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7/2/2020 0 Comments The gift of the pirate queen This is the story of young Grace O’Malley. Grace lives on a small farm that consists of a goat and a dog (but the dog only lives with them when Mr. O’Malley isn’t home). Her mother has died, and Grace must care for her father and sister on her own. Their house isn’t spectacular, and Grace isn’t the best cook, but she does her best. So when her second cousin, Fiona, comes, Grace feels a bit of offense. To make her even more on edge, she accidentally brakes her teacher’s Christmas bell. Can she get along with her cousin? How will Grace admit that she broke the bell? That’s where the Pirate queen comes in.
The Gift of The Pirate Queen is a fairly short read, but it’s good. It’s really not about a Pirate queen, but a young girl who gets encouraged by the story of one. I recommend this book for our younger readers, or girls who just want a quick read in the car. Happy reading! -B
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6/26/2020 0 Comments MRs. Smith's Spy school for girls Photo courtesy of simonandschuster.com. Abby Hunter, from Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls, is one of my new favorite heroines. She’s relatable, fun, daring, and curious - the perfect combination for a girl in an action-packed adventure. Plus, she’s also a spy.
When her mother mysteriously ships her off to a prestigious boarding school, Abby wonders what is going on. The school has the typical mean girls, best friends, and disinterested teachers, however, the headmistress is anything but typical. Mrs. Smith has striking blue eyes and a way of making you feel instantly guilty - something Abby discovers quickly. Everything seems rather mundane until Abby breaks out of her dorm room in the middle of the night and overhears a less-than-normal conversation between Mrs. Smith and a teacher. This leads to a series of events involving daring escapades across the country, lots of fancy technology...oh, and Abby’s kidnapping (twice). I cannot speak highly enough of it! It reminds me a bit of the boarding-School-turned secret-society-recruiting-ground theme that also comes up in The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane. Both books are highly enjoyable! I especially like Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls because of its dynamic, true-to-life characters. Will you be attending Mrs. Smith’s Spy School? There are several more books in the series, so prepare to read them all! Love, A 6/19/2020 0 Comments A Song for the season Photo courtesy of americangirl.com In this awesome American Girl book, Tenny Grant and Logan Everett hit the road in their first tour! They are SO EXCITED! Their tour kicks off right before Christmas, but hey, going on tour is worth it, right? To make things even better, if the tour goes well, they might get to record an album! Tenny and Logan have high expectations for their rock concerts, but when their expectations get dashed against the rocks, what will happen?
If you asked Tenny what the worst things about the tour were, she would probably tell you: the van (not bus) is crowded, the weather is freezing, they keep having schedule problems, their first show was a bust, Logan is acting weird, she misses her family, and the worst thing is, they might not even get home for Christmas. If you asked Logan, he would probably tell you: He misses his family, Tenny is acting weird, touring stinks, and why does his dad like to tour? This book is somewhat short and easy to read. I highly recommend it for tweens! Happy reading, -B  Photo courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com If any book was made for summer reading (or reading over break, or weekend reading, or really anytime reading) then it is this book by Ms. Blume. You will laugh, cry, and be transported to other countries. It's all about 11-year-old Cornelia Street (yes, that's her name) who has a famous pianist as a mother. Cornelia usually feels lonely and bored, finding refuge only in the pages of dictionaries.
All of this changes one day when a mysterious woman moves in next door. The woman has an exotically decorated apartment, a gigantic wall of dictionaries, and dozens of interesting stories to tell. This woman is Virginia Somerset, and she will change Cornelia's life forever. I absolutely loved this book! Cornelia is very relatable, and the stories Virginia tells are incredibly interesting. It is one book that definitely had me turning to the next page! In three words, I would describe it as: exotic, interesting, and playful. However, there is a rather sad ending (at least in my opinion) so proceed cautiously. Will you be joining Cornelia for storytime at Virginia's? Love, A 6/4/2020 0 Comments Where the red fern grows Photo courtesy of Penguinrandomhouse.com You may have read my short description of Where the Red Fern Grows in our Ultimate Summer Reading List (if you haven’t, I highly recommend checking it out). Today, I am going to dive into this book a little more.
