The Medusa Plot by Gordon Korman January 14, 2012
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Family Fiction, Mystery , 1 comment so far
This is the first book in the new 39 Clues series, Cahills vs. Vespers. Six of Amy and Dan’s relatives and Nellie, their former babysitter and new guardian, have been kidnapped. A mysterious enemy, named Vesper One, won’t release them until Amy and Dan steal a famous painting and deliver it to him. With the help of their cousins, Amy and Dan attempt to steal the painting. Will they be successful? Will anyone get hurt? Will Vesper One release his seven prisoners? Read this nail-biting book to find out!
~Mrs. Carlson~
The Case of the Lost Boy by Dori Hillestad September 20, 2011
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Beginning Chapter Books, Mystery , 4comments
This is the first book in the Buddy Files. The narrator is a dog named Buddy. Actually his name is King until he winds up in the dog pound after his owners disappear. His new owners, a little boy named Connor and his mom, name him Buddy. When Connor disappears, Buddy must solve the case of the lost boy.
To be honest, I did not like this book. Buddy constantly repeats himself, especially when he talks about his favorite food. At first it’s funny, but then it gets annoying. Buddy likes to make lists. At first they’re interesting, but then they become annoying. If you like reading mysteries, I suggest trying Cam Jansen, the A to Z Mysteries, or Jigsaw Jones.
~Mrs. Carlson~
Smells Like Dog by Suzanne Selfors July 18, 2011
Posted by jcarlson in : Adventure, Mystery , add a comment
Do you hate sad dog stories, the ones that make you cry? Well, you can read this book because it is NOT a sad dog story. It is a funny and exciting dog story that contains a mystery. I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down.
Farm boy Homer Pudding wants to be a treasure-hunter like his Uncle Drake who is seeking a very valuable pirate treasure. When Homer’s uncle is supposedly eaten by a gigantic tortoise, Homer inherits a goofy dog that that doesn’t seem to have a sense of smell, a gold coin, and a mystery to solve. Homer must figure out what happened to his uncle. He, along with his sister Gwendolyn and Dog, set off on an adventure to The City where they meet both dangerous and helpful people. The problem is figuring out which ones are the dangerous ones. Will Homer find out the truth about Uncle Drake’s death? Will he find any treasure along the way? Is there anything special about Dog? Read this book to discover the answers!
~Mrs. Carlson~
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell November 6, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Fantasy, Humorous Fiction, Mystery , 1 comment so far
I read about this book on a reading website and decided to borrow it from the public library. I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed it. It’s a combination of mystery, fantasy, and humor.
Emmy tries to be a perfect little girl so her parents will spend more time with her. They are always off traveling to different parts of the world. Meanwhile Miss Barmy, her evil nanny, makes her life miserable. Emmy really needs a friend. Everyone at school ignores her except for the class pet … a rat! Emmy and Rat become involved in a series of adventures which involve talking rodents, secret potions, shrinking kids, and a crazy professor.
If you enjoy books like Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH and The Castle in the Attic, this book may interest you.
~Mrs. Carlson~
Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School - We the Children by Andrem Clements October 24, 2010
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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~
Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe September 17, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Mystery , 3comments
Do you like mysteries? Do you like books you can’t put down? Well then Bunniculu is the book for you. Bunnicula is a mystery about the Monroe family who go to a movie theater where they find Bunnicula. The book is a mystery trying to find out if Bunnicula is a bunny or a vampire. If you want to find out, read this book!
~Kyle, Millridge Fifth Grader~
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~
Thumb and the Bad Guys by Ken Roberts March 6, 2010
Posted by jcarlson in : Mystery , add a comment
This funny story has three mysteries that Thumb and Susan are trying to solve. What’s in the shanty that can only be reached by going behind a waterfall? Why is the new teacher wearing a silly wig and tons of makeup? And what is the big iron ball sitting in Mayor Semanov’s front yard? This book also has an interesting setting, New Aukland (population 143), and some crazy characters like Kirk McKenna, a toothless, bald fisherman who has a disgusting habit of spitting. Put it all together, and it makes one good book!
~Mrs. Carlson~