Book Description

In their latest fast-paced adventure, Wild Willie and his fellow detectives, Lucy and Kyle, suspect that aliens have invaded their block! Mean, rotten Chuckie has stopped being a bully and is acting spacey and nice, and Kyle"s talking parrot is acting weird, too. Could extraterrestrials be controlling their minds? It"s a perfect case for Scarface Detectives, the trio"s recently formed investigation agency. Using surveillance and interrogation techniques and all their best detective skills, the young sleuths hatch a scheme to solve this new mystery. With prompting from a Magic Eight Ball and advice from the editors of their favorite detective magazine, the friends put their plan into effect, with hilarious results. Eventually, the young detectives must face an even scarier possibility than alien invasion—Chuckie has brain fryout for Lucy! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great Sci-fi adventure
This book is about detectives Willie, Lucy, and Kyle following the neighborhood bully Chuckie who is suddenly acting odd. He's not his usual money-grubbing self or up to his nasty tricks. His face and hair are clean. He's even wearing cologne. They think that he has experienced alien brain fryout and that is why he is being so nice to them. Armed with periscope, binoculars, and notebook, the detectives spy on him, but Chuckie is always spying back. By the end of the book the three detectives find out the real reason that Chuckie is being so nice to them. Is it fryout...you have to read it to find out!
I really enjoyed reading this book. I am not usually a sci-fi type of person, but this adventure packed book was an exception to the rule. The illustrations really bring the story to life and help students to follow along with the twists and turns of the story.
The author of this book was trying to convey the message that things are not always as they appear. Just because people have always been bullies, doesn't mean they can't change. When they do change we should give them a chance. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

arthur's april fool
it was an okay book. I think that D.W. and Arthur make the perfect brother and sister because they always disagree. It was a funny book because Arthur does a good trick on Binky.

Arthur and D.W. are so much fun!
ARTHUR'S APRIL FOOL is one of the earlier books when the drawings of Arthur still gave him the longer head. And because it's an earlier book, all the characters you know from the wonderful TV series are here, but they look just a bit different than we're used to. It's a great story with a lot of depth and a lot of fun. The illustrations are so funny, with a lot of interesting details for kids to find. My favorite is always D.W., and she doesn't let me down here, either. The Arthur series is simply amazing and wonderful. It brings me great joy. I would get every one of the books in this affordable series of paperbacks.

An ok book with a sense of humor.
It is not the best book in the world, but it is one of the few on April's Fool Day. I think my students will enjoy it's sense of humor.

here's the bucket for the blood is not suitable for kids !
This book does not deter the violence and gore of today's youth. It enhances the problem. The magic trick, sawing in half and providing a bucket to catch the blood is hardly suitable language for children, especially 3-4 year olds...! IT SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN and DISCOURAGED. Most of Marc Brown's Authur books seem to be OK, otherwise and teach fairness and good judgment. However, this was a great disappointment. Good taste and judgment was aparently laid aside if not in the conception, but the developement of this magic show with a subtle dark side. Am I over sensitive? Maybe, but our three year old doesn't need to hear talk about buckets of blood just yet. One drop of arsnic in the glass of water is too much for me. Let's pour out the tainted water. Arthur's April Fool is tainted. There is too much violence and gore to be viewed later in life. When I grew up we had a steady diet of Barbar the elephant. He never cut anyone up or made passig reference to gore. Even the Cat in the Hat never reached this level of implied violence. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

I sawLouise's winning entry on the BBC competition
You can already tell it's one of those you won't want to put down.

The Next JK Rowling?
I also read the brilliant short story, which won the prestigious BBC competion. I can't wait for the release of the book - Louise is a very talented and creative writer. A basis for a blockbuster movie? Arnold is A1 as far as I am concerned. Remember you read it here.

Brilliant
I've read the original version of this, which won the BBC's Are you the next JK Rowling? contest.

I'll be buying it on release, because I know Louise is a superb writer, and has a way with words which I envy horribly :) ... Read more

Book Description

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Cody doesn’t like Texas. He and his mom were only supposed to spend the summer there, helping out his grandmother. But Cody’s grandmother is sick and needs them to stay. Now he’s the new kid at the local middle school and all his friends are back in California. You’d think Cody’s cousin Hayden would show him the ropes. Not only is Hayden in the same grade, he lives next door. But Hayden doesn’t want anything to do with Cody.

