The Night Gardener

Author: Jonathan Auxier

Genre: Fantasy, Scary stories  

What this book is about: Molly and Kip are abandoned. They have no food, no money, and no home. They need a job - and fast. And it seems like the only job available is in an old English manor. Legends of this terrifying house and its owners are spread through the city like a fire on gasoline. Everyone seems to know one thing or another. But are the rumors true? Molly and Kip have no choice but to find out. And the house isn't nearly as scary as the tree next to it. Everyone in the house thinks the tree is magical. It gives you your heart's desire.  And the mysterious Night Gardener is the one who keeps it alive. The tree and the Gardener are connected by some evil magic. But the tree is trouble. It keeps giving until you depend on it....and then gives you up. And if that isn't scary enough, the Master of the house, the one who inherited it, lost his parents to that tree on a stormy night. And the tree has plans for the people in the house right now...their graves have been dug.


Your opinion:  I don't really like scary stories much, but that's just my opinion. It was a good book though.

Rating:  3 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: If you like scary stories, have we got a book for you!

Reviewed by: ST     

Top five books:         Other good books:
I am Malala               Hook's Revenge
House of Secrets       Absolutely Almost
Rain Reign
Greenglass house
Snicker of Magic

If you haven't read these books, I recommend these!!!!!

Brown Girl Dreaming

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Genre: Nonfiction Poetry

What this book is about: This book is an autobiography of the life of Jacqueline Woodson, but in freestyle poetry. Jacqueline grew up before the Civil Rights Act.

Your opinion: I liked the idea of the book, and the poetry was great, but it wasn't my type. It kind of bored me. Other people could enjoy it better than me.

Rating:  3 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think people who like poetry would like this book, but not people who like action and mystery.

Reviewed by: MT

The Madman of Piney Woods

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis

Genre: Historical Fiction

What this book is about:   Benji lives in Buxton, Canada and the Madman of Piney Woods has always been a legend. Red is from Chatham, and the South Woods Lion Man has always been a tale to scare little children. When a forensics competition brings the two together, they will have to find out what they can do about this Madman, and perhaps save his life.

Your opinion: I thought it was okay, which is surprising because I usually don't like Christopher Paul Curtis books. I liked when the story was told from Red's perspective. I didn't like the parts where Benji was just with his other friends.

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think people who like historical fiction would like this book.

Reviewed by: CM   

Hook's Revenge

Author: Heidi Schulz

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor

What this book is about: Jocelyn Hook is the one and only heir to Captain James Hook. So, she's probably off with her father, sailing on the Jolly Roger and fighting the likes of Peter Pan and Tick Tock Crock, right? WRONG. As of now Jocelyn is attending Eliza Biddlecrumb's Finishing School for Young Ladies. Does she want to be there? No! But one day she receives a letter from the one and only Captain Hook that tells her to avenge his death by killing the beast that finished him off: the evil Tick Tock Crock...

Your opinion: I liked the book. I loved the narrator. I didn't like how at the beginning Jocelyn was a brat.

Rating:  4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think anyone who wants a twist on Peter Pan would like this book.

Reviewed by: CM 

These are my Bookworms Top six:
I Am Malala 5⭐️
House of Secrets 5⭐️
A Snicker of Magic 5⭐️
The Night Gardener 4 1/2⭐️
Rain Reign 4 1/2⭐️
Hook's Revenge 4 1/2⭐

A Snicker of Magic

Author: Natalie Lloyd

Genre: Fantasy, Humor, Mystery

What this book is about: Felicity Pickle's family has moved around all her life. She doesn't feel connected to any place until Midnight Gulch. Legends say that the town used to be magical, until the famous Duel of the Brothers Threadbare. Now there's a snicker of magic in the town, and Felicity wants to bring the magic back to a) make the town happy, and b) so she and her family can finally settle down and call this place home. Follow Felicity on a journey with magic, a boy named Jonah, and lots of ice cream. 

Your opinion:  I loved the book! I loved everything and there was nothing I didn't like.

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think everyone would love this book.    

Reviewed by: CM

These are my Bookworms Top five:
I Am Malala 5⭐️
A Snicker of Magic 5⭐️
House of Secrets 5⭐️
The Night Gardener 4 1/2⭐️
Rain Reign 4 1/2⭐️   

The Riverman

Author: Aaron Starmer

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance

What this book is about: Alastair Cleary is the kid everyone trusts. Fiona Loomis is not your typical girl. She selects Alastair to write her biography. He agrees, but when Fiona starts talking about some strange place called Aquavania and the Riverman, a mysterious person who is stealing kids from Aquavania, Alastair starts to wonder about her sanity. Is Fiona just a crazy, troubled kid, or is the Riverman real?

Your opinion: I liked the book. I liked how it was scary in parts. I didn't like how at the end it kind of turned into a sappy love story.

Rating:  3 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think older kids who are okay with violence, romance, and scary stuff would like this book.

Reviewed by:CM   

These are my Bookworms Top Five:
I Am Malala 5⭐️
House of Secrets 5⭐️
The Night Gardener 4 1/2⭐️
Rain Reign 4 1/2⭐️
The Fourteenth Goldfish 4⭐️"       

Smile

Author: Raina Telgemeier

Genre: Humor, Autobiography and Graphic Novel

What this book is about: "This book is about the author, Raina Telgemeier. It follows her through braces (painful), friends not really being friends (ouch), and an earthquake (eek!).

Your opinion: I really liked the book. I liked everything and there was nothing I didn't like.

Rating:  3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think everyone would like this book.

