The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring, the first book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, was written by J.R.R. Tolkien. It’s about a Hobbit (you’ll find out what a Hobbit is in the book) named Frodo Baggins. But I must tell you that the book will make a lot more sense if you read The Hobbit, the prelude, first. Anyway, Frodo receives an heirloom from his adopted father, Bilbo (the main character in The Hobbit). He receives the ring that is more powerful than any other ring in all of Middle-Earth. The ring can make you turn invisible and make you live a longer life. But Gandalf the Grey, a wizard who accompanied Bilbo on his quest, tells Frodo that the ring has to be destroyed by dropping it into a volcano called Mount Doom, located in the evil land of Mordor, to stop the evil lord Sauron from rising to power and destroying Middle-Earth. Frodo and the fellowship created by Elrond, the leader of the elves, prepare for a long journey to Mount Doom.

I think it’s a good time to read these books because the movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, just came out earlier this year. I recommend this book to 11-15 year old boys because of the high vocabulary and some violence. If The Fellowship of the Ring gets boring, just keep reading it because I promise there will be a lot of action in the middle and near the end of the book. The other books in the trilogy are:

                                                   The Fellowship of the Ring

                                                          The Two Towers

                                                                    And

                                                     The Return of the King

                                                          And the prelude:

                                                              The Hobbit

                                              -Flaming Arrow (Age 11)

Matched by Ally Condie

      Matched by Ally Condie is a unique trilogy that I really enjoyed. Cassia is a young girl about to turn seventeen. She lives in “the society”, a place where the government controls everything, and the people aren’t allowed outside the city walls.  At 17, girls and boys in the society attend their “match banquet”, where the government reveals the person that has been chosen for them to spend the rest of their lives with. Cassia is excited about being matched with her life-long friend, Xander, until she realizes that there has been a mistake and she may have been matched with someone else.

     In the society, nothing goes wrong, usually anyway. No one runs, everyone obeys, and the citizens almost never doubt the government . After a while, Cassia starts to realize that it might not be such a bad thing to be suspicious about the “Society”.  She begins to question the society, and learns that finding the truth and deciding her own fate may mean she’ll have to break some rules.

     I can sometimes relate to Cassia, always seeing things differently, finding the good in people, and finding it hard to let go. Though Cassia and I aren’t even close to the same age, I can understand her desire to be free.                                                                                               Rockin’ Robin, Age 10

Matched is the first book of Ally Condie's trilogy.

Book 1: Matched, Book Level 4.8

Book 2: Crossed, Book Level 4.2

Book 3: Reached, Book Level 4.6

The Napping House

    
      The Napping House by Audrey Wood is the telling of a funny string of events. Theis is a great book to read at bedtime! Throughout the book you will meet a family who never does anything but sleep bu things get a little crazy when a flea is awakened and scared! What happens next is sure to make you laugh. The flea startles the mouse and the mouse startles the........ Will anyone in theis house be able to sleep?
     The nanny in this book reminds me a lot of my Nana who also snores really loud. Shhhhh....don't tell her I told you. It makes me want to be near her. She actually loves to read this book to me and my little sister. I suggest this book for anyone who enjoys a good laugh.      - Rockin' Robin, 10

The House That Jill Built

   

     The House That Jill Built by Phyllis Root is one silly read! You will find yourself laughing while nursery rhyme characters show up at Jill's house looking for a place to live.
     My favorite part is when the Dish and the Spoon show up at Jill's house requesting "a cow jumping over the moon". Toward the end of the book, Jill is running out of places to put all of her new friends.
     Little kids will like the pop-up doors and windows that let them see inside the house. I recommend this book for anyone that still likes for Mom or Dad to read aloud to them.    - Little Sunshine, 9

The Spiderwick Chronicles

The Spiderwick Chronicles is a series about three normal kids who find The Field Guide that their great great grandfather, Arthur Spiderwick, wrote. They go on dangerous, please do not try at home adventures! With the field guide’s help, they look for Arthur. While on their trip, they meet new, strange, and evil creatures. I took the risk. Will you?       -Little Sunshine age 9

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray is a historical fiction book about a boy named Adam and all of his adventures. Adam is eleven, and has pretty well raised himself. Adam’s father is a minstrel in London. When Adam was old enough, he was able to travel across London with his dad, Roger. Adam’s closest friend is his dog Nick. Along the way Adam meets many people and makes lots of new friends, but when Adam loses both Roger and Nick, how will they find each other again? I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of eight. I loved Adam’s personality! He was such a good spirit and always had his head held high. This character and I are close to the same age and it is hard to imagine dealing with the things Adam faced in his journey. As a young minstrel there is a lot of music involved in his job. I love music and sing all of the time! This book is definitely my favorite so far and I will always love it.     -Rockin' Robin, age 10

 

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

The Cricket In Times Square is a book about an adventurous, musical cricket from Connecticut. While Chester searches for food at a hometown picnic, he ends up on a train headed to New York City! When the train stops at Times Square, the excitement begins! Chester meets a family who owns a newsstand, a mouse who has an eye for talent, and a friendly cat while in Times Square but are his new friends and his show schedule enough for Chester the Cricket to be truly happy? 
I really enjoyed reading about Times Square and hope to visit NYC one day soon. I definitely recommend The Cricket in Times Square! Book level (4.9)  - Little Sunshine, age 9