By: Matthew J. Kirby
This story is set in the late 1800's when many immigrants were arriving in the northeastern
United States. Three characters, Hannah, Giuseppe, and Frederick have had difficult circumstances even though they are young. As their paths cross, they realize that they can all help each other meet their goals. Their adventures include, a clockwork automaton, finding a treasure, and outsmarting adults who seek to harm them.
Mrs. Senechal says:
Each of the character's stories will draw you in! Then, I love how the author ties their stories together in unique ways. There are some realistic descriptions of how difficult life was for orphans or children who had to work to support their families. I like the friendship that develops and how the children learn to trust in the adults who care for them.
By: Ally Carter
Cammie's mom is the head of the all-girls school she attends. This presents some challenges,
but those are minor compared to the classes she takes at this secret school for spies. Cammie also finds that all her training has not prepared her for her first crush - a regular guy named Josh. Cammie and her friends use many spy tactics to find out his background and help Cammie get to know him.
Mrs. Senechal
This was a really fun book! I am looking forward to reading more books in the "Gallaghar Girls" series. I especially enjoyed all the spy strategies the girls used to do normal activities. I think readers who like Nancy Drew will definitely enjoy this book, too. Thanks to my sister, Katie, for recommending this book!
By: Tony Abbott
Tom is a typical seventh grader who enjoys comic books and cool cars. As school starts, his
class gains a new student - Jessica, a girl who has severe burns from surviving a fire. Tom and his classmates aren't sure what to say or do, because Jessica looks so different. When Tom's teacher asks him to drop off some homework for her, he gets a chance to get to know Jessica.
Mrs. Senechal says:
This book was hard to read because you never want to think of someone suffering, like Jessica did. However, I think the story is a great reminder that we cannot decide how to treat people just based on their looks. The author realisticly described Tom's thoughts and feelings, and I liked how the story developed.
By: David Baldacci
This book ends the Cahills v. Vespers series of The 39 Clues. Amy and Dan have desperately traveled the globe trying to meet the demands of the evil "Vesper One" who is holding members of their family as hostages. Now, Amy and Dan must stop him from using his Doomsday Device which could destroy the entire world.
Mrs. Senechal says:
I really liked how this book tied together many different aspects of the series. The author did a great job of bringing back characters from previous books. And, as I would expect, the story was filled with non-stop action and suspense! There were some surprises, but I thought the end was very fitting.
