Across the Wide Lonesome Prairie by Kristiana Gregory

The book is about how it would be crossing the prairie in 1847. Babies being born, marriage, death, everything! I would recommend this book for fourth and fifth graders.

I really got into the book and couldn't put it down.

Review by Emily O.

American Chiller, New York Ninja by Johnathon Rand

In the book three children found an ancient mask. They picked it up and went to a halloween party and saw three black ninjas following them. They met a white ninja and told them to bring the mask to the sacred ground. So they went to the sacred groung and met up with the white ninja and he led them in through a white gate. He said "as soon as you place this on the tomb the great war will begin".

I liked the book because it was adventurous. I also like it because I like how they had to get the mask to an ancient tomb.

Review by Andrew V.

Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen

Brian gets stuck on the way to his dad's house because the pilot had a heart attack. Brian is stuck in the woods for a long time, and he learns how to hunt and stuff.

This is a good book because it gives you good descriptions and it makes you feel like you're there.

Review by Paul P.

Chity Chity Bang Bang by Ian Flemings

There is a family named the Pott family. They are very poor until the dad comes up with a new kind of candy. They buy a very old car with the money they got. The dad fixes it up and it can fly! The car flies across the English Channel. You will have to read more to find out what happens when the family comes across the worst villian in the world.

I like this book because it is in the olden times so I can know where people liked to go and what they did. I also really like the black and white pictures and how they leave you in suspence so you have to read more.

Review by David Z.

Chronicles of Narnia Book 3 A Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis

This book is about an adventure that tires you out just by reading it! It is about a talking horse from Narnia and a boy (obviously) traveling many miles to get to the free land, Narnia. They run into many frustrating obstacles. Do they make it? That you will have to find out yourself!

This makes a good book because it is so well written. It feels like you're in that time period. It's as if you're on the journey with them.

Review by Christina B. 

Danger Along the Ohio by Patricia Willils

These kids are traveling and on the way they see some indians, and they are trying to get away from them but the indians keep on getting them. I picked this book because it looked interesting.

It was a good book because it tells about the characters and what happens on their adventure.

Review by Nicole P.

Dude Ranch by Bonnie Bryant

Stevie, Carol, and Lisa are on the adventure of their life when they travel to their friend Kate's dude ranch. They get off to a great start riding western, , having big breakfasts and making new friends. But, when disaster strikes, they hit a bump in the road. All this time, Stevie is upset no one seems to notice her birthday, but what will she do when she finds out her friends are giving her a surprise party?

It's a good adventure with all the details and words you need. It also shows how even characters in books hit the ups and downs in life.

Review by Mara V.

Guardian of Ga'hoole The Capture by Kathryn Lasky

Soren is an owl who lived with his mama and da and his older brother. One night his older brother pushes him out of the tree and gets snatched. Soon he meets Glify and they both go to the Stiaegolius. Soon they find out it is a bad place so they fly away. Soon they meet Twilight and Digger. Then two owls try to capture Digger. Will Digger be ok?

What I liked about the book was that it made you read on.

Review by Corey B.

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

This story is set in the mid-1840's on and around the Mississippi River on a raft. A young boy, Huck, and a slave, Jim, from southern Missouri set out on an adventure for freedom. Huck is running away from a horrible drunken father, and Jim is running from an old widow and Miss Watson, an educator for Huck. They live off the land, sleep during the day and travel during the night, to avoid being noticed. They meet good, caring people and nasty men along the way.

This book was very cleverly written. The author didn't seem to have written this. It seems like the characters did, and they're talking to you along the way. It's like they have more feelings than you sometimes, and make you care for them. Mark Twain wrote the words the way that they sound and sometimes it's hard for them to make sense, but then you can tell what it is. It's funnier that way.

Review by Sarah P.

Kavik the Wolf Dog by Walt Morey

Kavik is a brave dog. He walks two thousand miles to find a boy that is very close to him. Kavik is a wolf. A millionaire takes Kavik home to Seattle. The plane to Seattle crashes.

I picked the book because when I read the summary I liked it. It made me feel happy, sad, and excited.

Review by Lauren C.

Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo

A boy named Michael goes to a school, has a best friend, and a great family. Unfortunately, his parents lost their jobs and Michael's best friend moves away. Michael is struggling to find a happy life. Later on, Michael's dad buys a boat. Michael travels around the world on the boat with his family. Everything was going pretty well. Later, Michael finds his dog standing out on the deck by the edge of the boat. Michael tries to move her away but he can't. The next thing he knows, he's surrounded by blue and green water.

