Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life by Jason Hanson - Age 13+

This was an entertaining/fun/disturbing/eye-opening read...
I had Max (15) and my sister read it, and I want Doug to read it too. But I decided NOT to let Sam (12) and Gabe (9) read it because of his real world examples of people being hurt by bad guys. (Even though he is trying to arm you with techniques that will help you protect yourself.)

Don't get me wrong, it is not unduly graphic in any way, and the boys would probably not be phased--I'm just being extra sensitive to their sensitivity.

(On a side-note, I would love, love, love to see a version of this book written specifically for kids/teens.)

Anyway, quite awhile ago, I saw this guy on Shark Tank trying to sell the "Sharks" on his Spy School idea. His business got funded and led to him writing this book. I read a review of it somewhere, remembered the author from Shark Tank, thought how much Gabe wants to be a "secret agent" and put the book on hold at the library. (I plan to buy a copy--just haven't gotten around to it yet.) I was glad I did, even though I decided not to let Gabe read it.

Now, since this book was written to build his business, he pushes a LOT of different products you can buy: All available on his sensory-overload weird and convoluted website(s). Reading the book DID make me want to spend $600 on spy gear, but instead I just bought a few little things on Amazon. I.E., Paracord, a lock pick set (for the boys for fun) and a tactical pen.


{Turns out, you can't buy every spy gear item under the sun or your spouse may suspect you are planning to murder him and leave the country.}

Anyway, whether you dream of being an international man of mystery, a secret agent, or even a Bond girl, this was a great read that also happens to have a lot of helpful information in it. I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think in the comments!

Happy Reading!!
Emily



P.S. This post contains affiliate links.

Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer Nielsen

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen is the first book of hers I read, and it remains my absolute favorite. Not only did I LOVE the first book, (Could NOT put it down!) the second and third books were great too!  {Now, how often does it happen that the final book isn't a complete let down?! I'm looking at you Divergent and Hunger Games!}


This is an action-oriented fantasy that revolves around political intrigue in a kingdom far, far away. (No magical creatures in this book.)


I was quickly captivated by the street-smart, clever, semi-criminal main character Sage, and can honestly say, that I didn't see the final plot twist coming (in any of the books) despite the fact that this book was written for an early middle-grade audience. (Booklist says grades 4-7) I also loved how the series ended though I wished it didn't.

I highly, highly recommended these books and wouldn't hesitate to recommend buying them. (If you're the type of person who likes to have books to share, lend, re-read.)
If you have no kids, buy them for yourself. They are really fun to read.


Now, once you've read The Ascendance Trilogy, you are going to want to check out some of Jennifer Nielsen's other books.

I have read
"A Night Divided",
"The Scourge",
and "The Mark of the Thief" trilogy, (though I haven't finished the third book in that series.)

"A Night Divided" is written about 12-year-old Gerta who lives in Berlin when the wall goes up and is cut off from her father and brother. This is a great book for introducing this important historical event, but while "The False Prince" felt like it appealed to me as an adult as much as it would have to me as a kid, "A Night Divided" feels like it is written for 12-13 year olds.
Maybe the plot isn't as deeply developed as I would have wanted or maybe the ending is a little too pat. The point is, it is a great book, and a book I want my kids to read for the historical insight they will gain, but I would have been just as happy to have it from the library.

{Did you ever read the book "So Far From the Bamboo Grove"? I read that as a kid, loved it, thought about it often and re-read and loved it as an adult. It was a book that seeped into my soul. "A Night Divided" is not quite at that level.}

"The Scourge" was a page-turner, but I think I just wasn't overly in love with the ending or the characters. I liked it, but I didn't finish it wishing there was a second book. Doug said he really enjoyed it though, and Max sped right through it with no complaints.

Finally, "The Mark of the Thief" books were good but not as captivating for me as "The False Prince". They take place in ancient Rome and involve, magic, magical creatures, Roman games, Caesar, and the gods Mars and Diana. If you or your kids are Percy Jackson fans, you might really really dig these. I loved the first one, but now that I'm on the third, I'm a tiny bit over the magical battles--which is why I haven't finished it yet. However, Max will probably pick it up and finish it in one sitting.

