ON THE DAY I DIED

STORIES FROM THE GRAVE

BY

CANDACE FLEMING

Who doesn't love a good ghost story?
This book is literal 'ghost' stories.  The ghosts are the ones telling their stories to real live Mike Kowlaski.  Yes, it happens late at night at an old run down cemetary.

All the stories are skillfully bound together.  Mike is the individual chosen to hear and repeat the stories of these sad ghosts, thereby allowing them to 'move on'.  All the ghosts are teenagers from various periods in Chicago's history.  Yes, one even lived in the 20's during the reign of Scarface himself.  Capone makes a cameo in one of the stories.  Kids are going to love this story!!

Some of the stories are better than others.  More than one may bring a tear to your eye, one or two may have you rolling your eyes, burt all are sad.

The nine stories are spooky and delightful at the same time.  Readers will enjoy this compilation of eerie stories from Candace Fleming.

Lucas here, just want to say 

congratulations

to my friend Julia for winning the drawing contest held by

the authors of 

The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow.

To see Julia's awesome drawing, go to Fairday's blogsite

http://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/2012/06/drawing-contest-winner-announced.html?showComment=1340125927977#c7474191208827397638

Julia is a fellow 5th (now 6th) grader with me at Whitin Middle School.

Again,

congratulations Julia

and thank  you to Jess and Stephanie for giving us the opportunity to send in our drawings for the contest.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT STEVE COTLER

AND

CHEESIE MACK AT

http://stevecotler.com/

FOR A REVIEW OF THE LATEST CHEESIE MACK BOOK

CHECK OUT MOM'S BLOG AT

http://bookloversparadise.blogspot.com/

NIGHT BUDDIES AND THE PINEAPPLE CHEESECAKE SCARE

BY

SANDS HETHERINGTON

about the story

When pineapple cheesecakes start disappearing from the world's only Pineapple Cheesecake Factory across town, Crosley, a zany red crocodile, enlists the help of young John Degraffenreidt to straighten things out. In this adventure-fantasy, the unlikely pair sneaks out of John's house by becoming invisible, thanks to the I-ain't-here doodad Crosley uses from the bunch of whatchamacallits hanging on his belt.

On the way to the subway they get better acquainted, and John finds out the wacky reason Crosley is red, and also what happens if he gets any water on him. They get on the Night Folks Limited train and ride all the way to the Cheesecake Factory where they meet the giant manager, Big Foot Mae.

There is danger ahead, but the Night Buddies must stay with their "Program" (the Night Buddies word for Adventure) if the world's supply of pineapple cheesecakes counts for anything. And it surely does, especially to Crosley who is totally goofy about the things and never seems to get his fill.

MY REVIEW

What a delightfully fun story. A red crocodile living under the bed, best kind of monster a kid could have in his room. John Degraffenreidt is a young boy who does not want to sleep at night (parents, does this sound familiar?). John and his new friend , night buddie, Crosley the red crocodile, engage in a wonderful adventure. They are going to the only Pineapple Cheesecake factory to discover why the cheesecakes are disappearing.

This is a fantastic story, hopefully the first of many adventures with John and Crosley. It will certainly hold the interest of the young reader. Crosley has his own vocabulary that will keep the reader on his toes. This is a story full of imagination and fun!

GARDEN OF THE LOST SOULS

BOOK TWO

OF

FLIN'S DESTINY

about the book:

(from Amazon.com)

After Flin and Flowell get carried away inside the stomach of a giant jellyfish, Flin stumbles upon a leprechaun village just below the Earth's surface. A magical jadestone keeps this village, called Clover Cavern, alive with magic and hidden from others. This stone was once given to the leprechauns by Flin's great-grandfather, Hovgard Newby, hundreds of years earlier. When this precious jadestone is stolen, Flin is asked by Froggit, Head Leprechaun of Clover Cavern, to find it and save the village from death. While Flin is busy trying to find the stone, Flowell, one of his best friends, gets captured by Blade, an evil threat in the underworld, and must be rescued before it's too late.

MY REVIEW

This is the second book in Flin's Destiny series.  It is a middle grade book perfect for the young reader.  

There is a fantastic leprechaun village, Clover Cavern and Flin is recruited by Froggit, head leprechaun, to find a stolen jadestone.

This story is full of fun and adventures.  Appropriate for the middle grade student.  Characters are engaging and the story hold the readers attention.  The vocabulary is challenging but not too difficult.

If young readers enjoyed Cobble Cavern (and I know everyone did!) I strong encourage them to read Garden of Lost Souls.