The Witch's Boy

Author: Kelly Barnhill


Genre: Adventure, Magic, Fantasy

What this book is about: When Ned and his identical twin brother fall off their raft into the pulling waters of a river, only Ned survives. The villagers say that the wrong boy lived, but there is still part of his brother inside of him because Ned's mother, a witch, placed his brother's soul inside Ned's heart. After the incident in the river, Ned grows up slowly and weak while not having any voice interaction with anyone even his family. On the other side of the forest is a girl named Aine, who is the daughter of the Bandit King. Aine's mother was a strong woman, but after she passed, her last words haunt Aine, " the wrong boy will save your life, and you will save his." When their paths intersect, they have to trust each other to stop the war that is about to erupt. Will they be able to work together and trust each other or will they fall short?

Your opinion: I loved how this book showed how Ned made it through the hard times and kept continuing on his mission. I also loved how Aine acted so maturely, while her Bandit King father was focusing more and more on thievery, crime, and the magic that tangled his heart while he is losing focus on his daughter. The one thing I didn't like was how the author gave many details about each thing Ned, Aine, or the other characters did, because I felt as if it was getting more annoying than helping the story.

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think readers that like reading about adventure, friendship, and family bonding would like this book as well as readers who like magic. I will rate this book for 4th graders and up because of the words that they use in the book and some violence.

Reviewed by: OB   

Curiosity

Author: Gary Blackwood


Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction 

What this book is about: A boy named Rufus loses his father to debtor's prison and is secretly living in their home without paying rent while playing chess. Even at an early age Rufus was amazed by chess. He reads books about famous chess players and seems to effortlessly checkmate his opponents. Someone does see Rufus' talent. He gets hired to work as a chess playing automaton called the Turk. He has to keep his job a secret because the automaton is supposed to be all machine, but it's actually part human-operated. While he's making the Turk beat the townfolk - good and bad - in chess, he gets an average shelter with also average food. He shares his "bedroom" with a French worker named Jacques who has a peg leg for a foot. While Rufus is doing his thing, Jacques refines the other automatons of their traveling show. Rufus is lonely because he is not allowed to go out without an adult, and the only adults there are Jacques, who is always busy, the head boss, who is mean and strict, and lastly, there is Maelzel, who pops in and out. He does find a friend, but she may only be trying to pry the secrets of the Turk out of him. While stunning crowds, he finds bloodstains and an earring in the Turk which makes him wonder about the previous operators of the Turk, and the true meaning of what he is doing. Blackwood writes a suspenseful thriller of a 12-year old chess prodigy's adventures.

Your opinion: I thought that he book was the perfect amount of suspense and adventure at the same time. I personally love suspense books and this one is one of my favorites, but I did not like how the story ended. One thing I also liked about Blackwood's story was that it mixed in famous people from history, like Edgar Allen Poe.

Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think suspense, adventure, and historical fiction readers would love this book. I think 3rd grade and up should read this book, maybe 2nd graders if they can understand the words and not get scared by the plot.

Reviewed by: OB

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⭐️