By: Brandon Mull
In Erdas, children have the rare chance to call a spirit animal when they turn 11. This spirit
animal will become their lifelong ally and companion. Suddenly, four children are able to call legendary spirit animals known as the Great Beasts. Two opposing forces want the children to join their side as they prepare for war and other uncertain threats.
Mrs. Senechal says:
I enjoyed this book! There are great descriptions of the wilderness, the animals, and their special relationships. The book is first in a series that I think will be exciting and suspenseful. Also, the book is not too long which makes it a fun read. And, if you like computer games, the book gives you a code so that you can play an online game related to the book and characters!
By: Ann E. Burg
Living a simple life in Haiti, Serafina dreams of becoming a doctor. But she knows that she must first be able to go to school. Her family does not have enough money to buy the school uniform, so Serafina decides to start a garden and sell the vegetables. However, their home is swept away in a terrible flood. The family relocates, starts again, and then an earthquake rocks the land. Will Serafina's dream ever come true?
Mrs. Senechal says:
After two mission trips to Haiti, this book really touched my heart. The author does an excellent job of describing the life that most people in Haiti must live - working hard just to survive. However, the people of Haiti are also full of hope! This book is written in verse which make it easy to read. It also has words from Haitian Creole woven throughout the story. This is a wonderful book - you will enjoy reading about life in another country.
By: Suzanne Selfors
Ben is used to the Los Angeles lifestyle, but he is sent to spend the summer with his Grandpa in the small, rundown town of Buttonville. Within the first day, Ben realizes that things may not be as bad as he had thought. He meets a girl named Pearl, and the two of them discover a very strange veterinarian has moved into the old button factory. The vet claims to be a worm doctor, but before long, Ben and Pearl have discovered a baby dragon and are assigned to catch the escaped sasquatch!
Mrs. Senechal says:
This is the first book in "The Imaginary Veterinary" series, and I am definitely curious enough to want to read more! This book has humor, adventure, and lots of great characters. If you like stories where the author has a great imagination, you will really like this book. Thanks to Justin for recommending it!
By: Charise Mericle Harper
Due to several girls named "Grace" in her class, Grace Stewart gets the nickname "Just Grace". This really bothers her. Add to that an annoying boy in her class, some interesting neighbors, and a missing cat, and you will see why Grace has to be a special kind of problem-solver.
Mrs. Senechal says:
This is a fun book that is not too long and is the first in a series. Fans of books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid will enjoy the illustrations that go with the story. I really enjoyed the main character's creativity and the other unique characters that the author used in the story. Thanks to Ella K. for suggesting this book!
By: Rick Riordan
This series follows Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. The author introduces many new characters but weaves their stories to include the main characters from the original series. One of the biggest challenges is that a Roman group of demigods is discovered - and they consider the Greek demigods their enemies. However, to save the world, these two groups will be forced to work together and trust each other.
Mrs. Senechal says:
I almost enjoyed this series more then the first! I love all the new characters, and I continue to learn a lot about both Greek and Roman mythology. In typical Riordan style, there is plenty of action and suspense. There is one book left in this series - to be released in October 2014 - and I can't wait to read it!
By: Jude Watson
Dan and Amy Cahill have traveled the world to find their family's secret and protect it from being used by many villains. They thought they had finally found peace, but a new villain has stolen the secret serum and has made Dan and Amy the target of a terrible media smear campaign. Once again, Dan and Amy find themselves trying to solve a mystery while running from their enemies.
Mrs. Senechal says:
I continue to love this series! This new twist in the 39 Clues plot is definitely exciting. I like that some of my favorite characters are back and many new characters keep the story interesting. You will like this book if you like action, adventure, mystery, and suspense. I'm looking forward to each upcoming book!
