Friends’ Faves

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"Rick Riordan's The Son of Neptune is a story of a demi-god (Percy Jackson) who is on a quest to free death and regain his memory;  he is on a time limit.  On the way, he faces giants, Amazons, gods, and demi-gods.  Read to find out if Percy will rise to save a whole camp or fall to Gaea's might."

"The Underdogs, by Mike Lupica, is about a town who used to be the best at football, but when factories shut down and people left town, Will Tyler's football team was being shut down because of no money.  Will did not give up, but managed to get a sponsor so his team could play football.  Do you think they will win the championship?  Read to find out."


"Extra Credit, by Andrew Clements, is a very interesting book about how Abby Carson is assigned an extra credit project. As a result, she becomes pen pals with Sadeed Bayat in Afghanistan. The problem is that Afghanistan boys are not to communicate with American girls. Read to find out more about what happens with the friendship across the ocean."

"Patrick Jennings's Guinea Dog is a fun tale of a fifth grader named Rufus, who desperately wants a dog. His dad, who works at home, is not liking the idea. He says dogs: whine, scratch, gnaw, and bark. Rufus's mom thinks of something out of the box and brings home a guinea pig! Read to find out what happens next!"

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"Soul Surfer is a true story of a pro surfer that  lost her arm, when she was attacked by a shark.  She shares how she had the faith to get back on the board again.  This autobiography, written by Bethany Hamilton, is one of my favorites, because it feels like I am actually there.  I suggest you read Soul Surfer if you like true, faith-filled stories."

"Do you like sad books?  If you do,Colby Rodowsky's  The Turnabout Shop would be a good book for you.  You may even be able to relate to Livvy who loses her mother and ends up staying with her mother's friend.  They have nothing in common, and Livvy can't accept the fact that Jessie Barns is her "mother."  Read to find out if she ever finds happiness again."

"Great Moments in Basketball History, by Matt Christopher, is a great book for sports lovers.  I like it because it has a lot of my favorite players.  Read to find out how Michael Jordan went up for a right hand dunk, switched hands in midflight, and made a left handed layup.  Or read how Wilt Chamberlin scored 100 points in one game (no video, only a tape recording).  If you like exciting moments in basketball, then this book is the one for you." 

I really liked Sandy Asher's On Her Way, because I got to experience a lot of different authors in one book.  Several were serious, while others were really funny.  Some of the experiences included:  being mistaken for a boy, meeting up with some Native Americans, and appreciating memories from a special story quilt. You will want to share in this special collection.

Vietnam Sharpshooter, by Chris Lynch, is one of my favorite books, because it's about war.  It is about a man named Ivan, who followed his father's footsteps and joined the army.  He ended up as a sniper in the military.  If you like reading about war, action, and survival, then this is the book for you!

Jason's Gold, by Will Hobbs, is an exciting, page-turning story.  If you like wilderness, survival, and action packed stories, try Jason's Gold.  I have read several of Will Hobbs' stories, but this book is my favorite so far.  It's incredible how Jason can stand up to a moose, three bears, losing his dog, and a flooding river.  Who will win...Jason or the wilderness?

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"Do you like books with lots of action?  If you do, you should try the Conspiracy 365 series.  I like these books because of all the  adventures centered around Callum Ormond.  He needs to find out the Ormond family secret while a bunch of  criminals are trying to get rid of him, and cops are trying to lock him up.  It's July,  and Cal still hasn't figured it out?  Will he beat the 365 days?"

"Do you like adventure and mystery books?  If you do, you would love Gabrielle Lord's  Conspiracy 365 series.  It is about a 15 year old boy (Cal Ormond) who has to survive 365 days and to find out the mystery of the Ormonds.  I've read the first six books; I'm now on the seventh book, July.  I suggest you read Conspiracy 365.  You might get hooked!"