Cody’s luck begins to change when he befriends Officer Ramsey, a policeman and aspiring stand-up comic. Officer Ramsey appreciates Cody’s jokes so much, he pays Cody for the material! But it’s no laughing matter when a crime is committed at school and Cody becomes a suspect. Cody is going to need more than jokes to solve this mystery—and clear his name. ... Read more

Book Description

Funny and talented, Grace Matthews is everyone’s friend. But when the girlsin bunk 3C pair off, Grace realizes she’s the only one without a best friend. Soon, Grace startshanging out with Kerri, a girl from a rival bunk, who starts bullying Grace and those around her. Will Grace have the courage to stand up for herself—even if it means standing on her own? ... Read more

Book Description

Gabby just has to win at everything. But when the rest of the Furry Eyefuls stop playing with her, Gabby has to learn an important lesson -havingfun is more important than winning. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

this book teaches children how to deal w/ crabby friends
Crabby Gabby written by Stephen Cosgrove is a great book for children because it tells children how to react to crabby or overpowering friends. It also shows that the other furry eyefulls are forgiving which is telling children that they should forgive and forget too. ... Read more

Book Description

Earl is ready to do anything to avoid the meanest kid in school-even if it means playing dead. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I recommend it, but not my favorite.
I really enjoy Barbara Park and her lovable characters. This is the first "Geek Chronicles" book I've read and, while I would recommend it, I didn't enjoy it as much as others of Park's works.

Earl and his friends are very lovable and, of course, laughs abound. I simply have huge expectations when it comes to Barbara Park. I felt the violence was realistic but a bit drawn out and, frankly, it disturbed me. I love that these characters solve their own problems in an ingenious way and work together as their plans go awry.

I will be reading more Geek Chronicles as I love Earl and his friends and I'm interested to see what else they do. ... Read more

Book Description

Wearing his coonskin cap, carrying his book about animal tracks, and armed with a jar of red pepper flakes in case he meets a bear or a mountain lion, Owen feels like a pioneer when he goes into the woods with his best friend, Joseph. But there are other kinds of varmints in the wilderness-not bears and mountain lions, but two big kids who have nothing better to do than trash a treehouse fort. It's up to Owen and Joseph to stop them, and so, following in the footsteps of his hero, Daniel Boone, Owen makes the forest his teacher. Using all the woodland lore at his disposal, Owen comes up with new identities for himself and Joseph-Wolverine and Badger-and a plan to drive out the intruders and reclaim their kingdom. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

I love it
This book is Great!! Because it`s about two kids that have a tree house in the forest. They take a nature book, a compass, a canteen, pepper flakes, and a hat.But two other kids are in their tree house and wreck it. So the two kids set traps to scare the other boys. I like it because I like Owen Foote books.

Modern Daniel Boone
This book, Owen Foote, Frontiersman, was an enjoyable book because of the different events that Owen faced.These events allowed me to connect with some of the things that he encountered.Most young readers would be able to connect to having a friend like Joseph and the what Owen and Joseph encounters as frontiersman.The organization of the book was easy to follow and the sentences were easy to read and understand.There are a few pictures in black and white throughout the book, but these are not necessary but are handy for readers to connect with the event taking place. Young readers, boy or girls, that were interested in the outdoors would take a great liking to this book.

Awesome!!
This book was FANTASTIC! I have three children aged 4-10.They all read it and loved it, including me.My nine year old son liked it the most.Stephanie Greene is and exeptional author andshe writes so fluidly and perfectly for kids.I encourage her to write even more books because we have enjoyed this one and the others so much. Thanks!

TERRIFIC!
I read this book to my 8-year-old son and my 6-year-old daughter. both of them stared in rapture from the time i opened the book to when i said the last word. I personally also was awed at the fluency and the descriptionwith which Stephanie Greene wrote this book.I could see how my childrencould relate to the problems that Owen and his best friend faced.We have read the previous books, and all of us hope that another one isgoing to come out soon.When I finished reading my daughter frowned andsaid, "Awww I wish it weren't over already!"Thank you Ms.Greene, and Ms. Weston- for creating such a terrific chapter book forchildren of all ages.

