Kids Books - Family
The BFG
By NA
Ho Hum.... What do we have here? The BFG by Roald Dahl is a classic for a reason. So, let's start shall we? I really loved this book. The characters are full of love and are just AMAZING. But.... there is still something going on here. Even though the story was amazing and such, I felt a tad-bit of randomness. Because of that it knocked off one star. Still four stars, nothing to worry about. Now, now , now.... let's talk about the main characters- The BFG and Sophie. Their friendship is adorable. I felt that this was a message to love someone in the inside not the outside. I know what you're thinking, just spill it out...... awwwwww❤️ Anyway, to wrap this whole thing up, The BFG by Roald Dahl is just plain AWESOME! And hey, 4 stars is not that bad.
The Unwanteds
By Lisa McMann
In the book “The Unwanteds” Alex and Aaron Stowe await their fates. In which there is a magical world named Artimé of magic, art, and singing. Yet still a dreary place called Quill where being creative is a death sentence. One can either be a Wanted in which one gets to go to a university, or be Necessary in which one is sent to do the chores, or one could be an Unwanted in which one is sent to their grave. Alexander and Aaron Stowe are thirteen and it is the day of Purge. Alex knows his chances of becoming a Wanted are limited because he has been seen drawing in the dirt before. Aaron thinks that he will become a Wanted. When they are separated Alex tries to get back to Aaron in the university, while Aaron has completely discarded Alex from his life. Who will get their way? Read the book to find out! This book was exciting, intense, and full of action. I didn't even want to put the book down. I gave this a five star rating because it was everything I liked.
The Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children Mysteries)
By Gertrude Chandler Warner
I absolutely love this book !! I have been re-reading this book for at least 6 times as its so good. I really enjoyed the setting and writing style of this book. The main characters include Violet,Benny,Jesse and Henry. These characters are very kind,creative and resourceful.Their journey includes a lot of fun,mystery and cozy vibes.I like it how they reuse alot of things and turn it into something useful yet extraordinary.We can learn alot from these characters, especially how to enjoy each and every moment in our life no matter how small they are. I recommend this book to each one you. Oopsies!! I forgot to mention that this is a book series which consists around 200 books.This book review is on the book in this series and there is a lot ahead readers! I have just read 6 books in this series which is nothing comparing to what is there ahead to read. Anyways,I am not going too deep into this book as I think its fun reading and exploring things on your own. When we go in this journey with them ,we feel that we too are one of them.I cannot wait to continue this reading journey with Henry,Jesse,Violet and Benny.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
By J.K. Rowling
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" continues the magical journey of Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with breathtaking excitement and enchantment. J.K. Rowling once again proves herself as a master storyteller, seamlessly weaving together elements of mystery, adventure, and friendship in a tale that will leave readers spellbound from start to finish. As Harry returns to Hogwarts for his second year, he finds himself embroiled in yet another thrilling adventure, this time involving dark secrets hidden within the school's very walls. From the moment Harry sets foot in Diagon Alley to the climactic showdown in the Chamber of Secrets, Rowling takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intrigue. The mystery of the Chamber and the identity of the heir of Slytherin keep readers guessing until the very end, while the discovery of Tom Riddle's diary adds a chilling layer of depth to the story. But "Chamber of Secrets" is not just about plot twists and turns - it's also about character growth and development. Rowling delves deeper into the personalities of her beloved characters, allowing us to see new sides of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the gang. From Hermione's relentless pursuit of knowledge to Ron's unwavering loyalty, each character shines in their own unique way, making us laugh, cry, and cheer along with them every step of the way. Of course, no review of "Chamber of Secrets" would be complete without mentioning the delightful world-building that Rowling is known for. From the bustling streets of Diagon Alley to the eerie corridors of Hogwarts, the wizarding world comes alive with vivid detail and imagination, transporting readers to a place where magic is real and anything is possible. In conclusion, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is a triumphant continuation of the beloved series, filled with thrills, laughter, and heartwarming moments that will stay with readers long after they've turned the final page. With its unforgettable characters, mesmerizing plot, and richly imagined world, it's a book that deserves every bit of praise it has received. Whether you're a fan of fantasy or simply love a good story, "Chamber of Secrets" is not to be missed. Highly recommended.
Fairest of All (Whatever After #1)
By Sarah Mlynowski
Whatever After: Fairest of All is a pretty good book. Now, I'm not a fairy tale, happy ever after type of person, but I've got to admit, this novel was stunning. Abby has a realistic and typical teenage girl attitude, while Jonah is all for adventure. Now, Abby just wants to go home to her old house, and get away from Smithville. She hates the new place, and is totally creeped out by a mirror in the basement. But obviously, her annoying little brother always wrecks her chances of trying to maintain a normal life in the area. While "babysitting" Jonah, they end up being whisked away into the story of Snow White. At first, they have no idea what's going on and they need to find a way out. After exploring, they find an old lady with a basket of apples walking towards a pale- skinned girl with black hair. Wait a second...isn't that from a fairy tale or something? Oh yeah...it's Snow White...but she's about to get poisoned! After supposedly saving the day by not letting Snow White eat the poisoned apples, they realize their mistake. How will Snow White find her prince now? Oops. Funny, unique and eventful, this book will definitely appeal to grades 3-6+. This is a great book, and I hope you consider reading it over the summer!
The Forget-Me-Not Summer (Silver Sisters)
By Leila Howland
Forget me not summer is a heartwarming story about three sisters and a special bond. Marigolds who is the oldest loves acting and is a little boy crazy. Zinnie who's a year younger than Marigolds always looks up to her. Lily who is the youngest is the little,sweet one who everyone adores. Overall a sweet summer story!
