Book Description

Tom Gallagher is in a tight spot. The fate of the Dillontown team restson the outcome of one baseball game, winner take all. If Tom's teamloses, they lose their field too. But how can they possibly win? Justwhen everything seems hopeless, a mysterious boy named Cruz de la Cruzrides into town and claims to know the secret of hitting. Not tomention the secrets of Dante Del Gato, Dillontown's greatest hitterever. Since he walked away from the game years ago,Del Gato hasn't spoken a word to anyone. But now he might be Tom's onlyhope for saving his hometown. From the award-winning author of Overthe Wall and Choosing Up Sides comes this imaginative taleof one boy's struggle to preserve the spirit of the game he loves. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I Recommend That You Read "The Boy Who Saved Baseball"
I highly recommend "The Boy Who Saved Baseball," by John H. Ritter, for everyone to read, no matter what your age.It is an inspirational story about a boy and his teammates who save a town from urban sprawl, set in the very authentic, yet fictional, Southern California rural town of "Dillontown."The text is sprinkled with savory bits of native Mexican slang, and also has many excellent references to local food, climate, wildlife, and topography.But more importantly, it is a story of underdog rural life for once winning over the urban sprawl that currently threatens to turn the whole state into one huge, homogenized, planned urban community.

Yo This Book Was Sick!
This book was great!It was one of the best books I have ever read!

This Book Needs To Be A Movie!
I'm 14 and I love this book and I really want to see it be a movie. It will be so much better than Sandlot orOutof Leftfield or Major League. My teacher thought i would like it and I really did!!Its a mystery and a surprise on almost every page Read it and you will come to see what I mean.

A Brilliant Book-Much to Recommend
What's most brilliant about The Boy Who Saved Baseball is how John Ritter writes to adults and children at the same time.The kids get the story on their "Let's go you cowboys, computer geeks, and baseball fanatics against huge odds" level.But for adults, on the higher level, this is easily one of the deepest and most thought provoking baseball novels ever written.

So much is here.There's the lyrical language.There's the pure love of the California mountains ("A boy needs to read the earth. This is a truth older than the iron dust that redpaints the boulders. Older than the woolback mammoths that are fossiled in these hills.").

As the forlorn baseball campers ponder the night sky, Ritter weaves in a prophecy alluding to the Vachel Lindsay poem, "The Congo." Throughout the book, a self-described tramp, Hollis B (based on Lindsay's "The Tramp"), shows up to talk in prophetic verse, as a sort of Greek chorus, using a broken cell phone as cover so no one will report him as crazy or dangerous.

The characters are Mexican, Mexican-American, and Euro-American--without ever saying so--and are united.Not a big deal.Neither are the three girls (Maria is remarkable) who make up one third of the baseball team.

And the parody of the radio talkshow, which shows up to broadcast from the field, isclassic, especially when Hollis B talks about his position on the controversy using a soliloquy based on Casey Stengal's historical (and hysterical) testimony before Congress regarding baseball's monopoly.

A deep and fun-loving novel for all, fan or not, this is a literary and storytelling gem. I highly recommend it.-Jenna Diaz, New York, NY.

The boy who saved baseball
This excellent novel is realistic fiction with lots of celebration of baseball within by John H. Ritter and published by scholastic book.

In dilltown lies a baseball fanatic. He goes by Dante de la Gato he is the best Ritter of all time because he new the secret of hitting. In this story Tom Gallager and Cue de la Cruze are on the hawks and they play the all star team and if they lose they lose there home field where Dante de la Gato played. So since de la Gato doesn't want this this monument to leave. So coaches the hawks!De la Gato tries to teach the secret of hitting in just the time of four days. So the day has came and it is gamey...

In this story John Ritter try to tell us that most of the time what you want is what you get. He makes it very exciting and is awesome. This book is for mostly boys and a few girls.

John H. Ritter's latest novel will grab you right out of your seat so look for the curve ball.



... Read more

Book Description

Wallace, a mouse, could do almost anything. Anything that is, as long as he had a list.

1. Wallace is a shy mouse.
2. He writes lists. Lists of recipes, funny words, and frightening experiences.
3. Wallace meets his lively neighbor named Albert.
4. His world is swiftly opened to new delights, such as painting and music.
5. Wallace and Albert experience the excitement of an adventure, and Wallace discovers a new joy.
6. Friendship.

Book Description

When you know "the other way to listen," you can hear wildflower seeds burst open, you can hear the rocks murmuring, and the hills singing, and it seems like the most natural thing in the world.

Of course it takes a lot of practice, and you can't be in a hurry...

In fact, most people never hear those things at all, but this book tells you about two people who did -- one who was very good at it and one who took a long time learning.

As in their other books, Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall bring us close to the essence of the natural world. Thanks to their unique talents, their books are for us the experience about which they write and draw. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Playing on every teen’s passionate desire to look as good as everybody else, Scott Westerfeld (Midnighters) projects a future world in which a compulsory operation at sixteen wipes out physical differences and makes everyone pretty by conforming to an ideal standard of beauty. The "New Pretties" are then free to play and party, while the younger "Uglies" look on enviously and spend the time before their own transformations in plotting mischievous tricks against their elders.Tally Youngblood is one of the most daring of the Uglies, and her imaginative tricks have gotten her in trouble with the menacing department of Special Circumstances. She has yearned to be pretty, but since her best friend Shay ran away to the rumored rebel settlement of recalcitrant Uglies called The Smoke, Tally has been troubled. The authorities give her an impossible choice: either she follows Shay’s cryptic directions to The Smoke with the purpose of betraying the rebels, or she will never be allowed to become pretty. Hoping to rescue Shay, Tally sets off on the dangerous journey as a spy. But after finally reaching The Smoke she has a change of heart when her new lover David reveals to her the sinister secret behind becoming pretty.The fast-moving story is enlivened by many action sequences in the style of videogames, using intriguing inventions like hoverboards that use the rider’s skateboard skills to skim through the air, and bungee jackets that make wild downward plunges survivable -- and fun. Behind all the commotion is the disturbing vision of our own society -- the Rusties -- visible only in rusting ruins after a virus destroyed all petroleum. Teens will be entranced, and the cliffhanger ending will leave them gasping for the sequel. (Ages 12 and up) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Amazing
I really liked this book because its not something that you see on the shelves everyday. It is suspenseful and has a unique twist to it. I can't wait until the sequel, PRETTIES comes out.

