Book Reviews & Recommendations

The Very Very Far North

By: Dan Bar-el

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription. This is an adorable animal fantasy.

This book takes place at the north pole with a curious and kind polar bear named Duane. He goes on adventure and finds kind animals along the way. Each animal character has very unique individual characteristics, that are very easy to relate to.

This is a fun animal fantasy for 3rd and 4th graders.

Shark School

By: Davy Ocean

This is an adorable animal fantasy series!

This series is about Harry Hammer, the hammerhead shark. Squid-napped focuses on Harry Hammer's birthday party. Harry's parents make him feel like a little shark in front of his friends! Sad by himself, he goes to shark point and runs into a giant squid chef- who loves hammerhead sharks.

This is a fun animal fantasy for 3rd and 4th graders. The fish puns and jokes in this book made it truly fun to read!

Sauerkraut

By: Kelly Jones

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription. And I wasn't expecting to like this book- But I love it!

HD Schenk loves inventing and creating. To build a computer for the county fair, he goes in his uncle's basement to look for parts. He begins to hear a voice, speaking about cabbage.. In many students' eyes, their families' traditions are out of the ordinary and I think this book shows that they aren't alone.

This is a great funny story about family heritage and traditions, but with a twist. 3rd grade and up would enjoy this silly story.

Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel

By: Kimberly Willis Holt

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription. This book is such a relatable realistic story for students.

Twelve year old Stevie is forced to live with her estranged grandfather in a run down motel. She makes friends with the not so normal neighbors and tenants and they work together to bring color and life to the hotel. This is such a great book about loss, love, and family.

This book is great realistic coming of age story for any girl in 3rd grade and up.

Watch Hollow

By: Gregory Funaro

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription. This book is such a fun magical enchanting story!

This book is about a house with a magical secret: a giant cuckoo clock that does much more than tell time. Animals are hosts in the house that befriend Lucy and Oliver, when their father is hired by a mysterious stranger. The animals and the siblings band together to defeat an evil force in the house that wants the magic the house holds.

This books is great spooky fantasy. Kiddos 3rd-5th grade, that want something mysterious but not too spooky scary, would love this read!

Magic Misfits

By: Neil Patrick Harris

This is an amazing book! This is the beginning of the Magic Misfit series.

A kid, a street magician named Carter teams up with five illusionists. They use teamwork and magic to save their beloved town from greedy crooks. The characters in this story really come together with their different magic skills and it's amazing to see what they accomplish in every book in the series.

Throughout this book, the author gives magic tricks to learn, which is super fun too! This is an excellent read for 3rd grade and up who love magic!

Candy Mafia

By: Lavie Tidhar

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription. This book is a great silly mystery.

In a world where candy is illegal, Nelle is a preteen private detective and assists kids who are underground candy smugglers. When Eddie, a leader of candy lovers, loses his teddy, Nelle is on the case. Nelle has bigger problems, when Eddie goes missing himself. This is such a fun story- to think candy would ever be illegal!

This is a mystery story for 3rd grade and up who love candy and solving puzzles.

Cleo Porter And the Body Electric

By: James Burt

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription. This book is great for students who love science fiction futuristic novels.

Cleo lives in a world of isolation with her family. Food and mail is brought to them through drones. The only outside world she knows is through holograms. Cleo is a student to become a doctor, to help those in need through drones. In this story, Cleo receives a package of medicine for a woman who's dying and needs to get it to her. However she's never left her unit and never gone outside.. until now. This new world in the future truly makes the reader brainstorm and feel scared for Cleo.

This science fiction adventure story is great for a critical thinking 3rd grade and up. Cleo experiences adventures that many students couldn't image.

Malamander

By: Thomas Taylor

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription. This book is great for students who love mysteries or eerie sea creatures!

Herbert Lemon is the lost and founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, on the town Eerie-on-Sea. One day Violet Parma comes in for Herbert's help. She was a lost item- her parents left her at the hotel and she's determined to find them. Once Herbert starts helping her though, he quickly realizes she's being followed by a mysterious man with a hook for a hand.. The town legend of the Malamander- part fish, part human.. becomes less and less likely to be just a legend, when they begin to dig deeper into Violet and the town's history.

