Book Description

FROM: Headquarters

TO: Special Agents Misty and Amber

LOCATION: Anytown, USA

PROBLEM: Quick Food is a new restaurant in town. It's the only place where anyone wants to eat. Are the owners up to something sneaky? Are they controlling everyone by putting something in the food?

YOUR MISSION: Sneak into the Quick Food kitchen and find out its secret!

Book Description

Truth or Dare
How far will this game go?

Book Description

Ashley and I were planning an awesome Halloween party with our friends. But everything started going wrong. Spiders in the candy, scary warnings...we thought it was all some kind of joke. Then we heard a creepy scarecrow scream -- and Ashley and I had one tricky case to crack!

Reviews (3)

It's really good!!
I love mary-kate & ashley!!they are so cool!!This is a great book!!!You have to read it.At first I thought the scarecrow had got up and walked away.Boy,was I wrong!!!

SO COOL
This is such a cool book. these two really no how to solve a mystery!

Sounds good to me!
Ok, I just bought this book today and two other ones and this one looks the best out of the three so I can't wait to read it!!!! It looks good! What do you think? All I know is that Mary-Kate and Ashley have out cool books and this one looks good. ... Read more

Book Description

Fourteen-year-old Jack sets out in a handmade canoe for the legendary Okefenokee Swamp. But after several idyllic days of exploring, he's hit with some bad luck. He can't find his way home, and he runs into a hungry alligator who takes a bite out of his canoe. When he pulls up to a remote island, he finds another surprise: a mystery that will reach far into his own past . . . and force him to question the world he's left behind.

Reviews (8)

An amazing book
Tree Castle Island was an amazing book! Being a ten year old high school reader has let me read tons of books. A wounderful book about an adventure, nature, and a mystery that will make every child think about their past. The only thing better than this book will have to be a sequel.

Adventure Marred by Outdated Views of Adoption
I enjoyed reading this book to my 10 year-old son until I read ahead to the ending. I was shocked to see how the author, Craighead George, presented adoption. My son and daughter are both adopted in open adoptions, but reading about adoption in Tree Castle Island is like going back to the 1960s. Adoption is presented as a shameful secret. There is a lot of emphasis on how the adopted kids look nothing like the adoptive parents, how they only share real and important things with their "real" siblings and "real" parents--not the adoptive parents. Frankly, I won't be finishing this book with my kid because it's almost harmful in the way it addresses adoption. If you have adopted kids, you may want to skip this book.

Itching to camp in the Okefenokee?
My 9 year old son really enjoyed this book, accepting the amazing series of coincidences uncritically, but he was amazed that Jack woke up the morning after making his bed out of Spanish moss with nary a bite from the redbugs that usually infest the stuff. The Indians and settlers used to bake the moss before they used it. We visit the Okefenokee often, and this book's descriptions of the shadowed cypress bogs and sun-hammered prairies adds another layer of appreciation, but watch the facts: talk to folks who live around the swamp when you visit!

Tree Castle Island
Tree Castle Island is a book about a boy whose parents leave him at his Uncle Hamp's house for a couple of weeks. He built a canoe and went on journey to find a Sun Daughter. He came to an Island and heard strange sounds at night. Soon he found a boy exactly like him who was making the sounds. He didn't know if he was dreaming or not. Everything about the boy was exactly the same thing abouthimself. This would be a great book for someone who likes adventure and mystery.

Three stars
I would give this book three stars because this book is a good book but some parts are too unreal. The ending was okay. I didn't really like the ending because some parts I didn't want to happen, they really surprised me. I didn't like the ending as much as the beginning. It was very confusing. There aren't even really sad parts at all and I like books that have feelings and emotions and are realistic.
The parts that I liked were when the characters meet and their adventures in the Okefenokee Swamp. This is a really cool book. They should make a sequel or a movie or something to see what happens. So good job Jean Craighead George, you have made a very interesting book. ... Read more

Book Description

Bow-wow! Ashley and I and our basset hound, Clue, packed our bags for Camp Barkaway -- a special camp for dogs and their owners. We took Clue to fun doggie classes like "Paw and Draw" and Stretch and Fetch." We were all having a blast -- until Clue disappeared from our cabin! Did someone kidnap her? Or did she run away? One thing was sure: Clue was dog-gone -- and it was up to us to find her!

Reviews (2)

This book is adorable!
It's really great! One of the Olsens' best! The story is terrific and gives a very realistic description of what dog camps are like. All the canine characters-Clue, Lacy, Scooter-are cute. If you like these books, you'll love this one!

