The City of Ember

The City of Ember by, Jeanne DuPrau. ISBN-13: 978-0375822735

Deep under the earth, exists a mysterious city named Ember. As far as the city's inhabitants know, they are the only life that exists. Unfortunately, things in their city are starting to fall apart. As the vasts storerooms for supplies become more and more empty, Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet begin to realize that Ember faces certain doom and that they might be the only two able to stop it.

Igraine the Brave

Igraine the Brave by, Cornelia Funke. ISBN-13: 978-0439903790

Igraine, born into a family of magicians, desperately wishes that she could become a brave and gallant knight. When her next door neighbor, the Baroness, has a visit from her nephew Osmund, Igraine might just get her wish. Osmund plans to steal the magic singing books from Igraine's family, and since her parents accidentally turned themselves into pigs, it will be up to Igraine to save the day!

Bella at Midnight

Bella at Midnight by, Diane Stanley. ISBN-13: 978-0060775735

This charming fairy tale will enchant readers from this kingdom to the next. Bella, who's mother died in childbirth, is sent off to be raised by a nursemaid in a nearby village. This nursemaid, who was also put in charge of nursing the youngest prince, is a kind sensible woman who raises Bella the best that she can. Bella and the prince, Julian, become the closest of friends whose lives are inexplicably intertwined together. This heartwarming story lures readers into considering notions of heroism, royalty, and friendship.

The Suite Life on Deck

O'Connell, P. (2008). The Suite Life on Deck. Disney Channel

Disney's The Sweet Life on Deck, a spin-off of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, is an overacted slapstick that takes place on a cruise liner. Bailey Pickett and Cody Martin may have broken up, but they sure haven't gotten over each other. Bailey's roommate, London Tipton, tries to cheer her up by taking Bailey to talk to their teacher, Miss Tutweiler, about break ups. Miss Tutweiler leads them to her room-- a pink frilly suite with dozens of cats crawling throughout. Cody, on the other hand, joins the Brotherhood of the Hooded Brothers monastery. Cody's brother, Zack and his roommate Woody Blend, go to the monastery to rescue him.

The main theme of the show, being the different ways girls and guys deal with break-ups, encourages viewers to behave in absurdly dramatic ways. The stereotype is that guys, after a break-up, should swear off girls. Girls, on the other hand, should eat ice cream, get mani-pedis, and dress cats up in frilly pink dresses. Neither character came to any real resolution, leading me to believe that this depressing break-up theme will last for a few more episodes. The characters are all complete stereotypes; there is the smart boy with the cool, trouble-making brother, the nerdy sidekick, the token African American boy, a farm girl, a rich girl, and a quirky teacher. This is an immensely popular show, and many tweens will be emulating the histrionics of the characters from The Suite Life on Deck.

This Book Is Not Good For You

This Book Is Not Good For You by, Pseudonymous Bosch. ISBN-13: 978-0316040860

The third book in the Secret series will not leave readers disappointed by this delicious treat! Our heroes, Cass, Max-Ernest, and Yo-Yogi continue upon their dangerous missions with the Terces Society to try to stop the evil Miss Mauvais and Dr. L. In this story they will face new dangers and mysteries as they explore ancient Aztec mysteries surrounding chocolate. Cass' mother gets secretly kidnapped and held hostage for a magic tuning fork that Cass was supposed to bring in to the Terces Society. Will Cass betray her friends to save her mother? What are the true powers behind this tuning fork?

This book is delicious-- and not just because it is about chocolate. The second book in the series might have lost a bit of the momentum of the first, but Pseudonymous Bosch has gotten right back on track with third. Yo-Yogi is an established and interesting character and Cass and Max-Ernst have become slightly less eccentric-- thus making it easier for kids to relate to them. This is accentuated by the fact that all three kids come from different types of families and thereby offer a range of family types to be emulated. The plot moves quickly, the action is fast-paced and funny, and the author's tone is delightfully unique. Like in the first two books, Bosch speaks directly to readers, explaining to them the grave danger that reading the book could put them in. Readers can enjoy a chocolate glossary at the end of the story.

The Cabinet of Wonders: The Kronos Chronicles Book 1

The Cabinet of Wonders by, Marie Rutkoski ISBN-13: 978-0374310264

This fabulous story, set in an alternate 16th century Bohemia, tells of a time when magic was possible. Mikhail Kronos is a metalworker with a special gift--his tin creations can come to life! After Mikhail was commissioned by the Prince of Bohemia to build an extraordinary clock tower, the prince steals Mikhail's eyes! Mikhail's daughter, Petra Kronos, sets off on a mission to find the Prince of Bohemia and steal back her father's eyes. So begins an epic adventure that will draw readers into The Kronos Chronicles.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by, Rodman Philbrick. ISBN-13:978-0-439-66818-7

Homer P. Figg is a big, fat liar. Okay, maybe he's not so big or fat, but he can lie better than a pig can stink. Homer sets off on a wild adventure shortly after his no-good uncle Squinton Leach sells Homer's older brother, Harold, to be conscripted into the Union Army. Set in the 1860's, this humorous look at the Civil War era touches upon heavy topics like slavery and war with a lightness that keeps the story appealing for readers. The shoeless, twelve year old protagonist sets off across the country on a quest to save Harold. Along the way, Philbrick pits Homer against a host of unsavory characters in order to introduce readers to the dirty truths of U.S. history. Readers can't help but consider slavery and the Underground Railroad, or the ugly realities of war, while anxiously awaiting the next big whopper that Homer P. Figg is going to dream up. Whether he is impersonating a pig boy for the travelling medicine show, hoodwinking a couple of professional hoodwinkers, or stealing a hot air balloon from the Union army, Homer P. Figg's exploits will entertain and delight readers in this 2010 Newberry Honor winning book.