Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once I actually started reading, I couldn't put it down. It is a beautiful book about a young boy that has a hard childhood. Poor Hugo ends up orphaned twice. He tries to hide in the walls of the train station. He is caught stealing and his life changes forever. I love how all the characters come together in this story.

View all my reviews

Grimm Legacy

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The beginning of the book was very intriguing and I had great hope for a book about a special library with magical items. However, the story climax left much to be desired. The main character, Elizabeth, is encouraged to go work at a special library in New York by her high school social studies teacher after writing a paper about the Grimm Brothers. She quickly earns the respect of the other pages and the librarians. She becomes friends with the other pages including the star basketball player from her school. Elizabeth learns that some of the items are going missing. After cleaning, repairing, and finding a missing item, she earns special privaleges to the Grimm Collection room. When one of Elizabeth's new friends and fellow pages goes missing, a group of pages must go and find her. They will have to use the magic from the Grimm Collection to succeed.

View all my reviews

EllRay Jakes

EllRay Jakes Is Not a Chicken by Sally Warner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The writing was not great, may be more enjoyable for a 3rd or 4th grader. Wish more would have been done on the topic of bullying. Ending is a little far fetched.

View all my reviews

Play, Louis, Play

Play, Louis, Play!: The True Story of a Boy and His Horn by Muriel Harris Weinstein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The story of Louis Armstrong told from the point of view of his horn. Little Louis suffered a tough childhood while growing up in New Orleans. My problem with the book was with some of the unnecessary cutesy fluff items thrown in. I think it would have been better as a picture book.

View all my reviews

Under the Mambo Moon

Under the Mambo Moon by Julia Durango
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hard for me to fall in love with this one. I appreciate the lessons involved with each of the latin dances but the flow of the book didn't work for me.

View all my reviews