The Stonekeeper (Amulet, Book 1)

Oh! WOW! I just finished The Stonekeeper (Amulet, Book 1), and I LOVED it! My daughter, Tessa, bought this graphic novel from the book fair at her school. I think she knew I would enjoy it, too!

The illustrations are vivid and sharp. So colorful! My eyes took in every scene in this action packed story. With this graphic novel, you will find not only incredible artwork but an equally incredible story.

This story by Kazu Kibuishi begins dramatically with Emily and Nevin losing their father in a terrible accident. Fast forward two years later...Emily, Nevin, and their mom are moving to a new town to a house that has been in the family for generations. It's a house that will need a lot of love (and cleaning!) but this family is determined to make a fresh start. While looking around the house, Emily stumbles across her great-grandfather's study where she finds a hidden amulet with special powers.

Emily needs these special powers desperately since it is soon up to her and her brother to save her mother from an awful fate. What has happened to Emily and Nevin's mother? Will they be able to save her? How will the amulet help them in this quest? Who else will they meet on their strange and dangerous adventure?

READ this book! You'll love it! And then prepare yourself for The Stonekeeper's Curse (Amulet, Book 2) that has just been released! I don't have it in the classroom yet, but you can be sure that I'll be getting it soon!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

The Legend of Spud Murphy

Meet Will and Marty Woodman. They are sentenced to spend a few 'educational' hours at the library each week during the summer.

Meet Spud Murphy. "She hates kids and she used to be a spy in the army. Tracking kids from enemy countries. She has a spud gun...a gas-powered one that takes an entire potato in the barrel. She shoots kids with it if they make a noise in the library."

That's right, folks. Spud Murphy is the librarian at Will and Marty's local library where there is nothing "but books...books just waiting to jump off the shelves" and bore them silly.

Will and Marty are sentenced to a small patch of carpet in the junior section with their pink library cards. They are warned by Spud not to go off the carpet until they leave and not to get any boyish ideas in their heads or there will be trouble.

Marty is the first to decide to test Spud and does so by rearranging books on the shelves in the wrong order. What happens to Marty will leave even the seasoned library visitor quaking in their shoes.

In a short ninety-five pages, Eoin Colfer had me laughing out loud! I found Spud Murphy to be hilarious! The story moved right along, and I had no problems finishing this entertaining book quickly.

For anyone who has ever thought reading books was boring...The Legend of Spud Murphy will keep you reading about two boys who don't want to read themselves. Perhaps you--along with Will and Marty--will find out that reading is actually quite a pleasant and not so awful thing!

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!

AND...A big THANK YOU to Aaron B. for telling me about this book! You're right, Aaron...it was SUPER!

AND...Guess what? There are two other books about Will and Marty...The Legend of Captain Crow's Teeth and The Legend of the Worst Boy in the World...so get reading!

Into the Volcano

Wow! What a graphic novel! Don Wood tells a riveting story of two brothers, Sumo and Duffy. They are swept away on an adventure into the underground lava tubes of an erupting volcano!

I have never read a graphic novel with so much intense action shown in the illustrations. I felt like the author took me on one gigantic amusement park ride! What an artist Don Wood is!

I enjoyed the character of Duffy at the beginning of Into the Volcano. I liked his take-charge attitude. Although I didn't begin with a fond feeling about Sumo, by the end of the book I loved him! What a dynamic character! I liked how his character underwent changes. By the end of the book, it was Sumo that I liked the best!

For a super cool look at how Don Wood researched his book, go to this website: http://www.audreywood.com/mac_site/into_the_volcano/into_the_volcano_01.html

Happy Reading!
Mrs. T :)

P.S. Reading is like breathing chocolate air!