A fake king, Rhian, has tricked the people of Camelot and taken the throne for himself. Now, he’s sentencing Tedros to death! Agatha barely manages to get out of his clutches, and hides in the School for Good and Evil, but Sophie has fallen into his trap, and must pretend to love him to survive. Sophie and Aggie find secret ways to communicate, and try to return Tedros to the throne before all stories and their friendship is torn apart.

Another amazing book by Jim Benton, You can bet on that follows Jamie and Angeline’s relationship as they face Isabella, and make multiple bets. Jamie complains about homework, ugly clothing, and feeling inferior, which we can all relate to. She and Angeline make a bet that whoever loses at a fair game has to kiss the worst boy in school. On the lips. Jamie really doesn’t want to lose, but what happens if she does?

This is my favorite book out of the series. Sophie is GOOD, so why is the prince of evil proposing to her every day? And, of course, he says that because she kissed him, and it brought him back, that it was true loves kiss. She accepts his proposal, and becomes the queen of evil. But she’s still mad at Agatha. Agatha is hiding out in Galvadon with Tedros, her true love, and prince of Camelot. The two are still best friends, but find themselves on opposite sides of a war. Can they survive this with their relationship intact?

This is a hilarious book, and really relatable to anyone going through the ordeal of middle school. Jamie recounts old memories, like the time she dressed a snowman in her friend Isabella’s mother’s underwear. She also shares funny opinions on matters, and stories about puppies. Combined with amazing drawings, this book by Jim Benton will have you hooked.

Aster and Charlie defeated Mikasi. Now, Charlie made a new friend named April. Trouble is, April is a witch, but she doesn’t know how to control her magic. Aster is finally able to take classes with the witches, but he’s still getting tested differently, so he takes an internship under his grandmother. Together, her and Aster start to drain Mikasi’s bad magic, but it’s taking some time. Now Aster and Charlie have to save April before it’s too late.

Aster is a boy. This is not a problem in itself, but he wants to be a witch. And in his family, girls are witches, and boys are shifters. It’s plain and simple. No exceptions. Aster sneaks around, learning the secrets, and is cast out every time. One day, he goes out, and meets a new friend, Charlie. Later, Aster has to take part in a family ritual where shifters get their animal spirits, and his cousin Sedge is taken in front of his eyes! Together, he and Charlie unearth long buried family secrets, and have to fight an old foe. Can they do it?

Are you a fan of Sonic The Hedgehog and all his awesome friends? Do you like high-speed action adventures? Are you just looking for a good comic book to read while you kick back with an afternoon chili dog? If so, then this is the perfect book for you! The amazing first installment in this action-packed series, writer Ian Flynn wows his readers with the latest escapades of the Blue Blur himself! Set after the story of the new Nintendo Switch release Sonic Forces, the collection follows Sonic as he races around the world following the war with his arch-nemesis Dr. Eggman, who has seemingly disappeared. However, his maniacal machines are still a threat to Green Hill, and Sonic, with his best friends Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, along side Princess Blaze, all must shut them down. Can Sonic solve the mystery that presents itself as events unfold? Featuring pages of magnificent cover art and the debut of a brand new character, this super-powered comic is guaranteed to be a smash hit!

Now that I'm older, I really should be reading at a level closer to that of my peers. However, there's just something about some children's books that draws me to them, and The Popularity Papers definitely has that spark.
Lydia and her best friend Julie are in their last year of elementary school. Lydia's older sister underwent a dramatic change between elementary and middle school, in which she embraced goth fashion, secluded herself from others, and generally became a stranger to them. To avoid becoming like her, Julie and Lydia decide to observe and emulate the "popular" kids in order to get more friends before going into sixth grade.

First off, this book has no clear antagonist. Instead of "the popular kids" and the "nerds" being a black-and-white distinction, its easy to see how all the children in the story are just that - children. For example, popular girl Gretchen has no qualms over calling out another girl's odd and homophobic questioning of Julie's two dads.
I also love the diary-style dialogue in which Julie and Lydia communicate through scribbled notes in the margins, and the art in this story is very unique.
The book embodies a child's curious, scatter-brained nature while still being entertaining and maintaining themes of kindness, authenticity, and finding friends in unexpected places. It's a favorite of mine to re-read, and I highly recommend this book to read with young siblings, to clear the mind between heavier books, or just as a fun, rainy-day read.

