents become addicted to gin and end up selling his teeth to get money to pay for the gin. Before he loses his teeth he runs away and hitches a ride on an outbound carriage. He comes to the small town of Pagus Parvus. Ludlow becomes apprenticed to a pawnbroker, Joe Zabbidou, who has just moved into town. He learns that Joe is a Secret Pawnbroker, a person who trades in keeping peoples' darkest secrets safe. Joe takes peoples' secrets down in a book to relieve them of their burden. He then gives the people money for their secrets. Joe helps the people of the town overcome a rich man named Jeremiah Ratchet who cheats almost all the townspeople into debt. Jeremiah ends up getting killed and the townspeople are very grateful to Joe. Joe then takes Ludlow to a library full of other Black Books. Ludlow is then given his own Book in which Joe records Ludlow's secret.

This spiritual tale of sins and redemption will keep you interested and intrigue you from beginning to end. When you've finished visit F.E. Higgins website for more of her fabulous books.

Aidan M

E.S. Rhodes

Poppy by Avi

Poppy is a tiny deer mouse. She lives with a huge deer mouse family. The problem? They’re running out of food. Mr. Ocax, the great horned owl, and ruler of the Dimwood Region, demands permission for any movement the mice wish to do. He is also the protector of them. Lungwort, the father of Poppy and the rest of the mice family, prepares a speech for a movement to go to a place called New House where there is plenty of food. When he gives his speech to Ocax, Ocax denies halfway through. So, Poppy and Lungwort are confused. Why wouldn’t Mr. Ocax let them move to New House? Is there something there that Mr. Ocax doesn’t want them to know about? Well, Poppy doesn’t take no for an answer. She wants to find out, so she prepares to walk there. If you want to know what is at New House and see if Poppy succeeds, than I suggest you read this exciting, can’t put down, adventure book.This book is awesome! I couldn’t put it down! Whenever I read I didn’t want to stop. I would think other readers would think the same thing as me. So, if your near your public library, and you need a book, I check this one out!

Vito N.

Woodridge School

The Land of the Dead By Mary Pope Osborne

The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus, a Greek king, who fought in the Trojan War. His journey back was a horrible experience with giants, cyclops, witches, and the land of the dead.

Odysseus and his men travel to an island inhabited by an evil witch who turns travelers into animals. When half of his men go out searching for food they find a palace. The men enter the palace of the witch and only one of them returns to the campground. He told the rest of the men the story of how his friends were turned into pigs by the witch. With the help of Hermes, Odysseus went to get his men back from the witch. The witch made a promise to him that she will do no harm because her magic had no effect on him. She turned his men back into men. Odysseus, his men, and the witch come up with a plan to return to their homeland. The plan is very risky. They have to go to the land of dead and speak to a wise old man that died but still has his wisdom. At the land of the dead the old man says that he can not help Odysseus return home, but he can warn him. He says that on his way home, they will pass an island owned by the sun god. The sun god has sheep. He warns, "Don't touch the sheep. If you touch the sheep the god will get very angry, and destroy your ship so you won't be able to go anywhere. Warn your men not to touch the sheep."

Zachary H,

E.S. Rhodes

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Mia Thermopolis is a fourteen year old freshman attending classes at Albert Eienstein High School in Manhattan, where she resides with her mother, and her beloved cat, Fat Louie. Let's just say, Mia does not have the best of luck. Mia is five foot nine, flat chested, and she is as clumsy as it gets. And rather than being one of the most popular girls in school, she's one of the least. Mia is also flunking algebra when her mother, Helen, an aspiring artist, comes home from a parent, teacher conference and reveals to Mia that she is dating her teacher Mr. Gianini. Mia's life is about to change, 100%, and it's just a phone call away.

One day, the phone rings. Mia is surprised when she hears her father Philipe's voice; he never calls her, or her mother. You see, Mia's mother and father separated before she was born due, to...complications. Mia is surprised when her father announces that due to his recent string of testicular cancer...he is no longer able to have children. Mia doesn't seem to understand why this is such a big deal. He already has her, right? However, Mia could tell in her mother's eyes, and her father's voice that this was a VERY big problem. Mia's father informed her to meet him at a very fancy hotel, called the Plaza the next day.

