Tyler Reynolds's Blog - Posts Tagged "middle-grade"
Summer Reading 2020!
Online school is finally winding down. Now we'll have all the time we want to read what we want to read. I'll be posting reviews every week to help you find the best books.
Check out the awesome Dudes Summer Book Bingo card I created at:
https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
And, in case you're just getting around to reading the Dudes books, here are some suggestions for how my books could be used on your card:
Save the Dudes: TOOK ME TO A NEW WORLD (Sherwood Heights, man!), WHOA! (this is the sound you make when you read something that blows your mind)
Dudes Take Over: HOW WE ROCK (there’s an actual rock band scene in it, but it’s also how my friends rock in general–what about you?), SOMEONE READ IT TO ME (get your mom to read it or get the audiobook)
Summer of the Dudes: I LEARNED SOMETHING (about how to simulate an emergency, for instance), BECAUSE I’M LAZY (This is the shortest Dudes book)
Dudes in the Middle: EVIL TWIN (Ryan says it’s Connor, Connor says it’s Ryan), MEME-RELATED (pretty sure there are a lot of middle school memes that relate)
Dudes Dog Days: WHAT TO READ TO YOUR PET, IT’S NATURAL (Mt. Rainier camp out, Dude!)
Remember, you can only use each book once, no matter how many times you read it! And it has to be a book you read THIS summer.
If you've already read all the Dudes, don't worry. I'll be reading more books and making my suggestions here!
Check out the awesome Dudes Summer Book Bingo card I created at:
https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
And, in case you're just getting around to reading the Dudes books, here are some suggestions for how my books could be used on your card:
Save the Dudes: TOOK ME TO A NEW WORLD (Sherwood Heights, man!), WHOA! (this is the sound you make when you read something that blows your mind)
Dudes Take Over: HOW WE ROCK (there’s an actual rock band scene in it, but it’s also how my friends rock in general–what about you?), SOMEONE READ IT TO ME (get your mom to read it or get the audiobook)
Summer of the Dudes: I LEARNED SOMETHING (about how to simulate an emergency, for instance), BECAUSE I’M LAZY (This is the shortest Dudes book)
Dudes in the Middle: EVIL TWIN (Ryan says it’s Connor, Connor says it’s Ryan), MEME-RELATED (pretty sure there are a lot of middle school memes that relate)
Dudes Dog Days: WHAT TO READ TO YOUR PET, IT’S NATURAL (Mt. Rainier camp out, Dude!)
Remember, you can only use each book once, no matter how many times you read it! And it has to be a book you read THIS summer.
If you've already read all the Dudes, don't worry. I'll be reading more books and making my suggestions here!
Watch Your Back
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...
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...
The Plague versus COVID-19
My review today is about A Parcel of Patterns by Jill Paton Walsh. And I'll tell you right off that they talk in a weird old-fashioned way, which I love. Here's an example:
"It was not named abroad for many days. Though my father had called it Plague that struck down poor Edward Cooper..."
The story takes place in the real village of Eyam, England, in 1665. And everything that happened in the story is real: like how the Plague came in a package from London, where they also had Plague. And the people at Eyam (which was out in the country) decided to quarantine the whole village in order to protect the villages around them from the sickness. They miss their family and friends, and they set aside their plans, and they argue a lot about what is the right thing to do. And, if you've been listening to the grown-ups this summer, this'll all sound pretty familiar. Which is weird, 'cause in the 1600's they didn't have high tech medicine or the internet. The people of Eyam get their advice from their preachers, and their only medicines are herbs a local woman grows in her garden.
As far as sickness goes, Plague is way gross-er than COVID. People get these giant boils and fevers make them crazy enough to run out in the street naked. Then, when they look like they're getting better, they suddenly die! Yikes.
The Plague nearly wiped out the village, but they sacrificed a lot to keep it from reaching others, so I have to think they were heroes. If you want to learn about it, this is a fast read, despite the fancy language.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
PANDEMIC (obviously), HISTORICAL, BACK IN THE DAY, or TIME MACHINE, or BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY (because it is short).
Find the bingo card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
"It was not named abroad for many days. Though my father had called it Plague that struck down poor Edward Cooper..."
The story takes place in the real village of Eyam, England, in 1665. And everything that happened in the story is real: like how the Plague came in a package from London, where they also had Plague. And the people at Eyam (which was out in the country) decided to quarantine the whole village in order to protect the villages around them from the sickness. They miss their family and friends, and they set aside their plans, and they argue a lot about what is the right thing to do. And, if you've been listening to the grown-ups this summer, this'll all sound pretty familiar. Which is weird, 'cause in the 1600's they didn't have high tech medicine or the internet. The people of Eyam get their advice from their preachers, and their only medicines are herbs a local woman grows in her garden.
