Ahh... Jeopardy! Kids Week - another show to make me feel that I'm not smarter than a 5th grader ;)

Review:

Olivia Bean loves Jeopardy! When her father was around, they would watch it together every night. Now her father moved to California with her best friend's mother (and her best friend). But Olivia still watches Jeopardy! every night. She has been dreaming of being on Jeopardy! Kids Week for what seems like forever and this year is her last chance. First thing she has to do is register.... A parent has to do that. Which parent can she count on?

Olivia is a cute girl with a Jeopardy! obsession. She is having trouble adjusting to her new family situation. Her dad is too busy gambling or hanging out with his girlfriend to remember to call her once a week. Her mom's boyfriend lives with them now (and Olivia doesn't really like him much). And the boy next door is either very nice or very mean to her (she is not sure what to think about him).

This is a realistic story about families adjusting to changes and how deeply it affects the children. I liked Olivia and her family. I was really rooting for Olivia to get on Jeopardy! It just meant so much to her. The story deals with difficult issues in a lighthearted manner. Perfect for kids in grades 3-5.

Recommended to:
Young readers in grades 3-5, especially girls, who may relate to Olivia's dreams.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1238057/ahh-jeopardy-kids-week-another-show-to-make-me-feel-that-i-m-not-smarter-than-a-5th-grader

Secret of Rover - Review

Review:

Katie & David Bowden's parents are off to Katkajan to pick up the baby girl they are adopting. The kids don't quite trust the nanny who will be taking care of them while their parents are gone (especially Katie). But they keep quiet about it so their parents don't worry. Turns out, Katie was right, their parents have been kidnapped and Trixie is a Katkajan rebel in on the plan.

This is an thrilling story about two kids who are determined to help their parents, no matter what. There is plenty of edge of your seat excitement. And there are some especially harrowing moments for Katie & David. I enjoyed experiencing this adventure with them.

Recommended to:
This book will appeal to fans of adventure stories, especially in grades 6-8.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1236416/secret-of-rover-review

A Snicker of Magic - Review

Review:

"Some books are magic that way. Your body stays right here, hiding in a tree, tucked away in a closet, sitting up against a crumbling old building." Florentine grinned. "But good stories take your heart someplace else. My body'd never been out of south Georgia. But my heart lived everywhere. I'd live a hundred lives without ever leaving my tree.
--Chapter 14

Okay, so this story wasn't about the magic of reading, but I really liked that quote.

Felicity's mom doesn't like to stay in one place too long. They are forever moving to new towns and changing schools. Felicity and her little sister Frannie have gotten used to moving, but this time, they move to the town of Midnight Gulch, Tennessee. Mama grew up here and this town was full of magic. But now, most of the magic is gone - there is only a "snicker' of magic left. Felicity has a bit of her own magic, she sees words and collects them.

At exactly that moment, I saw my first word of the day:
Believe
The letters were made of melted sunshine. They dripped down the window glass, warm and tingly against our faces.

Felicity is a great character and her new friend Jonah is magical himself. He knows what people need and he helps them anonymously. Felicity meets a lot of magical people in Midnight Gulch.

This is a very cute story. I fell in love with Midnight Gulch, a quiet town that happens to make amazing ice cream (oh and it won't melt for 24 hours). Dr. Zook's ice cream, in 45 marvelous and mysterious flavors, including, Chocolate Chip Pork Rind, Orangie's Caramel Apple Pie and Andy's Snickerdoodle Sucker Punch. The ice cream has a bit of magic as well, one of the flavors even brings back memories. If this was a real place, I would want to live there.

In Midnight Gulch, Felicity finds family, a best friend and a sense of belonging. She doesn't want to move again. But how can she get Mama to stay? She can see the wandering look in Mama's eyes already.

Home isn't just a house or a city or a place; home is what happens when you're brave enough to love people.

Recommended to:
Readers in grades 3-5 who like their realistic stories with a touch of magic.

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1235717/a-snicker-of-magic-review

Wednesday Wars - review

Review:

Holling Hoodhood is really in for it. He's just started seventh grade with Mrs. Baker, a teacher he knows it out to get him. Why else would she make him read Shakespeare . . . outside of class?
The year is 1967, and everyone has bigger things to worry about. There's Vietnam for one thing, and then there's the family business. As far as Holling's father is concerned, nothing is more important than the family business. In fact, all the Hoodhoods must be on their best behavior at all times. The success of Hoodhood and Associates depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has Mrs. Baker to contend with?
-from the back cover

This was one of my son's summer reading books (he is going into 7th grade). His school just read The Tempest last year and Holling was reading it for the first part of this book. So, my son "got" a lot of the Shakespeare references and he even knew how to pronounce the rats' names (Sycorax & Caliban). I had no idea how to pronounce them.

I felt sorry for Holling. His parents didn't seem to care much about anything he did. They didn't show up for any event he was involved in. His father was more concerned with his business and having the "perfect house" than anything else. Mrs. Baker (Holling's teacher) ended up being more of a parent to him than his parents.

This was a good historical fiction story about a boy growing up in the era of Vietnam and dealing with growing up issues in 7th grade.

Recommended to:
Middle grade students who like historical fiction or stories about growing up (especially boys - MC is a boy).

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1232319/wednesday-wars-review

The infamous loom...

Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1230753/the-infamous-loom