Conn, what a great name for a pickpocket street urchin, enters the world of magic when he steals from the wizard, Nevery Flinglas. The adventure begins when Conn becomes Nevery's apprentice and his days are filled with magic lessons. Soon, Nevery is tasked by the Duchess to find who or what is stealing the city's magic and darkness surrounds Conn and Nevery as they struggle with the Underlord to restore's Wellmet magic. The trilogy begins with The Magic Thief, and continues with Lost.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award Nominee 2012

Reviewed by: adf

Date read: 9/4/2009

ISBN-10: 0061375888

ISBN-13: 9780061375880

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Travel back in time to England in 1886 to a small town on the seacoast where Mariah Mundi is starting his first job at the Prince Regent Hotel. He has been sent by the principal of the Colonial School to be an assistant to the magician Bizmillah. At the train station, Mariah meets a man who gives him a fancy deck of playing cards to keep safe. On the train, Mariah meets two men; a very sinister-seeming man who is also going to the Prince Regent Hotel and a man who seems very helpful. Why do these men seem to know who Mariah is? Upon arrival, he meets Sacha, another assistant, and learns that several other boys, sent from the Colonial School, have disappeared. Mariah and Sacha accidentally discover a dreadful plot which they try to unravel. They search through the many secret tunnels and caves beneath the hotel and encounter terrifying beasts as they try to stay alive and prevent further disaster. Will they find the missing boys? Will they figure out who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? What evil does the eccentric owner of the hotel have in mind? Read this page-turner to find out.

Reviewed by: hap

Date read: 8/21/2009

ISBN-10: 039924347X

ISBN-13: 9780399243479

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Marty Frye, a seven-year-old, who likes to read poetry and talk in rhymes, solves three separate mysteries for a class-mate, a toy store owner, and his younger sister.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0439095573

ISBN-13: 9780439095570

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Marvin, the beetle, is the narrator and artistic genius of this warm, humorous and intelligently written book. The story follows the adventures of Marvin and a boy named James in New York City, specifically the human/insect encounter in their apartment and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Marvin is the artist, James is the conservator of the copies that look like ones done by a famous artist. There is also a staged art heist into which the two are drawn. The novel has just the right blend of suspense, mystery, humor, and compassion to appeal to the middle grade audience.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award Nominee 2012

Reviewed by: cjones

Date read: 5/9/2011

ISBN-10: 0312608705

ISBN-13: 9780312608705

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Commenter: Guest, grade 0

Commenter: Sc Reader, grade 0

Max and Maddy's parents were once very famous and very successful detectives. All of that changed when dastardly Claude Sardine spread false and vicious rumors about the detective pair. Now they run an ice cream parlor with 36 flavors of ice cream. Max and Maddy follow in their parents footsteps. After winning a Clue tournament, the two children are invited to solve a crime in Switzerland. All the banks in Switzerland are being robbed by St. Bernards! Can Max and Maddy solve the case? What will happen when they come face to face with their parents' worst enemy? Read Max and Maddy and the Chocolate Money Mystery to find out. Followed by Max and Maddy and the Bursting Balloons Mystery.

Similar authors: Rob Roy

Similar books: A to Z Mysteries by Rob Roy

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 10/4/2011

ISBN-10: 159990036X

ISBN-13: 9781599900360

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