When he wakes up, hel is lying on the sand. One day Michael finds food outside of his cave. Later he figures out it is from an old man named Kensuke. He and Kensuke become friends and do not want to leave each other, but Michael needs to see his family so Kensuke decides he should. What will happen? You'll have to read this book to find out!

It is a good book because the author used a very descriptive and creative choice of words.

Review by Kate C.

A Little Princess by Frances Hodson Burnett

Sara, a beautiful young lady is going to Minchins's select seminary for young ladies while her dad is going to war. Sara has a wonderful imagination. When it was Sara's birthday one of her dad's secretaries came and told Sara horrible news that her dad had died. Sara has no money and has to give all of her belongings away and now is a slave.

The author makes it seem that Sara is a perfect girl, then the worst thing happens.

Review by Sara. P.

The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley

The Mark of Zorro is about the bandit Zorro. Zorro frees women and punishes government people doing illegal things. Meanwhile, Don Diego is looking for a wife. He tries to gain the heart of Senorita Lolita. The problem is that Lolita loves another--Zorro. All through the story, Zorro continues punishing and trying to take down the evil governor. Don Diego is trying to win the senorita's heart. You don't know Zorro's identity until the third to last chapter. I won't give it away.

I think Johnston McCulley is one of the best authors of all time. He develops characters like Don Diego, Zorro and numerous other characters with depth and each with his or her own personality. Though the story has a very detailed plot, it is based on the simple question, Who is Zorro?

Review by Mark A.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

A boy runs away from home with only a few supplies. He lives in the wild and lives on plants and animals. I read this book because a friend said it was good.

The author made the boy do stuff that seemed impossible.

Review by Chris L.

The Orphan Train Adventures by Joan Lowery Nixon

This book is about a 19 year old lady named Frances Kelly. She meets a man named Johnny. He is sick from the war and Frances wants to do the work for him. But he doesn't want her to . So Frances starts to work on the orphan train. She helps everyone find a family except one orphan named Eddie. Frances wants to adopt him but she can't because she is single. Do you think Johnny will marry Frances and adopt Eddie? Read the book and find out.

I liked this book because it had a lot of detail and the story seemed so real.

Review by Alison G.

The Power Dome by Edward Packard

In the beginning Ninia and you go on a hike which is not normal at all! Soon enough you find a dome-shaped thing. Edward really gets you excited by letting you choose how you go on with thirteen different endings.

The author gets you really excited by letting you choose your fate. In a way you feel like a character in the book. I think I would like to try to write a book like this book.

Review by Trevor O.

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

This Medevil war story is between 2 queens, Queen Attolia dn Queen Eddis. Queen Eddis says to her thief, Equenides, secure me a period of peace. When Equenides goes to fulfill his duty as thief, will he suceed in stealing peace, time, a queen and

One thing that Made The Queen of Attolea a good book was when both queens devised strategies to fight against each other.

Review by Aviva S.

Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques

My book is about a squirrel named Rakkety Tam MacBurl and his partner Wild Doogy Plum. As they travel with the long patrol, a group of hares, to try and slay Gulo the Savage, a wolverine who is in search of the infinite power giving walking stone. Gulo also wants to take over Redwall Abbey.

The thing that makes the book good is that the author makes all of the animals come to life.

Review by Avi B.

Ricky Rolitta Giant Robot by Don Rilkey

Ricky was always getting picked on by bullies and other kids. His dad said something big was going to happen. It did, Ricky had a giant robot. Can he stop a monster from destroying the town?

I liked this book because he knows how to catch your attention.

Review by Aaron P.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Robinson Crusoe was on a trip, then a storm made his ship get wrecked. He woke up at a shore of the island. He built himself a house. He finds out ways to get food. Then people went to the island and had a celebration. They had a slave that they were going to kill. Robinson Crusoe shot the guys who were going to kill the slave. Then the slave said he would be Robinson's slave because he saved his life. They become good friends. Will Robinson find his way back to the city?

I like this book because I learned some things about what you could do when you are in the wild. It is also very exciting. I like the author because he gives a lot of detail.

Review by Roel G.

