This is the amazing story of Lyra, a young girl whose parents have left her in the care of the scholars at Oxford University in a slightly re-imagined historical England. This curious and courageous heroine is kept constant company by her daemon, a small critter named Pan. As she sets off on a course of action that includes saving her uncle's life, escaping the dreaded Gobblers, joining the mysterious Gyptians, and raiding a secret facility in the far Arctic north, Lyra encounters an incredible cast of characters. There is a Texas balloon pilot, a frustrated but brave polar bear, a nasty lady with ties to Lyra's past, and many more curious and fascinating people and creatures.
This is a rollicking, imaginative adventure, one of the best I've ever read! Mr. Pullman is simply brilliant. If you're up for a challenge and want to experience an unforgettable read, this is one of my top recommendations.
Special Notes: Skip the movie, know that the sequels get progressively stranger, and check out the audio recording of this book, which will help with your pronunciation of places and names, and which features a FULL CAST, something very unusual and wonderful indeed!
My favorite part of the book is the dragon himself, who is far more interested in writing poetry and discussing fine cooking than in fighting. I listened to the audiobook on CD from the library, which was a delightful way to experience the story. The pictures in the book, hand-sketched by the author, make a traditional reading just as pleasant, if not more so.
This is a very enjoyable retelling of the classic story The Reluctant Dragon, by Kenneth Grahame (author of The Wind in the Willows). The author gives the original a nod through his creative use of names (Kenneth Rabbit and Grahame Dragon). This is a fun, suspenseful, inspirational story, and is not to be missed! [Warning: Some vocabulary may have you running to your dictionary, but that's not such a bad thing, you know!]
(After reading this second book, I realized how dull the first book was compared to this, but you really have to read them in order. It's worth it!)
I came across this book by accident, browsing the shelves at my local library. When I found it, I had already read all of the Harry Potter books at least twice, and I was definitely fan. This book, however, rekindled my fascination with and love for the Potter series, turned me on to a new branch of music (Rock out to Wizard Rock!), and gave me a new appreciation for the community-building power of literature.
Melissa Anelli runs a Harry Potter fan website, The Leaky Cauldron. My first visit to this interesting site was after reading this book, and I was amazed at what I found. There are a ton of Harry Potter fans who have taken their fandom FAR beyond the level of my own, which consists mainly of reading the books, talking to freinds about them, and then reading them again. Harry Potter fandom has become a universe of its own, it seems, with communities, websites, bands, conferences, and a host of truly fanatical fans. This book chronicles the rise of this Potter-fan universe from the very beginning, and includes captivating interviews with J.K. Rowling herself. I thought I was well-versed in the history of the series, but this book showed me the REAL story, and it's amazing.
If you're a Potter fan of any age (perhaps teen and older, actually), pick up a copy of this memoir and rekindle your own love of the (arguably) greatest series of all time. In the meantime, look up my new favorite band, Harry and the Potters, and get ready to rock, Wizard-Style!
This is a powerful story about a young boy who experiences firsthand the horror of the Holocaust. It brings a fresh perspective on this very dark point in human history, but does so in a way that leaves the reader hopeful, as you realize that even in the darkest hour, there are those willing to fight back, and those able to keep hope alive. Milkweed is an emotionally powerful story, and not one to read lightly. For teens curious about the human side of the Holocaust, or simply wanting to read an unforgettable, moving story, this is the book for you.
Twelve-year old Percy Jackson is a funny, tough, and smart kid - the kind of main character we all love to read about. This first book of his adventures has him deep inside the world of Greek gods, fighting to return Zeus's lighning bolt before things get really ugly. This book is HOT with so many kids at my school, and has been for years. I've only read the first book, but it was so captivating and fun to read that I'll polish off the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series soon, for sure.
If you love adventure, books full of action, monstrous creatures attacking middle-school students, and Greek mythology, this is a sure winner. I'd recommend finding a nice guide to Greek mythology, and having it next to you as you read.
What if you were in the attic, looking for something random, when you came across an old newspaper article that made you question EVERYTHING about your life? And worse, what if you weren't able to read it yourself, because you're pretty bad at reading? When this very thing happened to fifth-grader Sam, he set off on a quest to uncover his true identity and solve the mystery of his childhood. Who is the man he's living with, his best friend, his "grandpa"? With the help of a curious new girl, Sam learns new things about his history, his family, and himself. This fascinating story is kind of a mystery, but is also one of those books where unlikely kids get mashed together and end up as great friends. Imagine the relationship between the kids from Bridge to Terabithia, but with a totally different type of (and less tear-jerking) ending.
