Title:         Ender’s Shadow

Author:      Orson Scott Card

Target:      6th - 9th grade

Series:      Yes

Posted by Ford

What this book is about: 

This story is a companion novel to Ender’s Game. Unlike the first book, however, this story focuses on Bean, one of Ender’s many friends. Bean is an orphan living on the streets by his wits alone. There is just one catch, Bean is only two years old. 

At this age, Bean manages to completely change the street life of the city he lives in. Once his amazing abilities are found out, he is taken to battle school, where he learns the art of tactical combat. There is a rumor that he could be the one boy to rise up and become the commander to defeat the buggers - an alien menace set on conquering Earth. His wit and skill are the only ways he is able to survive this school of cunning, sneaky, and vicious boys. As he adapts to life at battle school, he makes some very key discoveries about the true intent of his teachers and superiors. 

Why I like it: 

Keep in mind that this is a companion novel, and I recommend that you read Ender’s Game first. Both books are very well written and vividly describe life at battle school. The author helps you to picture a futuristic world of spaceships and interplanetary travel as you read. I especially enjoyed reading about the simulations of war in battle school involving stun lasers and obstacles in a zero gravity environment. This book is a great novel that readers of Enders Game and people new to the duo alike will enjoy.    

You will like this book if you enjoyed:

Ender’s Game

Divergent

A Wrinkle In Time

Title:           The Sea of Trolls

Author:       Nancy Farmer

Target:       5th-7th grade

Series:        Yes, a trilogy

Posted by Ford

What this book is about: 

Jack, a hard working farm boy in Saxon England, is asked to become the local bard’s apprentice. While studying together, he learns that the bard has been plagued by nightmares sent from an enemy troll-queen, Frith. He learns that the queen has sent an army of berserkers from the north to attack Jack’s village and kill the bard.  When the berserkers come, Jack is able to save the village, but gets captured, along with his sister Lucy.  After unwittingly using a spell that causes the troll queen’s hair to fall out, Jack must go on a quest to find the spell that will bring it back, with the queen holding his sister’s life in the balance.

Why I like it: 

This book’s adventures are wonderfully described and are a thrill to read. The author’s excellent storytelling makes this story sound like a true Norse Myth. There are trolls, dragons, longships and many more things relating to the Norse Gods. 

You will like this book if you enjoyed: 

The Ear, the Eye and the Arm
Odd and the Frost Giants
Lord of the Rings

Title:          Nerd Camp

Author:       Elissa Brent Weissman

Target:        4th Grade to 6th Grade

Series:         No

Posted by Will

What this book is about:

Ten year old Gabe is going to get a stepbrother, and he is very excited to have a sibling.  When he meets Zack, his new stepbrother, he finds a problem.  They have completely different interests. Gabe thinks school is awesome and loves books, but Zack hates school and loves video games.  When Gabe finds out he’s been accepted into the Summer Center for Gifted Enrichment, he fears that he and Zack will never be friends.  Is Gabe a nerd who only has nerdy adventures, or can he make camp cool? 

Gabe starts the following chart to see if nerdy or cool will win out:

Problem:Am I a nerd who only has nerdy adventure?

Hypothesis: No

THINGS I CAN TELL ZACK            THINGS I CAN'T TELL ZACH

(I am not a nerd)                                     (I am a nerd)

        I am going to sleep away camp               It is the Summer Center for Gifted Enrichment

Why I like this book:
I liked this book because of all Gabe’s fun adventures at camp.   One of my favorite adventures was color war.  It’s when the camp splits up into teams and competes in all sorts of challenges.  Some examples are: field day, obstacle course, and jeopardy!  There was also a scavenger hunt, but they can’t find one item on the list which could blow their chances of winning!  Read Nerd Camp to find out if nerdy or cool wins out.  

You will like this book if you enjoyed:
The Genius Files

Title:          Fake Mustache

Author:      Tom Angleberger

Target:       3rd grade-5th grade

Series:        No

Posted By Will
 
What this book is about:
What happens when Casper Bengue buys a fake mustache?  Not just any fake mustache but the Heidelberg Handlebar Number Seven, at a cost of $139.99.  Now Casper uses his new disguise to rob banks and then uses the money to buy the Heidelberg Novelty Company. Casper takes on the new nickname Fako Mustacho.  When Casper decides to run for president of the U.S.A., it’s up to Lenny Flem Jr. to save the United States Presidential Election.  Don’t forget about Jodie O’Rodeo, the only other person that didn’t fall for Casper’s genius plot.  Can she and Lenny save the U.S.A?

Why I like it:

 I liked this book because of how funny and absurd it was.  Since when was a 7th grader supposed to be a mad genius criminal mastermind?  Also, why did everybody but two kids fall for a totally obvious plot?  Who knew that all this could happen because of a short man about town suit and a fake mustache! 

You will like this book if you enjoyed:
Science Fair

Title:          A Confusion of Princes

Author:      Garth Nix

Target:       6th grade-8th grade

Series:        No

Posted by Ford

What this book is about:
It’s great to be a prince in the Empire. You get what you want, when you want it. You are faster, smarter, and stronger than normal humans. You also get a shot at being chosen as one of the 1000 candidates to become emperor. Unfortunately, as young prince Khemri learns, most princes will go to extreme lengths to narrow down the selection. To avoid the wrath of his fellow princes, he must travel to the edge of the empire, where he meets a young woman, called Raine. This encounter changes Khamri’s views on the Empire and the life he has always lived. But the Empire has different plans for him. The story follows Khemri’s adventures as he attempts to stray away from the path that has been laid out for him and his realizations of what really happens in the world around him.

Why I like it:
The author does a great job explaining the futuristic world. Not too much is given away, but enough so that you understand the setting. It is very fun to attempt to figure out what an unfamiliar word means, when the characters use it all the time and without regard. The book also maintains a fairly consistent flow of action, from the heat of a battle to the exhilaration of blasting through space in a starship. There are not many dull points and it moves freely between settings. Each time Khemri has a new experience, you feel the just as surprised or confused as he does. These features all make for one great book (pun intended.)

You will like this book if you enjoyed:
Ender’s Game

Title:         Evil Genius

Author:     Catherine Jinks

Target:      6th grade - 8th grade

Series:       There is a sequel

Posted by Ford

What this book is about: 

Cadel Piggot, an adopted boy, is great with computers. So great, he has gotten in trouble with the police numerous times for hacking into high security networks, such as the power grid and bill paying service. Because of these scandals, he is told to visit Dr. Roth, a psychiatrist. Rather than quelling Cadel’s interest in technology, Dr. Roth helps him to embrace his true potential, telling Cadel that he could become an evil genius, like his true father, Phinias Darkkon, an infamous criminal genius. 
In fact, before he was imprisoned for life, Darkkon set up a school, titled the Axis Institute, specifically to teach Cadel what he will need to know to follow in the footsteps of his father. The story chronicles Cadel’s adventures to find the answers to his questions about what evil really is. 

Why I like it: 

The book does a good job clearly describing Cadel’s struggles about how far he should go to accomplish the tasks his father and Dr. Roth place upon him. The author puts the reader in Cadel’s position and you are just as surprised as Cadel when a new detail is revealed. 
The author also does well in describing the personalities of many characters, such as the teachers at the Axis Institute. There is a hyper computer geek, a mysterious master of disguise, a stern and somewhat rude con man, and many more. The diversity of the characters will enthrall the reader as they search to find each one’s role in the shadowy events of the story. 


You will like this book if you enjoyed:
H.I.V.E.
Artemis Fowl