M-K&A Have Done IT 1 More Time!!!
Since I collect all Mary-Kate & Ashley books ever made, I bought this one the first day it came out! This has a really cute story. So, for all those M-K&A fans out there, get this book! PRONTO! ... Read more

Book Description

When Mary-Kate takes a summer job as a lifeguard at a Malibu beach club, she soon finds that it’s not all about saving lives, it’s about meeting guys. Mary-Kate is about to have the most romantic summer of her life… ... Read more

Book Description

Watch out Sweet Valley Jr.High--here come the Wakefields!

Elizabeth thought switching to a new school would be horrible.How could she have known that she'd make incredibly cool friends right away? Or that she's meet a really cute guy? Jr. High is terrific!

Jessica thought a new school would mean new friends and new boys.Not quite.Everyone at Sweet Valley Jr.High is so unfriendly she had to eat lunch with her dorky locker partner.Jr. High is the worst! ... Read more

Reviews (61)

Get Real in Sweet Valley Jr. High
IN this book, these two twins, Jessica and Elizabeth get transferred from their original high school, Sweet Valley Middle School. They have two different point of views of their new high school, one feeling she will love new friends and cute boys. The other twin, Elizabeth does not get the same kind of message. They have to deal with not being in any of the same classes with each other, finding their way to the right classes, meeting new people, and the realization that they might not fit in. The story shows all the different points of view from the different characters from the story and it just pulls you into this seemingly real life of an average preteen or teenager. This is a great book to read as well as the other books in this series, let alone all the series of books you can find about these Sweet Valley Twins. Don't ignore this book if you pass by it... pick it up and READ IT!

Jr. high is so cool!
Jr. high is so cool!You MUSTTTTTTTTTT read this book before you even start your Middle School! I've only read book 1 & 2, but they are so fantastic, that I can't even put them down through dinners!Elizabeth is my favourite character, and I thought Salvador del Valle is pretty nice too. I feel pretty sorry for Jessica about having lunch with just her dorky locker partner, Ronald. Luckily, Lizzie got a totally cute-looking guy for locker partner, and handsome Salvador del Valle ( who's crush on Liz ) and Anna Wang ( a very nice Asian girl ) for friends. Jessica want to be in the cool crowd, but didn't got a chance. When Lacey ( from the cool crowd )thinks that having a boyfriend ( which is her brother ) old enough to drive is cool, and¡@ invite her to the cool crowd! Will Jess stick to the story and go to the cool crowd peacfully!? Read for yourself!

You have to read this before you go to jr. high!
This book you will love if you are a type of girl that likes to read about things that might happen in real life. This book is about twins that used to go to the same school, but after a new jr.high they are split up to go to different jr.highs. People at their old school thought that it was weird to dress the same so when they find out that they are going to different schools they get the same outfits.I'm not going to tell you the rest of the book because I would like you to read this book, but I can tell you if you are a girl and you're in 6th or 7th grade you will love this book.
Have fun reading this Sweet valley jr. high Get Real. I mean Get real and read this book!

THE BEST IN THE SERIES
It was the best book i read in the series. It is about how Liz is miserable and Jessica is very hapy (they are both going to a new school). Once school starts, the twins switch moods, and Liz makes great new friends but Jessica has to eat lunch with her nerdy locker partner!!!! SHE HATES IT THERE!!! Anyways it is a fun, cool book and I hope you buy it, you really should.
-Hallie-

A Nice Start...
Sweet Valley Junior High is nothing the twins had ever dreamed of. Elizabeth, with her fears of a new school and Jessica, with her over-confidence of maintaining her popularity at junior high. There are a lot of firsts in this book. And why not? Since this is the first book in a (great) new Sweet Valley series, it's nice to know some new people for a change. Elizabeth skips class with Anna Wang to buy her new friend some bras when Anna gets humiliated by their gym teacher, who's a bit on the crazy side (Miss Scarlett), for not wearing a sports bra to gym class. Jessica tries to hang out with the "cool" people and fails miserably. There are a lot of changes for the Sweet Valley twins. But some things just never change. Lila's turning over a new leaf in Hawaii doesn't last long and she lets Jessica down again. She makes Jess wait for over an hour at a cinema while she's having fun with the Double E's (Ashlee, Maree & Courtnee) at another theater. Elizabeth's new friend, Salvador, develops a major crush on her and even stands Anna up to go to a concert with Elizabeth. Anna finds out that very night and vents her anger at both of them although Salvador was to blame since Liz didn't know anything about Anna & Salvador's usual Saturday night. Jessica gets teased by people for wearing a purple blanket (as Salvador puts it) on the first day of school. I was actually glad she was teased. Jessica, not being in the cool crowd is nice, in a way. All in all, this a interesting intro to the new series. ... Read more

Book Description

Identical twins. Separated at birth. For one very good reason . . . Camryn Barnes Smart, upbeat and popular, Cam is all about friends, family, school, and soccer. She¹s best of breed all around. Except for one bone-chilling secret. Cam sees things happening before they happen. Very bad things.