Read this if you love interesting characters, trying to solve mysteries before the author does, or Indian food.
Have you ever been in one of those situations where you agree to do something you know you shouldn't, but you don't want to let your friends down? That's where 7th grader Trina is when this story begins, and this tale, set in an urban middle school near Boston, follows the choices Trina makes and the consequences of those decisions.
When an author is this good, people take notice. Yes, I am a HUGE fan of Suzanne Collins' The Underland Chronicles, but her latest series is even better. While not an ideal series for my usual crowd (fourth graders), this mature series is perfect for teens through adults who are looking for an intoxicating new series that will capture their imagination and win their hearts. The first book is The Hunger Games, the second Catching Fire, and that's it for now.
In a fantastical future world, set in the country of Panem, which occupies the land of the United States, a cruel and controlling government rules its twelve districts with an iron fist. Each year all of the districts must provide two children to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised battle to the death. Of the 24 children selected, there can only be one survivor. Katniss is good with a bow, as she has been hunting since she was old enough to string a bow, but does she have what it takes to survive the Hunger Games? And if she does, what then?
This series brims with interesting characters, big ideas, emotional drama, action, and of course, love. There is death, romance, violence, anger, kindness, and everything else required to keep a reader on the edge of his seat until the last page, and to toss the book down and run to the bookstore, begging for the next volume in the series. Yes, it's that good.
The theme of the stories has some similarities to Margaret Peterson Haddix's The Shadow Children series, and I think readers of those books (Among the Hidden, etc.) will also fall head over heels for this series.
Read the first two books, get yourself a mockingjay pin, and join me in pacing impatiently while we wait for the next book.Check out this Barnes and Noble page about The Hunger Games, and be sure to watch the B&N Studio VIDEO!!
Imagine a world in which large airships, zeppelins, sailed the skies in place of jets, carrying people and cargo around the world. In this world, young Matt Cruise has found his dream job on the airship Aurora. This was the ship his father had worked on, and it was Matt's destiny to follow in his father's footsteps. Follow along as Matt has adventure after adventure, and you will begin to wish YOU could sail on the Aurora too.
At first, I loved this book because of its excellent descriptions of this alternate history, and the amazing airships. Before long, though, I realized that this was really quite an adventurous story, and whenever I thought the story had settled down, the author threw in some more twists and turns. It's a great book for those who love adventure stories, for those who have an interest in airships or even sea-faring ships, and for anyone who simply loves a well-written story. This is the first in a trilogy, and it seems that the author has only gotten better after his Silverwing series.
Matt was just a boy when his dad took him deep into Maine territory to build a cabin in the wilderness. When his dad left to get the rest of the family from Boston, Matt was left alone... but not really. This is the captivating story of Matt's adventures in the woods, and it will have you on the edge of your seat. Angry bees and bears, nasty thieves, a mangy mutt, two books, and an unforgettable encounter with a local native tribe keep Matt more busy than he ever expected.
Not only will you enjoy this book, but it will make you think. How can two boys from totally different backgrounds move beyond their prejudices and become friends? What was it like long ago when white settlers began overtaking Native American land? How can a young boy survive alone in the wilderness? These and many more questions will be answered by the time you finish this timeless classic.
I'm reading this aloud to my class of fourth graders, and it's a hit.
This graphic novel is brimming with suspense, fantasy, heartbreak, and joy. The characters are lovable and frustrating (except for the bad guy and his birds, who will get your blood boiling), the illustrations are AMAZING, and the story keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Read this if you love mysteries, adventures, wilderness, saving endangered species, kids outsmarting nasty adults, Florida (especially the Everglades and other swamps), or AMAZING writing. I've read every book the author has written for adults or children, and this was my favorite so far.
This is an interesting story about a boy who is trying his hardest to stay out of trouble, his family, and the oddball mix of friends he makes on the island. Moose's sister, Natalie, could really use a special school, but his family will never be able to afford it if the Warden finds out what schemes Moose and his daughter have been cooking up at their school, and fires Moose's dad!
The story includes some good baseball writing, emotional family drama, true historical facts about the island, and a bunch of interesting characters.
