![]() | Warriors: Power of Three #6: Sunrise by Erin Hunter
Buy new: $11.55 / Used from: $9.79 I've read every book in the series so far (and the rest are an auto-buy when I can afford them). This was a powerful end to the series, although it was rather disappointing when my favorite character became the enemy.
They left a few unanswered plot threads which will be answered in the next series.
Four and three-quarter stars
|
![]() | Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $0.01 Cranbrook Reading list, optional
This was a truly sad story that made me appreciate how lucky we are. For instance when the heroine's friends wanted to surprise her on her birthday and followed her home, her step-mother made the friends leave and beat Cinderella.
Five stars
|
![]() | The Call of the Wild and White Fang (Unabridged Classics) by Jack London
Buy new: $9.95 / Used from: $0.49 Only White Fang was on the list, but I read both stories.
They seemed very much the same plot, but with different dogs and humans. Both were very heartwarming, and had satisfying endings.
Four-and-a-half stars
|
![]() | The Conch Bearer (Brotherhood of the Conch) by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Buy new: $5.99 / Used from: $0.01 Optional on Cranbrook reading list
The Conch Bearer's decisions seemed unrealistic, a bit forced. The storyline demanded it, but I was not engaged and did not suspend my disbelief.
The plot was well written, and it was easy to indentify with the very likeable main character.
Four-and-a-half stars
|
![]() | Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $0.01 Compulsory summer read on the Cranbrook Kingswood reading list for girls entering 6th Grade.
Read it twice. It was amazing in its innocence and honesty. The hero was a very generous brother, almost implausibly so! Raccoon lovers may be distressed by the hunting scenes.
Four stars out of Five.
|
![]() | Inkheart (Movie Cover) (Inkheart Movie) by Cornelia Funke
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $3.22 On Cranbrook reading list
Inkheart was a slow starter, but a fast finisher. The pace really picked up once I got into it!
I'm reading Inkdeath now, and am going to put Inkspell on my wish list.
Four stars
|
![]() | Weather: Spectacular Images of the World's Extraordinary Climate by Storm Dunlop
Buy used from: $18.00 Found by chance while browsing the value buys in Barnes and Noble!
One of the best coffee table books ever! Truly spectacular and very interesting, especially to a Cloud Appreciation society member.
Get the hardback!
Five stars
|
![]() | The Cay by Theodore Taylor
Buy new: $6.50 / Used from: $1.25 Cranbrook list
An amazing book about trust and courage and survival. The main character was not racist, but he had to overcome differences in cultures and stereotypes and attitudes toward foreigners.
It was really short. I would have liked it to be longer.
Four stars.
|
![]() | Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01 Not mandatory.
The print was distractingly large in the copy we bought, so we got less story for the money than we expected.
It was an interesting storyline, but the puzzles were confusing and hard to read.
Three stars
|
![]() | The Marine Life of the Channel Islands by Sue Daly
Buy used from: $14.54 The Guernsey Aquarium was giving away a free copy to visitors who bought tickets to visit the exhibits.
This is an excellent reference book, and a super companion for anyone interested in going rockpooling at low tide in the British Channel Islands.
The illustrations are attractive, the text is clear.
Three stars
|
![]() | Old Git Wit: Quips and Quotes for the Young at Heart by Richard Benson
Buy used from: $0.80 Picked up because it was on my Granny's bedside table
I really enjoyed the humor in this book, especially as bedtime reading. Not every joke was appropriate for a 6th Grader, and some simply didn't seem funny to me.
Three stars
|
![]() | Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism by Georgia Byng
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $0.01 Cranbrook list of suggested reading for 6th Grade.
This story was interesting up to the middle, then it became wearing for this reader, owing to too much specious detail. The main character was well done, seemed real. The downside was that it bored me.
Three stars.
|
![]() | The Witching Hour by Elizabeth Laird
Buy used from: $12.15 This book takes place in 7th Century Scotland and seemed to rely too much on religion.
This might be accurate, but I did not enjoy so much detail. On the plus side, it had a satisfying ending.
Three stars
|
Listmania!












