When eleven-year-old Gregor, and his two-year-old sister, are pulled into a strange underground world, they are sent on a journey foretold by an ancient prophecy, triggering an epic battle involving men, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders. Book one of the Underland Chronicles series.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-10: 0439678137

ISBN-13: 9780439678131

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Commenter: Hannah, grade 2

Commenter: St. Charles Reader, grade 0

Will Stanton is the last born of the Old Ones, servants of the Light, who are immortals, dedicated to saving the world from domination by the evil force known as the Dark. Will goes to Wales to recover from an illness. According to an old North Wales tradition, a harp of gold will be found at a certain hill by a boy, followed by a white dog with silver eyes. Will needs to recover the harp of gold because its song will rouse the Sleepers by the Pleasant Lake. The Sleepers will join forces with the servants of the Light to fight the battle between Light and Dark. Will bumps into Bran Davies, and his dog, which is white and has silver eyes. The two boys set off on their mission, only to be plagued by the Grey King, one of the Great Lords of the Dark, at every turn. Can they find the harp of gold, awaken the Sleepers, and win the battle, or will the Grey King stop their mission? This is book four in the Dark is Rising sequence and the winner of the 1976 Newbery Medal.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/12/2009

ISBN-10: 0689500297

ISBN-13: 9780689500299

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Frustrated by life under seige in Washington's army, 19-year-old Will Knox, and his brother, Colonel Henry Knox, undertake the task of moving 183 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, in the dead of winter. Part of the Great Episodes series.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0152164359

ISBN-13: 9780152164355

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When Gus & Gertie arrive on Holiday Island, they find a haven of seagoing scallywags, riffraff, and ruffians. It isn't long before Gertie's precious, deep-sea pearl is stolen, but who's to blame?

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 158717023X

ISBN-13: 9781587170232

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This collection of short, funny stories by a variety of authors is great for a quick read, since each story takes about 20 minutes. Read these stories to find out who was the true inspiration for Artemis Fowl, and what happens when a boy's parents punish him by giving his bedroom to a biker.

Reviewed by: msp

Date read: 3/24/2011

ISBN-10: 0606149929

ISBN-13: 9780606149921

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