In this, the third in the Chasing Vermeer series, three children must use all of their knowledge and talent to solve the mystery of a vanished statue. This is no ordinary statue, but a huge piece of modern art that disappeared from a charming English village one night. There are so many clues that pop up, but which ones are the right ones to follow? Calder Pillay thought he had the mystery solved, but then HE disappeared! Can his friends Petra and Tommy save him and solve the mystery before it's too late?
This series is challenging for many readers, but in a good way. Start with Chasing Vermeer, and if you like it, continue with the series, and your life will be a little bit better for having made that choice.
The real delight in reading this book is meeting the four girls, who are so different and so interesting. Each has a different talent, and they seem to hate each other, even though they live on the same block (on Gumm Street). The way in which they come together is very well-written, and the whole book just has a nice flow, with lots of unexpected twists and turns, plenty of mystery, and lots of adventure. Stay tuned for more books in this series, which are sure to become crowd favorites for many young readers, boys and girls alike.
Young Michael hated seeing both of his parents lose their jobs, but when they decided to take a year, buy a sailboat, and cruise around the world, he could hardly believe it. On their voyage, Michael was accidentally thrown overboard, and washed up (with his pet dog Stella) on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. With no way for his parents or anyone else to find him, Michael had to figure out how to survive all alone on the island - or was he really alone? It turns out that another person lived on the island already, and that's where the story gets really interesting. How will Michael survive? Who is the mysterious island man? Will his parents ever find Michael? Read the book, don't ask me!This is one of the very best books I've read recently. It's a survival story in the spirit of Gary Paulsen, but it is all its own. The English author writes a lot about sailing and survival, and I'm amazed that I had never heard of him prior to finding this book at the library. This is one that everyone should read, and I'm sure it will become a favorite of yours, too.
This isn't the most wonderful book - in fact, it felt like the story wasn't that well thought-out - but it is a good story for animal lovers and those who enjoy hanging out in pet stores. There are really likeable characters, and it's funny to watch Aaron and his new prissy partner figure out how to get along. Let's hope this author keeps writing, and improves her style along the way.
What's the difference between an ASG (averagely spooky ghost) and an IRG (incredibly revolting ghost)? That's one of the first things young Tom learns when he becomes a ghosthunter. He didn't PLAN on hunting ghosts, but when he finds an ASG living in his family's cellar, he doesn't have much choice.
This is a PHENOMENAL book! The Klise sisters are extremely talented, and when they get together, the books they produce are hard to put down. This book, like all of their stories, is told through a variety of drawings and words, put together in a very engaging and interesting way. It's kind of like a graphic novel, but smarter, and less comic-bookish. You need to think a lot while you read this book, and you can keep up with the unraveling mystery, maybe even solving it before the author does if you pay enough attention. I cannot stress it enough - go read this book!
Phineas is a pretty cool kid, and an interesting main character. Read this stories if you like science, school stories, authors who seem to get what it's like to be a kid, and series books.
Allie Finkle is a spunky fifth grader who makes sense of life by keeping a list of her own rules (for girls only). She has to deal with two annoying little brothers, and the author does a great job of showing us what it's like to be a young girl (I think). The voice of the main character in this series is wonderful, and I imagine this will become the new favorite series of fourth and fifth grade girls as soon as they read the first book. Guys, you could try it too, I'm just guessing it's going to be a bigger hit with the young ladies.
In this first book of the series, Allie is dealing with her family's decision to move to a new house (that she is sure is haunted), and she needs to figure out how to make new friends and keep the old. Read this if you like great realistic fiction, girl stories, and series with funny characters.
The main character is a kid who accidentally hits his head while helping set up for a school book fair. He has some wild dreams in which he is transported to a number of different stories, each one representing a type of book genre. He'll spend one chapter in an animal story, one in a mystery, one in a Western, another in a girl's friendship story, and of course he'll visit a science fiction story too. It was amazing how many different types of stories the author came up with to include in this book.
Read this if you're curious about different genres, and want to see what the different types of books are like. Choose the style in this book that you like best, then go find more books like that (written by different authors), and read happily.
This is the story of four students who happen to live near the Grand Canyon, and who also happen to have invented and used a machine to do their homework for them. After they destroyed the machine (see the first book for that story), it turns out one little part of the machine remained, and that is the focus of this book. Once it's discovered that this little part, the "brain" of the machine, can be used by its owner to do just about anything, the race is on as good and nasty folks alike try to find it and use it for their own purposes.
This is a good book, but don't read it unless you've read The Homework Machine first.
