The Spiderwick Chronicles

The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide (Book 1)


Citation: DiTerlizzi, Tony. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide. Simon & Schuster, 2003.

Plot:

Jared, Mallory, and Simon Grace are moving into an old family home with their mother after their father has left their family. The family relocates to have a fresh start, particularly for Jared in school. Soon after moving in the children begin hearing strange sounds in the walls, but try to explain them away because it is, in fact, an old house. They begin hunting for the source of the sound, thinking it may be squirrels. When finding a hole in the wall, the Grace children reach in and find what appears to be a nest of sorts, with Mallory's ribbon and shiny things. While exploring, the children find a dumbwaiter which leads to a room with no door. In the room are weird books on dwarfs and other mythical creatures, and eventually happen up Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the World Around You which included information on faeries. With some reading Jared surmises that the house is probably inhabited by a Boggart, a type of faery, and not a squirrel. The Boggart had been causing mischief all over the house since its nest had been disrupted, and Jared figures out that if they return they apologize and help the Boggart with a new nest the mischief may stop. In the end the Boggart advises them to get rid of the Fieldguide, lest all faeries get upset. Liking his new home, he decides to stop with all the mischief.

Review:

This book was interesting, but I would classify it as reading down a bit for tweens. However, young tweens (5th and 6th grades) really love the large series, and are fascinated with the content. So despite the reading level, the books appeal to tweens and the content is very tween appropriate. The books are almost manageable Harry Potter books, in the sense that their length is friendly for readers that are put off by books with 500 pages, and the content is fantastical. With so many books in the series, tweens will end up reading lots of pages; they just won't realize it. I recommend this fantasy series for any young reader looking for a book akin to Narnia or anything similar.




Reading Level: 9 and up




Series Information:

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Similar Titles:

The Chronicles of Narnia
Harry Potter 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid






Citation: Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Omnibook, 2009.

Plot:

Greg Heffley is starting middle school (and writing in a *journal*, despite the fact that it says 'Diary' on the front). This novel follows Greg through his first day and first year at middle school, and what the words aren't able to convey, hilarious stick cartoons come to the rescue. Greg enters middle school planning to climb his way up the popularity ladder, despite his late bloomer best friend, Rowley. In the end, all Greg finds in his self-absorbed efforts is that he has lost his best friend, his safety-patrol post, and he's even less popular than Fregley... the resident least popular guy around. Can Greg get his best friend back? Can he avoid the high schoolers he and Rowley angered on Halloween? And even more importantly, can he avoid the slice of rotting cheese on the black top? Because no one with the dreaded 'cheese touch' (someone who has touched said cheese) will EVER be popular.


Review:

I can admit it: I actually liked this book. It made me remember those awkward middle school years, and I thought the dad in the book was hilarious. I definitely understand why tweens love these books (and movies). They really speak to what the tween years are all about: embarrassment and awkwardness. I can't imagine any tween who wouldn't relate to Diary in some form or another. Tweens will also appreciate that these books meet page requirements, but also include illustrations. They are nice transition books to larger, Harry Potter-esque books.

Reading Level:

9 and up

Series Information:

There are a ton of these books.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth

Similar Titles:

Captain Underpants
Dork Diaries
Super Diaper Baby 

Image Credits in Video:

Image1: Retrieved from http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR56kKQEdzRK99OBnqPatnHRmoy7C9ytQHciBpKqep7Znqea2t-Sw on May 1, 2011.

Image2: Retrieved from http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOo9vnEWQe5LX0Nvqcp5BngMHkQPzEmdvwW3O61ITQSc60yGb8CA on May 1, 2011.

Image3: Retrieved from http://kids.aol.com/tag/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid/ on May 1, 2011.

