The fourth princess of Gossling, Princess Amelia, has always known that she's different. Not because she is special, however, but because she is thoroughly ordinary. The first three princesses of her kingdom, her older sisters, are the embodiment of royalty: graceful, beautiful, and socially adept. Amelia knows she will never measure up to them. When a plague strikes the kingdom, Amelia and her sisters are spared, but their parents die. With the king and queen gone, an uncle they've never met is next in line for rule. He is an evil magician with a grudge against the kingdom, and he is bent on destroying it. Amelia's older sisters are transformed into a tree and two swans, and Amelia escapes only because she has been left behind. Now the only sister left capable of saving her kingdom, Amelia must let go of her beliefs about herself and find a way to inspire the people of her kingdom to fight for themselves. The Extra-Ordinary Princess is a tale of adventure, with magic, transformation, friendship, and inspiration at its center. While not equal to Shannon Hale's mastery of this kind of story, fans of Goose Girl or Princess Academy will enjoy this tale of a girl on whose shoulders the fate of a kingdom rests.

Similar authors: Shannon Hale, Gale Carson Levine

Similar books: Princess Academy by Shannon Hale Goose Girl by Shannon Hale Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 1/15/2010

ISBN-10: 1599903407

ISBN-13: 9781599903408

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Aldwyn, a street smart alley cat, finds himself in the loving care of a wizard in training named Jack. Unexpectedly in the middle of the night, Jack and two other students are captured by an evil queen and their mentor is killed. It is up to Aldwyn, Skylar (a magical bluejay), and Gilbert (a clumsy, red-eyed tree frog), to rescue their 'loyals'. During their adventure, they learn many secrets about the history of their people and the queendom they live in. Discover who the chosen are who will save the land of Vastia.

Awards nominated: 2013 Bluestem Nominee

Reviewed by: rn

Date read: 7/1/2012

ISBN-10: 0061961086

ISBN-13: 9780061961083

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Tom wants nothing more than an adventure and a chance to be an expert swordsman like his father, who disappeared years ago. So when a mysterious force starts burning fields and roasting horses, Tom volunteers to go to the king's palace to ask for help. He discovers that the whole kingdom is in dire trouble. Can Tom vanquish the forces of evil facing his kingdom with a special quest from the king? This first book in the Beast Quest series is a great read for independent readers who love fantasy and adventure.

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 10/29/2010

ISBN-10: 0439906512

ISBN-13: 9780439906517

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It's a book about a boy named Jonathon, who wants to fight in the Revolutionary War. He doesn't know to expect such crises. He changes emotions about the war throughout the book.

Reviewed by: Jack @ Camp Read-a-Lot

Date read: 5/12/2010

ISBN-10: 0064401855

ISBN-13: 9780064401852

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While Rex, the movie star dog, was filming a movie inside an airplane, he fell out and landed right in the middle of a plot to burn down the city! Read along and see how Rex, (now know as Dewey)and his new owner Shane, help the Dogpatch Firefighters discover the identity of the person behind all these fires. This is a really hot adventure story based on the live-action movie FIREHOUSE DOG!

Similar books: Batman: Green Gotham by Scott Ciencin; Fluffy the Firefighter by Kate McMullan

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/27/2009

ISBN-10: 0439896436

ISBN-13: 9780439896436

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