Ages 08 - 10, Ages 10 - 12

It’s Hard to Make a Fast Buck These Days

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Eddie, Incorporated by Phyllis Naylor

Fun light reading about a boy who wants to start a business.

Recommended age: 8 – 10; 10 – 12

Eddie’s family are all making money and in business.   Eddie wants to start his own business, but things just don’t work out.  And then, when everything does seem to be working out, he comes face-to-face with “Herman the Terrible” — a two-year-old terror.

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Ages 08 - 10, Ages 10 - 12

What is a Boy to Do?

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“Bobby” Series by Lisa Yee

  1. Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)
  2. Bobby the Brave (Sometimes)

Fun stories about a fourth-grade boy.

Recommended age: 8 – 10; 10 – 12.

In the first book, Bobby is in fourth grade and has always been friends with Holly.   She has always been his friend, but, now, she is becoming (gasp) a girl – wearing dresses and painting her nails and hanging around with Jillian — who is no friend of Bobby’s!   What is he going to do?  In the second book, Bobby deals with having a famous football father when he is no good at football.

TO SEE THE FULL REVIEW: 

  • If you are reading this in your e-mail, please be sure to click on the link at the top of the page to go to the Reading With Wisdom website.
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Ages 12 - 14, Ages 14 - 16, Ages 16 - 18

You Can’t Keep a Super Hero Down

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“The Adventures of Chance Fortune” Series by Shane Berryhill

  1. Chance Fortune and the Outlaws
  2. Chance Fortune in the Shadow Zone

A fun series that parodies popular superhero stories while telling a good story at the same time.

Recommended age: 12 – 14; 14 – 16; 16 – 18;

Ever since he was a young boy, Josh Blevins has wanted to be a superhero. One day, when he was nine, a retired superhero moved in across the street from him. Joshua immediately went over to talk to the retired hero, and after a brief discussion the man agreed to train Joshua as his apprentice. Now, five years later, Joshua has become the epitome of physical and mental fitness, and he sends in an application to a superhero academy. When they respond, however, they have horrible news. They respect his physical and mental prowess, but because he doesn’t possess a superpower, he is unable to attend the Academy. Joshua is not defeated, however, and he reapplies as the hero ‘Chance Fortune’, who has the power of good luck. This time he is accepted, and he leaves for the academy, never realizing the adventure awaiting him. The second book continues the adventure.

TO SEE THE FULL REVIEW: 

  • If you are reading this in your e-mail, please be sure to click on the link at the top of the page to go to the Reading With Wisdom website.
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Ages 08 - 10, Ages 10 - 12, Ages 12 - 14

The Odd Couple: Bird and Squirrel — plus a Hungry Cat.

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Bird & Squirrel by James Burks

Graphic Novel

A very funny story about a timid squirrel and a carefree bird being chased by a hungry and angry cat.

Recommended age: 8 – 10; 10 – 12; 12 – 14

Bird is footloose and carefree, staying late up north because he is having so much fun.   Squirrel is busy getting ready for winter and trying to get Bird to leave him alone.   When Squirrel sacrifices his winter food supply to save bird from getting eaten by the Cat, Squirrel decides to try to go south with Bird rather than risk starvation in the north.   But, an uptight fearful Squirrel, a foolish carefree Bird, and an angry hungry cat make for some fun reading.

TO SEE THE FULL REVIEW: 

  • If you are reading this in your e-mail, please be sure to click on the link at the top of the page to go to the Reading With Wisdom website.
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Ages 10 - 12, Ages 12 - 14

Boys vs. Girls — It never ends!

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“Hatfords and Malloys” Series; also known as the “Boys vs. Girls” Series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

  1. The Boys Start the War (1992)
  2. The Girls Get Even (1993)
  3. Boys Against Girls (1994)
  4. The Girls’ Revenge (1998)
  5. A Traitor Among the Boys (1999)
  6. A Spy Among the Girls (2000)
  7. The Boys Return (2001)
  8. The Girls Take Over (2002)
  9. Boys in Control (2003)
  10. Girls Rule! (2004)
  11. Boys Rock! (2005)
  12. Who Won the War? (2006)

A fun series of a long-running boys vs. girls feud — based on the Hatfields and McCoys feud.

Recommended age: 10 – 12; 12 – 14.

The four Hatford boys were sad that their friends and neighbors, the Bensons — who had five boys — had moved away.   Worse, the family that is renting the Bensons’ house, the Malloys, have three girls.   The boys decide that if they can drive the girls away, then maybe the Bensons might need to return to their house.  The girls, meanwhile, decide that they are going to get back at the boys who are spying on them.   In the process, war is declared.   Sometimes the boys get the upper hand, and sometimes the girls do — but usually, each side’s schemes get turned around to the other side’s advantage.

TO SEE THE FULL REVIEW: 

  • If you are reading this in your e-mail, please be sure to click on the link at the top of the page to go to the Reading With Wisdom website.
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Ages 08 - 10, Ages 10 - 12, Ages 12 - 14

Camp Whatsitooya is under Siege!

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Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies by Andrea Beaty

A fun parody of alien attack/fear-based type movies.

Recommended age: 8 – 10; 10 – 12; 12 – 14

Kevin and Joules are spending the week at Camp Whatsitooya while their parents compete at the International SPAMathon Dessert competition.   Unknown to Kevin and Joules, fierce Fluffy Bunnies — refugees from a far-away planet — have landed in the woods nearby and intend to take over the world and eat everyone.

Click on the link READ ALL REVIEWS on the right-hand side of this page to see the complete review for this book.

Adult, Ages 16 - 18

An Unlikely Hero to Save the Kingdom

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“The Staff and the Sword” series by Patrick Carr

  1. A Cast of Stones
  2. The Hero’s Lot
  3. A Draw of Kings

Well-written stories of intrigue, king-making and following God.

Recommended age: 16 – 18; Adult

Errol is the town drunk — at 18 years old.   But one day he is recruited to carry a message to a hermit.  On the way, he is almost murdered.   He and the hermit and the hermit’s companion escape, heading toward the capitol.   However, they are attacked several times on the way, and Errol finds himself separated and in danger, but he pushes on to reach the capitol without being killed.  There he finds out that the enemy is stronger and more dangerous than he had ever imagined, but he doesn’t give up.   In the second story, Errol is still being attacked, and is forced to go on a suicide mission into enemy territory, seeking to kill the most dangerous man in his country.  In the third book, Errol and Liam spearhead the battle to save the country from an overwhelming attack inspired by demons.

Click on the link READ ALL REVIEWS on the right-hand side of this page to see the complete review for this series.

Adult, Ages 14 - 16, Ages 16 - 18

Teenage Superheroes Out to Save the World

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“Quantum Prophecy” Series by Michael Carroll

  1. The Awakening
  2. The Gathering
  3. The Reckoning

Recommended age: 14 – 16; 16 – 18; Adult

Ten years ago, all the superhumans in the world vanished. No one knows what happened to them, and after a year or two they were just gradually forgotten. On the tenth anniversary of the heroes’ disappearance, however, the seemingly ordinary teenager Colin Wagner discovers that he has superpowers. He doesn’t have time to enjoy this discovery, however, as he is kidnapped by villains who plan to use his powers for their own purposes. The second and third books continue the series.

Click on the link READ ALL REVIEWS on the right-hand side of this page to see the complete review for this series.

Adult, Ages 08 - 10, Ages 10 - 12, Ages 12 - 14, Ages 14 - 16, Ages 16 - 18

Whoo’s up for Owlish Fun?

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Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat

A very funny story of a boy who had two owls as pets.

Recommended age: 8 – 10; 10 – 12; 12 – 14; 14 – 16; 16 – 18; Adult

Farley decided that he wanted to get an owl for a pet.   He unexpectedly gets two — with hilarious results.  Spraying skunks, bullies, cats, dogs running, crows getting outsmarted — the list goes on and on.

Click on the link READ ALL REVIEWS on the right-hand side of this page to see the complete review for this book.

Ages 08 - 10, Ages 10 - 12

DON’T LOOK AT THE MUSTACHE!!

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Fake Mustache by Tom Angleberger

A nonsensical, fun story about a mesmerizing mustache and the fight to save the world.

Recommended age: 8 – 10; 10 – 12

Lenny is a nice kid.   He has a friend, Casper.   He likes Casper, but Casper has a plan to take over the world — a plan which involves buying a hypnotic mustache.   Casper does, in fact, succeed in taking over the United States.   But Lenny is intent on thwarting his friend’s plan.   With the help of Jodie O’Rodeo (a former TV Show star) and a very sticky toy hand, Lenny gives it his best shot.

Click on the link READ ALL REVIEWS on the right-hand side of this page to see the complete review for this book.