Image4: Retrieved from http://blog.filmjabber.com/2010/08/04/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-movie-review/ on May 1, 2011

Image5: Retrieved from http://www.poptower.com/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-movie-picture-23355.htm on May 1, 2011

Image6: Retrieved from http://lostinreviews.com/2010/03/wimpykid/ on May 1, 2011

Image7: Retrieved from http://movies.zap2it.com/movies/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid/photo-gallery-detail/7876903/420183 on May 1, 2011

Image8: Retrieved from http://rustikatravel.com/fregly-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid on May 1, 2011

Image 9: Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-national/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-review on May 1, 2001

 

A Series of Unfortunate Events

This  Probably doesn't count as a book trailer, as it is too short. Also maybe I stole these pictures? I did sort Google to make sure these were able to be used. But I didn't save information to cite them. It was my first try, and I'm keeping it because it took me 2 hours (Animoto is hard, mmkay?). So, though it may not count for credit... I can't bring myself to delete it. I'll make a longer one eventually. 

*All images from Google images, licensed for reuse*

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

Citation: Snicket, Lemony. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning. HarperCollins, 1999.

Plot:


The title is quite correct: as far as the three Baudelaire children are concerned, these are indeed a series of Unfortunate events. Violet (the inventor), Klaus (the reader), and baby Sunny (the biter) are orphaned at the beginning of the book because their parents suddenly perished in a fire that consumed their entire home. The three young children then must go live with a crazy distant relative, Count Olaf, whom they had never met before. The giant house is dirty, Olaf is eccentric to say the least, and the three children miss their home. It soon becomes apparent that Olaf only has taken the children in order to control their inheritance, and schemes up a way to try and marry Violet in order to get the money. With Violet's skills and Klaus's knowledge (and maybe Sunny's biting) the children try to scheme a way out of the clutches of Count Olaf. Whether it works or not is another story. A probably sad, unfortunate story.


Review:


I really enjoyed this book, though I feel bad admitting it because it is sort of sad. Tweens will instantly love the Baudelaire children, sympathize with them, but find it difficult not to laugh at Olaf and become completely engaged in the story. Snicket is able to write an unfortunate story in a hilarious way, fortunately. This series has turned many tweens (girls and boys alike) into avid readers. The length isn't that of a Harry Potter book, thus making it readable for younger tweens. I highly recommend the hijinks of the Baudelaire children and the masterful writing of Lemony Snicket.


Reading Level:

8 and up

Characters:


Violet: Oldest Baudelaire, inventor

Klaus: Middle Baudelaire, avid reader

Sunny: Youngest Baudelaire, avid biter

Count Olaf: Crazy, money hungry count; actor by profession


Series Information:

The Reptile Room
The Wide Window
The Miserable Mill
The Austere Academy
The Ersatz Elevator
The Vile Village
The Hostile Hospital
The Carnivorous Carnival
The Slippery Slope
The Grim Grotto
The Penultimate Peril
The End

Similar Titles:

Harry Potter
The Graveyard Book
The Lightning Thief
Joey Pigza Series

Holes (The Movie)

Plot:

Stanley Yelnats is cursed, all thanks to his no good, pig stealing, great great great grandfather. The movie does an excellent job of depicting a somewhat complicated, yet engaging, story of a young boy that is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shoes fell from the sky, and the next thing Stanley knows he is at Camp Greenlake serving 18 months for stealing. At Camp Greenlake campers are forced to dig holes every day to build character. Soon Stanley begins to understand there is more to the hole digging than than just character building. The story flashes back and forth to Stanley's history, where his great great great grandfather failed to follow through with a promise to a fortune teller and his great great grandfather was then robbed blind by Kissin' Kate the bandit, proving the Yelnats have been cursed ever since. The movie flashes back to the pig stealing, how Kissin' Kate became Kissin' Kate (when Sam, her onion selling lover was killed for kissing her). Somehow everything comes together when Stanley discovers they are digging to uncover something lost by Kissin' Kate Barlow. When Zero, a fellow camper, runs off, Stanley eventually follows him. Stanley in Zero survive in the very same place Stanley's great grandfather survived in the desert, living on onions in the soil that have been growing from Sam's original farm (Kissin' Kate's lover). When Stanley carries Zero up to a stream (mind you, Zero is the descendant of the fortune teller, and Stanley is the descendant of his no good pig stealing grandfather), the curse is broken as Stanley has fulfilled his grandfather's end of the bargain. Stanley and Zero return to the camp and uncover the suitcase the warden (a descendant of Kate) has been looking for right when lawyers show up to save Stanley. Stanley survives an invasion of yellow spotted lizards because yellow spotted lizards hate onions; luckily that is what Stanley and Zero had been surviving on. In the end, the briefcase recovered says "Stanley Yelnats" on it, so the contents belong to him. The curse broken, Stanley and his inventor father become wealthy in the end.


