Atherton is a 3-level, man-made planet created by a scientist as a new start to escape the dark planet. People living on Atherton went through a 'reconditioning' process where most of their memories were stripped away so they only retain what is needed to live in their station on Atherton. Edgar is a boy who lives on Tabletop and works on a fig farm for the evil Mr. Ratikan who controls all access to food and water. Edgar knows that the Highlands are forbidden, but a vague memory, 'It will come to you.' sets him to climbing to the Highlands in search of that hidden something. And what he eventually finds is a book containing information about a catastrophe about to take place. Unfortunately, he cannot read. You see, the scientist who created the planet was truly a mad scientist and intentionally set all of this in motion. Warning- The ending is a total cliffhanger. Make sure you have book two, Rivers of Fire, because you will want to jump right in. The third book is The Dark Planet

Reviewed by: mec

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-13: 9780316166706

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Ten years ago, the people of Earth were helped by superheroes. There was Titan, Energy, Diamond and Quantum, each with a different power. Unfortunately, there were also super villains on the planet as well. Their final battle ends in a stand-off and no one knows what has happened to either force. Now, in the present day, two young friends, Danny and Colin realize they can do remarkable feats. Could there be a relationship between them and the superheroes? When the boys are kidnapped by the evil Fascade, they must use their newfound powers to not only save themselves but the whole world as well. If you like X-Men, you will love this book!

Reviewed by: ewl

Date read: 12/2/2010

ISBN-10: 0399247254

ISBN-13: 9780399247255

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Mike Pillsbury has always felt that he is different from anyone else on earth. In fact he is convinced that he is a refugee from a doomed alien people who was adopted when he was a baby. After a particularly disastrous Halloween dance at which his worst enemy humiliates him in front of the girl of his dreams, he sends a desperate plea for help into space. Only he isn't quite ready for the answer he receives.

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 7/15/2009

ISBN-10: 0380976811

ISBN-13: 9780380976812

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Leanna attends a virtual school. For her history assignment she experiences a program that lets her actually experience being a runaway slave in Harriet Tubman's underground railroad. She then goes back to the virtual homeroom to discuss with her fellow students, who could be next door or across the country, how her experience compared to theirs. In the real world she lives with her mom in a community where most menial tasks are performed by manufactured biological clones who are treated as property, not human beings. As far as Leanna is concerned these creatures have no connection to the slaves in ancient United States history. But then her world is turned upside down. Her mom and her beloved Doc-Doc are both arrested for treason because they are members of the Liberty Bell Movement. Her mom calls herself an abolitionist, not an extremist. Leanna's assumptions about history, reality and her own identity are tested in this futuristic thriller.

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 3/13/2012

ISBN-10: 0439929830

ISBN-13: 9780439929837

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Commenter: Scpl Reader, grade 0

Living in the town of Chewandswallow was wonderful. All your meals, cooked and ready to eat, rained, snowed, or hailed down from the sky. Each day, the town's people would carry their plates, glasses, and silverware outside to catch whatever the weather served. Sometimes it would rain soup and juice. Other days it would snow mash potatoes and green peas. You never knew what the weather would bring. Each day, the town's Sanitation Department did a remarkable job of cleaning up the leftovers. Life in Chewandswallow was perfect, until one day the weather started to get out of hand. The food falling from the sky started to get larger, heavier, overcooked, or undercooked. A storm of pancakes and maple syrup nearly destroyed the whole town. The Sanitation Department couldn't keep up. So the town's people did the only thing they could do. They made ships out of bread and sailed away to find a new home. After sailing on the open seas for a few days, they finally reached a small town. There, they were welcomed with open arms. Everyone from Chewandswallow was happy with their new lives. However, it did seem odd to them that now they would have to get their meals from the grocery store instead of the sky.

Similar authors: Chris Van Allsburg;

Similar books: The Marshmallow Incident by Judi Barrett Never Take a Shark to the Dentist by Judi Barrett Pickles to Pittsburgh: the sequel to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatball by Judi Barrett Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/1/2011

ISBN-10: 0689707495

ISBN-13: 9780689707490

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