 Is there somewhere you've always wanted to go? For Prosper and Bo, that place is Venice. They treasure the stories their mother told them of this magical city. After they become orphans and run away from their cruel aunt, it's where they decide to hide. But life as a runaway is not as glamorous as they thought. Things are looking pretty grim until they meet Hornet, another runaway who introduces them to The Thief Lord and takes them to live in the abandoned cinema she calls home. Life still isn't easy, but at least they have a roof over their head. Then things take another turn for the worse when their aunt and uncle hire a private detective to track them down and The Thief Lord takes on a dangerous job.
As with any heist story the plot is tense as the young thieves plan their strategy and avoid being caught. The real attraction of this novel though is the characters. From the private eye with the mustache collection to the self-styled thief lord himself, the book is full of memorable individuals. This isn't your typical thief story; as identities are revealed and characters become more complex the plot takes multiple twists and turns. Erica's Picks 3rd - 5th Grade Tags: Adventure, Crime Caper, Fantasy
0 Comments
 Albie has always been an 'almost'. No matter how hard he tries his work is only ever almost good enough. So he wasn't surprised when he found out that he was only almost good enough for his private school and he had to leave it for a public one. That means no more school with his best friend, one in a set of two triplets whose family is now starring in their own reality TV show. But Albie is starting to make new friends at his new school and they have a special math club there that is way better than sitting through regular math class. Perhaps this new school year will be better after all. Or perhaps it will just turn out to be another 'almost.'
I love how heartfelt this novel is without ever becoming saccharine (unless you count all the doughnut references.) The book is full of great characters, memorable small moments, and valuable life lessons. If you're looking for a realistic school story, this is an excellent choice. Erica's picks 3rd - 5th grade Tags: Character Driven, Contemporary Fiction, Family Life, Friendship, School Stories  Have you ever asked a question and had someone warn you to leave it alone? That's exactly what happens to Sally. When she tries to uncover the mystery of what happened to her father she only encounters more death and danger and people telling her that a proper lady should just stay home. But life with her aunt is insufferable and she can't rest until she knows why she became an orphan. With a few trusty friends, she just might be able to discover what a cursed ruby from India has to do with her past--or she might just doom them all!
This is a great mystery set in Victorian England. Sally and her friends from the young photographer to the enterprising urchin are all wonderful characters and the mystery unraveled in a suspenseful way full of clues and puzzles to work out. I'd give this to fans of mystery and historical fiction 6th & up. Erica's Picks 6th - 8th grade tags: Historical Fiction, Mystery |
Need a book?Then you've come to the right place! Follow the blog to see the latest recommendations from Erica and Jennie. Browse by subject to see past recommendations in each category. Book Talk VideosFind Erica's video book talks here
Categories
All
Archives
November 2022
|
RSS Feed