One big theme in this book is children from very different lives becoming friends, but other important topics in the story include: Life in Afghanistan, rock-climbing, keeping secrets, brother-sister relationships, and the beauty and importance of writing letters.
Imagine a toddler who somehow escapes his house while his parents are being murdered, and who toddles his way to a graveyard, where the ghosts agree to raise him as their own child. That's how the story begins, and that toddler, who the ghosts name Nobody Owens, grows up not only learning everything the ghosts, ghouls, witches, and other supernatural beings can teach him, but wanting to seek revenge for the murder of his family members. It's an exciting, interesting story, but it's not for the faint of heart.
The story is based on the classic book The Jungle Book, written by British author Rudyard Kipling in the late 1800's. While that story (turned into a Disney movie, which is nowhere near as interesting as the book) focuses on a boy who is raised by jungle animals, this book, as I said, involves ghosts raising an orphan in a cemetery. That part isn't as spooky as you'd expect, and it's a lot more interesting than any other ghost story you're likely to read. The Graveyard Book is set in modern-day England, which adds an interesting twist for American readers.
Read this if you want to see why it won the Newbery, if you're interested in spooky, well-told tales, or if you have simply always wanted to be adopted by ghosts yourself, and to live in a centuries-old crypt in a lonely graveyard.
This is a great graphic novel, aimed mainly at teens (due to relationship content), but readable for tweens as well. Great illustrations and a fun plot combine with spunky, believable characters to make this book shine. It's short, thought-provoking, and realistic. Read this if you love art, if you've ever felt lonely or like you don't fit in, or if you've ever been the victim of a terrorist bombing and fallen in love with an unconscious artist whose name you don't know. Right, I guess you'd better just read it.
When Zebulon Crabtree turned twelve in 1849, his parents sent him up the Mississippi River to serve as an apprentice to his uncle, who worked with animal skins as a tanner. Along the way, Zeb got sidetracked by a professional gambler, a professor who plays violin for his pet chickens, and Indian chief and his daughter, and a host of other wild characters. Zeb never did make it to his uncle, but the adventures he had instead make for a very exciting and interesting story.This book is a quick-paced historical adventure, the only drawback being that it's written with kind of an old-timey voice, and today's readers won't understand some of the words used. The author tried to fix that by adding a dictionary (glossary) to the back of the book, but I'm not sure how much that will help the average fourth grade reader. This is such a new book (published three months ago), that I haven't talked to any kids who've read it, and I may be (as I usually am) pleasantly surprised by how they don't get bothered by language as much as I do.
Read this if you like rollicking tales of the old west, or if you want to see what happens to a boy the age of today's sixth graders who has to survive on his own in a wild city at a wild time in the wild west. It's funny (if you get the jokes), historically accurate (with an afterward explaining everything at the end), and a book you can learn from at the same time as you enjoy yourself. It's a book with a cool cover, a boring title, and unforgettable characters.
If you like this, you may also enjoy The Misadventures of Maude March and Gary Paulsen's Mr. Tucket stories.
The author is Australian, and the story is set there. American students may not know what some of the words mean at first, but they'll figure it out pretty quickly. Read this book if you enjoy funny school stories, poetry, creative ways of writing a novel, naked bunyips, punks, rap, or peace-loving vegetarian hippie teachers who make school very interesting for their students.
This is a very nice story about Kirby, a kid who stinks at basketball, but wants to join the team to find out who his father is (makes sense once you start reading). It's funny writing too, kind of like Regular Guy by Sarah Weeks, but with a sports theme. It's kind of like Travel Team because a bunch of losers end up improving at basketball, but this book is shorter and has less actual basketball action. That's one thing I would change about the book: Add more on-court action! Otherwise, it has a good plot, interesting characters, a bit of mystery, scary cafeteria food, and a happy, surprising ending. If you like basketball or sports in general, funny school stories, or realistic fiction with happy endings, give this a try.
Mike Lupica is a sports writer for magazines and newspapers, and has turned himself into a top-quality children's fiction author. If you like Dan Gutman's writing, you'll like this even more. Trust me, and check out Travel Team for yourself. Warning: You might want to have a basketball handy, because this story will make you want to put the book down and shoot a few hoops between chapters.
This book is an example of an author pretending that a character in the book actually wrote the book. I don't really like that, but it does work for some authors, like Lemony Snicket. For this book it was fine, but it does make the book hard to find in the library, as you're not sure whether it's filed under the real or the fake author.
