The Edge Chronicles Book 1: Beyond the Deepwoods

Twelve year old Twig is astonished when his woodtroll mother tells him he is not a woodtroll. She sends him to her cousin with a warning, "don't stray from the path."  But Twig strays from the path and finds himself on an adventure meeting Slaughterers, a Banderbear, Honey Goblins and many other creatures from the Deepwoods.

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddel pull you into a different world with many characters to meet on almost every page.  These two creators make a perfect combination for a good book.

Saucepan

Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians

Alcatraz Smedry is 13 years old.  He has a strange talent of breaking things.  That includes breaking a stove handle that leads to burning down his foster family's kitchen.  When a mysterious package arrives full of magical sand and an evil librarian in disguise steals it life gets weird.   Fortunately he meets his grandfather. 

Brandon Sanderson intended to make a funny fast paced adventure.  He definitely succeeded.  This book is a lot like Fergus Crane.  Speaking of which, I am going to review another book by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell called Hugo Pepper soon.

Saucepan

Fergus Crane

Fergus Crane lives in a small seaside town with his mom.  Life was perfectly normal until mysterious flying boxes started coming to his house with messages. He also found a lunchbox in the mail from the company his mom works for...actually I should say he found a super lunchbox that can walk.  Join Fergus Crane in his first crazy adventure to a volcano and a near death experience.  

Paul Steward and Chris Riddell wrote a funny fast paced adventure.  It's a quick read but a good read. 

Saucepan

Usagi Yojimbo, The Floating Circus and The Schwa was Here

Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo is a samurai who lost his master in battle.  He travels around helping towns people and other samurai and fighting bandits assassins and ninjas.  Every once in  a  graphic novel  he  helps his bounty hunter friend Gen, or fights a demon who thinks he's a god.  Usagi Yojimbo is a fun action packed adventure through 17th century Japan.  Even my dad has read most of the Usagi Yojimo graphic novels and loves them.  Stan Sakai is the bomb.

The Floating Circus by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

The Floating Circus takes place in Pittsburgh in 1853.  Owen lives at an orphanage with his brother Zach.  When it's time for adoption Owen runs away and leaves his brother to be adopted alone.  Owen runs away to a floating circus on a boat and travels all around the country cleaning stalls for the circus but later he runs into some unexpected problems.  

 If you like books that give you a history lesson without boring you to death you'll like The Floating Circus.

The Schwa was Here by Neil Schusterman

When Anthony Banano meets a kid named Calvin Schwa his life changes.  Schwa is partly invisible.  Only four out of five people notice him.  Anthony and Calvin start making money off Calvin's partial invisibility, but who ever thought one bet could change your whole life?!

This book is awesomeness.  In fact, the only book I can compare it to is one of my favorites series ever: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Greg Heffley is stuck in middle school with kids who need a shave twice a day and kids who can't even do 5 push ups. Greg has a friend who is funny, loyal, and gives Greg a piggyback ride up a giant hill when some "genius" cancels the bus ride. Jeff Kinney intended to make this book edge-of-your-seat, big time, laugh out loud comedy, and he definitely made that goal. If you like Andrew Clements, or Andy Griffiths, you'll love this series.

The School Story

Natalie Nelson is twelve years old and she wrote a book about school.  She didn't write The School Story, that was Andrew Clements.  She wrote a book called The Cheater.  She let a fast talking-doesn't -take-no-for-an-answer friend of hers read it.   That friend was named Zoe Riesman (pronounced "Rice-man" although she changes the pronunciation to "Race-man" to fool Natalie's mom...sorry, we're getting ahead of ourselves).  Zoe is convinced that she can get Natalie's book published.  Natalies mom is an editor so Zoe thought it would be a piece of cake.  However, they run it some unexpected problems.  

Once you open The School Story you will not be able to put it down.  Andrew Clements always writes good books and this one is no exception.  In fact, I personally think it's one of his best.  If you like authors like Dan Gutman, Andy Griffiths, Judy Blume or Beverly Cleary then you will definitely like The School Story.  I would also recommend his book Frindle.   

Sincerely,

Saucepan   

Percy Jackson and the Olympian Series

Percy Jackson had ADD and dyslexia.  He moved from school to school.  His mom was nice but his stepdad was a jerk.  All things considered he was a normal kid.  One day while he was on a field trip at a museum one of his teachers turned into a monster.  His Latin teacher threw him a magical pen (that was really a sword) and Percy fought the monster off.  He thought it was a dream until on his way to a magical camp he killed the legendary minotaur.  Did I mention his real dad turns out to be Poseidon.  

Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and The Olympian series is an exciting, action packed adventure through Greek mythology.  Many people have tried to make books similar to Harry Potter and this is one that actually succeeds but is still unique and creative in its own way.

Sincerely

Saucepan

The Sisters Grimm by Micheal Buckley

The Sisters Grimm are two sisters who move from foster family to foster family. Each family they meet ends up being crazier than the next. One family in particular had a dad who was a amateur knife thrower. The sisters were his new targets before they ran away. When their real grandma finally finds them and brings them to her home they discover a town where fairy tales are reality (hence the sisters "Grimm"). Imagine if your lawyer was Robin Hood and you were friends with the Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood. Imagine finding out that your Grandma was a "fairy tale detective" constantly working to keep the "Everafters" safe from the world around them and the world around them safe from the "Everafters." It's a delicate balance.

Michael Buckley intended to make an action pack mystery/comedy and definitely pulled it off. If you liked Harry Potter then you will love reading The Sisters Grimm.

Sincerely,

Saucepan