Creek Critiques

Ambrose hasn’t had the easiest life. He’s constantly moving and changing schools, his mother is enormously overprotective, he has a deadly allergy to peanuts, and he has zero friends. In fact, three bullies intentionally placed a peanut in his sandwich that nearly killed him! After that attack, his mother pulled him from school to be homeschooled, but when she’s away at work, Ambrose spends his time with their landlord’s ex-convict son, Cosmo. Ambrose and Cosmo form an unlikely friendship in which Cosmo teaches Ambrose self-defense, and Ambrose makes Cosmo take him to play in the local Scrabble club. While they male-bond behind his mother’s back, Ambrose learns a little more about how to socialize with others and how to stand up for himself against bullies.

Miss Simer’s Rating: ***1/2

When Atticus’s family is murdered by Roman soldiers, he is sold into slavery.  Bought by Lucius, Atticus is trained to be a valuable servant.  He is trusted by Lucius to listen to the secrets of the rich and learn of any deceptions afoot in Rome.  When Atticus hears whispers about an impending attack on the Emperor, Lucius is quick to work out a plan that will save his friend the Emperor from harm.  Backstabbing, lying, and scheming are ever-present in Ancient Rome and it is Atticus’s job to help restore nobility to the city.  It seems to be an unreliable retelling of history, as Atticus doesn’t really see much of a true slave’s life.  He is trusted by his master, taken to gladiator exhibitions, reunited with a lost love one, and more. 

Miss Simer’s Rating: **

Freshman Will Carter has never gotten into much trouble, had luck with girls, or been popular at school. He’s determined to turn things around this year by joining the football team, going to parties, and dating the hottest girl who’ll have him.  His choices don’t exactly work out as planned, but they definitely make the reader laugh out loud!  If you think teenage boys are lewd and crude, this novel backs it up!  With only one thing on his mind most of the time, Carter and his boys fill up the scenes with locker room talk, but Carter manages to stay a likable character.  The highlight is his first date with Abby in the movie theater - be prepared for some disgusting imagery!  (for mature readers)

Miss Simer’s Rating: ***

The Maze of Bones (Book One) by Rick Riordan (220 pages) Miss Simer’s Rating: ***

Amy and Dan Cahill’s grandmother Grace is loaded.  Her family treats her well hoping to inherit her millions when she dies.  Amy and Dan are different though.  Since their parents’ death, Grace has been the one adult who really cares for them.  When Grace does pass away, the children and other members of the family attend the reading of her will and are shocked to find out they can take a $1 million inheritance or they can choose to embark on a worldwide adventure that will lead to being the most powerful Cahill ever.  Amy and Dan choose to participate in the adventure and they soon become the target of the other teams competing in the quest.  While researching all things Benjamin Franklin, they travel to Philadelphia and Paris, delving deep into the catacombs of the city to find the maze of bones.  This is the first book in a series of 10 and the action moves pretty rapidly. 

 One False Note (Book Two) by Gordon Korman (174 pages) Miss Simer’s Rating: ***

Amy and Dan Cahill’s search for the 39 clues has taken them to Vienna, Austria, and the home of classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They go to Mozart’s home and look in the private library for a diary written by Mozart’s equally talented sister. But, the diary has already been stolen by Jonah Wizard. Amy and Dan must find the diary while still avoiding their competitors who are still trying to kick them out of the game permanently. Soon, they travel to Venice, Italy, and find the secret lair of the Janus clasn - the artists of the Cahill ancestry. Where in the world will their search take them next?

The Sword Thief (Book Three) by Peter Lerangis (156 pages) Miss Simer’s Rating: ***1/2

The trail of the 39 clues has now led Amy and Dan to Japan in search of the maker of the swords they found in Venice.  While waiting to board their plane to Japan, their tickets are stolen by the Kabras, but Amy and Dan are rescued by Alistair Oh and taken aboard his private plane.  They make a stop in Russia to throw off Irina, who is following them, and then head to Japan.  Soon, they meet up with the Kabras once again, and Alistair, Amy, and Dan agree to an alliance for this clue.  They discover the secret to the third clue lies in Korea, which is Alistair’s homeland.  Can they trust Alistair or the Kabras with what they discover?  Find out in this third installment of the series!

Beyond the Grave (Book Four) by Jude Watson; 190 pages; Miss Simer’s Rating: ***

After almost being buried alive, Amy and Dan continue on their search for the 39 clues.  Their search takes them to Egypt in this fourth installment of the series.  Some new faces appear on their trail too:  Theo, a dashing archaeologist who has Nellie eating from the palm of his hand; Bae Oh, Alistair’s evil uncle who is an uninvited guest on this scavenger hunt; and Hilary Vale, Grace’s oldest friend who arrives to help the Cahill’s uncover the secrets Grace left behind for them. Meanwhile, Irina, Alistair, and Jonah are still tracking them closely and setting up traps for the Cahills at every turn.  This time, Amy and Dan have a message from Grace as a guide to help them find the clues before anyone else. Will it be enough to solve the mystery she left behind?