TERRIFIC!
I read this book to my 8-year-old son and my 6-year-old daughter. both of them stared in rapture from the time i opened the book to when i said thelast word. I personally also was awed at the fluency and the descriptionwith which Stephanie Greene wrote this book.I could see how my childrencould relate to the problems that Owen and his best friend faced.We have read the previous books, and all of us hope that another one isgoing to come out soon.When I finished reading my daughter frowned andsaid, "Awww I wish it weren't over already!"Thank you Ms.Greene, and Ms. Weston- for creating such a terrific chapter book forchildren of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

Arty the bear is one of the nicest, smartest boys at school. He's good at everything he does, including sports, schoolwork, and drawing - but there's just one small problem. He farts. Everywhere. All the time. He farts in class, on the playground, and in front of his classmates. The other students (a skunk, raccoon, and moose) take to teasing him and blaming him whenever anyone farts. In fact, one of the older boys, Benny, plays pranks and pawns them off on Arty constantly. Yet even though he's the butt of constant jokes, Arty manages to keep his spirits up until one day his teacher assigns Little Lord Fauntleroy for the class reading assignment. The illustrations in the children's classic look just like Arty, and soon he can't escape the dreaded nickname that Benny bestows upon him: "Little Lord Farting Boy." The teasing gets so bad that Arty's mother decides to enroll him in T'ai Chi for self-defense - but can he ever learn to deal with his classmates? Arty's in-your-face message for the school bully inspires young readers to stand up for themselves. ... Read more

Book Description

Children are sure to enjoy this lively new rendition of an age-old classic. Little Ruth Reddingford loves visiting her grandmother. So when Grandma can’t pick her up for their weekly visit, Red packs a basketful of goodies and sets off on her own.

Taking a shortcut through the woods, she is confronted by menacing bullies. The ensuing adventure takes a surprising twist, as Red discovers the power of her Native American heritage and makes an unusual new friend.

Hank Wesselman’s imaginative storytelling and Raquel Abreu’s striking illustrations bring this familiar tale vibrantly to life. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Stephen King without the potty mouth
Yep, it is pretty much the "Dark Tower" all over again. Impossible menacing objects and cliffhangers with solutions the come out of the air at the last moment to keep from painting the hero and heroine into an inescapable corner.

13 year old Nita is being zeroed in by the neighborhood girl gang. Their intention is to beat the snot out of her. In the process of evading her fate she ducks into the Library basement. Minding her own business and pawing the books one snags her. You guessed it; the title is "So You Want To Be a Wizard."

Naturally, young wizards can out wiz, out think, and out run the bad guys (maybe), in this first book of a series.

So You Want A Great Read?
This is THE Wizardry book -- Diane was doing Young Wizards way before JK Rowling even thought of ol' HP, and Diane does it better. Nita is a loner, an outsider, a smart, lonely bookworm who gets snagged by the Powers That Be to be a Wizard -- we're not talking cutesy punny-spells ala' HP, we're talking a real Wizard, one who vows to protect & serve Life. Nita doesn't leave the "real" world behind; she's now one of those vowed to protect it from the Lone Power (who invented Death). These books are great mind-stretching, thinking reads, without ever becoming preachy. I fell in love with this book while in high school, and now I'm 37 years old and still eagerly waiting for Diane to write more of the series.

So You Want...A Great Book for Your Library! Superb!
So You Want to be a Wizard is a long-time favorite of mine--a classic and entertaining clash between magic and science that draws a reader so surely into its pages, you'll be unlikely to emerge until you have savored every word. This new edition has an adorable cover PLUS a new story about Kit and Nita included.

Nita didn't know there was such a thing as magic--until she was hiding in the library one day and came across nothing short of a wizard's manual--and it was waiting for her! Nita takes the wizard's oath and finds herself endowed with power that she doesn't know how to control. Along with her new friend Kit, also a wizard, Nita's first spell summons the concentrated spirit of a white dwarf star and together they spiral deep into an adventure, and finally a battle with an ancient evil that invented death itself.

Duane writes with a fun and inventive style that and manages to make you laugh while writing a serious adventure. This novel is truly for everyone, as the magic will simply fascinate young fans, while more advanced readers will find themselves reading in depth, wondering at the specifics of Duane's wizards and their sorcery.

