Dear Mom, You’re Ruining My Life by Jean Van Leeuwen

A story about a girl going through lots of things that normal kids go through with their parents.

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

Hope was given to her Aunt Addie when she was a baby. Her Mom could not handle a child. Addie and Hope had traveled a lot and worked at diners. Then at a diner in Wisconsin, Addie marries the owner, G.T., who had leukemia and was running for mayor. Hope was very involved in the campaign and helped G.T. win. I gave the book 5 stars because it was a fast read and some of the things I could relate to. I also liked it because Hope was a smart girl and a good character.

I, Coriander was really good with superb descriptions. However, it was really violent and confusing at some parts.

Blister  by Susan Shreve

This is an awesome book about a lonely girl.

Bernie Magruder and the Bats in the Belfry by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Lacks of detail. I think the author should describe more.

I love this book so much. It is my new favorite book. Ever!

Loch by Paul Zindel

This book is about a fifteen-year-old boy who, when he was 5 years old, claimed to see the Loch Ness Monster.  Ten years later, his father is part of an expedition to look for "dinosaurs" in a Vermont lake. They find some. I loved this book because it is about huge prehistoric carnivores in modern times, with a little romance thrown in.

I rated "Love that Dog" a 4-star because I've never read a book that is a story made up of poetry and now I know I like this type of writing.

The Lightning Thief  by Rick Riordan

Summary: 12-year-old Percy Jackson discovers that Greek mythology isn't really mythology and that the gods truly exist. He also discovers that the reasons monsters chase him endlessly is because his father is one of the most powerful gods. Above all, Zeus's lightning bolt is stolen, and Percy is blamed for the theft. Now, Percy has to find the real thief of the lightning bolt, go to the Underworld to confront Hades and get his mom back, and return the bolt to Zeus or risk causing a divine war. Meanwhile he has to deal with a troubling prophecy that warns him of betrayal by a friend. Rating explanation: I gave this book five stars because it has a lot of vivid detail and the author did an excellent job of incorporating humor.

"The Agony of Alice" is an interesting book about a girl going through her teenage years. She experiences the typical teenage emotions. This was a great book to read right before adolescence starts.

"Among the HIdden" was a very inspiring piece of writing. It made me feel like I was actually there in the book, with emotions going wild like what will happen next. It was a real page-turner! I really LOVED it!

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

"Artemis Fowl" was an interesting story about Fairies (mystical creatures) and their relationship with humans. I didn't enjoy this book. I thought it was confusing at parts and didn't have a great story line. I also didn't like some characters, such as Artemis Fowl; he was rude and cruel. I thought that some characters didn't have a purpose in the story. But it did teach me a lesson: no matter how mean a person is to you, you shouldn't be mean back.

"Stone Fox" was a great book about a boy and his loving relationship with his dogs.

"The Penderwicks" is an interesting tale about four sisters and a young boy. These children will learn a lesson about friendship and kindness and have a journey that will last a lifetime.