Twins by Caroline B. Cooney

 
                              
     Warning: This is a scary (but completely clean) book. You might not want to read this if you are afraid of rats, drowning, or ice.
Rating: ****
Genre: horror, realistic fiction, and the slightest dash of paranormal
Pages: 183
     Mary Lee has always been close with her sister, Madrigal. After all, they're twins. But when Mary Lee is sent away to boarding school, she becomes withdrawn and depressed. Madrigal becomes the most well known girl in school and even scores a boyfriend. Mary Lee wishes she could live Madrigal's life.
     When a bizarre twist of fate gives Mary Lee her wish, she discovers things she never wanted to know about Madrigal. Something is definitely up with her boyfriend, and why does everyone at school seem to be afraid of her?
     The beginning was a little boring for me, since it summarizes several months in the first two chapters. But the final chapters had me on the clutching the book and muttering, "Get out of the car, Mary Lee. Get out of the car now." This is a horror book, yes, but it all comes together with a good theme.

Crimson Thread by Suzanne Weyn

 
Rating: *** 1/2
Genre: Romance, historical fiction
Pages: 207
Series: Crimson Thread is part of a multipe author series of fairytale retellings
     This retelling of the fairytale Rumplestiltskin is set New York, 1880. Bridget O'Malley has just arrived from Ireland with her family. All of them are struggling to find and keep jobs when Bridget lands a position as a seamstress in a rich Wellington household. That's not even the best part-she finds herself falling love with James, heir to the Wellington fortune. When the Wellington family business is in jeopardy, she manages to save it with a lot of help of Ray Stalls, her neighbor. But is it right to love James when Ray has done so much for her?
     This isn't a serious, dramatic, life changing book. It's one of the nice, happy ending paperbacks you read to escape from everyday life. And it fulfilled that purpose perfectly.

Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright

 
 Stars: ****
Genre: Realistic fiction
Pages: 122
Series: The book has one sequel, Christmas Jars Reunion
    Christmas is looking grim for newspaper writer Hope Jensen.  In addition to her mother's death, she comes home on Christmas Eve to find her apartment has been robbed. But as she waits for the police, Hope discovers a jar filled with coins somebody left for her. After talking to other jar recipients, she finds the family behind it and wants to turn them into the story of the century. She knows they want to remain anonymous, so she pretends to be a high school student doing a report on their family business. But as the Maxwells welcome her into their family, she wonders if it's right to expose the acts of kindness they've kept secret for so many years.
     Christmas Jars is a short, heartwarming novel with a good message you won't forget soon. Plus, it makes a great Christmas gift.

I So Don't Do Mysteries by Barrie Summy

 
Stars: ***1/2
Genre: Mystery, ghosts
Pages: 264
Series: There are currently three sequels
     Sherry's plans for spring break include hanging out with her friends, playing video games, and getting Josh, her crush, to notice her. She isn't happy when her dad and new stepmother decide to send her to San Diego while they enjoy their honeymoon. But things change when her mother's ghost shows up. She needs Sherry's help solving a mystery at the San Diego Zoo. Who is messing with the rhinos? Is it a worker at the ostrich farm next door? Or a chef at a restaurant that specializes in exotic foods? And what is she supposed to do when Josh shows up?
     I So Don't Do Mysteries is fun, light read, and a well written mystery.

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Genre: Fantasy, action, some romance
Pages: 344
     Shut up in a tower by her wicked aunt, Ben (short for Benevolence) discovers an enchanted room and begins her secret trainging in the magical arts. But while Ben is busy cloning herself and walking through walls, a neighboring kingdom is trying to conquer  her beloved home. What's worse, it's looking more and more like their only hope is a pudgy, imperfect princess who can't even do needlework correctly.
     Princess Ben is a page turner. That's all I can say about it. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the word choice. She doesn't just see a castle, she espies a castle. But aside from that, it's a pretty decent book. Not only is there magic, but lots of the fiery tounged court dialouge I love in princess novels.

The Lady Grace Mysteries by Grace Cavendish

 
 

Rating of series as a whole: ****
Genre: Mystery, historical fiction, action
Average number of pages: Around 200
Series: There are currently twelve books, but it's an alphabetical series so there will eventually be twenty-six. Hmm...what will they do for x and z?
     Lady Grace Cavendish is Maid of Honor to Queen Elizabeth I, but she doesn't always act like a proper lady. She has little interest in finding a husband, makes friends with a laundry maid and an acrobat, climbs trees when nobody is looking, and occasionally shoots flaming arrows at pirate ships. It's all part of her job as Lady Pursuivant, aka the queen's personal detective.
     What I like most about these books is Grace's personality. She's not a typical lady or a stereotypical tomboy. She's comfortable living in a world of needlepoint projects, but she would rather be writing in her journal (Oh, yes, the books are written in diary format). And then there's her attitude towards boys. She has a guy friend and is actually engaged in the first book (though it obviously doesn't work out) but she doesn't really care about boys-even the handsome actor she meets in book six.
     The Lady Grace Mysteries are short, captivating books I'd suggest for fans of historical fiction, mystery, action, people who don't like complicated books, and avid readers who want a light read between reading more complex books.
   
     

The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman

  
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Genre: Realistic fiction, humor
Pages: 317
     Gil's dad used to work for The Golly Toy and Game Company before he was fired thanks to a misunderstanding. Now the entire town is against Gil's family and he wants nothing more than to move. But without his dad's job, the only way they could get enough money is for Gil to win the Gollywhopper Games, hosted by his least favorite toy company. To win, he'll have to get past complicated word puzzles, multiple choice questions, cheating contestants, complicated physical challanges, a company owner who doesn't want him there, and one very large toy gorilla.
     The Gollywhopper Games is a fun, humorous light read. I read most of it in one day, but I'm a fast reader and that was a very boring day. If you're looking for a fun read, pick this one up.