Josh Baster states he’s the new kid in the “new town, new house, new school. And no player’s guide to give me the tips and tricks I need to make it through the year. This is one game I have to figure out how to beat on my own.” (1)

Josh eats, sleeps, and lives video games. It is not the best way to influence people. On the first day, Josh has a run-in with the top football player Schmittendorf, Josh’s new bully, whom the entire school is counting on to win the big football rivalry game for them.  Bad grades at mid-term  Josh’s mother takes away all of his video games and computer until the end of the quarter. “In every adventure game the character starts out at the bottom. A level-one scrub. No skills, powers, or magic items. And if I want to reach the top, to become the hero who could get the grades, beat the bullies, and maybe even impress the princess, there’s only one way. I have to grind my way through the levels. I need to learn the rulebook, earn the experience points, max out my stats, and level up.

I’ve been playing not to lose. It’s time to play to win.” (35)

This is how Josh acts and reacts to all of his real life situations, by comparing them to how videos games work. What would various video game characters do in this or that situation?  The reference to evolving his math skills to Pokemon, made me chuckle. When Josh takes the advice of one character to stand up to bullies, Josh gets into it verbally with ‘Mittens’, who hits Josh in the head before teachers arrive on the scene. Both Josh and Mittens get detention. This means Mittens won’t being playing in the big football game. When the school looses the football game, the entire school seems to turn against Josh.

On the up side, this middle school holds a Video Game Decathlon as a fund raiser for the class trip each spring.  Josh’s new  student English tutor and her friends (the geeks of this story) want to win this year! Mittens and his video gaming group are able to turn the Video Game Decathlon theme into video sports games, which of course Josh’s new friends know basically nothing about. Josh convinces his new friends, one at a time, to enter the Video Game Decathlon because of his knowledge of sports gaming.  When they win the Video Game Decathlon, Mittens is a gracious loser, a true sport.

The video gaming terms and themes give this book a fresh approach to school life and bullying!

This is the first book in the BOB AND TWEET series. The mob of Bobs are slobs, but one Bob (#7- Dean) is not a slob.The Bobs have been requested to move to a new neighborhood. They do not mind. The fleet of  Tweets are very neat, all but one Tweet (#7- Lou). The Tweets move, too. They move right next to the Bobs. After the Tweets clean, exercise, and do yoga, they decide to bicycle down to the swimming pool to swim 100 laps. After the Bobs finally wake up at noon, they decide to go to the swimming pool with their gear meant for the beach- jet ski and BBQ. The Bobs swamp the Tweets who are swimming laps. An argument arises. During the parents’ argument Lou Tweet meets Dean Bob. They discover they have been deceived by the same realtor as to where to move. Then, life guard Mark combs his hair, puts down his cell phone, divides the pool into two sections, and stops the families’ fighting with the Tweets on the right and the Bobs on the left.

” ‘Phew,’ says Dean Bob. ‘I am glad Mark helped out.

I get really stressed when my Bobs start to shout.’

‘I agree,’ says Lou Tweet. ‘I am glad Mark came through.

Most of all I am happy I got to meet you. ” (67)

Both families leave he pool to continue their opposing life styles, but Dean and Lou promise to see each other again tomorrow.

This story has nine short chapters, told in rhyme. The rhyme and zany illustrations are very reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’ style.

The chapter titles definitely state the main idea for each chapter.

Bright bold colors delight the eye of the reader as they follow two bugs with BIG eyes on their first trip to the beach.

Bitsy Bug and Busy Bug build a big sand castle. Then, a ” Bird Bug swoops down. It lands on the castle…It comes down with a crash.” Bitsy and Busy will build again later, for now, they will play in the water.

All the critters are bugs in this world. The dolphins and birds are bugs having antennae with with red knobs. Cute!

Written in very large font, with three or four lines of text per page.

Russell Freedman brings narrative and historic photos together to give the reader a small taste of what it was like to live in Germany during the time Adolf Hitler’s rise and fall.

Not all Germans were deceived by Adolf Hitler’s promises. Hitler Youth Groups, in economically depressed post-World War I Germany, were pumped full of patriotism and uniforms. They appear to be a cross between high-school pep rallies and boy scouting. At first, Hans Scholl was very eager to be a part of this exciting group. In 1935, his Hitler Youth group took part in the Nazi Party Rally in Nuremberg where over 50,000 youth were present. Hans became “disillusioned by the mass conformity of the Nuremberg rally, the mindless obedience demanded of each participant.”(11) Afterwards, when Hans tried to run his patrol his own way he was taken out of his leadership position. By 1936, Hitler Youth group was mandatory. Other German youth groups were outlawed, most disbanded. Hans became part of the d.j.1.11 (German Boys League – Deutsche Jungendschaft) which had to meet in secret. When the d.j.1.11 met, someone might ask, ”  ‘ What is an Aryan?’… The group would reply in hooting unison” ‘Blond like Hitler!’ – who was dark. ‘Tall like Goebbels!’ – the propaganda minister, who was short. ‘Slender like Goring!’ the Nazi military leader, who was fat.” (14)

Sophie Scholl, Hans’ younger sister, was put under suspicion when she would not give up her Jewish friends.