"The Candymakers, by Wendy Mass, is a four perspective narrative that shows friendship and suspense.  It is a story of four 11 year olds who are trying to win the national candymaking competition.  One of them is trying to steal the candymaker's secret ingredient.  Who will win the contest or the secret ingredient?"

       "Most readers who like humor would like A Whole Nother Story, by Dr. Cuthbert Soup.  This book tells how Mr. Cheeseman and his three kids are running away from villians. (The villians are trying to steal Mr. Cheeseman's invention.)  You would enjoy the humor and suspense in this story."

"On Christmas Eve, by Ann M. Martin, is a good, sad book (an oxymoron).  I think girls would enjoy it more than boys.  Tess has a dream to see Santa.  It is not for herself, but to ask Santa if he could cure her friend's father of cancer.  Will he get cured?  How will she give her friend the "gift of hope"?  Read to find out!"

"Rebecca Caudill's Tree of Freedom is an amazing realistic fiction.  It took place back in the 1780's, when Stephanie and her family set foot in Kentucky searching for freedom.  They didn't know at that time that they were stepping into some difficult times.  They learned that freedom comes with a cost.  I recommend this book to kids of all ages.  I love this book and think you will too!"

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"I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU, by Ally Carter, is a book that boys AND girls would like.  Cammie Morgan is a student at Gallagher Academy, a school for spies.  She meets a normal boy named Josh, who thinks she is a normal girl.  Cammie gets kidnapped, and Josh tries to save her.  You won't want to miss it!"

"My book is DIARY OF A WIMPY KID-THE UGLY TRUTH, by Jeff Kinney.  I like this book, because it takes an ordinary kid and shows how he solves his problems:  bullying, trouble with friends, growing up, the dentist, etc.  It is a funny book that everyone could enjoy."

"I like FRANNY K. STEIN MAD SCIENTIST: THE FRAN THAT TIME FORGOT, by Jim Benton, because it is funny.  Once Franny made antigravity dog food for his dog (Igor).  It made walking Igor more fun, because he would float.  The main part of the book is about Fran going back to change his middle name, since the kids were making fun of it.  Things didn't go as planned!  Read to find out."

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"I think Ida B, by Katherine Hannigan, is a good book that keeps you on the edge of your seat.  Each chapter keeps you wanting to read more.  Some of the plot is a little sad, but not too much to be enjoyable.  I would recommend it to everybody!"

"Ida B. was an imaginative, wild, and courageous girl until her mom got cancer.  Then, instead of climbing trees, Ida kicked them.  Instead of Ida's father loving her, he began to yell at her.  And that's just the beginning..."

"I love Ida B. because it is a realistic fiction story.  It is realistic because Ida B. did not like school, and her mother got cancer.  It has a touch of fantasy with the "talking trees."  I think students will absolutely love the book!

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"I like C.S. Lewis's,  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe because it is a Christian book.  I think you would like the book if you like action.  The lion Aslan symbolizes Jesus when he saves Peter."

"I like Ordinary Boy, by William Boniface , because the people in Superopolis have super powers.  Well, everybody except OB (Ordinary Boy)!  If you like books about arms turning to fire,  people turning into animals, and being able to fly at super speed, you'll love this book."

"If you like sports, Mike Lupica's book, The Batboy, would be a good book for you.  It is an inspirational book and has action and surprises."

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 "I like Judy Blume's Starring Sally J. as Herself, because Sally has a really good imagination.  She shows her imagination by making up detective stories in her head.  It is fun to read, because her daydreams often cause her to get in sticky situations."

"Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is the best book in the world!  Well, that's what I think.  If you like action and romance at the same time, then this is your book.  Try the book and catch the movie that is coming out soon!"

"I love the way Barry Denenberg's When Will This Cruel War Be Over? is written as a journal.  You will enjoy reading it if you like Civil War settings.  I enjoyed it enough that I am now reading a second one, The Journal of James Edmond Pease, by Jim Murphy."  (Dear America series)