The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

This is the third book of the Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart. This series is a favorite among my fifth grade students, probably because of the delightful characters and the non-stop action. The series is about four extremely gifted children who have been recruited by Mr. Benedict to fight the evil Mr. Curtain and his mind-altering machine, The Whisperer.All of the books contain puzzles which must be solved, and the kids combine talents to find their way out of the many difficulties which they face.
In this third book, many of the mysteries of the entire series are solved and loose plot ends are tied up. The children feel like prisoners in Mr. Benedict's house as they hide from Mr. Curtain's villainous Ten Men,but of course, they eventually leave the house and embark on a daring and dangerous adventure.This was actually my least favorite of all the books, but still worth reading. I love Mr. Stewart's writing style and his sense of humor.

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

Peter saw the fortune-teller's tent, and he fingered the coin that did not really belong to him. However, he had to know the answer to the question: does my sister still live? "She lives," answered the fortune-teller, and followed up this statement with a puzzle: "Follow the elephant." Knowing there were no elephants in the city of Baltese, Peter walks away disappointedly. But hope stirs in his heart when he hears of a fascinating occurrence. An elephant comes crashing through the roof of the opera house, crushing the legs of Madam Lavaughn and surprising the magician who had wanted something spectacular to happen.
Kate DiCamillo's writing style is magical, and I think adults will love this book. It would make a nice family read-aloud. However, I'm not sure all children will enjoy this book, since there are many characters with foreign names to keep track of, and we never fully connect with a character. However, I recommend this book and would love to hear others' opinions.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by Jacqueline Kelly

It is the summer of 1899 and 106 degrees in the sleepy little town of Fentress, Texas. It is also a time of growing up for eleven year old Calpurnia Tate, also know as Callie Vee. When her older brother Harry notices her interest in animals, he gives her a notebook to write down her scientific observations. She begins to spend time each day observing the natural world around her, which leads to questions. When she wonders why some grasshoppers are large and yellow, while others are small and green, this leads her to ask her mysterious scientist grandfather. This begins a wonderful friendship between the two and sparks a secret desire within Callie to become a naturalist.I think all my students would enjoy reading of Callie's adventures at school and home.
Caution: There are some positive comments about Charles Darwin, and each chapter begins with a quote from The Origin of Species (which I'm sure most of the kids will skip anyway.) However, this book does not teach evolution.

The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge

Even though this book was written in 1942, I had never read it until I discovered it at a used book sale this summer. The language Elizabeth Goudge uses drew me in to a fantasy world described in perfect detail.
Thirteen year old Maria Merriwether travels with her governess in Victorian England to Moonacre Manor, the home of her great-uncle Ben. She is delighted with her new home and her perfect tower bedroom with a small door just her size.  But mysteries and secrets abound: Who lays out her wonderful clothes each morning? What kind of dog is Wrolf, and is he ferocious or tame? Who are the Men of the Black Wood and why do they do such evil things? Maria meets many unusual characters and animals in the book, and they all help her fulfill her destiny as the next Moon Princess.
This book will probably not appeal to all children; there is a lot of description and the writing is slightly old-fashioned, but some children and adults may certainly want to try it out. I did read on the internet that a movie has been made from the book, The Secret of Moonacre.

Leepike Ridge, by N.D. Wilson

Eleven-year-old Tom, whose father has been dead three years, overhears a proposal of marriage to his mom. He sneaks out of the house at night to think things over and sees the styrofoam packing from the new refrigerator by the stream. Hmm...will it float? Not only will it float, but he can use it for a raft, and thus begins his adventures. He is swept away to an underground cave, where he meets ...oh, I won't spoil it for you! Let me just say there are treasures, bodies, villains, and a hero involved. Meanwhile, his mother is facing troubles of her own. She also encounters villains and an unlikely hero. This is a very well-written, entertaining book for both boys and girls.
Caution: Quite a bit of violence.

The Year of the Dog, by Grace Lin

This book begins with the Chinese New Year, which Grace celebrates with her Taiwanese-American family. This year was The Year of the Dog, a year which was supposed to be about discovering your purpose in life. Grace decides that she will make this her goal, and she struggles to find where she really fits in. At school she is called Grace, but her family calls her Pacy at home. She celebrates both Chinese and American holidays. The Year of the Dog brings surprises for Grace: a new friend, a writing contest, a science fair, and a first crush. This book is short and easy to read, but is filled with lots of information about the Taiwanese culture. My fifth- graders will identify with Grace's experiences, and they will love the cute illustrations!