The Black Circle (Book Five) by Patrick Carman; 168 pages; Miss Simer’s Rating: ***1/2

Amy and Dan make their way to Irina’s homeland, Russia, in this novel - and they’re going alone.  While Nellie stays behind in Egypt, the kids take off for Russia following a clue given to them by “NRR.”  They aren’t sure who NRR is, but they’re certain he or she was close with Grace and is giving them the inside track toward finding the next clue.  They become unexpected allies with the Holt family when they realize they can’t visit all the necessary locations to find the clue in the time that they have.  Their clue told them the “door” would close in so many hours, so the kids have to work fast.  Their search connects them to clues about Russia’s famous royal family that was slaughtered - and the child Anastasia who may have survived the firing squad.  With Irina and the Kabras close on their tail, the Cahills must do whatever it takes to reach the clue before anyone else.

Phileas Fogg, an English aristocrat, makes a bet in which he must traverse the world in eighty days.  He goes to India , China , and many other foreign countries.  Fogg meets interesting people and sees odd cultures.  He uses different forms of transportation such as steamers, trains, and even elephants!  Little does Mr. Fogg know, he is being chased by a detective, Mr. Fix, who accuses him of stealing fifty-five thousand pounds from an English bank.  Readers who like books about different countries would definitely enjoy this!

 Kate A.’s Rating: ***1/2

The Prince and the Pauper is about two young boys, one named Tom, the other named Edward.  Tom lived the life of a pauper but always dreamt he could become a prince.  One day he ventured to the palace gates, where a crowd was gathered.  Inside the courtyard was the prince.  Tom eagerly stepped forward but was seized by the guards.  Edward, the prince, set him free and asked him to come into the castle with him.  Edward questioned the pauper and decided that Tom’s life was much more interesting than his own.  Here they switched places, and their adventures began.  I think this is a good pick for someone who enjoys challenging fairy tales. 

 Kate A.’s Rating: ***1/2

Locke Vinetti is a moden-day Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  He has what he calls “the venom” inside of him that can come out at any moment.  The venom is his dark side, full of rage and violence.  Anyone who threatens him needs to be prepared for a sound beating because once he gets worked up, Locke finds it impossible to cool down.  Most people have a filter that controls their anger before it gets out of hand, but not Locke.  He’s lived with this his whole life and the only person who has had an ability to remotely help him is his best friend Randall - that is until he meets Renee.  She’s a beautiful Goth girl who steals his heart from the moment he meets her and soon he is completely enraptured with her and her circle of friends.  Is she truly the key to eliminating “the venom” once and for all, or will the venom reveal itself in an unforgivably destructive manner?  (for mature audiences)

Miss Simer’s Rating: ***

Jenny Han’s follow-up to her debut novel, Shug, describes a summer in the life of fifteen (nearly sixteen)-year-old Belly.  She has spent every summer of her life with her mother, older brother, her mother’s best friend, and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah.  Belly wonders what they must look like in the winter because she has only seen them in the summer. While her mother’s best friend is dealing with the realities of a serious terminal illness, Belly longs to finally turn her crush on Conrad into a real relationship.  This is the last summer before Conrad leaves for college and Belly hopes this will finally be the summer he notices her as a growing teen and not just as a little kid.  She gets her wish - except she gets flirtatious attention not only from Conrad, but from Jeremiah and Cam, a newcomer to town.  Exploring these three relationships and accepting the fact that she has developed into a beautiful girl, Belly has an enlightening summer and it is one she will never forget.

Miss Simer’s Rating: **1/2

Psychics? Mediums? Ghosts? Readings? To Calla, these things are out of the ordinary…But to the people of Lily Dale, it is their life. Calla’s mother mysteriously has an accident which makes Calla come to Lily Dale to live with her quite eccentric grandmother, Odelia. Before going to Lily Dale, Calla had not known that it’s was the world’s leading place for spiritualism. Her mother never told her why she left Lily Dale long ago, but Calla has a strange curiosity to find out. Realizing where she is, Calla is now a little spooked. Now knowing that her Grandmother is a psychic, Calla researches Lily Dale. But, while doing so she begins to…Well…See things. She sees a woman. Not a real one, a ghost. Is she trying to tell Calla something? Will Calla find out the secret to her Mom’s mysterious death? Or… will she uncover a powerful energy lurking within her?

Review by Kaitlin F.

May Bird never felt like she was needed.  She was considered the dork at school because of her many ludicrous inventions and ideas.  But one day she stumbles upon a letter in an abandoned home, one addressed to no other than Ms. May Ellen Bird.  The date that it was written was 1941, many years before May or even her mother was born.  Oddly enough the letter said something May had longed for someone to tell her for a long time.  It said that a Lady of North Farm needed her.  That’s when May’s adventures begin!  She finds a lake behind briars, but in Briary Swamp it never rains.  Then she starts seeing ghosts, in her closet, hanging from the stairs, everywhere in her home.  One night she goes back to the mysterious lake, but this time she doesn’t come back.  Something pulled her into the lake and one of the ghosts she saw in White Moss Manor saves her.  May comes up in a strange place called the Ever After.  Join May, Pumpkin, Somber Kitty, and others as you’re sucked into the world of the dead now becoming a dimmer and dimmer star in the sky because of Bo Cleevil.  Will she make it out of this strange place or be destroyed by the Bogey?  Will the Ever After survive Bo Cleevil’s reign of terror?

Jennifer G.’s Rating: ****