Hope you've found something to peek your interest. If you've read any of these, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading,
Emily

P.S. This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links. They do not, however, change the price of the books.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart -- Ages 10/11+

I have a confession. I read this book about 5 years ago. And I'm pretty sure I read the second one. I am NOT sure if I read the third one and definitely didn't read the fourth. Three and four may or may not have been written yet...


Here is what I do know: I read the first book and loved it.
Max read it and loved it.
We gave it to Max's friend Lauren and SHE read it and loved it.

And as far as I know, every kid on the face of the planet who has read this book...

...has loved it.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong!! If you or your kid hated it, this is information we need to know!;)

This is a pretty long book. 500+ pages, so NOT for a beginning reader. But I believe it appeals equally to boys and girls and has a nice blend of clever, independent kids, and exciting adventures with a lot of mystery and problem-solving mixed in. I would have loved it as a kid. (And, as I said, loved it as an adult.)

Amazon age range is 8-13 for the first book, 10-13 for the whole series.
(But as we know from The Lego Movie...
Son: "It says Ages 5-12" Dad: "That's just a suggestion!!")

Read it and let me know what you think! And tell me if I need to go back and finish the series!!

Happy Reading,

Emily

Common Sense Media says:
Parents need to know that The Mysterious Benedict Society is the story of four gifted kids, all orphans age 12 and under, who are recruited and then trained by Mr. Benedict and sent to a remote boarding school to learn more about an evil mastermind bent on taking over the world. There's little violence beyond some mild fistfighting and a near kidnapping, where perpetrators are knocked out with a tranquilizer gun. Teamwork, creative problem solving, and the love of the truth are keys to the kids' success. This is the first in a four-volume series. 

P.S. If you liked this post, please leave a comment or share it!

P.P.S. Most links used above are 'Amazon Affiliate' links. If you use one to buy a book, I get a small percentage of the purchase price. If you don't, I won't mind a bit. 
I always recommend getting books at the library first, buying from Amazon second!

P.P.P.S. I purchased this book with my own money and reviewed it because I loved it!

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein -- Age 10+

Talk about judging books by the cover!!
I saw this:


 at Costco and threw it right in my cart.

*Cool cover art.
*The word 'Library' in the title. (One of my favorite places.)
*And intrigue. (Who needs to escape and why?)

How could I not buy it?

Turns out, I was not dissapointed. It was a great book!

Unfortunately, Costco wasn't selling the complete "Lemoncello" trilogy as a set so we only have the first book, but we will eventually buy the final two in the Lemoncello series.
(Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics and Mr. Lemoncello's Great Library Race)

One thing I loved about Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library was that it was filled with references to other books. After reading a few pages, I grabbed a pencil and starting underlining them and writing the book title referenced off to the side. Max said he liked knowing what books the lines were from when he read it after me.

A book that gets kids excited about reading more books is a huge win in my book.

Amazon puts the age range at ages 8-12. It's been a year or so since I've read it, but that sounds fine. When in doubt, look at the recommend age and add two years. Or look at the age of the main character and start there. Main character Kyle is 12.

The oldest four over here really enjoyed this book and I'm excited to give it to Gabe to read next. I think it will appeal equally to boys and girls and hope you'll like it too! Tell me what you think!

Happy Reading!!
-Emily

Chris Grabenstein's Website says:

Can twelve 12-year-olds escape from the most ridiculously brilliant library ever created?

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library plunks a dozen sixth-graders into the middle of a futuristic library for a night of nonstop fun and adventure.

In a nod to Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this fast-paced new novel features an eccentric billionaire who welcomes a group of children into a fantasy setting full of weird, wondrous touches...

