The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage

Title: The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage by Enid Blyton

Why I Started to Read This Book: When my mom was my age (8), she used to read this series. She thought it was very funny. She told me that I should read at least one of the books and I would be hooked. Then, my mom reserved this book from the library and we got it and I read it. I thought it was hysterical!

What is it About? It is about five kids and a dog and they solve a mystery that even the local policeman can’t solve. Their names are Fatty, Bets, Pip, Larry, Daisy and Buster is the dog. Bets is Pip’s sister and Daisy is Larry’s sister. Fatty is a friend who lives in the same town. Buster is Fatty’s dog. 

One of their neighbor’s cottage burned down one evening. The five kids and the dog have to find out who burned it down. They use clues (or as Bets calls it - glues) to solve the mystery. They also made a list of suspects and questioned them and ruled them out one by one.
 
The policeman in the book who also tried to solve the mystery is Mr. Goon and he kept saying, “Clear orf! Clear orf!” instead of “Clear off! Clear off!” to the children. The children named him “Clear Orf” .The person whose cottage was burnt was Mr. Hick and he was sitting with a cup so the children called him Mr. Hiccup. There is also a Mr. Smellie in the book.
 
What Did I Like About This Book? I like the way the children thought about the clues and suspects. They were very good detectives.

What Didn’t I Like About This Book? I can’t think of anything.

Does This Belong On My Cool Lane Or Not? You'll have to comment and tell me what you think.

Hint: The rest of the books of this series are not available in our library but I am going to ask my aunt to get them for me from India. I can’t wait to read them ALL!
 

Stick Dog

Title: Stick Dog By Tom Watson

 

Why I Started to Read This Book: I just found it at the JFK Library. I thought it sounded funny. I mainly liked the pictures, not because they were very good, but because they were very funny. For example, if the author drew a tree, it looked like a broccoli. So I decided to borrow the book and read it.

 

What is it About? It is about a dog called Stick Dog. He and his friends named Poo-Poo the Poodle, (Just so you know, he is not named after –you know– poop. He is named after what he is. Get it? POO-dle) Stripes the Dalmatian, (oh- and in case you were wondering, Stripes is the kind of dog that would look up on a rainy day and say,”Let’s go for a picnic!”) Karen the Dachshund, and Mutt the Mutt(of course!). They all go on an adventure to find delicious hamburgers.

 

What Did I Like About This Book? The story was funny. A lot of times the dogs got distracted and forgot about the hamburgers. But Stick Dog usually stopped them and got them back on track.

 

What Didn’t I Like About This Book? The only thing that I did not like was that the book was too short and easy for me. This book was not as long as a Limo, but as short as a Beetle.

 

Does This Belong On My Cool Lane Or Not? Yeah. Sure–I’ll allow it.

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness: Wolf Brother

Title: The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness: Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

Why I Started to Read This Book: Well, it’s really funny. Remember the book, Clone Chronicles? Well, every time I saw a book of Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, I thought it was a book of Clone Chronicles. Then, I found out that it was actually an entirely different series from Clone Chronicles so I finally decided to try it.
  
What is it About? It is about a boy named Torak. He is part of the Wolf Clan. A clan is a group of people that live and hunt together. But his father (who he calls Fa) kept him away from other people - even his own clan. Fa keeps him away from people because he doesn’t want them to know what special thing Torak can do. Fa is attacked by a bear demon and passes away. But before he dies, Torak swears to find the Mountain of the World Spirit. On his adventure, Torak meets his guide - a wolf. Then, he finds out what special thing he can do: He can… talk to wolves! Later on, Torak gives the wolf a name: Wolf. As they continue on their adventure, Torak and Wolf find Renn, who belongs to the Raven Clan. They have an adventure together.

What Did I Like About This Book? Nothing… except, EVERYTHING!

What Didn’t I Like About This Book? Just like Savvy, it was confusing in the beginning but I decided to continue reading anyway. I also didn’t understand some words that Wolf used. Like Tall Tailless. (Can you guess who or what that was?)  WARNING! WARNING!  Only read this if you have completed the book.*

 

Does This Belong On My Cool Lane Or Not? DEFINITELY – I have started reading the second book in the series already!  

*(Answer: Torak)

Savvy

Title: Savvy by Ingrid Law

Why I Started to Read This Book: My library has a “Dig Into Reading” 2013 Summer Reading Club. If I read different kinds of books, I’ll get a raffle ticket. If they pick my name out, I get a Nintendo DS! One of the types of books I was supposed to read was a Garden State Book Award (GSBA) nominee book. And this book is a GSBA nominee.
  
