Reviews (2)

If you were a writer, this is what you'd do
This book begins with the statement that "Melia's mother was a writer,' and Melia wants to be one, too.Her mother explains to her the kind of things she would do if she were a writer.She would work with words and think of the right ones to use.She would *show* a story, not tell about it.She would let the storyline gell in her mind before writing it down.Melia's mother also gives her some tips on how to get started and how to get ideas from the world around her. By the end of the book, Melia practices doing each task and is on her way to becoming a writer.
If I Were A Writer
This story is about a young girl who's mother is a writer.The girl watches her mother work and picks up pointers on things that writers do.The girl then starts some writing of her own.As a teacher, I have foundthat, this book inspires my students to become writers and it is wonderfulto use with "writer's workshop." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (107)

The Big Bad Book
I thought The House on Hackman's Hill was one of the worst books I've ever read.
The Mystery Mummy
These past few days I have been reading the book House on Hackman's Hill.I give this book five stars; it's really good. Not Scary
Jeff and his cousin Debbie are visiting their grandparents.While out for a walk one day they come across a house on a hill that looks creepy and deserted.They ask their grandparents about it and their grandfather tells them it's the Hackman's House and it's supposely haunted by a mummy and that theres a reward for whoever finds it.Yet their grandmother won't let him say anymore about it.So they go to visit Old Mister Karsten to get the full story on the house.Mr Karsten knows because his mother worked for Mr.Hackman as a Secretary and they lived with him when Mr.Karsten was a boy.Mr.Karsten tells them about the delivery of the Mummy.He also tells them of the curse of the Pharoh Anubis who takes revenge on anyone who disturbs the Egpytian tombs.Yet Jeff does'nt beleive the stories and he wants the reward for his dad.So he talks his cousin into going to the Hackman House with him to search for the Mummy.Yet they get locked inside with a very angry Anubis. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Horror    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fantasy fiction    5. Horror & Ghost Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Reviews (15)

Murder at camp

Nixon fan, but . . . .
I used to read every Nixon book I could get my hands on at the library a long time ago. I still read YA books from time to time (esp as I'd like to write them), and was pleased to see there were some newer ones than those I remembered. I picked this up to give it a shot. The writing is fine, as I did want to keep reading it. But it started better than it ended. There were moments in the beginning that I laughed out loud at. I would have liked her to explore Emily's relationship with her friends more though and I felt the climax was seriously rushed. I also would have liked to see Emily's family's reactions to everything that happened. It was enjoyable, but the realtionships could have been worked through better. I'm a hopeless romantic, so I wish they'd done a bit more with Maxwell, but the promising start kind of tapered off by the end. Maybe it could have just used an extra chapter. I'd recommend some of Nixon's older mysteries before this one. But this wasn't bad.

ehh...
This book is ok, not to good and not too bad. The parts with the runes and Loki were particularly strange. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camps    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Murder    7. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    8. Nightmares    9. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Reviews (4)

AWESOME!(...)
This is the best book i have ever read and it is very exiting packed with adventures and friends to learn.i was so exited when i read almost every page. the only bad part was at the end when the book didn't tell you who the spy was.

the orphan train adventures: a dangerous promise
i thnk this was a good book except for the fact that at the ending it did not tell who the spy was it left the reader hanging too much but overall it was good like i said the ending was bad when it did not tell who the spy was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great resource!
As an educator of upper elementary students, I think the whole Orphan Train Adventures series is outstanding!It tells a tale while weaving in historical events.It makes learning history more interesting because the stories are told from a young person's point of view! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Civil War, 1861-1865    4. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    5. Fiction    6. Historical - United States - Civil War    7. History    8. Juvenile fiction    9. Missouri    10. Social Issues - General    11. Social Situations - General    12. United States    13. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Reviews (1)

Charming illustrations and amusing text
My daughters are now in college, but sometimes will respond to a quesiton with, "Beats Me, Claude."We still can quote some of the lines from this wonderfully written and illustrated book which is part of a series.I purchased it for my daughters as a surprise Christmas gift! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Fiction    4. Frontier and pioneer life    5. General    6. Humorous stories    7. English literature: essays, letters & other non-fiction prose works    8. English literature: literary criticism   

Reviews (3)

Circle of LovebySahil Rajvanshi
This story is about a 19 year old girl name Frances Mary Kelly.She lives in Kansas.She is a school teacher.She knows a man name Johnny.They go to the church together.One day she met up her friend, Andrew.He wanted her to take a boy name Stefan to New York. So she went to the store to buy things for her trip.She surprised Johnny because he didn't know about her trip to New York.She boarded the train with Stefan to New York.When they got there, Stefan was very happy to see his aunt and uncle. circle of love
This story is aboout a 19 year old girl namw Frances Mary Kelly. She lives in Ksansas. She a schoolteacher. She know a man name Jonney. They do alot of thing together. One of the thing that they do is that they go to the church together. One day she met up with an old friend. He wanted her to take a boy to New York. So she went to the store and got a few thing for her trip. She surprise Jonney because he didn't know about this. So she boarded the train to New York. When they got there he was very happy to be with his aunt and uncle. Then shee met a woman name Mrs.hunter. She ask her if she can see her old neighborhood. When she got there she was wondering what happen

