Revenge of the Witch: Last Apprentice Series Bk. 1

By Joseph Delaney 
Grades 5+
Thomas, seventh son of a seventh son, is apprenticed to the local Spook, whose job is to fight evil spirits and witches, he expects a life of danger. However, the boy doesn't realize just how soon he'll face a powerful enemy alone, as Mother Malkin escapes her confinement while the Spook is away. Thomas is forced to use his wits, and the help of his enigmatic new friend, Alice, to fight the evil witch. And defeating her is only the start of the boy's problems. 

Delaney's characters are clearly presented and have realistic depth, and Thomas's mother and Alice stand out for their strong words and actions. The protagonist's voice is clear, and his conflicts over his actions ring true.

I was not expecting to like this book but once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. I stayed up  to finish the book. This was a fantastic first person horror story that is scary and gory but not too scary and gory. 

A fantastic read.


1.  The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch
2.  Curse of the Bane
3.  Night of the Soul Stealer
4.  Attack of the Fiend
5. Wrath of the Bloodeye
6. Clash of the Demons
7. The Spook's Nightmare (2010)
8. The Spook's Destiny (2011)

The Monstrumologist

By Rick Yancey
Ages 15+
If you like the TV show Supernatural and you don't mind being really grossed out, you will love this book.

Set in the late-1800s in New England, Will Henry is the 12-year-old apprentice to Pellinore Warthrop, a brilliant and self-absorbed monstrumologist (a scientist who studies (and when necessary, kills) monsters). The newest threat is the Anthropophagi, a pack of headless, shark-toothed bipeds. The great mystery is how they got to this continent as they are indigenous to Africa.

As the action moves from the dissecting table to the cemetery to an asylum to underground catacombs, Yancey keeps the shocks frequent and shrouded in a splatter miasma of blood, bone, pus, maggots, and great vocabulary. The prose style is The industrial-era setting is populated with leering, Dickensian characters, most notably the loathsome monster hunter hired by Warthrop to enact the highly effective “Maori Protocol” method of slaughter.

The story is great. The writing is fantastic. The sentiment feels real. It is a wonderful and scary book.

Peter and the Starcatchers

by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Grades 5+

I've just finished listening to this book, read by the talented Jim Dale of Harry Potter reading fame.

In an evocative and fast-paced adventure on the high seas and on a faraway island an orphan boy named Peter and his mysterious new friend, Molly, overcome bands of pirates and thieves in their quest to keep a fantastical secret safe. Riveting adventure takes listeners on a journey from a harsh orphanage in old England to a treacherous sea in a decrepit old ship. Aboard the Never Land is a trunk that holds a magical substance with the power to change the fate of the world - just a sprinkle and wounds heal and just a dusting and people can fly.

Sound familar? Bestselling authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson have turned back the clock and revealed pre-quel to J. M. Barrie's beloved Peter Pan

The authors plait multiple story lines together in short, fast-moving chapters, with the growing friendship between Molly and Peter at the narrative's emotional center. Capitalizing on familiar material, this adventure is carefully crafted to set the stage for Peter's later exploits. This smoothly written page-turner just might send readers back to the original.

This is a great book for (not just 5th graders) anyone who hates evil pirates, loves adventures, and always wish s/he could fly! Highly, highly reccommended!

The Red Pyramid

by Rick Riordan

Ages 9+

Up until now I have only blogged about books that I have read in their enireity. I will have to make an exception today. Last night I started this book and it is incredible. The adventure started with page 1, actually before page one. The book opens with a warning (I love when a book warns me about reading it!) that the book is a was a dictation and was taken down as carefully as possible but it is dangerous to read.

Here is the plot of the 1st 40 pages: Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, something goes terribly wrong and Julius disappears. Carter and Sadie are wisked away to New York (by some kind of magic) and discover that they are not the "normal" family that they thought they were.

See what I mean? Adventure from the first page. It's freaking awesome!

Where Percy Jackson took on Greek myth, in the Red Pyramid, Riordan writes about Egyptian myth. If you liked Percy Jackson you are going to LOOOOVE this.

Haunted Waters

by Mary Osborne Pope

Grades 6+

 Lord Huldbrand meets and becomes enamored of a young woman named Undine. Undine, however, does not know that she is a fey marine maiden. After traveling home with his new bride, Lord Huldbrand notices that Undine has difficulties in adjusting to a terrestrial life. Huldbrand's response is to not trust his wife's magical origins which ultimately causes his downfall. 

