This tale takes place in England during the seventeenth century or Restoration era or the Civil War between England and Cromwell. Gwendolyn (Gwen) is like an 'angel here on earth' to her Father. She has white hair and pale skin and has a way with animals and a good friend, Jack. When a plague comes to England, the villagers call her a White Witch and blame her for the plague. Her father hides her in a secret place and tells her to stay there no matter what might entice her out. As you are getting used to the way the villagers talk as you begin reading, the plot draws you into this slim tale of historic realism. There is an author's note and a glossary to help you understand some of the context.

Reviewed by: cj

Date read: 8/24/2009

ISBN-10: 159643337X

ISBN-13: 9781596433373

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Becky, and her brother, use some ingenious clues to identify the person who stole five children's books from the town's library.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0394849922

ISBN-13: 9780394849928

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Herb doesn't just love stories, he loves the pictures in the storybooks. His love of books is so great that one night during a sleepover, when he falls asleep on top of a book, he actually falls into a storybook. His first encounter is with the bratty Goldilocks and the three nice bears. He runs through multiple pages of the book, meeting different characters along the way, until he comes to Cinderella's castle. Here, Herb's previous period of book defacing comes back to haunt him. The characters in the book are not amused at the mustaches he drew on them, or the fact that he cut out the Queen's throne and drew telephones in all of the pages of his book. It seems like almost everyone in the storybook world is after Herb for his treatment of books, but will the fairy god mother and Cinderella be able to help him? Find out with Lauren Child's mixed-up fairy tale!

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 6/29/2009

ISBN-10: 0786809264

ISBN-13: 9780786809264

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Joshua and Artie have been best friends since Kindergarten. Over the years Artie has told some pretty amazing stories, claiming that 'It is really true!.' So when he tells Joshua that their neighbor has killed her husband and buried his body in the backyard, Joshua is sure that this is another flight of imagination. However there is a flower bed just about 7' long in the lady's backyard and her husband hasn't been seen in a while. When Joshua overhears a conversation in which the lady tells a neighbor that the poison worked well. Could Artie be on to something? Shouldn't they tell their parents or the police? Or, as Artie suggests, should they gather 'evidence,' like a dead body, before they tell anyone?

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 1/23/2010

ISBN-10: 1558855467

ISBN-13: 9781558855465

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Twenty-five brief mysteries are presented, as investigated by Sherman Holmes, a brilliant but eccentric sleuth, who believes he is descended from the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Solutions are included in the back.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0806997966

ISBN-13: 9780806997964

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