Walking with Witches by Lynn Huggins-Cooper

In which Eleanor and her friend Isabel see a glass case where the pages of a witch's book start turning! On Halloween they go digging and find a magic pendulum. That's when their troubles begin. They seek the aid of local shop owner Kelli and her daughter Rhanna. After many weird dreams, visions, and very strange coincidences Eleanor and Isabel learn that they alone hold the fate of many women in their hands.

If you have not figured this out yet, Kelli and Rhanna are based on  my mom and me! And Eleanor and Isabel are real people too! (Eleanor is my best friend in real life! hey Elle!) This book takes you into a city in England called Newcastle, where 16 witches and one wizard had been hung on the town moor. It takes you into many landmarks around the old city, including the Lit and Phil library and the castle keep. The dreams are very life-like and you feel almost as if you are the witch. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out how it will end! This historical fiction-fantasy book is great and even if you are not a huge reader like me, this book will change that very quickly!

 

Recommended for people who like: witchcraft, spooky stories, and magic.

Lady of Palenque: Flower of Bacal by Anna Kirwan

In which 13 year old Green Jay on the Wall lives with her many siblings and step mothers. Soon she is told that she will be leaving to go marry. She is given many lovely gifts including a belt made out of jade. On the trip to her new husband they meet some unfriendly tribes, they lose two men’s lives to the water and run into many caimans. Will she get to her new home safely?


As sad as it makes me, I did not finish this book. There are too many long names of people and places so by the end of each chapter you are exhausted. One thing I did like about this book was the creation stories. There are many of them in this book. I did enjoy learning about a new place and time. I hope that you will be able to read this book and really enjoy it.

This book is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for people who like: fancy names, creation stories, and rain.

Anacaona: Golden flower by Edwidge Danticat

In which Anacaona, niece to the supreme chief, loves to write ballads and riddles, practice dances, and is preparing for her coming of age ceremony. As she is accepting gifts from other chiefs, she is given a cage full of colorful birds; the chief tells her that someday she will let the birds free and she will follow them back to him. After her uncle becomes very ill, her brother marries, and a deadly hurricane blows through, she follows the birds to her new husband where they are happy.

But their happiness did not last; soon afterwards they were attacked by "the pale men with their lighting rods” as she called them (the Spanish). This book really gives you the other side of the story of that time. When you hear about how the 'Brave Spanish' conquered the 'savage people' they were only saying that because the Spanish could not survive a day there and would look like the wimps they really were. (no offense to anybody who likes Christopher Columbus) but he had Anacaona hanged when she was 29 years old and killed many more people for no reason except greed, for the gold, land, and easy slavery. (Do you still like Christopher Columbus as much now?? I don't think so!)

This book is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for people who like: Queen Anacaona, great creation stories, and proof against Christopher Columbus.

Nzingha: Warrior Queen of Matamba by Patricia McKissack

In which 13 year old Nzingha, the first daughter of Ngola Kiluanji, loves to practice with her bow and arrows, and try to get her father's attention. While she waits for her father to come back from fighting the Portguese she gets ready for her coming of age ceremony. After talking, hunting, and becoming closer with her father, he sends her out to go talk the leader of the Portguese, who wants to ask for slaves every year. There she talks with a maid who tells her what happens to slaves that go over the sea. She is shocked. When she goes to talk to the Portguese king he tells her that she can sit on the floor. Not okay with Nzingha, she tells a servant to get on his hands and knees so she can sit on his back and be at equal height with the king.

I had never heard of Nzingha before this book. She is now my new favorite queen! She married and had one son who was later killed by her half brother. Her husband died in battle. After her father died her youger half-brother took over and went crazy with power. Some people say that when she went to talk to the Portguese king she had him killed. No matter what really happened, at age 42 she became king and ruled for 40 years! She lived until she was 82 years old, which is very old for those days. Wait! That's really old even for today :) Her sister became king after her. I now LOVE Nzingha (also spelled Nzinga) who is just like Queen Elizabeth I and I can't wait to learn more about her!

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recomended for people who like: spunky African princesses, warrior queens, and really awesome old wise women!

Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess by Carolyn Meyer

In which Anastasia is living with her family, who happens to be the imperial family of Russia. She loves to play with her sisters, and hates her lessons. One day her brother hurts himself and a 'saint' comes and makes him feel better. Anastasia and her family go on a cruise where the sisters catch each other doing things they are not supposed to do, make plays about bears, learn that a friend of theirs has been killed, and that the 'saint' has been attacked. Anastasia's father must send armies out to start a war, which he hopes will be over by Christmas. Christmas comes and goes and the war is still going. After her father abdicates the crown Anastasia's whole family is put under arrest and are no longer allowed to go wherever they want. Will they be rescued from this misery?

Sadly they were not rescued but end up being shot the same year the book ends. What happened to that family is just Horrible. Whenever you read a history book or listen to someone talk about history you will always hear "and then so-and-so got overthrown. then the next ruler was...." What you don't hear is what happened to the families, people, and children involved in the revolutions. This story I think is well known because it happened in the 20th century.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

 Reccomended for people who like: Anastasia Nholaievna Romanov, sledding, and Russia.

