Shiloh
Reviewed by Sophia C.
"Woof, woof! Come here boy!" Have you ever heard that sound before? Well, the book Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is full of it! An eleven-year-old boy named Marty, who lives in Friendly, West Virginia, learns how to persevere to get animals and how to care for them once he gets one. Judd Travers is a horrible guy who keeps hunting dogs and doesn't treat them right. Marty falls in love with Shiloh, one of Judd's dogs, the first minute he sees him. He tries to keep him, but a German Sheppard attacks the poor animal. Will Marty be able to get Shiloh somehow? What will happen to Shiloh? Shiloh, published by Aladdin Fiction, would be a great book for you because I really enjoyed it. You may want to be eight years old up to thirteen years old to enjoy this book. At local bookstores it's about ten dollars.


Because of Winn-Dixie
Reviewed by James B.
Have you ever been new in your neighborhood? Well Opal has in Because of Winn-Dixie. When Opal moves to Naomi, Florida and tries to fit in and make friends, her dad sends her to the Winn-Dixie grocery store to pick up some food. She comes back with a dog she names Winn-Dixie. He smiles a lot and helps her make new friends. Still searching for her mother, she bonds with her friends. Will Opal ever see her mother again or will she have to live without her? This hope-filled book has a great deal of friendship. When Winn-Dixie is missing, Opal's friend Gloria tells her, "There ain't no way you can hold onto something that wants to go." This theme is a good lesson for all people including the character Opal. Will Opal ever see her dog again? Find out in Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, published by Scholastic for ages 9-12. This book is only $6.99.


A Dog's Life: the Autobiography of a Stray
Reviewed by Maddie M.
Tragedies, deaths, and the will to survive are all a part of A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin. It is a great book about a stray dog, Squirrel, and her hardships as a stray. Once her brother is taken, she won't have a hunting partner. Much less, she won't have a friend. As she gets older, the winters become more of a challenge. Sometimes abused, sometimes forgotten, Squirrel has many memories, most bad, but some good. If you like tragic adventures, this would be the book for you. On the hardest winter of all, will Squirrel survive? When the winter is almost unbearable, can Squirrel make it? Will she find an owner in time? Read the fantastic book A Dog's Life. Not recommended for children under 7 years old, for the fear of them not understanding. However, 10 to 12-year-olds would enjoy A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin, published by Scholastic Press, New York. A paperback book costs $5.00.


The Society of Super Secret Heroes: The Cape Rescue Great
Reviewed by Vivien M.
Have you ever wanted to do something that seems impossible? If you have, then you're like Finch. Finch is a boy who wants to be a superhero. The only thing that he has is an old cape. Then the cape starts talking! Finch and his buddies think this might be their chance to become heroes. When the cape goes missing, everybody in the SSSh club suspects Thorn and Bud, the bullies of the school, of taking it. Are they right? What would happen if Thorn or Bud got ahold of it? If Thorn and Bud don't have the cape, then who does? You'll have to read The Society of Super Secret Heroes: The Great Cape Rescue by Phillis Shalant to find out. Hardback books cost $12.92. It is published by Dutton Books. This book is not for children under the age of 8 for fear of not understanding. Good ages for this book are ages 8 to adult.


Gabriel's Horses
Reviewed by Caitlin K.
Are you amazed by the Civil War and how people were slaves? If you are, this fantastic book Gabriel's Horses by Alison Hart is the perfect book for you! In the year of 1864 in Kentucky, a slave boy named Gabriel caring for Master Glie's horses wants to be a free jockey. But Gabriel's brave father enlists to get money for his family’s freedom and a new person comes to be in charge of the horses. His name is Newcastle and he has a jockey that might race Master Glie's horses! It is also the time of the Civil War! Will the Civil war stop Gabriel from being a free jockey or will Newcastle's jockey take his place? This book is important because it is based on one of the biggest wars in U. S. history. I would recommend this book to children ages 9-14. It is published by Peachtree Publishers of Georgia. The hardback book costs $14.95.


Punished
Reviewed by Gerard S.
Have you ever been punished? Well Logan has in the Hoosier nominee, Punished, by David Lubar. Logan and his friend, Benedict, go to the library to do a report for school. Logan runs into this man while playing a game of tag. The man punishes Logan for playing in the library. Now Logan keeps saying puns. The puns get out of control, so Logan goes to the man for help. The man gives Logan three quests that have to do with oxymorons, anagrams, and palindromes. If he finishes the quests, then he will be free of puns unless he wants to say them, but if he doesn’t finish, he will be stuck with saying puns forever. The theme I chose, of many, is do not run in the library.

If you like when words are being used smartly you will enjoy this book. I recommend this book for 7-12 year-olds. It costs $4.99 for paperback and $9.97 for hardback. Darby Creek Publishing publishes it.


The Lemonade War
Reviewed by Heather M.
Have you ever had a fight before, one that couldn't be solved? Well, that's exactly what happens in The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies. When Evan, a determined and shrewd boy, figures out that his smart, sneaky, and resolute little sister, Jesse is skipping a grade and coming into the same class as he is, he flips! And when Jesse wants to have a lemonade stand, Evan starts yelling over nothing. Then . . . it's Jesse vs. Evan! In a few minutes, it's the lemonade war. Will they ever be the same again?

This story is set in summer, present time U.S.A. I think it's appropriate for children ages 5-12, because the theme is most likely: fighting gets you nowhere. I think it's one of my favorite books. The paperback price is $5.99. The Houghton Mifflin Company published it in 2007.


The School Story
Reviewed by Abby M.
In The School Story by Andrew Clements, Natalie Nelson wants to publish her book. Zoe, Natalie's friend, encourages her, but Natalie isn't sure it's good enough. Natalie's mother, Hannah Nelson, is an editor in New York, and Natalie would like it if her mother could edit the story. Natalie wants her mother's honest opinion about it, like one she would give to a real author. Natalie gets the idea that she could use a pen name, and be known as Cassandra Day, the author. The editor in chief, Letha Springfield, feels that she should be the one to read "Cassandra's" book instead of Natalie’s mother. Will their plan work? Will Natalie publish her book? Read to find out!

Scholastic Inc. publishes The School Story. It's $3.99. You can find it at local bookstores, and it's appropriate for ages 8-11. The School Story is a great book for you or your child, because it teaches people to believe in yourself, even if your goals seem impossible.