These book reviews were submitted by children who participated in the library’s 2001 Harry Potter Read-Alikes Summer Book Club.  All children who submitted reviews were entered in a drawing for a Best Buy gift certificate.  The winner selected at random was Brian Lane.

 

BOOK TITLE: The Book of Three

AUTHOR: Lloyd Alexander    

SUMMARY: This book is about a boy who always dreamed of being a warrior, but instead becomes an assistant pig-keeper.  When the pig runs away, he goes after her and starts on a quest that takes him places and introduces him to new friends.  In the end he finds the pig and becomes famous for his deeds along the quest.

THIS BOOK WAS an exciting story     BECAUSE: it mixes evil, good and magic into something readers of all ages would like.

RATING: Really good, but not for everyone

REVIEWED BY:   Brian                                  AGE: 12

 

 

BOOK TITLE: Calling on Dragons

AUTHOR: Patricia C. Wrede

SUMMARY:  This is about a king who’s sword is stolen by wizards.  Many magical characters are involved in the adventure of finding the sword and trying to defeat a wizard. 

THIS BOOK WAS  adventurous     BECAUSE: it is full of magic and unrealistic events that readers would enjoy.

RATING: Really good, but not for everyone

REVIEWED BY: Brian                                    AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: The Castle in the Attic

AUTHOR: Elizabeth Winthrop

SUMMARY: A young boy’s nurse is moving away, but he’s determined to find a way to make her stay.  Before she moves away, she gives the young boy a toy castle with one silver knight.  The boy finds magic in the castle and puts a shrinking spell on his nurse.  He also shrinks and has an adventure with the silver knight to defeat an evil wizard.

THIS BOOK WAS wonderful     BECAUSE: Elizabeth Winthrop wrote this book using a lot of fantasy and  in a way that makes the reader able to see the scenery and story in their mind.

RATING: Really good, but not for everyone

REVIEWED BY:  Katie                                   AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: Clockwork

AUTHOR: Philip Pullman

SUMMARY: This book is about crazy Dr. Kalmenious who creates clocks that are exactly like people.  When Fritz writes a story about the doctor, it all comes true only he doesn’t finish the story.

THIS BOOK WAS good      BECAUSE: it was a mixture of mystery, horror and adventure.  I enjoyed this book but it was short.

RATING: Really good, but not for everyone

REVIEWED BY:  Nicole                                   AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: Dealing with Dragons

AUTHOR: Patricia  Wrede

SUMMARY: This is a story about a princess who is not proper and goes out and becomes a dragon’s princess.  She learns many things about dragons and magic.  In the end, she and some friends stop an evil dragon from becoming king.

THIS BOOK WAS  a great book     BECAUSE: it combines magic and adventure into a story of wizards, witches, magicians and dragons.

RATING: Absolutely  excellent!

REVIEWED BY:  Brian                                    AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: Ella Enchantment

AUTHOR: Gail Carson Levine

SUMMARY: This story is about a girl who is under an obedience spell.  She has to break it or she could be in serious danger!

THIS BOOK WAS  funny     BECAUSE: it was similar to Cinderella, but it had more fantasy creatures and details.

RATING: Absolutely excellent!

REVIEWED BY: Alysa                                    AGE: 10

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: The Enchanted Castle

AUTHOR: E. Nesbit

SUMMARY: This book is about four children, Cathy, Gerald, Jimmy and Mabel, who find a magical ring.  During this adventure, they do a lot of crazy things (such as turn themselves invisible and get what they wish for.)

THIS BOOK WAS good     BECAUSE: it had a lot of magic, it sparked my imagination and it was really funny!

RATING: Absolutely excellent!

REVIEWED BY:  Nicole                                   AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: The Golden Compass

AUTHOR: Philip Pullman

SUMMARY: This book is about a girl who receives a “compass.”  She discovers the secret of the “compass” and that secret takes her on an adventure to defeat and evil lady and save many lives.

THIS BOOK WAS  different     BECAUSE: it combined magic, power, talking animals and adventure all in one book. It was a pretty good book.

RATING:Really good , but not for everyone.

REVIEWED BY:  Brian                                   AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: The Good, the Bad and the Goofy (The Time Warp Trio)

AUTHOR: Jon Scieszka

SUMMARY: The Time Warp Trio gets warped to the wild, wild west.  They get caught in a stampede and have to prove their magicians to the Indians.

THIS BOOK WAS  great and funny     BECAUSE: there is a lot of adventure in it.

RATING: Really good, but not for everyone

 REVIEWED BY:  Tyler                                    AGE: 10

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: Half Magic

AUTHOR: Edward Eager

SUMMARY: This book is about four children, Jane, Mark, Katherine and Martha.  They find a magic coin that grants half of  their wishes.This book lets four kids get an adventure they’ll never forget!