Turn Homeward,Hannalee by Patricia Beatty

This book is on the history summer reading list this year, and I think my students will enjoy this exciting book. Hannalee is 12 years old and works in a mill in Roswell, Georgia. When the Yankees come to her town during the Civil War, they round up all the mill hands and send them north to work in the factories there. Hannalee's brother Jem is also sent north, but her pregnant mother is left behind in Roswell. Before Hannalee leaves, she promises her mother that she and Jem will return. In order to accomplish this, she has to escape from the north, disguise herself as a boy, and rescue Jem. They have some exciting adventures as they struggle to survive.
Caution: There is a lot of violence; Hannalee and Jem come upon a battlefield just after a battle, and they also witness a murder.

The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson

Tally is dismayed when her father tells her that she must go to boarding school. World War II is coming, and Tally and her aunts and father live in London. Because the city is in danger of being bombed, children were often sent to the countryside. When Tally reaches Delderton, she finds that it is not an ordinary school. Children are loved by their teachers, do not have to wear uniforms, and science lessons are often nature walks at dawn. Tally soon makes friends and enters into life at the school. When she hears the school is invited to a folk dancing festival in the small country of Bergania, she leads a drive to send a team to the festival, and this is where the real adventure begins. Nazis invade the country while they are there, and they must rescue the prince. This was another wonderful book by Eva Ibbotson, but the reading level may be difficult for some 5th graders.

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson

This has been my favorite of all the children's books I have read this summer! Maia, an orphan girl living at a boarding school in England in 1910, is informed by her lawyer that relatives have been found who are willing to take her in. The catch? They live on the Amazon River in Brazil! She loves adventure and is thrilled at the prospect, but when she arrives, her foster family is not at all what she imagined. They refuse to go outside, and the twin cousins are self-centered and mean. In spite of them, Maia makes friends and manages to have an incredible adventure.

Half Magic by Edgar Eager

After reading Magic or Not, I was interested in reading some of Eager's other books, so I checked out Half Magic. Katherine, Mark, Jane, and Martha are experiencing a boring summer when Jane finds a magic charm. They find out the charm grants half wishes, so in order to get something, you have to wish for twice as much. The fun comes when there are some accidental wishes: "I wish I were home," or "I wish I wasn't here." I love the old-fashioned quality of Eager's books, but I think that today's kids will enjoy them for the humor and the magic. This would be a great read-aloud for a family with younger children.

100 Cupboards, by N.D. Wilson

When Henry's parents are kidnapped by terrorists, Henry goes to live with his aunt, uncle, and three cousins, in Henry, Kansas. He is given the attic bedroom and is surprised one night by thumps on the wall. Plaster begins to fall away from the wall and Henry glimpses two knobs. As he pulls more plaster away, he realizes the knobs are attached to a door. His cousin Henrietta helps him pull more plaster away from the wall, until 99 small cupboards are revealed behind the wall, each with a different appearance. Soon Henry discovers that these cupboards lead to different worlds, but many are locked and too small for him to go through; however, they are not too small for things to come into his room through the cupboards! He and Henrietta embark on a quest to discover the mystery of the cupboards. Lovers of fantasy will enjoy these books. The author has a quirky sense of humor, and some random comments are difficult to understand. I was bothered by Henry's indifference to his parents' situation, but I still enjoyed this book.

Caution: There is some violence and an evil witch, much like Narnia's White Witch. The author is a Christian, and parents may recognize the author as the son of Douglas Wilson, who writes and publishes homeschool classical curriculum.

Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson

It's 1793: George Washington is president, Philadelphia is the temporary capital of the U.S., and a yellow fever epidemic is sweeping through the city. Fourteen-year-old Mattie helps her mother serve in the family's coffeeshop, but when her mother becomes ill, Mattie and her grandfather are urged to flee the city. Mattie and her grandfather get caught up in a struggle to survive, to help other victims, and to make careful decisions about the future. This well-researched book was very riveting, and I was totally caught up in the events of the book.
Caution: This is a book about an epidemic, so of course there's lots of death and descriptions of disease. This is not a book for the squeamish or sensitive reader.

