Entries Categorized as 'Older Readers'
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Mysteries, Older Readers, Review, Science Fiction
Tags:Animals, Chickens, Daniel Manus Pinkwater, Lizards, Scary
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Victor’s parents leave him at home with his sister, who quickly leaves with a bunch of her friends for a camping trip. He’s alone in the house and can do anything he wants: eat anchovy pizza, watch TV all night and build model planes on the dinner table. Victor meets a strange black man, who takes his pet chicken everywhere and goes under several names, with Charlie being the most prominent. Then, long after the TV stations stop broadcasting for the night, lizards take over the station and put on their own shows. Afterwards, Victor notices lizard music records, posters and advertisements all over his town. Victor thinks this is strangely connected to a movie he sees about Pod People from another planet who take over people one by one. He knows that Charlie holds the key to the whole mystery, but can Victor convince Charlie to tell him?
Lizard Music is probably one of Daniel Pinkwater’s weirdest books. Every little thing fits together and points to giant lizards. You may not want to read this if you’re not on good terms with reptiles. Otherwise, it’s pretty good, although I question Victor’s activities at home by himself. A thrilling story with many unusual twists and turns. Just don’t read it at night!
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Fiction, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Funny, Good Read Aloud, Scary, Thomas L. Tedrow
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Larry, Terry and Sherry Youngun are the children of Methodist minister Thomas Youngun. When a rabies epidemic hits Mansfield, Missouri, everyone is scared. Then Sherry is bitten by a rabid bat and must have medicine before it’s too late. Meanwhile, Terry and Larry are having trouble with a rich boy, Willie, who is doing mean things to the local packrat and then blaming the Younguns.
I always laugh when I read this book. The sequels are funny, too. The rabies part is probably too intense for younger readers, but luckily, The Younguns of Mansfield is good to read out loud. Unfortunately, this book is out of print, so you’ll have to buy it used.
Posted by Ruth
Categories: Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Incredibook!, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Animals, Donita K. Paul, DragonKeeper, Dragons, Funny
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A dragon meech egg is held captive with an urgent need for rescue. Held within the very center of the evil Risto’s stronghold, this will be no easy task. Lord Paladin, for reasons seemingly unknown, selects Kale, a former slave girl, to undertake the mission. Unused to adventure of any sort, she is joined by Dar and Leetu who promise to guide her along the way. But when something goes wrong, the quest complicates by the moment.
This has to be one of the best fantasy books I have ever read! I enjoyed every minute reading this book and I couldn’t put it down. The baby dragons are adorable in their own special way, and Dar is quite a character. Definitely a five star and a must-read! I’m looking forward to reading Donita K. Paul’s next book: DragonQuest.
Posted by Ruth
Categories: Adventure, Fiction, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Funny, Lloyd Alexander
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Vesper Holly is a rather precocious orphan from Philadelphia, and her guardians, Brinne and Aunt Mary, are swept into a whirlwind of adventure when Vesper finds the traces of an unfinished and, so far, unproved theory her late father had about a national legend in the small country of Illyria. Vesper is determined to investigate and, with Brinnie, heads for Illyria and becomes involved in far more than a mysterious legend. With an unwilling king, a rebel leader, and the great need for peace before a war breaks out, Vesper has her hands full…
Being the first of the Vesper Holly series, I think it’s one of the best. It has well developed characters and plot, and Brinnie’s witty writing style contains enough humor to keep you laughing. I enjoyed this book very much.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Adventure, Fiction, Mysteries, Older Readers, Review, Science Fiction
Tags:Jules Verne, Long Read
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Harry’s uncle, Professor Von Hardwigg, discovers an ancient parchment, written in runic. On translating the note, they discover that the message from Arne Saknussemm, a famous geologist, says that the earth is hollow and if you descend into Mount Sneffells, an extinct volcano in Iceland, you will be able to travel to the center of the earth! The professor and Harry set off immediately and hire a guide named Hans. The three descend into the crater of Sneffells and into the center of the earth.
Jules Verne wrote a lot of great science fiction novels, and although his scientific facts are a bit off in this one, it is still worth reading. The beginning is a little slow, but once you get past it, there’s plenty of excitement and mystery. All science fiction fans should read Journey to the Center of the Earth.
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