Here Lies Arthur

This is not my taste in books but it was a pretty good book. There was a lot of action and could get a little gory, there was love and cross-dressing. This story takes place a long time ago and could get a little barbaric at times but more realistic than most books about the legend of Arthur. I was interested in what was going to happen next.

This books seems a little too advanced for kids. Older teenagers will probably love the book because it has so much in it to keep the reader's attention. This era usually draws attention from boys but this one is narrated by the female character, so girls might be drawn to it as well.


Reeve, Philip. (2010). Here Lies arthur. Scholastic Paperbacks.

The Hunger Games

This is an adventure story with a little romance. Who doesn't love a little romance? This story reminds me a little of the Gladiator times and a fight between the social classes is a big theme in the story. The story is intense and the reader is anxious to find out what happens next.

Boys and girls would both dive into this story. The boys will like the violence and actions and the girls will enjoy the romance in the story. The book looks like an adult book - reminiscent of John Grisham but it is made for teens.

Collins, Suzanne. (2008). The Hunger games. Scholastic.

The Magician's Elephant

I did not care for this book. The story was slow and choppy and did not hold my interest. A boy is an apprentice and comes across a piece of information from a fortune teller and what happens throughout the rest of the story changes his life. I honestly couldn't make myself finish the book.

I don't think kids will engage in this book either. My niece, an avid book reader, could not finish it either. I do not recommend it. Maybe boys would be interested in it because the main character is a boy.

DiCamillo, Kate. (2009). The Magician's elephant. Candlewick Pr.

Savvy

Savvy is a story about a family who resemble witches - all except Poppa. Every time a family member turns thirteen, the child gets a Savvy which is an extra special ability to they keep for the rest of their life. Mibs is about to turn thirteen and everyone wonders which Savvy she will receive and she starts being able to hear and see tatoos and ink move and speak - this is her Savvy. Mibs hitches a ride and goes on a journey to the hospital with her siblings to save her Poppa who is in a coma from an accident. The driver discovers the stowaways, lets them stay, but their ride takes many stops along the way, the driver meets Lill who understands and cares for the children. The children finally get to the hospital and Mibs tells her father that he has a Savvy too, to never give up, and Poppa speaks to Mibs through his mermaid tatoo that he will never give up and he ends up waking up from his coma.

The plot is very creative and interesting and takes the reader to an interesting world where the children have a bit of magic. Unexpected insights allow Mibs to discover her fathers Savvy.

Law, Ingrid. (2008). Savvy. New York, NY: Dial.

How to Heal a Broken Wing

A bird is flying through the city, hits a building, and falls to the ground. A young boy named Will is the only one to see the bird lying injured on the ground - it had a broken wing. Will took the bird home, nurtured it, and let it rest. Wills family hope all of their TLC will help the bird to fly again. His family takes the bird back to where he found it. They release the bird and the bird flies away.

The pictures in the story add more to the story than just the few words in the story tell. The pictures are cartoon-like but are very sweet and colorful. Some pages have a full two page picture spread, others are asymmetrical or laid out like the Sunday comics.

Graham, Bob. (2008). How to Heal a broken wing. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Pr.