Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop

Reviewed by Robin T.

Fang is an exciting novel, continuing the Maximum Ride series. It is
good for those with a large amount of spare time ahead of them, as
once you start it you will not want to put it down. In Fang, the flock
goes to Africa on a philanthropic mission, but things seem to be
afoot. Are they walking into a trap? Read this book to find out. This
book will keep readers ages 10-13 on the edge of their seats. It is a
good book for those looking for excitement. However, I do not
recommend it for those who have not read the preceding books.

Reviewed by Robin T.

The Owl Keeper is a mysterious book about Maxwell Unger’s attempt to find the Owl Keeper, who will bring back the Sages and the Silver Scrolls, and lead the silver owls in their magical OwlSong. He must avoid the tyrannical, totalitarian High Echelon, a part of the evil Alazarin Oro. In it, he escapes his High-Echelon hired guardian’s poisoned hot cocoa, and the silver-owl-killing skræks, but can he make it past the deadly plague wolves and get through the Frozen Zone’s bitter cold? I highly recommend this amazing fantasy novel to ages 9 through 12. It is good for those looking for a mysterious and exciting read with few boring points. The ending takes a surprising but satisfying twist. If you like fantasy novels that take place in odd future societies, this is your book!

Reviewed by Robin T.

The Unified States of America are ruled by a totalitarian government. Rachel and her mother work for Mrs. Moore away from the restrictive cities. They live on The Property, an area most people would consider to close to The Line for comfort. The Line is a part of the impenetrable border system. The Line was created in a haphazard manner as a straight line, which locked many legitimate citizens out of the country without access to necessary resources. I recommend this suspenseful sci-fi book to ages 10 to 12.

Reviewed by Robin T.

Fever Crumb is a book about a girl who is the apprentice of Dr. Crumb in a time when women are not considered to be capable of rational thought. Dr. Crumb is a member of the Order of Engineers. She is raised as an Engineer herself, but not all is as it seems. This book is a great science fiction novel with a touch of historical fiction that I recommend for children ages 10-12. It is a great book for those who wonder: What would people do with parts of computers in the 17- and 18- hundreds? What would those times be like if our present was their past?

Reviewed by: Jahnavi C.

“Mockingbird”, by Kathryn Erskine, is a deliciously tender book that will entrance readers from the first chapter.  Told from the viewpoint of a young pre-teen, Caitlyn is a completely normal girl—except for the fact that she has Asperger’s syndrome.  A mild form of Autism, Caitlyn can speak and write, for the most matter.  But when it comes to social interactions (i.e., making friends, talking to adults, etc.) Caitlyn simply can’t deal with it.  Her daily life consists of challenges that most of us wouldn’t—or couldn’t—face.  Talking to other girls her age, for instance.  Or perhaps even walking around the playground.  Though she is incredibly intelligent, using words no average eleven-year-old would use, and is an excellent artist, probable friends look past that and, sadly, see a weird girl who can’t hold a conversation.  However, when a tragedy befalls and her family is ripped apart, Caitlyn must use her blunt perceptiveness and naive ways to heal her family for good.  Through its direct ways and candid examples of how society looks upon others who are different, and maybe even unique, “Mockingbird” shows us the viewpoint of normal life from the point of view of the “underdog”—a view we all should learn to see, eventually, a view that can help shape of society for the future.  Recommended for readers 12+.

Reviewed by Robin T.

In Athena the Brain, Athena finds out that she is Zeus's daughter. She finds new friends at school soon enough, but she also finds new enemies – such as Medusa. She makes a few slip-ups, including brainstorming (dropping inventions on mortals), talking to Pheme (goddess of gossip), and letting Medusa get into her latest invention. In Persephone the Phony, Persephone is tired of letting other people dictate her identity. When she runs into Hades, it is pretty much love at first sight. But can she keep it a secret? Read this book to find out. I recommend this two-in-one book to children ages 9 to 11. It is a good fantasy novel for those looking for a quick read.