Julie Berry answers my questions

Thanks to Julie Berry and Kate Lied, I was able to ask Julie Berry some questions. I hope you find them all really interesting.

Me: What or Who inspires you to write?

Julie Berry: Good writing inspires me to write. All the wonderful books I've devoured and adored have filled me with happy sort of jealousy that made me want to try and see if I could also write a story worth reading.

Me: How old were you when you started writing?

JB: I started keeping a journal faithfully when I was nine years old. I got it for Christmas that year, and wrote just about every day until I was twenty. I spent my twenties starting my career and having my four sons, so the only writing I did was work related, with some occasional creative writing and journal writing thrown in. At age thirty I began to write columns for my local newspaper, and after I'd done that for a few years I went to graduate school to study fiction writing for children and young adults.

Me: Do you ever have a hard time figuring out what to write?

JB: Sometimes it is hard to decide which of the many ideas floating through your head is ripe enough to turn into a good novel. You don't always know until you write a book just exactly where an dea will tale you.

Me: What gave you the idea for "Secondhand Charm"?

JB: The notion of good luck charms and love potions, such as you might buy from someone at a fair, was the idea that first pulled me into the story. I thought, what if there was someone who wore these charms, and they really worked, but only for her? That seemed promising. Then I had to ask myself, why did they work for her? What made her different? Where did that difference come from? The rest of the story came into place from that line of questioning. I loved stories about the sea, and magical allure of the ocean.

ME: Do YOU believe in magic?

JB: Yes and no. mainly yes. I believe in possibilities, and certainly I believe in grace and miracles. For all our knowledge, there's much we can't explain or understand, and so I try to keep a cautiously open mind. But I use magic in stories because of the creative possibilities it offers me, not because I believe in actual sorcery and so forth.

Thank you so much Julie Berry for taking the time to answer my questions. I absolutely loved your book "Secondhand Charm"

Mollie

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Annabeth, Piper, Jason and Leo are four friends. Together they must complete a quest. Each friend has his or her own story and secret as the reasons they want to go on the quest.

Annabeth- Annabeth's boyfriend, Percy Jackson, is missing and she doesn't know why. All she wants to do is find him. At the same time Annabeth helps Leo and Piper to fulfill their great prophecy.

Piper- Piper has a secret. Her dad, a famous actor has been taken by a spirit who keeps threatening her and telling her what she must do or her dad will die. Piper has visions of her dad and what is really happening to him. The worst part is Piper can't say anything to anyone about her dad.

Leo- Leo is a tool- loving, machine- building kind of kid. He can make fire come out of his hands (no demigod has been able to do that for a very long time). He has just been claimed by the god of fire and tools, Hephatus.

Jason- Jason ends up on a school trip, in a bus with people he doesn't know, but they claim to know him. Jason thinks he has amnesia, can't remember his own name or anything about himself. Soon enough, Jason is brought to camp Halfblood. There he learns his memory was stolen by the goddess, Hera. Jason is soon claimed by the god Zeus. Jason is given the Great Prophecy which now he must fulfill.

Read this action-packed, twisting book to discover the adventures of Annabeth, Jason, Piper and Leo.

I loved this book. I loved all of the action and twists. I enjoyed that it was based on mythology. I think any chid who enjoyed the Percy Jackson series would like this book because it is a similar story line and has the same feeling, action and excitement in the book and relationships between the characters.

Well I have to read some more,

Mollie

Dear Hound by Jill Murphy

We LOVED the book Dear Hound by Jill Murphy. Alfie, a very big, caring, friendly deerhound who could communicate with his ears, is afraid of lightning and is the main character of the story. Alfie, lives with a boy named Charlie, his mom and cat named Florence. Charlie and his mom went to a wedding, and Alfie went to the dog sitter's house near the woods. Alfie was so nervous Charlie was giving him away. ZING! Alfie jumps over the fence and tries to run home to safety. He ran into the dark, thick scary woods. Along the way he met foxes, hunters and lightning...

Will Alfie be be home and safe again?

Mrs. Silver's second grade class

Port Washington

Thanks to all of the kids for participating, reading and writing this great review.

Special thanks to Mrs. Silver, for taking the time to read and blog this book

(with the help of her students of course)

E.D. Baker answers my questions!

