Book+Reviews

**__ Book Reviews for Your Reading Pleasure __**



All of these books can be found in the Love Elementary Library. Check them out!  O’Connor, Barbara. 2007. **__How to Steal a Dog__**. New York: Francis Foster Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Hardcover. Georgina's dad walks out on the family. Georgina, her little brother Toby, and her mom, can't afford to pay the rent. They get kicked out of their apartment and are forced to live in their car. Georgina struggles to keep her change in living conditions a secret from her school friends. Still, washing up in the gas station restroom, doing homework by flashlight, and sleeping in the backseat of the family car is hard. Georgina's mom is working two jobs but still not making very much money. Then Georgina sees a flyer that offers $500 for the return of a lost dog and she devises a desperate plan. She will steal a dog and then return it for the reward money. Stealing the dog is easy. Finding a place to keep the dog, a way to feed the dog, and fighting her conscience is not. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, this book will keep the reader eagerly turning pages to discover how the story will end.

Barton, Chris. __**Shark vs. Train**__ A shark and a train compete in a series of contests on a seesaw, in hot air balloons, bowling, shooting baskets, playing hide-and-seek, and more. Very funny and creative.

Teckentrup, Britta. **__Big Smelly Bear__**

Big Smelly Bear has an awful itch and an even worse smell. He needs some help and a friend. Big Fluffy Bear would like to help out, and be his friend, but Big Smelly Bear refuses to bathe. How will this stalemate end? 

Korman, Gordon. **__Swindle__** After a crooked collector cheats six-grader Griffin Bing out of a valuable baseball card, he comes up with a plan to retrieve his card. With a band of fellow students, he attempts to overcome high tech security plans, a menacing guard dog, a mysterious hiding place, a nosy neighbor and many other obstacles to achieve his goal. Fast-paced, suspenseful, funny, and with unexpected twists, this story will keep you guessing until the last page is read.

Bruchac, Joseph. **__Whisper in the Dark__**

Maddy loves scary stories and legends. Especially those of her Native American heritage. Suddenly the most frightening legend of all, that of the Whisperer in the Dark, becomes all too real. An icy voice leaves chilling messages and unexplained attacks in the neighborhood come closer and closer to her home. What or who is stalking Maddy and will she be able to defeat the monster before he pays her a final visit? This spooky and fast-paced book is only for the truly brave reader. You'll want to keep the lights on even after you finish this riveting tale.

**Schachner, Judy**.

__**Skippyjon Jones in the Dog House**__

Skippyjon Jones, the Siamese "kitty boy" who thinks he is a Chihuahua, returns for more adventures. Transforming himself into El Skippito Friskito, Skippyjon rejoins his canine friends and battles the menacing Bobble-ito who is living in his buddies' doghouse. Can he evict the intruder? Full of fun and laughter, this book will appeal to all who enjoy fast and funny tales.

>

**Gantos, Jack.** **__Jack Adrift__**


 * He’s really at sea this time.** Jack's family is moving to a new town, Cape Hatteras, and Jack is struggling to chart a course for making new friends. His dad advises him to "tell the people what they want to hear". His mom advises him to "tell the truth". Jack finds no easy answers in this crazy school year. He fall desperately in love with his young teacher. The principal suckers Jack into becoming a bad-behavior spy and blackmails Jack to keep him on the job. Jack adopts a duck with backward feet and makes friends with an airheaded, air-guitar-playing neighbor. Jack's little brother and older sister are no help. Jack will have to get through the year one day at a time. One in a series of books, this tale of Jack Henry's adventures is praised by **Booklist** as being "hilarious, exquisitely painful, and utterly on-target" in its depiction of the life of an adolescent boy. Funny, but sad in places, this book will keep the reader turning pages to discover what craziness is going to occur next.

**Frazee, Marla**. **__Clementine__**


 * Clementine is a third grade student who means well, but always seems to be getting into trouble. In one short week, Clementine is sent to the principal's office three times. She manages to make both her mom and her best friend's mom furious at her. Clementine gives Margaret's hair a shocking trim, helps her dad with the great pigeon war, and tries without success to stay out of trouble. The adults think Clementine is making mischief, but she's really only trying to help out. Funny and fast-paced, readers will relate to Clementine, who doesn't mean to cause problems, but always seems to anyway.**

Velde, Vivian Vande. __Three Good Deeds__

If Howard had only known the old hag was really an old witch, he would never had taunted her. Now because Howard mouthed off to her, he's suffering the consequences. Howard has been turned into a goose. The only way he can regain his former identity is to carry out three good deeds. Not an easy task when you are covered with feathers and can only say "honk!" Life amongst the geese is not as easy and carefree as Howard had once thought. Fast, funny, and thought-provoking, this book will cause many people to rethink their everyday words and actions..

Whelan, Gloria. __Listening for Lions__ Africa is the only home thirteen year old Rachel Sheridan has known. Set in 1919, just after World War 1, Rachel is heart-broken when her missionary parents are killed by the influenza virus that is sweeping the world. Rachel is taken in by her family's wicked neighbors who plan to use Rachel's resemblence to their own recently deceased daughter to obtain riches from an old man in England. Transplanted from her happy life in Africa, Rachel is forced to take on a new identity in England. Like the lions of Africa, Rachel must be patient and strong until she can take control of her own life and find her way home once again. Rachel befriends the old man and eventually the truth does come out. The vivid details of the African wildlife and Masai people make this novel a rich and engrossing story to relish. Readers will cheer for Rachel as she finds a way to defeat the evil neighbors and carry out her own goals.