How does a dorky boy with a passion for potato chips outsmart the class bully, become a hero of his school, and have the best school year ever? It's all in this book, and you're going to love it. Leon and his two best friends have a number of adventures in their school, including trying to create a voodoo doll to gain control over the school bully. Apparently they did this successfully in the first book in the series, Leon and the Spitting Image, but I didn't read that one, and it wasn't necessary to fully enjoy this tale. The three kids encounter a wacky science teacher who decides that the class should study nothing but potato chips for the entire year, and this turns out to be a very important part of the plot. There are many other sub-plots too, and they tie together nicely by the end.
It's a book that reminds me of an Andrew Clements book mixed with Dork in Disguise by Carol Gorman. The kids end up outsmarting the adults, and making it a happy ending, while making the adults learn something along the way. Read this if you love potato chips, good stories where characters solve their own problems, if you are interested in science, or if you just like good books.
This is a terribly delightful tale about children who want to get rid of their nasty parents, and nasty parents who want to get rid of their four children. It's written in kind of an old-fashion style, with a Lemony Snicket kind of twist. You'll find yourself laughing and thinking to yourself, "But that's not really funny, it's horrible!" The characters are very well done, and the author is an amazing writer, so that the story flows and never gives you a chance to get bored. There are multiple story lines that all come together in the end, and what starts as a horrendous story (imagine what terribly nasty people might do when they found a baby on their doorstep), and ends sweetly, in a funny kind of way.
Read this if you like funny books that are not just about underwear jokes. It is a must for fans of Lemony Snicket, as well.
The writing in this book is crystal-clear, the characters full of character, and the plot interesting from the get-go, though moreso to those readers smart enough to have read the first book first. The writing is a bit like Lemony Snicket's, though more challenging (and rewarding), and this would be a good series for the reader who has finished A Series of Unfortunate Events, and would like to try something along the same lines, but even more thought-provoking. The book also resembles the Harry Potter series in a way, as the main characters keep learning more about themselves and each other, and finding ways to use their powers for good rather than evil.
One thing Jeff Smith does is to create very enjoyable pictures, not just the striking characters, but the way he sets up scenes with pictures. I'm hooked.
The full title of this book is How to Save Your Tail (if you are a rat nabbed by cats who really like stories about magic spoons, wolves with snout-warts, big, hairy chimney trolls... and cookies too). It's basically the story of a rat who was nabbed by cats... yes, the title is pretty accurate. To escape the cats, who are trying to eat him for dinner, Bob the rat bakes them cookies and tells them story after story about his ancestors, who ended up being some pretty famous rats. To see if he saves his tail (and life), read this short book yourself.An unexpected twist in this book was that the author retold many traditional fairy tales from a rat's point of view. The stories Bob told the cats included Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rumpelstilskin, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and The Three Little Pigs. It's an interesting idea for a book, but the way it's told, through the eyes of a trapped rat, didn't do much for me, and I don't think the author pulled it off quite as well as she could have. Nonetheless, it's a good book, especially for those who like talking animals and retold fairy tales.
This book is even more interesting because it turns out Andrew Clements has twins of his own, so he really knows the kind of thing that can happen. It's a great book, and another of this author's wonderful stories about daring children.
It's a pretty interesting story, especially for people who like playing with words and language (like me). You'll learn a little, and will probably enjoy the short, interesting story. However, I greatly prefer this author's other books, such as Flip, Invasion of the Road Weenies, and True Talents. In other words, while this is a good story, it's not the author's best work. Read it anyway, and see what YOU think!
What are the weirdest things can you do to your little brother? That's the kind of question that gets answered in this funny memoir of Jon Scieszka's childhood. This is the guy who wrote The Time Warp Trio books and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, among others, so you know he's funny. Sorry, I'm not going to tell you what Jon did to his brother when he was young, you'll have to read the book yourself. Jon had many brothers growing up, and that gave him plenty of hilarious stories to tell about life with his family. This book also features photographs of his family, so you can picture yourself right there with him. The chapters are pretty short and the writing is somewhat simple, so this book will appeal to a broader range of people than a typical memoir, and I think it woul interest third graders and up. Warning: It's not as exciting as the cover makes you think.
How terrible is your life? Chances are, it could have been worse. There are many ways to learn about history, but this series takes one of the most interesting views: How awful life was for people living in different places and times throughout human history. Want to know how rough it was to be a Roman Soldier, or to be an American Colonist or Egyptian King? This series will tell you.