Both, Hans and Sophie worked their mandatory service to their country in the National Labor Service. Before going onto college. After basic training, Hans was able to study medicine at university during the school year and be an army medic on the Russian Front during his summers off from school. Hans and his student friends wondered how they could help heal people in hospital, when outside the Nazis were killing them. Then in June 1942, Hans and a very small group of his most trusted friends began writing the leaflets – THE WHITE ROSE. A non-violent form of resistance, which eventually had them arrested, jailed, and executed. The supplies for the leaflets were all purchased in small quantities, all over the city, by many different people, so as to not raise suspicion. Then the leaflets were mailed from various post offices in a number of different cities to people throughout Germany.  The first leaflet called for resisting the Nazi regime, the second brought to light the atrocities in occupied territories, the third called the Nazi dictatorship evil and to sabotage things helping the war to continue, the fourth stated Hitler, the Fuhrer,  was all lies, Hell and Satan. It ended saying, ”  ‘ We will not be silent. We are your bad conscience. The White Rose will not leave you in peace.’  ” (46) The fifth leaflet stated the war’s end was near, Hitler will not win, be careful what side you are on. The sixth stated the terrible loss at Stalingrad, “Senselessly and irresponsibly driven” by Hitler.  (57)

Hans and Sophie Scholl were arrested on February 18, 1943. After their trial, where no witnesses were called and no family members were allowed to be present, they were executed by guillotine the same day.

Another White Rose began. Eventually, “British warplanes were dropping White Rose leaflets by the tens of thousands over Germany’s cities and towns.” (82)

There are now numerous streets named after this movement and a museum / memorial at the Munich University.

This book answered so many questions I have often pondered over, but never asked. It is such a relief to know there were German people standing up to Hitler, even though they were ineffective.

This is the first in the series, In Due Time. Strange things are happening in the library at Sands Middle School. Historical figures appear in the library, but the librarian whisks them away. The librarian meets with Matt, Luis, and Grace and shows them a magical book. The three students use the book to travel back in time and have an adventure in 1950s Brooklyn.

This series would appeal to those who have moved on from the Magic Tree House Series, but still want a time traveling adventure book. At the end of the book, the author includes what you would find if you were actually in Brooklyn in the 1950s.

This is number 8 in the Billy Sure Series. Billy and his friend, Manny, are celebrating after selling their rights to their hovercraft invention. Suddenly there is a new inventor in town and that inventor want to bring Manny on as the company CFO. Billy and Manny are trying to save their company by creating a new invention. Billy comes up with an invisibility spray, but so does the competitor. Billy and Manny’s friendship shows throughout the story.

Black and white sketches are interspersed throughout the text. The text is a page turner for those looking for a mystery.

There is a mystery at Odd Street School. The school bell starts to ring at midnight. It rang more than the twelve times that it should have for midnight. It happened again on another night and it is the talk of the school. Who or what is ringing the bell? What is the glowing figure in the bell tower? Agatha and her friends have a mystery to solve.

Told from the point of view of Agatha with an authentic voice. The text is broken up with black and white sketches that add to story. This book would appeal to those looking for a mystery in a short chapter book.

This is number 14 in the Galaxy Zack series. Zack can’t wait for school to end and to go to Camp Stellar on the planet Sylvan with his friend Drake. When they get there Zack and Drake are put in a cabin with two other campers, one of them who is not very nice. Throughout the story, Zack tries to figure out why the other camper is so mean.

This book would appeal to those beginning to read chapter books because the text is easy to read and there are pictures on nearly every page. This story would appeal to those who like space and adventure.

This a picture book biography of Nadia Comaneci, Romanian Olympic gymnast. Nadia was constantly moving – climbing trees and swinging on the branches. She was also fearless. Nadia’s mother signed her up for gymnastics to find a place for her energy. Bela Karolyi spotted her cartwheeling on the playground and Bela and Marta asked her to join their new gymnastic school. The book explains not just her successes but her challenges too. The beautiful illustrations compliment the text. The author also includes a timeline of events at the end of the book.