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library is more than a rib-tickling novel full of humor and suspense. It's a game in itself, in which readers can have fun solving clues and answering riddles while learning how to navigate the Dewey Decimal system. Eagle-eyed kids—not to mention their parents, teachers, and librarians—can also hunt for the names of authors and classic books sprinkled throughout the fast-moving story. 

Rumor has it there is even one puzzle that is in the book but not in the story. Can you find and solve it?
---

P.S. The links attached to book titles used above are mostly "Amazon Affiliate Links". They give me a tiny percentage of the purchase price if you use my link to buy a book. However, if you go to Amazon on your own, it won't hurt my feelings! ;) We usually like to check things out at the library before we decide to buy.

P.P.S. If you like this post, please leave a comment or share it! Thanks!!

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy -- Age 12+

I'm not sure how we were introduced to  "The Apothecary" series by Maile Meloy. Pretty sure Doug randomly brought the Book-on-CD home from the library. {We get hooked on a lot of great books by grabbing whatever looks good at the library before a road trip. Yes, we often judge books by the cover and this series has great cover art!}

Whatever the case may be, I listened to it in the car  and got hooked pretty fast.  We got all three books on CD from the library and we all listened to them. (The series didn't particularly hold the attention of Gabe and Gray but there is nothing you would be overly worried about younger kids hearing either. Not like when I tried to listen to "The Fault In Our Stars" in the car...)

This series does have a good narrator, Cristin Milioti, but I feel like it would be just as enjoyable in book form. These can also be found on Audible and I ended up buying the first one for future road trips.

The first book takes place in London in 1952. The main character in this book is a 14 year old girl. I appreciate that she was portrayed as strong and smart but also a normal young teen girl with insecurities and crushes and a vivid imagination. The other main character is a teenage boy. Also smart and (bonus) British.

Adventure, magic, and a little romance makes this appeal to everyone and Max (14 at the time), Sam (11), and Doug enjoyed it as much as I did.

The Apprentices is the second book and The After Room is the third and final book in the series.

If you read this series, please come back and tell me what you think!! :)

Happy Reading--

Emily

--
The publisher recommends these for ages 9-12. I would personally say 12+. (Feels a little mature for younger kids, especially as the series moves along.)

Common Sense Media rates this as ages 11+ and says:
"Parents need to know that The Apothecary is an engaging, well-written story by an award-winning  adult author who has successfully turned to a younger audience without simply dumbing down adult themes. Some social and ethical complexities may be a bit much for younger kids, e.g., the casual ruthlesslessness with which Janie and Benjamin are willing to try out a potion on their hapless classmate Sergei, the quandary of Sergei's father with his wife and daughter in the hands of his Soviet employers, and Pip's cheerfully thieving nature. Janie's parents are blacklisted Hollywood writers, and Meloy's excellent, evenhanded treatment of the subject might serve as an good introduction to the McCarthy era."
--

P.S. The links attached to book titles used above are mostly "Amazon Affiliate Links". They give me a tiny percentage of the purchase price if you use my link to buy a book. However, if you go to Amazon on your own, it won't hurt my feelings! ;) We usually like to check things out at the library before we decide to buy.

P.P.S. If you liked this post, please share it or leave a comment. :)

Reader Profiles

Thought I would introduce my family and give a little of our background and how we came to love reading so much:

Doug: Age 39. Wasn't a big reader growing up. He remembers really liking "Maniac Magee" as a kid (Classic--totally holds up and worth a read.) but really took off when he got into Louis L'Amour in 9th grade. (Followed by Clive Cussler books later.) He was introduced to fantasy when he worked on a construction crew one summer in college and the guy driving the truck listened to Robert Jordan books on the way to job sites. This eventually led him to Brandon Sanderson.