Malamander is such an intriguing story because the sea is so deep.. who knows what's down there. Throughout the book, Violet and Herbie's friendship and eagerness to help one another is very heartwarming. Students in grade 3rd and up, who love sea creatures or a fantasy mystery would love it.

The Train to Impossible Places

By: P.G Bell

This was a book donated to the KGES Library and it has quickly become one of my favorites!!

Suzy becomes involved in an adventure of a lifetime, when a train comes roaring through her living room. The Impossible Postal Express is no ordinary train though. It's run by trolls delivering to impossible places. Suzy sneaks onto the train and has to deliver a package to the evil Lady Crepuscula. She opens the package to find a boy trapped in a snow globe and is desperate to help him.

This fantasy adventure story is great for 3rd grade and up. It's a longer story but it quickly draws the reader in.

City Spies

By: James Ponti

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription. This book is a must read for any kiddo interested in spies!

Sara gets into some trouble when she hacks the foster care computer system. However when she's facing time in a juvenile facility, she's confronted by a British Spy in disguise. Sara finds herself joining 5 kids from various parts of the world in training to become a spy! This is an interesting story for any kiddo that's ever been in trouble because it shows how skills can be used in different ways.

This is such a great adventure read for 4th grade and up.

Nevertell

By: Katharine Orton

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription and it's a magical story!

Lina was born in a labor camp in Russia and that's all she's ever known. Lina escapes with her best friend Bogdan and they set off on an adventure through dark forests. They attract attention from a vengeful witch, who commands a shadow wolf army. Lina's story makes the reader truly empathetic but also on the edge of their seat to flip the page.

This story has so many magical twists and turns that really draw the reader in. 4th grade and up who love Fantasy and Adventure, would love this story.

Not As We Know It

By: Tom Avery

Ned and Jamie are twins. They do everything together! They're homeschooled, they explore, and they listen to their grandfather's old stories together. But they are very different. Ned has cystic fibrosis and Jamie can't imagine that some day he'll do all their adventures alone..

One day as they are exploring the beach flotsam after a storm.. they find a creature. One that looks like human with scales, webbed feet and hands.. They keep the creature- Leonard in their garage in a tub and Ned becomes particularly attached to him. Jamie hopes that the sea creature can use his magic to help Ned- like in his grandfather's stories.

This story was a good fantasy story about brothers. However it definitely had moments that were sad. Some students Grades 3+ will be able to relate to the brothers and their relationship.

The Cryptid Catcher

By: Lija Fisher

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription and it's a great adventure with a twist of mythology.

When Clivo Wren's archeologist father passes away, he learns the truth about his father- he was actually a cryptid catcher. His father was known for capturing cryptids such as the chupacabra and big foot! Clivo finds himself on an adventure to find the cryptid that grants immortality so it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

This story is so much fun with all the details about different creatures. 3rd grade and up who love Mythology and Adventure, would love this story.

Brambleheart: A Story About Finding Treasure & the Unexpected Magic of Friendship

By: Henry Cole

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription and it's a enchanting story of friendship!

Twig feels left out in his town of critters. His trial and error in discovering new skills, makes him embarrassed. Twig goes off on an adventure to find himself and when travelling deeper than he has before, he finds a treasure- A dragon egg! This story relates to students that feel left out, but also excites the true dragon lovers!

This story of friendship melts my heart! 3rd grade and up who love Fantasy and Adventure, would love this story.

The House with Chicken Legs

By: Sophie Anderson

This book came from Scholastic. This is one of the strangest books I've read. However the students that I can get into this story.. LOVE IT.

Marinka is a lonely 12 year old, who doesn't have many friends. However it's hard to have friends when your grandmother is Yaga- a guardian leading spirits to the afterlife. Marinka is training to take her place and has a lot of rules in place. When Marinka gets a chance to meet a new friend, she breaks all of her grandmother's rules.. which has devastating consequences.

This fantasy adventure story is definitely strange. The struggles that Marinka goes through is relatable and makes the story truly great for 4th grade and up.

The Way of the Hive: A honey bee's story Graphic Novel

By: Jay Hosler

This Graphic Novel came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription. And what really drew me into this book was that it was a non fiction graphic novel.