I sent E.D. Baker some questions--through Kate Lied, the awesome editor at Bloomsbury! E.D. Baker was so generous with her time and so here is my interview. Thank you SO much E.D. Baker, this really means a lot to me and the readers of my blog!!

Mollie Kate: How do you feel about finishing the series?

E.D. Baker: I've thoroughly enjoyed writing the tales of the Frog Princess and will miss writing about many of the characters. However, I do intend to revisit a few of the characters again sometime in the future. I think Zoe and Frances need their own story and I really want to write abut Pearl.

MK: What or who inspires you to write?

EDB: A lot of the animals in my life inspire me when I'm creating characters or creatures. We breed horses, and they inspired me when I created the hipporines in Wings: A Fairy Tale. We have two Newfoundlands and a black lab. The masses of fur they shed helped me created the black fur beast in The Wide Awake Princess. I'm also inspired by things I've read, like the classic fairy tales (The Frog Princess and The Wide Awake Princess), Shakespeare (Wings: A Fairy Tale), and non-fiction books such as Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart (the stinging tree in A Prince Among Frogs).

MK: How did you feel about your book being made into a movie?

EDB: I was excited, although disappointed that it really didn't follow my story.

MK: how old were you when you started writing?

EDB: Eleven-years old. I wrote a story for an assignment in school and was hooked.

MK: Do you ever have a hard time figuring out what to write?

EDB: Not really. I have a long list of books that I intend to write someday, so I always know what my next book will be. When I'm writing a book, I do different levels of outlines--a very general outline at first, then one broken down into chapters, then more specific outlines as I'm writing each chapter. I've found that outlining like this really helps me know what to write next. I don't generally get writer's block because when I can't figure out where to go with one think, I work on something that I think will be fun--like a spell for the tales of the Forg Princess.

MK: Who is your favorite writer?

EDB: my favoirte writer has long been Hodgson Burnett, the author of The Little Princess and The Secret Garden.

MK: What was your favorite book to write?

EDB: I've enjoyed writing every book that I've written so far. If I'm not enjoying it when I write, I feel that I must not be doing something right and I rethink it. (I believe that if the author doesn't enjoy what she's writing, the readers probably won't enjoy it either.) that said, I may have have enjoyed writing The Wide Awake Princess a bit more than the others. I loved working various fairy tales into the story.

To learn more about E.D. Baker and her great books, you can go to her website at

http://www.edbakerbooks.com/

Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry

Evie is a young girl who lives with her grandfather, friends and neighbors in a small village called Mundley. Evie is a very intelligent woman who wants to be a doctor more than anything, and is studying to become one. During the village festival Evie buys three gypsy charms, that later will bring much help and luck to her and everyone around her. When the king arrives for the festive feast, one of his men becomes very ill. Evie, uses her medical skills to help the man get better. During the king's visit, Evie is given a scholarship to study at one of the king's universities. Evie's grandfather sends Aidan, one of Evie's best friends, on the journey with her to the university. On their way to the university, highway thieves, rob Evie's carriage, and kill the driver. Aidan and Evie go through a long journey to finally reach the school. Before the two reach the big city, they board a ship. The ship is about to sink and everyone is about to die. No one dies, however, because they are saved by Evie's leviathan, a snake protector, which she discovers that she has had since the day she was born. During the ship accident, Evie's loses her scholarship papers. When she goes to the king to get her papers replaced, Princess, soon to be Queen Annalise sees Evie and takes her under her wing, eventually sharing with Evie that she too has a leviathan. Annalise teaches Evie much of what she needs to know about having a leviathan. Strangely, duringher stay at the castle, Evie sees one of the highway thieves frequently there.

Why is the highway thief there? What happens to him? Does Evie end up falling in love with Aidan? What happens to Evie's leviathan? does anyone end up finding out about her snake? Do the charms Evie bought from the gypsies work?


I absolutely loved this book. I thought it had a great story line, twists in the plot and ending. I also loved how it was both fantasy and magic. I think it was a great book.


I asked Julie Berry a few questions, check back soon for the answers.

Sit back in a comfy chair with a warm blanket and a great book,

For now I have to go read,

Mollie

A Prince Among Frogs by E.D. Baker

Millie was no ordinary princess because she had magical powers which allowed her to turn into a dragon. She lived with her father, the King, and her mother, Queen Emma, who was the Green Witch in charge of magical issues in Greater Greensward. Millie was about to marry the love of her life Audun, who was a dragon that could turn into a human. One day when Emma was summoned to help with a problem, she left Millie in charge of the magical issues and to take care of her brother, Felix. A little while after Emma left, Felix went missing. Gone, vanished....KIDNAPPED. Millie was beside herself. Everyone in the castle went searching for him. When no one found him, Millie new exactly what to do. She and Audun turned into dragons and went searching high and low for Felix. When they were unsuccessful, Millie went to seek the help of three witches. With the help of the witches, Millie and Audun were able to find the kidnapper, who had done something strange to Felix. That was bad news for Millie. With her mother, father and great-aunt and great-uncle nowhere to be found, Millie and Audun first had to find them. With some great difficulty, her family was found.

Who took Felix? Why did he steal Felix? What strange thing had happened to Felix? Was it revenge? How is Felix fixed? Do Millie and Audun get married in the end? 


Read this great book to find out!!!!!

I recommend this book to kids in 3rd or 4th grade. I think they will like it because it is fantasy, mystery and a great book.
I interviewed E.D. Baker, so check back in a little while to see the questions and answers.


Got to go and read another book,


Mollie

Ripley's Believe It or Not" Enter if You Dare" Reviews

This review was written by some of the girls from my camp bunk this summer:

Denka G-

"I like how Riana Van Niewenhvizen from South Africa is caring, she has 9 cheetahs, 3 leopards, 2 wolves, a jaguar and other endangered species. "

Donna-

"I liked this book because it had really cool pictures of people doing weird , cool and unique things."

May-

"I liked this book because it has a lot of details that are very interesting."

Roni-

"This book is interesting and I would recommend it to anyone who like cool facts about people and thing. It also has really cool pictures."

Mollie (me)

"This was an incredible book with great pictures and facts."

Anyone who has the guts should "Enter if You Dare"

Mollie

Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

15 year old Doug was attacked and turned into a fat vampire forever. With the help of his friend Jay, Doug learns how to behave as a vampire and how not to. When Sejal, a foreign exchange student from India came to stay with Cat, Doug's "friend", Doug fell in love with her. What should Doug do, bite Sejal and make her a vampire or prove his worthy to her and not bite her? Other than falling in love, Doug must deal with being a vampire, his best friend as well as other friendships.

How does Doug deal with being a vampire? How does Doug escape from all of the pressure of being exposed?

Read on to find out.

I loved this book, and how detailed it was.

I recommend this book for 14 and up or for 9th graders for its use of language and sexual action in the story. All in all, I thought it was a great book.

Keep reading,

Mollie

Little Blog on the Praire by Cathleen Davitt Bell

Genevieve Welsh was a normal teenage girl waiting to spend her summer with her friends swimming and hanging out. Her mom decided that the family was going to a camp that reenacted the life in the 1890's. Of course Gen didn't want to go. Gen's parents promised that if she went and didn't complain she could get a cell phone. Her mom left her cell phone on the table and Gen took it.

At the camp Gen was trying to make EVERYONE miserable. She learned how to milk a cow, do laundry, wash dishes and games that kids played. After each incident with Nora (the daughter of the owners of the camp) Gen would text her friends. One day Gen was walking in the woods and she came across some kind of shack. She walked into the shack and guess who Gen sees.......Nora! Nora was listening to Gen's iPod and drinking soda. Obviously Gen was not supposed to see that. Nora was mad, however she let Gen charge her dying phone.

After a while one of the kids, Caleb, who Nora and Gen both liked, showed Gen that ALL of her texts had been turned into a blog.

What was Gen supposed to do now, she had told her friends about everyone and everything? Are she and her family going to be kicked out of camp? Who ends up going out with Caleb? What happens to the blog? What about Nora?

I really liked this book because I was able to visualize what was happening to Gen. You can learn more about this book and the author by visiting her website at www.cathleendavittbell.com

Well gotta go read some more,

Mollie

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

It's time for Carter Kane and his Dad (a scientist / archaeologist / host of the god Osiris) to visit Carter's sister, Sadie Kane in London where she lives with her grandparents. Together the Kane family visits a Museum. Their Dad tells them to leave the room. Being Sadie and not liking to listen to rules, she takes Carter and they go and spy on their Dad. What they see is very surprising. They see their dad taking the Rosetta Stone and saying spells that release Egyptian Gods and break the stone. Dr. Kane is then put into a golden box and taken away by the God, "Set".