Favorite Genre: Fantasy

Favorite Author: Brandon Sanderson

Favorite Book: The Way of Kings

Currently Reading: Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson

Emily: Age 39. I was a slow reader in first grade. My teacher, Miss Damjanovich, taught all five of my siblings and told my mom I was behind where they were. Mom started taking me to the library every week and letting me get as many books as I wanted. I was also allowed to buy multiple books from the Scholastic "Book Order" each month. My dad chipped in and told me he'd pay me a penny a page to read. So every night, I climbed into my mom's bed and she read to me. When my reading improved, I read to her. By the end of the year, I was reading above grade level. I have loved reading ever since!!! As a kid I loved mysteries: Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, etc. I still love a good mystery if I can find a good clean series. The only fantasy book I liked as a kid was "The Hobbit" and the only sci-fi book I liked was "Ender's Game." That has changed since discovering Brandon Sanderson. (He's very popular in our family.)

Favorite Genre(s): 1st, Mysteries. 2nd, Classics. 3rd, Fantasy

Favorite Author(s): Jane Austen, Dickens, Agatha Christie, PD James, and Brandon Sanderson

Favorite Book(s): Pride and Prejudice, David Copperfield, Jane Eyre, To Kill a Mockingbird

Currently Reading: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets out loud to Gray and "Spy School" because Gabe recommended it and also "Wrath of the Storm" to finish up a series.
Listening to: "War and Peace" and also "The Art of Reading" on Audible in the car. (Depends on what I'm in the mood for. )

Max: Age 15. Despite being the most hyper active tiny child on the planet, Max could always sit still and hyper focus when being read to as a baby. He learned to read early, and proved again that he could hyper focus when reading on his own. He learned to read in kindergarten. Took over reading Harry Potter from me at the end of first grade and then read the rest of the series on his own. Read the entire Book of Mormon between ages 7 and 8. Crazy fast reader. Can always be found with a novel. Always. Even if he's packing a 500 page tome on a crazy long Scout hike.

Favorite Genre: Fantasy

Favorite Author: Brandon Sanderson

Favorite Book: The Way of Kings

Currently Reading: Wereworld series by Curtis Jobling

Sam: Age 12. Sam also learned to read fairly early and relatively easily. He also got impatient with how slowly I was reading Harry Potter out loud and took over reading on book 2. Sam is a more methodical reader and he's never in too big a hurry to finish a series. He loves fantasy, but he also love love loves anything super hero related. You know those big Super Hero books at Costco that tell you every bit of history about, say, Batman? Well, Sam reads those ginormous things cover to cover and can tell you anything and everything you need to know about all Super Heroes and Super Villains. Need to know Batman's mother's name? Ask Sam.

Favorite Genre: Fantasy and Super Hero Anthologies

Favorite Author: Cressida Cowell

Favorite Book: "How to Train Your Dragon" series

Currently Reading: "Ripper" by Stefan Petrucha

Gabe: Age 9. Gabe did not learn to read in Kindergarten. He didn't even really learn to read in first grade. Second grade he was still struggling and was way below grade level. Beginning of third? Below grade level. In the mean time, I had started reading Harry Potter out loud to him in first grade just like I did for the other boys. Then I read the second book. And the third. And the fourth. I kept asking if he was ready to read it on his own. Nope! Perfectly happy for me to keep going. In third grade I was reading the fifth book to him. And then we got the illustrated copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone at Costco. Gabe had gotten in to simple illustrated books like "Jedi Academy" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid".  All of a sudden, he was reading the illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, then he was finishing the fifth book, and then the sixth, and seventh and then "The Cursed Child". He hasn't slowed down since.

Favorite Genre: Fantasy

Favorite Author: JK Rowling

Favorite Book: All of the Harry Potter books

Currently Reading: "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" series.

Gray: Age 6. Gray is in first grade aaaaand...is way behind.  We're on the second Harry Potter book together, but he is no where near taking over. I'm hoping he'll take off like his brothers, but it'll be in his own sweet time. For all I know, he'll never be a great reader. Maybe he'll stay chronically behind grade level. But one way or another, we'll get him to love books. Even if I have to read out loud to him every night until high school graduation. ;)

Favorite Genre: Fantasy

Favorite Author: JK Rowling

Favorite Book: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Currently Reading: Mom is reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets out loud. Also loves reading the "Step Into Reading" books. (Easy leveled readers) Especially the Super Hero ones.