A Sad Book
I thought this was I great but sad book. It is about Frances Mary that rides the train from New York to Missouri on the train that took her and her brothers and her sisters to there foster parents. On her way home shetakes 30 orphansto missouri to be adopted. This is a story of bothadventure and tradigy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    4. Fiction    5. Historical - United States - 19th Century    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Orphan trains    8. Orphans    9. People & Places - United States    10. Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / United States   

Reviews (7)

The adventure continues!
"Caught In The Act" continues the story of the six Kelly children that were were sent away to get adopted by new families because their mother feels that she cannot afford to keep them. I read the first book in the series called "A Family Apart" and it was about the children getting adopted by new families and the second part was about Frances Kelly's adventures with her family. This book talks about how Michael Kelly is doing with the Friedrichs. Mike's main concern is that he believes that the Friedrichs are hiding something from him. He thinks this because he overheard a conversation about somebody named Ulrich. Mike's opinion is that Mr. Friedrich killed him. The story is all about Mike's adventure. MYSTERIOUSSEEKS!....
Caught in the Act is about a boy, Mike Kelly, who is sent on the Orphan Train but, unfortunately he is left with the Friedrichs. This German family moved to the U.S. to flee from someone or something. This fled turns to turmoil which causes Mike head to spin which might lead to be beaten or be the last victim of three or least he thinks. If you like suspense, mysteries, conflicts, abrupt uproars,or just plain old horror/ questionable murder books you shoulid read this book.

a Caught in the Act review
Michael Patrick Kelly, age 11, is one of his five brothers and sisters who are being sent west on an orphan train by their Ma so they can live a better life than they've had working on the streets of New York City. While his brothers and sisters are placed in good homes, Mike finds life difficult with the family he has been adopted into, especially since he had been a pickpocket out of necessity in New York and going west had been his only other choice besides being sent to Tombs Prison. Mr Friedrich, the father, believes that Mike is nothing but trouble and beats him whenever his temper rises. Gunter, the 13 yr. old who hates Mike and would like to see him sent back to NY and Tombs Prison,tries everything he can to get him in trouble. Most of the time, he succeeds, but Mike remains determined and stays with them despite Gunter's efforts. Mrs.Friedrich is a motherly woman who gladly welcomes his placement in their family, and Mike finds a true friend in Reuben, the hired hand, and Marta, who is a housekeeper for the Friedrichs. While Mike is in the wagon on the way to his new home, he overhears a whispered conversation about a man named Ulrich that disappeared. Apparently, Mr.Friedrich thinks that Mike is just like Ulrich and that he should be "taken care of". As the days pass, Mike hears more tidbits of conversation and believes that Mr. Friedrich has killed Ulrich and that he is afraid someone is going to find his out secret. Mike tries to pry more information loose out of Marta, but she only hints that she knows something which does not need concern him. When Reuben disappears after a fight with Mr.Friedrich, Mike can only fear the worst, and later while in the woods he spies a freshly dug patch of dirt. And then on a trip to St. Joseph, Missouri, he openly tells the people at the general store that Reuben is gone and that he suspects Mr.Friedrich of his murder.What will happen next to Mike--Will he find Reuben?And who was Ulrich? Read this 2nd book in the Orphan Train Quartet by Joan Lowery Nixon to find out the happy ending to Mike's story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    4. Farm life    5. Fiction    6. Foster home care    7. Historical - United States - 19th Century    8. Historical - United States - General    9. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Fiction    4. Frontier and pioneer life    5. General    6. Humorous stories   

Reviews (28)

This Book Is Mysterious, Scary, And Great

Searching for a good book? Try Search for the Shadowman
12/08/04
A fun way to learn to do research
An excellent mystery for 10 to 12 year olds. It shows how to research via the Internet as well as libraries.In addition it is a great introduction to genealogy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Mysteries / Detective    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Family - General    4. Family life    5. Fiction    6. Genealogy    7. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    8. Mystery and detective stories    9. Science & Technology - Computers    10. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (10)

A Secret Language
When Mr.Wakefield gets home from work,he teaches the twins Ithing[I don't understand it,myself] They are using it at Guidio's Pizza Palace,when Caroline Pierce walks in and wants to know what they are talking about.Mr.Wakefield informs her it is family matters.Jessica talks Ithing all over school and makes Lila[The Spoiled Brat of the Unicorns] cross. She is having a party and invites everyone,except the twins. Jessica spills Ithing,after Elizabeth and Jessica promised Mr.Wakefield not to tell the secret langauge.Even the new teacher picks it up.

