Ungifted by Gordan Korman

The book Ungifted by Gordan Korman is a realistic fiction book about a boy, Donovan,
who poked a gigantic ball from a statue that destroyed the gym floor. Then the
superintendent, Dr. Schultz, accidentally writes Donovan’s name on the list of kids
that will go to the gifted school. In his time there, he names the robot in his robotics
club and puts pictures on it. He also shows off his talented joystick skills. He helps his
friends out by persuading his pregnant sister to help teach Donovan’s classmates
about the human body.

I liked the beginning where the brothers tell Donovan to escape detention when
the teacher watching him goes to the office to watch the basketball game taking place.
Donovan then pokes the ball that the statue of Atlas was carrying with a stick. The ball
then rolls down a hill and demolishes the gym.

You will like this book if you like Schooled.

--Reviewed by David C.

First Year (The Black Mage series) by Rachel E. Carter

First Year is the first book in the series called The Black Mage by Rachel E. Carter.

Before the age of 17, people in Jerar are given a choice to be a soldier, knight, or a mage. A mage is someone that does magic and is considered the hardest to become. For 17 year old Ryiah it is a easy choice, she wants to be a mage. She enrolls into Alex Academy, a school to make you into a mage. Ryiah wants to be the best in the school, but she finds herself competing against Prince Darren ( the Prince of Jerar). I really liked the book because it is filled with action and kept me at the edge of my seat!

--Reviewed by Zoe Z.

Blubber by Judy Blume

The book Blubber is a realistic fiction book about a group of 5th grade girls who bully and tease a girl
named Linda Fischer. Jill and her best friend Kathryn have always been in the same class until one year
in the 5th grade they are not. Jill’s teacher is boring and she has mean girls in her class, and Kathryn's
class is fun and her teacher is very nice. One day their teacher has them give presentations on animals.
Linda Fischer, the “fat girl” in class, gives a presentation on whales. She talks about where they live
and that they have blubber. A note gets passed around by one of the mean girls that says “ We should
call her Blubber!” Jill's teacher comes up to her and… Find out what happens if you read the rest
of the book! If you like books by the author Judy Blume then I think you would like this book.

--Reviewed by Lillian S.

Space Case by Stuart Gibbs

This book is called Space Case by Stuart Gibbs. The genre is science fiction and mystery. It is about Dashiell Gibson who is a kid that was sent up to space. He is one of the first kids to go up into space on a colonization mission. But everything is terrible and boring. That is until Dr. Holtz is found dead. Everyone thinks it’s an accident but Dash thinks it's murder. I liked the book because it was very mysterious and you never know what will happen. My favorite part is when Dash fights the big robot arm things. If you like mystery and suspense I recommend this book.--Reviewed by Milo V.

Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson

The Goldfish boy is mystery fiction story.  In this book, the main character is Matthew Corbin who tries to
solve a mystery about a little boy who goes missing. Matthew Corbin has Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and  hasn't been to school for a long time.  He is refusing
to go anywhere else besides his safe place, his room.  His hands are cracked and bleeding
from cleaning his room over and over again.  Everything is fine until Matthews's neighbor’s
grandson goes missing.  Matthew wants to be left alone, but the police and Matthew’s
parents keep asking Matthew if he saw anything suspicious.  Does he end up helping
and wanting to solve the mystery?  Even if it means revealing his own secrets?  Read the
book to find out.

I loved this book because it’s very mysterious, and is very suspenseful. It is also
very sad and happy at the same time.  If you like a mystery and suspense, you will
definitely like this book!!

--Reviewed by Sena Y.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia is the first of the 12 stories in
this mystery. The book is about how Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson try and solve a mystery
set forth by the King of Bohemia. The King of Bohemia is about to get married to the second
daughter of the King of Scandinavia in a few days, yet something haunts and worries him.
Five years ago he made a lengthy trip to Warsaw and made the acquaintance of a woman
by the name of Irene Adler. They wrote each other some love letters and they even took a
photograph together. Now, Irene threatens to send the picture to the King of Scandinavia
on the day that that the betrothal will be publicly proclaimed. It is up to Sherlock Holmes
and Dr. Watson to get the photograph back from Irene Adler. The story is amazing and
the way Sherlock Holmes deduces things is fascinating, it seems so simple and
obvious that you could do it yourself!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery books or anyone
who likes to be fascinated.
--Reviewed by Vanya K.

Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell

Frozen Charlotte is a mystery, horror, and thriller type of book.  Written by Alex Bell.  When Sophie's friend
Jay dies under mysterious circumstances, Sophie goes to stay with her cousins, Cameron,
Piper, and Lilias and there dad in the Isle of Skye.  Sophie wants to know if Jay’s death
somehow happened to be related to her cousin’s dead sister Rebecca. But Sophie has
some questions she wants answered. Like, how did her cousin Rebecca die?  Was anyone
with her?  What are the noises she keeps hearing at night?  And, is Rebecca’s death
connected to Jay’s death? Before Sophie gets any answers, there are some rules to
follow.  First, she is not allowed to mention Cameron’s accident.  Second, she is to never
leave the front gate unlocked.  And above all, she should never mention the girl who is
no longer there.

I liked this book because of all the suspense and the mystery.  I recommend this book to
anyone who likes mystery, horror, and thriller type books.

--Reviewed by Giselle Z.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein is realistic fiction and is the first book

in a three-book series.

Kyle Keeley is a normal kid who lives in Ohio.  But when his favorite game maker, Luigi L. Lemoncello,
comes to town, his life is anything but normal.  Mr. Lemoncello offers an opportunity for some kids to
compete in a contest in his new and amazing library, and Kyle just has to enter.  He races to the end -
but will he win the promised prizes and fame?

I liked the book because Chris Grabenstein made it fun and exciting, making you want to read and
find out more.  My favorite character is Mr. Lemoncello because he’s really fun and wacky.

If you like libraries, racing, and most of all, humor, I recommend this book for you!
--Reviewed by Hadley Z.

Thea Stilton and the Ghost of the Shipwreck by Thea Stilton

Thea Stilton and the Ghost of the Shipwreck by Thea Stilton is about five friends, named Pamela,
Nicky, Paulina, Violet, and Colette, are all mice.The five friends want to attend a lecture by a
marine biologist, and the marine biologist who did the lecture also told all of the mice that he was
going to meet them all at a beach, but he doesn’t show up! Will the five friends find him in time
for the meeting?

My favorite character is Nicky, because she is the most adventurous of the group and has a
great personality! If you like Geronimo Stilton books, you’ll also love this book!

 --Reviewed by Zaynab M.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an amazing fantasy book by Roald Dahl. This book is about a little boy named Charlie, who wins the Golden
Ticket! That means that he has a 1 in 5 chance to win a lifetime
supply of chocolate. Together, he and his grandpa go on an exciting
journey through Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory!

I liked this book because it is funny, and it is really interesting as well.
My favorite character is Charlie because he is caring, and he is
nice to everyone even though they’re not nice to him.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes The BFG, The Fantastic
Mr. Fox, James and the Giant Peach, The Twits, or The Witches.
If you like any of those books, then you will love this one!

--Reviewed by Madeline T.