I first read this book for a school assignment, but quickly fell in love with the outstanding novel Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. Hatchet is a perfect survival book for nature lovers. Paulsen writes about a boy named Brain Robeson. With parents divorced, and a secret eating him from the inside, Brian’s life is in turmoil; However, his life changes the moment his plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness on a flight to his father’s house. Can Brain survive, or will he succumb to the sheer power of nature? Hatchet is a top notch book and will please any reader.

Before receiving what might have been the strangest gift ever, 12-year-old robot enthusiast Alex's life was already plagued enough with bullies and homework. But when he receives a toy robot from his enigmatic grandfather, along with a note that reads "This one is special," a sequence of supernatural events sets off around Alex, and right before things take a deadly turn, Alex's grandfather appears just in time to save his life...and pack him away in an impromptu snowy trip across Europe. As the two begin to unravel the mysteries behind the robot's magic, Alex finds himself becoming the main target of a group of mysterious assassins who follow his every move in the hopes of possessing his robot, and he is forced to battle villains of both human and robot form as he grapples with the immense, monstrous powers of his seemingly innocent toy.

Monstrous Devices is whimsical and unique, and although it is for middle-school aged children, the author is not afraid to add in some chilling, horror-adjacent plot points throughout the story (this novel literally begins with a murder scene...no more on that). While reading this book, I felt as if I was tagging along with Alex and his grandpa as they outwit the assassins; I could hear the robots the assassins used as weapons whizzing and whirring in their deadly attacks, and I could practically see the landscape this book is set in. The bits of history about robots and magic the author added in was also very intriguing, adding a mythical element to the story.

On the other hand, the ending of the book felt somewhat abrupt for me, and there were a lot of questions I had about the characters and the plot that were left unanswered. The lore behind the robot, and even Alex and his grandpa's own backstories, were a little hard to follow, and I ended up somewhat dissatisfied with the lack of conclusions the author gave. The characterizations of the assassins only left more questions, their motives were very unclear, and their eventual fate did not sit quite right with me. I do, however, know that there is a sequel to this book, and I hope that it will tie together some of the unresolved tensions.

In the end, even though it has its flaws, Monstrous Devices remains a magical and entertaining read that young readers will surely enjoy.

Nazi Germany, 1938, Josef, a Jew, is given the chance to leave on a boat, and it may be his only chance for survival. Cuba, 1994, Isabel must voyage to America on a raft, leaving everything behind. Syria, 2015, when the civil war almost cost Mahmoud his life he has to flee the country. The three children must face many hardships on their treacherous journeys to try and reach salvation. From sharks to bombs it will take every bit of dedication and hope they have. Refugee by Alan Gratz is a masterpiece in historical fiction and a perfect demonstration of the past. The book does a phenomenal job at exploring different perspectives and getting you involved with the characters. This book has great descriptions that easily get you immersed in the story. Refugee is an impeccable novel that everyone should read.

If you liked the Hunger Games, you’ll love this book! The book is set in modern day New York, where we first see a teenager named Gregor, and his little sister Boots. They fall through a portal/hole in their laundry room, and that takes them all way down to the Underland, where everything is different. There are giant animals, like bats, cockroaches, and mice! They meet humans, but they’re different from the surface dwellers. Gregor finds out that he is the “warrior” from a prophecy that the underlanders have had for a long time. He now has to navigate a world of fighting, new perspectives and challenges that no one will predict. This is a great book!

I really loved this book, because I love Greek mythology. Percy is a normal kid… except for his ADHD, and dyslexia… and knack for getting in trouble. Soon, after an attack by his teacher, Mrs. Dodds, who turns into a fury, he figures out why. He’s a demigod, and a child of Poseidon at that! Now, he’s thrust into a world he never asked to be a part of, and he’s making a lot of enemies. On top of that, he was chosen for a quest to return Zeus’ missing lightning bolt. He has to fight mythical monsters, bargain with gods, and attempt to make sure his teammates don’t kill him. Percy Jackson and the lightning thief is a great book for a fan of action, mythology or just straight up adventure!