Will they break their promise??
It seems the Orphan Train shares alot of titles with Sweet Valley Twins!!!LOL.I am reviewing Sweet Valley..Jessica and Elizabeth,twins,learn a secret language called Ithig.Their dad has taught it to them,as something he can share with his special twin daughters.They promise not to teach the language to anyone,but this makes their friends at school very cross!!!!!!

Ithig??????!!
Mr.Ned Wakefield teaches Jessica and Elizabeth,his twin daughters,a secret language called Ithig(The ..word?..ithig is placed between syllables).The two do their best to keep the language a secret but their friends start acting like brats,feeling hapless that the secret will not be shared with them.Soon,the language is all around school!!Uh-oh! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Civil War,1861-1865    4. Civil War, 1861-1865    5. Fiction    6. General    7. History    8. Juvenile fiction    9. Missouri    10. Spies    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (1)

Fabulous - every family with small children should own!
This book is the cutest book!Excellent book to explain to children 3-6 years old an often uncomfortable topic.It is a great way to open communication between children and parents with great text and preciouspictures. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Kindergarten    2. Christianity - Christian Life - Parenting    3. Health & Daily Living - Sexuality & Pregnancy    4. Inspirational - Catholic    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Pregnancy & Childbirth    7. Preschool Informational Books    8. Preschool Religion    9. Religion - Christianity - General    10. Religion - Classic Works    11. Religion: general   

Reviews (5)

Lucy Gets Her Wish
In 1866, Lucy's mom died.Lucy was living in the streets of New York City.Then she went on the orphan train.She wanted to find parents and a little sister.At the first stop, no one picked her as a daughter.Then, at the second stop, Mr. Snapes picked Lucy.She got a sister but she was mentally retarded.Lucy almost got her wish.She was happy because she had a mom, dad and little sister.It was a good book.Anyone could enjoy this book.
"Lucy's Wish" touched my heart.
This is a little story that can touch your heart.It is about a little orphan whose mother has died.Lucy learns of the Orphan Train through a friend and wishes for a little sister and a kind mother and father.Lucymeets two friends on the Orphan Train, a Princess and Daisy.All threefind families, but will Lucy get her wish?This reader spent most of onenight reading the book until she finished and learned the answer to thatquestion.

It was kind of sad but do you think it will turn out happy?
This happens in the year 1866.In a little alley in New York City, lay a ten-year-old girl named Lucy Amanda Griggs.She had no mom, she died ofcholera.She had no dad either, he died in a car accident.One of Lucy'sold friends, Joey, told her about the Orphan Train.He said,"TheOrphan Train takes orphans to find new parents."Eversince shebecame an orphan Lucy wanted a little sister, a mom, and a dad.So, Joeytells her where the Orphan Train is and she goes on.On the train shewonders,"Will I be chosen?Will anyone want me?"I wouldrecommend this book if you liked the Orphan Train. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    4. Fiction    5. Historical - General    6. Historical - United States - 19th Century    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Orphan trains    9. Orphans    10. Sisters    11. Social Issues - Special Needs    12. Social Situations - Special Needs    13. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Orphans & Foster Homes   

Reviews (3)

If you say so,Claude
I like this book because it has good pictures.
If you say so,Claude
I like this book because it has good pictures.
If You Say So, Claude
This book is hilarious.Shirley and Claude decide to leave Colorado and go to Texas. They have heard that Texas is great.The book has four chapters, and each one represents a different region of Texas. The chapterdescribes the physical characteristics of each region along with theanimals commanly found there. This book is great for a Texas unit or justfor a good laugh! Kids love it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 1-2    2. Fiction    3. Frontier and pioneer life    4. Humorous stories    5. Texas   

Reviews (4)

David's Search/Our Find
I used this book as part of my ESL curriculum.I had two 5th grade boys share the reading of David's Search with me.It introduced a lot of vocabulary but more than that, it's portrayal of an alienated young man experiencing racial prejudice was especially touching and pertinent to many of the children with whom I work.The boys became engrossed with the story and ultimately wanted to read it themselves without my assistance.I got shut out of our reading group. The story spoke to my students...and to me.The book is especially well written, as are all of the Orphan Train series books I have encountered. Although the story is appropriate for 5th grade and above, the students do not need a 5th grade reading ability to read it.It is especially appropriate for less developed readers for this reason.

