Eighteen-year-old Lexi unconsciously drowned Steven, the boy she loved, on her 16th birthday.   Later she realizes that her overwhelming urge to swim and sing is part of her  genetic heritage as a Siren; a  murderous muse of the sea.  Lexi’s task is to keep her secret safe along with her friends whether it means being an outcast or not.

In this satisfying fantasy novel, the author uses Lexi’s seclusion as a tool to show emotional distress in relationships among her peers; a common stress in teenagers’ lives.  Readers will be emotionally absorbed by Lexi’s story.  There is romance and regret throughout the pages, compelling the reader forward.  The message in this book is clear:  Lying is not the way to go and honesty is the key to simplicity.

— Tyler Z.

Book 3 of the Norumbegan Quartet, “Gut and Bone” is a mystery/sci fi puzzling the reader as to who to trust.  This “just in the knick of time” adventure continues the story of Brian and Gregory, who enter an alien body in the name of avoiding an alien attack on earth.  This book, for science fiction lovers only, is written at a fast pace with a little gore thrown in for good measure.

Here is the epitome of summer camp life from beginning to end from the point -of-view of a young camper. This experience is presented with the beginning bus ride to camp, the description of the cabin and its bunks, the mess hall/food, mosquitoes (title) , mail call, laundry, the camp talent show, arts & crafts, water sports, limbo, campfire, bathing/showering ( or lack there of), and ending with the letter home.

Each experience is hilariously and rhythmically phrased for singing to one of the following  well-known melodies:

Yankee Doodle, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Skip to My Lou, My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, On Top of Old Smoky, Mexican Hat Dance, Take Me out to the Ball Game, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Itsy Bitsy Spider, B-I-N-G-O, Rock-a-bye Baby, Pop Goes the Weasel, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Do Your Ears Hang Low?

So tune up your vocal cords and guitar or piano to have fun with the misadventures of this little camper.

This travel guide to the Silk Road takes you back to an era when camels and yaks trudged along the road bearing burdens of exotic luxuries such as Chinese silks bound for Europe, and European glass on its way to China.  Other goods among the array included trade staples like tea and salt.

 Directions for projects–from how to tie a Gordian Knot to how to make Central Asian Lagman Noodles, are also part of the useful knowledge in this book.   “Words to Know,”  in highlighted text boxes, and maps and illustrations help to make each subject easy to understand.

History, ecology, food, storytelling, and the evolution of the road over the years are covered.  The index, web sites, and glossary of books on the subject invite readers to further explore this trade route that brought goods, culture, and conquest as well to the countries it passed through.

In Book Speak, Salas has written a collection of  poems all about books; from their ‘feelings’ about being checked out or not checked out, going on an adventure with the reader, life on a shelf, which part of the book they are, the characters within them, and so on.  The poems range from thoughtful, funny, simple and complex, but all are totally interesting.  The illustrations, all done by one artist, are combinations of mixed media.  The art reflects the voice of the poem and is an integral part of the poem.  I couldn’t wait to turn the page to see what would be next.  In fact, this book has inspired me for poetry month in April, in which I plan to use it to introduce poetry to my students.  I hope they will feel inspired to write and illustrate in a manner as unique as this book.

Kids will love reading this newest installment of the Five Little Monkeys, especially when it’s time for bed.  Be sure to save it for last, having read several other books first.  Then admonish the kids, just as Mama did and see if they don’t stay up reading.  How fun to be defiant of parents when it’s actually good for you!  In this book, the monkeys are told “Lights Out! Sweet Dreams!  No more reading in bed!”  But they can’t resist just one more story, which turns out to be three more stories: one sad, one scary, and one funny, and each time, in comes Mama for the lecture.  Very enjoyable!

“Grimm” is an understatement!  This extension of the traditional Hansel and Gretel story adds plenty of blood and gore to appeal to the middle readers.  Based loosely on the Grimms’ fairy tales Faithful Johannes, Hansel and Gretel, The Seven Ravens, Brother and Sister, The Robber Bridegroom and The Devil and His Three Golden Hairs, this tale leads us up to and past Hansel and Gretel’s escape from the witch and takes us on eight other adventures until they return back to their parents.  The twins are often separated temporarily to double the adventure as they battle witches, the devil, and finally a dragon at the climax of the story.  The author has fun teasing the reader (“Go ahead, dear reader.  Take a look at the dragon on the cover of this book. That dragon, you see, was designed to alert you to the presence of a dragon in these pages.”) My hope is that I can convince boys to read a fairy tale, because they’re the ones that will enjoy the decapitations, the spillage of blood, and the cutting off of fingers!

The “Polish Peddler” is a teen who sells questionable items to his fellow classmates in order to help his younger sister.   Anna is an innocent young woman.   Anna purchases “party drugs” from the “Polish Peddler” in order to catch his attention.  What happens next is not your typical “happily ever after” ending.

This is a story of an anti-hero.  The reader will empathize with the anti-hero.  The author’s narrator is Anna who tells this compelling story through her point-of-view.  Readers will cry with joy and sorrow for the characters.   This is quality storytelling.  For mature teens.

— Calla C.

This book is nicely illustrated, and an exciting read for young readers.  The print is large, and easy to read

The story is different and cute.  You see life from a baby loon’s perspective.  Great for early readers.

This is a very simple book.  It would be good for preschool through !st grade.  It leaves the reader feeling good about themselves.    There is no real story line, but extremely simple listening and identifying type questions, to keep the readers attention.  The pictures are bright and fun. I think the mirror in the back is fun to look and see yourself in a crown.