With hilarious and descriptive pictures and only a couple paragraphs per page, these books get a lot of information across in a very simple way. They're not easy books, but will hold a lot of appeal for young readers (think fourth grade reading level and up) who want to learn more about the world.
To see a full list of titles in the series, visit your library website, or go to the publisher's site.
What would you do if your magician parents accidentally turned themselves into pigs, your castle is about to be attacked by an evil neighbor and his army, and the only hope is for you to find and bring home some hair from a giant's head? If you're anything like brave young Igraine, you'd get your suit of armor on, mount your horse, and head out on a dangerous adventure.
This book (by the author of Dragon Rider, Inkheart, and The Thief Lord) is a wonderfully funny story that many readers will fall in love with. It contains magic, dancing books, talking cats, brave children, evil men, sorrowful (sad) knights, kind giants, and enough adventure to last a lifetime. Read this if you're ready for a rollicking romp!
Interesting note: All of Cornelia Funke's books are translated from German, and the author draws all of her own illustrations.
Eddie is a girl who likes lists. She has a list for just about everything in her life, including all the reasons she should remember to snap the colored rubber bands around her wrist. The only thing she hadn't planned for is what to do when her best friend Sally's grandmother, who she has grown very close to, gets sick. Oh, snap.
There are a lot of interesting things about this book, including the way the author SLOWLY gives the reader clues as to what's really going on in the story. The characters are interesting, and the writing will really make you feel like you're figuring things out along with Eddie. It's a lovely story, though the ending is sad. Life can be very difficult when somebody is very sick, and it's not always clear how to handle that type of situation. Read this book and figure it out along with Eddie and Sally.
How do you explain a mysterious airplane landing one night, with no passengers except for 36 babies? It's an interesting way to begin a book, but that's exactly what this author did, and the book will have you on the edge of your seat from that point on.
The story really focuses on 13-year old Jonah, his friend Chip, and his bossy younger sister Katherine. Together, these three find out some unbelievable secrets, get stuck in some situations that you'll be surprised by (think: TIME TRAVELING GHOSTS), and have to take control of their own future. It's a very interesting book, with characters that you feel like you already know. The author does an amazing job of telling this story at just the right pace, keeping your interest without giving everything away too quickly. The way the book ends is kind of cruel - the main characters are being whisked away to an unknown future, and the reader just wants to know what happens next!
Read this book if you like mysterious stories about realistic children who find themselves in very unusual situations! It's realistic, but there's definitely some fantasy throughout the book. I can't wait for the rest of the series to be published.
An evil rat king, a brave mouse maiden, a powerful badger leader, four daring hares, and more squirrels and moles than you can keep track of. That's what this book has to offer, as well as wild storms at sea, bloody fights, daring rescues, and much more adventure than you would ever hope for. If you love long, challenging books full of adventure and amazing characters, you've found your next book!
If you have never read one of Brian Jacques' Redwall books, you are really missing out. It is truly one of the best series I have ever read, and you can read any of the 19 books in any order you like. The characters are woodland animals in a place very much like England, but hundreds of years ago, before electricity or modern technology. The animals seem just like people, but they have all of the characteristics of their species too. It's hard to explain, so take a peek at the author's website at www.redwall.org to learn more about the series.
The books are difficult for normal fourth grade readers, but I recommend checking out the audio book versions, which are read by a cast of actors and actresses, including the author himself as narrator. (That's how I read this one myself, to be honest, and it was better than reading it myself!)
What if a 12-year-old boy ran for president? And if he did, what if he really had a chance to WIN? That's what this story is about, and it's a good one. Judson Moon is just a normal middle school student who likes to make people laugh, but his friend Lane, who is really into politics, has big plans for him. Before you know it, Moon's life is turned upside down as he learns what it takes to try to win a presidential election. You won't know if he makes it unless you read the book!
I like Dan Gutman's writing because it's funny, and has a nice flow to it. This book is no exception, but it can be challenging keeping up with all the political details. It's a good resource for learning a little about how elections work, but you also may want to check out Dan's book Landslide (see below) for more specific information about U.S. elections.
Read The Kid Who Ran For President if you like stories about kids who dare to try difficult things (kind of like Andrew Clements' stories), interesting realistic fiction, or books that keep you guessing until the end. For a hint of how the book ends, keep your eyes open for the sequel, and the title may give you a clue.
(Dan Gutman's nonfiction book Landslide is a nice companion to his novel.)