Oldie and Not So Goldie
Everyone I know says this book is a direct steal from the old Twilight Zone show on TV--only worst. Amazing what the new generation can get away with, assuming the old generation is simply, well, too old to know otherwise.

Barbara M.

OMG this book was awesome
Everyone gets to be supermodel gorgeous....what could be wrong with that?Tally Youngblood is about to turn sixteen...the age that means turning pretty.Where Tally lives, everyone gets an operation to turn them beautiful on their sixteenth birthday, and then the new "pretties" move to a town where their only job is to have a really great time.When Tally's friend Shay runs away from the city because she doesn't want to be turned pretty, Tally is given the worst choice she can possibly imagine...tell where Shay is, or never be turned pretty.
This book was impossibe to put down...if you read it, you won't be disappointed!

A breathless can't-put-it-down read
Tally can't wait the three months until she's sixteen and her surgery transforms her into a pretty. She is sooooo sick of being an ugly. In the meantime, she daringly travels from her dorm in Uglyville to New Pretty Town in order to see her best friend, Peris. When she finds him, newly pretty Peris seems annoyed, asking why Tally couldn't wait the three months to see him. Just as troubling, the tiny scar on his palm matching hers, from their rite of blood brothership, has vanished --- replaced with perfect beautiful skin.

Escaping from New Pretty Town, Tally meets Shay, another ugly waiting to become pretty. The two become great friends, hoverboarding and plotting practical jokes together. When Tally shares her choices for her upcoming transformation (she favors a sultry Cleopatra look), Shay amazes her with her attitude. Shay hasn't even bothered to decide how she'll look as a pretty.

Tally buys the party line taught in school: a world of pretties is the only way to make everyone equal. It solves the long-ago problems of judging people by appearances and waging wars based on skin color. Besides, everyone wants to go through the rite of passage.

Shay persuades Tally to sneak into the restricted area outside the city where she discovers a wild stretch of white water, mountains, trees, and the ruin of an old city. Shay confides that she hopes to meet a mysterious person named David here. Shay's talk troubles Tally. Shay maintains that she not only doesn't want to become a pretty but that the operation is in fact unnatural. She even swears that she and Tally are not freaks as uglies.

As Tally approaches her sixteenth birthday and her transformation, Shay invites her to travel to David's home, the Smoke --- a place where everyone lives together in freedom, where there are no uglies and no pretties.

Naturally, Tally refuses to go. But when her long-anticipated operation day arrives, she is confronted with the frightening Special Circumstances team. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she learns that she must spy on runaway Shay in order to become pretty. Tally plunges into an amazing quest in which the ante constantly ratchets upward, plunging her into one impossible situation after another.

With extreme makeover shows like "The Swan" transforming people into pretty clones, Tally's world seems creepily not all that far-fetched. UGLIES is not only timely food for thought, but is a breathless, can't-put-it-down read, leaving readers impatient to get their hands on the second book in Scott Westerfeld's trilogy, PRETTIES --- immediately.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

Uglies
When i got this book i didn't know if i would like it because it was a spur of the moment decsion but once i started it i definately could not put it down... the ending leaves off at a perfect spot that says "gimme more!" im soooo dissapointed i cant find the next one and it better come out soon!! If you want a good long read that leaves you wantint more get this one... helps a lot if your grounded haha

-Chris ... Read more

Book Description

Redemption has made it to the bestseller chart, but what Chloe and the girls need most is some downtime to sift through the usual high school stress with grades, friends, guys, and the prom. Chloe struggles to recover from a serious crush on the band leader of Iron Cross. Then, just as an unexpected romance catches Redemption by surprise, Caitlin O'Conner - whose relationship with Josh is taking on a new dimension - joins the tour as their chaperone. Chloe's wild ride only speeds up, and this one-of-a-kind musician faces the fact that life may never be normal again. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

engaging young adult Christian novel
The female teenage Christian rock band Redemption has begun climbing the ladder of success and even becoming recognized in malls while on tour. However, the trio of high school students, Chloe Miller, Allie Curtis, and Laura Mitchell has other concerns besides the music though they each trust in the Lord to guide them. Allie and Laura wonder about what to wear at the prom while Chloe knows that she really likes twenty-one years old Jeremy Baxter of the Iron Cross band.

A fellow student back Harrison High sends emails to Chloe asking for help in finding her way to God. However, Chloe has a difficult time turning the other cheek as Tiffany Knight beat her up a couple of years ago. Will Chloe, who refuses to open the emails, forgive and assist Tiffany on the path as the singer knows God expects of her or will she continue to believe that Tiffany could never find the Lord?

This is an engaging young adult Christian novel that follows the trials, tribulations, and beliefs of three young ladies on tour. The story line is predominately told by Chloe, but fans get a deep look at all three teens plus their retinue and the members of Iron Cross. FACE THE MUSIC is a warm tale that brings to life the importance that anyone can be saved if people take a chance on risking rejection by their peers but acceptance by the Lord.

Harriet Klausner

Diary of a Teenage Girl - Face the Music : Diary Number 8 (D
i personally thought that the book was very interesting as i really touched me. i was not as lucky as chloe though. the person who died that was my friend was not a christian. i was not really consumed with guilt though i felt a twinge of it. Anyway, enough of me. jeremy and chloe's relationship gets interesting and i really hope to see what will happen in the next diary of a teenage girl-Kim. it is a really good book as chloe matures and you'll see a different side of her as she becomes more feminine. ireally loved it and enjoyed it and finished it in 2 hours and have since reread it loads of times. Keep up the good work melody! ... Read more

Book Description

Run run run.

That's what twelve-year-old Annie loves to do. When she's barefoot and running, she can hear her heart beating . . .

thump-THUMP, thump-THUMP.

It's a rhythm that makes sense in a year when everything's shifting: Her mother is pregnant, her grandfather is forgetful, and her best friend, Max, is always moody. Everything is changing, just like the apple Annie's been assigned to draw a hundred times.

Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech masterfully weaves this story about a young girl beginning to understand the many rhythms of life and how she fits within them. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Simple writing that resonates
Annie loves to run and draw. When her teacher assigns them to draw 100 pictures of the same apple, Annie begins to see things in different ways. Her grandfather's forgetfulness and the baby growing inside her mother are part of a rhythm, a heartbeat, that Annie begins to explore.

Simple writing underscores it's profound themes. Destined to become a classic.