This is number 17 in the Captain Awesome series. Captain Awesome and his friends just finished watching the new Super Dude movie. On his way home, Captain Awesome sees villains everywhere including his sister, Queen Stinkypants. Captain Awesome has the chance to meet Super Dude, but feels with all of the new and old villains he is seeing may mean that evil is around.

This book would appeal to readers who like superheroes. The language is easy to read and illustrations on almost every page make this appealing to those who are beginning to read chapter books.

Roland Smith takes us to a world we have no experience with, probably do not want any experience with,  and keeps us glued to the pages while he explores that world for us.

This time, Roland takes us into the underground caverns of New York City. Here there are not one but two separate groups of people living in chosen isolation from the world we know above ground. Each group has secret ties to the above ground world. Secret even to the members of their own groups.

Now enters a young man who was born during a lunar eclipse- Cooper. Cooper does not understand why all his life he has been drawn to the dark of night. His parents do not understand it either. Nor does his younger brother, Patrick. When Coop leaves home after finishing high school, his family does not hear from him for months. Then suddenly Coop secretly contacts his brother. Just before Christmas, Coop mysteriously breaks off communication with Pat again. Pat tries to get his parents involved in finding Coop. When that fails, Pat sets out on his own to track down Coop. Little by little the pieces fall into place. Pat finds himself being blindfolded and taken down beneath the streets of New York City. Pat finds where Coop has been, but too late. Coop has moved onto another group living beneath the city. Warnings of how dangerous this other group is does not detour Coop. And so, Pat continues his search for his brother.

Roland hits the emotions involved with being in the dark, your skin will crawl, but you will not be able to put this book down.

Uruguay is part of the Exploring Countries in the Blastoff! Readers Level 5 series by ‘children’s press’.

This is a great way for middle primary students to read for information.  Each page usually contains a photo or part of one from the preceding page and one or two paragraphs of information. Just enough information to grab the students attention without overwhelming them. The contents include: location of Uruguay, wildlife, daily life, going to school, working, playing, food, and holidays. Sprinkled throughout the book are ‘Fun Facts’ (trivia) and ‘Did You Know?’ The last two pages before the glossary and index are “Fast Facts About Uruguay”. Here the reader will find a flag illustration, area, capital city, population, official language, national holidays, religions, major industries, natural resources, manufactured products, and money. Short, sweet and to the point. Just right for third and fourth graders, as well as, fifth graders.

Ten Little Bluebirds is a board book meant for pre-school and kindergarten. The ten little bluebirds cleverly diminish in number from ten to one with each turn of the page. The ten little bluebirds, in fact, diminish because they are cut only once and are fit into holes in page.

“Ten little bluebirds, singing in a tree.

Bright eyes, bright wings, as happy as can be.

Except for one, who wants to stay,

to sing with Mom all through the day.”

AS the reader turns the page, a new and different animal invites the little birds “Hey! Come and play. And one little bird decides to stay.” All is fine until the proofreader missed the mistake on #2 , when “Two little birds decide to stay.” Oops, only one should have stayed to complete the math concept being presented and the stories predictablity factor.

Each verse has a sentence with rhyme, but without practice, on the part of the reader, it does not stand out.

All ten birds are back with their mother at the end of the book for the end of their day.

Preschoolers will enjoy the cut-outs and counting the little birds.

A delightful book about seventeen-year-old Rick Dresner who is spending the summer in Mexico working for friends helping to add to their home in a barrio.  He learns much about living in Mexico, improves his Spanish so he can have real-life conversations, experiences the cultural differences that create some tensions between him and the family, and becomes more understanding of poverty, people crossing the Mexican-U.S. border, how hard the work is, and the differences in hospitality and foods.   This book is excellent to go along with the study of the Spanish language and Mexican culture.

This is the third book in the Gadgets and Gears series by Kersten Hamilton. The series takes place in the early 1900s when idustrialization is booming. In this book, Kersten Hamilton introduces the readers to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whom she fictionalizes as a friend of Aunt Rhodope and to the Sisters of Suffrage.   The story is being told by Noodles, the dachshund,  pet of Walter Kennewickett, aka Wally. (Noodles uses quite a few ‘BIG’ words, but always explains them for the reader, much like in the Lemony Snickett series.) Wally’s parents- Oliver and Calypso are scientists and Wally is a scientist-in-training. The Kennewicketts are inventing gadgets all the time for the betterment of society. Their use of batteries and electricity is new for this time period.

