11 Birthdays

11 Birthdays, by Wendy Mass, is a book that seems, at least to me, to be a great book--except I couldn't place a genre to it. If I had to, I would assign the "Fantasy" genre. However, just to say it is hard to place does not mean it wasn't a great read. Amanda and Leo have the same birthday. They celebrate it every year, except for last year--when Leo said some hurtful things about Amanda. They stopped talking for an entire year--and now, the Friday of their birthday, doesn't seem to go away. Amanda's birthday happens again and again...but nobody seems to notice. Will Leo and Amanda be able to stop this? A few birthdays...Maybe, I could live with that. But ongoing? Read on in this classic book about friendship, trickery, and birthdays.
FastFacts:
Foul Language: None
Main Character in Danger: None
Violence: None
Great Kids Book Award! This book has been voted a Great Kids book because, while still having an interesting plot, it does not have bad language, major danger, or any violence.
To buy this book, click the cover image below:

Spellspam

Spellspam, by Alma Alexander, is one of those books that is a mix between two genres, and they were my two favorites: computer science and fantasy/magic. Thea has a unique ability to combine the two in the actual book--and do things like type in "find my aunt and take me where she is" into a simple word processor program, add a touch of magic, and get swirled into a place where her aunt is. A unique talent...but someone has hacked one of the only two supercomputers. They seem to have Thea's talent for magic + computers...because they send out messages that have magical powers. Don't read Spellspams on your email...or else!
FastFacts:
Foul Language: None
Main Character in danger: medium
Violence: mild
To buy this book, click the cover picture below:

The Blue Shoe

The Blue Shoe, by Townly, R is a funny little novel. It tells of a tale, in a mysterious land, of a Blue Shoe, ordered from a shoemaker, for a curious price, and when the owner never came back to pick it up, it became a legend of some sort. The single shoe, who would order that? Hab, the main character, gets sent to a mountain prison called Xexnax, where they have mined for a jewel. Sharing adventures with his father, his newfound friends, and finally, his old friend, Sophia, this book is a classic tale of Villainy, Thievery, Sorcery, and Shoes.
FastFacts:
Foul Language: None
Main Character in danger: Medium High
Violence: High
To buy this book, click the cover image below: