The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Hola, I think that another classic is in order. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I will mention that quite recently I was in London and and staying less than a five minutes walk from his supposed house on Baker Street. (If you visit, be sure to check out the Baker Street station. Very cool tiles!) Sherlock Holmes is a bit of a hermit. But his mysteries are so amazing that it would seem impossible that he wasn't having dinner with the Queen or some exotic royal... every other night. Most of the cases described in this book have a certain dark intensity that leaves you with the feeling that if you don't finish the chapter that you're reading, something terrible is going to happen. So expertly does Sir Doyle describe Sherlock's extraordinary manner that you find yourself thinking that the author himself must have been a genius to think up such scenes. (I might add that it is told from Watson's point of view.) Other than more than a few drug references I see no reason that it is not a coveted favorite among kids. Three and a half stars!

Fablehaven, Rise of the Evening Star

Hola! I am sorry but school is starting so I will probably only be able to do one blog a week. : ( Today I am doing the second Fablehaven book, Rise of the Evening Star, by Brandon Mull. This book begins the hunt for the hidden artifacts. Grandma and Grandpa Soreson bring some new faces into Fablehaven to help find the object concealed there. While Kendra discovers the true extent of her new powers, unsettling things are happening on the preserve. I would tell you to definitely keep reading this series. Although it will keep you up at night because you are wondering what will happen next. In all it was a really good book! (Except for Seth, he is an idiot.) Four stars!

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos

Hola! Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, by R. L. LaFevers. Theodosia is a completely ordinary girl, with forgetful parents who work at a museum with a very good Egyptian wing. The thing is that the Ancient Egyptians liked curses, leaving Theodosia to deal with them. Dark magic that the artifacts contain leads her to discover a long-time battle between two secret societies, and she becomes a major factor in the outcome. I really enjoyed this book. Theodosia is a cheeky girl and is very resourceful—you can't wait to see what see gets herself into next. But even Theodosia's charming personality can't hide the rather dark undercurrents of the story. I really recommend Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. Four stars!

Dealing with Dragons

HOLA! The next book is by Patricia C. Wrede's Dealing with Dragons. This book is a twist on the usual knight-in-shining-armor story. Cimorene is not your typical princess, she takes secret lessons from her various teachers in subjects that are not "proper" for a princess. She also thinks that getting married sounds horrible, but that is exactly what her parents have in mind for her. So taking her best crown and some hankerchiefs, she runs away to become a dragon's princess. This book really kept my attention, Cimorene has such a real and likable personality. She is sometimes makes mistakes, but they are understandable, and her bravery makes up for it. My only complaint is that as the story goes on, some characters get left out, I wanted to know what happened to Ailanora and the Stone Prince—unfair! But for this particular book, I give it three stars!

Runemarks

Hola! Runemarks, by Joeann Harris. This is a rather odd book about a girl named Maddy. In the world she lives in, some people have "rune marks", symbols that give you the power to perform magic. The thing is, many people think that it is a curse. Specifically the Order, an organization of priests with seemingly sketchy intentions. Maddy grew up unwanted, so when a strange man called One-eye befriends her, she is delighted. One-eye visits her once a year, doing mysterious things when he is not with her. Meanwhile all around Maddy, the world is changing. Beings who are just myths and legends come to power. With such drastic changes in her life, who can she trust? And more importantly, who is everyone? Who is she? Runemarks has a very strange but excitingly twisting plot. It is about characters like Thor and Loki, who are legendary but who most people aren't familiar with, which creates a strange effect. In all, it deserves three and a half stars.

Fablehaven

Hola.......Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull, is a good book. Seth and Kendra are going to stay at their grandparents house while the children's parents are going on a cruise, due to a death in the family. Seth and Kendra are not too excited to be spending two weeks in the care of old people they hardly know. However, as they start to explore the grounds of their grandparents mansion, more than one mystery jumps out at them:, for example, the strange disappearance of their grandmother and some very odd milk. Once everything reveals itself, the real adventure begins. I thought Fablehaven was a fun book with very likable characters. In some parts I thought that Seth and Kendra were a little bit braver than a normal person would have been in that situation, which I found unrealistic. But overall, I really liked it! Four stars!