As far as sickness goes, Plague is way gross-er than COVID. People get these giant boils and fevers make them crazy enough to run out in the street naked. Then, when they look like they're getting better, they suddenly die! Yikes.
The Plague nearly wiped out the village, but they sacrificed a lot to keep it from reaching others, so I have to think they were heroes. If you want to learn about it, this is a fast read, despite the fancy language.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
PANDEMIC (obviously), HISTORICAL, BACK IN THE DAY, or TIME MACHINE, or BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY (because it is short).
Find the bingo card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
Epic Weird!
Last year, I recommended The Adventures of Odysseus. That's a classic road trip, of course. Well, now I want to introduce you to a more wacky road trip book: The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization, by Daniel Pinkwater.
Neddie is a kid in the 1940's whose family moves from Chicago to Hollywood, California by train (with a car full of canaries!)
Right away he collects a secret Native American talisman and meets a ghost of a bellboy (which is a job kids used to have). And there are these fat aliens at the donut shop...Okay, so this book is completely weird. But Neddie has to save the world and it all comes together.
The thing is, with all this stuff coming at him, Neddie can handle it because his whole childhood reading adventure novels has prepared him. Plus, he meets some awesome friends (who will continue to have strange adventures in later books). And he has a strong sense of responsibility for the world and his part in it--which makes him the kind of hero I like to read about!
If you have an adult who will read to you, get them to read this book out loud. It is hilarious to see your mom shocked and confused when she turns the page and something really unexpected happens!
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
RANDOM HUMOR, WHOA!, BACK IN THE DAY, SOMEONE READ IT TO ME, and TOTAL CRACK (it will crack your brain).
Find the Bingo card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
Neddie is a kid in the 1940's whose family moves from Chicago to Hollywood, California by train (with a car full of canaries!)
Right away he collects a secret Native American talisman and meets a ghost of a bellboy (which is a job kids used to have). And there are these fat aliens at the donut shop...Okay, so this book is completely weird. But Neddie has to save the world and it all comes together.
The thing is, with all this stuff coming at him, Neddie can handle it because his whole childhood reading adventure novels has prepared him. Plus, he meets some awesome friends (who will continue to have strange adventures in later books). And he has a strong sense of responsibility for the world and his part in it--which makes him the kind of hero I like to read about!
If you have an adult who will read to you, get them to read this book out loud. It is hilarious to see your mom shocked and confused when she turns the page and something really unexpected happens!
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
RANDOM HUMOR, WHOA!, BACK IN THE DAY, SOMEONE READ IT TO ME, and TOTAL CRACK (it will crack your brain).
Find the Bingo card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
This Land Was Their Land
This week I'm reviewing In the Shadow of the Mammoth by Patricia Nikolina Clark. This book is about the time and the people that lived here in North America 12,000 years ago! The author was inspired by real archaeological finds in Washington State near where I live. The story is fiction, but there are a bunch of scientists who say this is really, maybe how these prehistoric people could have lived. Anyway, the story is about a boy named Zol who is 11 and about to become a mammoth hunter for the tribe. Only he's scared because his dad was killed that way.
In the book, Zol and his friend, Tungo, live in the shadow of the ice-age glaciers. And they do exciting stuff like practice spear-throwing and get attacked by a wolf and a saber-toothed cat. They hunt and fish and gather for every morsel of food. And they make their own stuff, like weapons and a birdcage for when Zol tames a crow. I had the most fun reading this book and imagining how things were! You're gonna love it.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
HISTORICAL (although it's actually prehistory), TIME MACHINE (because this is where I'd go if I had one), BACK IN THE DAY, I LEARNED SOMETHING, and IT'S NATURAL.
Find the Bingo card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
In the book, Zol and his friend, Tungo, live in the shadow of the ice-age glaciers. And they do exciting stuff like practice spear-throwing and get attacked by a wolf and a saber-toothed cat. They hunt and fish and gather for every morsel of food. And they make their own stuff, like weapons and a birdcage for when Zol tames a crow. I had the most fun reading this book and imagining how things were! You're gonna love it.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
HISTORICAL (although it's actually prehistory), TIME MACHINE (because this is where I'd go if I had one), BACK IN THE DAY, I LEARNED SOMETHING, and IT'S NATURAL.
Find the Bingo card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
Battle of the Evil Twins!
In The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett, Miles Murphy is all set to be the celebrated prankster of his new school. The only problem is the school already has a master prankster--and he's better than Miles (or is he?)!
