The Red Blazer Girls: The Secret Cellar

The Red Blazer Girls: The Secret Cellar

By: Michael D. Beil

288 Pages

Ages: 10+

 

Summary:

...When Sophie finds a secret message in the antique fountain pen she bought for her father, the girls are on a case. Soon, they're at the home of the pen's original owner, a secretive man who kept to himself. His house is full of puzzles, all of which protect a hidden treasure, and the Blazers will do anything to get to the bottom of things. Throw in an ill-tempered bookstore owner with a motive, a missing will, a walking stick that doubles as a key, a school Christmas play, and a rat named Humphrey, and it all adds up to another thrilling adventure for the Red Blazer Girls. --bn.com

 

Mystery readers- you will enjoy this one! It's the latest installment in The Red Blazer Girls series. Sophie is searching for a Christmas gift for her Dad. While browsing in an antique shop, she finds the perfect gift: an antique fountain pen. After winning the pen at an auction, she takes it apart to clean it when she makes a discovery: a rolled up paper. Not just any old piece of paper, but a short poem with 12 rectangular holes underneath. Sophie knows what it is, you find the right page of a book and place the paper on it. Through the holes, a message will b e revealed. This starts the girls on their latest adventure.

 

Not knowing this book was part of a series when I started it, I quickly figured this out. Having read the previous books will be a big advantage since numerous references are made to them. Still, this was a fun adventure to go on.

 

Judy Moody And The Bad Luck Charm

Judy Moody And The Bad Luck Charm

By: Megan McDonald

157 Pages

Ages: 6-9

Summary:

The lucky penny in Judy Moody’s pocket sure does seem to be working. She can’t stop winning — at bowling, spelling, the unbeatable Prize Claw, everything! For sure and absolute positive, she’ll ride that wave of good fortune all the way to Washington, D.C. Watch out, District of Cool, here comes Judy Moody, the luckiest kid ever, until . . . oh, no! Her lucky penny just did a belly flop into a porcelain bowl of yucky, blucky UNluck. Has the coin’s magic gone kerflooey? Are some people, like Jessica Finch or Stink, destined to have all the luck, while she, Judy Moody, gets stuck with a yard full of three-not-four leaf clovers, a squealing potbellied pig in an elevator, and a squashed penny with cooties? --bn.com

At the skating rink with her Grandma, Judy gets a penny imprinted with a four-leaf clover and a horshoe. And just like that, she has a lucky penny! Judy is convinced it's her lucky penny that allows her to win The Claw game- three times! She's convinvec it's behind her finding $10.00. But, everything changes when her lucky penny accidently fall in the toilet.

Judy wants to win the 3rd grade spelling bee so she Washington, D.C. Sadly, she loses and bids farewell to visiting the city. Or does she? When the winner Jessica asks Judy to watch her pet pig while she's at the spelling bee, Judy finds herself going to Washingfun D.C. (District of Cool) after all.

This book was a fun read. Judy Moody is a beloved character for good reason. Judy is a fun person to travel anywhere with.



Judy Moody's Mini Mysteries & Other Sneaky Stuff For Super Sleuths

Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries & Other Sneaky Stuff For Super Sleuths

By: Megan McDonald

126 Pages

Ages: 6-9

Judy Moody is back and this time around she's helping readers discover their inner detective. Complete with tips on drawing suspect pictures, making your own detective kit, and other detective info, this book will help kids solve their own mysteries.

Among all the tips and games there are 6 little mysteries. You get to find a missing penguin, a lost pencil, uncover a fake artifact claim, among others. Judy loves Nancy Drew and in one story, she meets a fellow fan.

Judy Moody fans will love this book. Young readers who enjoy a mystery will also love this Judy Moody installment. This was my first Judy Moody book to read, but it won't be my last. I look forward to my daughters discovering the world of Judy Moody!