Alexandra Fielding Spunky, punky, and sarcastic, Alex is all about making it from day to day. It¹s just her, her mom, and a ratty tin box called home. Whatever‹Alex can deal. Except for the weirdness. Alex hears things. The things people think but haven¹t said.

If they ever met . . .They could combine their powerful gifts and help people. Maybe even solve the mysterious star-napping that happened during Cam¹s soccer game. They could start to figure out who they really are; who their biological parents really are‹or were. They could fall into the hands of the powerful warlock who wants them for evil . . . or dead.

They're about to meet. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

I LOVE this book
This seiries is one of my favorites of all time. Funny and witty, the authors posses a special talent to make you like these characters.
If you are looking for a book about Wiccans, I wouldn't reccomend this book. This book is more of a traditional book about witches.
Camryn Barnes and Alexandra Feilding live in oppisite worlds. Alex lives with her single mother in a trailer, and her mother has cancer. Cam lives in a whole other state with her mother, father and brother. Cam is popular and athletic, a pretty girl with a streak of perfection. Alex is punky and sarcastic, and has great friends-all two of them. She has streaks too-blue ones, in her hair!
There are only a few things they share-their face,and their magical powers.
They're twins.
It's quite a shock to them too. When Alex's mother dies, she goes to live with Cam's family. There, in Marble Bay, a teen Britney-like diva called Marleigh Cooper (who's #1 hit song is Whoops Was that Me?) was kidnapped.
It's up to them to use their powers to solve a mystory of Marleigh-and their parents!
I loved this book. It may seem vauge about their parents, but the identity of the parents is supposed to be a mystery. So go read this book!

T*witches-the Power of Two
This is, in my humble opion, one of the best "T*witches" books. It is a great fantasy/mystery and I invite all to read it.

Camryn Barnes and Alexandra Fielding have never heard of each other. They don't know that except for Alex's hair, they look totally alike. Alex, the sarcastic one, lives in Montana in a tiny with her buddies and a smoking mom(her dad left). She is perfectly normal except for the fact that move things without touching them and hears things. Cam, calm,lives in a house that can fit Alex's trailer in it. She too is perfectly normal except that she can blind people on the soccer field.(you'll find later in the book that she can heat things up and has visions)

Separated at birth and given to their adoptive parents, the two meet unexpectedly at Big Sky(a theme park). What would you do if you saw someone who looked exactly like you? Probably ignore your excited friends and try to forget the whole thing. Yup, thats what they did at first. But when Alex's mom dies, a strange man comes and Alex finds herself at Cam's house. Together, they unite their power and solve their first mystery together. Using their powers, though, unsure in the begining, they figure out where the missing famous singer is.

This was a great adventure book and I think everyone should read it. Its fast and thrilling and you find yourself in the middle of it

Do People Know How To RELAX?
OK, so u've read all the other reviews totally dissin' this book cuz it's unrealistic. All I have 2 say is that people need to EXHALE. Sit back, relax, and read the book already! Yeah, it's totally unrealistic and it's quite obvious where certain parts of the story came from, but that's the point. The real with the unreal. This book isn't about REAL witchcraft @ all, and it never claimed 2 b. This is the fairy-tale kind and what in the world is so BAD about that? May I remind society, children used ENJOY fairy tales, it made them HAPPY! Reality, my dear friends, makes you SAD! So do u wanna b depressed or do u want 2 dust off the ol' imagination and try not 2 b so uptight? Just read it, what's the worst that can happen?

well here ya go
The book Twitches the Power of Two is about two girls Camryn Barns and Alexandra Fielding. Camryn lives in a town called Marble Bay she is smart and popular but she shares a secret, she sees the future but its not good things only very bad things. Alex is a punked out and sarcastic she lives in Montana. Alex also has a power she can read minds. Alex and Cam are completely opposite from one another. They both meet each other in a theme park that Alex works at. They are both so shocked they don't know what to do especially when they join hands recite a few rhymes and save a whole family from plunging to their death. Now any one who knows anything about witches or wants to know anything true should not read this book, most of the things are made up.

I picked Twitches the Power of Two because I like to learn things about supernatural things. I like to learn about witches especially because it was a fact based thing. I thought I could get a better understanding of magic if I read a book about witches. I learned that this book is very fake. From my own knowledge and a great believer in magic I knew that nothing in this book is true. The only thing that I found remotely true was that Alex could read minds and cam could see the future. "And just so we're clear. I'm not up for adoption.
I never said you were cam said annoyed
You never said it, but I know what your thinking
Oh I forgot you're the mind reader" (Gilmour and Reisfeld 173).