CHANGE IS CONTINUOUS
Annie has a lot going on in her life.

Annie's teacher tells her to draw an apple. She is excited about drawing the apple, but the longer she holds on to it the more it changes.

Annie's mom is pregnant. Annie watches the baby change. She hears the heartbeat and sees the sonogram. She is amazed.

Annie's Grandpa lives with Annie's family. He's a good grandpa, but he can't remember how to fry chicken or do other things.

Annie's friend Max joins track, but is too proud to accept hand-me-down shoes or money for new ones. Max is Annie's running partner and friend. She wants to change his mind, but how?

_Heartbeat_ is a story about change. Change is continuous; life moves on, and it's okay. Annie ponders the changes she sees, and she voices her thoughts. Sometimes she's funny and sometimes she's wise, like Grandpa. Reading _Heartbeat_, young readers will discover they are no different than Annie. Life has many views and synonyms to express them. It's a terrific addition to Creech's growing collection of juvenile books.

Actress Mandy Siegfried reads the audio version of _Heartbeat_. She gives an amusing, insightful performance.

Delightful Read
Although I have heard of Sharon Creech from my young adult media center specialists, I didn't experience her until reading Love That Dog. Set in the same format as Love That Dog, Heartbeat speaks to the young person in all of us who attempt at all costs to be an individual and not get caught up in "the herd." Creech writes about this need for self-identity without getting preachy or putting others down who feel the need to be associated with "a group." The manner in which she identifies a family as being more than a mom, dad, new baby is also wonderful. For in a sense, the aging grandfather; the neighbor, Mrs. Cobber, and Annie's friend, Max, are also important members of the family as well.

a colorful exploration of adolescence
Annie loves to run. She runs barefoot everyday in the park. Sometimes her friend Max joins her. Max runs to escape from small town life, but Annie runs for its own sake. Running is the place where she can set her own pace and think about all the changes that are occurring in her life. Her mother is pregnant, her grandfather is forgetful and twelve-year-old Annie herself is changing, wondering:

"And what did I think/ when I was small/ and why did I forget?/ And what else will I forget/ when I grow older?/ And if you forget. Is it as if/ it never happened?/ Will none of the things/ you saw or thought or dreamed/ matter?"

HEARTBEAT is the latest book by Newbery Award-winning author Sharon Creech. Written in the same prosy free verse as her popular book LOVE THAT DOG, HEARTBEAT focuses less on poetic form and more on exploring Annie's different emotional states. Creech's poems are snapshots of Annie's feelings and experiences, an effective way of telling a story in short hand. But the impressions of the poems are fleeting, as Creech uses repetitive superlatives and abstract language rather than building images of Annie's world.

The most vivid images in the book are descriptions of color: the changing colors of the seasons around Annie as she runs, the changing color of an apple Annie is assigned to draw 100 times for art class, and the colors in the room where her mother gives birth to her new baby brother. These colors create a kaleidoscopic effect. Like Annie's moods, the colors in her world are always changing, making them both difficult to pinpoint.

Poetry is becoming a popular form for children's literature. HEARTBEAT does not have the same intensity as Karen Hesse's Newbery Award-winning book OUT OF THE DUST, but it does mark a new direction for Creech. It is a more mature book than LOVE THAT DOG, and Creech's descriptions of ordinary feelings in an ordinary life are a worthy subject for poetry. Readers accustomed to the transcontinental adventures of her previous books, which include WALK TWO MOONS, BLOOMABILITY and THE WANDERER, will have a chance to encounter another unexplored region: the inner workings of a twelve-year-old girl's mind.

(...)

"SPRINTING BAREFOOT THROUGH LIFE'S CHALLENGES"
If the library orders this book because I have said "Love That Dog" is one of my *very* favorite stories, soon I will be holding my breath, hoping my pacemaker keeps my heart going *thump thump* ~ hoping that *very* many readers get caught up in the exhilaration of barefoot running ~ the colored pencils and sketching ~ the synonyms and footnotes ~ the love between generations ~ the miracle of birth ~ and the remaining appleseed of this beautiful story, this *very* different story. 1

(Footnote 1: "different" meaning unlike "Love That Dog").

Then later, when a reader tells her parents, her teacher, her classmates that this is one book she'd really like to own, to hang onto for the days when she might have trouble remembering the heartbeats of growing up ~ all the tugs and tears ~ we will all read Sharon Creech's "HEARTBEAT" and understand better life's rhythms.

Sharon Creech, this is a heartfelt Thank-You for sharing twelve-year-old Annie, and Max who joined the track team while Annie balked at competition. Also, Annie's parents and grandpa Joseph whose forgetful momemts alternate with loving thoughtfulness, the baby in ultrasound pictures and finally, real live newborn Joey.

SAYS REVIEWER MCHAIKU "I'm glad I read to the end." ... Read more

Book Description

A new boardbook from P.K. Hallinan, conveys the importance of parents in a child's life. Great new book for toddlers ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not just for church goers, but for everyone!
P. K. Hallinan writes WONDERFUL children's books! This series, including My Mommy and I, My Grandpa and I, and My Grandma and I all reinforce the wonderful relationship that children can enjoy with everyone God has given them without being 'preachy' at all.

THIS BOOK IS ONLY FOR CHURCH-GOERS
I really enjoy P.K. Hallinan's My Sister and I, so I tried this one and My Mommy and I. She writes well and has great ideas, but both My Mommy and I and My Daddy and I have pages devoted to the joys of attending and praying in church together. In My Sister and I, she writes that the sisters work on developing their friendship that "G_d sent our way". That has universality. She alienates readers of other religions in books like My Mommy and I and My Daddy and I.

