The Expeditioners is a fun steampunk book for middle grade readers. Once again we have orphans that are setting off on adventures without adult guidance and they manage to elude the adults chasing them, at least most of the time. I think steampunk reads like a cross between the wild Wild West and science fiction, a strange mid to be sure. There is definitely room for a sequel to this one.
This is a great book about sibling rivalry. Owen and Russell are twins, yet they couldn't be more different. Owen has always been the athlete, and Russell the brainiac. And they've been perfectly happy with it, until something changes when a new basketball coach is hired and wants Russell to try out for the team. You will enjoy the ups and downs that result. This one is intense! A roller coaster of emotions for Willow Chance and for the reader too. Some will truly love this book, but it will prove challenging for many. Willow doesn't fit in. She is a genius who is accused of cheating on achievement tests. She has no friends. But she has her garden. One day her entire world falls apart and she loses everything she loves. Her journey back is slow and painful, but has its own rewards. Oh the kids are going to eat this one up for Bluebonnets next year!!! Zombies! I just started and can't put it down, and I'm not even a fan of zombies! Better order a bunch and the sequels too. Great prologue...
Now I understand the student's response, "I hate the ending!" And his three trips to the library, hoping the sequel would be available! Korman's reputation for nonstop action and adventure doesn't disappoint. The shortness if the book doesn't intimidate. And the cliffhanger at the end leaves you longing for the sequel... I'm so excited to read some of the books that students have recommended to me. The first is "I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor1941". I can definitely see why this series is so popular and flies off the shelf. The action is nonstop, the storyline progresses quickly, and the characters are believable. As a teacher, I love the ties to real history and the resources at the end to encourage kids to learn more. I will definitely continue purchasing this series for the library. Next read..."Kidnapped" by Gordon Korman. This is a YA text for middle and high school readers. In a futuristic world ruled by Epics who have super powers, ordinary people are forced to live in a world that has been turned to steel. Only the Reckoners seem to be fighting back, but what happens when one young boy seeks revenge on Steelheart himself? If you love super heroes, adventure, and dystopian novels, then this novel will be difficult to put down! Verbena has discovered a terrible secret about herself and now she isn't sure how she can ever be the same person. Her discovery effects her relationship with her mother, and drives her to pretend to be a ghost. This is a beautiful story about the difficulties of growing up and the true love of friends and family. If you like books by Wendy Mass and Linda Urban, I would recommend this book for you. |