The Tale of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

Synopsis: Emily Windsnap has always lived on a houseboat on the water, but never learned to swim. As she reaches her twelfth year, Emily convinces her mother to let her take swimming lessons. When she does, Emily discovers great joy - and terror. She's extraordinarily good at swimming, but her legs lock together and she is unable to move them. Although terrified to go back into the water, she wants to know what happened, so she sneaks out at night and tries to swim again. Her legs lock up again, but this time, she learns why - in the water, Emily becomes a mermaid! Suddenly, a whole world opens up to Emily complete with merpeople, shipwrecks, and even the real fate of her long-lost father.

Assessment: It is probably few girls who have not dreamed of being a mermaid. Here in Emily, our dreams can swim freely! Kessler does a good job describing the confusion and exhileration Emily feels at learning her true identity, as well as introducing us to new friends, merpeople culture, and school. The mystery of what indeed happened to her father keeps the story moving briskly, although I didn't find the means of how Emily's mother was tricked into forgetting her former life very believable. Still, it ends happily and wondering what will happen next to Emily, her family, and her new friends.

The Time Thief by Linda Buckley-Archer

Synopsis: Time collides when the Tar Man, the villain of the 18th century has come into the modern age, while Kate and Peter's father disappear back in time to try to find Peter. While in modern London, the Tar Man learns to adapt his skills for his profit. Back in the 18th century, Kate and Mr. Schock scour London to try to find Peter - only to discover that they haven't gone far enough and Peter is now a grown man.

Assessment: Make no mistake, Linda Buckley-Archer is a talented storyteller, adept at weaving emotion and excitement into her stories, and packing them with fascinating details of the 18th century. However, this book doesn't live up to the excitement of The Time Travelers. For one, while the idea of a rogue as villainous as the Tar Man wreaking havoc in modern London tugs at the imagination, his havoc on the modern area doesn't really pan out. His profits come from stealing art. Not terribly exciting. Furthermore, it you were a fan of young Peter, and especially Giddeon, you barely see them until the last few chapters. The book is action packed and exciting, but doesn't quite live up to the first one. I hope the final book in the series re-ignites the excitement of the first story.

Changeling by Delia Sherman

Summary: 12 year old Neef is a changeling, a human child stolen by the fairies of Central Park to live among them. She has always lived in the world of "Between New York" a world that only the fairies know about. One night she breaks the greatest taboo and joins in the Midsummer Dance. Her punishment: to be devoured by the Wild Hunt - unless she can get three magical items to appease the Green Lady. And thus Neef sets off on her greatest journey into the fairy realm of New York City.

Assessment: Even if your not that fond of fairies, (though I admit I am), this is a fun read. Sherman has managed to create a contemporary city landscape where the beings of old stories come alive in the modern world, including a tough mermaid of the harbor, and my personal favorite, the dragon of Wall Street, with his human assistant Dow Jones. There's a little bit of everything thrown in from vampires to Japanese tengu, and Neef's inability to be surprised by anything and ability to keep her wits makes this book a great page turner.

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer

Synopsis: It is the year 2194. 13 year old Tendai, along with his younger sister Rita, and little brother Kuda, decide to leave the sheltered compound of their home and explore the city to earn a Scout badge. Almost immediately, they are taken prisoner by a monstrous woman known as the She Elephant and forced to work in a plastics mine. Their beleaguered parents, General Matsika and his wife, decide to hire the only detectives in Zimbabwe, three odd figures with hypersensitive senses known as the Ear, the Eye, and the Arm.

Assessment: What I loved most about this book was Farmer's ability to combine traditional African culture and mythology into a futuristic fantasy book. The characters are just as deep, interesting, and fun as they adventure they all undertake. The non-stop action will have you glued until the end. A wonderful read!