Comparison to book:

The movie is almost EXACTLY the same as the book, making for a lengthy movie. The only real difference is that in the book Stanley is initially described as 'hefty', whereas that storyline doesn't really come about in the movie. However the intricate plot is depicted accurately in the movie. I had to admit, I wasn't sure it could be done.

Review:

The movie is REALLY good. It is completely appropriate, engaging, and heartwarming. I enjoyed the movie as much as the book, which is something I rarely find myself saying. The movie is older, yet the book is still so popular with young readers that the movie can be used to draw in new readers. The movie and book are difficult to book talk or even describe (see above) as the story is so complex. However, it isn't too complex to understand. Just complex enough to make it suspenseful and entertaining. Librarians can use the movie to support the book and vice versa. Tweens will love how accurate the movie is, and also tweens that may have some trouble understanding the book will enjoy having a movie to help them comprehend. I can't say enough about how great the movie, casting, and soundtrack are. They did Holes justice and I can honestly say that if you love the book, you'll love the movie.

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Plot:

Meg and her brother Charles Wallace's father has been missing for over a year. He was working on a top-secret time travel experiment with the government and hasn't been heard from in a year. Charles Wallace, the prescient four year old of the family, is an old soul to say the least. He, his sister Meg, and a boy named Calvin are about to take the trip of a lifetime: through time and space. Charles Wallace befriends some odd neighbors that appear anything but human, and before they know it all three of them are traveling through space via a tesseract (a wrinkle in time that allows quick space/time travel). All three of them end up on a different planet all together, and the neighbors turn out to be creatures from a different place altogether trying to save the children's' father. Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin must battle 'The Dark Thing' on a distant planet alone in order to save their father. But what happens when The Dark Thing gets Charles Wallace, and Meg is the only one who can save him?

Review:

Somehow I made it through middle school without actually reading this book. To be honest, I was put off by the cover and the concept of time travel. Reading it now, I really enjoyed the book. I wish I could book talk it to my 11 year old self, and assure her that it is quite enjoyable despite being a science fiction book. For those who don't enjoy science-fiction, there are plenty of other plot lines and themes to keep you interested. Tessering aside, the budding interest between Meg and Calvin, the loss of one's father, and the love between siblings are powerful stories in the book that rise above the time travel and physics. And for those that enjoy science-fiction... get started! I highly recommend it, and now plan to read the accompanying books.

Reading Level:

10 and up

Similar Titles:
The Phantom Tollbooth
When You Reach Me
Bridge to Terabithia 

Series Information:

The Time Quintet:
Many Waters
A Wind in the Door
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
An Acceptable Time


Character Descriptions:

Meg: Charles Wallace's sister, oldest child, unpopular in school, at an awkward age

Charles Wallace: Youngest sibling, precocious and other-worldly

Calvin: Meg's classmate, seemingly popular yet other-worldly like Charles Wallace

Mrs. Which, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit: These 'ladies' help the children, are later described in the book as Angels

Sea of Monsters

Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Citation:

Riordan, R. (2006). Sea of Monsters. New York : Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children. 