The Chimera's Curse by Julia Golding

In which Connie tries to stop her friends from finding a terrible creature, a crazed chimera who argues with itself for all eternity, and ends up being attacked herself. On the verge of death she is saved by Windfoal the Unicorn.When she goes and talks with the Trustees they start to wonder if the chimera has been sent by Kullervo. The Trustees tell her not to prepare for Kullervo's next attack but she does it anyway, causing everybody to get mad. When Col goes missing Connie and Rat go to find him but when the Chimera attacks will Connie escape? Will Kullervo take over Connie's mind and will all humans be destroyed?

This book is SOOOO exciting!.......That's all I have to say. Have fun reading!......No I'm kidding. It is very exciting and worrying, and you feel feeling bad for Connie. She is trying to learn to be a Universal but some in the Society are worried that she will become too powerful. There is one scene with Col and Skylark that my brother and I loved. There is a very big surprise (or should I say surprises) that happens at the end making you reread the sentences again and again (I love when writing can be shocking like that). Golding writes a great ending to the series and I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I did :)

This is in the Companions Quartet.

Recommended for people who like: adventure, excitement, and a very cool, exciting (I said that before didn't I?) and happy ending.

Mines of the Minotaur by Julia Golding.

In which Connie finds herself being woken up by Col on the beach. She learns that she has subconsciously been using dangerous powers but Col's warnings to tell someone go unheeded. At a party Col tells Dr. Brock about what is happening to Connie, which makes her mad; she loses control and almost blasts Col, Dr. Brock, and their new friend Rat with a lightning strike! When she gets expelled from the society she goes to the moors with Argand and she hides in a mine where lives a minotaur who tells her all about mythical creatures who live underground who have been abandoned by the Society.

I love Rat and you will too! He is funny, rambunctious and loves to tease Col and Connie. His companion is very cool and is perfect for him. This is my favorite book out of this seires. It is interesting to read how Connie must learn to love all of herself, even the scary or bad parts. The minotaur is very sweet and is very protective of Connie.

This is book three of the Companions Quartet.

Recommended for people who like: hidden powers, minotaurs, and a great story all around.

The Gorgon's Gaze by Julia Golding

In which Connie is getting lessons in being a universal companion when her great aunt Godiva comes with the news that Connie can no longer be in the society! Godiva takes Connie to her house and homeschools her in a bad way. She won't let Connie see her society friends or mythical creatures. But when Connie hears that Col has gone missing with his mother she must get away. Skylark the pegasus comes for her and takes her to where Col is trapped, she saves him only to be caught by Kullervo herself. After lots of searching and worry, Connie learns to have empathy for Kullervo, and Col and his Dad dress up for a medieval fair to save a forest. Can Connie comes out on top?

This was a very exciting book to read by myself (I couldn't put it down) and to my brother (I tried to give each character his or her own voice).We both loved Argand, the little golden dragon. She is very cute in how she likes to be close to Connie. One scene my brother and I both like was when Connie is studying with Godiva and Argand flys through the window to get to Connie and Godvia screams "That damned parakeet!" We both laughed at that. And even though I don't like Kullervo, what he and Connie did together was very cool.   

This is book two in the Companion's Quartet.

Recommended for people who like: Little dragons, being brave for friends, and really funny dads.

Secret of the Sirens by Julia Golding

In which Connie Lionheart goes to live with her eccentric aunt Evelyn, who leaves Connie all by herself most of the time. She meets to coolest guy in her new class, Col Clamworthy and learns that Col, his grandmother, Aunt Evelyn, and lots of other people are in a secret society she wants to join too. But when Connie fails the test to enter the society, she sneaks out one night and follows her mysterious aunt, and she is kidnapped by Sirens! She learns that the society is called "The Society for the Protection of Mythical Creatures" and that mythical creatures are real.

 These books are full of adventure! The book leaves you guessing about what Connie's companion is (a companion is what mythical creature you are...well a companion to. Col's companion is a pegasus named Skylark. I love Skylark!) and when you learn the answer it is very exciting! It is fun to think that all mythical creatures are real. And you are scared and angry (at least for me and my brother) at Kullervo and no, I'm not going to tell you who he is.

This is book 1 in the Companion's Quartet.

Recommended for people who like: adventure, excitement, and sirens.

The Immortal Fire by Anne Ursu

In which Charlotte is recovering from being battered by Poseidon, and watching the news reports about how Greece is having major storms, hurricanes, weird winds, and rainbows. Mr. Metos (Charlotte and Zee's old English teacher) comes and they tell him all about their ocean adventure. But when a Chimera comes, burns down the school and carries Charlotte away, Zee knows that the Gods are not happy. Mr. Metos takes them to a secret place in London to try to protect them. After saving a boy, finding The Flame, going to Olympus, having weird life-like dreams that are really tests, seeing all the Olympians and meeting the all-mighty Zeus, can they save the world and everybody on it?

My dad gave this book to me as a surprise one day. I was so excited that I almost jumped out of the car! I thought it was very exciting and thought Charlotte and Zee were very brave...again. I felt bad for Charlotte's parents, because they think the their daughter is going crazy. But I LOVED the chapter called "And Now Presenting Zeus on High Father of Gods and Men and Lots of Other Stuff Too." I like to read the Greek section of my big mythology book, so I know all these stories by heart. You might say that I'm a Greek freak. Hee hee. There is definitely a lot of adventure, drama, and suspense. I hope you like the ending of this series as much as I did.