Get ready for an all out prank war.
I loved this book for two reasons:
1) We Dudes love a good prank, and these pranks are original and funny.
2) The villain. The principal is the butt of some of the pranks. He also has it in for Miles, which makes him a true enemy. He's clueless and funny, but still dangerous, so none of the pranks seem like they are just mean.
Also, there are cows. The setting is this weird town that's known for its cows. And there are tidbits of funny cow info throughout the book. To me this is a mark of good writing--not cows, I mean--but the fact that each scene is funny or important. You never feel like you're waiting around for the good stuff to happen, 'cause it's all good! So, kudos to Mac Barnett. Also, the pictures by Kevin Cornell really add to the story.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
EVIL TWIN (who is the other prankster and how does he keep defeating Miles?), RANDOM HUMOR (cows!), HOW WE ROCK (Dudes love a prank), I LEARNED SOMETHING (about cows).
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
Get ready for an all out prank war.
I loved this book for two reasons:
1) We Dudes love a good prank, and these pranks are original and funny.
2) The villain. The principal is the butt of some of the pranks. He also has it in for Miles, which makes him a true enemy. He's clueless and funny, but still dangerous, so none of the pranks seem like they are just mean.
Also, there are cows. The setting is this weird town that's known for its cows. And there are tidbits of funny cow info throughout the book. To me this is a mark of good writing--not cows, I mean--but the fact that each scene is funny or important. You never feel like you're waiting around for the good stuff to happen, 'cause it's all good! So, kudos to Mac Barnett. Also, the pictures by Kevin Cornell really add to the story.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
EVIL TWIN (who is the other prankster and how does he keep defeating Miles?), RANDOM HUMOR (cows!), HOW WE ROCK (Dudes love a prank), I LEARNED SOMETHING (about cows).
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
Obsessed Little Brother? I Can Relate.
This week I read Sophie Washington: The Gamer by Tonya Duncan Ellis. This book is a little young for me, but it was a fast read, if you're looking for something to quick finish up your summer reading.
Your parents will love it because it's about giving up screen time for Lent. (That's a thing some churches do. Ryan and Connor tried giving up fighting once, but it didn't work out.)
Anyway, Sophie's little brother, Cole, gives up video games, and Sophie gives up tattling. You can imagine about how well that works out. Like a lot of siblings, Sophie and Cole are at odds until a dog comes into the picture, and suddenly they have to work together. Sophie even tries to help Cole when he screws up.
There is also some girl stuff--relationships at school. Not my cup of tea, just saying. But Teresa would be all over it. I thought Sophie was gonna be one of those goody-good, kiss-up-to-the-parents kind of girls. But she actually had a lot going on. And I could totally relate to her problems with her little brother (and her new dog). Cole is even into art, like Jayden! It doesn't pay to be the oldest.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
SIBLINGS TEAM-UP, BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY, AWESOME GIRL, VIDEO GAME, and WHAT TO READ TO YOUR PET.
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
Your parents will love it because it's about giving up screen time for Lent. (That's a thing some churches do. Ryan and Connor tried giving up fighting once, but it didn't work out.)
Anyway, Sophie's little brother, Cole, gives up video games, and Sophie gives up tattling. You can imagine about how well that works out. Like a lot of siblings, Sophie and Cole are at odds until a dog comes into the picture, and suddenly they have to work together. Sophie even tries to help Cole when he screws up.
There is also some girl stuff--relationships at school. Not my cup of tea, just saying. But Teresa would be all over it. I thought Sophie was gonna be one of those goody-good, kiss-up-to-the-parents kind of girls. But she actually had a lot going on. And I could totally relate to her problems with her little brother (and her new dog). Cole is even into art, like Jayden! It doesn't pay to be the oldest.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies:
SIBLINGS TEAM-UP, BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY, AWESOME GIRL, VIDEO GAME, and WHAT TO READ TO YOUR PET.
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
A Minecraft Story
This week I'm reviewing Baby Zeke: The diary of a chicken jockey (an unofficial Minecraft autobiography). I got into this book because of Mark Sanderlin (the guy who reads the Dudes audiobooks). He is also the voice actor for the Baby Zeke series of Minecraft stories, so I checked them out. Let me tell you, first, that it's much cheaper to buy this series in two ebook volumes The Complete Baby Zeke: The Diary of a Chicken Jockey: Books 1 to 9: An Unofficial Minecraft Book and The Complete Baby Zeke: The Diary of a Chicken Jockey: Books 10 to 12: An Unofficial Minecraft Book.
