Tyler Reynolds's Blog - Posts Tagged "kids-reviews"

This week I read a book by an eleven-year-old girl. Her name is Eva Sharma, and she wrote a fantasy adventure book as a project during the COVID-19 pandemic. WillowNot only that, but she's donating proceeds from the book to a non-profit that promotes better race relations! How awesome is that? My mom bought me the book, so here's my review:
This book pulled me right in. With an orphan and a factory/orphanage, it reminded me of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. The main character, Willow, certainly has to handle things herself, because the world the adults have created is kind of screwed up. I liked how something exciting happened every chapter, and how Willow is so attracted to nature. She's almost like a different kind of human being. She's solving a mystery too--about herself and her family. I highly recommend this book.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
AWESOME GIRL (Willow), TOOK ME TO A NEW WORLD, PANDEMIC (created because of the pandemic), or BECAUSE I'M LAZY (at 79 pages, it's a quick read)
Find the bingo card here:
https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

If you like spies, you'll like Spy School Secret Service by Stuart Gibbs. This is the 5th book in the series, but I had no trouble starting there. You're inside the head of the main character, a spy kid called Ben Ripley. His thoughts give you enough of an idea what happened in previous books that you might decide to check out the others. Even if you don't, this book is fun. The action takes place inside and under famous tourist sites in Washington D.C. like the White House, the Washington Monument, the Pentagon, and the Smithsonian.
The spy kid characters are fun and I was pretty invested in some of the relationships. I also liked that the main character wasn't actually good at fighting, so he had to emphasize other skills.
It takes all kinds to make a spy team, you know.
You learn some neat insider spy stuff like how to infiltrate a high security area and how to contact your team over a tapped phone line without getting them in trouble. And, like the best spy stories, the real question is "Who can you trust?" There's plenty of backstabbing and double-agent-ing among both the kids and the adults. So, watch your six.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
AWESOME GIRL (Ben's partner, Erica), I LEARNED SOMETHING, or HOW WE ROCK (the Dudes and I combine skills like this all the time!).
Find the bingo card here:
https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

This week I'm reviewing a true classic by Robert Louis Stevenson: Treasure Island!
I don't want to give anything away, but just the name tells you there is a treasure hidden on an island. And Jim Hawkins is a kid who's caught up in the middle of it.
Long John Silver befriends him and takes him on board a voyage to find the treasure. But can you really be friends with a pirate? Jim has both friends and enemies on the ship. And, when they get to the island, everybody starts double-crossing each other--well, not everybody. You'll have to read for yourself to find out who the good guys are.
Basically, if you've ever seen a pirate movie, this is what it was based on. And, to me, this is still the best story. Also, they talk like in "ye olde dayes", which adds to the atmosphere and didn't really slow me down. Get ready for blood-curdling chills and swashbuckling action!
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
HISTORICAL, BACK IN THE DAY, MEME-RELATED (there are a lot of pirate memes).
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

Take it from me, little kids are trouble. But, if you're up for it, check out my review of by Keith Robertson.
Find it here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
And get your own summer reading bingo card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

This week I review We Can't All Be Rattlesnakes by Patrick Jennings. It's a real eye-opener about what it's like to be the pet!
Find it here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
And get your own Summer Reading Bingo Card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

This week I review Hooky by Miriam Bonastre Tur. It's a novel-length manga and the first of a two book series about witches, secret destinies, and the battle for control of the world.
Find it here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
And get your own Summer Reading Bingo Card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

I keep coming back to the Book of Ember series. Read my review of The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau.
https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

I'll be reading 12 books over the summer and posting the reviews on The Dudes Adventure Chronicles website here:
https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

First book is The Castafiore Emerald, by Herge. It's a graphic novel mystery adventure starring Tintin!

Print your own bingo card and start reading!

https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

Read my review of Class Dismissed here:
https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

Print your own bingo card and start reading!

https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

#children #childrensbooks #kidsbook #kidsbooks #readingisfun #summerreading #readaloud #kidsreviews

I'm reviewing My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. It's an adventure in the great outdoors!
Read my review here:
https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

Print your own bingo card and start reading!

https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...

#children #childrensbooks #kidsbook #kidsbooks #readingisfun #summerreading #readaloud #kidsreviews