This is in the Cronus Chronicles series.

Recommended for people who like: Goddesses incognito, adventure, and also for people who hate Philonecron (like me).

The Siren Song by Anne Ursu

In which Charlotte is "ultramegagrounded." When her parents decide to go on a historical cruise ship for the summer, Charlotte knows that her summer is sunk. And Zee has started acting strange, going out with the girls at the school, and hardly talking to Charlotte. As soon as they get on the ship things start to lighten up for Charlotte; she has her own room and is free to go wherever she wants. But when Charlotte sees the new boy at school appear and then disappear on the ship, things are not right. After everybody goes to see the singer, Charlotte learns that Poseidon is angry with her for hurting his poor grandson Philonecron! After sailing past Scylla and Charybdis, dressing as a maid on Poseidon's ship, being eaten by a very friendly giant squid named Sir Laurence, and learning that she being used, can she save her parents, Zee, and the ship?



I read this book in one day it was so exciting! When you learn what happened to poor Zee your heart will break. It's all Philonecron's fault of course. He convinced his grandfather, lord of the seas, that those wimpy mortal kids need to be punished. So Poseidon throws a party knowing that they would come of course. Because as you know Poseidon is King of the Seas, but he's also king of throwing parties. My brother and I like to call Poseidon 'Po' for short. And we like to say: "Yo Po!" whenever we see a painting of Poseidon. Sir Laurence is so adorable! I think he is one of my favorite characters.

This is in the Cronus Chronicles series.

Recommended for People who like: the seas, brave girls, and adventure.

The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu.

In which Charlotte Mielswetzski lives her life (being followed by pale-faced yellow-eyed bald men in tuxedos). She finds a kitten (or the kitten finds her..?) and names the cat Mew. Then her cousin Zee comes over from London and tells her about how all the kids back in London are getting a mysterious illness and Zee thinks he's the cause! When the kids in Charlotte's school start getting sick and start losing their shadows, they (Charlotte and Zee) go to find out why. In the middle of the night a raven comes and takes them to the mall (of all places) that takes them though a door to that leads to the Underworld. There they meet nursery-rhyming Harpies, a fruit-roll-up -loving Charon, and an evil guy named Philonecron. Can they stop this hot-shot who thinks he can take over the Underworld and save the dead?

Here's something funny: Philonecron means 'lover of death.' That makes me laugh. On the first page the author says: "Pay attention. Watch carefully, now. Look at the sidewalk, there. See that girl - the one with the bright red hair, overstuffed backpack, and aura of grumpiness? That's Charlotte Mielswetzski. (Say it with me: Meals-wet-ski. Got it? If not, say it again: Meals-wet-ski. There. You thought your name was bad?)" I liked the Harpies who sang (my favorite) "Twinkle twinkle, little man, I wonder how you'd taste with jam, Chained above the world so high, Like a lamb chop in the sky. Twinkle twinkle little man, wonder how you'd taste with jam." Ha ha ha ha!

This is book 1 in the Cronus Chronicles series.

Recommended for people who like: shadows, brave heroes and heroines, and a great story!

Children of the Lamp: The Blue Djinn of Babylon by P.B. Kerr.

In which djinn twins John and Philippa Gaunt live in New York City and try to keep warm. Philippa enters the Djinnversoctoannular Tournament, a djinn card game where everybody talks trash to each other for fun. There they meet the Blue Djinn, the top djinn who is nether bad nor good. After Philippa is kidnapped by the Blue Djinn, John, Mr. Groanin, Mr. Rakshasas (who's in his lamp), and the dogs go to get her back. They cross a desert and John meets scary ghost men, and bronze oarsman, and grass-eating kings; will he save her in time?

It is very dramatic. You can't believe the tension you go though reading this book. Iblis makes no trouble in the book....until the end. In the back of the book there are "The Official Rules of Djinnversoctoannular" (I haven't tried playing it yet). And I love Mr. Rakshasas. I like how he looks like an Indian but speaks like a Irishman. In this book he wrote a book called "The Shorter Baghdad Rules." The other "Baghdad Rules" was getting too long apparently. I love it!

This is book two in the Children of the Lamp series.

Recommended for people who like: Djinns, brave brothers, faithful dogs, and the saying "Light my Lamp!".

The Lioness and Her Knight By Gerald Morris.

In which Luneta leaves home with her cousin Ywain to go visit her mother's friend Laudine. On the way they meet a fool named Rhience and they stop at Camelot. Rhience tells them about a magical stone that is guarded by a large knight. After many adventures, never-hungry hermits, magic lessons, Luneta almost being burned at the stake, and saving women from sewing, Ywain gets the title The Knight of The Lion and the Lady.


Here's a fun fact: Luneta's parents are Lynt and Gaheris from The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf! (And Ywain's parents are Garth and Lyonesse) Lady Laudine is very pretty but...well...she is as smart as the bird that flies into a window. The author got the story from a 12th-century poem called "The Knight of the Lion" by Chretien De Troyes. In the poem there was a smart young lady who brought Ywain and Laudine together. He added Rhience and changed the lion to a lioness. There is one scene that I liked a lot (well there's really lots of scenes that I liked but this is just one) where Luneta walks into Gawain's room scaring him and Terence. It leads to a very funny conversation.

