Best Children's Spy Books
And just in time, she is brought out of exile and into the heart of the snakes’ den that is the Copper Isles royal court. Still, Aly must keep her wager with the trickster god and protect her charges: Sarai, the beautiful, dramatic, and rash potential queen, and Dove, the more cautious and often overlooked younger sister. Cracking open one of her marvelous novels always feels like coming home.”. — SARAH J. MAAS , #1 New York Times bestselling author. “Tamora Pierce didn’t just blaze a trail. Grade 7-10–In this sequel to the well-received Trickster's Choice (Random, 2003), Pierce deftly weaves an unforgettable story about Alianne (Aly) of Pirate's Swoop. Aly has become a maid to Lady Dovasary, daughter of the late duke, and, more importantly, she is now the spymaster of the raka rebellion that is determined to put Dovasary's sister on the throne in place of the four-year-old luarin king. Aly, who is the daughter of Alanna the Lioness of Tortall (from the "Lioness Quartet" series), is delightful in her deviousness. Pierce concludes the story of Alanna the Lioness' daughter, Aly, spymaster par excellence, in a fantasy thriller that continues the rich and complex tale begun in Trickster's Choice [BKL D 1 03].
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Through some magical intervention Aly is enslaved and sent to the Tortall version of a Caribbean Island where she has to serve the needs of a God, save some young women, and try not to lose her minds at the Crows."
"The writing was well paced, and though k had not read the other titles stationed in the same universe, I was able to stay informed just the same without feeling like I was being fed context."
"Her family contains members of the ruling caste, but the two oldest daughters are also direct descendants of the previous Raka royal family."
"Ali ramps up the siege against the regents and finds allies in the strangest places."
"I've read many of The Tamora Pierce books and can say from the bottom of my heart that Trickster's Queen has gone far above my expectations in this brilliant series.The writing and the pinstroke ideas are absolutely fabulous!I stopped my whole week just because I couldn't put the book down.It rivaled Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness series down to the scenery.The writing spills with specific details keeping the reader informed and not guessing.The whole time you think what's going to happen then the writer comes back and surprises you with a twist.In Trickster's Queen you follow Aly(Alianne)of Pirate's Swoop,Daughter of Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau,Alanna is also the king's champion and the first Lady Knight or Tortal,through the final days of the Raka Rebellion,making it all possible with a little nudge from a Trickster God.The secretive,witty, and just plain brilliant mind of Aly keeps you wanting to see what she does next,Though the writer keeps you anticipating by long pauses.She ends up with a few 3-deminsional friends like Nawat(A crow who took on the form of a human)and Dove(A young girl who's brains can make a grown person's feel inferior).I just couldn't think of a different rating then 5 stars.This book and it's Duo series is a must read(Book 1:Trickster's Choice)."
"A lot of the paperbacks I get from Amazon end up being just a little bent or worn at the corners."
"One of my favorite series, and one of my favorite authors."
"When I got to the first Trickster book, however, this was not the case. I found Aly very unrelateable as a character, and she never seems to be phased about anything that happens to her. I found the other female characters of Pierce's books more relatable than Aly."
This book features vivid, full-color layouts with Kindle Text Pop-Up Eric hates taking a bath. Thankfully, Eric's mom and dad have the perfect plan to help their little boy. How to catch a monster is a fun and beautifully illustrated book with a surprisingly sweet ending that all readers will surely enjoy. One of the most professional looking indie ebooks I've seen and on par (or above) with published children's books. Every day I read a lot, and out of every children's book I have seen...well, ever...this is hands down the best of the best. My kids fell completely in love with this book from the very first page. I have bought a lot of kids books for the kindle in the last year and been disappointed with a number of them because the story was too short or too long or the pictures looked lousy on the kindle, but this one was perfect.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The twist at the end is super cute... And now my son is asking me to make cookies so every night he can call a monster to play with him before bed :). I'll be purchasing more books from Michael Yu in the future."
"Simple story line with unexpected twist."
"This book is fun, my son liked it."
"A very amusing book with colourful illustrations."
"This is one of my 4-year-old grandson's favorite bedtime books."
"Eric is your typical 4 year old who doesn't want to follow a normal bed time routine. One night his mother comes up with the idea that if Eric brushes his teeth, washes his face and puts on this pajama then climbs into bed and recites: "Monster, monster, one, two, three... won't you come out and play with me?"
"The first time I read this book to my grandson, he asked me for some chocolate chip cookies for his "monster"."
"The pictures are great and the story is the perfect length for a little one not to get bored."
