Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School - We the Children by Andrem Clements October 24, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Mystery , add a comment
As soon a new book by Andrew Clements comes out, I have to read it. He writes realistic fiction, and his characters seem like people that we all know - friends, family, and teachers. This book, however, is different. It’s the first in a series which promises to be filled with adventure and suspense. Benjamin Pratt and his friend Jill want to save their historic school from being torn down to make room for an amusement park. Clues from the past are guiding them while dangerous people are watching them. I can’t wait to read the next book.
~Mrs. Carlson~
A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup September 25, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Humorous Fiction, Mystery , 1 comment so far
There are several reasons why you should read this book. Here are just a few. 1. One of the characters is a one-eyed sock puppet named Steve. 2. It has a time machine. 3. A fourteen year old boy drives a getaway car. 4. Bubblegum is used to escape from the bad guys. 5. The book is filled with suspense, danger, adventure, mystery, humor and a recipe for squash.
If you want to read a very exciting book that will make you laugh, try this one. Be prepared, though, to keep track of all the crazy characters.
The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch September 22, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Humorous Fiction, Mystery , add a comment
I borrowed this book from the public library after reading a recommendation from a student. I’m so glad I read it. The strangely named author, Pseudonymous Bosch, combines mystery, adventure, and humor to create a book that I just couldn’t put down.
Cass and Max-Ernest are on the hunt for a magician who has disappeared. The sneaky villains, Ms. Mauvais and Dr. L, believe Cass and Max-Ernest know the Secret. Sure the kids know about the the Symphony of Smells, a velvet-lined box containing dozens of sparkling vials. They know about the missing magician’s notebook. And they know that they must save young Benjamin Blake before his brains are sucked out of his head. However, do they know why the villains wear white gloves? Do they understand how this experience will change their lives? Do they really know the Secret?
Read this entertaining book to find out the answers to these questions … maybe.
~Mrs. Carlson~
Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix August 16, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Mystery , 4comments
Have you read the series The 39 Clues? In this ten book series, the branches of the Cahill family are competing to become the most powerful people in the world. They have to gather 39 clues to figure out the secret to this power. The underdogs are fourteen-year-old Amy and eleven-year old Dan. In each book, they face great danger but are able to outwit their opponents.
Into the Gauntlet, the final book, just came out. It is filled with action-packed adventure as the branches discover the final clue. Will everyone survive this treacherous competition? Will good overcome evil? Can underdogs Amy and Dan outwit their opponents one more time? Read this exciting book to find out!
To learn more about this very popular series, please check out my online poster at http://jcmill.edu.glogster.com/the-39-clues/.
~Mrs. Carlson~
Trapped by Peg Kehret March 14, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Animal Fiction , 2comments
I have to be honest. I don’t like cats. So I didn’t think I would like this book because one of the main characters is a cat named Pete. Matter of fact, Pete narrates parts of the book. I did like this book, though. It had suspense, adventure, and humor. Pete is very smart and very funny. He reads the dictionary and understands what humans are saying. Too bad they don’t understand him.
In this book, Alex discovers an illegal trap in the woods near his house. Who set the trap? Are there other traps? Why are animals being trapped? Pete knows the answer to these questions, but he can’t get the humans to understand. They need to figure it out because Pete is in great danger. If you like cats, humor, and excitement rolled into one package, try this book.
~Mrs. Carlson~
The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo February 15, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Magic Fiction , 3comments
In this book, ten year old Peter visits a fortuneteller to find out if his sister is still alive. The fortuneteller advises the boy that an elephant will lead him to her. Amazingly, a magician decides to perform his most marvelous trick, resulting in an elephant crashing through the ceiling of the opera house. An interesting series of events involving some odd characters occur after the elephant appears. Will the elephant really lead Peter to his sister?
I liked this book, but I found it to be unusual. Even though it is a sweet story at times, it is also a dark story at times. Some of the characters I did not like, and some I thought were very strange. I wasn’t sure how all the events and characters fit together, but it all made sense by the end.
If you’d like to know more about this book and hear a webcast by Kate DiCamillo, visit The Magician’s Elephant web site at http://www.themagicianselephant.com.
~Mrs. Carlson~
Vidia and the Fairy Crown by Laura Driscoll February 11, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Fantasy , 6comments
Do you like fiction adventure stories? Then this is the book for you. There is an arrival day party for Queen Clarion. Pixie Hollow’s most prized possession has gone missing! The queen’s crown! Vidia, the mean fast-flying fairy, is accused of stealing it. She gets two days to clear her name or she is banned from Pixie Hollow forever. A very nice fairy Frill helps Vidia. They go on a search to find the crown. See if they find it or if Vidia will be banned from Pixie Hollow. This book has 10 chapters and 112 pages. Read this book now!
~Julie, Fourth Grader~
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen January 15, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure , 6comments
Hatchet is a survival book. Brian was only a boy on an airplane. That ride changed his life. His pilot taught him how to fly the plane. Then, all of a sudden, the pilot had a heart attack. Brian had to fly the plane. This is a book about Brian’s adventures with only a hatchet his mom gave him.
~Allie, Fifth Grader~
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman January 12, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Fantasy , 1 comment so far
If you like Norse mythology, this is the perfect book for you. The main character in this book is Odd, and it’s a very odd book. But I liked it! It takes place in ancient Norway. Odd’s life is not going well. His father, a Viking warrior, has been killed. His leg is injured by a falling tree. And his mother marries a dreadful man. To top it all off, winter is not ending. Odd goes to live in the forest and meets up with a bear, a fox, and an eagle. He discovers they can talk. That’s because they are gods from Asgard who have been changed into animals by a Frost Giant. Odd goes on a fantastic journey to Asgard. Can a young boy save Asgard from the Frost Giants and end winter? Read this book by the author of Coraline and The Graveyard Book to find out.
~Mrs. Carlson~
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell January 6, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Podcasts , 7commentsIf you like adventure stories, please listen to this podcast by fifth graders Alex and Miki.