Sonic The Hedgehog Volume 4: Infection is Sonic-speed thrills from cover to cover! Dr. Eggman is gone for good. A happily retired handyman, he’s a threat no longer — or so everyone thought. Now, a new foe has emerged from the shadows and signs are pointing to the return of the doctor’s dark side. As Eggman’s allies slowly increase in numbers, Sonic must rush to find him again. It won’t be easy, though— the devious doctor and his fiendish friends are cooking up a new superweapon that even Sonic and friends can’t contain!!! Combing Ian Flynn’s story writing skills and the art of Adam Bryce Thomas, Diana Skelly, Tracy Yardley and Jack Lawrence, Sonic The Hedgehog Volume 4: Infection is a real treat!

Sonic is back for more way-past-cool adventures in Ian Flynn’s Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 3: Battle For Angel Island! Neo Metal Sonic, the super-powered steel nemesis, has conquered Angel Island and claimed the Master Emerald as his prize. Now, Sonic, alongside Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow, and the rest of the Resistance fighters, must prepare for the fight of their lives in order to prevent Neo Metal Sonic from reviving Dr. Eggman’s terrifying Empire. As the battle goes on, though, Neo Metal Sonic becomes increasingly stronger. Can Sonic stop the robot’s rampage, or will he succumb to the “perfect version” of himself? With awesome art by Tracy Yardley and Evan Stanley, no Sonic fan will be able to resist Sonic the Hedgehog Volume 3: Battle For Angel Island!

Ready for more exciting adventures? Sonic The Hedgehog Volume 2: The Fate of Dr. Eggman has just that! Since Dr. Eggman’s mysterious disappearance, Sonic has been dashing around the world hunting for him — and whoever is controlling his robot army. But when Sonic, with the help of the Chaotix Detective Agency, finally locates him, he’s in for a big surprise! And that’s not all— Shadow, Sonic’s grim rival, is also hunting for Eggman. While dealing with this problem, Sonic also must uncover the true identity of the Eggman Empire’s new leader. Sonic will have to be at his fastest if the day is going to be saved! Written by Sonic super-enthusiast Ian Flynn and featuring art by Tracy Yardley, Adam Bryce Thomas, and Evan Stanley, along with tons of fantastic cover art, this comic collection is essential for any action lover!

Matilda was one of those books I didn't grow up with. I have no nostalgia for this story, so when I finally got around to listening to the audiobook version, it disappointed me. I know I'm not the intended audience, but what exactly was the lesson being taught here? The main villain was so over the top with her cruelty that I legitimately wondered what Roald Dahl's home life was like when he was growing up. Sure, sticking up for yourself is a great moral, but come on.

I think the biggest issue I had with this book comes down to how they narrated the audiobook. There's the way normal people narrate audiobooks, then there's how people narrate audiobooks for children. The overacting made it difficult to listen to, but not for the reason you'd think. Matilda was such a soft-spoken character that all her lines were whispered. In contrast, all the villainous adults were voiced with shouting. This gave the volume dial on my car whiplash as I kept turning it up to hear what was being said, only to have the narration turn around and blow out my speakers.

As for the plot itself, only one character was likeable. Since everything was from Matilda's point of view, all adults were bumbling buffoons, and all her peers were slobbering idiots. The kind teacher was the only one who gave the precocious child a chance to prove how extremely intelligent she was, but her backstory was so eye-rollingly tragic as to be laughable. Honestly, most of this book felt like I was a witness to child abuse, and that's with its somewhat happy ending.

A too quiet and too loud audiobook about an annoyingly precocious child, I give Matilda 2.0 stars out of 5.

Lockwood & Co. The screaming Staircase is the first book in the Lockwood & Co. series, and I think you will enjoy it.
In this book, ghosts have taken over London. Lockwood & Co. is an agency that helps destroy these ghosts and make London safer for its citizens. The agency contains three agents: Lucy Carlyle, Anthony Lockwood, and George Cubbins. Lockwood and Lucy accidentally set fire to a house on one of their missions and must solve the mystery of the most haunted house in London to pay their debt.
I really like this book, because there is a lot of suspense, and a lot of comedy as well. The story is told in Lucy's perspective, so you really get to discover her inner emotions, and I enjoy that. Lockwood keeps his emotions hidden, but the story really progresses as you discover his backstory. And George is an
amazing comic relief.
Overall, I recommend this book! I hope you like it.