Reviewed by: CM  

The Fourteenth Goldfish

Author: Jennifer L. Holm

Genre: Humor, Science Fiction

What this book is about: This book is about a girl named Ellie Cruz. She lives with her mother and everything is pretty normal, until one day Ellie's mom comes home with her grandpa. Now, Ellie's mom had just gotten her grandpa from the police, and, what a surprise - Ellie's 76 year old grandpa looks like a teenager! Turns out he had discovered something that made you become young again. The only problem was, since he looked like a teenager, nobody thinks that Grandpa is telling the truth. 

Your opinion: I liked it. I liked how it wasn't all about Ellie's grandpa, it was about her, too. I didn't like how the book didn't have much to do with the title.

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think anyone who likes science and funny things would like this book.

Reviewed by: CM

House of Secrets

Author: Chris Columbus

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor

What this book is about: The book is about three kids: Cordelia, Brendan, and Eleanor. They have just moved into the Kristoff House, when a horrifying....thing, the Wind Witch, completely wrecks it and sends the threesome to a mysterious world. Read the book to find out what happens next!

Your opinion: I LOVED the book! I ❤️ everything! There was nothing I didn't like. These are my top three Bookworms books:
I Am Malala 5⭐️
House of Secrets 5⭐️
Night Gardener 4 1/2 ⭐️

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think everyone would ❤️ this book!!

Reviewed by: CM 

Greenglass House

Author: Kate Milford

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery

What this book is about: The book is about a boy named Milo, who helps his parents run an inn called Greenglass House. It's winter break, so when guests start to come, he is annoyed and curious. But when things start going missing, he and his new friend, Meddy, try to figure out who the criminal is, and what the crook's ulterior motive is.

Your opinion: I liked the book. I really liked the surprise at the end, which I won't say what it is. I didn't like the beginning, it was kind of boring.

Rating:  3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think people who want a mystery with a bit of adventure would like this book.

Reviewed by: CM

What We Found in the Sofa and How It Saved the World

Author: Henry Clark

Genre: Adventure, Humor, Science Fiction 

What this book is about: This book is about three kids who find a rare zucchini-colored crayon that might be able to save the world. They go through a  whirlwind of hard to believe things to piece together a way to save the world. They come across many characters, such as a neighbor (who will be very important later in the story), a seemingly human computer thing, and a crazy collector who will do anything to collect this rare crayon. Will they save the world or fail miserably?

Your opinion: I personally thought the book was my type of book: action and adventure, although, it does seem as if the order of the scenes were a bit misplaced. It was very hard to read until you reread the text multiple times until you might understand.

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I would think futuristic, action type readers. I would recommend this book to 3rd graders and up. It might be a lengthy book, but well worth it.

Reviewed by: OB   

The Fourteenth Goldfish

Author: Jennifer L. Holm

Genre: Science Fiction

What this book is about: Ellie is normal. And so is her life. Until one morning her mom shows up with a teenage boy who claims that he is her grandfather. But that can't be true...can it? Her grandfather is 65. This boy looks about 13. Her grandfather says that using a jellyfish, he reversed the aging process. And Ellie's mother does not really want her father to stay with them whether he's 13 or 65. So life continues. Her grandfather enjoys being 13 again....until he realizes that he will have to go to school. And then even MORE problems come. 

He realizes that when he reversed aging, he forgot that he left the ingredients and the supplies in his lab. And no one will let him in. They think he is just an ordinary teenage kid. Looks like getting the Nobel prize will have to wait. And getting a chapter in the science books that Ellie has. Ellie learns about the science of life. And from what she is hearing, all life must go on. In a circle. Even the laws of motion agree. But her grandfather had gotten so far - will she be able to convince him to stop?

Your opinion: It was a really good book! But again, DO NOT judge a book by its cover. I think that the title and cover deceive people. I think the book should be called something like "The Fountain of Youth" or "The Science of Life."

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think people who like science and realistic fiction would like this.

Reviewed by: ST  

Revolution

Author: Deborah Wiles

Genre: Historical Fiction

What this book is about: "This book is mainly about 2 kids, Sunny and Raymond. The book switches perspectives from his to hers and again and again.... 

    It's the summer of 1964, and Sunny's world is changing. She's a white girl living in Greenwood, Mississippi, and the agitators have arrived. From getting along with her new family, to staying out of gunshot range, there's a lot Sunny will have to adjust to the summer she turns thirteen.

     Raymond is a black 14-year old in Mississippi, and he's tired of ""separate but equal". The Civil Righters have come, and he's joined them. He takes risks, and gets arrested multiple times. There's danger in doing these things with the Civil Righters, but he doesn't care. He wants equal rights, and he wants them now.

Your opinion: I liked the book. I liked the parts where Sunny and Raymond interacted. I didn't like how the facts came in between the story parts, and how it switched character perspectives so many times. 

Rating:  3 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think people who ❤️ historical fiction and books about segregation would like this book.   

Reviewed by: CM  

The Riverman

Author: Aaron Starmer

Genre: Fantasy, Scary

What this book is about: The Riverman steals souls. Fiona knows that. She also knows that no one will believe her "made up" stories of Aquavania, a world where stories begin. Anything you can possibly imagine comes true there. It's your world. You can make friends. You can make airplanes. You can make houses. Anything. A magical water portal takes you to Aquavania. You can stay as long as you want. A man called the Riverman dwells in Aquavania and the solid world, kidnapping children and stealing their minds, their memories, and their souls. Fiona's friend Alistair doesn't believe a word of it. But Fiona's stories become more and more convincing-and Alistair sees an article in the news with proof of a missing child who Fiona claims she knows from Aquavania. But why is she telling Alistair all this? Because she fears that her soul will come into the hands of the Riverman very soon.  But if the Riverman is really real - and this is a big if - Fiona might be in real danger.

Your opinion: I think it was okay, but it was too scary for my taste.

Rating:  3 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think people who like scary stories and fantasy would like this. I think only 4th and up should read this.

Reviewed by: ST