What is it About? It is about a girl named Mibs Beaumont turning 13.You are thinking “Yeah. So what?” But, when a Beaumont turns 13, they get a super power called a “Savvy”.
Mibs’ grandpa shakes the ground. One of her brothers makes electricity. Her other brother causes hurricanes. You might be wondering what power she got. Find out for yourself after reading the book!!  

What Did I Like About This Book? I like that Mibs risked her life to save her dad. Oh right. I forgot to tell you. Her dad had an accident and is in the hospital.
 
What Didn’t I Like About This Book? Honestly, I found the beginning too boring and confusing.

Does This Belong On My Cool Lane Or Not? I have to admit, I first thought that if it was found on my Cool Lane, it would be arrested immediately by a cop. But I continued to read because I wanted to enter it for a raffle ticket. After I read a couple chapters, I decided that it should belong on my cool lane after all.  Now that I think about it, it is hard to find a fantasy book that I don't like!

101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher

NEVER TRY THIS AT HOME...Or should I say, at SCHOOL. If you think that you will, well then, STOP READING RIGHT NOW!!!

 Title: 101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher by Lee Wardlaw

Why I Started to Read This Book: I just found this book at the library. My second grade teacher’s name is Miss Cooper. Since she is really nice, the nicest teacher I have ever had and I would not do any of these things with her.
And anyway if I did anything bad to any teacher, I would be in BIG trouble.
                 
What is it About? It is about a kid inventor named (hmm… what was it? You know he was the one narrating, so they didn’t tell his name a lot. I think it's) Steve. He did a lot of naughty things. But, his most famous invention (and my favorite) was the “Nice Alarm”. Instead of buzzing or ringing noisily, it gently taps you on your shoulder awake.

What Did I Like About This Book? Well, the main thing is, that it is funny!! I am pretty sure that there is another book called 101 Ways to Bug Your Parents and I really want it. But I could not find it at the library.

Out of the 101 things mentioned in the book, I want to share three of my favorite ones with you.
1. When the teacher says, “Pay attention”... ask, “Pay how much?”
2. When the teacher says, “Take a seat”... ask, “Take it where?”
3. If you aren’t good at singing, and the teacher asks you to sing a song, play it with your armpit.

There were so many more throughout the book but I don't want to mention them all and ruin the excitement in the book. You have to read the book yourself to enjoy it.

What Didn’t I Like About This Book? Zip Zilch Nada Nothin'

Does This Belong On My Cool Lane Or Not?  This DEFINITELY belongs on my Cool Lane!!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling

Why I Started to Read This Book: Every summer I like to read one Harry Potter book. This way, I get older as Harry gets older. This summer I am reading the 3rd book.
I would like to suggest that you should read the 1st and 2nd Harry Potter book before this one.

What is it About? It is about a person named Sirius Black. He escaped the prison of Azkaban. To stop him from getting into Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore put soul-sucking Dementors outside every entrance of Hogwarts. Join Harry, Ron, Hermione and their friends(and maybe enemies) on their 3rd adventure.
 

What Did I Like About This Book? I like the new spells. My favorite one is Riddikulus - it is so funny.
I also liked reading about Quidditch games, the Patronus(which is a defense against Dementors), Firebolt(which is a REALLY FAST broom...whoosh), and Buckbeak, the hippogriff.
The end was a little bit confusing. (Not a lot, though.)

What Didn’t I Like About This Book?  I almost loved everything BUT...but...but, I didn’t really like the end because I had to read it a couple of times to get what was happening.

Does This Belong On My Cool Lane Or Not? Well, IT BELONGS ON MY COOL LANE because I couldn’t stop reading it and loved it but I wish it was less confusing for me at the end. Once I am slightly older, I might understand that interesting end part better! I really look forward to reading the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th book.

Mischief Managed!
(I REALLY don’t want to tell you what this means because I want to build up the suspense.)

The Clone Chronicles #1 Popular Clone

Title: The Clone Chronicles #1 Popular Clone by M.E. Castle

Why I Started to Read This Book: I went to the library and found this really cool book. But guess what? It was the 2nd book in the series! I wanted to read the series so I reserved the first book and I read it.

What is it About? It’s about a really smart creative kid named Fisher. He has a flying pig named FP (which stands for Flying Pig). He makes a clone which he calls "Two". They all have to fight evil Dr.X.

 

What Did I Like About This Book? EVERYTHING!!!!! If I could clone myself like Fisher I'd make him do my homework and ask him to clean up my room. Unlike Fisher, I like school. He has bullies in school which he calls Vikings. There are no bullies allowed in my school.

What Didn’t I Like About This Book?—

Does This Belong On My Cool Lane Or Not? DEFINITELY