Gertie has a goal. She is going to be the best 5th grader. Her reason for her goal? So that her distant mother(who is moving away and getting married), will realize that Gertie doesn't need her. But someone else has the same goal. Enter new girl, Mary Sue Spivey, who just moved from California while her dad is filming a movie here. All of a sudden she is the most popular girl in school. Mary Sue knows the most famous child actresses in the country, she knows all the answers in class, she's the teachers favorite. According to Gertie, she is just plain evil. So now Gertie must come up with a new plan. How can she become the best fifth grader ever? How can she become the smartest, the funniest, the most popular? And how can she do it while keeping her friends? I think this book was an interesting view on not-so-average families. Gertie's mom left them when Gertie was very little, but she lives just across town. Now Gertie's Great-Aunt Rae stays with her and her father and takes care of them. And Gertie's father works on an oil rig, so he is gone for two weeks and then home for two weeks. At the beginning of the book Gertie is very self-involved. However, as the book goes on there is character development, and she is a better person at the end. I recommend this to elementary students who like realistic fiction. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Gertie has a goal. She is going to be the best 5th grader. Her reason for her goal? So that her distant mother(who is moving away and getting married), will realize that Gertie doesn't need her. But someone else has the same goal. Enter new girl, Mary Sue Spivey, who just moved from California while her dad is filming a movie here. All of a sudden she is the most popular girl in school. Mary Sue knows the most famous child actresses in the country, she knows all the answers in class, she's the teachers favorite. According to Gertie, she is just plain evil. So now Gertie must come up with a new plan. How can she become the best fifth grader ever? How can she become the smartest, the funniest, the most popular? And how can she do it while keeping her friends? I think this book was an interesting view on not-so-average families. Gertie's mom left them when Gertie was very little, but she lives just across town. Now Gertie's Great-Aunt Rae stays with her and her father and takes care of them. And Gertie's father works on an oil rig, so he is gone for two weeks and then home for two weeks. At the beginning of the book Gertie is very self-involved. However, as the book goes on there is character development, and she is a better person at the end. I recommend this to elementary students who like realistic fiction. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

The Unwanteds is a book set in Quill, a dystopian world. Every year the 13-year olds of the city are sorted. The stongest and intelligent (Wanteds) are sent to the university, while the creative and imaginative (Unwanteds) are taken to an extermination camp and killed. Everyone expects Alex to be sent to his death and his twin Aaron to be sent to the university, and their predictions almost come true. Aaron is deemed a Wanted, and Alex an Unwanted. However when Alex and the other Unwanteds are ushered into the gates of their death camp, they find that they are not to be put to death at all, but instead join another world where all the Unwanteds take refugee. They form a school, and learn how to increase their talents and learn magic. However Alex is determined to let Aaron know he is alive, and he wants to bring his brother over away from the cruelty of Quill. Will Alex fit into his new home? Will he keep his bond strong with Aaron? Will the good magic be able to reign over evil? I absolutely love this book! There were twists and turns, and so many surprises! I recommend this book to middle grade ages and up. Probably the best minimum age is 11 or 12, since there are many action scenes, with some violence. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

The Unwanteds is a book set in Quill, a dystopian world. Every year the 13-year olds of the city are sorted. The stongest and intelligent (Wanteds) are sent to the university, while the creative and imaginative (Unwanteds) are taken to an extermination camp and killed. Everyone expects Alex to be sent to his death and his twin Aaron to be sent to the university, and their predictions almost come true. Aaron is deemed a Wanted, and Alex an Unwanted. However when Alex and the other Unwanteds are ushered into the gates of their death camp, they find that they are not to be put to death at all, but instead join another world where all the Unwanteds take refugee. They form a school, and learn how to increase their talents and learn magic. However Alex is determined to let Aaron know he is alive, and he wants to bring his brother over away from the cruelty of Quill. Will Alex fit into his new home? Will he keep his bond strong with Aaron? Will the good magic be able to reign over evil? I absolutely love this book! There were twists and turns, and so many surprises! I recommend this book to middle grade ages and up. Probably the best minimum age is 11 or 12, since there are many action scenes, with some violence. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

When their parents are away on a trip, Kendra and her brother Seth are forced to spend their summer with their grandparents, whom they rarely see. But when they arrive at their grandparent's estate, they find their grandparent's place full of secrets and mystery. For one thing their grandmother is nowhere in sight. Then they learn that many mystical creatures are hidden on their grandparent's land, and it is really a refuge called Fablehaven. It turns out their grandfather is the current caretaker. But it is a dangerous job, with many threatening creatures-as is proven because their grandmother is under a spell. But on Midsummer's Eve a rule is broken and evil is unleashed. Kendra and Seth must find the courage to save their family from the terrors of Fablehaven. I loved this series, especially the first book. I recommend this book for middle grade and above. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

This book had a very interesting format. Basically, two young boys are telling the story of everything that happened when they tried to make a book that was due in a day. I would compare the layout to books like Dork Diaries and Diaries of the Wimpy Kid, although this book has even more pictures and less words. I did enjoy this book, and found it very funny, even though it is clearly meant for kids just beginning to read or have been ready at a low level. This is the type of book my 9 year old sister enjoys. There is no inappropriate language or scenes in this book, and I would recommend it to all younger kids and beginning readers.

Everyone should read this series! It is amazing, there is always something funny, and it never changes its usual style. Jeff Kinney is amazingly amazing!

Chris Grabenstein is a legendary author, and anyone who hasn't read his books should. I will definitely pre-order this book and so should everyone who loves a good book should also!