I must warn you, do not read this book if you don’t want to cry. It is a truly touching story. If you want to read a tearjerker, continue on. What does a dog-crazy boy do when he can’t get the dog he wants? In the case of a young boy named Billy, he works for two years to save enough money for his dogs. They aren't just any dogs, though - they're two of the finest hunting hounds there are. He finally saves the money to get his dogs. Billy wants his dogs so bad that he cannot wait. He orders his dogs from a catalog, but has to wait to be able to go to town and pick them up. He can’t wait. When Billy sets out for the town on his own, will he find his dogs, and what will happen then? Happy reading! -B  Today we are bringing you the ULTIMATE reading list for middle-grade girls! From fantasy to classics to historical fiction to modern mysteries, there are so many fantastic books on this list! Grab a title or two and meet us on the beach.  Photo courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com Prairie Lotus By: Linda Sue Park Prairie Lotus is incredible. It tells the story of Hannah, a Chinese-American girl living after the Civil War, who is often discriminated against because of her Chinese heritage. Since no townspeople want to associate with her, she struggles to stay in school, make friends, and reach her goals. Will this flower learn to bloom, even in a prairie town where she’s not wanted?  Photo courtesy of Americangirl.com A Year of Mini Mysteries By: Kathy Passero Have you ever wanted to solve a mystery? Now you can! This book is full of little mysteries for YOU to solve. Have fun giggiling, speculating, and enjoying this book!  Photo courtesy of Amazon.com Chopstick By: Sandra Byrd Friendships are complicated - just ask Paige and Kate, the two main characters in Chopstick. Their friendship starts out casually, but they quickly realize they are competing in the same youth music contest. The pair must figure out how to navigate their new friendship and seperate difficulties at home while also attempting to win the contest. It's told from both Paige and Kate's viewpoint, and should resonate with many teen girls going through the same struggles. Note: Chopstick is part of a four-book Forever Friends series, but this is my favorite.  Photo courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com Black Beauty By: Anna Sewell This is a great book for any horse lover. It is filled with the life story of a magnificent horse.  Photo courtesy of scholastic.com Through the Looking Glass By: Lewis Carroll If you like Alice in Wonderland, you will love Through the Looking Glass.  Photo courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com Like Magic By: Elaine Vickers Three girls. Three challenges. Three personalities. When a mysterious box brings Jada, Grace, and Malia together, will they become friends, or will their connection wither away? Even more importantly, are these the friends each girl has been searching for? Like Magic is told from the perspective of all three girls and is lighthearted and relatable.  Photo courtesy of amazon.com The Book of Secrets By: A.L. Tait All of a sudden, you're a 12-year-old boy in a medieval monastary, holding a precious manuscript written in a foreign language. What will you do? What will you say? Explore the world of Gabe in this phenomenal adventure book!  Photo courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com Across Five Aprils By: Irene Hunt B is in the middle of this book, and A has finished it, but both of us LOVE it! It is about a boy named Jethro, whose family is majorly affected by the Civil War.  Photo courtesy of scholastic.com Bonanza Girl By: Patricia Beatty Bonanza girl is good, plain fun! It’s a fast-paced, humorous account of a girl and her family who move from Seattle, Washington to a teeny town in remote Idaho during the gold rush. It combines an exciting storyline with fun historical detail and unique characters, all wrapped up into one just-right sized book!  Photo courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com Lena In the Spotlight By: Alena & Wynter Pitts In this fun three-book series, meet a sweet-tempered tween girl who becomes a famous actress! Plus, it's written by a girl-mom duo - all the more reason to check it out!  Photo courtesy of barnesandnoble.com The Chronicles of Narnia By: CS Louis This seven-book fantasy series is a classic! Get wrapped up in the wonderful tale of the land of Narnia, along with the incredible things that happen there.  Photo courtesy of amazon.com A Coal Miner's Bride By: Susan Bartoletti Read the diary of a Polish girl. She loves her life with her grandmother and brother, but one day she receives a letter that may change her life forever.  Photo courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane By: Julia Nobel Read as a tween girl is sent to an English boarding school. When she stumbles onto a mystery that puts her and her friends in danger, can she solve it?  Photo courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com The Night Diary By: Veera Hiranandani Be quiet. Travel fast. Don't talk to strangers. Drink only as much as you need to stay alive. These are the rules of the game that 12-year-old Nisha and her family must play by when they become refugees, on the run to "New India." Explore Nisha's joys and heartbreaks in this gripping book. Worth not only reading, but re-reading.  Photo courtesy of paigebritt.com The Lost Track of Time By: Paige Britt Calling all lovers of fantasy, fun, wordplay, or doing nothing - this book is for you! The Lost Track is Time is about a girl who feels suffocated by her incredibly packed summer schedule. Then, she stumbles upon a blank day - a day so big she falls into it. She finds herself in the Realm of Possibility, going on mythical and mushroom-y adventures that will have you on the edge of your chair (or hammock).  Photo courtesy of Katherinewoodfine.co.uk The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow By: Katherine Woodfine This is a MUST READ! Join Lil, Sophie, Joe and Billy as they sip tea and stop London’s most notorious villains. You will be entranced from the first to the last page!  Photo courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com Prints in the Sand: My Journey with Nanea By: Erin Falligant In this awesome America Girl book, you choose what happens because YOU make the choices! Plus, it's historical fiction - how can you go wrong?  