Amos, Sadie and Carter's uncle, take Sadie and Carter back to his house where he explains why all this strange stuff is happening; the Rosetta Stone, the Gods, and why they can do magic. The truth is Carter and Sadie Kane are magicians and are hosting Egyptian Gods (I'll get to that later).

Soon after the kids arrive at Amos's house, Amos has to leave. After he leaves the house, the house is attacked by monsters and minions of Set. Bast (A.K.A Muffin, Sadie's cat), who turns out to be the Cat goddess, comes to the rescue and saves Sadie and Carter.

Bast takes Carter and Sadie to the House of Life. There the kids are introduced Zia, who tries to teach them different types of magic and how magic is used. They also find out that Sadie is hosting the God Isis and Carter is hosting the God Horus.

Sadie and Carter set out on a journey to Destroy Set and save their father before the Demon Days. Along the way, Sadie and Carter run into a lot of trouble with other gods, monsters. They also learn to use their magic and communicate and work with the Gods inside them.

One night during the long journey Carter's Ba (mind, soul) has a vision of Set building a red pyramid to help him gain his powers. Carter and Sadie know where they ha ve to go.

Do Sadie and Carter rescue their dad? What happens to Isis, Horus and Osiris at the end? Do the kids defeat Set before the Demon days? Do they defeat him on their own? What happens to Zia? Read this action pact book to find out.

I liked this book a lot because it was full of action, magic and mystery. I think anyone in 4th grade and up should read it.

Well I got to go and read new books I just got,

Mollie

Look who I met at BEA!!!

I went to BEA a little while ago. There I met a lot of publishers and authors. One of the authors I met was Rick Riordan. He wrote the Percy Jackson series. He just came out with a new book called "The Red Pyramid". Guess what... Rick Riordan signed it for me. I also got to take a picture with him. (as you can see above). It was so COOL. Check back in a little while to see my review of his newest book "The Red Pyramid".

I also got a preview of his newest book "The Lost Hero" which won't be out until after the summer. So check back to see a review later.

Mollie

The Book Seat

The Book Seat is this really cool beanbag pillow that has a plastic band at the bottom so your arms don't hurt when you read. I think it is great! I have been using it since Book Expo America (BEA). It holds thin books, text books and anything in between. It is very comfortable and doesn't hurt no matter how heavy the book is. Anyone who loves to read but is tired of their arms hurting should get this pillow. It comes in many different colors: blue, purple, red, brown and more. I love it. You can learn more about these really cool and comfortable pillows at http://www.thebookseat.com/.

Well, I'm going to go and use the book chair to go read more books,

Mollie

All The People I Met At BEA

I spent two days roaming the Javitz Center in search of new books and to meet new people, authors and publishers. Some of the really cool people I met include: Angela Johnson from Ripley's, their newest book "Enter If You Dare" is coming soon (hoping to get a sneak peak); Marina Shults has "The Red Pyramid" written by Rick Riordan which just came out; Deb Shapiro the Director of Publicity of Bloomsbury and Walker Books was really great, she gave me a lot of books to read and review (check back soon for the reviews); Megan Marie Fitzpatrick of Hachette Book Group gave me an audio book of "Witches and Wizards" which I can't wait to listen to; Paul Samuelson, a Sourcebooks publicists gave me great blogging advice and offered to send me books to review; Erin Dempsey from Penguin Young Readers Group was really great and spent time talking to me about different books; Samantha Grefe' from Scholastic gave me a copy of the book "Plain Kate", I am so excited to read it; Mark Forti and Camille Miller who published "Slightly Above Time", I cannot wait to read it!; Tina Proctor spent a lot of time talking to me about "Ophelia's Oracle"; Sarah Wilcox from Guinness World Records was there with "The World's Most Tattooed Lady". The 2011 book comes out in July; Jessica Kaufman from Little Brown showed me the cover of "It's Not What It Looks Like" sequel to "The Name of the Book is Secret"; met Alexa Peter's dad, she illustrated and wrote (with her mom) "Cooper and Me" (going to try and connect with her when school ends); stood in line with Lyra Rose, she has her own blog which you can read at www.lyrarose.com, she gave me advice on different books and suggested I read them; and Charles Nurnberg, he is the President and Publisher of Imagine Publishing. His newest book is "The Night Before Christmas" which has a CD of music performed by Peter, Paul & Mary. At the end of BEA, Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey read the book aloud and sang a whole bunch of songs. It was so COOL, I got to sing with them in front of a whole bunch of people. They even signed a CD for me. Check out the pictures above.