Buyers of this edition will find that it is very cute and childish (that doens't make it bad!)--older readers might be more interested in the normal editions which have VERY cool covers that are both realistic and magical. If you plan to collect the whole series, this cover won't match the rest of the set.

For fans of the series who already own this book in another edition, I would not purchase this one but rather check it out of the library for the story in the back. The story isn't as good as the books, but its still enjoyable. Happy reading!

If you like Harry Potter...
If you don't know how you are going to pass the time during the long long long wait for the next installment of Harry Potter, pick up So You Want to be a Wizard. It's really an amazing book, full of adventures and close calls and the friendship of a budding pair of teenaged wizards, Nita and Kit. A fabulous read! ... Read more

Book Description

When Anna Goldsmith moves her posh city school to a small town, everyone's gossiping. Her accent makes her stick out a mile away, while her near-perfect grades set her apart as a teacher's pet. But when the most popular girl in school, captivating and witty Hayley Parkin, befriends Anna, she couldn't be more thrilled.Then Hayley begins her cruel games. What starts as innocent teasing leads to mean remarks, and even violence, toward frightened Anna. But Hayley's cunning leaves a deeper impression on Anna than anyone, even her best friend Melanie, could have ever anticipated.

"Young readers will find this text original and real; parents will read as a frightening wake-up call. It is a book that begs conversation."-VOYA ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Very Good
You'll have to read it to find out what happens to anyone who wants to read a good and moving book. I was really captivated by the Authors understanding of Anna's feelings and even Haley Parkin's. In the book the point of view changes from Anna's to Melanie's to even her parents and brothers. It was a very well written book and I would definitely recommend it to someone.

One of the best YA books I've read in a long time!
Even though I'm closing in on 30, I thought this was a great book.

The story is told from the perspective of Anna's journal, her parents and friends. The plot examines the nasty world of girl cliques and female bullying. So often we think of boys being the only bullies. Girls are bullies too--just with their words and manipulative ideas.

I've recommended this book to my middle school students. It's worth the time for both girls AND boys to read--and their parents, too.

Don't bother checking out from the library--buy it.

Must Read!!
This was a great book. I'm a fast reader, but with some books, you just don't want to go on, but this book drew me in. I finished it in about 1/2 a day. The book makes you fel what the character is feeling, and leaves you wondering why people can be so cruel. Recommended this book to two of my friends and they LOVED it and agreed with what I said. Thanks Sue Mayfienld! I hope to see more of Mayfield's books in the future.

Phenomenal Book
Anna Goldsmith is 16 years old. She plays the violin in the school orchestra. She's a skilled tennis player, good at hockey, and speaks French beautifully. And she has just attempted to commit suicide. Slowly, the events leading up to Anna's decision to end her life unfold, alternating from the first-person view of Melanie, her best and only friend, and the third-person view of Frances Goldsmith, her mother. What made Anna hate herself? Can she survive?... Drowning Anna made me cry. Not only is the reader extremely in tune with each character's feelings, but the plot could be the life story of any junior high or high school girl. Any girl who has been teased, bullied, or otherwise trapped in a net of demeaning lies can relate to Anna easily. From the very first page the reader is pulled into the story and the lives of those involved. Anna's struggles become your own. Mayfield notes at the end of her book "...I hope [this book] gives girls like Anna a voice- and some sense of being understood." In my opinion, she has exceeded her goal.

Utterly Amazing!
This book is truly amazing! I adore books that are written by English authors and this certainly is one of those books. I'd hate to spoil it for you, so take my advice and just READ IT! I'll give you a hint though, start reading this in the afternoon. I stayed up past midnight reading this since I just couldn't put it down! ... Read more

Book Description

Jack is being teased by the fifth-grade bully on the school bus.Readers help Jack decide whether to ignore him, ask an adult for help, or fight back. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in black-and-white. When Sister Bear gets beaten up by Tuffy, the new

cub in town, Brother huffs off to set this bully straight.But he's in for a

surprise--Tuffy's a little girl, and Brother just can't bring himself to fight

her.