Photo courtesy of Penguinrandomhouse.com Where The Red Fern Grows By: Wilson Rawls Just a warning, this book will make you want to laugh, cry, smile, frown, cheer, groan, and everything in between. Read the tale of a boy and his dogs, and their devotion to one another. They go through victories, and sorrows, but they never abandon each other.  Photo courtesy of barnesandnoble.com Out of My Mind By: Sharon M. Draper Did you ever think about what it would be like to not be able to communicate? What if you couldn't speak, couldn't gesture accurately, but yet had a mind full of facts, thoughts, and questions? Melody Brooks knows what it is like, because she can't communicate like a "typical student." She's incredibly gifted, but has no way to get her thoughts and feelings "out of her mind". Read Melody's incredible insights, struggles, and final victory in this incredible book.  Image courtesy of Christianbook.com Winnie the Horse Gentler By: Dandi Daley Mackall Winnie is a young farm girl who loves horses. Not only that, horses love her!  Photo courtesy of Jessicadaygeorge.com Tuesdays At The Castle By: Jessica Day George A magic castle that grows new rooms every Tuesday, a girl with blonde hair and a bold personality, and royal parents away on a trip. What else is in store for this unique family? The Castle Glower series is fast-paced, dramatic, exciting, and sweet in all the right places. The series is absolutely perfect for reading out in the sun! Thank you for stopping by! Happy reading! With love, A&B You may also like:  5/21/2020 0 Comments bound for oregon Photo courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com I just read this book for history......and wow...........just wow! Bound For Oregon is an amazing peek into the life of pioneers who traveled into the unknown, in hopes of a better life for their families in Oregon. This book is written from the perspective of Mary Ellen, a young girl who misses her family and friends. She only has a small bag of her own belongings, and a quilt that her beloved grandma made her, to call her own. The trail has dust, dirt, mud, prairies, deserts, mountains, and everything in between, and Mary Ellen has to walk them all. The terrain on the trail isn’t even the worst. Read as they encounter sickness, near accidents, Indian attacks, thefts, getting lost, and SO much more! Will they make it to Oregon? Or will they die trying?
Bound For Oregon is based on a true story. It will make you want to cry, celebrate, chew your fingernails off.....and repeat! It’s truly an amazing book. It took me a while to read Bound For Oregon, but that was partially due to the fact that I was reading a little bit at a time for school. I think it would be a medium sized read for the average reader. Happy trail riding! -B 5/15/2020 0 Comments The Book of secrets Photo courtesy of amazon.com Adventure! Action! Questions! Bravery! Suspense! Outstanding!
These are the words that spring to mind when I think of Allison Tait's Book of Secrets. It's an incredible blend of historical fiction and adventure, with elements of mystery sprinkled in. The book chronicles the adventures of Gabe, an orphan who has lived in a monastary since he was abandoned as an infant. In a single night, Gabe's sheltered life is turned upside down when he is handed a brilliantlly illustrated, albeit unintelligibly coded, manuscript. Gabe's quest to discover what the manuscript means, as well as to keep it from falling into the wrong hands, may lead him beyond his home and into the uncharted territory of the forest. While Gabe is there, he meets a ragtag band of raiders and hunters who have their sights set on capturing valuable game - him. However, these criminals like to play with their capture before they settle in for the kill, or in this case, the kidnap. Will Gabe make it out alive? Will the book be intact? And will be ever make it back to the monastery? Find delightfully satisfying answers + surprising twists in The Book of Secrets! I didn't originally expect to like this book, but I totally did! It had just the right combination of friendship, adventure, mystery, and true-to-life historical fact to keep me engaged. It's a fast read (especially if you blaze through it in a day or two like I've been known to do!) and should keep you turning the next page in anticipation. Make sure to follow it up by reading the second book in the duology, The Book of Answers. Are you excited about this title?! With love, A 5/8/2020 0 Comments Robinson crusoe Image courtesy of barnesandnoble.com CRACK! Splinter! Whoosh! WHOA! Those might be the mental sound effects that run through your head when you read Robinson Crusoe. Read along as Crusoe travels the world finding treasures and living his dream life of a sailor. Unfortunately, his dreams get dashed upon a shore (quite literally) when he finds himself in a terrible shipwreck. He manages to salvage a few things from his ship and sets up camp on a deserted island. Witness as he comes in contact with Cannibals, runs low on food, and sets up shelter. You won’t be disappointed!
I highly recommend this book for anyone who does not mind reading old writing style. Have fun! -B  Photo courtesy of barnesandnoble.com If you love mysteries, or even just like mysteries, stop reading right now. Go buy/borrow/beg this book. Then, you may come back to this post. You'll thank me later.
Ok, all kidding aside, this book is phenomenal. It is a collection of 12 chapter-length mystery stories, each one written by a different author. The crimes committed in the stories range from murder, to missing persons, to thefts, all organized into four sections: Impossible Mysteries, Canine Capers, Poision Plots, and Closed-System Crimes. Whether the delicasies of poision interest you, or you have a fondness for dogs, hot air balloons, or pearls, there is a short story for you in this book. I also love the collection of different ideas and writing styles. It is wonderfully exciting to get a taste of each individual author through the story that they wrote! I was able to read each short story in about 15-20 minutes, and since each mystery is self-contained, the book is perfect for reading a bit at a time. Or, if you get hooked, you can read it all in a 2-3 hour sprint - it's your choice. Either way, I think that every mystery enthusiast and book lover will find something to pique their interest in this head-scratching, uniquely engaging anthology (story collection). Will you be checking this book out? With love, A |
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