The feelings I had while reading this book was well I thought it was a very boring book. I thought that the authors used too much slang. The whole idea of some one using slang words such as like, totally, and girlfriend in every other sentence was just outrages. I did feel though that some of the things the authors stated was true in the sense of witchcraft. For example "The peanut-butter spoon, trashy aluminum with a cheap, ed plastic handle, was sailing past Alex's ear. Whizzing like a whole hive of hornets, Ping! It bounced smack off the middle of Hardy Beeson's wide head, leaving a big welt" (Gilmour and Reisfeld 34).

I think that if readers want a book about Wicca's then this is not the right book for you. If you are looking for a fun book about two twins that find each other and discover they have magical powers then this is a good book. Alex and Cam just say a rhyme for there spells and the rhymes do not have anything to do with what they are doing. The main idea of what this book is about is that Alex meets Cam at big Sky the place where Alex works. Alex mom dies and she moves in with Cam. They don't know it but their birth mother is looking for them. So the twins are on an adventure to find Maleigh Cooper which is the Brittany Spears to them. To conclude the girls must go on an adventure to save a pop star

Twitches book one
This is a good book, but I don't think you should read this to someone. I did that, but it took a long time, and there are a lot of words I don't know, so I had to keep asking my mom what they meant. This book is about two twin girls, Camryn Barnes and Alexandra Fielding, who are witches. They have special powers they can use together. But the girls don't know each other, so they are confused when they meet each other. After Alex's mom dies, she comes to live with Cam. I have four of the Twitches books, but this is the only one I have read. These books are kind of confusing, but they are still good books. ... Read more

Book Description

Ashley's Detective Notebook

1. I was going to dance in the Nutcracker Ballet -- but someone stole my friend Miranda's ballet slippers!
   
   
2. Was it the sticky fingers of the Sugar Plum Fairy? Or did the Toy Soldier march off with them?
   
   
3. Or was it a prank played by our prancing Prince?

Reviews (1)

Mary-kate and Ashley - The Nutcracker Ballet
When all-star detective Ashley Olson gets a small part in the Nutcracker Ballet something fishy starts to happen.First the key dancer, Carla finds her ballet shoes missing. From there everything goes down hill. Can the Olson twins solve it all in time?!? I found this book to be easy to yet very interesting to read.I would advise any kid who likes mysteries. ... Read more

Book Description

Mary-Kate and Ashley are searching for brand new after-school jobs.

Mary-Kate is totally excited when she scores a position as a photo intern at a hot teen magazine. But soon Mary-Kate learns that one of her coworkers isn't the person she pretends to be.

Meanwhile, Ashley's job as entertainment coordinator at a local coffeebar has her meeting tons of cool musicians. But it's also bringing her even closer to Ben -- her ex boyfriend -- and her friend Lauren's new flame. Can Ashley ignore her feelings for Ben, or will she find herself in hot water?

Reviews (2)

LIKE, OMG
LIKE, OMG!!!! THIS BOOK IS SOOOO OFF THE HOOK!!! MY GIRLFRIENDS AND I READ THIS AND CRIED BECAUSE IT WAS SO TOUCHING!! THE WAY MARY KATE AND ASHLEY AND THEIR FRIENDS HANDLE THE PRESSURES OF EVERYDAY LIFE REALLY INSPIRED ME!!! MARY KATE AND AHSLEY ARE MY HEROES FOREVER!!! IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK, YOU REALLY SHOULD. IT IS SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!! MY GIRLFRIENDS AND I CRIED AT THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT WAS SO TOUCHING AND REAL!!!

...

They've done it again!
What a cool book! Very awesome indeed. The whole thing at the hot teen magazine is really sort of a school newspaper run by a former magazine person, but it's still a cool story about Mary Kate's scheming co-worker. It's fun to watch Mary Kate bust her! And Ashley has started a dating service at the coffee place and comes across a Mystery Man who is looking for THE perfect girl. You'll be surprised at who the man is, and who the girl is! A great read for both people who do and don't like books! ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Twins...
After being together all their life, Mary Lee and Madrigal's parents decide to split them apart. Mary Lee is sent to boarding school, which she hates. Meanwhile Madrigal is back home having a supposedly wonderful life. When Madrigal comes to visit her, she has an accident which leads Mary Lee to step into her life. Mary Lee finds out that Madrigal was not quite the person she thought she was.

