Review - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Narrated by Neil Gaiman
Publisher: Harper Children's Audio 2008
Audiobook 7 discs



***Review coming soon***

Review - Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Read by Blair Brown
Publisher: Listening Library 2004
3 CDs 2 hours 46 minutes



This book is a great primer for 2nd to 5th grade reading levels into the subject of WW II. The story takes place in 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark. Ten-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis. The book covers the little known underground resistance network in Denmark during the occupation and how the Danes smuggled Danish Jews out of the country and in to Sweden.

Review - The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
Publisher: Little, Brown and Co. 2008
Hardcover 440 pages



The final book in the Mysterious Benedict Society trilogy finds our four young heroes, Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance off on a hunt for their kidnapped teacher, Mr. Benedict and his assistant, Number 2. Along the way the four friends encounter numerous adults that either help or hinder them as they follow the clues across oceans until their final confrontation with the incorrigible Mr. Curtain and his nefarious henchmen. The action is slow to build in this story as much more time is given to developing the characters of the children, exploring their self-understanding and the meaning of their friendship.
The journey comes to a satisfyingly predictable conclusion when all the good guys win and the bad guys get their just, but not to harsh, desserts. More friendly and lighthearted than the Harry Potter series, this series of friendship would perfectly fit the early to mid elementary crowd.

Review - The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

Publisher: Little, Brown and Co. 2008
Hardback 440 pages



I absolutely hate the authors of series. Okay, maybe that is a little harsh, but whenever I get close to the characters of a particular series, I always feel more than just a little sadness at having to say goodbye to them.

This is the third, and potentially, last book in the Mysterious Benedict Society series of childrens books by author Trenton Stewart. Once again the children are threatened by the evil Mr. Curtain and must learn to overcome their individual fears and weaknesses and find their inner strength to outwit and save the day. While most childrens book authors create static characters, we can see how the children's experiences have really changed and evolved their individual personalities. We see not only their brilliance and strenght, but how they overcome their shortfalls, whether it be Reynie's problem with trusting others or Constance's stubbornness.

The only complaint I have is for the week ending. Which even though it was a pleasant surprise, it was a little too "perfect" and didn't really fit in with the theme of the rest of the books.

Review - The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Stewart
Publisher: Little,Brown 2007
Hardback 485 pages



This book was thrust upon me by a children's librarian who told me that I HAVE to read this. This book looked wonderful to me and I was so surprised that I hadn't seen it before. It's story contains everything that I love in a good child's book: children who are uncommonly smart (I was convinced I was Matilda as a kid), an evil genius with aims to enslave the human race (a thing I have been accused of from time to time), and, of course, books. And so I started this book with my hopes high and I have to say I was BLOWN AWAY. This book is a clever little story, told smartly, and will delight both children and adults. The peculiar quirks of the main characters will amuse adults, and the fast paced, adventure packed storyline will keep even the most distracted reader's attention through the entire 485 pages. This book just flew by and I was so unbelievably happy when I found that it was only the first book in a series, that as of 2009, contains two other books. Here's hoping there are many more to come and I can not wait for the next book to show up on the hold shelf.

Review - Percy Jackson and the Olympians (series) by Rick Riordan

Book 1: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books 2005
Hardback 377 pages

Book 2: The Sea of Monsters
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books 2006
Hardback 279 pages

Book 3: The Titans Curse
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books 2007
Hardback 312 pages

Book 4: The Battle of the Labyrinth
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books 2008
Hardback 361 pages

Book 5: The Last Olympian
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books 2009
Hardback 381 pages


With non-stop adventure and action, the final installment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series will not disappoint. The book is one epic battle that takes place in the streets of Manhattan and nothing less then the whole of Western civilization hangs in the balance. With a love triangle brewing between Percy, Annabeth and Rachel Dare, an army of demonic creatures and the Gods busy fighting the war away from home, the teen heroes of Camp Half-Blood are left to defend Mt. Olympus and prove their worth to their immortal parents.

Those who love fantasy, adventure and friendship will enjoy this beautifully written series. The last book in the series also leaves with a new prophecy and the hope of many new adventures from this talented author.

A handy read-alike list can be found here.
Recommended for readers 5th grade and up.