THE FALSE PRINCE

Book: The False Prince

Author: Jennifer Nielsen

Publisher: Scholastic

Pages: 352

Grade Level: 5^th Grade and up

Rating: 5 Stars

Sage is an orphan who is bought by a nobleman of the court, Connor. While Sage is originally unsure of what lies ahead of him, he soon learns that a civil war is brewing in the kingdom, and Connor wants to avoid it by impersonating the King’s long lost son. However, Connor cannot do this alone, and needs a young boy to play the prince. Sage is now in for the competition of his life, as he must decide if he wants to play a prince or lose his life. This book is full of twists, turns, deceit and adventure that you won’t want to miss!

The False Prince is the first book in The Ascendance Trilogy and when you finish the first you will NEED to find out what happens in the second. The book has a historical fiction feel to it even though the kingdom and everything about this book is made up, and it plays on the fantasy genre though it is not at all a fantasy. It is an epic quest for Sage, and reading about his trials and triumphs make you really love him as a character. Older readers will appreciate his transformation into young adulthood and readers of all ages are going to be unable to put the book down and need to know what happens next!

Earwig And The Witch

Book: Earwig And The Witch

Author: Diana Wynne Jones

Illustrator: Paul O. Zelinsky

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Pages: 128

Grade Level: 2^nd Grade and up

Rating: 4 Stars

Earwig is an orphan who loves living in the orphanage. Everyone does everything she wants for her, the cook, the other kids, even the boss. Earwig’s life changes when a strange looking woman and even stranger looking man adopt her. She immediately assumes the woman is a witch and gets excited about learning all kinds of spells from her new mom. When the witch makes Earwig her slave, Earwig starts to take charge of things in her new home and teach the witch that everyone deserves a loving home.

This book is so much fun! It is fast-paced, gender neutral and the perfect recommendation for children starting chapter books. Readers will cheer for Earwig as she concocts spells of her own, befriends a cat, and truly creates a home for herself. The pictures compliment the text beautifully and this book is the perfect suggestion for what you should read next.

Heidi Heckelbeck Has A Secret

Book: Heidi Heckelbeck Has A Secret

Author: Wanda Coven

Illustrator: Priscilla Burris

Publisher: Little Simon (Simon and Schuster)

Pages: 128

Grade Level: 1^st-3^rd

Rating: 4 Stars

After being homeschooled, Heidi Heckelbeck is going to school for the first time. She immediately dislikes the second grade, but nothing upsets her more than being teased by Meanie Melanie. This book sets the stage for more Heidi Heckelbeck books, as Heidi’s secret is not revealed until the last chapter and is the perfect segue into the second book of the series. (There is a sneak peak to book #2 at the end of this book.) The book is for readers beginning chapter books or slightly older reluctant readers. Any child who has ever been bullied will be able to relate to Heidi’s experience and will look forward to her retaliation in the second book. The illustrations compliment the text and capture the characters’ emotions and actions nicely.

I gave this book 4 stars because there are so many books like this for girls already out there, but I am definitely intrigued to find out what happens next!

Captain Awesome To The Rescue!

Book: Captain Awesome To The Rescue!

Author: Stan Kirby

Illustrator: George O’Connor

Publisher: Little Simon (Simon and Schuster)

Pages: 128

Grade Level: 1^st-3^rd

Rating: 5 Stars

Captain Awesome to the Rescue by Stan Kirby is a delightful story of a second grader named Eugene who moves to a new town and has to adjust to his new school and make new friends. Luckily, he has a superhero alter-ego, Captain Awesome that saves his new surroundings from the evils of little sisters and sneaky classmates. This is the perfect book for children beginning to read chapter books or slightly older children who are reluctant readers. The book is fast-paced and has relatable characters in real life situations. Children will cheer for Eugene and love him both as himself and as Captain Awesome. The pictures compliment the text and add to the humor throughout the book. I would confidently recommend this book to children in the public library and I am looking forward to the second book in the series!