Category: 4th Grade

The Blackthorn Key (Book 1)

2/15/2022

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands is a thriller/mystery/fantasy that takes place in mid-1600s London. In the book, Christopher, the main character, is an apprentice to Benedict Blackthorn, an apothecary. An apothecary is a person who makes helpful remedies out of many exotic and rare materials. In the book, there is a chain of apothecary murders spreading throughout London. Christopher teams up with his best friend Tom to find the culprit/s. While they are doing this, they find out that Benedict was working on something shady, something mysterious. And when the murders come closer to the Blackthorn shop than ever before, Christopher's life is thrown into peril.... I like this book because it has so many twists and turns and it is full of mystery. It is also super interesting and time will fly by super quickly while reading this book. I think mystery and thriller readers will love this book.

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands
Grades: 4th - 6th
Reviewed by Jude B.
Tags: adventure, fantasy, fast-paced, historical fiction, mystery

Truly Tyler

2/14/2022

This book is a delightful life relatable story that revolves around both a middle school girl and boy that have a lot of stress around them. From friend problems, to being a victim of bullying, and sometimes feeling like people think they're not enough. This story has two main characters and I enjoy it because they switch off chapters, telling each their own point of view in any situation. These two characters (Emmie and Tyler) have extremely different personalities, but begin to realize that could be a shortcut to becoming friends. Tyler is one of the most popular guys in the school. He has many friends, and always has to think before he acts, because one wrong move could end him up sitting next to the trash cans at lunch. Emmie, on the other hand, is the most quiet and non-social girl in school. She gets made fun of, and feels like she is always invisible to everyone around her. These two extremely different teens find that they also have some sort of connection...

Truly Tyler by Terri Libenson
Grades: 4th - 6th
Reviewed by Frances L.
Tags: comics, friendship, humor, realistic

Belly Up (Funjungle Series #1)

2/11/2022

Belly Up is a fun exciting mystery adventure that takes place in a zoo/theme park called Funjungle. A boy named Teddy suspects foul play when Henry the Hippo goes belly up. As the story goes on, it gets more intense. Will Teddy escape the destruction and attacks targeted towards him? Can he find a way to convince everyone that this wasn't just death of old age, but murder? And how will Teddy, just a boy, solve this case instead of the police? With constant plot twists, excitement, and humor, too, everyone will be sitting on the edge of their seats, reading and reading until they're finished. And when they're finished, longing for more. This book is the most exciting, hilarious and mysterious mystery novel I've ever read. I finished the whole series within two months, and I'm not a big reader! This book is highly recommended!!!

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs
Grades: 3rd - 5th
Reviewed by Charlotte D.
Tags: adventure, animals, realistic, mystery

The Thing About Jellyfish

8/1/2020

The thing about jellyfish is a book about a girl whose best friend drowns while they were 'fighting' and she never gets to say goodbye. She is determined to find out what happened to her friend, and it leads her to a conclusion--without much evidence. This book is full of flashbacks. For example, she lets us know what happened with her and her friend's friendship through a series of flashbacks. The main character is quite academic, and gets bullied for not only caring about fashion and boys. This story is very sad, but I would still recommend this book for fourth and fifth graders.

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
Grades 4-6
Genres: friendship, mystery, realistic, tear-jerker
Reviewed by Isa

Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire

6/9/2020

Book #1 of this awesome trilogy is amazing! It's about a kid named Arlo Finch who moves to a place called Pine Mountain in Colorado. He and his sister and mom (not dad because he's hiding from the FBI) move in with Arlo's Uncle. He starts Rangers (Scouts) like his Uncle did and Pine Mountain is a very special place because there's mystical creatures and a whole other world! He finds out that he's not safe and that those mystical creatures want him dead! There's so many secrets that he has to uncover. Will he find out why they want him or will he be murdered!?

Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire by John August
Grades 3-4
Genres: adventure, fantasy, humor, mystery
Reviewed by Grant

The Unwanteds

5/26/2020

This is a book with magic and victory. It is about a boy named Alex, his friends, and his evil twin. If you like Harry Potter or Land of Stories, this is a book you'd love. As you cheer for you favorite characters and boo your enemy's experience becoming unwanted and learning magic. This book is great mix of friendship, betrayal, and loyalty.

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
Grades 4-5
Tags: Adventure, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Friendship, Mystery
Reviewed by Hannah

A Good Kind of Trouble

5/26/2020

I recommend this book because it shows the real struggles of a black girl's life nowadays. If you like realistic fiction from a view people don't normally write about you will love this book.

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee
Grades 4-6
Tags: Realistic, Friendship, Romance
Reviewed by Ella

The Mysterious Benedict Society

5/26/2020

The Mysterious Benedict Society #1 is the first book in a four book series (not including the prequel). It's about four kids that are especially talented in ways others are not and they go on a secret mission for weeks in enemy territory to stop something big from happening. I can't say anymore but I hope you read the series and the prequel.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Grades: 3-5
Tags: Adventure, Realistic, Humor, Mystery
Reviewed by Grant

The Girl Who Could Not Dream

5/26/2020

It has monsters fantasy and it's about a girl named Sophie that has never dreamed and her parents own a dream shop.

The Girl Who Could Not Dream by Sarah Beth Durst
Grades 3-5
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery
Reviewed by Sara

Wildwood

5/22/2020

I like this book because it makes me smile. This book is about a girl that gets her brother taken away by murder crows into the so called "impassable wilderness"(i.w.) by the way nobody has come out when they venture in. Then she realizes what has to be done. She has to find her brother. And with this she leaves with her school friend. Can she get there in time? Can she save her brother? read to find out.

Wildwood by Colin Meloy
Grades 4-7
Tags: adventure, animals, fantasy
Reviewed by Frankie