This Reptile Room is a part of a 13 novel series called "A series of Unfortunate events." It’s about the Baudelaire orphans (Violet, Klaus and Sunny) as they live with their reptile-loving relative, Dr. Montgomery. They are trying to outsmart Count Olaf, an evil man trying to steal their fortune while disguised as Uncle Monty’s assistant (Dr. Montgomery, but the orphans call him Uncle Monty). If you enjoy to read mystery books, this book is excellent. I personally don't like books with a slow, boring start because there is nothing that motivates me to keep reading, but the Reptile Room is the complete opposite.

It starts off by stating how Violet, Klaus, and Sunny were orphans because their parents were killed in a house fire which left me having so many questions and made me want to read more. The Baudelaire orphans were put with Count Olaf after the death of their parents, he was an evil man that would do unspeakable things to them and has plans on stealing their fortune they got from their parents. But later, they were sent to live with their distant relative, Dr. Montgomery, but they call him Uncle Monty. Uncle Monty loves reptiles. Uncle Monty plans to take them on a trip to Peru to study snakes. Right when they were experiencing a glance of happiness again, it was shattered. Count Olaf reappears disguised as Uncle Monty's new assistant, Stefano. He is driven by greed and his desire to steal the Baudelaire fortune, he plans to kill Uncle Monty and abduct the orphans. They try to warn Uncle Monty that Stefano is actually Count Olaf but he doesn't believe them and pays the price for it. Despite their best efforts to expose him, the adults around them remain oblivious and the orphans are now forced to continue the struggle against Count Olaf's evil schemes.

Overall, I enjoyed the book very much, and it had great unexpected plots. This book moves at a perfect pace, it doesn't go by too fast but also isn't too slow, there were many new plots and curiosities throughout the book that kept me entertained the whole time. My overall rating for this book was an 8/10, I want to read the following books after this and see what happens to Count Olaf and the Baudelaire orphans.

I very much enjoyed this book. As a person who enjoys learning about Ancient Egypt, and strives to be an Archaeologist and/or Egyptologist this book was amazing! I personally love Rick Riordan as an author. I have read all of his Percy Jackson books. I love how he combines ancient civilizations mythology with modern day civilization. I overall enjoyed the two kids who slowly learned who they were and their powers. I think Sadie is my favorite character, I love her rebellious nature but knows (sometimes) when to reign it in. The book was amazing and takes you on a riveting adventure with Sadie, Carter, and Egypt's gods. I would definitely suggest this to anyone who wishes to revel in both mythology and modern day civilization.

This book was super captivating as it was a search for truth and freedom. Throughout the book, we see the struggles of people in a dying city; the lights are running out, and the food is too. Through these problems, we see the attempts people make to survive, which lead to people stealing food and hiding it for themselves. Luckily two brave kids choose to find the truth and go on a journey to escape the city. When they finally find the light they realize their whole lives they were underground in the dark. A whole world was waiting for them at the top, but because no one was brave enough, they were stuck in their dying city. This book teaches us the importance of curiosity and the importance of hope; without these, people would be left to die in a dying city, never getting the chance to see the light.

Wow, wow, wow, wow. This book is absolutely incredible! Bob Goff takes you through many of his life stories. And wow...he has had such an incredible life! From saving kids from human traffickers to hiking Half Dome in a snowstorm, to flipping his Jeep, his stories are revealing of his zeal and compassion for people and Jesus.
He encaptures what it truly means to live and how to navigate life while praising the Lord. I highly recommend this book because it is one of the most powerful and rewarding books I have ever read!