The first book by itself is really short--under a hundred pages in paperback, and you'll feel like you want more. To me it didn't feel like a whole story but only the beginning of the story. The book collections give you a whole lot more story for way cheaper than buying the individual books. You can get them as ebook or audiobook sets or printed and merged into one fat paperback. Of course, I recommend you get the multi-volume set in audiobook because Mark Sanderlin is awesome!
The story is about a baby zombie who doesn't know why he's different from other zombies or even how he came to be. Luckily, he soon makes friends with other Minecraft characters, like an adult zombie and a chicken who help him discover his abilities and take part in adventures.
These books are really aimed at reluctant readers like Connor or younger readers, like my little brother, Jayden. But the adventures are exciting, and I was anxious to learn more after the first book. Despite Zeke being a baby, there is plenty of Minecraft violence especially from marauding players (who, remember, are kids like you and me). It's a whole new perspective.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies: BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY, MEME RELATED, VIDEO GAME, WHAT TO READ TO YOUR PET (if your pet is a chicken).
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
The first book by itself is really short--under a hundred pages in paperback, and you'll feel like you want more. To me it didn't feel like a whole story but only the beginning of the story. The book collections give you a whole lot more story for way cheaper than buying the individual books. You can get them as ebook or audiobook sets or printed and merged into one fat paperback. Of course, I recommend you get the multi-volume set in audiobook because Mark Sanderlin is awesome!
The story is about a baby zombie who doesn't know why he's different from other zombies or even how he came to be. Luckily, he soon makes friends with other Minecraft characters, like an adult zombie and a chicken who help him discover his abilities and take part in adventures.
These books are really aimed at reluctant readers like Connor or younger readers, like my little brother, Jayden. But the adventures are exciting, and I was anxious to learn more after the first book. Despite Zeke being a baby, there is plenty of Minecraft violence especially from marauding players (who, remember, are kids like you and me). It's a whole new perspective.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies: BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY, MEME RELATED, VIDEO GAME, WHAT TO READ TO YOUR PET (if your pet is a chicken).
Find the Bingo card and see how I'm filling out my card here: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
Summer Reading Bingo 2021
Dude! It's finally here!
The end of this pandemic-wacky school year is finally here. I can't wait to leave behind app-based education and teacher-approved books and sit back with some awesome summer reading!
Of course, I'll be hosting Dude-a Rrific Summer Reading Bingo again. You can download and print the bingo card for this year at the Dudes website: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
If you read a Dudes book for the first time, you can mark a spot on your bingo card, but there are so many other books too. And you need 5 to win. That's why I offer reviews of what I've been reading. (You can also find previous reviews on the website or in earlier posts of this blog.) Don't worry, I'll give you a Dude's point of view.
Actually, my school isn't quite over yet, but I got my first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine last week and had to wait the required 15 minutes after, so I couldn't really help getting started on a good book:
The Secrets of Alaburg, by Greg Walters.
This book is translated from German. In fact, it's billed as the "German Harry Potter", and I would say it is not that. But it is long (488 pages - which is not a problem for me), and there is a magic school, and there is a crew of classmates who live together and struggle to pass their classes and develop their magic skills. Oh, and there is a magic tournament!
On the other hand, outside of this hidden school in the mountains, there is not a modern muggle world like ours. Instead, there is a medieval world of hamlets and dark forests where a new evil menace is growing.
The main character, Bryn, and his friends are in training to take on this menace, so, awesome.
I really liked the diverse group of misfits that become Bryn's friends--a human (Bryn), a dwarf, an orc, and a half-fairy. (Like the Dudes, they don't really have girls who are friends -- at least in this first book). But there is a girl Bryn "like-likes" who needs to be rescued.
The kids have to learn to work their different skills together to be effective in battles. And I liked the idea that the school is meant to combat racism (like between the magical races and humans) but, like all schools, it sometimes makes things worse.
The second book in the series is coming on September 1, and I'm looking forward to it!
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies: THE OLD COUNTRY, NOT A HUMAN STORY (except for Bryn), NOT WHAT I EXPECTED (because, even though it is Hogwarts-like, it is pretty different).
I'll be sending out another review every Friday of the summer. But I might be busy this weekend what with the Welcome Summer Block Party and all. (The Dudes and I are building a tank!) Hope you all have a Memorial Day blast too!
The end of this pandemic-wacky school year is finally here. I can't wait to leave behind app-based education and teacher-approved books and sit back with some awesome summer reading!