GREAT FOR DADDY TO READ TO THE KIDS
THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING BOOK TO READ TO CHILDREN TO EXPLAIN HOW IMPORTANT A DAD IS IN A CHILDS LIFE, OF COURSE THE AUTHOR DOES IT IN A FUN RHYMING WAY. MY KIDS LOVE THIS BOOK AND HAVE EVEN MEMORIZED IT BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH FUN....ALL BOOKS BY P.K. HALLINAN ARE!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Talon lives Downside, that is, underneath New York City. There is a strict code of secrecy among the Downsiders. However, when Talon accidentally meets a young woman named Lindsay, who is a Topsider (from above the ground), the two worlds inevitably collide. They become friends and love blossoms. The punishment for Talon's lack of discretion could be death. What will happen to them? Will the entire Downsider community be discovered? ... Read more

Reviews (23)

The Downsiders- - the best book around!
Have you ever been to a big city? Better yet, have you ever been to New York City? If you have, did you ever look down into the sewer systems or wonder what was in there? Once you've read the book The Downsiders by Neal Shusterman you will definitely wonder! Fourteen-year-old Lindsay isn't exactly happy when she hears she has to move in with her Dad. It means that she will have to endure her stepbrother's taunts, go to a preppy school, and live in New York City. Lindsay would much rather just curl up with a good book. Imagine living in a world fearing the sun. All through your life you've been told that if you ever see the sun, you will die. Envision wearing a watch on your ankle because, "Time is of little importance." In this world, socks are of the most value. If someone helps you, or if you buy something, you pay in socks. Try picturing walking through sewer tunnels with a half-inch of mucky water in them. This is the world that Talon Angler lives in, called the Downside. Want to know where this world is? You'll never guess.... okay, okay, he lives under New York City. Lindsay and Talon meet by accident, and they become friends. Talon even shows Lindsay the downside, which no Topsider has ever seen. Did I mention that it is also forbidden? Lindsay is mystified by the wonderful world, and is determined to find out more about it. But when Lindsay's dad and his construction company tunnel under the earth and come across the Downside, it's up to Lindsay and Talon to save Downside. But to do this, they may have to sacrifice the most important thing-- their friendship. Can they do it?

Hard-edged "what if"
Neal Shusterman crafts an unclassifiable book: It's not really fiction, juvenile or adult, fantasy, science fiction, or even satire. Rather it seems to mix in a little of everything, with a dash of social commentary and a little comedy as well.

Fourteen-year-old Lindsay is not pleased to be living in an under-construction house in New York, with her brat brother and distracted father. But her life takes an unexpcted twist when a strange boy appears in her house during a party, claiming that he needs medicine for his baby sister. Talon is a Downsider, from a primitive civilization that lives in New York's sewers, believe that they have always lived there, fear the sun, disdain the "Topsiders," and have their own culture and hierarchy that is unaffected by the world above.

Lindsay is intrigued by Talon's world, as he is with hers. But when Lindsay ventures down into the world of the Downsiders, Talon's friend Railborn reports that Talon has committed treason. At the same time, the very world of the Downsiders is threatened with destruction when a new aqueduct is dug -- right through their secret underworld. The Downsiders declare war on the Topsiders, and Lindsay seeks out the truth about their mysterious past.

This is one of those books that could have been botched so easily. But Neal Shusterman manages to not make the Downsiders cliched or stupid, nor does he make their culture too alien. An old theater with prismatic earring decorations, the vow that all "fallers" take, the different hairstyles and clothing styles, and the hunter-gatherer lifestyle (no more alligators in NY sewers, now they have herds of light-sensitive cattle).

Shusterman reserves his literary skill for when it's needed. New York "topside" is paid almost no attention, detail-wise. But he takes great care in his crafting of the strange civilization below the streets, and describes everything in it with loving care. Similarly, his idea for the Downsiders becomes a little too evident too early on the book, but is well-done also. Humor is sprinkled throughout the book when needed; one of the funnier moments has Talon commenting on how amusing H.G. Wells' "Time Machine" is, as it has savages below ground and beautiful creatures above -- unlike his view of the world. The finale screams for a sequel, after a surprisingly pulse-pounding climax.

Lindsay has enough wit and brains to almost instantly endear her to readers. Talon is a fully believable young boy who suddenly has everything he was taught challenged -- and not just little things either. His anger and fear and dwindling prejudice are skillfully drawn. I'm not sure what purpose Lindsay's obnoxious brother served; he appears briefly and then vanished. The father is a poignant figure; his life is going down the drain (literally), and his loneliness is the base of his persona. The scene-stealer is Champ, a sharp old homeless man who lives in a luxurious home in a swimming pool. (His cryptic hints seem a little needlessly mysterious, but otherwise the entire plot would be given away before it was ready)

"Downsiders" is a sharp, tense thriller, a clash of cultures in the same city. It's a good solid read for any age group, kids and adults alike.

OMG
Oh my gosh! This is the best book ever. I just started reading it and it is like The Time Machine meets The cricket in times square. This book is funny, sad, and very adventurous. It makes you think about those people in your life who could use a smile their way and it makes you want to make a new friend. I love this book. The characters are so adventurous. I totally recommend this book for teens out their who love an addicting book.

Amazing
This books is really great. I am only on the 9th chapter, and i am hooked. I haven't been able to put the book down since I got it, two hours ago. If you liked The Pigman, you would really enjoy this book. Well I need to go finish it!

We daren't go a-hunting
"Downsiders" is an updated "Peter Pan" for our times. In it, a girl is approached by a boy from another world. The two become friends, and he takes her with him into a place that no Topsider has ever seen. When Lindsay (our protagonist) decides to discover the truth about the Downsiders, her actions have consequences far more reaching than she had supposed.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction. Not long ago I had the chance to see a remarkable documentary entitled, "Dark Days", by a Mr. Mark Singer. In it, the documentarian digs deep into the depths of New York City to reveal the homeless people that dwell in the abandoned subways stations below. The film is an amazing series of stories, showing people with running water and electricity and living their lives out of sight below. A year before this film came out, however, Neal Shusterman (children's author extraordinaire) wrote "Downsiders". A similar, if significantly different tale of underground dwellers. And, unfortunately, less amazing.

Shusterman is adept at weaving innovative ideas with actual historical fiction. The story of Alfred Ely Beach and his pneumatic subway system, as well as the Great Sinkhole Disaster of 1885 are taken and then stretched a little further into fantasy. Sometimes these stretches are inspired. For example, the Downsiders' world contains such splendid places of art as a crystal filled underworld theater and subway token studded walls. On the other hand, sometimes Shusterman stretches credulity into absolute goofiness. I'm sorry, but I'm having a bit of difficulty believing that somewhere in the depths of the New York City underworld there are herds of wild bulls stampeding in the sewers.

In the end, Shusterman doesn't stretch his tale as far as he could. He seems to be making some slight correlations between Lindsay's parents' divorce and the relationship between the Topsiders and the Downsiders but no real conclusions are made. Also, inconsistencies abound. At the end of the tale, Lindsay's mother appears (after hearing rumors of her ex-husband's notoriety) to whisk her elder child away leaving our protagonist to continue her own adventures. Why would a mother fear for only one child's safety? Especially when she spent years living with the other child as well? Also, the Downsiders write a language of mixed English, Russian, Chinese, and other hieroglyphics. Yet they not only speak English flawlessly (without even so much as an accent) but they also can read it without difficulty.

If you would like a good fun tale about a world not too distant from our own, "Downsiders" is a perfect Sunday afternoon read. If, however, you'd like something more enchanted and more entrancing, I highly recommend you seek out Mark Singer's "Dark Days". Why eat a hamburger when you can have steak? ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Heartwarming, Inspiring Story
Boxes for Katje is an excellent story that illustrates the idea that sometimes all it takes is one person to bring about changes - something we should strive to remember.

An inspirational story grounded in history
Written by award-winning picture book author Candace Fleming, and based on the real experiences of her mother, Boxes For Katje is an uplifting picture book whose story is set in Holland after World War II. The war has left behind immense devastation, yet Katje's pen-pal from America has sent a package that is part of a goodwill effort to help the people of Europe. An inspirational story grounded in history, Boxes For Katje is wonderfully enhanced for young readers with the artwork of Stacey Dressen-McQueen. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

I hate this new conceited Abby!
Abby suddenly cares only about herself and Simon. She isn't paying any attention to Hannah, Casey, Mason, or Bethany, and when Natalie suddenly starts acting nasty she doesn't even bother to find out why, or to help her friend. Also, she is way too crazy over Simon. I am 12 and nobody likes me and I don't like anybody. I love the old Abby Hayes, but now she's just weird. If I had a friend like her, I would be very upset about how mean she's acting. Have you noticed Simon backwards in "Nomis"? Like No Miss??? In other words, I DO NOT feel like I was missing out in the other books. I think Anne Mazer should just cool it with the crushes and make Abby more like her old self that everyone loves. ... Read more

Book Description

There are lots of children on Hill Street, but no little girls Betsy's age. So when a new family moves into the house across the street, Betsy hopes they will have a little girl she can play with. Sure enough, they do--a little girl named Tacy. And from the moment they meet at Betsy's fifth birthday party, Betsy and Tacy becoms such good friends that everyone starts to think of them as one person--Betsy-Tacy.

Betsy and Tacy have lots of fun together. They make a playhouse from a piano box, have a sand store, and dress up and go calling. And one day, they come home to a wonderful surprise--a new friend named Tib.

Ever since their first publication in the 1940's, the Betsy-Tacy stories have been loved by each generation of young readers.

Reviews (21)

The wonderful first book of an enchanting children's series.
Hooray!!! I am so thrilled these books are in print again. I read them all (several times!) as a child growing up in the 1960's in a town 30 miles from "Deep Valley", (aka Mankato) Minnesota. I inherited them from my mother's childhood collection. But when I moved to California in 1969 no one had heard of them. My, now 14 year old daughter, read, and re-read the 3-generations-old books and loved them as well! She and I both rejoice to see these timeless stories enjoying a national rebirth. They've even made the movies...Meg Ryan's book store owning character in the 1999 movie "You've Got Mail" refers to Betsy, Tacy and Tib. Maud Hart Lovelace would be pleased and proud!!!

Charming!!!
Somebody said: It is never too late to have a happy childhood. Well, reading Betsy-Tacy will give anyone a good idea about what a nice childhood is about. This is the first book in a series of books about Betsy. The reader follows her from age five, as she is in this book. It is absolutely delightful! Betsy's life changes much to the better as a new girl her age, Tacy, becomes her neighbour and her best friend. Together, they play and explore the world around them. Reading this book is so enjoyable ... it leaves the reader with a nice feeling of satisfaction.

Fabulous Books...Buy a Set for Yourself & For Young Readers!
When I first discovered these books, I had to order them on inter-library loans...all over the state of California!! Then in about 1994 the books were reprinted!! What joy. I own all 10 of them and Carney's House Party (which I love) and the Horse Cart one (can't think of the name!!) Thanks to Harper-Collins for republishing them. So my advice buy a set for yourself and all the young readers in your life!! Buy them so they won't go out of print again! I love them for the warm homey life they portray and the friendship between the girls. I love the talking about food and picnicing and the family relationships. I am 44, but when I have a sick day, these are the perfect books to reread!

Wonderful stories
Girls just want to have fun. Betsy and Tacy know how. This series takes them from age 5 through high school. Any girl would enjoy reading it, and in the process she'd learn a great deal about friendship, family, school, and boys.

A difficult book to love today
It is not as if I wasn't primed for this book at an early age. As a child I was quite obsessed with any books that had the name "Betsy" in them. The excellent and little known, "Understood Betsy" by Dorothy Canfield was written in 1917 and remains one of the sweetest unsentimental children's stories today. Yet even young I consciously avoided the Betsy-Tacy books like the plague. I was aware from an off-hand flipping through them that these were not stories I would enjoy. They were about little girls who had rather wimpy (in my opinion then) adventures. Where were the exciting city scenes of the "All-of-a-Kind-Family" books? Or the beautiful descriptive passages of the "Little House" books? I was disappointed by these books as a child, and I am afraid my opinion has changed little since growing up. The books are maudlin and lacking in spunk. The most gripping scene in the book is found on page five when Tacy flees from Betsy. Spunk is not unknown to little girls in books from this time period. Girls in the books already mentioned had it. My beloved "Caddie Woodlawn" had it. Heck, "Anne of Green Gables" was fairly overflowing with it. Is this to say that every little girl in every book from the past should be spunky and wild? Not at all. But there must be some interest there. Something that a girl today can read and latch onto. Friendship is the overarching theme of this book, and it carries the story as far as it can. Just the same, I have my doubts that any child uninitiated into this series by an earnest parent would naturally gravitate to it in the library today. It would also not read aloud well to boys, I suspect. I may be incorrect and as I write millions of little girls are falling in love with these stories on their own daily, but it seems a little unlikely. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Funny Book
"Amber Brown is Not a Crayon" is one of the funniest books I have ever read and maybe it could be for you too. In the book, Justin and Amber were best friends. All of a sudden, Justin is moving away and they get in a fight. They figure out that getting in a fight over a silly little move is very silly indeed.

Like Friendship? Read This Book!
How would you enjoy getting into a fight with your friend? In Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger, Amber Brown got into a fight with her friend, Justin. Unfortunately, Justin is moving away. I really like this book because it reminds me to get along with my friends.

Student from G.P.

My Favorite Amber Brown
I gave this book five stars because it was humorous, happy, and a really good book.It was about a girl named Amber Brown that gets teased in school because of her name, and about her being a crayon.My favorite part was when Amber and her friend Jason become best friends.

A Fun, Light Read!
I love these Amber Brown books. I'm thirteen, so these books are a fun, light read. The books follow third grader Amber Brown, who, in this book, is coping with the fact that her best friend, Justin, is moving. She must learn to deal with her feelings with Justin. It's funny and sincere and you'll definatly like it!

Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon
This is a very cute story. In fact, instead of waiting for bedtime, my 8 year old daughter took it upon herself to read it during summer vacation. It is a story she could relate to and enjoyed ... Read more

Amazon.com

Madonna hangs up her material-girl cloak to teach children the importance of looking beyond a surface sheen. In The English Roses, the superstar's children's book debut, four little girls (the roses in question) "play the same games, read the same books, and like the same boys." Nicole, Amy, Charlotte, and Grace all love to dance the monkey and the tickety-boo… and they all are horribly jealous of Binah, the perfect, beautiful, smart, kind girl who lives nearby. Even though they know Binah is lonely, she makes them sick. They would say, "Let's pretend we don't see her when she walks by." And even, "Let's push her into the lake!" The pleasantly bossy narrator explains, "And that is what they did. No, silly, not the lake part, the pretending not to see her part." One night, however, the four girls all have the same dream that sets them straight. A fairy godmother sprinkles them with fairy dust and takes them to spy on Binah. When they see that she lives alone with her father, slaving away night and day at household chores, the four girly grumblers feel very sorry for her. The fairy scolds them, "… in the future, you might think twice before grumbling that someone else has a better life than you." And they do. This morality tale is nothing new under the sun, but it is cleverly told, with many teaspoonfuls of good humor. Jeffrey Fulvimari's illustrations are no less than stunning--filling every page with vivacious black ink lines and gorgeous watercolor reminiscent of 1960s fashion sketches. Children will enjoy this "don't hate me because I'm beautiful" story that celebrates friendship as much as it teaches compassion. (Ages 6 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (296)

A great book for children!
This book is a great addition to any child's catalogue. It is simplistic enough for children to grasp and yet touches on a familiar subject that both children and adults (both male and female) could learn something from. It's straightforward, to the point and yet provokes thoughts in a gentle way, opening the door for family bonding with further discussion of the topic after the book has been read. It is cleverly told with a bit of humor thrown in which is a nice surprise in my opinion. The illustrations are vibrant and keep your eyes wandering from page to page.

And just a side note to the critical eye out there who may assume that this is just another way for Madonna to make a little money off of the little tikes... all the proceeds of the book are being donated to children's charities. A gem of a purchase that I'd recommend to anyone possibly interested!!

M Creates a Classic
The English Roses is Madonna's first in a series of children's books based on the teachings of the Kabbalah Center. This first book is about jealousy and envy among a group of school girls -- with a group of friends being envious of a girl named Binah (the hebrew word for wisdom) who at first glance seems to be perfect and "have it all" -- from beauty to intelligence to athletic prowess. During the course of the book, thanks to the intervention of a fairy godmother, the four friends realize that despite outward appearances Binah nor her life are perfect (including having lost her mother, just as Madonna had at a young age) and realize that instead of being envious and jealous, they should reach out to Binah and be friends. This is a lesson that we can all learn in life, and one cannot help but apply this to Madonna herself and that perhaps her message to the world is do not look at the rich and famous and be envious and jealous and hateful -- but realize that they are human too, with the same insecurities, desires and weaknesses that we all have. This message is very timely in our current age of celebrity obsession and television voyerism, where many substitute media personalities and celebrities for real life relationships and friends -- mistakenly thinking that their lives are better and more interesting than our own. Some would criticize the English Roses for its picture perfect protagonist, Binah, but without Binah's outward appearance of perfection one would lose part of the moral of the story -- that everything is not what it seems. The illustrations are lush, detailed and merit more than a cursory glance -- they really add to the substance of the book and create a world where you can imagine the English Roses living. Overall this is an excellent effort, particularly for a first time children's author.

Madonna surprises with endearing book for all ages!
I am not a big fan of children's books, because I find that most of them do not reach audiences of all ages.

With that said, Madonna's first children's book "The English Roses" is just a fantastic book. It is a story about four girls who are envious of a girl named Binah, because they feel that she has it all. Little do they realize, until a fairy godmother's intervention, that Binah keeps to herself because she is lonely after her mother died. It's a story that speaks to children on many levels, touching on the issues of a) social ostracization that is plaguing so many classrooms today and b) children who lose their parents at an early age.

As many reviewers have commented, long-time fans of Madonna, adult and child, can appreciate this book as they can understand where Madonna gets that drive of hers. You see, Madonna lost her mother at an early age too, and has commented regularly in interviews that she works hard to make her mother proud.

The story-telling is very simple and Madonna adds her trademark humour and wit, actually engaging the young reader in discussion (ex. "Listen, I already told you that..." "No silly, that's not what I meant..." something along those lines).

The illustrations are fabulous. Always one to think outside the box, Madonna consulted a fashion designer to illustrate this book, and kids and adults alike will love the trendy, hip and colourful drawings.

At the heart of it all is a moral: never judge anyone by the cover. Madonna has been judged and heavily criticized all her life, and I recommend that before you judge this book based on the cover and the author's name...don't. Pick it up and see for yourself what a beautiful tale the queen of pop, and emerging auteur, has crafted.

Overpriced rubbish from an old lady
I liked how Madonna wanted to give Bill Clinton oral s*x.

She is so old now that Clinton would turn her away. This book is a few short pages and a cut and paste job. Avoid.

Charming story for children of all ages!
The English Roses is a charming story about acceptance, understanding, and reserving judgment until the facts known. This story is a beautiful way to explain to children that you can't always know what a person's life is like. It demonstrates this concept through the use of a fairy godmother, which harkens back to an older style fairy tale where children were encouraged to use their imaginations and believe in the magic that childhood represents. At the same time, Madonna gently pokes fun at the repetitiveness that sometimes creeps into children's stories by acknowledging to the reader when she does this. I enjoyed this story as much as my nieces and nephew did. ... Read more

Book Description

In this "warm fuzzy tale full of poignance, humor, and magic" (School Library Journal), eight-year-old Harriet Butler is astonished to meet a space alien who's vacationing in her dad's wheat field. "Children will be delighted by the charm, compassion, and wit of Harriet and Wiz . . . and find themselves completely drawn into their wonderful fantasy adventures."--Booklist starred review. Illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Magical !!!!!
At the first page of the book,I was excited and wanted to continue with it as long as I can.This story is about Harriet,a girl whose mother has passed away.She longs to see a talking hare and her wish comes true.A hare who is a Partian comes to Earth for a vacation.To the hare,Earthlings are like cave dwellers who are not developed at all.All the Partians there can change shape at any time.Wiz(that's what Harriet names the hare)and Harriet have a lot of fun together.Wiz can predict the future at any time.But it's a pity that Wiz has to go back to his planet when the full moon rises.Harriet really dreads the day that Wiz has to go.I also wished that he will stay.I will recommend this book to all children of all ages.

Cute story!
I enjoyed the story as a 7th grader, though it was way too easy for me. It was very cute. Dick King Smith has a great way of giving animals their very own personalities. Great story for the younger generation. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Popular Aussie writer Jaclyn Moriarty, author of the smash debut, Feeling Sorry for Celia avoids the notorious sophomore slump with this bouncy epistolary follow-up that is brimming with self-confidence and charm. In The Year of Secret Assignments, a tenth grade English teacher attempts to unite feuding schools by launching a pen-pal project. Best friends Cassie, Emily and Lydia initiate the correspondence, and are answered by Matthew, Charlie and Seb. Emily and Lydia are more than pleased with their matches, but quiet Cassie has a frightening experience with Matthew. When Lydia and Emily discover that Matthew has threatened their fragile friend, the Ashbury girls close ranks, declaring an all-out war on the Brookfield boys. Soon, the couples are caught up in everything from car-jacking and lock-picking, to undercover spying and identity theft.

Moriarty’s captivating comedy of manners reads like a breezy 21st century version of Jane Austen--with no end of ridiculous misunderstandings, angst-ridden speeches, and heartfelt make-ups. Female teen fans of Ann Brasheres' The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Megan McCafferty's Sloppy Firsts will waste no time swapping copies of The Year of Secret Assignments, with all their best buds. (Ages 12 and up) --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Reviews (26)

You'll want to read it twice
This book was even better than "Feeling Sorry for Celia."

I've read the other customer reviews, and I wanted to say that I liked all three girls (Lyd, Cass and Em) and found their journeys interesting for different reasons. Lyd is a born leader with a powerful imagination. Her letters made me laugh aloud. But then, so did Cassie's. If you read her second letter to Matthew Dunlop, the understatement is hilarious.

Also, all three girls grow and change throughout the course of the story (Lyd and Em with regards to their relationships with the opposite sex), but Cassie is the one whose journey takes the most courage and who steps out of her comfort zone the most.

An earlier reviewer has done an excellent job of discussing Emily-isms. I found Charlie's comments and Seb's remarks to be quite funny as well. (See Seb's first letter to Lydia and Charlie's first letter to Emily).

Read the book -- you will want to read it over again, just to pick up all the pieces you might have missed.

Richie's Picks: THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS
Lots of laughs, plenty of attitude, mystery, and hijinx permeate this book. Three longtime girlfriends in high school--Emily, Lydia, and Cassie--who are connected through parents who went to law school together, are each required to become penpals with guys in a cross-town school with a bad reputation. The story is told primarily through these letters back and forth, along with some journal entries, and a hysterically funny fill-in-the-blanks writing workbook that Lydia's dad has given her.

I'd considered myself pretty waterlogged from the publishers' wave of girl-writes-a-journal books of the past few years, but this is a horse of an entirely different flavor. I'm sure there are some great lessons to be garnered from this book, but, above all, I found it to be a totally delightful read. And the author's background as an attorney is certainly put to good (comedic) use.

At first I wasn't sure what more to say about the book.

But being away for a couple of days up in the middle of the (cold, snowy) Sierras this week, with nothing to do at night, I found myself rereading it like it was comfort food. And it's as good as leftover lasagna the second time around. For one thing, I caught many of those little clues concerning who did what that I'd missed the first time through. But, more importantly, I understood all the Emily-isms that I wasn't clear about on the first go round.

In the same way that non-Americans might find it a bit more difficult to understand the wisdom of Yogi Berra or the rapid-fire dialogue in a Marx Brothers movie, I wasn't sure on the first read exactly what was Emily and what was the English language as it is spoken Down-Under. But the second time I understood what the author has accomplished in creating the wacky voice of this young woman who longs to be a lawyer someday:

"I am not saying that this is true. I am only giving a hyperactive situation of how you might give offense."
" 'You must have dislocated it. Try looking again.' "
"I was just nom-plussed..."
"I decided to use this opportunity to practice my handwriting. As you can see, I am developing a highly eloquent style."
"Anyway, I didn't believe that for one millimeter..."
"They have very sun-dewed light so you look attractive in the mirror..."
"I think this is a "play" on Thompson, which is my last name. I think it is an angiogram of Thompson, actually."
"I can't explain how beautiful the singing was because you can't write music."
"We need to cook on the element of surprise."
"It's immortal keeping a secret."
"...he says that schools which are close to one another should forge ties, and I hope you are as keen as I am to get started with the forgery."
"Hyperbole is something to do with graphs. What is it in particular? I don't know. I hate maths."
"Also, I have seen on TV that you can get head transplants and it seems to me that it is a tragedy if you are bald and you don't get a head transplant."

Bravo for the girls from Ashbury and the guys from Brookfield. I have no doubt that this will be a major hit with our students. That is, if they can wrestle it away from us grown ups.

Richie Partington
...

One of the Best Books I've Ever Read
The Year of Secret Assignments was one of the best books I've ever read. I stayed up all night reading it! The plot is about three friends named Lydia, Emily and Cassie, who have to write to three boys from a rival school named Sebastian, Charlie and Matthew. Lydia is strange; Emily is flamboyant; Cassie is withdrawn; Seb is sweet; Charlie is funny; and Matthew is, well--that would be giving the plot away. This is a great book and it kept me totally engaged, or as Emily would say, insinuated. Everyone should read The Year of Secret Assignments!

The best book i've read in a while!!
yeah this is a book about friendships, romance, and mystrey. through letters, emais, journal entreys, and notebooks, you find three friends and there pen pals try to stay out of trouble while taking on each other's challenges and try to get back at this one guy.

This book rocks!!!
I thought Feeling Sorry for Celia was the funniest book I'd read in 10 years -- but Year of Secret Assignments is even better, and even funnier. Written with wit, charm, and grace, Secret Assignments gives us a bullseye view of teenage life in Australia, which reminds us that teens are the same the world over. Completely captivating - I didn't want it to end! ... Read more

Book Description

Anthony, also known as "Antsy," is fascinated by "The SchwaEffect"--the fact that no one ever sees Calvin Schwa. Even when acting weird anddressed like a total freak, The Schwa is only barely noticed. The two boys forma partnership and get away with all kinds of mischief, from conductingexperiments at school to confounding opponents on the basketball court. When TheSchwa senses that even Antsy is beginning to lose sight of him, he vows to dosomething that will make him so visible, no one will ever forget him. Any kid who's ever felt unnoticed willidentify with Schwa and Antsy and their quest for notoriety. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Love, Adventure, Friendship
This book was awesome. It has an effect on all young adults, and can relate to anyone. This book, in the beginning was so interesting. Mr.Shusterman has made such an amazing story of this book. I really hope every teacher will introduce this into their classrooms, because every student needs help in their lives. Many people have to worry about the question, why does no one notice me, and this book shows that there is someone out there for everyone. I did actually learn a lot from this book, too. I learned that no one can put you down, life is nothing without friendship, and sometimes people like to exaggerate the truth.

Funny, quirky book perfectly appropriate for middle readers
I'm not sure why the editorial reviews suggest that this is a book for 7th grade and up; late elementary and middle school readers will certainly enjoy it too, and other than a few stolen kisses, there's nothing inappropriate here for younger readers.Take an "invisible-ish" boy, with a mother who has already disappeared and a father who is not entirely all there, a wealthy recluse with 14 dogs and a blind granddaughter who sees the world more clearly than he does, a funny, blunt-speaking protagonist with a dad who works at "Pisher Plastics," and chapter headings like "Maybe They Had It Right in France Because Getting My Head Lopped Off by a Guillotine Would Have Been Easier," and you end up with a totally off the wall, laugh-out-loud read.

great book
I have discovered this book long before it came out. My language arts teacher went to an convention for books, and she got all these books- some not even published yet! I was the first in her class to get the book, and I finished it in two days. That's how much I love it! I think this is a great read for kids in middle school, like me. I highly recommend this book!

great book
I have discovered this book long before it came out. My language arts teacher went to an convention for books, and she got all these books- some not even published yet! I was the first in her class to get the book, and I finished it in two days. That's how much I love it! I think this is a great read for kids in middle school, like me. I highly recommend this book!

Clever premise

Schwa: The faint vowel sound in many unstressed syllables in the English language.

Neil Shusterman says he got the idea for "The Schwa Was Here" when he did a Q&A session at a library and kept overlooking aboy who had his hand raised.The boy evolved into the title character, the Schwa.

This book is as biting as its chapter titles ("Maybe They Had It Right In France Because Getting My Head Lopped Off By A Guillotine Would Have Been Easier").Its main character, Anthony "Antsy" Bonano, is an Italian living in Brooklyn ("Jews and Italians seem to get along just fine.I think it has something to do with the way both cultures have a high regard for food and guilt"), a city known for simultaneously accepting, ignoring, and trampling over all its residents.The Schwa is especially a victim of being overlooked: He uncannily blends into his surroundings and can't be seen even when he is right in front of someone's face.

Neil Shusterman's book is fantastically entertaining.He has taken an everyday problem (who hasn't felt neglected and ignored?), raised it to an almost paranormal status, but kept it at such a level where the Schwa almost a realistic character(the Schwa isn't actually invisible, but is mysterious enough to have a disturbing presence).

The plot could have turned into a sniveling melodrama of deathbed confessions, persistant love triangles and tearful reunions, but Neil Shusterman cleverly avoided literary pitfalls.Instead, "The Schwa Was Here" is an offbeat novel, an urban myth of quirky, fascinating characters. ... Read more

Book Description

When anything goes wrong at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, from the hexing of Bus Six to the mysterious disappearance of the kindergarten gerbil, it's sure to have a Herdman behind it. The Herdmans are more than famous-they're outlaws. They smoke cigars, lie, and set fire to things, and that's only when they bother to come to school!

Then a school project forces the students to think of compliments for all their classmates-including the Herdmans. Is it possible that behind their outrageous pranks there may be something good about this crazy clan after all?

Children's Choices for 1995 (IRA/CBC)
1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)
Winner, 1996 Colorado Children's Book Award
1996 Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award (ND))

1997 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award (IL)
1997 Children’s Choice Book Award (IA)
1997 South Dakota Prairie Pasque Book Award
South Carolina’s 1996-97 Children’s Book Award
1996-97 Golden Sower Award (NB)
1997 Volunteer State Book Award (TN)
1997 Children’s Crown Award (NCSA)
1998 PA Young Reader’s Choice Award
1998 NM Land of Enchantment Book Award
1998 GA Children’s Book Award
1999 Nene Award (HI) ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Best Book Ever
This book is truly the best book ever. If I could I would rate this book up to 1 million. I like this book because it's about how a family called the Herdmans always gets in trouble or is just up to no good. I also like the book because it's split up into stories about the Herdmans. My favorite one was when a kid got his head stuck in a bike rack and one of the Herdmans named Gladys said they were going to cut his ears off to get him out. Then when the teachers called the fire department they shouted out the window,"They're coming to cut you loose." I thought that was so funny. I would read this book if I were you to get some great laughs. You heard it from me and the whole world.
From,
Joanna

The Best School Year Ever
I think this book was funny.I recommend this book to the other 5th grade classes.I think it was funny when the Herdmans washed their cat in the washing machine at the laundry mat.I also thought it was funny when Imogene [took] Howerd and wrote on his head with markers and called him the tatoo boy.I think this is the best book I ever read.

By:Nikki

Best Book Ever
I love thes book. It was about a bunch kids how were runery. My feriot coarter was this one kid's lerttle bro. My feriot part was wien a kid did sumunt for the talatlents show and mess up amen gril paoeno.Read this book.

The Funniest school year Ever
This book is very funny and it's about