A YEAR DOWN YONDER by Richard Peck

Sequel to A Long Way from Chicago...Peck continues the adventures of Mary Alice. Since her father has lost his job, Mary Alice's parents are forced to take a tiny apartment in Chicago with no room for a 15 year old. Her brother Joey has grown up and joined the army, so Mary Alice is sent back to Grandma Dowdel for a YEAR, not just a week in the summer as usual. She knows that things out in the country are different, but is wholly unprepared for Grandma Dowdel's unconventional way of dealing with life in a small town. Is Grandma really crazy, or does she know exactly what she's doing?

I think kids ages 8-12 will enjoy this book

RATING: ***** *** (even better than #1)

LLL

A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO by Richard Peck

This is a story of a family struggling to survive the great depression. Joey and Mary Alice are sent for a week during the summer to stay with Grandma Dowdel, a woman well known for being...let's just say different from your typical grandmother. Every one in town knows not to even try to mess with Mrs. Dowdel...but occasionally someone forgets, or they think they can outwit this hilarious, tough old lady.

I think kids ages 8-12 will enjoy this book.

Definitely a good read.

RATING: *****

LLL

FLYTE by Angie Sage

This exciting sequel to MAGYK continues with the adventures of Septimus Heap. Surrounded by DARKE MAGYK, Sep is slowly transforming from a frightened child in the young army into a wizard, strong enough to stand up to those that mean him, his friends or his family harm...even if that means his oldest brother, Simon. Simon was furious at being upstaged and passed over for his younger brother, and so was easy prey for the DARKE side. Will Septimus be able to save Jenna, the Queenling from danger? What about the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, Marcia Overstrand? Or the Dragon Boat of Hotep-Ra? Help arrives from surprising sources, both MAGYKAL and otherwise.

I think kids ages 7-17 will enjoy this book

RATING: *****

LLL

MAGYK by Angie Sage

A marvelous fantasy about the Heap family of wizards. Septimus Heap, the seventh son of a seventh son, dies at birth...before the family even has a chance to grieve, the queen is murdered, and her newborn abducted and secreted away with the Heaps. The adoptive daughter, Jenna, grows up with her new family until the age of 10, when the evil necromancer DomDaniel discovers Jenna's true identity and tries to have her killed. The Heaps are scattered as they try to escape and keep the princess safe. Before they get far, Jenna and Marcia Overstrand (the powerful ExtraOrdinary Wizard) rescue a boy buried in the snow and near death.

There's lots of MAGYK and adventure...if you liked Harry Potter, you will love this book, and the 3 sequels that follow.

I think kids ages 7-17 will enjoy this book.

RATING: *****

LLL