As this book opens, Wally’s parents are taking part in a three country Electromobile Rally in London, England. Wally is helping his Aunt Rhodope photograph the rally when a strange ticking sound is noticed. Aunt Rhodope and Wally, also, notice a poor man in tattered clothes, who later turns out to be known as the villain The Tick-Tock Man. After the rally leaves town ,Wally is informed by a street performer (Dobbin) he’s been watching that the Tick-Tock Man is out to nap him. Wally and Dobbin talk. Later, Dobbin sends Wally a note asking to meet with him. It is a matter of life and death. It turns out Dobbin’s sister, Briney, has a wind-up heart. Dobbin needs to find Tick-Tock to save Briney’s life. Tick-Tock has the keys needed to wind up Briney’s heart to keep her alive (like a Grandfather clock), but Tick-Tock is missing. Wally will help find Tick-Tock because that’s what Kennewicketts do. Wally and Aunt Rhodope enlist the help of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to help solve the whereabouts of Tick-Tock.  Along the way Hamilton adds flavor to the plot using London’s famous thick fog, constables, Scotland Yard, and in this case, wild swine who live in the sewers of London, much like the rats and alligators of other cities urban legends.

Tick-Tock comes to Briney’s aid, for he truly cares for the little girl, but it is too late for his keys to help her. What Briney needs is a bigger, new heart for she has outgrown the one she has. Tick-Tock holds Dobbin to the promise he made in exchange for Tick-Tock’s helping Briney. Dobbin will be required to “be a good man. From this day on…” and with that, Tick-Tock removes his own wind-up heart to save Briney. (114)

In the Epilogue, Oliver and Calypso Kennewickett will take Dobbin and Briney to live with them in America.

Readers should not skip reading the Author’s Note on pages 127-130. Here they will find some interesting information about the real Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

This book is outstanding! The artwork is gorgeous, colorful, and so unique! The story follows a cow (Tina) who has 3 sisters with no imagination. Tina goes exploring and climbs a tree where she meets a dragon who teaches her to fly. Eventually her sisters come looking for her and expand their horizons…literally. The moral of this story is “Yes, Why Not?” Told with a sparsity of words, the reader will come to discover that imaginations and a willingness to try will result in success.
This would be great for story times about dragons, cows, imagination, exploring etc.

If you are looking for a book about how planes work, this book gives only a VERY general overview. It takes a broader approach for a younger audience about air travel in general (including a chapter on airport security). I can’t imagine that students older than third grade or students with knowledge of the Wright brothers or planes would find this book very helpful. Students just beginning to learn about these subjects might, though. For a broad overview of air travel and a younger audience (advanced reader in 2nd or 3rd grade), this is a decent book. Cute illustrations, quiz at the end and a wide array of general info. Some readers may want to go deeper though.

Nicholas O. Time, authors a new series dealing with time travel – In Due Time. In book #2 – Stay a Spell the main characters Jada and her friends Abby and Daniel are students at Sands Middle School. Their school librarian, Ms. Tremt, is very efficient and then some. It seems at times, Ms. Tremt knows what books you need even before you know. This comes into play when Jada goes to the library to check out self-help books to help her with her spelling problem/ bad spelling test grades. Jada can not seem to wrap her logical mind around the rules for spelling English correctly. While in the library, Ms. Tremt recruits Jada to help her. Little does Jada know that time travel will be involved. Jada may bring her two friends, but none of them will ever be allowed to tell anyone about their time travel. The butterfly effect is discussed. The slightest change in the time traveled to can have far reaching implications. Ms. Tremt has Jada, Abby, and Daniel traveling back to Hollywood, CA, 1977, where Jada’s Aunt Katy works in a Hollywood film company’s costume shop. Something goes wrong, they travel back to 1803, instead  meeting Sagawea. The second time, is successful. They meet Aunt Katy. Aunt Katy is very energetic and shows them around the costume department letting them try on various costumes.  A problem arises that could cost Aunt Katy her job.  Jada’s wonderful math skills helps her discover the problem. Jada realizes the problem was caused by a spelling error, which caused the wrong fabric to be ordered. Oh, this causes a butterfly effect. Then, Tim Raveltere appears. He is trying to track down Ms. Tremt. He wants to take away Ms. Tremt’s ability to time travel for his own gain. Jada, Abby, and Daniel follow Tim through time to stop him, where they meet Cleopatra. Jada, Abby, and Daniel escape ancient Egypt going back to their own time thanks to Daniel’s quick thinking.

That is enough time travel for Jada, Abby, and Daniel for the moment. Ms. Tremt works to keep Tim R. at bay. Then, Jada invites Abby, Daniel , and Aunt Katy over to her house on Saturday have to fun dressing and dancing  1970s style.

Story #2 is over. Nicholas O. Time gives the readers some additional background on the three times to which Jada, Abby, and Daniel traveled.

The reader will enjoy the descriptions of sights Jada, Abby, and Daniel are seeing, especially when referenced to their modern counterparts.