Darkstalker (Wings of Fire: Legends)
By Tui T. Sutherland
Get ready to be wowed by Tui T. Sutherland's first installment in the "Legends" spin-off series! Told from the perspective of three different dragons- Clearsight the NightWing, Fathom the SeaWing, and Darkstalker himself, this beautifully crafted novel shows us what motivated Darkstalker to become the twisted dragon we know well as of the modern arcs. I absolutely adored every page of this book. It gave us rich insight to the history of Pyrrhia, from its normalization of animi to the fact that RainWings' powers were actually well-known, featured in the guide to the tribes, and feared by many. Despite Darkstalker's villainy, he was a character the reader could easily empathize with, and his backstory was fleshed-out, and, in the grand scheme of things, made sense. Clearsight was a lovely POV, although I'd like to get a bit more detail as to why her seer powers were so strong, and if it could happen again in the modern timeline. Fathom's character itself seemed a bit lacking, and it was rather reminiscent of Turtle- now we know why Darkstalker called him that when he summoned him in Talons of Power- but his chapters were filled with action, suspense, and emotion. His past trauma was something rarely explored in middle-grade books such as Wings of Fire, but it was executed wonderfully. The massacre scene was amazingly written, and gave me chills the first time I read it. The three protagonists worked wonderfully together, and Darkstalker's spiral into madness was gradual and extremely interesting to watch play out. I do wish Arctic's death was described in a bit more detail, although I have a hunch that if it was, this wouldn't be a middle-grade novel. Darkstalker's relationship with Whiteout was something I adored- Whiteout was one of my favorite characters, since neurodivergent characters are just so rare in Wings of Fire. She was nicely written and the detail about her scavenger doll was just adorable! Darkstalker's devotion to Foeslayer was also sweet- there is a SERIOUS lack of positive parent-child relationships in Wings of Fire. I liked how Indigo could see through Darkstalker from the start- it showed how Albatross made her far more vigilant. I never saw her plot twist coming! And, speaking of Albatross, he was a sinister character who, despite his early death, managed to be insanely well-written. The writing style of the book also seemed a lot more mature and serious than the main series, a change I personally enjoyed. If you're looking for a novel with dragons, morally gray main characters, and magic, Legends: Darkstalker should be your go-to (although I would recommend reading the main series, first!)
The Fault in Our Stars
By John Green
Ok, if you haven’t read this book, WHAT ARE YOU DOING????!!!!!???? SUMMARY: Hazel has cancer. She has had it for a while now, and it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better. She is taking her meds, and attending support group. Her life is pretty predictable. But during one support group meeting, she meets Augustus—a kind and compassionate young man who is a cancer veteran. Augustus is a sophisticated young man; he is scared of oblivion, “smokes” cigarettes, but doesn’t light them because it is a metaphor. ” You put the killing thing in your mouth, but don’t let it do the killing.” As Hazel starts hanging out with Augustus, “she falls in love with him the way he falls asleep; slowly, then all at once.” Hazel introduces him to her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction, and he is soon engrossed in it as well, and the rapid end of the book has them searching for answers. As much a love story as a story centered about a book, this heartstring-tugging cancer love story WILL make you cry. THOUGHTS: I can not even begin to tell you how much I loved this book. I just can’t. It was SO FLIPPING GOOD. It is a perfect book. Beautiful. I don’t know where to begin. Okay, okay (haha, lol). John Green’s writing was incredible. You can tell that he is sage and knows how to write—because this novel was written flawlessly. The characters were so real and you fell in love with them as they did each other. To give you an idea—I did cry. See picture at bottom. This book is definitely a “feels” book. Augustus is a genuine character; a caring, metaphor-loving, honest, meaningful person. I thought it was really cool that this book was kind of partly centered around this one book that they both loved. It was pretty cool, seeing them trying to get in contact with the secluded author. This book had so many perfect quotes—I highlighted so many passages from the book on my Kindle. I can not stop raving about this book, and I am so excited to see the movie because I want more TFIOS in my life. It is going to make me cry even more than the book made me cry. I loved this book so much and I can not wait to pick up Paper Towns, which I just got!
Where the Red Fern Grows
By Wilson Rawls
There are a lot of good and great books in the world, but Where The Red Fern Grows is definitely something special. Ten year old Billy Colman has his heart set on getting dogs. To be specific, he wants two coonhounds. He asks again and again for those two dogs, but as much as his parents want to get them for him, they can't afford two coonhounds for Billy. So Billy works long and hard so he can buy two coonhounds with his own money. Eventually, Billy gets the amount he needs and buys two coonhounds. He names them Old Dan and Little Ann. Billy works with them and trains them, and Old Dan and Little Ann turn out to be excellent coon hunters. They tree so many raccoons which Billy sells to get money for his family. Soon, Old Dan and Little Ann are more to Billy than his hunting dogs. They are his best friends. Where The Red Fern Grows is such a heartwarming story. I love the bond Billy has with his dogs. This classic is one of my favorites. I recommend this book to boys and girls ages 10+.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
By Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (The Long Haul) is about an ordinary teenager named Greg who’s just trying to enjoy summer break, which had just started. Unexpectedly, his mom planned a surprise road trip. Most of their family members were unsatisfied with what she came up with and showed a reluctant attitude, yet they still went on that trip. Throughout the trip, events that happened were unexpected, none of them actually imagined anything like it would happen on their road trip. I can somewhat understand Greg’s feelings towards the trip because I had experiences of unexpected trips and unwilling to go to the trip as well. Also, his personality is just like any other teenagers, who wants to spend summer break on activities that interests them the most. I enjoyed the parts where their family had to deal with the pig that Manny got, it was exceedingly entertaining and I actually laughed out for a few parts of it. Overall, this is an interesting novel and I’ll recommend this to readers who likes to read about teenager’s life.