Linc: Age 3. Can count to 11. Recognizes the number three by sight and knows zero letters. But DOES know a few spells from hearing so much Harry Potter...

Favorite Genre: Board books

Favorite Author: n/a

Favorite Book: n/a

Currently Reading: Super Hero ABC's and 123's

See anything you've read? Love any of these? Hate any of these? Let's hear what you think in the comments!
Happy Reading!!

There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.

–Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

For Your 1st or 2nd or 3rd Grader Who Doesn't Love Reading

When Gabe didn't take off in reading in first grade like his brothers, I was really worried about him. I was reading Harry Potter furiously to him and hoping he'd take over reading it like M and S did. But what I wasn't taking into consideration is, that for a struggling reader, Harry Potter is way too hard.  It's a GREAT read aloud, but NOT great for a struggling reader.

At some point I realized that while a great plot can take you really far, PICTURES are what really appeal to struggling readers. I mean, it should be obvious--babies and kids love pictures books. Kids learn to read with picture books. So for a struggling reader, a graphic novel or comic book, which incorporates pictures, will help them keep reading even if some of the words are tough.

I remember a loooooooong time ago reading a book called "The Read Aloud Handbook" --required reading for most English majors. I remember it said something to the effect of "Even if your kid is reading something you deem to be crap --like a comic book, at least they are reading." (That was poorly paraphrased, but you get the idea.)

Luckily, while I was reading Harry Potter to Gabe, we were also finding books for him at the library.

Because all our boys love Star Wars, the first time we came across the "Star Wars Jedi Academy" book by Jeffrey Brown, we snatched it up and took it home. 

While some of the pages are incredibly simple and comic book-y,

other pages are tightly packed with mostly text.

Since the reader is sucked into the comic book pages, they want to continue following the story even when they get to the rare page with no picture.

For the first time ever, I witnessed Gabe voluntarily pick up a book and not want to put it down. Only problem, there weren't very many of them. (4 or 5 at last check.)

That's where Diary of a Wimpy Kid comes in. There are lots of these books. They are funny. (Even if they have potty humor) and they are packed with silly illustrations. Once we caught on to the fact that Gabe liked books with more frequent illustrations, we gave him some of the Wimpy kid books and he was off.

Now, I haven't read these books. Maybe I would be horrified if I did. But they get kids reading--and I can guarantee--they don't read these forever. They will move on!

Also, I don't know if they appeal equally to girls or if there is a more female-centric equivalent. But I do know, there are a lot of these types of books out there. If you're looking for something to encourage a struggling reader, start with PICTURES and HUMOR! Your local librarian is a great place to start for specific titles.

One last thing. I read the first FIVE Harry Potter books out loud to Gabe over a few years. He tried to read the first one on his own while we were reading #5 but couldn't get far.
Then we gave him the Illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for Christmas. It had just come out and is an amazing and beautiful book illustrated by Jim Kay. He cruised right though it, and kept right on reading the non-illustrated versions and finished the whole series. Highly, highly recommend these beautiful books. Sadly, only the first two in the series have been released so we just have to wait patiently for one to be released each year. Check Costco around Christmas time for a great deal. (Although I did notice that the first one is a pretty good deal on Amazon right now.)

Hope you've found something helpful in this post. If you like it, please share it!
And let me know if you have any recommendations of these types of books.

Happy Reading!!

"Allow children to choose the books they wish to read to themselves, even if they don’t meet your high standards.” --Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook 

"Children’s books, even good picture books, are much richer than ordinary home or classroom conversation.” --Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook

"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him." --Maya Angelou 



 P.S. The links attached to book titles used above are mostly "Amazon Affiliate Links". They give me a tiny percentage of the purchase price if you use my link to buy a book. However, if you go to Amazon on your own, it won't hurt my feelings! ;) We usually like to check things out at the library before we decide to buy.