THIS BOOK WAS good     BECAUSE: It lets your imagination run wild!  Also, it is funny.  It kept me reading so I could see what happened next!

RATING: Really good, but not for everyone

REVIEWED BY:   Nicole                                  AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: Howl’s Moving Castle

AUTHOR: Diana Wynne Jones

SUMMARY: This is a story about a girl named Sophie.  An evil witch casts a spell to turn  Sophie into an old woman.  Sophie then joins the wizard Howl into an adventure of unexpected surprises in Sophie’s life.

THIS BOOK WAS  a really good book     BECAUSE: it was a funny mystery with a lot of magic in it.

RATING: Absolutely excellent !

REVIEWED BY:  Nicole                                   AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

AUTHOR: C.S. Lewis

SUMMARY: This book is about four children who find an entirely new world through a magical wardrobe.  The world is called Narnia and is ruled by the evil white witch who has cursed it with eternal winter.  With the help of Aslan, a good lion or god, the children defeat the white witch and bring peace to Narnia.

THIS BOOK WAS  a good book     BECAUSE: the author brought love, fear, courage, hope, despair and bravery all into one amazing story. There is also a lot of magic in this book and I like books with magic and adventure.

RATING: Really good, but not for everyone

REVIEWED BY:  Brian                                   AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: The Not So Jolly Roger (The Time Warp Trio)

AUTHOR: Jon Scieszka

SUMMARY: The Time Warp Trio go to find a buried treasure but end up finding Blackbeard.  The adventures include a fight with the British.

THIS BOOK WAS good      BECAUSE: there is a lot of action in this book.

RATING: Absolutely excellent!

REVIEWED BY:   Jacob                                  AGE: 9

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE:Phantom Tollbooth

AUTHOR: Justen Norton

SUMMARY: This book is about a boy named Miko who is really bored.  He comes home from school and finds a tollbooth which transports him to another world to rescue 2 princesses.

THIS BOOK WAS  good     BECAUSE: it has a lot of action and adventure.

RATING: Absolutely excellent!

REVIEWED BY: Curtis                                    AGE: 11 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: Redwall

AUTHOR: Brian Jacques

SUMMARY: A young mouse warrior goes on a quest to find the past warrior’s history in his home, Redwall Abby.  He must cope with a present war and help defeat Cluney the Scrounge.

THIS BOOK WAS  extremely descriptive and realistic     BECAUSE: Brian Jacques wrote it so it keeps you interested and he also makes it seem so real and clearly defined. The author also adds a bit of humor , making it entertaining, realistic and serious at points. These are the makings of a great book in my opinion!

RATING: Really good, but not for everyone

REVIEWED BY: Katie                                    AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: 2095 (The Time Warp Trio)

AUTHOR: Jon Scieszka

SUMMARY: The Time Warp Trio gets warped to the year 2095 and meet their great-grandaughters .  They have to find the “book”  before they get caught.

THIS BOOK WAS  good    BECAUSE: I like to see what it would be like in the year 2095.

RATING: Absolutely excellent!

REVIEWED BY: Tyler                                    AGE:10

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: The Skull of Truth

AUTHOR: Bruce Coville

SUMMARY: Charlie gets himself into big trouble when he steals the skull of truth from a store.  Now he’s stuck with a talking skull that makes Charlie speak nothing but the truth.  This changes Charlie’s whole life.

THIS BOOK WAS  good    BECAUSE: it’s  a mixture of adventure, a little scary and really funny.

RATING: Absolutely excellent!

REVIEWED BY:  Nicole                                   AGE: 12

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE:  The 13^th Floor

AUTHOR: Sid Fleischman

SUMMARY: Thrilling but scary, a fun filled adventure with Liz and Buddy.  They get a message to go to the 13^th floor and when they get there , they go back 300 years.

THIS BOOK WAS an adventure     BECAUSE: it is scary and thrilling.

RATING: Absolutely excellent!

REVIEWED BY:   Emily                                  AGE: 8

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: Which Witch

AUTHOR: Eva Ibbotson

SUMMARY: A bad wizard wants to be married so he puts out a contest to see who could do the darkest magic.  Bellodama, a white witch, wants to marry him but can’t because she is white.  So, she fakes her tricks.

THIS BOOK WAS  good   BECAUSE: it is funny and adventurous.

RATING: Absolutely excellent!

REVIEWED BY:  Tyler                                   AGE: 10

 

 

 

BOOK TITLE: Your Mother was a Neanderthal

AUTHOR: Jon Scieszka

SUMMARY: This book is a prehistoric adventure where Fred, Sam and Joe think it’s good to show things in the past about the future.

THIS BOOK WAS good     BECAUSE: The author makes you feel that you are right in the book.

RATING: Absolutely excellent!

REVIEWED BY:  Emily                                    AGE: 8