With a swimming medal, the key to a mansion, and a comic book about a half-man/half-rat as her only clues, a twelve-year-old girl seeks the truth about her father's mysterious death near an island in the Pacific Northwest.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0060297719

ISBN-13: 9780060297718

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The Fountain family had been a typical suburban family. Then, the mother developed liver cancer while she was expecting Tristan. She chose to undergo no treatment for the cancer for fear it would harm her baby. The media treated the story with verve. When Mr. Fountain was run over by the family Jeep, the baby brother, Tristan, was blamed for the tragedy. Suddenly orphans, the two sisters moved away for a while so Jack gave up his extra-curricular activities to take care of Tris. After she moved in, Aunt Cheryl thought the story was perfect for a TV real life story. How Jack and his sisters come together to keep the family off of TV is engrossing and dramatic. Once you have started it, putting it down is difficult. Enjoy this mystery.

Reviewed by: cj

Date read: 9/30/2009

ISBN-10: 0385904517

ISBN-13: 9780385904513

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Seikei, the son of a tea merchant, wants more than anything to become a samurai in 18th century Japan. Unfortunately, because he was not born into a samurai family, by law he cannot become one of those honored warriors. However, Judge Ooka, one of the most revered judges and samurai in 18th century Japan, has adopted him. Where Samurai Lord Inaba, is murdered in his sleep by a Ninja, Judge Ooka, and his apprentice, Seikei, are called on to solve the murder. Judge Ooka sends Seikei on a journey to Lord Inaba's province, along with a Ninja named Tatsuno, to discover who Lord Inaba's enemies may be, and who would have hired a Ninja to kill him. They learn many startling facts about the old Lord Inaba, and his son, the new Lord Inaba. Seikei even ends up in the Inaba castle dungeon and must be rescued by Tatsuno. Their search ends up on the sacred Ninja mountain where Seikei faces the Ninja murderer. Will Seikei overcome the Ninja's powers, defeat him, and learn the identity of who hired the Ninja to kill Lord Inaba? This is the third book in a series of stories starring Seikei and Judge Ooka. The other books are The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn, The Demon in the Teahouse, The Sword That Cut the Burning Grass, A Samurai Never Fears Death, and Seven Paths to Death.

Similar books: Blue Fingers-a Ninja's Tale by Cheryl Whitesel; Samurai Spirit: Ancient Wisdom for Modern life by Burt Konzak; Sword of the Samurai: Adventure Stories from Japan by Eric Kimmel

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/29/2009

ISBN-10: 0399237674

ISBN-13: 9780399237676

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Lyza loves to look through the kaleidoscope her mother gave her before her mother left the family. In the kaleidoscope, shapes break apart but come together more beautifully than before. Lyza is hoping her life will come together like that. In a series of poems, Lyza describes the summer of the treasure. It started when Lyza's beloved, sea-faring, Gramps died leaving Lyza a thick brown envelope. Inside are three maps and a letter. Using the maps as guides, Lyza and her best friends, Malcolm and Carolann, discover that Captain Kidd, the pirate, may have buried some treasure in their hometown. All summer long, Lyza and her friends secretly dig at night behind the church trying to find this treasure. Will they get caught? Will they ever find treasure? What will they do if they find the treasure? You won't be able to put the book down until the end.

Reviewed by: hap

Date read: 12/18/2009

ISBN-10: 0375940480

ISBN-13: 9780375940484

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While spending the summer on their grandparents' farm, Liza, Bill, and Ted unravel a series of coded clues that solve a family mystery. Part of the Liza, Bill and Jed Mystery series.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0440444381

ISBN-13: 9780440444381

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