... Read more

Reviews (3)

Ridiculous
This book is very bad because it teaches you that the only way to deal with a school biu;;y is to puncvh her back or you have to agrree to let the bu;;l hjert you.. What happens is that sister bear comes home after being physically assaulted, and the parents say that they can't do anything. I don't want any child to see this book because they will think that bullies can get away with this.
I think that anyu teacjer thjat seeks thjius hapening should hav this studnt suspended from school.
the compan that made thid bnoiiok dhould not make anmy more.

The principal at my school took this one out of the library
I couldn't believe this book. Basically it has the kid who got beat up by the bully go home and learn to beat up bullies, then go to school and actually beat up the bully. In the end, no one gets into trouble...they even mention that the parents weren't called. What kind of lesson are they trying to teach? I was horrified...I was reading this book to my child, and at the end we both said "huh?" I was hoping to teach him about practical ways to handle bullies, but all the book told him was that he should be one himself. Read this one for yourself (but before you read it aloud to the kids...)

I'd like to rewrite the last three pages.
Usually I find the Berenstain Bears series books to carry solid, helpful messages for kids. The books are certainly the major kindergarten collection of choice in our house. However, I believe Stan and Jan missed the mark on this one. The other synopsis notes mention reference to an "unavailable text." I wonder if the current edition has a few major revisions ... Read more

Book Description

Moffie and Morgie are excited. A new girl is joining their class. But Carole Anne is a bully, pushing Moffie and grabbing Morgie's dinosaur book, and that's only the beginning. Then Morgie goes looking for dinosaur eggs on a Saturday morning and finds Carole Anne crying. He discovers why she is so unhappy, and at school Morgie introduces his new friend. She tells everyone how sorry she is for being so nasty. Now everyone has a friend, and school is fun again! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A realistic story of a new girl's struggle to be accepted
Morgie and Mollie are excited about the new student to join their class, but Carole Anne is anything but friendly: she seems determined to cause trouble and makes it impossible for anyone to like her. With all the hostility she's creating in class, it's no wonder nobody wants to continue the effort to be her friend. Trouble In The Barker's Class is a realistic story of a new girl's struggle to be accepted. ... Read more

Book Description

Ben Tyler hates to fight and Boyd Bradshaw knows it. When Boyd makes Ben eat mud at the bus stop, Ben's father decides that it's time for him to learn to defend himself. The thought of learning to fight makes Ben's stomach hurt, but he's willing to try anything to stop Boyd's bullying. When Ben discovers that he won't have to smash boards or throw people across the room, he decides that his Kajukenbo lessons might not be so bad. But even with his new self-defense skills, Ben doesn't believe he can stand up to Boyd until the day the bully kicks Ben's dog. Not only does Ben overcome his fears, he discovers a new kind of strength, one that was inside him all along.

Written for children ages 9 and up, A Bundle of Sticks is an honest, funny and sometimes painful look at how one boy overcomes his fears and stands up to the schoolyard bully.

Winner of The Mark Twain Award, The Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award and The Washington State Governor's Award ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An antidote to bullying
Reprinting Pat Mauser McCord's "Bundle of Sticks" is appropriate for at least two reasons: First, it is a book that never should have been permitted to go out of print, and second, it is being reprinted at a time when its major theme-bullying in schools-has become an epidemic across the country. As this review was being written an 11-year-old boy was so tired of being bullied that he drove the family car almost all the way across Missouri, running from a stressful situation. It is a very serious problem that all schools and parents should investigate and take measures to stop. Reading and believing a book like this is a good start.
When "Bundle" was first published nearly 20 years ago it won numerous prestigious awards-the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the Mark Twain Award not to mention the Washington State Governor's Award. It deserved them and more because of the gentle, often-humorous way it gave kids a way to stand up to bullies. On the surface, learning martial arts sounds as though violence is being advocated. Not true. As "Bundle" explains and shows through believable plotting, martial arts properly taught can give kids the self-confidence to deflect bullying without resorting to violence. This is emphasized throughout and shown convincingly in the novel's final scene.