This in the Squire's Tales series.

Recommended for people who like: smart fools, adventures, magic, and evil stewards.

The Princess, The Crone, and the Dung-Cart Knight by Gerald Morris.

In which Sarah, a young girl looking for the murderer who killed both her mother and her guardian, meets Sir Kai (who teaches her swordplay) and a lovely lady. When Sarah sees Kai and the lady,who turns out to be Queen Guinevere, being kidnapped she goes to get help. She tells King Arthur the bad news. The King sends Gawain, Terence, and Sarah out to go save the Queen and knight. After many adventures, persistent holy-salesmen, knights incognito, mysterious crones and cheerful faeries they get to a magical realm where wounds never heal. They meet a King with no more brains than a goldfish, and a smart princess, and then an evil knight plans to force Guinevere to marry him. Can he be stopped?


I know what you're thinking "Dung-cart knight?!" but have no fears he's only being practical. I think this was my favorite book of the series (although it's very hard because I have SOOO many favorite books). I loved Sarah who is very stubborn and spunky. It was so fun to again meet Piers, Ariel, Terence, and Gawain. The evil knight is called Sir (if you can call him Sir) Meliagant. when I read these to my brother we called in Sir Smellygant. To get into the realm of Meliagant, Sarah and the dung-cart knight (and no, I am not telling you who he is) cross a cool bridge.


This is in the Squire's Tales series.


Recommend for people who like: Spunky girls, fake holy-men, cool crones, and magic.

The Ballad of Sir Dinadan by Gerald Morris

In which Dinadan wants to be a minstrel but is bound to be a knight. One night his father sends him out. He meets a young Welsh knight named Culloch. Together they go to King Arthur's court. When they leave they meet another king and have many adventures. Dinadan leaves Culloch and goes all over England playing his magical music. He meets lots of people including a strange silent knight. After saving a lady and giving a man his throne back Dinadan becomes the most musical knight in all England.

Some of Dinadan's songs are funny and the remarks people make are even more funny. Dinadan's older brother Tristram has made a vow of silence. Never will he speak of his love (and he goes on to tell Dinadan "to speak of the gold of her flaxen hair, to tell of the blue of her eyes, to express my love for her would only harm me.") When Dinadan offers to ride in silence Tristram says "It would be to tear open my wound yet again, for every word I speak of her is as a red coal pressed to my breast, searing me to the very heart. Nay, I can not even speak my own, for to tell my own name is to speak of her, for what is Tristram but the slave of Iseult?" That Tristram talks constantly of his vow of silence is very funny!!

This is in the Squire's Tales series.

Recommended for people who like: Ballads, Tristram and Iseult's story, and laughing out loud!

Parsifal's Page by Gerald Morris

In which Piers, who wants to be a page, and Parsifal, a woodsman who wants to be a knight, meet a nice old man who knows a lot about being polite and they live three months with him. Then they continue traveling and after many adventures with Parsifal and the knight Gawain, Piers learns more about his father (who may not be who he seems. . .)

Before this book I had never heard of Parsifal (I had never heard of Gawain before these books either but never mind that). In the author's note, Morris tells you how some of the names in these stories are spelled in many different ways, and explains why he chose the spellings he did for his retelling. For example, here are a lot of ways to spell Parsifal's name, you can spell it Percival, Parzival, Parsifal, or Peredur. All of these different spellings are from different places which I think is so cool! I can't wait till you meet Ariel, a water nymph who is so fun to read about. Happy reading!

This is in the Squire's Tales series.

Recommended for people who like: red armor, magical castles, and adventure.

The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf by Gerald Morris

In which Lady Lynet lives in a castle that is under siege by the evil Red Knight who wants to marry her older sister. One night Lynet sneaks out to go get help. She meets a dwarf named Roger on the way. When she gets to King Arthur's court nobody will help her except for a kitchen knave called Beaumains. After many adventures, fights, and colorful knights, Lynet, Roger, and Beau (as they call him) get to the castle and Beau defeats the Red Knight! But her older sister won't marry Beau until he tells her what his name is. Lynet learns to be an enchantress and saves Roger who has been taken prisoner by her sister only to learn something new.

This is a very funny book to read. I loved Lynet and Roger the Dwarf. (You don't find out who Beau really is until the end of the book.) You will meet old characters like Terence, Eileen, Gawain, and Morgan Le Fay. Lynet was a new character.

This is in the Squire's Tales series.

Recommended for people who like: Strong-minded women, knights incognito, damsels in distress (although, really who does like damsels in distress? So dependent!) and happy endings.

The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady by Gerald Morris

In which Terence and Gawain are at the Christmas feast when a large knight all dressed in green comes and challenges any knight to play his game, to chop of the Green Knight's head tonight only to have his (whichever knight takes the challenge) head chopped of in one year. The King, being sad because his Queen has fallen in love with Sir Lancelot, says he will play. Gawain stops him and accepts the challenge. So Gawain and Terence go to find the green knight. Gawain is captured by a evil Marquis. Terence goes to the Marquis's castle and he saves Gawain with the help of the Marquis's niece Lady Eileen who runs away with them. They get into the Other World and find a magical castle with a silly lord and stay before they meet the Green Knight.

I love this book! There are a lot of funny-laugh out loud, happy, and scary scenes in this book. (It is hard to do reviews for these books because there is adventure on every page!) The author Gerald Morris has made up some characters like Terence and Eileen to make the stories more fun but most of the characters are from the Medieval versions of th stories like Sir Alan, Sir Lancelot, Sir Gawain, and Parsifal.

This is book 2 in the Squire's Tales series.

Recommended for people who like: Kings incognito, mythical wild woodsmen, short-tempered ladies, and Sir Wozzle.

The Squire's Tale by Gerald Morris

In which Terence lives with the hermit Trevisant (who can see the future but not the past). Terence meets Gawain, who is going to King Arthur's court to become a knight, and goes along to be his squire. They meet Tor who wants to be a knight too. When they get there the King gets married to the lovely young Guinevere. But on the wedding night a large stag and hound run on the tables! Then a ugly woman on a donkey comes after the animals and tells the Arthur to send two knights to go after the deer and dog. Sir Gawain, Squire Terence, and Sir Tor go. After many adventures, battles, bloodthirsty women, and strange lovers they meet Nimue who leads Gawain and Terence to a magical land where they learn new things.

The author turned these old Arthurian stories into modern versions. At the end of the book the author tells you what people he took from the old versions the main one being Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. They are so much fun to read. They are funny and full of adventure! You meet Morgan Le Fay (Gawain's Aunt) the evil Morgause (Gawain's mother) and Arthur who I just love! He is very humble, peaceful, and loves his Knights, people and country.

This is book 1 in the Squire's Tales series.

Recommended for people who like: Arthurian stories, Sir Gawain, and ADVENTURE.

Elisabeth: The Princess Bride by Barry Denenberg

In which Elisabeth learns that her older sister Helene is going to go see the Emperor of Austria in hopes of becoming the Empress and Elisabeth is going along. Elisabeth would rather stay home with her Father but she has no say whatsoever. When they get there the Emperor only has eyes for Elisabeth and not her sister. He asks if she will marry him and she says yes. After months of preparation and saying good-bye to all her pets and friends, she gets married and becomes the Empress of Austria.

Their marriage was not "happily ever after." Her mother-in-law (who was also her aunt!) did not like Elisabeth (she even took Elisabeth's first two children!). Elisabeth's husband was very obedient to his mother and did not talk very much to his wife. Before this book I had NEVER heard of Elisabeth . And it was fun to learn about somebody new. I learned that while Empress, she took beauty to a WHOLE new level. Her auburn hair came down to her feet and took 3 or 4 HOURS to fix correctly, and she hardly ate anything to keep her 20 inch waist. She walked, rode her horse, and every other kind of exercise that she could do. She spent the rest of her life devoted to looking nice.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for people who like: writing poetry, their dads, and just plain craziness.

Catherine: The Great Journey by Kristiana Gregory

In which Sophie lives her life in Germany with her mother, father, and two younger siblings. One day she learns that she is to go to Russia to meet Empress Elizabeth and meet her future husband Peter! Sophie and her mother get on a sleigh and start the long journey to Russia. They get there and the Empress changes Sophie's name to Catherine when she changes her religion. She gets showered with gifts from the Empress: jewels, dresses, and a little puppy that she dresses up. Catherine's husband is still a boy but they become friends.

Before I read this book I didn't really know who Catherine the Great was. It was fun to learn about somebody new. She ruled for 35 years after Peter III died. So much happened during her reign. LOTS of stuff happened in the new world: Europeans discovered Hawaii, Uranus was spotted, and Catherine helped cure smallpox. I'm a new fan of Catherine the Great and can't wait to learn more about her.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for people who like: Catherine the Great, snow, and long walks.

Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles by Kathryn Lasky

In which young Maria Antonia, a princess in Austria. One day she learns that she is to be married to Prince Louis Auguste, next in line for the French throne! She starts to learn the French ways and dress in the French style. When she gets to the French border she must leave everything that had in Austria (including her clothes) behind to be French! When she meets her husband he does not talk to her much. She is very lonely for months and is watched constantly, but eventually they become friends. After she shows Louis how to make a snowball he does a little dance and says "I have the most wonderful wife in the world! She is the most talented, beautiful creature on God's earth."

I learned a LOT about Marie Antoinette in this book. Before reading it, the only thing I knew about her was that she misplaced her head. It was not Louis and Marie's fault that they stunk at ruling. They were not taught the right things about ruling. I learned that the hair fashion at the time was CRAZY!!! Women have whole scenes put into their wigs. I have a lot more sympathy for Marie Antoinette now.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for people who like: Maire Antoinette (Or if you don't like her...READ THIS BOOK!) the French, and crazy fashion.

Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile by Kristiana Gregory

In which Princess Cleopatra learns that her father King Ptolemy XII has fled from the angry people that he rules, and she lives in constant fear of being killed by her older power-hungry sister Tryphaena. When she hears that her father is going to Rome to ask for help against the fierce Egyptian rebels, she goes with him. They get to Italy and learn that they must travel north to meet up with Julius Ceasar. On the way Cleopatra meets Marc Antony, Cicero, and Pompey the Great. Her father gets help and they go back to Egypt and her father takes the throne back from Cleopatra's older sister.



I learned a lot of new things about Cleo in this book. I did not know that her older sister Tryphaena's real name was also Cleopatra and Cleo's mother was named Cleopatra as well! She married her younger brother Ptolemy XIII, Caesar (who was 52 years old while she was only 21. YUCK!), and Marc Antony. She had four children with Ceasar and Marc.


I was Cleopatra for halloween in 2007. ;)


This is in the Royal Diaries sieres.



Recommended for people who like: Egypt, Cleopatra, and families who are just plain crazy.

The Somebodies by N.E. Bode

In which Fern and Howard get expelled from Mrs. Fluggery's math class and Fern gets an invitation to the Annual Anybodies Convention with guest speaker Ubuleen Heet in the City Beneath the City, a city under NY City. Fern learns about the evil Blue Queen, who eats book souls. When the Drudgers hear that Fern and Howard have been expelled, they want to send them to the Military! Fern and Howard, not wanting to be sent away, jump into the invitation and into Willy Fattler's Underground Hotel, an ever-changing hotel. They look for the Brainkeeper, run away from evil flying monkeys, and bump into the Blue Queen.

This was a very dramatic book. Full of adventure, worry, goofiness, sadness, and a disguised author. N.E. Bode is still running from the crazed writing teacher! There are a lot of silly characters and an apple that's really The Art of Being Anybody, a winking goldfish, and a mini wild pony made out of hair. You might have to mix some letters and make new words (or names).

This is book 3 of a trilogy.

Recommended for people who like: book souls, moths, and smart girls.

The Nobodies by N.E. Bode

In which Fern and Howard are going to Camp Happy Sunshine Good Times for Anybodies. They get on the bus and are driven to camp by a blind bus driver! They meet Corky Gorsky on the way. When they get to Camp, the counselors are half animal, half human (who are always drinking Diet Lime fizzy drinks) and there's a vicious mole named BORT on the loose, and whenever Fern tries to shake something out of a book, a Diet Lime Fizzy bottle falls out with a notes saying "Help us Fern! We are Nobodies" She meets the hermit, Phoebe, and learns some new tricks. In the end she meets the Nobodies, everybody lets their bad feelings out (flooding in New York City in tears!) and sails away in a giant peach pit boat.


This was a fun book to read, and I think everybody should read these books. (wait until you meet the book birds!) But it made me NEVER EVER want to go to summer camp ;) It is full of adventure, sadness, and a very scary blind handyman. N.E. Bode talks to you directly in the book, talking about his old writing teacher (who is out to get her since she called him a windbag and dimwit in the last book). She tells you all of her scary encounters like being pushed over a waterfall, being attacked by a fake Seeing Eye Dog, almost being hit by a bus, or the elevator that dropped at high speed right after he got off. It's really funny!


This is book 2 of a trilogy.


Recommended for people who like: Their brother or sister (you better like your older sister! I am one!) very blind moles, and peach bread, peach jam and everything else that you make with peaches.

The Anybodies by N.E. Bode

In which Fern, a very smart and imaginative girl, lives with her insanely dull parents the Drudgers. One evening, a man called the Bone comes and tells them that his boy, Howard, and Fern were switched at birth. The families trade kids for the summer and Fern goes to live with the Bone. Soon they move to Fern's grandmother's house, a house made out of books. Fern and the Bone (disguised as Mr. Bibb and Ida Bibb) are looking for one book. The Art of Being Anybody. What is an Anybody you ask? I'm not going to tell you.

These books are very funny, mysterious, and sad all at the same time. The author "checks" in on you or says things to you throughout the book. My favorite is "Here you should take a sip of water or stretch or look around you to make sure that everything is intact. Hopefully the house isn't on fire or being invaded by a horde of some sort." This is a fun book to read for everybody and anybody.

This is 1 of a trilogy.

Recommended for people who like: over-sized peaches, shaking things out of books, and references to classical fairy tales.

Duchessina by Carolyn Meyer.

In which Catherine de'Medici, a young duchess, lives with her aunt in the big Palazzo Medici. But a lot of people hate the Medicis and when Catherine is 8 a mob is at the gates and are threating to get in and tear the place apart they escape dressed as boys in a dung cart. After all that, Catherine is taken to a convent with mean nuns. For months she lives there in dread. Soon a mysterious man comes and brings her to a very nice convent where the nuns are not mean but loving. She makes friends and lives there for 4 years. When the pope tells her to come to to him she must obey and leaves sadly. When she gets to the Vatican she learns that is going to marry the young French Prince Henry who hardly ever notices her. She lives the rest of her in the French palace as Queen Catherine de' Medici of France.

After reading this book I like Catherine much more than I did before (another book I read made Catherine look really bad). She and Henry had 7 kids together who all had their turns to be king or queen. Sadly, King Henry did not love Catherine but a lady named Diane de Poiters and when he died Catherine banished Diane from court. I really liked learning about Catherine de' Medici and her childhood.

Recommended for: people who like drama, nuns, and the Medicis.

Loving Will Shakespeare by Carolyn Meyer.