It was unbelievable to meet these people and get their books.

Come back to check out the reviews of their books.

Keep Reading,

Mollie

The Wide Awake Princess by E.D. Baker

This book is about a girl named Annie, who is a princess with absolutely NO magical gift. Surprisingly, magic doesn't affect her, either good or bad. Annie's sister Gwendolyn is the prettiest princess in all of the kingdoms. A wicked witch cursed Gwendolyn so that if she was ever pricked by a spindle she would sleep for 100 years. On Gwendolyn's sixteenth birthday she was pricked and everyone in the kingdom, (except for Annie) fell asleep. It was up to Annie to find Gwendolyn's true love to kiss her which would wake her up. At first, Annie traveled alone in the forest, but was then joined by Liam, a guard from the castle who was not at the Castle when the curse happened. Annie and Liam get into all sorts of trouble. Along the way they pick up princes who they think could possibly be Gwendolyn's true love. Annie learns many secrets Liam is hiding. Were they secrets that were better kept quiet? Who is Gwendolyn's true love? What happens to Liam and Annie? Do they fall in love or is it Liam's kiss that wakes Gwendolyn?

I recommend this book to third graders. I think they would like this fairy tale with a twist.

Well, I have got to go and read,

Mollie

Baking with Friends by Sharon Davis and Charlene Patton

This cook book is very unique. I like the way the illustrator, Collen Mcintyre, illustrated all of the pictures with different animals and colors. My favorite pictures and animals were the pink flamingos and the green turtle. I thought they were well drawn and had such cool colors. This book contains fun facts, tips and words to help children learn to cook. Baking with Friends comes with a DVD read aloud by my friend Pam Atherton. Since I am a lover of chocolate my favorite recipes were "Hot Fudge Pudding Cake" and "Fudge Brownies". One thing I loved more than baking these delicious chocolate treats, I loved eating them so much more. This is a great book for any aged child to learn how to bake. Once you have baked something, make sure you fill out the really pretty certificate in the back of the book. Make sure to read some of the really cool quotes written by different people on the back of the book. (They are really interesting too!).

Well I am going to go and bake something else,

Mollie

Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg

This book is about a boy named Branwell. After something happens on Columbus Day Branwell cannot speak. On Columbus Day Branwell's baby half sister Nikki, went into a coma. Branwell is taken to Clarion County Behavioral Center where he sits for 27 days of silence. Connor, Branwell's best friend is the only one who can get Branwell to talk. With the help of his sister Margaret, Connor is able to find out why Branwell's not talking. Branwell and Connor find a way to communicate. Through this communication, Connor speaks to people who Branwell suggests to help Branwell to talk. Can Connor get the true story before Branwell is convicted of manslaughter? If Branwell says he didn't hurt Nikki who really did? Was it Vivian, Branwell's babysitter and crush? Or Morris who worked at JJ's Pizzeria? Could it really be Branwell? You'll have to read this exciting mystery that may silence you to the bone. This book is good for 7th or 8th graders. It may be good for 6th graders who can handle such a tough subject. I recommend this book to any 7th or 8th grader or adults who like a sad but mysterious book.

Well I have to go read another book,

Enjoy!!!!!!

Mollie

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

It is back to school time for Percy. One day at gym, Percy and his friend Tyson, who turns out to be a cyclops are playing dodge ball with a bunch of monsters. The monsters blow up the school. Annabeth comes and rescues Tyson and Percy.

The three of them go back to Camp Half- Blood. Something was strange about the camp. Thalia's tree, (the tree that protects the camp and is the daughter of Zeus) was dying. Chiron, the camp director and Percy's teacher wasn't there. Percy and the rest of the camp learned that Tyson, the cyclops was Percy's brother.

