The Abduction by Gordon Korman

Aiden works with the FBI in order to rescue his sister Meg, who was kidnapped.

Reviewed by Eric, age 10:

This book is about a family called the Falconers. This family is made up of a boy named Aiden, a girl named Meg, and John and Louise Falconer who just got out of jail so not too many people trust them. But one day after school a car comes by and takes Meg. The Falconer's do the best they can to get Meg back.

Cave of the Dark Wind by Dave Barry

While Peter is away from the island, James and the other Lost Boys insist on exploring a mysterious cave, despite Shining Pearl and Little Scallop's warning that it is a dangerous place, inhabited by a creature known as the Goat Taker.

Reviewed by Deanna, age 9:

The book I read was good because I think the author is very good at writing. In the beginning they find two pieces of the Blind Luck Treasure and they go on an adventure.

The Medusa Plot by Gordon Korman

Thirteen-year-old Dan Cahill and his older sister, Amy, thought they belonged to the world's most powerful family. They thought the hunt for 39 Clues leading to the source of that power was over. They even thought they'd won. But Amy and Dan were wrong.

Reviewed by Thomas, age 9:

It's definitely a good book. If you've not read all the other 39 Clues, it may be a bit confusing. It's excitingish. Well, it's only the first book - maybe in the second book it will be more exciting. I recommend it for ages 8 - 11.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Edward Tulane, a cold-hearted and proud toy rabbit, loves only himself until he is separated from the little girl who adores him and travels across the country, acquiring new owners and listening to their hopes, dreams, and histories.

Reviewed by Jessica, age 11:

This book is about a china rabbit named Edward. He got thrown into the sea because he had not loved his owner. A sailor picked him up and brought him in. Then Edward learned to love. Then he traveled with a hobo. Next, a boy picked him up and gave him to his dying sister. His head got cracked open at a restaurant. A toy maker fixed him. Finally Edward found Abilene (his first owner) again.

Nowhere girl by A.J. Paquette

Fair-skinned and blond-haired, 13-year-old Luchi was born in a Thai prison where her American mother was being held and she has never had any other home, but when her mother dies Luchi sets out into the world to search for the family and home she has always dreamed of.

Reviewed by Alaina, 11:

Nowhere Girl is about a girl named Luchi Ann who was born in the Khon Mueang Women's Prison. She has never gone out into the world, until now. Her mom died from a very deadly disease. It made the heat become pain, then blood, and then one day her mother was a black-and-white sketch. It made her tears gone, but also her smile, and so was her spark. The warden decided that Luchi should leave the prison. Luchi begged and for more time. The warden told Luchi that her nephew Kiet is driving to Bangkok and how he agreed to take her with him. She goes through many Adventures and great experiences. She goes through continents, customs, danger, and many more exciting adventures and the most important one of all. I think nowhere girl is an exciting adventure to read. It tells you about Thailand and the courage of a girl finding her one place in the world. I definitely recommend this book to everyone and people who like adventure.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

While vacationing with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters, ages four through twelve, share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother.

Reviewed by Elisa, age 10:

The four Penderwick sisters - Jane, Rosalind, Skye and Batty - are on their summer vacation at Arundel Hall. They have many adventures. A boy named Jeffrey has many adventures awaiting him.

The Rose Cottage Tales by Emily Bearn

Deep inside the broom cupboard of Rose Cottage, two mice live in great style. Tumtum and Nutmeg lead cozy and quiet lives, secretly looking after Arthur and Lucy, the disheveled human children of the cottage, never dreaming that so many exciting adventures will soon find them.

Reviewed by Savannah, age 12:

Tumtum and Nutmeg, though it did not appeal to me, was a cute story geared to 7, 8, and possibly 9 year olds. The book is broken into three stories of about eight chapters each. Each story is an action-packed adventure about two mice. It was not my kind of book because I like books that have lots of description, and this book hardly had any. It was semi-creative (yet cliché) and would make a good picture book. It includes a holiday story that would be a great alternative to the annual reading of The Night Before Christmas (which I've found to bore kids).

Sir Seth Thistlethwaite and the Soothsayer's Shoes by Richard Thake

The ruthless Prince Quincy has stolen the wise wizard's magical soothsaying shoes, and Sir Seth and Sir Ollie must retrieve them with the help of a saber-toothed sloth and a ghost king.

Reviewed by Adrienne, age 11:

Sir Seth Thistlethwaite and the Soothsayer's Shoes is probably the worst book I have ever read. In fact, it is. Here are three reasons why I disliked it so much:
1. The plotline was horrible
2. It was babyish.
3. Things happened a bit too rushed for me. I like books full of twists and turns.
But that is my opinion. There might be someone out there who will like it. Here's a brief summary about the book, and you can compare it with my reasons above: Sir Seth, Sir Ollie, and Shasta, Sir Seth's dog, set off to find and adventure. When they hear that some magic shoes have been stolen by an evil prince, they set off to find them, making new friends (including a ghost and a talking sloth) along the way.

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

Relates the fortunes of a shipwrecked family as they imaginatively adapt to life on an island abundantly inhabited by animal and plant life.

Reviewed by Peter, age 10:

A violent storm traps a family of six on a tropical island. The family survived for 10 years on the island. They built a treehouse and hunted for their food. Finally, a ship went by, but the family decided not to leave the island. They only sent the oldest son away.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

While going through the possessions of a deceased guest who owed them money, the mistress of the inn and her son find a treasure map that leads them to a pirate's fortune.

Reviewed by Robert, age 12:

Young Jim Hawkins is in a pickle. He is on Treasure Island. The double crosser John Silver is after the treasure. Ben Gann, a marooned man, has the treasure, and then in the end the treasure is gone!

Vespers Rising by Gordon Korman

Fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her younger brother Dan thought they could return to their regular lives when they found the 39 clues. But the Vespers, powerful enemies, will stop at nothing to get the clues. And with the Vespers rising, the world is in jeopardy.

Reviewed by Becca, 16:

I truly enjoyed reading the next book in the 39 Clues series. I have adored this series since I started reading it. Dan and Amy Cahill are part of the world's most powerful family, the Cahills. Cahills are being kidnapped from around the world by the Vespers. Dan and Amy have been allotted amounts of time to complete random assignments. If they do not complete the assignments, their captured friends will die. Amy and Dan must figure out a way to get their friends back and to figure out the Vespers' master plan before it is too late.

Wild Man Island by Will Hobbs

After fourteen-year-old Andy slips away from his kayaking group to visit the wilderness site of his archaeologist father's death, a storm strands him on Admiralty Island, Alaska, where he manages to survive, encounters unexpected animal and human inhabitants, and looks for traces of the earliest prehistoric immigrants to America.

Reviewed by David, age 12:

Wild Man Island was about this kid named Andy Galloway. In the book, on the final day of his kayaking trip, Andy travels to his father's funeral on his sea kayak. On Andy's way back to camp his kayak is flipped by a sea lion and he is forced to swim ashore. On Admiralty Island (the island which Andy swims ashore to, located in Alaska) Andy meets a wild man and that is why this book is called Wild Man Island.