The Mad Scientists' Club by Bertrand R. Brinley *****

I have read this amazing book for boys. It is called (ahem, drumroll please!) The Mad Scientist Club. It is about some boys in a teeny town called Mammoth Falls (big name for a small town, huh?). They are all part of a club called the mad scientists' club. They are always doing something like making a monster out of a boat, some canvas (I think), a motor, and some other stuff. 

I recommend this book far boys 10,000 and up (just joking). Actually, I recommend this for 9 and up.     

The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau *****

The City of Ember is a great book to toss in the trash can, no, just kidding, it is actually a great book to read. O.k. people, here's the deal, the city of Ember is growing old and is falling apart. The inhabitants are seeking ways to get out of the city, yet no one can find a way out of Ember until a girl, Lina, finds a box which may be the secret.  Her younger sister chewed and ripped the paper inside the box, so some parts are missing.  She and a friend, Doon, have to puzzle it out.  

I recommend this book for ages 10-14.    

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder ****

Farmer Boy is a nice book for any 7, 8, or 9-year-old to read by the fire (I wish I could turn mine on). The main character is a young boy called Almanzo who lives on a farm in New York in the 1800's. It is about the events as he grows up (not into a man, but an older boy).

I recommend this book for 7, 8, or 9-year-olds because of its childish language. 

Homer Price by Robert McCloskey ****

Homer Price is a nice book with silly stories (unless you are a serious reader, then it's caveat emptor!). It is about a boy named Homer Price (obviously) who lives just outside a small town called Centerburg in Ohio. The adventures include a time when five (please leave a notice if I got the number wrong) robbers stole some money and after-shave lotion from inside a radio station, but Homer with the help of a skunk (it was a pet one) returns it to its rightful owner and gets half the money as a reward.

I personally recommend this book for the younger readers who can read chapter books without falling asleep (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz). 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins**

Yeah, I read young adult books sometimes (especially Redwall books), but this one was definitely caveat lector (I mean it!) but if you like young adult brutal fiction, read on.

This book starts out with some of the main character's normal life, but then her younger sister gets picked as a tribute foooorrrr... the hunger games. Before I go on, let tell you about them. The hunger games are basically the way the central city (called the Capitol) of a nation called Panem reminds the twelve remaining districts (there used to be a thirteenth district, but that got destroyed during a war of the districts rebelling against the Capitol) that they are still under its power after the rebellion ended by ordering the districts to pick male and female tributes (people) to kill the other tributes from the other districts as well as the other tribute from the same district, and the last one alive wins (feeling sick? I am, blaugh!). Now she is in the arena for hunger games and the some of the other tributes are already dead.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend this book for the faint at heart and the younger readers.      

The Long Patrol by Brian Jacques *****

The Long Patrol is a beautifully written  book, although there are some nasty parts. It is about the adventures of a young hare called Tammello De Fformelo Tussock (long name, huh?) as he turns into a veteran fighter in the Long Patrol which is a army of hares with a badger for the Commander. They are fighting the greatrat (a large rat) Damug Warfang and his legions of Rapscallions.

I recommend this book for 5th grade to Adult animal fantasy readers, because of its difficult younger reader comprehension.  

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks ****

You know those kind of books that are pretty neutral (you can't decide whether it's good or bad), this is not one one of them, OK (unless you are a Lord of the Rings rights lawyer like some people whose reviews I read)? This is a (hmmmmm, I know!) pretty good fantasy book like, um (there's that no-idea problem again), a (a a a beatnik, yeah a beatnik! I sound like a beatnik!) Fablehaven book (see the review I did)! (end of commentary)

(now for the book)The Sword of Shannara is a different time fantasy book. It is set in our world centuries after a huge war destroying most of the technology and the people. One of the future ancestors of one of those who survived the war meets a legendary helper of the people who says that only he (yes, it's a boy) can save his world from becoming under the control of a guy who's supposed to be dead. 

The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle *****

This book is the first of a series of mystery books about Sherlock Holmes and (his pal Frozone and Mr. Skipperdoo) Watson. The book starts with Watson finding a room with a mysterious bunkmate who seems to be busy. That man is none other than Sherlock Holmes who is a little-known but brilliant detective.    

I would read this if I were you (that is, if you are a mystery reader).

I Want to Go Home! by Gordon Korman *****

I Want to Go Home! by Gordon Korman is a hilarious book. It is about a boy named Rudy Miller who dislikes the island camp that he's at, so he tries to escape through a number of methods, but none of them work. Meanwhile he's wreaking havoc on the councilors who are trying to make him play along with the other boys.

I recommend this book for the humor reader because it is one of the funniest books ever written.   

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull ****

Fablehaven is an exciting book for younger readers and most adults (this means you, buster). It is about two kids going to their grandparents house for a while (typical fantasy beginning), but what they don't know is that their grandparents are the caretakers of a magical refuge. Now the author takes a new course (hoist the sails, Mr. Smee!) by making different rules for the magical creatures.

I recommend this book for relaxed readers (not serious readers) or 3rd grade to Adult readers.

Blue Noon by Scott Westerfield **

Blue Noon is the third and final book of the Midnighters trilogy.  The darkling are mounting an attack on certain points on the globe.  Will the darklings win?

My complaint about Blue Noon is no happy ending.  Come on people, shouldn't there be a happy ending for the heroes/heroines?  But in the book, no happy ending.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick ****

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is an interesting book.  It is half graphic novel and half prose.

It is about a boy who has a secret automaton which needs a key to operate.  The result is something you'll have to find out for yourself.