The Hocus Pocus Hotel

The Hocus Pocus Hotel

By: Michael Dahl

204 Pages

Ages: 8-11

Tyler Yu is the school bully whose victims are alerted to their doom by a note. When Charlie Hitchcock receives a note, he fears the worse. Turns out, Tyler needs Charlie's help. Tyler lives in The Abracadabra, a hotel built by a retired magician to house other retired magicians. Now, strange things are happening and Tyler needs to get answers.

One of the tenants, Mr. Madagascar has gone missing. On top of being missing, he's stopped paying his rent. It's Tyler's job at the hotel to collect the rent. (If he doesn't get the rent, he doesn't get paid and he has his eyes on a dirt bike.) With Charlie's help, they are able to solve the mystery of the missing guest. Then, they get to tackle the hotel's ghost and the numerous items that have gone missing from the hotel. From a shower curtain, to missing bowling pins, and missing spoons. In one night, all these items mysteriously disappeared. And does it have anything to do with The Voice that's been heard?

This book is a sheer delight to read. I loved every minute of it. The whole premise of the hotel is genius! The different magical characteristics the hotel's builder put in was fun to read about. You have illusion mirrors hidden in walls and secret panels stashed there, too.

The Hocus Pocus Hotel introduces you to a cast of former magicians and an elevator operator who is not what he seems to be. I couldn't put this book down. It was so fun to read. Michael Dahl has created an amazing book. I was very excited when I learned there will be another Hocus Pocus book coming out next year. This is a series I will be buying every book of.

Rating: Buy It



Katie Woo Rules the School

By: Fran Manushkin

96 Pages

Ages: 4-8

Katie Woo Rules the School is a book for young readers that are ready for a beginning chapter book. Fran Manushkin has created a character that is believable right down to Katie sometimes making a wrong decision. Each chapter has Katie facing an experience any early reader may face from being bullied to taking something that is not hers. There are very good lessons to be learned from Katie's experiences. The character is enhanced by Tammie Lyon's clever illustrations. I loved the expressions on each character's face. There was no doubt as to how they were feeling.

   As a former, teacher I would recommend this book. I feel it makes the transition to reading chapter books an enjoyable experience. After reading Katie Woo Rules the School I think the reader will want to read other books in the Katie Woo series. Happy Reading!

Sandra Boynton Books

Do you want a truly great book series for toddler and preschool age? Look no further than Sandra Boynton! These books are interactive, with silly songs, rhyming words, and great illustrations. As Jen said, in a Sandra Boynton book, kids aren't just being read to, they are part of the story. Here are some of the best from this amazing author.

Nancy Drew #9: The Sign of the Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene

           Another exciting mystery begins for the attractive young detective when her friends Bess and George ask her to investigate a rumor that their wealthy great-granduncle, Asa Sidney, is virtually a prisoner in his own mansion. But solving the mystery and befriending Carol Wipple, the sixteen-year-old foster daughter of the caretakers of the old mansion,  nearly costs Nancy the friendship of Bess and George. It takes all of Nancy's sleuthing ability as well as diplomacy to save it.

      At the same time, Nancy braves one danger after another to bring to justice the swindlers who are stealing Asa Sidney's fortune. With only the sign of the twisted candles to guide her, Nancy uncovers hidden treasure and an amazing letter that ends a family feud and brings unexpected happiness to Carol.

    I re-read this old favorite from childhood mainly to answer the question: is it as good now as it was then? As a kid, I read every single Nancy Drew book that the library had. Sleuthing and spying (because of reading Harriet the Spy by Ellen Fitzgerald) were two of my favorite past-times. I have to say, reading Nancy Drew as an adult is not quite the same. The mysteries that I couldn't figure out as a kid were completely transparent as an adult. That being said, there is still value in this book series for kids. Being the english nerd that I am, I love that there are so many great vocabulary words in this series. It's good for kids to read books that were written over 50 years ago, because it will expand their vocabulary. 

Rating: Buy or check them out from the library

By Rose