Good books I've read lately....

Hello all! Terribly sorry I haven't written any reviews lately. College has taken over the better part of my life and this was a project for a class I was doing last semester. SO, here are some books that I have read lately, or just ones that I would reccommend to anyone who asked. If you have questions about the books I have reccommended, just ask and I'll get to you as soon as I can!

The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
The Mortal Intruments Series
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
A Countess Below Stairs
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Once Upon a Marigold and Twice Upon a Marigold
The Blue Bloods Series (By Melissa De la Cruz)
Inkdeath

Those are just to get you started! I'll post more as soon as I can.

The Return of the Indian

The Return of the Indian
Written By: Lynne Reid Banks
HarperCollins Publishers
October 1987
Ages: 10-12
Pages: 189

Summary

In the first book Omri nearly avoids disastrous consequences with Little Bear and finally decides to send him back to his own world and his own time. Omri then gives his mother the key to the cupboard for safe keeping and so he won't be tempted to use it ever again. He now understands the importance of Little Bear staying in his own time. But a year later Omri has lots of exciting news to tell and Omri's mother carelessly leaves the key on the bathroom sink and he gives way to temptation and brings Little Bear back to life, only to find that he has been injured in the French and Indian War. What originally started out as a game quickly turns into a nightmare and Omri must act quickly if he wants to save Little Bear's village from being completely slaughtered in the onslaught of war.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

I think anyone who enjoys a good twist on historical fiction or even if they enjoyed the first book in the series would love this book. It's exciting and adventurous and perfect for a good read on a rainy day.

What problems do you see arising from reading this book?

This book deals with a lot of violence and the consequences of violence due to the French and Indian war that Little Bear is involved in. Some younger audiences may find the content a tad bit innappropriate.

What was your reaction?

As with many other books I've read this semester, it has been a long time since I've read this one. I think the last time I read the entire series was when I was in the seventh grade. i'd forgotten how much I loved the excitement and adventure found in this book.

My First Book of Dinosaurs

My First Book of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals
Written By: Colin Clark, Illustrated By: Geoff Campion
Brown-Watson, England
1992
Pages: 30

Summary

This is a unique book with surprisingly realistic illustrations. It's extremely informative and fact based and tells about not only dinosaurs, but prehistoric birds and mammals too.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

I think any young child who has taken an early interest in dinosaurs and prehistoric animals would enjoy this book. It gives them the opportunity to learn important facts about their favorite thing!

What problems do you see arising from reading this book?

I do not currently see any problems arising from reading this book.

What was your reaction?

It was kind of fun to read this book once more. I remember leafing through it when I was a younger child and marveling at all of the different illustrations. It's been in my family for a long time and it is one that we have always enjoyed.

I Know How We Fight Germs

I Know How We Fight Germs (Sam's Science)
Written By: Kate Rowan, Illustrated By: Katharine McEwan
Candlewick Press
January 1999
Ages: 6-10
Approx. # of Pages: 25

Summary

Young Sam has caught a cold and he and his mother talk about germs, viruses and bacteria. They also talk about different facts such as a sneeze travels up to the length of three elephants long. A fun, informative and educational book that will help young children learn how to stay healthy.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

I think that young children who are just old enough to learn how we get sick and what makes us sick would enjoy this book. it is made for young children, but it still has enough information in it and it's drawings that it's still informative and useful to use in maybe a classroom setting.

What problems do you see arising from reading this book?

I do not currently see any problems arising from reading this book.

What was your reaction?

I thought this book was super cute. As I've mentioned before the book has wonderfully unique illustrations that help get the facts and information across to the younger audiences.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Where the Sidewalk Ends
Written By: Shel Silverstein
HarperCollins Publishers
November 1974
Ages: 9-12
Pages: 166

Summary

This is one of my favorite book of poems of all time. Shel Silverstein has the wonderful and unique ability to get children to love poetry through witty and hilarious verse. Some are serious, but most of the time they're not and they talk about funny situations children get into and funny stories that children can get interested in.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

I think anyone would benefit from reading this book. It's a lighthearted book that will keep you guessing and laughing and asking for more the whole way through.

What problems do you see arising from reading this book?

I currently do not see any problems arising from reading this book.

What was your reaction?

I absolutely LOVE this book and I have ever since I was little. I think I was first introduced to these poems when I was about in the third grade or so. I fell in love with the poems because they made me laugh so much and I eventually got all three of the poem books for a present one year.

Absolutely Normal Chaos

Absolutely Normal Chaos
Written By: Sharon Creech (Winner of the Newberry Medal for Walk Two Moons.)
Harper Collins Publishers
February 1997
Ages: 12 and up
Pages: 230

Summary

Mary Lou Finney, from Walk Two Moons has been assigned to write and keep a summer journal to be reviewed by her new teacher at the beginning of the school year. The journal starts out as recording the rather boring goings on of her family and friends, but soon things are turned upside down when Mary Lou's backwoods cousin, Carl Ray, comes to visit, wher her boy crazy best friend Beth Ann becomes two faced and goes off the deep end and when mary lou falls in love with a boy from school, Alex Cheevey. Some of my favorite parts of this "journal" are when Mary Lou records her experiences and musings as she reads the Odyssey. Here is an excerpt: "Book eleven of the odyssey is deadly boring. Ha. That's a pun because this part is all about Odysseus' visit to the dead. It wasn't as exciting as I expected it to be. He meets some old friends who weren't as lucky as he (they're dead, after all) and also he meets a prophet who tells him what's going to happen to him in the future. He warns him about all the dangers ahead and tells him that he will kill all of his wife's suitors. I didn't think Homer should give away the ending like that. Also, this prophet tells Odysseus how he will die!!! he's gong to die at the sea, but a sort of peaceful death." This is just a taste of what you will find when you read this book.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

I think this book would mostly be appropriate for girls around 12 or so. They would like it because the girl in the book is just like them and they will come to realize that they aren't the only ones with problems, it's not the end of the world and there are so many things you can do to solve those problems.

What problems may arise from reading this book?

Like any other girl her age, Mary Lou is growing up and going through lots of different changes, becoming more curious about relationships, boys and of course, sex. This might be a good book for young girls to read with their mothers in order to understand some different things.

What was your reaction?

I loved this book and I've read it more times than I can remember. Mary Lou's witty and sarcastic comments keep the book's plot moving, making it interesting and easy to read.

The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids: Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots

The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids: Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots
Written By: Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones. Illustrated By: John Steven Gurney
Scholastic Inc.
January 1991
Ages: 7-10

Summary

These books, because they are so short, are hard to summarize without giving the whole plot away (which I don't like to do) so I'm going to do my best and see what happens! The Third Graders at Bailey Elementary are some of the worst children the teaches have ever come in contact with. Most of the teachers move far away after mental/nervous breakdowns and never return. The third graders take pride in seeing how short of a time it takes them to get rid of a teacher. But with the new teacher from the transylvanian alps, come new risks and different happenings when they make the teacher mad. She just might be a vampire and four kids in Mrs. Jeepers' new class will do everything they can to figure out if it's true or not.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

Any child who likes stories about children, mysteries or even stories about fantasy creatures will enjoy these books.

What problems do you see arising from this book?

The main characters in this book are terribly nosy, michevious and quite frankly, just the typical trouble makers. Some children might be impressionable enough that they will try to copy these behaviors.

What was your reaction?

I haven't read any of the Bailey School Kids books in quite some time and it was a pleasure to read one of them again. They were my favorites when i was younger because they were easy to read, but they were exciting and interesting and NEVER boring! There was always something going on in them.