In which Agnes Hathaway lives with her family in her cute cottage, but much too soon a sickness sweeps across the county and takes Agnes' mother and unborn baby. Her father remarries a mean woman named Joan who does nothing but scold Agnes and her sister, making their lives miserable. Then young Will Shakespeare comes back from a trip all grown up and tells Agnes about his dreams of being a poet. When the time comes for Agnes to marry, her father is dead and her stepmother has betrothed Agnes to her yucky nephew Hob. She gets out of marrying him, and marries Will (who calls her Anne).

I liked to read the story of Anne Hathaway. In this book I learned a lot, like that Anne's real name was Agnes (even my mom didn't know that!) and that Will was 7 years younger then Anne. Their marriage was not a happy one, since Will was hardly ever home and only came home for like two weeks out of the year. Poor Anne and kids! In the end she did outlive him by 8 years.

Recommended for: people who like love stories, and Anne Hathaway.

Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer

In which 13-year-old Princess Elizabeth is living with her brother and governess Kat. She soon learns that her father, King Henry VIII, has died and her younger brother Edward is now king! So she goes to live with Cathrine Parr, Henry's last wife, and is very happy. But then after ruling for 7 years Edward dies of illness and Mary becomes queen. Queen Mary imprisons Elizabeth in a run-down old shack that is wet, windy, and cold and takes Kat away! Poor Elizabeth! How will she get out of this mess and become queen?

This book takes you through Elizabeth's teenage years and into her 20s. I loved reading about what Elizabeth was doing for the years she was a teen. I feel bad for the torture she went through for 5 years of her life. She had vowed not to marry when she was young, which I think is AWESOME! She ruled for 45 years and that time period was called the Elizabethan age.

This book is in the Young Royals series.

Recommended for: people who like spunky girls like Elizabeth Tudor.

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer.

In which Princess Mary Tudor, first daughter to King Henry VIII, lives peacefully with her mother and father. But when some lady starts to get the King's attention and he forgets about Mary and her mother. Then her father banishes her from the palace and separates Mary from her mother! With little money, dresses that are too small, and living in a lonely house, her life has turned from a great life to the worst nightmare ever. Suddenly her father says he is not married to Mary's mother anymore, and has a child with the evil lady (now Queen Anne), who wants Mary to come back to be a maid to the new Princess Elizabeth. What will poor Mary Tudor, the rightful heir, do?

It is fun to read about Princess Mary's childhood. I read and learned that her father had betrothed her to three suitors (all old enough to be her father! YUCK!) by the time she was ten, and I think it is horrible that women couldn't marry for love. She did become queen when she was 37 and married her second cousin Philip, (who just happened to be 11 years YOUNGER!!) but almost as soon as they married he left her. Poor Mary kind of went crazy in the end after ruling for 5 years and leaving no kids.


This is in the Young Royals series.

Recommended for: people who like historical fiction, and royal families.

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor by Kathryn Lasky

In which young Princess Elizabeth, second daughter of the king Henry VIII, loves to be at court with her lovely governess Kat. But sadly her father hardly notices her, and her mother was beheaded when she was only two. With an older sister Mary who hates her, and younger brother Edward who is almost always sick, her best playmate is Robin Dudley and sometimes Lady Jane Grey who comes to visit occasionally. Together they like to play cards and tennis. But when King Henry dies and Edward becomes the 9-year-old boy king what will happen to Elizabeth...?

Queen Elizabeth is my HERO!!! I love that she never married and was the best ruler of that time. My favorite quote that she said when someone wanted to marry her is "I will have here but one mistress and no master" I want to be like her so much. This book is like Elizabeth's diary. "Long live good Queen Bess" and boy did she! Elizabeth became queen when she was 25, reined for 45 years, and lived until she was 69 years old.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for: people who like Elizabeth, and the whole Tudor family.

Kristina: The Girl King by Carolyn Meyer

In which Kristina, the young princess of Sweden, is being raised by her loving aunt. Her father's wish was that she would learn to be a prince (instead of a princess), and she loves it! She and her cousins live, learn, and play together. But then her insane mother (who insisted on sleeping next to her husband's corpse for a year) comes back and wants Kristina to live with her! Kristina relunctantly agrees and her mother's first reaction is to start sobbing all over her, then she tells her she NOT very pretty. Poor Kristina! Will she be able to get away from her weird mom?

This book is like her diary. I liked this book a lot because I had never heard of Kristina before. She does not want to be a princess, but a prince, and inspired by Queen Elizabeth, she plans to never marry. She never did marry and abdicated the throne after 10 years of ruling. I loved reading about this tomboyish girl.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for: people who like strong-minded girls, loving aunts, and wise teachers.

Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine by Kristiana Gregory

In which Eleanor, the daughter of a duke, lives peacefully with her sister and grandmother. She is 14 and just wants to have fun with her younger sister Petra. But when her father goes on a religious trip and does not come back she must marry the young prince of France, Louis. After the wedding she learns that her father-in-law has died from illness and now she is the 15 year old queen!

This book is written like it is Eleanor's real diary and it is fun to see the days, months, and sometimes even years go by. I would like to say that Eleanor of Aquitaine is my 27th great-grandmother, which made the book even more fun to read.

This is in the Royal Diaries series.

Recommended for: anyone who likes historical fiction!