A Difficult Decision
It is 1866, and twelve year old Will Scott is not happy to be on the Orphan Train. That is because he is not an orphan .He has a father,Jesse, who is a circus performer. But Jesse tells Will he will have a better family and a better life out west. Will is placed with kindly Mr. and Mrs. Wallace. Will assists Dr. Wallace on his rounds of local farms and finds he is very good at helping people that are sick or hurt. Still, Will misses his father terribly. Then one night Jesse's circus comes to town and Will needs to make a big decision. Will's Choice is a great book for one reason. It teaches about important things in life such as love. It does this by showing us that Will has to choose whether to go back with his father, who originaly dumped him, or stay with the loving Wallaces. I recomend this book cause it has a very important message for all of us.

Orphan Train Children:David's Search
Young David is sent by his friend, Mickey, to join the Orphan Train and thus escapes the New York streets where they are homeless.David is reluctantly adopted by a childless couple who want free workers for their farm.He is worked hard and they are miserly.He befriends Amos, a formerslave, who works on the farm.The KKK moves in and threatens the familyfor employing and paying a negro.Amos moves on westward and David stays,winning the grudging respect of his adoptive parents. Historical detailseems accurate and story is good, with black and white illustrations. Recomended for 5th graders, and teachers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    5. Fiction    6. Historical - United States - 19th Century    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Ku-Klux Klan    9. Orphan trains    10. Orphans    11. Social Issues - General    12. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Orphans & Foster Homes   

Reviews (40)

Idaho teen bookclub review
This book was not up to the reading standards of the Book Bandits teen bookclub in Meridian, Idaho.There was no empathy between readers and the characters, the plot was totally predictable, the characters were not developed fully, and the entire story did not capture the attention of the readers.The cover art wasn't very compelling either.The group suggests that you read Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew stories as a mystery alternative.

The Haunting,
Do you love suspense? The type of suspense that leaves you bitting your nails? Then you'll love Joan Lowery Nixon's "The Haunting".
okay book
it wasn't all that scary. but it's a good book. it was suspenseful, but there wasn't much that was really scary! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's All Ages - Fiction - Mystery    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. Ghosts    5. Haunted houses    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Reviews (1)

Excellent for young and old readers alike
I purchased this book for my son for a book report and decided to read it myself.It's a wonderful book for all readers and we're looking forward to purchasing the set. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    4. Social Issues - General   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. General   

Reviews (1)

A humorous mystery all readers can relate to
When thirteen-year-old Cody Carter moves with his mother from California to Texas to be near his sick grandmother, he finds out just how different these two places are. Cody is the new kid at school, he has no friends, and his cousin Hayden is a bully. However, there are two good things about Texas --- his grandmother, Mrs. Norton, and his new friend, Officer Ramsey. Mrs. Norton tries to help Cody understand the confusing "Hamlet" for his English class. Ramsey is a police officer and an aspiring stand-up comic, who pays Cody for his original jokes.
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Subjects:  1. Bullies    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Cousins    5. Fiction    6. Grandmothers    7. Jealousy    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Reviews (34)

great for young teens
i read this book with high expectations since i had previously read the weekend was murder(which i believe to be Nixon's best book). i must say it lived up to those expectations. Nixon is a great writer and her mysteries, although a little cheesy, are fun. i love her light romance. It's never too over the top. this book is great for younger teens because it is somewhat cheesy.It's not her best, but in my mind nothing tops the weekend was murder which also follows the life of Liz. I absolutely loved Fran... corky and sweet...this book is a great read.

Barbara's Review
I liked the book. It was romantic and had an unexpected ending.
couldn't finish it
I thought this book would be interesting and would stretch my imagination because it was by Joan Lowery Nixon.I love her books,just not this one.The main reason is because of a character named Fran.I think he was a weirdo and a bit of a stalker considering he was every where with Liz.I could barely finish the book.This character, Fran was veryannoying!!!!!Good book.Fran horrible character.I recomend a Deadly game of majic by joan lowery nixon. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's All Ages - Fiction - Mystery    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Horror & Ghost Stories    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    6. Mystery and detective stories    7. Juvenile Fiction / Horror & Ghost Stories   

Reviews (1)

A chilling collection of western ghost stories.
Each of the seven stories in this book has as its setting a different western ghost town and is about a kid's encounter with a ghost or ghosts inthat town. The seven towns are Tombstone, Arizona; Shakespeare, New Mexico;Maiden, Montana; Virginia City, Nevada; Grafton, Utah; Bodie, California;and Fort Griffin, Texas. My two favorites in the collection were Buried(set in Shakespeare) and The Magic Eye (set in Grafton), which certainlytaught the lesson to be careful what you wish for! I would reccomend thiscollection to kids who enjoy reading ghost stories or who are interested inghost towns. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Horror    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children's stories, American    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Fiction    6. Ghost towns    7. Ghosts    8. Horror & Ghost Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / Horror & Ghost Stories