One of the children of the God Aries, was sent on a quest. Grover had left camp to find the god Pan. Unfortunately Grover was kidnapped by a cyclopes. Luckily, the cyclops was guarding the golden fleece coat that could also heal Thalia's tree. All Percy and Annabeth had to do was rescue Grover and get the golden fleece.

Annabeth and Percy went through a lot of trouble to sneak out of camp, save Grover, and get the golden fleece and manage to stay alive.

Do Annabeth and Percy save Grover? Do they get the golden fleece? What happens to Thalia's tree? Read the next book to find out.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes mythology and fantasy.

I'm going to go read the third book,

Mollie

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

This book is about a boy named Percy Jackson. Percy lives with his mom and step-dad in Manhattan. On a school trip to an art museum with his friends, Percy is attacked by a monster. Nobody but Percy, his friend Grover and his teacher Chiron can see the monster. Because of this, Percy is kicked out of school.

Percy and his mom go on a vacation to a beach where they have a house and love to be. A little while after they get to the beach it starts to rain. Grover, who is a styr (half human half goat), tells Percy and his mom to leave. Percy's mom takes Grover and Percy to Camp Half-Blood. This is a camp for children who are demigods or half gods. (One of their parents is a mortal and the other is a god). On the way to the camp, a manitore captures Percy's mom. Percy just destroys the manitore in time before it killed him.

At Camp Half-Blood, Percy learns to fight, and prepares for a quest. At his first capture the flag match, Percy learns that he is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea.

Now that everyone knows Percy is the son of Poseidon, Percy gets a quest. His quest is to find Zeus's lightning bolt. Zeus thinks Poseidon took it. Poseidon, though could not have taken it, because gods can not take each others powers. Unfortunately Percy only has until the winter solstice to find the bolt. If he doesn't find the bolt, there will be a huge war that could destroy the Earth. Percy takes Annabeth, the daughter of Athena, and Grover, the styr, on his quest to help him.

The Kids run into a lot of trouble along the way. They meet gods in the near future that might want to kill him, and a lot of other problems too. Annabeth, Grover and Percy find themselves in the underworld with the god Hades trying to rescue Percy's mom.

Can the children return from the underworld with Mrs. Jackson? Does Percy and his friends return the lightning bolt? If Poseidon didn't steal the lightning bolt, who did? Does Percy return the lightning bolt in time? Read on to find out what happens.

This is a great book for anyone into Mythology and fantasy.

Enjoy, i have to go read more books from this series,

Mollie

Just Another Day in My Insanely Real Life by Barbara Dee

Twelve year old Cassie's life flips upside down. She loses her nice big house, swimming after school, her A's in English and her best friends. Oh, and one more thing: her father moves away.

Whether she likes it or not, the responsibility of taking care of her siblings is thrusted into her hands. While her mother is at work (which is pretty much all day) Cassie has to shop for food, make dinner and take care of her little brother, Jackson. Of course, her teenager sister, Miranda, never helps out. She's too busy studying for chemistry at her best friend Madison's house and giggling about Adam Klein. Mr. Mullaney, her English teacher, doesn't appreciate the effort Cassie puts into her work. Why should Cassie even try? To top it all off, her best friends are turning into really nasty people.

Maybe, Cassie's life will come back together. She's already partway there with a boy that might like her, a new friend that might not be as bad as she thought, and a novel she is writing with daring adventures.

Will Cassie ever know what made her dad move away? Will her life ever be the same again? Find out about this poignant, funny, sweet girl as she makes her way through her insanely real life.

This review was written by Ruthie.

She is a girl who likes to read and write stories and poem.

Thanks to Ruthie for this great review.

