The Westing Game

I was amazed that I could reread a book I used to use in my classroom and not remember the majority of the story. I was pleasantly surprised that some of my predictions were correct, but others were way off target. Overall, I like the idea of a mystery puzzle to solve while reading and as a character in the book stated, it was a lot like playing the board game, Clue. I'm impressed that my students never gave away the ending even when they were tempted to tell me who murdered Sam Westing. If you haven't read this book, it's worth the time to try to solve the clues and win the $200 million dollar inheritance!

The Candlestone

This book by Bryan Davis was a great sequel to Raising Dragons. Bonnie, Billy, Walter and Professor Hamilton have their work cut out for them as they go looking for Devin inside the Candlestone despite the dangers they face. This is a wonderful book for making and revising predictions and watching a character grow. The reader is faced with powerful descriptions that help put that "movie in your head" and make you want to turn the page to see what happens next.

The Wish

This modern fairy tale written by Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted) is told from the point of view of Wilma, the main character. She is suffering through her eigth grade year at Claverford Middle School as an almost "invisible" student. Her two best friends no longer go to her school and it's just too hard to find a new clique. That is until she meets an old woman who knows her innermost desire...to be popular. Actually to be THE MOST popular kid at Claverford...hmmm...sounds ok, right? Well, wishes always come with a catch. What is Wilma's catch? Who are her real friends now?
What would you wish for if you were given one WISH?