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Mrs. Nelson's Toy & Book Shop 1030 Bonita AvenueLa Verne, CA 91750 (909) 599-4558 mrsnelsons@mrsnelsons.com
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Reviews from our Advanced Readers Club from late summer and fall.
Reviewed by by Sarah R., age 13
October 19th, a normal fall day for most of us, but for Destiny Faraday this day brings back memories and massive unpredictability. The day starts off the same as any other at her school, Hedgebrook, but soon turns into an unplanned road trip, with the unordinary adventures of friendship. In a mysterious new car and three friends she's determined not to get attached to, it seems as though anything can happen. Whether it be finding a lamb, telling her deepest darkest secrets, or having a day that's fair and perfect in every way that could be fate or just crazy coincidences. It was an amazing book that makes you question destiny, coincidence, friendship, and the little things you take for granted.
Reviewed by Lindsey Z.
Twelve-year-old Oliver has fooled everyone into thinking he is the dumbest kid in school. He is actually an evil genius. He started his fortune at age seven when he won $500 by calculating the probability of bingo results based on the shape of the balls and choosing the best cards. Oliver put this money in an online stock-trading account and soon made his first million. He now is the 3rd richest person in the world and has a network of secret tunnels connecting his various businesses with an entrance in his bedroom. He has minions that do whatever he orders. But still he keeps his secret safe. All Oliver wants is to be class president to impress his dad. He thought getting kids to vote for him would be simple but it is a lot harder than he imagined. This is a comical book for boys and girls ages 10 to 14.
Reviewed by Bianca V.
Ruined is a book that anyone would kill for, literally! Ruined will have you wanting more and more and more! Rebecca Brown, is an average sixteen-year-old New Yorker, her father is a high- powered tech consultant and when he needs to go on a business trip in China for sixth months, Rebecca is sent to New Orleans to live with her Aunt Claudia. Rebecca is forced to go to a new school and new town, where everything is as though it was a century ago. Family in the Garden District is very important, if you don’t come from an old- line family, you will end up being chewed up and spit out again. But when Rebecca disobeys her aunt, and goes into Lafayette Cemetery, she will discover a secret that will change not only her life, but everyone around her as well. Will she have the courage to go on, or will she fall? I recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure, lies, romance, and a surprise twist at the end.
Paris Pan is a 12 year old girl who just moved. The school in her new town is so small that there are only 3 other girls in the seventh grade Paris gets invited to a sleepover where she is first told about a girl named Beth who was dared to spend the night in the woods behind her house. Her body was found 2 years later. Every so often a porcelain doll is found buried in the woods and they are just like the ones Beth owned when she was alive. Some people believe that her ghost put them there. Paris’ new friends discover that she lives on the same property that Beth did back in the 1980’s and now they want Paris to let them spend the night in her backyard. She reluctantly agrees to do it with them. This is a mildly creepy book good for ages 9-12.
The Little Secret is about a girl named Jane who becomes friends with a strange new girl at her school named Staffa. Jane accepts an invitation to spend a few weeks of her summer vacation at Staffa’s home. For some reason Staffa always travels with a peculiar and beautifully painted box that Jane is told to never open. When she arrives at Staffa’s home, all she sees is a small rock formation. Staffa puts the box in a perfectly sized hole in the rock and puts a ring on Jane’s finger. Jane starts to shrink and soon she sees that Staffa is tiny as well. The blades of grass are as tall as trees and lunch is a chocolate truffle the size of a garden shed. Then they both go into the box and Jane gets to see Staffa’s world where they ride bees like horses and keep slugs like cows. While Staffa seems to not have any more secrets, it appears that Staffa’s mother is still hiding something. This is an adventure filled book for ages 8-12.
Theo Saint lives a less than dull life in Empire Hall. He has only the maid, the butler, and his guardian, Dr. Saint, who forces the same boring schedule everyday that includes no friends, no freedom,no going outside, weird gloves, and painful treatment in the Mercy Tube every night. But, with a note on his birthday and help from the deaf maid he escapes and finds himself in a world of adventure. He discovers that he is the last descendent of Lord Wickland, the Candle Man, and has the power to melt enemies with his hands and glow in the presence of a murderer. He also learns that the Society of Unrelenting Vigilance were the ones that sent the note and rescued him from Dr. Saint who is part of the evil Charity of Good Works. While Dr. Saint is trying to duplicate Theo's unusual power, Theo and the Society of Unrelenting Vigilance are sandwiched into action, friendship, and rivalry. It was a terrific book for anyone ages ten to fourteen who loves fantasy and action.
Reviewed by Samantha A., age 8
I like the book Dodger for President because of the author's humorous style. The book is about a hilarious blue chimp that only Willy Ryan and Lizzie Barrett can see. The chimp's name is Dodger. Dodger takes Willy's place at school one day (he puts on a magic potion to look like Willy!) when he is absent and signs him up for the class presidential election. When Willy comes back to school and discovers this, he asks Lizzie to be his running mate. That's when things get all mixed up! One of my favorite parts in the book is when Willy's little sister Amy points out that the kids who are running for president and vice president are not looking out for themselves. I liked it because I was on Willy's side and at this part of the story it looked like the other kids were too. I think one thing that could be better about the book is the author could say who one the election at the end of the book. Maybe the answer will be in the next book! I think this book would be good for any elementary age reader if you like fantasy and magic.
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