The Last Girls of Pompeii by Kathryn Lasky

In which Julia, a young Roman girl with a deformed arm, and her slave Sura live their life in Pompeii, planing for Julia's older sister's wedding. But strange things are happening: Why does the garden pool ripple on such a still night? Or why do the girls smell sulfur in the evening? What about the small earthquakes that everybody ignores?

We all know the ending to Pompeii but this book really brings life to the family drama and mystery of that time period. Kathryn Lasky, the author, actually went to a Pompeii dig site and saw the bodies of what she turned into the characters that you read about in this book. This book is so fun to read.

Recommended for: people who like Pompeii, smart girls, and the goddess Venus (a.k.a Aphrodite)

Talking to Dragons by Patricia C.Wrede

In which Daystar, son of Cimorene, leaves home with a mysterious sword and his own common sense. He meets a fire witch named Shiara. Together they battle wizards and evil fire witches. On the way, they meet Morwen, a strange witch with a lot of cats, a very empty-headed princess, a young dragon, a small golden lizard named Suz, and a weird magician. When they finally get to the castle, they meet the dragon Kazul who explains everything.

This book is filled to the brim with adventure. You meet a lot of old and new characters in this book which is fun. Daystar is a great character. My brother and I loved this book!

This is book four in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.

Recommended for: people who like fire witches, mysteries, and magical battles.

Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

In which Morwen, a witch with nine cats, has a problem with an overgrown rabbit and goes to the king and queen of the enchanted forest for help. But when she arrives there is trouble. The wizards have stolen Mendanbar's magic sword. So Cimorene, Morwen, Telemain, Kazul, a six foot blue floating donkey named Killer, and some very sarcastic cats go to steal the sword back. On the way they meet a farmer growing a magical crop and a fire witch.

This is a very funny and adventurous book. I love Morwen's cats (I have four cats) and wish I could be one. I think this might be my favorite book out of the whole series and I hope it will be your favorite too!

This is book three in the Enchanted Forest chronicles.

Recommended for: People who like sarcastic cats, animals who have been turned into other animals, and cool witches.

Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

In which Mendanbar, the King of the Enchanted forest, meets Cimorene and they go searching for a kidnapped dragon. They have many adventures, meet a magician with a large vocabulary, and get a chance to melt some evil wizards.

I liked this book as much as I liked the first book. There is so much adventure in the book. (I don't know how you can fit it all in there)Cimorene is back with her spunkiness, which I bet you will really enjoy too!

This is book two of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.

Recommended for: people who like magic carpets, Rumpelstiltskin's grandkids, and caves full of wizards.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

In which Cimorene HATES being a proper princess and runs away to seek adventure. She meets the dragon Kazul and becomes her cook and cleaner. Together Kazul and Cimorene meet Wizards (Bad), Witches (Good), knights, and other princesses. They learn some interesting facts (like how to melt a wizards with soapy lemon water) and have a great adventure!


I absolutley love this book! I Love Cimorene's spunk and how much of an improper princess she is. I just finished reading it to my brother and he loves it too. It is great for the whole family to read this book.


This is book one of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.


Recommended for: People who like spunky princesses, Dragons who are allergic to wizards, and magic spells.

The Akhenaten Adventure by P.B.Kerr

In which 12 year old twins John and Philippa Gaunt go to London to meet their uncle Nimrod and learn they are djinn. Their adventure leads them to Egypt where they learn how to use their new powers. Uh oh! In Egypt they run into the most evil djinn of them all.

I love the adventure (and you will too!) and I am looking forward to reading the last of the series. One thing I really enjoyed about this book was that I had never read about djinn before and it was a new, exciting subject matter.

This is book one in the Children Of The Lamp series.



Recommended for: people waiting for their wisdom teeth, people who like impossible focus words, and anyone who likes adventure in Egypt.

East by Edith Pattou

In which the girl Rose follows her destiny with a big white bear, saving her family and her self in the process. In this retelling of the Norweigan fairy tale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," we follow our heroine through dangerous adventures, a mysterious magical castle, watch her battle an evil Troll Queen, and sympathize with her family issues.

Describing this magical story is extremely hard because it's just so BIG. There's so much to it! The story is told from several different viewpoints, including Rose, her father, her brother, the White Bear, and the Troll Queen, so while you are reading, your experience of the story keeps widening. All I can say is that this is one of the best books I have ever read - please read this wonderful, wonderful book and I'm sure it will become a favorite of yours, too.

Recommended for: EVERYONE!!!

Doomed Queen Anne by Carolyn Meyer

In which Anne Boleyn catches the eye of King Henry VIII (not necessarily a good thing!) In this book we follow Anne from her teenage years through her flirtatious years at court, to marrying the King and becoming Queen of England, to losing her head. Dang, what a life!

I have mixed feelings about Anne Boleyn; one part of me thinks, "Poor Anne" while another part of me thinks "What a sneaky little brat!" She didn't originally set out to become Queen, but she was selfish and greedy, so once she met Henry, it easily became her goal. When she gave birth to a daughter instead of a son (what a failure!) she became frantic to have a son and ended up going a little cuckoo. I really enjoyed this story about Queen Elizabeth's mother, and I bet you will too.

This is in the Young Royals series.


Recommended for: people who like large plots, scheming women, and stories of crazy families.