The Education of Ivy Blake

The Education of Ivy Blake
Author: Ellen Airgood
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Julie H.

Summary: Fifth grade Ivy’s world is turned upside down when she goes back to living with her mother after years apart. Ivy misses the stable home she had with her best friend’s family, and struggles with her mother’s inconsistent behavior and fits of anger. Adjusting to a new school and making friends would be hard enough, but Ivy also has to deal with being alone and taking care of herself while her mother is at work or out with her friends. How will Ivy get through this? Can her creativity and artistic talent carry her through this rocky time in her life?

While The Education of Ivy Blake was written as a companion to the book, Prairie Evers, it reads like a stand-alone novel, and readers will not miss a beat even if they haven’t read Ellen Airgood’s first novel in this series (although they may want to go back and read it after finishing this one!)

Review: This novel was gentle but interesting: Ivy was likeable and sweet, but realistic. Although the book touches on sensitive topics, it is never too dark, and always offers hope and speaks to the kindness and generosity of friends and strangers. Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone middle school age or older who is looking for a positive and encouraging realistic fiction novel.

Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy!

Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy!
Author: Tim Harrington
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Reviewer: Sue

Summary: This is an activity book that you can do with your youngest child.  “Wave your hands, hands, hands!”  “Tug your ears, ears, ears!  They’re all so neat, neat, neat!”  It’s a fun way to learn some body parts, and have fun while doing it. 

Review: This book has cute animals set on bright, uncluttered backgrounds.  It is very effective for little ones.  The simple text can either be read or sing. 

Skeleton Creek

Skeleton Creek
Author: Patrick Carman
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Denise Z.

Summary: Although housebound following an eerie accident, teenaged Ryan continues to investigate the strange occurrences in his hometown of Skeleton Creek, recording his findings in a journal and viewing email video clips sent by fellow detective Sarah. The reader may view Sarah's videos on a website by using links and passwords found in the text.

Review:  A young, enthusiastic reader introduced me to this series. Patrick Carman does an excellent job intertwining mystery with horror with his unique writing style. The book is written in diary form, making it seem real and believable. There’s also videos that you can access online to make the story come to life even more and will keep young readers intrigued and wanting to know what happens next. This book can be too scary for those who spook easily, but perfect for older readers.

You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Vaccinations!

You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Vaccinations!
Author: Anne Rooney
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Reviewer: Denise Z.

Summary: Sticking sharp needles into small children doesn't sound like a nice thing to do -- but sometimes you have to 'be cruel to be kind.' Since the 18th century, vaccinations have saved millions of people from deadly diseases. In the future, as new techniques are invented, we might even be able to give vaccines without that needle.

Review: From this hugely popular series comes a fun, familiar, and educational way to learn about vaccinations. This book is packed with a lot of information on the subject and takes the reader on a historical journey from the birth of vaccines to present day. At times, I thought this book had too much information on the subject, however, anyone who wants to gain more facts will appreciate every tidbit of information. This book will help younger readers understand why getting a vaccination is important for their health.

Unwind

Unwind
Author: Neal Shusterman
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Reviewer: Julie H.

Summary: In Shusterman’s frightening dystopia, a law allows parents to have misbehaving children “unwound” between the ages of 13 and 18. The child is taken to a camp before finally being dismantled and used for donor organs. When Connor finds out his parents have decided to have him unwound, he runs away to try to survive on his own until he turns 18 and is safe from unwinding. Along his journey he meets Risa and Lev, two other unwinds with their own sad pasts. Together, they may be able to survive, and maybe even change the world.

Review: While the basis for this story seems unbelievable (who would agree to creating a law that allows children to be used for donor organs?) it isn’t actually too far away from things that have happened throughout history. If you can suspend your disbelief enough to give this book a chance, you will find that it is well-written, fast-paced, and scary without being graphic. The characters feel real, and the premise of the book is thought-provoking. If you enjoy dystopian fiction, and you’re looking for an exciting read, give this book a shot! I would recommend this book for mature teens and adults. Some content may be disturbing for younger readers.