The Mistmantle Chronicles:Urchin of the Riding Stars, by M. I McAllister

If you love fantasy novels such as Lord of the Rings, you will love the Mistmantle Chronicles! I have only read the first book, Urchin of the Riding Stars, but I couldn't put it down! Mistmantle is an enchanted island surrounded by mist and inhabited by squirrels, hedgehogs, moles, and otters. Urchin the squirrel longs to escape the drudgery of life in the forest for a more exciting life in the castle. When the captain of the guard, Crispin, chooses Urchin to be his page, he is filled with joy. His joy quickly turns to despair when Crispin is falsely accused of murdering the young prince and exiled. Urchin quickly gets caught up in events at the castle and tries to prove Crispin's innocence.

Caution: The villain in the story is truly evil; he is ruthless and ambitious and even murders to gain power. He also tries to institute the practice of "culling," which is killing weak or disabled infants. However, the author is a minister's wife, and this good vs. evil story is told from a Christian worldview.

A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park

The orphan Tree-Ear lives under the bridge with a crippled man, Crane-man, and they have to find their food from leavings in the field or from garbage piles. Tree Ear likes to watch the master potter, Min, at work, but one day accidentally breaks a piece of valuable pottery. He has to work for Min for nine days to pay off the debt. It becomes Tree-Ear's ambiton to become an apprentice and eventually a potter himself. When Min entrusts a valuable piece of pottery to Tree-Ear to take to the royal palace, there are many obstacles on his quest. To be honest, when I first saw that this book took place in 12th century Korea, I really didn't think it would be very interesting, but I ended up loving Tree-Ear's loyalty and determination, and I was rooting for him to please Min and finish his quest!

Magic or Not? by Edward Eager

When Laura and her twin brother James move to the country from New York City, a neighbor tells them their new house comes with a wishing well. When Laura wishes for a kitten and finds two by the well the next morning, they begin to wonder if the magic is real or only coincidence. Two new friends, Lydia and Kip, are willing to help them find out! The real magic in this book comes from the friendships they develop with the most unlikely people. I loved Edward Eager's style of writing; he has a great sense of humor. This book was written in 1959, when children were allowed to go off all day on unsupervised adventures, even hitchhiking into town!
Caution: A brief appearance by a ghost (or is it a ghost?)

Me and the Pumpkin Queen, by Marlane Kennedy

When she was six, Mildred and her mom visit the pumpkin festival in their home town of Circleville, Ohio, and gazed in wonder at the giant pumpkins. Her mom speaks of growing her own pumpkins, and after her death, Mildred becomes obsessed with winning the giant pumpkin contest. Growing giant pumpkins requires research, hard work, and a lot of determination, as well as fighting weather, pests, and accidents. It also requires overcoming the ridicule of classmates and Aunt Arlene's meddling. She just wants eleven year old Mildred to be a "normal girl." I think my 5th grade students will love Mildred's sense of humor and won't be able to put down this book until they find out whether Mildred wins the contest!

The Lost Flower Children by Janet Taylor Lisle

Olivia and Nellie's mother has recently died, and now they are sent to live with old Aunt Minty for the summer. Aunt Minty doesn't know much about children, especially the tantrums thrown by the younger sister, Nellie. Or does she? The girls get caught up in solving the mystery of the lost flower children, which they find in an old book on Aunt Minty's shelves. This is a short but sweet book, which I would love to read aloud to some eager listeners!

Jason's Gold by Will Hobbs

"Gold Discovered in Alaska!" screamed the headlines in 1898. Jason, a fifteen year old who has been living on his own, boards the train for his home in Seattle, excited about using his inheritance to finance his trip to the gold fields in Alaska. To his dismay, he finds his brothers have left three days before, and he begins his adventure, seeking not only his brothers but the fortune he hopes to find in gold. This is a great survival story and a well-researched historical novel.

Caution: This is a very realistic look at the Alaskan Gold Rush, and unfortunately, during one part of the trail, the Klondikers killed their horses when they were no longer needed. Jason was appalled at this cruelty to animals, and I am sure many readers will be upset.

Counting on Grace, by Elizabeth Winthrop

I really enjoyed this book about Grace, a twelve year old girl forced to help her family financially by working long hours in the local mill. A concerned teacher helps Grace and her friend Arthur expose the horrible working conditions. This book takes place in 1910 Vermont, and the author based the book on actual photographs taken by a child labor reformer, Lewis Hines. The book contains the actual photographs, and the author's story of her research can be found on her website: http://elizabethwinthrop.com/searchforaddie.html

Caution: Details of one grisly mill accident might make this difficult for sensitive readers.