Mackenzie Blue by Tina Wells

This book is about a girl named Mackenzie Blue. Her best friend just moved to London and she is starting middle school. On the first day of school Mackenzie bumped into a boy she likes and she accidentally lost her diary. The next day at school Mackenzie meets this new girl named Chloe. Chloe and Mackenzie become best friends with Jasper too. A few days later when the 3 friends entered the music room, something from Mackenzie's diary was written on the board. She need to find her diary, and fast. She thought her friend Chloe took it. Mackenzie wanted to sign up for a talent show, so she has written a song in her diary. Unfortunately whoever found it knows the song and all of her secrets. The next day another one of Mackenzie's secrets ends up on the white board in her music class, she is very upset. Mackenzie thought her new friend Chloe took it. When Chloe wasn't looking Mackenzie went into her locker and looked through her books. Chloe saw her and was really mad. Chloe didn't talk to her for a very long time after that. When Mackenzie found out Chloe didn't do it, she thought Jasper did. She went over to his house and went through all his stuff. Unfortunately she was caught and both her mom and Jasper's mom was mad. Now Mackenzie had no friends. what was she going to now? She decided to focus on writing her song. With her brother's help, the two of them are able to enter the talent show. Does Mackenzie win the show? Does she become friends with Chloe and Jasper again? Who took her diary? Does Mackenzie make new friends? Read this book to find out what happens cause I am not going to tell you.

Got to go read Bye,

Mollie

Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy by Jenny Nimmo

This Book is about a boy named Charlie Bone. He is endowed, which means he has a very special talent. He can hear voices inside pictures and paintings and go into them. It was time for Charlie and his friends to go back to school. One of Charlie's friends, Emma had been trying to help this invisible boy named Ollie. Charlie decided he is going to help her. There is just one problem. This girl named Belle, who happened to be related to Charlie was trying to stop them. Charlie and Emma did everything they could to rescue him. They asked their friends, and Charlie even went into a picture to ask a wizard for help. Unfortunately Charlie accidentally let the wizard out. That was a big problem. Do Charlie and his friends Save Ollie? Who is Belle really? Where did she come from? Does the wizard help Charlie? Does he return back to his painting? Read this book to find out. This is a great book for anyone who like this series and for kids 10 and older.

Enjoy,

Mollie

Charlie Bone and the Time Twister by Jenny Nimmo

This book is about a boy named Charlie who is "endowed", which means he has a very special talent. When Charlie goes back to school, he meets a very strange boy named Henry Yewbeam. What Charlie later finds out is that Henry is related to him. Henry has been sent to the future by this marble called the "Time Twister". When Henry was in the right time with his brother James, Henry was playing marbles by himself . Henry's mean and horrible cousin, who doesn't like him, throws the Time Twister near him. Not knowing what it is, Henry picks up the marble, looks at it and is whisked into another time. Since Charlie Bone and Henry Yewbeam are related, Charlie tries to help him return to his normal time. With great trouble and a lot of accidents and with the help of his friends, Charlie is determined to help Henry. There is only one problem. Henry's cousin is trying to get rid of him. Will Charlie and his friends save Henry? Does Henry die? Does Henry have get to see his brother again? To tell you the truth, I'm not telling you so Ha. No, what I'm saying is read the book. I'm telling you this is a great book for kids 10 and older.

Enjoy, I have to go read another book!

Mollie

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo

This is a book about a boy named Charlie Bone. One day Charlie hears voices when his mom gives him this picture that wasn't his. Somehow, his grandma, Grandma Bone, found out and called her sisters over. Grandma Bone and her sisters were part of a family named Yewbeams. This was a special family because they were "endowed", which means they have special talents. One day Charlie's aunts come over and gave him pictures to look at and told him to tell them what he hears. After a while, Charlie's aunts and grandma tell him he is going to the Bloors Academy. Charlie went to the old bookstore to return the picture he had gotten by mistake from his mother. The woman named Mrs. Ingledew, gave him this robot dog that had a tape recorder in it. She also gave him a bag that she never wanted to look at because Mr. Tolly (someone who she is related to) gave away her sister's baby for whatever was in the bag. Everyone wanta what was in the bag, and Charlie had to hide it really well. A few days later, Charlie found out that he needs to rescue Mrs. Ingledew's niece, who goes to the Bloors Academy. Charlie is finally sent to Bloors Academy, where he meets his friends Olivia, Billy Raven, Fidelio and a few others. But, Charlie and his friends also run into trouble with Manfred Bloor and Asa. They were the mean kids in school. Somehow, everyone finds out about the bag. (I'm not going to tell you how they find out, that would be mean.) Does Charlie have enough time to save Mrs. Ingledew's niece? Do Charlie and his friends succeed at doing this? How does everyone find out about the bag? Who has been telling all of Charlie's secrets? (The answer may surprise you). This is a great book for anyone who is 10 or older.

Well, I must go read the next book in the series.

Mollie