Plot:

Percy was back at home, back in school, and trying to live a normal life despite being the son of Greek sea God Poseidon. However, at the end of the year, this becomes impossible when a team of laestrygonians (cannibalistic cyclops giants) invade his school. On top of that? Percy is told he can't return to camp half-blood because it has been under attack as well (apparently the protection around the camp has been failing). Percy returns to the camp that is under siege with Annabeth, his friend. Percy begins having nightmares about Grover, his satyr friend, and feels pulled to venture out and save him. Percy and Annabeth venture out on a quest that could not only save Grover, but also save camp half blood (by retrieving the golden fleece). Where is Grover? Do they succeed? Read Sea of Monsters to venture out with Percy and find out.

Review:

I think the Percy Jackson series is awesome. The way it ties in modern day life with Greek mythology is amazing. The best part? Students don't have to understand all of the mythology to understand the book. But by reading it, they will be introduced to key myths and historical figures, making their 9th grade reading of The Iliad and The Odyssey much more entertaining. Riordan makes an educational topic entertaining and engaging, which warms the cockles of my English teacher heart.  

Reading Level: 11 and up

Similar Titles: The Lightning Thief, Harry Potter

Character Descriptions:

Percy: Half-God, half-mortal, young Percy Jackson is the twelve year old son of the sea God, Poseidon. Percy shouldn't have been born, as Poseidon was not supposed to sire any more children, and now he must live up to the Gods' standards. In the first novel the twelve-year old Percy must go on a quest to find and return Zeus' master bolt, a large quest for such a young boy. Not to mention, Percy is also trying to save his mother and avoid monsters along the way.

Grover: Grover is a satyr that protects Percy, accompanies him on his journey, and hoped to someday become a 'seeker' such that he can find the God Pan.

Annabeth: Annabeth is Athena's (Greek Goddess of war) daughter. She has family issues with her mortal father and has lived at camp 'half-blood' most of her life. She accompanies Percy on his quest, having always wanted to prove herself in the field. She is strong, cunning, and the reader can't help but hope that she ends up kissing Percy at some point.

Personal Thoughts:  

I can admit it: I totally plan to finish this series when I have time.

Hoot

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen 


Plot: Roy Eberhardt relocates from Florida to Montana and experiences the typical things a new kid has to go through: making friends bullying, missing home. However, the day Roy spots a barefoot kid running past his bus stop, Roy's life takes an interesting turn. He decides to find the boy, nicknamed Mullet Fingers, and befriends him. Roy and Mullet Fingers join forces (in a way) to help save some local burrowing owls from a pancake restaurant chain. Somehow along the way, alligators end up in port-a-potties and a bully ends up naked and tied to a flagpole. But what about the owls? The pancake restaurant is huge, and appears to be moving forward despite the burrowing owls living on the land and being protected. Can Roy and Mullet Fingers beat the pancake house and save the owls? Maybe. But not without massive shenanigans along the way.

Review:

This is a funny adventure tale of a young boy taking on the establishment with the help of some interesting and unexpected friends. The book is super engaging, and is appropriate for younger tweens wanting to read-up. Tweens will immediately like Roy, relating to his struggles with having to move and deal with bullying. Roy outsmarts his bully in the end, and his tale of triumph is one that tweens of all ages will enjoy. 


Reading Level: 11 and up


Similar Titles: Flush, Holes


Character Descriptions:

Roy Eberhardt: The new kid in school who takes up the mission of helping Mullet Fingers save the burrowing owls.

Beatrice Leep: She's big, she plays soccer, and eventually she befriends Roy. But it wasn't easy. She also happens to be related to Mullet Fingers.

Officer Delinko: The police officer, who is trying to become a detective, that bumbled the pancake site investigation initially and became obsessed with solving it.

Curly: The supervisor of the pancake site, always trying to break ground and get started.

Mullet Fingers: The running, shoeless boy devoting his life to avoiding his mother and saving the burrowing owls.

Dana Matherson:The school bully with a penchant for torturing Roy on the bus.

Personal Thoughts:  


I am a huge fan of Hiaasen's adult fiction, so I was really excited to have an excuse to read is YA novels. Hiaasen even integrates some familiar characters and scenes from his other books into his younger novels. They are very characteristic of Hiaasen, with many plot lines coming together to create a hilarious, masterfully crafted tale that is of course set in Florida.