Shredderman Meets the Gecko by Wendelin Van Draanen

This book is about a boy named Nolan and he is a superhero and he has his own web site. His web site talks about crimes in his town. On his birthday, his dad takes him to meet his favorite super hero, Chase. Then the bully at his schools sees Nolan at the set and gets mad. Nolan ends up taking his school bully to meet Chase.

This was a good book because it was different from other books . It has a lot of adventure! Once you start it, you don't want to put the book down!

Review by Samantha D.

A Single Shard mby Linda Sue Park

Tree Ear, an orphan was spying on a potter named Min. Min saw and told him to work for him. After a while of working, he hears about how the royal emissary is coming to Chulpo, Tree Ears's village. To help Min, Tree Ear attempts the journey of a thousand miles.

This book is good because it has 3 pages worht of excitement in every 2 pages. It's also good because Min, the pottery critic, smashes loads of his own pots just because they lack one small thing. For example, the pot didn't have pure celador glaze.

Review by Karl W.

The Sinister Spiders of Saginaw by Jonathon Rand

Leah and her friends look for Leah's dog, Grumpy. Her friend Angela never comes back, so Leah and Conner go looking for her but get caught by giant spiders called Octogores. They find Angela but all are below the city! Soon they learn about arachno-sapiens. The Octogores want to take over the world.

Jonathon seems to make great stories! He can get you worked up on a story and make you want to read more!

Review by Victoria V.

Stay! Keeper's Story by Lois Lowry

"Stay! Keeper's Story" is a sad, funny and adventurous story. It's about a dog who was born in an alley with a wonderful life. Then things happen. This dog is very intelligent and it is written from his point of view. He goes through many adventures and I recommend the book a lot!

It is a good book because it is written from a dogs point of view which makes it hilarious and it is also very detailed.

Review by Megan N.

Strange Spirits of St. Ignace by Jonathon Rand

Kevin's family goes on a camping trip. Kevin and his brother and sister get lost. Spirits tell Kevin he is the one of them. The only way to get back is to fight the bad spirits and win. Do you think the bad or good spirits will win?

I liked this book because the ending of the chapters keeps making you read more. Also I liked it because there was a lot of scary stuff and a lot of adventure.

Review by Colleen C.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Despereaux the mouse likes the princess. When everyone found out that he liked the princess he was sent to the dungeon. He found his way out. When the princess was taken, Despereaux went and saved her.

I liked the book because the author is not just in the story. It has more than one person in the story.

Review by Victoria L.

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

Bobby Phillips is a boy who lives in Chicago, and one night a heating blanket that he was using changes his life. In the morning, he gets up, takes a shower, and looks in the mirror, but he is not there. In the rush to find a way to turn him back into being visible, his parents get into a car crash and he is left alone for three days. But in those three days, he meets a girl named Alicia who tries to help turn him visible. Will they be able to do it or not?

What I think makes this such good book is that the author (Andrew Clements) makes the book Things Not Seen rich with detail. For example, he tells you that Alicia has a sort of dirty blond hair about up to her cheeks. He does a really good job of showing and not telling, and he really just keeps you hanging.

Review by Angela M.

Tucket's Home by Gary Paulsen

Francis Tucket and his adopted family, Billy and Lottie, have survived hair-raising and rip-roaring adventures as they struggle in the west. Francis' goal is to find his family on the Oregon Trail.

If you like interesting stories about life when there were Indians and wagon trains, Oregon trails, and more historical facts, then this is an excellent book for you to read.

Review by Ashley G.

Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale

In Whispering to Witches, Twiggy and Joe, the main character, find themselves mixed up in a sinister chase. The chase includes a potion , a missing page, a pale pink memory, a glamorous woman, two rats, a librarian, and a train. Joe is not a witch, but Twiggy is a novice witch. They are involved in the chase, because the page has a horrible spell on it. That is why it was taken out and that's why the evil glamour puss, Logan Dritch wants it. Will Twiggy and Joe succeed? Read Whispering to Witches to find out.

This book is an excellent book because it is very suspenseful.

Review by Amelia W.

The Wreckers by Iain Lawrence

What made me read this book is that I really like the olden days when there were pirates. This book is about a boy, John, who's ship wrecked and he is stranded in Pendennis and he stays with Simon Mowgan. If you want to find out what happens, read The Wreckers by Iain Lawrence.

It is an interesting book and you can't wait until the next chapter. There are a lot of interesting characters.

Review by Zeke A.