Of course, I'll be hosting Dude-a Rrific Summer Reading Bingo again. You can download and print the bingo card for this year at the Dudes website: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
If you read a Dudes book for the first time, you can mark a spot on your bingo card, but there are so many other books too. And you need 5 to win. That's why I offer reviews of what I've been reading. (You can also find previous reviews on the website or in earlier posts of this blog.) Don't worry, I'll give you a Dude's point of view.
Actually, my school isn't quite over yet, but I got my first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine last week and had to wait the required 15 minutes after, so I couldn't really help getting started on a good book:
The Secrets of Alaburg, by Greg Walters.
This book is translated from German. In fact, it's billed as the "German Harry Potter", and I would say it is not that. But it is long (488 pages - which is not a problem for me), and there is a magic school, and there is a crew of classmates who live together and struggle to pass their classes and develop their magic skills. Oh, and there is a magic tournament!
On the other hand, outside of this hidden school in the mountains, there is not a modern muggle world like ours. Instead, there is a medieval world of hamlets and dark forests where a new evil menace is growing.
The main character, Bryn, and his friends are in training to take on this menace, so, awesome.
I really liked the diverse group of misfits that become Bryn's friends--a human (Bryn), a dwarf, an orc, and a half-fairy. (Like the Dudes, they don't really have girls who are friends -- at least in this first book). But there is a girl Bryn "like-likes" who needs to be rescued.
The kids have to learn to work their different skills together to be effective in battles. And I liked the idea that the school is meant to combat racism (like between the magical races and humans) but, like all schools, it sometimes makes things worse.
The second book in the series is coming on September 1, and I'm looking forward to it!
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies: THE OLD COUNTRY, NOT A HUMAN STORY (except for Bryn), NOT WHAT I EXPECTED (because, even though it is Hogwarts-like, it is pretty different).
I'll be sending out another review every Friday of the summer. But I might be busy this weekend what with the Welcome Summer Block Party and all. (The Dudes and I are building a tank!) Hope you all have a Memorial Day blast too!
Magic That's Not and a Crazy Girl!
I have two more weeks of school, so, in my free time, I escaped it by jumping into the year 1491 and a spooky old castle in Midnight Magic by Avi. The main character is a magician's apprentice, Fabrizio. Everybody believes his master's tricks are real sorcery, so he's in trouble (because sorcery is illegal back then). The only way out is to get rid of a ghost so the king's daughter can marry.
Of course, the king's daughter is one of those girls, like Teresa, who is both smart and crazy and has her own scheme going. And Fabrizio is caught in the middle. There are hidden passages, secret identities, and wailing spirits.
The people in this book were great. I loved the sly humor whenever Fabrizio and his master teased each other. And the way Fabrizio balanced sucking up to powerful people and unnerving them with his sleight of hand.
Even Fabrizio couldn't decide whether this ghost was real or, as his master says, there must be a rational explanation. So it was a good mystery right down to the last page.
I would love to spend more time with these characters, and, if you're interested, there's a prequel to Midnight Magic called Murder at Midnight.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies: CAN YOU SEE IT? (can't beat the spooky castle/hidden passageways setting), THE OLD COUNTRY, THEY TALK WEIRD (in ye olde medieval way), CONTRAPTIONS (read it and you'll see), ONE WORD TITLE OR AUTHOR (Avi), GODS AND GHOSTS (obviously), ITS ABOUT TIME ('cause it takes you back to the old days).
You can download and print the bingo card for this year at the Dudes website: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
See you next week! Happy Reading!
Of course, the king's daughter is one of those girls, like Teresa, who is both smart and crazy and has her own scheme going. And Fabrizio is caught in the middle. There are hidden passages, secret identities, and wailing spirits.
The people in this book were great. I loved the sly humor whenever Fabrizio and his master teased each other. And the way Fabrizio balanced sucking up to powerful people and unnerving them with his sleight of hand.
Even Fabrizio couldn't decide whether this ghost was real or, as his master says, there must be a rational explanation. So it was a good mystery right down to the last page.
I would love to spend more time with these characters, and, if you're interested, there's a prequel to Midnight Magic called Murder at Midnight.
On the Dudes Summer Book Bingo card, here's how this book qualifies: CAN YOU SEE IT? (can't beat the spooky castle/hidden passageways setting), THE OLD COUNTRY, THEY TALK WEIRD (in ye olde medieval way), CONTRAPTIONS (read it and you'll see), ONE WORD TITLE OR AUTHOR (Avi), GODS AND GHOSTS (obviously), ITS ABOUT TIME ('cause it takes you back to the old days).
You can download and print the bingo card for this year at the Dudes website: https://emilykayjohnson.com/TheDudesC...
See you next week! Happy Reading!