I enjoyed this book a lot! It was my first Cooney book (I've since read others) and I couldn't put it down. I thought it was going to be some kind of supernatural phemnomina story and it wasn't; it stuck closer to real life.

Excellent Book-- Read it
This was a great book. It was about teen twins Madrigal and Mary Lee with the story narrated by the latter twin. Mary Lee's parents are seperating their daughters who did everything together by sending Mary Lee to a far off boarding school. Mary Lee can't imagine why and expects Madrigal to beg her not to go but she says she thinks its a good idea. Mary Lee goes to boarding school and barely ever hears from Madrigal until she comes to visit. Mary Lee is not popular and everyone thinks shes nuts when she is excited that her "twin" is coming. Madrigal becomes everyone's best friend and when she sees her twin is hurt by this they switch ski outfits and pretend to be each other but Madrigal is killed with everyone thinking she was Mary Lee. Mary Lee goes back home to live out Madrigal's life, thinking Madrigal had the much better life and that their parent's liked Madrigal better because they sent Mary Lee to boarding school. But Mary Lee finds out Madrigal was not like her, not the person she thought Madrigal was.

Two Words: READ IT!!

Not Good enough for Ms. Cooney
The plot of this book is so confusing & unrealistic. Two twins are separated by their parents. Mary Lee is sent to boarding school and Madrigal gets to stay home. Mary Lee thinks her sister is so great but she doesn't even really Know her5. Madrigal comes and visits and dies. But they switched places so everyone thinks Mary Lee died. This book was hard to follow and you really didn't understand why the characters did what they did. Like why Mary Lee didn't know about Madrigal's secret life even when they went to the same school? And why exactly did her parents decide to just suddenly separate the sisters? Ms. Cooney has written better. Read: the Face on the Milk Carton Series, Losing Christina books, etc.

Odd, only in the worst way possible
There are books that grab you for being peculiar and odd, hence Francesca Lia Block's continuously smooth-flowing lyrical threads that make up her books. That is the whimsical kind of odd, the kind that can often be beatiful.

Then there is the type of odd that just makes you ask yourself, and the author, "What the f***?"

TWINS, I am sorry to say, falls into this category. I read it a few years ago and reread it recently, thinking I might perhaps change my mind about its level of suckiness. But no, my mindset and opinion of TWINS did not change. It still sucks beyond sucking. The world's best editor would see the task of mending and re-phrasing this story as an impossible one indeed.

I like Caroline B. Cooney's work. In fact, TWENTY PAGEANTS LATER was one of the very first novels I read - I picked it up at age 6 or 7, I do believe - and I have enjoyed it since, just as I've enjoyed Janie who found out that yes, it was HER face on the milk carton. So many of Cooney's YA genre novels totally grab you and pull you into worlds unexplored.

TWINS is not one of these. I only wish I had know this beforehand.

It's basically about two twin sisters named Madrigal and Mary Lee who seemingly have a close-knit relationship. Mary Lee narrates the story and is extraordinarily naive. She is angered that her parents wish to separate them - they believe the two girls direly need some time apart. So Mary Lee is off to boarding school.

And I asked, "What kind of insane parents would do that? A relative's house would perhaps be suitable, maybe. Boarding school? Why?"

Mary Lee rarely hears from her twin but is anticipating her visit. They meet on the slopes and Madrigal dies in an accident, only because they switched skiing outfits, everyone thinks Mary Lee has died. So she decides to assume Madrigal's role, to live her twin's life.

Like I said: odd, only in the worst way possible.

Mary Lee, now Madrigal, goes home to her parents pretending to be her sister. But since I've basically already spoiled the whole wonderful book for you anxious readers, I won't give away the deep, dark secret Mary Lee, now Madrigal, finds out about Madrigal. :-P

It all gets damn annoying. And Cooney further pushes the annoyance factor with a bland plot, limp dialogue, and boring, one-dimensional characters bereft of life.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!! :)

A Real Let Down!
I love Caroline B. Cooney's writing. Her characters are so vivid and realistic. However, after reading the Janie series, and putting much time, and emotion in that series.
I was very disappointed with this book. It was almost like this is just a fill in for Cooney. She can write MUCH better then this and create much more intreating characters.
The main characters were so shallow and well just plain weird. Even for me and I love weird stuff.
Do not get this book after reading the Face on the Milk Cartoon series. if you want to start reading her and read something weird. Then get TWINS first and after get her better books.
Because this I don't know what she was thinking when she wrote it. ... Read more

Book Description

Mary-Kate and Ashley's parents are going away for one week. And -- for the first time ever -- they're leaving Mary-Kate and Ashley home alone! Excellent! But when the girls' tiny gathering of friends turns into the house party of the year, that means trouble for Mary-Kate and Ashley! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A great book!
This bookwas fantastic. I got it in a airport bookstore and I finished it on the flight. I am not a huge fan of Ashle and Mary-kate, but this book was great. if you like Ashley and Mary-kate, then you should read Crossing Hearts!

Anything Can Happen When You're Sweet Sixteen...
Ashley has a great new idea: Ashley's Love Link! The only problem is, it only worked for her and her new boyfriend, Aaron.
So that's when Ashley decides to prove that her theory of her love link really works, by chosing her geek friend, Malcom. If it could work for Malcom, everybody will believe that Ashley's Love Link really works. That's when she pairs up a pretty girl named Alexis with Malcom. At first things were going great, but complications arrive when Alexis falls for Aaron on their double date. And that's when I leave you to read the rest, happy reading! ... Read more

Book Description

Ten-year-olds Claire and Luna are identical twins - and witches. Even though they can cast simple spells (with the supervision of their five-star-witch grandmother, Grandy), and know all sorts of cool magic, unfortunately no special charm can keep their divorced father from deciding to remarry. When he announces his engagement to Fluffy (her real name!), the girls are panicked that he'll move away to Fluffy's native Texas. Claire and Luna throw the problem into the brewing vats, and hope to come up with a good, smart, and tricky solution before the dreaded wedding... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Tara and Chelsea
I enjoyed this book so much because it reminds me of me and my best friend Chelsea.The twins are always up to no good like us!We were in [a local bookstore] after a soccer game and had to pick out a book and then we saw this one and laughed because it was just like that.It is also a very good book to read with your best friend like me and Chelsea.

A hilarious new fantasy.
Claire and Loon are twins -- and witches. Their grandmother is a powerful, five-star witch -- and they don't even have one star yet! Determined to get their first star, the sisters practice more spells to help them get more powerful. But they have trouble -- their father is about to marry a dreadful woman, and her name is Fluffy. Fluffy will make their lives miserable -- and the twins have to stop her. They don't know if they can use spells powerful enough to stop their father from marrying her, and it's a big risk -- but can they take it? Witch Twins is a hilarious new fantasy by Adele Griffin. It could have used more plot and been a little longer, but if you're looking for a great witch story, this new fantasy is highly recommended.

A hilarious fantasy that's a whole lot of fun to read.
Claire and Luna look like ordinary, ten-year-old identical twins. But they're not. The girls have inherited magic powers from their maternal grandmother, and are on their way to becoming witches. When their father announces that he's marrying his girlfriend, annoying Fluffy, the girls are devastated. They fear that Fluffy will steal their father, and possibly even persuade him to move to her home state of Texas. The desperate girls are denied help by their grandmother, who insists it's against the rules to change Destiny. Claire and Luna are on their own if they want to stop the wedding, but their plans will have unexpected and hilarious results. This was an entertaining, funny book that I reccomend to young readers who enjoy light, humorous fantasy novels. ... Read more

Book Description

It's a busy morning at Danny's Diner, and his twin niece and nephew, Tina and Tony, are helping him out. There is a lot of work to do-there are tables to be set and food orders to take care of. The twins are overwhelmed. But when they put their multiplication skills to work, the diner runs better than ever!

Illustrated by Chris Demarest. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Young twins Edgar and Ellen make the Grinch look positively benevolent. Living alone in a spooky house in the town of Nod's Limbs (their parents are on an extended around-the-world holiday), the bug-eyed, matted-haired, disturbingly pale siblings amuse themselves by plotting dreadful schemes to torture the townspeople. Inspired by a TV show about the value of exotic animals, they decide to steal all the local pets, decorate them with old Christmas ornaments (Grinchy enough for ye?), and sell them at market price. If they became very rich from the proceeds, they could spray the soccer fields with fizzy cola from a hang glider, or erect a giant windmill to blow manure all over town, or buy a whole carnival and not let anyone else enjoy the games and rides! As they skulk around Nod's Limbs with giant sacks, they find it surprisingly easy to snatch puppies, kittens, bunnies, hamsters, and even a Burmese python. Let the basement transformation to Uggprons and Snifflepops begin! They lull themselves to sleep that night with the sound of weeping children mourning the loss of their beloved pets, "a steady, groaning noise rising up from the world outside." It seems that fans of the comic-goth genre (Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events and Holly Black's Spiderwick Chronicles) have another series in which to wallow, this time where the child protagonists are not victims but predators. Rick Carton's funny, artful pen-and-ink illustrations perfectly capture the Addams family feel of the story, from the pleading eyes of the neighborhood pets in the darkness of the "exotic animal emporium" cartto the tiny Turkle boys crawling through sewer pipes in the desperate search for their pet. (Ages 8 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A breath of fresh air
Rare Beasts brings a new energy to the children's section of bookstores everywhere. In a refreshing departure from the norm,the protagonists - Edgar and Ellen - are two mean kids who DON'T reform at the book's end. They don't see the error of their ways; they don't end their adventure subdued, regretful, and itching to assimilate with the rest of their community. These two little outsiders remain smart, contrary, and full of wicked plots. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

Rick Carton's illustrations capture the witty spirit of Rare Beasts perfectly. This book gives young readers credit for being more grown-up than perhaps some adults might think, and kept me (at age 23) turning the pages as quickly as I could.

Great story!
I really enjoyed the first Edgar and Ellen book. It follows a pair of twins whose parents are off on an extended vacation and leave the twins to their mischief and an empty 13-story mansion! The twins dress up the towns' pets and peddle them as "rare beasts" for exorbitantly high prices (thus the title.) It's great watching the twins think up their plans and put them into action.
Some people argue that these diabolical twins set a bad example, but they are intelligent and creative, and don't spend all day sitting in front of the TV! Kids that I babysit for loved hearing about their ridiculous schemes...and, for nervous parents, Edgar and Ellen didn't escape without punishment for stealing everyone's pets. This is a great story that teaches kids without being condescending or preachy. I'm ready to move on to the next books in the series!

Rare Beasts is a very good book!!!
Rare beasts is a funny and good book for ages 8 and above. It starts out with Edgar and Ellen, two pale, bug-eyed, black haired twins in striped pajamas. They live in a gloomy 9 story mansion (also along with two attics, a basement, and subbasement), along with Pet, a creature of pure hair an eyeball, and their caretaker Heimertz, who never talks and always has a huge creepy grin on his face.
Through the long boring summer Edgar and Ellen play hide and seek in their ratty mansion. Eventually they get bored. They also LOVE pranks. But their is a problem: they don't have enough money to play big pranks on the poor residents of Nod's Limbs. Edgar and Ellen are inspired by a nature programme about the value of exotic creatures.
Edgar and Ellen steal puppies, kittens, bunnies, hamsters, and a python named Mr. Poo Poo. They then decorate the pets with paint, glitter, and ornaments to disguise the animals as exotic pets! They roam through town trying to sell the poor creatures to a number of people.

In the end the pets are retured to their owners. Edgar and Ellen didn't make any money and on top of it they are soaked in mud.
At the very last chapter we all find out somthing very ironic. This is that the rarest of all creatures in the world is Edgar and Ellen's Pet, that was under their noses the WHOLE time!

Full of fun, spunk, and a great vocabulary!
What a refreshing change: a children's book that doesn't talk down to children using narrow, vapid vocabulary. This book was a fun, tongue-in-cheek adventure that was actually well written. Encouraging independent thinking and a bit of spunk, Edgar and Ellen will delight readers who welcome characters that don't fit the mold.

fun
Stocking-footed mischievous twins cutting up in a town of goody two shoes--if the great Poe himself were alive and sober and had kids today, this is the book he'd be telling bedtime stories from. Charles Ogden and Rick Carton: you guys should make movies too! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ghosts haunt the pages of Lisa Grunwald's novel, New Year's Eve.The book opens on New Year's Eve 1985. Erica and her twin sister, Heather, arecelebrating the occasion as they do every year, with their husbands and widowed father.Both women are pregnant, due within weeks of each other. Over the years, the sistershave grown apart, and with the death of their mother, their already distant father hasbecome even more difficult to reach. When the babies are born a few months later, itseems that these new "twins" will become the bond reuniting this family.Then, a few years later, Heather's son, David, is killed in an accident and Erica's daughterbegins receiving "visits" from him. Soon, the visits drive this family evenfarther apart than before as Heather desperately clings to the tenuous connection with herdead son while Erica fights to keep her daughter rooted among the living.

Among the chapters detailing the sisters' present lives are Erica's recollections of pastNew Year's Eves, each fragment of memory a piece in the mosaic that is family history.As Erica soon discovers, memory can be as haunting as any ghost. With sure, understatedprose, Grunwald explores the mysteries of familial love, the power of the past, and thelimits of memory and of forgetting. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Absolutely Maaavalas
I first just got the book off of my high school library shelf, because my friend was in a hurry, so I just grabbed any book. As soon as I started reading this book, I did not want to put it down. It's one of the best books I've ever read! I recommended it to many of my friends.