The Time Travelers by Linda Buckley-Archer

Synopsis: It's already shaping up to be a terrible day for Peter Schock when his father has to cancel their grand day out together and instead he has to spend the day with Kate Dyer and her family. When her father shows the children a new anti-gravity machine, it somehow transport Peter and Kate back to 1763. Although they are fortunate to have been befriended by the kindly Gideon Seymour, they discover that their machine, and their only hopes of returning home, has been stolen by a cunning and dastardly fellow known as the Tar Man.

Assessment: With loads of fun, excitement, and details, this book will pull you in from the start. The front of the book says it's for kids who love Harry Potter. This is one of the few times that I actually agree with this comparison. The action is so fast-paced that will want you to keep reading, and the story combines elements of modern and old England with enough science fiction to satisfy every reader. What I especially loved were the details about life in 1673 including the lack of hygiene, methods of transportation, and manners of speaking. I thoroughly enjoyed it all.
This is the first book in a trilogy that does not come to it's conclusion with the first story. I highly look forward to reading the second book and hope to soon.

Spotlight on Richard Peck

The Ghost Belonged to Me Summary: Alexander is having a hard enough time being a normal boy in school without his strange neighbor Blossom Culp trying to scare him by telling him his barn is haunted. One night, thinking Blossom is trying to spook him again, Alex goes into the barn and discovers a strange girl in wet clothes with a little dog. When the mysterious girl helps prevent a tragedy from occurring, suddenly everyone far and wide wants to see Alex and his ghost. Now Alex and Blossom must avoid the press and other gawkers in order to grant the girl's one request - a proper burial with her family in New Orleans.


Ghosts I Have Been Summary: When poor Blossom Culp saves the richest girl in town, Letty Shambaugh, from being beaten up, she is rewarded with new clothes and a visit to the Shambaugh home. Only problem is that Letty doesn't want spunky Blossom there. To make her visit more interesting, Blossom pretends to have ESP. But what turns out to be a prank actually unleashes Blossom's real psychic powers. Soon she is able to prevent a boy from getting run over by a motor car, a false medium from swindling the town, and even help a kindly old woman with her ghost problem. But things take a turn when Blossom travels, for a moment, into the past on board the Titanic. And there, she learns the terrible truth about a family everyone had once thought were heroes.

The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp Summary: Blossom is starting out her first year of high school on bad footing. Everyone knows about her psychic powers, but everyone feels she's just lying or is crazy. Never one to worry about what other people think, Blossom agrees to be part of the school Halloween Haunted House as a fortune teller. However, when she goes with Alexander to take a look at the house to be used, she is suddenly transported, not back in time, but to the future. It's a very strange future where people used strange glowing boxes, grown girls wear their skirts short, and even worse, everything she knows and loves about her beloved Bluff City is gone.

Assessment: Without a doubt, Richard Peck is one of the finest writers for children of our day. Typically, he writes historical novels set at the turn of the century, and a few set just before or during World War II, with marvelous details, particularly about the automobiles, Hoosier speech, and way of life is quiet towns, typically in Indiana. However, I was glad to come across these novels because now I could find a reason to include Richard Peck on my blog. Don't expect a lot of suspenseful action; instead, expect rich and wonderful humor such as a great Halloween prank against mischievous boys who want to overturn an outhouse and are instead scared out of their wits by a made-up Blossom. I hope these books will also lead readers to Peck's other wonderful novels.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Description: When each member of the Beaumont family turns 13, each receives a special gift they call a savvy. It's Mib's turn to receive her Savvy, but as she's nervously awaiting to see what it will be, she learns that her Poppa has been in a terrible accident and is in a coma in the hospital. Believing she can revive him, Mibs, along with two siblings and the preacher's kids too, hides on a bus heading to the town where her father lies. Or so she thinks. Nothing turns out the way she hopes, including her savvy.

Assessment: This book is full of good humor, interesting characters, and just plain fun. While nothing works out as Mibs hopes, Mibs tries to work things her way while learning about her savvy and a little about love, for her siblings, for another girl she originally didn't like, and especially for the cute preacher's son. With it's beautiful cover and great characters, I feel this book will soon be very popular among middle schoolers who iwll be able to relate to many of the characters.