Osborne's straightforward tale exhibits superb writing. The descriptions of Undines relationship with the sea are equally beautiful while short, declarative sentences and first-person narration reinforce its inescapable, tragic conclusion. It was a pleasure to read.

This is a sophisticated story and the tale's atmospheric chivalry adds depth. This is great for readers who like ghost stories, Arthurian lore, and other myths.

PLUS, the water theme ties in great with our Summer Reading Program that starts June 7th.
MAKE WAVES!

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

I have seen these books fly off the shelves. People ask for them by name and want to know the order of the books. I wanted to know what all the hype was about. So I read the book.

It was exciting from the first page. Set in London, Alex Rider's uncle died in a car crash, or so Alex was told. Later, Alex finds out that his uncle wasn't a banker; he was a spy. MI6, the secret organization that employed Alex's uncle, coerces Alex to finish the job his uncle started.

Alex is quickly trained and sent out on his first mission. He runs into a the Russian mercenary who Alex suspects killed his uncle. Instead of informing MI6 who would then pull him out of the operation, he continues the mission. During his mission he swims through old mine shafts that are now underwater to find a secret laboratory, hijacks a plane, escapes from a giant jellyfish and so much more.

This isn't a long book. It is action packed. Apparently there is a movie based on the book. You can read it in a few sittings. I finally understand why they are so popular. I want more! Luckily there are more books in this great series.

So you like the Lightning Thief???

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is an incredibly popular book. To prove that fact it is being made a movie:



Now if you haven't read the books yet...you should probably do that. Time is running out before the movie sweeps in and ruins everything! You *KNOW* it is always better to read the book first and then watch the movie!

If you have read the book you are probabaly needing something else to read. Fear not! There is always something good to read. Here is a list of books to read if you liked Percy Jackson. Enjoy!

Myth
Psyche in a Dress by Block, Francesca Lia; YAFic Blo
Odysseus: Escaping Poseidon’s Curse by Jolly, Kan; YAFic Joll
Skulduggery Pleasant by Landy, Derek; JFic Land
The One Eyed Giant by Osborne, Mary Pope; Juv883 Home
The Land of the Dead by Osborne, Mary Pope; Juv883 Home
Sirens and Sea Monsters by Osborne, Mary Pope; Juv883 Home
Sirena by Napoli, Donna Jo; YAFic Napo
Quiver by Spinner, Stephanie; YAFic Spinn
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Yancey, Richard; YAFic Yance
Humor
Artemis Fowl by Colfer, Eoin; YAFic Colf
Gregor The Overlander by Collins, Suzanne; JFic Coll
Once Upon a Marigold by Ferris, Jean; JFic Ferr
The Lovesick Salesman by Gray, Margaret; JFic Gray
Owl in Love by Kindl, Patrice; YAFic Kind
Larklight by Reeve, Philip; JFic Reev
Alcatraz Verses the Evil Librarians by Sanderson, Brandon; JFic Sand
The Alchemyst by Scott, Michael; YAFic Scott
Adventure and Fantasy
Dark Hills Divide by Carman, Patrick; JFic Carm
The Warrior Heir by Chima, Cinda Williams; YAFic Chima
Hunger Games by Collins, Suzanne; YAFic Coll
The Dark is Rising by Cooper, Susan; JFic Coop
City of Ember by DuPrau, Jeanne; JFic DuPr
Sea of Trolls by Farmer, Nancy; JFic Farm
Magyk by Sage, Angie; JFic Sage

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

A hero with an incredible talent...for breaking things. A life-or-death mission...to rescue a bag of sand. A fearsome threat from a powerful secret network...the evil Librarians.

Alcatraz Smedry doesn't seem destined for anything but disaster. On his 13th birthday he receives a bag of sand, which is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians plotting to take over the world. The sand will give the Librarians the edge they need to achieve world domination. Alcatraz must stop them!...by infiltrating the local library, armed with nothing but eyeglasses and a talent for klutziness.


This was such a funny book. In the introduction, Brandon says that a Librarian will never recommend this title to you. But, it has happened. The book was good and there is a whole series of it.

I still think about this everytime I am late anywhere. Do I have a talent to being late? What a great unexpected hero. Who is your favorite unexpected hero?