Fans of Divergent, Hunger Games and the Maze Runner will crave this world of dark secrets, intrigue and thirst for a better tomorrow. Winner of the best indie book of 2016 at ReadFreely and a chart topping Young Adult Dystopian book on Amazon with over 5 MILLION pagereads . And instead of being placed with a low-level tech company where she could hide away, she's hired by Genesis Technologies, the government firm that monitors every citizen. and in others because its terrifyingly amazing at how the system used to govern in the book is so perfect and yet completely flawed. A system where intellect rules and is used to make the world a safer healthier place. (and yes i put as many exclamation points as deserved) ~Fran's Book Love Blog. "Penner's world building is spectacular!" "If you guys love technology, adventure, romance and mystery then this is the book for you!!! Jenetta Penner developed a love of sci-fi at an early age and decided on a whim to read 40 young adult books in the same genre.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is Penner's excellent first book and book 1 of what promises to be an excellent YA series."
"Avlyn is of the age where decisions have to be made--career, mate, move out of parent's apartment into your own--big issues. While this is a dystopian society where intellect is the highest good,the plot could make you uncomfortable with our own meritocracy, conflict between emotion and rationality, and what each of us will do to be socially accepted & "fit in"."
"This is one captivating book!"
"It is a good book and well worth the read, if this is genre you enjoy or your teaching political science classes."
"If action, thrills and dark agendas appeal to you, and that momentous life decision awakens your curiosity, this is the book, no, the series for you."
"It feels familiar, with a plot of revolution after a society controls everything, and yet unique in its modern and technological world building."
"Add in Avlyn's mysterious ability, the great supporting characters, and the intricate storyline and reading book two is a must."
"Avlyn Lark is a believable, caring, and exciting character and I found myself relating to her on a VERY deep level. Jenetta Penner's development of her characters and world made it easy for me to envision even the most minute details."
Best Children's Zoo Books
Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point-of-view of Ivan himself. In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little , Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope. Gr 4–6—Budding fans and die-hard Ivanites alike will appreciate this sumptuous, oversize edition of Applegate's spare yet resonant Newbery Award—winning work, inspired by actual events, about a gorilla put on display at a mall and his journey to freedom. Bonus materials add appeal and context: Applegate's Newbery acceptance speech; a copy of the real Ivan's "autograph" (fingerprint); a letter from Jodi Carrigan, the zookeeper who helped care for Ivan at Zoo Atlanta (where he lived after leaving the mall); and sketches and illustrations that were considered for the original edition.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal ★ “Will capture readers’ hearts and never let go. Quite simply, this story is life changing.” (Patricia MacLachlan, Newbery Medal-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When my 11-year-old finished reading this novel, his first statement was, “I LOVED that book!” With an endorsement like that and because it was the first instance where he ‘stopped time,’ I had to read the book too. In it, the author says,” We live in a world where children are bullied into despair and even suicide; where armed guards in a school hallway are considered desirable; where libraries are padlocked because of budget cuts; where breakfast and backpacks, for too many children are unaffordable luxuries.”. “What makes children better than the rest of us is that they are buoyant, unrepentant optimists.”. As a writer, reader, and lover of words, I make it a habit to ‘stop time’ whenever I come across sparkling phrases that deserve homage. A ‘stop time’ is where we stop whatever we are doing to read out loud and to listen; we listen to both the author’s words and to what made that phrase so meaningful to the reader. The first ‘stop time’ that my son called happened when Ivan makes an impossible promise to Ruby, the baby elephant."
"Bought it for my 4th grade nephew."
"Great read for kids!"
"This is a fun little book."
"I have been searching for books that I can enjoy reading with my 10-year-old boy, and this is one of them."
"it was a gift for brothers who like to read."
"Touching, and based on a true story.. my 8 yo enjoyed it very much."
"Christmas gift - I'm sure he likes it cause he likes the author."
Best Children's Aliens Books
Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana. Here, she offers an appropriately sweet, fluttery Snow White-esque voice for Winter; a deliciously purring, cooing "popular mean girl" voice for Queen Levana; a French accent for Jacinl and many, many more. Even background characters who appear for just a line or two get distinctive voices, such as an Australian-accented guest at the wedding banquet. Soler's pacing is excellent, and she skillfully navigates listeners through Meyer's 23-hour story."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Lunar Chronicles is a re-imagined set of fairy tales set in the future that intertwines Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White. Fairest of Them All is a companion book that offers Levana's (evil stepmother to Winter) and Stars Above - a set of short stories that take place after Winter."
"However, I don’t feel as attached to Cress, Thorne, and Kai. I like Thorne and Cress, but I feel like with all of the action that happened in the book Cress, there wasn’t a lot of room for me to feel connected to those two. I think some aspects just needed rewritten so it could be at least 200 pages shorter. Wolf and Scarlet’s love story makes me so happy inside. And Cinder’s bravery and take-charge attitude kept me on the edge of my seat. All in all, there were a few things that I didn’t enjoy in this conclusion, but for the most part, it was a good ending to a great sci-fi series and I’m excited to see what else Marissa Meyer has in store for us."