A non-supernatural ghost story
Although this novel may be labeled a "ghost story",it is not the kind of supernatural, Stephen King-type thriller we'veassociated with such a label.It is never clear whether something out of the ordinary is going on, which is only fitting, since this is not the focus of the book.Instead, we are treated to a compelling and realistic depiction of the strained relationship between two estranged sisters.I agree with a previous reviewer.This is one of the best books I've read recently.

A fascinating page-turner
This was one of the best books I've read in quite awhile. The family dynamics were interesting and realistic. This book reads at a very fast pace and I highly recommend it.

An emotional roller-coaster!!
Very engrossing book. You become torn between the distraught feelings of a protective mother trying to keep her child "sane", and the desire to believe in something "higher"

compelling exploration of death, need for family,
I found this book to be one which haunted me in many ways.The story of sibling rivalry, family secrets and a search for new beginnings.A story of how one moment in time can alter one's path forever. A quick read but one which stays with you much longer than it takes to read ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Miracle Girls vs. Normal Girls
Is there a difference....yeah kind of. For starters, the " Miracle Girls" are twin sisters, Toni who is very athletic, and Mika who is very smart. And also another thing. They have pyshic powers. They can read each others minds and when they are together they can teleport to different locations. So far they only use that power to get themselves to school on time. Well the story starts out with Mika and Toni switching identities, because Mika wants to win a running marathon(something like that) to impress the guy that she likes, but since she's not athletic she asks Toni to switch and act like her to win the race. In the meantime Toni grows a crush on Mika's enemy( they don't tell you why she doesn't like him in the first book) Basically the book goes on like this with Toni brooding over her new crush Jackson, I don't want to tell you the whole story but a little more does happen. It's not majorly suspensful or action packed, but it's cute and light reading and as the story continues it gets even better. Definately a entertaining manga. Enjoy!!!

It was good but....
It was good but I hate how you had to buy the 2nd one to finish the 1st one's ending! I borrowed it from a friend to loves anime and manga and then of course she didn't have the 2nd one! This story has been played a lot like The Parent Trap, and It Takes Two but I did like it after all! I'd recommend this to girls ages 10-14!

Miracle Girls
I thought this book was very cool! The pictures weren't as detailed as other mangas but this book had action, comedy, and a bit of romance to it! Im reading vol. 2 of this series and im half way done w/ the book! Though this manga is a bit confusing. I sometimes had to reread a page. I asked myself ?'s (wait a sec., did somthing just happen or did ANYTHING happen yet?) Overall- this manga was interesting and kept me busy!

miracle girls = miracle manga?
When I first decided to buy this manga, the description on the back seemed somewhat stale. The whole teleportation and telepathy thing between Mika and Toni seemed somewhat old, but I bought it nonetheless.

Now don't get me wrong, I do like this manga, but the sister switch has been played on too many times. This isn't your typical shoujo manga but it is very predictable. I hope that Miracle Girls vol.2 is somewhat better than the first.

you like gurly mangas??
cough* never and ever judge a book by it's cover! ahem* well, uh, i sorta did that...yes, it's a gurly manga which i do not like!! where's the guys?? only like 3 showed up here...yes, i'm a gurl. cute, but didn't enjoy it, if you like gurly manga, then i'll suggest getting this book, ok? well 4 stars for miracle gurls. where's the hot guys? opps i said that already, please forgive my rudeness... oooooo! i caught a bad word in this book!! just one, heheh* find out and read.....bye for now!! ... Read more

Book Description

Mary-Kate and Ashley Parker are hanging out, trying to think of a way to become popular -- when a jewel thief trips over their feet! They've stopped a major crime! That's the good news. The bad news is, now the Parker family has to move to Australia to get away from the thieves!

Australia is great...at first. The girls' plan works, and soon they're part of the popular crowd. But now they've got two problems. One: The boys they really like aren't part of the in crowd. Two: The jewel thieves have tracked them down -- and they want revenge!

Reviews (3)

Doesn't Live Up To The Movie
I'm not complaining, it's a good book. However, it doesn't capture some of the important parts. However, it's good, not great. Fans of the movie should get this book.

Pretty good, but the movie is better!
I thought the book was pretty good. It came with cool pictures but they left out some parts in the movie. Then they added some parts that didn't exactly fit. I liked the movie better, but this wasn't a bad book.My friend said she didn't like it that much and I thought it was okay. If you really like the movie (I did), buy this book!

Their coolest Movie!
Our lips are sealed it's an exciting story featuring the Olsen twins. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen start out in high school. After witnessing a theft, they become the prey of the thief's uncle. They then become part of the FBI's Witness Protection Program, which means they get a new home and a completely new identity. They move to beautiful Sydney, Australia and struggle to fit in at high school. They meet some REALLY HOT guys and, as usual, fall in love with them. This book would be for girls, I would say. ... Read more