... Read more

Amazon.com

In this stunning first novel, Graham Gardner pays homage to Robert Cormier’s great The Chocolate War with a story about a boy trying to survive in a school run by a vicious secret society. But where Jerry Renault resists the system, only to succumb to it in the end, Elliot Sutton is more eager to do its bidding, and doesn’t take action to resist until it is almost too late. At first Elliot had hoped that it would be different at Holminster High. He carries the fear always--the fear of the beatings and much worse that made his life hell at his old school. But at Holminster High, Elliot can be the kind of person who avoids trouble by fitting in. He watches himself carefully every moment and shapes himself to be noticed just enough in the right way. Ironically, his strategy backfires when the Guardians (the secret three who control and terrorize Holminster High) select him as a candidate to be trained for their group.

After school, Elliot finds a friend in outcast Ben, but both boys know they can never acknowledge each other in the halls. When Elliot falls in love with bright, outspoken Louise, he feels he must wear yet another identity for her. Elliot sinks into numb isolation behind his masks when a crucial decision pushes him to take back his self with an act that could cost him dearly. Inventing Elliot is a heartrending, engrossing novel to be pondered and discussed. (Ages 12 and older) <--Patty Campbell> ... Read more

Reviews (5)

unwillingly to school...
What if you found yourself fitting in with your peers to the point where you were singled out and prized for the qualities that helped you do this in the first place? What if you camouflaged your insecurity and fears so well, that you were taken for someone entirely different than who you were or wanted to be? Such is the dilemma of the 14-year-old protagonist of "Inventing Elliott." Formerly bullied at his old school, Elliott becomes first a bystander to the same type of violence at his new school, and then chosen by the leader of a secret society to become one of the behind-the-scenes orchetrators of the bullying. It isn't until this begins to jeopardize his relationship with his first girlfriend, that Elliott stops simply reacting to the events around him and begins to make his own decisions.

What distinguish this book from other similar novels that deal with the impact a powerful secret society has on a school, is the dimension of Elliott's family life. His father is recuperating (poorly) from a mugging, and this gives Elliott's reaction to being bullied a somewhat different angle.

Highly recommended.

A COMPELLING NARRATION
Every young person want to fit in, to be accepted by his peers. When someone is not a part of the group his or her life can be fraught with misery. This is the situation 14-year-old Elliot Sutton finds himself in when he is the target of hurtful teasing by his classmates.

However, there's hope as Elliot is going to a new school, Holminster High, and he is determined to be different, to change himself so that he won't be bullied again. To this end, he adopts a facade, a tough exterior, an emotional armor to protect himself.

British actor Dominic Taylor presents a compelling reading as he segues from a cowed young man to a hardened teenager and, finally, to the voice of Elliot's conscience.

You see, it seems that there is actually no escape for Elliot as Holminster High has its bullies, too. Only, they're a bit more evil than the ones Elliot has known before. This is a group called the Guardians, no one knows exactly who they are but everyone knows enough to fear them. They're upperclass students who rule for the sake of ruling, and, of all things, they want Elliot to join them.

Can Elliot, a boy who was once a victim become a victimizer? It's often a struggle to grow, and this young man faces some difficult tests in order to do so.

- Gail Cooke

a deeply moving novel
In Graham Gardner's debut novel, fourteen-year old Elliot Sutton is determined to reinvent himself when he starts the academic year at his new school, Holminster High.

Elliot was picked on and beaten up by bullies at his old school. He wants to make sure that he doesn't get noticed in the wrong way ever again. As a result, he wears the right clothes, changes his hairstyle and acts very cool. Much to his surprise, his plan succeeds.

Elliot is noticed by the Guardians, a secret society of students who run the school by terrorizing and bullying students. Their organization is loosely based on George Orwell's book 1984. The Guardians would like Elliot to join them. Not wanting to get hurt again, Elliot goes along with them but soon finds out that he will have to pay a terrible price for his new position of power.

Gardner made me feel Elliot's pain, both physically and emotionally. Most of his actions are driven by fear. There are several touching scenes in the book. Elliot befriends a boy named Ben who is one of the Guardians' favorite targets. Elliot and Ben spend several enjoyable Saturdays together, but ultimately their friendship dies because Elliot is afraid to associate with Ben. Elliot risks losing another friendship because he is hesitant to reveal who he really is. He is crazy about a girl named Louise, but he does not want her to find out about his secret life. Will he reveal his true self to her?

In the end, this novel is about choices. Elliot has to decide how to use his new power. Ultimately he must listen to his inner voice and find his true self.