"Having all been united (except for Scarlet- shes still imprisoned on Luna), the team has successful derailed the marriage between Emperor Kai and queen Levena by kidnapping Kai and escaping off in the Rampion to plot their next moves; head to Luna, rescue Scarlet, and overthrow Levena while instating the true Lunar Queen in her place, none other than our beloved Cinder (or Princess Selene as is her true birth name). Meanwhile, Scarlet is imprisoned on Luna, the plaything of the mentally fragile Princess of Luna, Winter. She is thrilled with the return of her best friend Jacin after the kidnapping of the Queens betrothed and through him eventually learns of the plan by the others to overthrow Levena and instate Cinder (Selene) as Queen. Having always been jealous of her beauty and the way in which the people of Luna love her, Levena (becoming more and more unhinged as the book wears on) orders the assassination of Winter, by none other than Jacin (she is so twisted that Levena). Cinder and her gang eventually put into motion their plan which involves returning Kai to resume his marriage to Levena, arriving (semi)undetected to Luna, rescuing Scarlet."
"A very good friend enlightened me, and I promptly purchased and consumed the preceding books and then started "Winter" from the top."
Best Children's Detectives Books
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the second book in C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia , a series that has become part of the canon of classic literature, drawing readers of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters for over fifty years. Four adventurers step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land enslaved by the power of the White Witch. This is a stand-alone read, but if you would like to explore more of the Narnian realm, pick up The Horse and His Boy , the third book in The Chronicles of Narnia . Beginning with Chapter One when Lucy looks into the wardrobe and discovers Narnia and the faun, readers will find that this timeless story can still work the magic that C.S. Narnia fans will want to listen to this story over and over again, and new fans will be created as they listen for the first time.-Ginny Harrell, William McGarrah Elementary School, Morrow, GA.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As you read through you'll notice familiar things, almost like Deja-vu."
"This is a great go-to series any time you are wanting to get immersed in a fantastical world."
"This book should be required reading for all children with vivid imaginations."
"We love this book and it is the perfect intro for my 3 and 5 year old boys who now can't wait to read more C.S."
"I was able to pick up on the semi-religious theme as an adult but it'seems subtle and contains hidden lessons for any reader."
"A story full of mystery and adventure, written for children, but so delightful that adults love it too!"
"Forget any preconceived ideas you have sit back and enjoy."
"A great book for anybody between the age of 9-13."
Best Children's Fantasy & Supernatural Mystery Books
When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. The droll pitch is teen-perfect, as when Apollo heats up the scene by arriving in his fire-red Maserati, wearing jeans, a sleeveless T-shirt, and loafers. All in all, a winner of Olympic proportions and a surefire read-aloud.– Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Their adventures range widely across the U.S., taking them to locales that include Washington, D.C., and the deserts of the Southwest and pitting them against the usual assortment of colorful adversaries. The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series is built around a terrific idea—that the half-mortal offspring of Greek gods live among us, playing out struggles of mythic scale—and Riordan takes it from strength to strength with this exciting installment, adding even more depth to the characters and story arc while retaining its predecessors' nonstop laughs and action.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"While the second book in the series, *The Sea of Monsters*, helped to change my mind on this, it was still a bit underwhelming. The whole narrative felt like basically an endless series of cliff-hangers with little to no character development and not enough plot. Now, this isn't to say that I didn't enjoy the first two volumes, but just that they didn't quite (other than some interesting stuff such as likable characters and references to myths) *do* it for me, so to speak. This third book, however, really did make me a major *Percy Jackson* fan, and was absolutely a great read. In a rescue mission to save two fellow demi-gods, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and their new friend Thalia, encounter trouble. Though they save the twin half-bloods, Annabeth goes missing, and to make matters worse, so does a powerful goddess ally, Artemis. Not only did Riordan expand on the mythology of the series, and the connections to Classical Greek myths, but the structure was different. Well, the answer is that they are a) kinda personality-driven, and this interferes with some proactiveness, as they have their own stuff to attend to and their personalities dictate this, and b) related, they are *busy*. For that matter, there is a delicate power balance that too much action on the part of *anyone* will upset."
"We also find out with why Nico is so grumpy and not very talkative with Annabeth anymore like he used to as a preteen. Leo even visited Calypso and we learned what that line in the prophecy about a promise was really Leo promising Calypso to free her from her prison so that one day they could open up a car repair garage/food place. Leo's ADHD hasn't been too bad, Piper can charmspeak things to being actual living things while also learning how to fight, and being in Tartarus both changed Percy and Annabeth while growing them more together."
"Everyone is on survival mode — Percy and Annabeth must survive Tartarus and reach the Doors of Death, as the rest of the team — Jason, Piper, Frank, Hazel, Leo, Nico, and Coach Hedge — travels on the Argo II to reach the House of Hades. The changing points of view allows the reader to keep up with the simultaneous events — sometimes jumping from one place to another at the most inopportune times, other times giving us just enough breathing room to relax for a millisecond. We follow Percy and Annabeth’s impossible and grueling journey through the most horrible of settings — in a surprising turn of events, there is more than just a horde of evil enemies down there… (a silver light as the end of this dark, dark tunnel?)."