This series of girls and their Alpha, Massie Block, will keep you on the edge of your seat with boy troubles, shopping sprees, and OCD School (Octavian Country Day School). These drama queens will keep you coming back.

Reviewed by: Camp Read-a-Lot Reader

Date read: 5/21/2010

ISBN-10: 0316155772

ISBN-13: 9780316155779

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Commenter: Getamac1998, grade 6

Mr. Merlin, the new third grade teacher, used to be a spy. When Amber Lee reveals she received an anonymous letter, Mr. Merlin challenges the class to solve the mystery. Will Noelle and Todd solve the mystery before Amber Lee solves it herself? This first entry in the Third-Grade Detectives series is great for readers new to chapter books who like to solve puzzles.

Similar books: A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy; Jigsaw Jones Mystery Series by James Preller; Encyclopedia Brown Books by Donald Sobol

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 9/29/2010

ISBN-10: 068986471X

ISBN-13: 9780689821943

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Each student in Howie's fourth grade class has to start a business as a school project. The student who makes the most money will win the H. Marion Muckley Junior Business Person of the Year award. Howie throws himself into 'A Boy for All Seasons,' his lawn-care service. For extra credit, and to increase profits, he writes a book detailing the experience. Nothing goes exactly as planned. He has to pay his classmates for their services: advertising, photography, and business cards. His customers aren't pleased with his lawn-care, and they don't always pay. And, he has to hire help. Howie can't run a successful business, but he does finally have a great idea!

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 6/1/2009

ISBN-10: 0823416429

ISBN-13: 9780823416424

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Chris is an incredible ice skater: he's been taking figure skating lessons all his life. But figure skating isn't fun anymore, and Chris knows he's not good enough to become an Olympic athlete. When he notices hockey tryouts at the rink where he skates, he decides he'll give hockey a shot. It seems like everything's against him: Chris is small for his age, his mother thinks hockey is dangerous, and he's never played before. Will he make the team, or just embarrass himself? Does he have what it takes to be a hockey player?

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 8/18/2009

ISBN-10: 0316135208

ISBN-13: 9780316135207

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'Coolies' by Yin is an historical accounting of the Chinese contribution to the building of the transcontinental railroad in the United States of America in the mid-1800's. Beautifully told through the eyes of Shek and his little brother Wong, the author is able to describe the immense prejudice, (being called Coolies), the grueling and dangerous working conditions, and the poor pay that the Chinese workers were subjected to. Through the realistic illustrations of Chris Soentipiet, we are told the story of the enormous contribution and sacrifice made by many Chinese workmen in the building of a railroad and in the expansion of the United States.

Similar authors: Laurence Yep; Lila Perl; Karen Hesse, Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert; Eve Bunting; Shirin Yim Bridges

Similar books: The Transcontinental Railroad by John Perritano; Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep; To the Golden Mountain: The Story of the Chinese who Built the Transcontinental Railroad by Lila Perl; Pop's Bridge by Eve Bunting; Papa's Mark by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/27/2011

ISBN-10: 0399232273

ISBN-13: 9780399232275

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