We follow Nyuki and his life as a bee from the beginning. Together we learn where the honey comes from and how it's made. This graphic novel really goes into each step and thoroughly explains definitions within the honey bee world, that the reader might not know.

I enjoyed this book so much because it really shows how hardworking bees are and how the world would greatly suffer without them.

This animal fantasy graphic novel has a great deal of nonfiction and I recommend for any 3rd grader and up.

LONG LOST

By: Jacqueline West

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription.

Fiona moves to a strange new place for her sister's skating. The only thing she likes about this new place is the library. She finds a book that she can't put down and soon realizes no one has heard of this book.. not even the librarian.

In the book there's many similarities to her strange little town.. She begins to uncover a lot of the town's history. But does that mean the restless spirits in the book are true too?

This book took me a little bit to get into, but I ended up really enjoying it! Any sibling that has felt left out will really relate to this story. It's a good fantasy mystery for 4th and up.

a nest for celeste

By: Henry Cole

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription and it is so beautifully done!

Celeste is a mouse in the 1800s, looking for a cozy home. Celeste finds her way, meeting characters along the way. The beautiful black and white illustrations tell the story beautifully. Celeste shows the reader glimpses of life in a nineteenth century plantation.

This story warms my heart. It's a great animal fantasy, historical fiction novel with illustrations along the way, that really add to the story. Readers 3rd grade+ will love following Celeste!

The boy who dared

By: Susan Campbell Bartoletti

This book is such a powerful historical nonfiction story- that will always stick out in my mind.

Helmut Hubner is 16 in Nazi Germany. He quickly turns against the Nazis and their beliefs- and starts to hand out pamphlets. Helmut is charged for this crime of treason. This book so enlightening for kids to see how kids were treated during Nazi Germany. Also how people who treated during this time- just for thinking differently.

Any child 3rd grade+ who's interested in war history, would love Helmut's story. It's a story that will always stick with me.

something wicked's in those woods

By: Marissa Montes

This book is a great spooky mystery! This is a great pick for a student who wants a "scary book" but isn't going to give them nightmares.

Javi and his little brother Nico move from Puerto Rico, to a new town with their Titi in California. They struggle to adapt to a life, without their parents, where they're learning a new language and eating different food. Javi starts to worry about Nico's imaginary friend- Hamish, and strange things happening around the house. Could Hamish be a ghost? And is he the only one..

This book really draws the reader in from the beginning of the story. It keeps the reader guessing throughout with the many twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book!

MIDNIGHT AT THE BARCLAY HOTEL

By: Fleur Bradley

This book is a great mystery with a spookiness twist to it! This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription.

JJ's mom gets an all expenses paid getaway to the infamous Barclay hotel. JJ was hoping to hunt for ghosts and he finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery. The owner of the hotel was murdered and his mother and the other guests are suspects. JJ with the help of his friends, Penny and Emma, try to solve the case and prove his mother's innocence.

This is a great book for mystery solvers- that love to put the puzzles together to find out who's the man behind the mask. JJ doesn't always get along with his workaholic mom and a lot of children can relate to him.

Ghost squad

By: Claribel A. Ortega

This book has a very "ghostbuster" vibe to it! And I love that. This book was a little slow at start but once the story really got going, I enjoyed the book.

Lucely is surrounded by her family.. even ghosts of her family! But to her, they're fireflies keeping her safe. When her and her best friend Syd, accidently cast a spell and awaken evil spirits- they fight the haunting head on. Together with Syd's witchy grandmother and her tabby cat, Chunk (who's adorable) try to save St. Augustine.

This is a great book for a 3rd grader and up, who want to read ghost stories- without being too spooked.

A small zombie problem

By: K.G. Campbell

This book came from Junior Library Guild, a library subscription. Though "Zombie" is in the title - this isn't a spooky book, it's more silly than anything. I loved this book!

August Dupont lives a very lonely life with his aunt Hydrangea. Until August meets his aunt Orchid, his cousins, and attends school. However one day on his way home from school, he encounters.. the zombie problem. August discovers that his family has a lot of secrets. This is such a strange, silly story about a zombie and a white alligator.

This book is the first in this funny adventure series, and I can't wait to read the second. The characters in this story are fun to follow along with and the strange situations they encounter are super silly. Grades 3rd and up, who love a silly zombie story, would love this!

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