If you are looking for a light, funny novel, INVENTING ELLIOT is not the book for you. It makes you think and touches on sensitive subject matter. I thoroughly enjoyed it because it opened my eyes to a world I've never known. I will be anxiously awaiting Graham Gardner's second novel.

--- Reviewed by Renee Kirchner (...)

Utterly Fantastic!
It is really difficult to do this terrific novel justice in this review. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and Elliott kept me enthralled. I recommend this book for young adult readers, and think that is a particularly meaningful read for males. It is written with style and strength. A fantastic novel.

Richie's Picks: INVENTING ELLIOT
"And so I wrestle with the angel
To see who'll reap the seeds I sow
Am I the driver or the driven
Will I be damned to be forgiven
Is there anybody here but me who needs to know"
--Grateful Dead, "Victim or the Crime"

"Survival wasn't that difficult. It simply meant cutting off all the pieces of you that didn't fit. After a while, your new identity became second nature, as if you'd always been like you were now.
"The difficult part was managing and keeping apart all the different people you had to become."

INVENTING ELLIOT is a smart psychological YA thriller set in a private high school in which Elliot, a scarred victim of bullying at his previous schools, is given the chance to start over in a place where nobody knows him, and then finds that his careful efforts at creating himself a new image lead to his being adopted into the heart of the students' secret power structure where he is offered the opportunity to mete out the kind of arbitrary, sadistic punishment to vulnerable classmates that he himself had been subjected to in his previous life. Elliot's constant fear is that any reluctance to play the game will lead to his once again becoming a victim himself.

As most of us can imagine, being in his position means that Elliot will merely be trading one living hell for another. Elliot's deep fears, artfully hidden behind his newly minted veneer, are infectious. I was thoroughly on edge as I followed Elliot page by page.

"When I'm in the shower
I'm afraid to wash my hair
'Cause I might open my eyes
And find someone standing there"
--Rockwell, "Somebody's Watching Me"

Not having read 1984 since well back on the other side of that year, I was intrigued by the prominent role that Orwell's book plays in this story, with two schoolmates presenting their radically contrasting impressions of the book to Elliot. Through those contrasting visions put forth by his characters, the author provides additional fuel for Elliot's internal struggle, as well as tools for the reader to begin considering why the dynamics of bullying exist in schools and possibly why people in the larger society forever crap on each other as if it's an inherent part of being human.

INVENTING ELLIOT asks more questions than it answers. This exceptionally well-crafted tale will grab readers in its ever-tightening snare and leave them wrestling with their own beliefs about power and how it is used. ... Read more

Book Description

All he wanted was to experience life (whatever that means) -- and now he's trapped on a high and dangerous cliff with only his pet turtle, Hannibal, around to help!

Fortunately, Hannibal is one of the Great Mystical Turtles of the Tortoissaic Period. Thanks to Hannibal's bizarre powers, Winchell finds himself time-hopping and body-morphing with baseball-playing dinosaurs, on trial for his life in a courtroom full of dancing tortoises, and fighting off bullies along with the appropriately nicknamed Bobby Plungerbutt.

Can Winchell survive all these encounters and still manage to get home in time for apple pie? Only author Steve Young knows for sure! But whatever happens, just don't expect Winchell's story to be like any you've ever read before.

Unless, of course, you've read Winchell's story before.

Reviews (5)

Adorable Time-Travel Story for Young Readers
Eleven-year-old Winchell Mink, is entirely fed up with being bullied by everyone in school. Especially the extremely articulate Clayton Moore. This, brings Winchell to find solace in his loving box turtle, Hannibal. However, Hannibal is one of the Great Mystical Turtles of the Tortoissaic Period, meaning that Hannibal is able to communicate telepathically with humans. Which is how Winchell ends up falling off a cliff. You see, it was Hannibal who telepathically told him to go out an experience life. But that's just the beginning of Winchell's problems. When Hannibal runs off to get help, Winchell begins thinking that if he were a turtle, he would have already saved himself by now. With that, Winchell is suddenly in Hannibal's body. Winchell's situation grows more and more bizarre, when he suddenly becomes a brontosaurus playing on a herbivore baseball team, against the carnivores, finds himself living life as five-year-old Bobby Plungerbutt, a boy whose rear end is shaped, and operates like that of a toilet plunger, and more, all before he has to be home for dinner.