This book will always have a special place in my heart because it is SO GOOD! This is my second time reading it, and the plot, characters, and theme are rich with strong vocabulary, enticing twists, and lovely friendships.
love how it illustrates the power of a positive mindset and attitude. The story follows a young girl named Pollyanna who recently lost both of her parents. She must live with her aunt, who has a very hard heart.
Throughout the book, we get to follow Pollyanna through her adventures, ups, and downs while navigating life and family. I highly recommend this book as it has everything for a coming-of-age story!

At the start of the book, we are introduced to the character Harry Potter. Harry Potter was an orphan who was adopted by an abusive family. We soon discover that Harry Potter is a wizard and is invited to a school for wizards like himself called Hogwarts. During Harry's time at Hogwarts, he learned more about magic and befriended some of the students attending the school. Throughout Harry's time at Hogwarts, he finds out more about how his biological parents died. I picked this book because it is extremely popular, and I've heard a lot of good things about the book. I enjoyed the world-building the most from this book. This book was fairly predictable for me because I've already seen the movies. This is definitely one of the best books I've read this year.

“The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon” is one of the most interesting books ever written! Bea Uusma Schyffert’s unique scrapbook style presents the story of Michael Collins, the Apollo 11 astronaut who faithfully piloted the spacecraft as his two teammates became the first men on the moon. Perfectly capturing every thought and detail through pictures, infographics, and prose, “The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon” pulls the reader into the story and lets them see it through Collins’ eyes. It even includes notes written by Collins himself. This is by far the best account of the forgotten hero in the history of astronomy.

The book is about a man who lives in a house that keeps his porch and lawn tidy. The man's children used to play in the woods next to the house. When the man's children grow up, he abandons the house. The trees and nature that the man had been battling years ago have taken over the property. The trees eventually lift the house off the ground, keeping the house held up by trees. This book also dives deep into the theme man vs nature very well.

Where The Red Fern Grows is a book about a kid named Billy hunting raccoons with his two hounds. At the start of the book, Billy does a lot of work to save up for the money to buy two coonhounds. When he finally saves up enough money, he goes into the city to buy the two hounds which he names Little Ann and Old Dan. When Billy gets back to his home, he trains the dogs. During training, Billy realizes Dan is brave while Ann is smart. The book features several great adventures and a heartbreaking ending.

Liz Kessler takes an experience her father tells her about when she was a child and writes a powerful and heartbreaking book When the World Was Ours. The book is set in the late 1930s. The book captivates the reader as Kessler starts the story in Vienna with Elsa, Leo, and Max who are the best of friends. Elsa and Leo are Jews. Max is not a Jew. Leo believes that nothing could ever come between the joyful trio. Of course, something does! The Nazis come! The friends will be separated by the decisions their parents make. The reader will empathize with the humiliating and inhuman experiences the children endure. My favorite quote from the book is: “We’re just Jewish…you won't catch it!” I could not put this book down as I was so engaged in the characters and where their lives took them. Did the friends ever find each other again? Did they even want to?

This book is about a wimpy kid whose name is Greg Heffly.
He told Christmas was near and if you made a mistake in first 11 months its not a big deal but if you make a mistake in holiday month you will pay for it.
So Greg needs to be good so Santa can be good to him in return.
He and Rowley decide to be good boys till Christmas Eve. However, all does not go well as planned.
They are accused of vandalizing school property and before any action can be taken, there is a blizzard in the season and the ground is covered in three feet of snow.
This only means that Greg is locked with his family in his house and cannot step out.

Ground Zero is a book about the events of 9/11 in 2001 and war in Afghanistan in present day. Brandon, a nine year old boy, got into trouble at school and had to stay home, but his dad couldn’t let that happen and decided to take him to work at the World Trade Center in New York City. The date was September 11, 2001, while in the buildings two planes came crashing into them and Brandon and his dad were stuck inside the fire burning building. While in present day Afghanistan Reshmina and her family are surrounded by war. Reshmina has big dreams about peace and opportunities for her and her country. Reshmina’s village gets attacked and she finds a wounded American soldier that she decides to help. The soldier named Taz needs her help but she knows if she gets caught she could be in big trouble.
Ground Zero is an amazing book that everyone should read. There were many twists and turns which picked at my emotions. This book was very emotional for me but extremely good. I loved the way it was written with two stories being told with a clever twist that touches the reader.

Reviewer Grade: 8