At the Plaza, over tea, Mia's father declares something, big...very, very big. Mia Thermopolis is a PRINCESS! Because Philipe can no longer have children, Mia is the heir to the throne of a small country called Genovia, She could not believe this. Mia...a princess...NO WAY!! To top this all off, Mia is informed by her parents that her Grandmere Clarisse is in town, and Mia must attend Princess Lessons. Mia hates her grandmother, and she has a feeling her grandmother, hates her as well. This is going to be a disaster. Mia cannot become a princess. Just thinking about a whole country relying on her made Mia's head spin in twenty different directions.

Can Mia successfully complete horrid princess lessons with her grandmother Clarisse? Is she going to be able to take on the pressure of leading a whole country? Does Mia have what is takes to become Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia.

Sound interesting? Check out other books by Meg Cabot.
Sydney F.
Grade 6
E.S. Rhodes Elem

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

In a town on Mount Eskel lives Miri, a small town girl with a big dream. Her biggest dream is to work in the quarry. She is small compared to all of the other girls. Her family has lived on Mount Eskel forever. She thinks she can not work in the quarry because she is small, but is that the real reason? She lives her life one day at a time, until something exciting happens. The prince is getting married and is holding a ball. The king orders an academy to be made to make all of the girls in the area like princesses. All girls from ages twelve to eighteen will be attending. Miri has to go to the academy, but her sister can not because she is older than the prince. At the academy Miri makes new friends. One of whom is Britta. At the academy Miri realizes that she can be a bigger person, despite her small size. The Mistress of the academy (Mistress Olana) is very strict. At the academy every girl wants to be academy princess. Miri not only wants to be noticed by the prince as academy princess, she wants her family to get the house that will be given to the princess's family. Will she be academy princess? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Have a look at other books by Shannon Hale.

By Taylor R. and Hannah F.
Grade 6
E.S. Rhodes Elementary

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

The fifth book in the Percy Jackson series is the best! In this book the gods are in trouble. Percy Jackson has just turned sixteen and, according to the great prophesy, he will have to make a decision of great importance that will save or destroy the gods. He and his fellow campers, along with hunters from the third book, must defend New York from Kronos' armies. Percy has to deal with monsters, dying friends, angry Titans, gods, a spy, and temptation. There are many twists and turns and the hero of the prophecy is not the person you expect. This book answers questions that have arisen in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone that at least liked one of them. Read this one last, read it slowly and with care.


I hope Rick Riordan writes another book or series that fulfills the new prophecy that's made in the end. I would not mind some new characters.
Ben L.
Grade 6
E. S. Rhodes

Dragon’s Egg by Sarah L. Thompson

"Thief! Where have you taken it?"

This.......this thing that towered as tall as the highest oak and talked like a mountain speaking-this thing was a dragon. Not a "common dragon" which is small and tame and raised for its eggs. This was a "true dragon," the enormous, fearsome, speaking cousins that had once terrorized the kingdom.

The long nostrils quivered with rage.

The dragon's head, larger than a horse's, swooped down close to Mella's face. She squeezed her eyes closed so that she wouldn't have to look at its white teeth, each longer than her finger, the snaky tongue, and the deep red throat.

"I found it. I didn't steal it," Mella insisted. "I'll get the Egg for you. I'll get it and bring it back."

But when Mella returned with the Egg, she discovered that the dragon had been injured by the knight defender whose job it is to keep the kingdom safe from "true dragons." Mella promised the dying creature that she would deliver the warm and glowing Egg to its herd living at the Hatching Ground in the distant Dragontooth Mountains.

Join Mella and  Roger, the knight's page, as they embark on this dangerous quest. Can they keep the egg hot and safe? Can they keep themselves alive?

Do you believe in true dragons? Explore the links in Fact Monster's Menacing Monster Guide. 

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/monsters1.html

Cozy up with a Komodo Dragon and don't miss the video at http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/komodo-dragon.html

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

What an exciting meeting of fantasy and mythology! Percy (Perseus) Jackson has troubles in school and troubles at home. His ADHD has tried the patience of his mother and his teachers at several different schools. Camp "Half-Blood" is a refuge for Percy and others like him. Percy finds himself and unravels the mystery of his heritage in the company of demigods. The Olympians are his true family and he is a hero among them.

This series blends modern concerns with tales of gods, satyrs, and minotaurs. Harry Potter fans will love this series!

Visit Rick Riordan's web site to see other titles in the series :

http://www.rickriordan.com/children.htm