The fourth princess of Gossling, Princess Amelia, has always known that she's different. Not because she is special, however, but because she is thoroughly ordinary. The first three princesses of her kingdom, her older sisters, are the embodiment of royalty: graceful, beautiful, and socially adept. Amelia knows she will never measure up to them. When a plague strikes the kingdom, Amelia and her sisters are spared, but their parents die. With the king and queen gone, an uncle they've never met is next in line for rule. He is an evil magician with a grudge against the kingdom, and he is bent on destroying it. Amelia's older sisters are transformed into a tree and two swans, and Amelia escapes only because she has been left behind. Now the only sister left capable of saving her kingdom, Amelia must let go of her beliefs about herself and find a way to inspire the people of her kingdom to fight for themselves. The Extra-Ordinary Princess is a tale of adventure, with magic, transformation, friendship, and inspiration at its center. While not equal to Shannon Hale's mastery of this kind of story, fans of Goose Girl or Princess Academy will enjoy this tale of a girl on whose shoulders the fate of a kingdom rests.

Similar authors: Shannon Hale, Gale Carson Levine

Similar books: Princess Academy by Shannon Hale Goose Girl by Shannon Hale Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 1/15/2010

ISBN-10: 1599903407

ISBN-13: 9781599903408

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The new fourth grade class of Aesop Elementary School has a reputation among teachers as a 'high-energy' group. All previous teachers are happy that a new teacher will meet the challenge. The class is sure that they can conquer any teacher they meet. Enter Mr. Jupiter, who has taught Swahili at Dooglehorn Elementary in Switzerland, hula dancing at Balderdash Academy in London, and studied at the Hoochie-Cootchie Institute for misbehaved monkeys. He also is a former student of Aesop Elementary School. Each chapter is a retelling of an Aesop fable, with students as the characters, complete with its own moral. You've never before heard Aesop's fables like these!

Similar authors: Louis Sachar

Reviewed by: vverscaj

Date read: 2/17/2010

ISBN-10: 0375836721

ISBN-13: 9780375836725

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Commenter: Anya, grade 5

Kendra and Seth's parents are leaving them at their grandparents' mysterious home while they take a cruise. Kendra and Seth barely know their grandparents, and they've never been to their secluded property. The signs as they approach the house have warnings like, 'Certain Death Awaits.' When they arrive, they are instructed to stay out of the woods. Kendra and Seth know something strange is happening, and as Kendra follows a series of clues that lead to her grandparents' secret, Seth makes a huge mistake that puts him in danger. It takes the kids a while to figure out what's happening, but when they unmask the true identity of their grandparents' property, it leads them on a quest to save the world from a powerful demon. As they discover magical creatures at every turn and danger all around them, their lives expand in ways they could never have predicted. Will Kendra and Seth survive, or will the forces of evil prevail?

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award 2011

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 6/25/2010

ISBN-10: 1416947205

ISBN-13: 9781416947202

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Geronimo takes a vacation. Because all the good places are booked, he ends up spending his vacation in an old, nasty hotel with a bunch of noisy Gerbil Scouts! Read other books about Geronimo.

Reviewed by: St. Charles Reader

Date read: 11/6/2009

ISBN-13: 9781439587355

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A girl is in a boating accident and somehow is magically transported to another world whose citizens claim she is the lost Princess Tania. This is book 1 of The Faerie Path Series. Also look for: The Lost Queen and The Sorcerer King.

Reviewed by: St. Charles Reader

Date read: 10/27/2009

ISBN-10: 0060871032

ISBN-13: 9780060871031

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