When I first saw the cover of WINCHELL MINK, I was extremely excited to read the book as a) it featured the body of a box turtle, and I love turtles, and b) it seemed like a fun time-travel adventure. After reading the first sentence, I found that WINCHELL MINK was a fun and easy book to get into, as his personality, and adventures were both exciting and outrageous. Winchell is a cute character, who wants nothing more than for his tormentors to leave him alone, and for his Mother to stop believing everything Clayton tells her. The character of Hannibal is adorable, and reminds you very much of a real turtle. Overall, this was an abolutely adorable time-travel story for young readers, especially those who enjoy the TIME WARP TRIO and MAGIC TREEHOUSE series.

Erika Sorocco

Great Story For Reading Aloud
Winchell Mink is embarks on an imaginative journey that will leave readers of all ages cheering. It's almost too funny to keep to yourself and begs to be a classroom or family read aloud. The chapters are engaging, the character's plight universal, and the laughter non-stop.

Winchell Mink would make a great addition to any home or school library.

Great for *almost* any age
Okay. I must admit that I'm not entirely done with the book, but I had to stop reading for a moment to pet my turtle and wipe the tears from my eyes. Been launghing WAY too much.
Young's characters are so colorful, and the only thing better than the great narrative are the mental gymnastics the main character goes through.
It's a great book for 9 to 14 year olds, 17 year olds, 32-37 year olds, anyone older than 53 (provided they still have a sense of wonder and imagination), and dinosaurs who can read. And no matter what your age, I recommend reading it to someone else. It's funny in my own warped head, but EXTREMELY funny when you have to say this stuff out loud.
That all said, it's a great lesson to any reader about the importance of finding the good in anything bad and overcoming adversity.
Read it to someone you like to giggle with today.

I Laughed My Butt Off!
Okay, not literally...although my butt does resemble a plunger. However I can sum up Winchell Mink in one sentence. This is undoubtedly the FUNNIEST book I've ever read!

It's not just fun--it's funtastic!
Steve Young is a funny man. He writes for sitcoms, he writes newspaper columns, he makes films, and now he's created a riotous book. Winchell Mink is a fast-paced adventure unlike any other middle grade book, sure to keep even a reluctant reader glued to its pages. Well, not literally. The only glue in the book is in the binding, so the pages don't fall out. You don't have to worry about any glue seeping out and causing the book to stick to your hands. But in a metaphoric sense, Winchell Mink is hard to put down, and not because of the glue. Seriously. Only the finest quality glue was used in the construction of this book.

Winchell Mink is a terrific story and not just fluff, as some children's novels tend to be. As a parent with two middle grade children of my own, I like to see stories that reinforce the idea that it's okay to be who you are and not worry about being something you aren't.

Highly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

Life as a sixth-grade dork:
comedy or tragedy?

Now that Jerry Flack is sixth-grade class president, he can't wait to come up with cool things for his class. In order to raise money, Jerry and his friends decide to put to use what they're learning about Shakespeare and host an Elizabethan festival.

But before he knows what has happened, Jerry's gotten himself into a terrible mess with the one boy who will do anything to make him look like a dork. And when Jerry decides to help a new friend rise from the all-too-familiar depths of dorkdom, the social scene at school gets more complicated than ever. Can Jerry get out of a jam without turning himself into the biggest dork in town?

Book Description

Jeffrey the jerk is a bully and everyone knows it.

Little Vampire isn't about to stand around and watch him pick on his best friend, Michael.

There's only one thing to do:
Travel to the highest mountain and seek kung fu lessons from the master... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

nothing quite like it!
Now here's a rare treat... A clever, zany romp in the continuing adventures of Little Vampire. It's an unpredictable, rambling adventure, brimming with inventiveness and full of heart -- and it's a comic book. Kids 6 and up will find lots to delight in, but it's aimed at the 10 and up, who will revel in the wit and exuberant artwork. I'd bet the books in the Little Vampire series become classics in no time. Definitely nothing else like these.
Be sure and get the first book LITTLE VAMPIRE GOES TO SCHOOL if your young reader doesn't have it already. One of the few books he or she will rank higher than most video games. ... Read more