Wonderstruck by Brain Selznick

Selznick, B. (2007). Wonderstruck. New York: Scholastic.

Summary: The main characters Ben and Rose both hope for better lives. Ben longs for his father. While Rose dreams of a mystic actress who she scrapbooks. The story is set fifty years apart through two independent stories, Ben tells it with words and Rose tells through her pictures. These stories eventually intertwine together surprising you.


Books by Brain Selznick:

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Creech, S. (2001). Love That Dog. New York: Harper Collins.

Summary: A story with huge heart by Sharon Creech. Jack finds his voice with the help several individuals, things, and his dog. The story is written in a series of free verse poems. Jack does not like poetry but by the end of the book Jack finds that it is pleasurable to write to deal with painful memories, he can make something creative out of them.


Books by Sharon Creech:

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzel's Revenge. New York: Bloomsbury.

Summary: In a once upon a time type of story this story is about a girl and her mother. Or she thought the woman was her mother. And as the years went by things got weirder and weirder until she escaped. Rapunzel and her hair join Jack to venture around the wild west.

Evaluation criteria: Plot/Style - Rapunzel's Revenge is a great fantasy because it is filled with adventure, hardships to overcome, and quests to embark on. Rapunzel lives with Gothel her mother or so she thinks she is her mother. Years later she escapes to search for her real mother and stop Gothel's rule. The style of Rapunzel's Revenge is dazzling because the familiar fairytale name of Rapunzel. Yet this story is being told in a graphic novel form.

Below is trailer for Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale:

Comics Squad: Recess! by Jennifer L. Holm

Holm, J. (2014). Comics Squad: Recess!. New York: Random House.

Summary: The sister/brother team of Jennifer and Matthew Holm join to write this comic style novel. They join forces with some of your favorite comic creators such as Dav Pilkey and Jarrett Krosoczka to name a few. It is a classic Sunday comics tribute about kid's favorite part of the school day, RECESS! Very hilarious comic book.

Evaluation criteria: Characters/Style - The characters in this fantasy novel are intriguing to children because they are comic style. The readers are sure to be engaged throughout the novel because there are so many heroes and villains. Comics Squad: Recess! has a very unique style. Different authors contributed to he writing of this novel. The story is very engaging to readers because of their possible interest in drawing their own comic strips or just the goofiness of things that happen at recess.


Below is the book trailer for Comics Squad: Recess!

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Landry, D. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant. New York: Harper Collins.

Summary: Skulduggery Pleasant is a detective, but one thing he's dead. Stephanie is his twelve year old sidekick. Stephanie's uncle Gordon would write horror fiction. He dies and leaves Stephanie all his estate along with the evil forces trying to recover a mysterious key. Stephanie and Skulduggery join to fight these evil forces.

Evaluation criteria: Characters/Theme - The two main characters of Skulduggery Pleasant couldn't be more different but you are going to love them. Skulduggery Pleasant and Stephanie Edgley must join forces to fight evil forces. Both characters are underestimated but prove others that anything is possible. The theme of Skulduggery Pleasant is good versus evil. The characters in this novel must fight evil.

Below is the book series of Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy:

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, N. (2008). The Graveyard Book. New York: Harper Collins.

Summary: Bod is an unusual boy who happens to be the only living resident at the graveyard. From infancy he was raised by the ghosts, werewolves, and the other cemetery residents, Bod has learned their ways also. Bod then finds out the truth about Jack the person responsible for his parents death. Bod feels revenge build up in him but must set it aside to save Scarlett from Jack.

Evaluation criteria: Setting/Plot - In The Graveyard Book the setting is exactly there the graveyard. This is Bod's, the character in the story, childhood home. He was raised by the local residents in the graveyard the ghosts. This book has a great plot it includes tragedy, conflict, suspense, revenge, and a great conclusion.

Books by Neil Gaiman:

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Collins, S. (2004). Gregor the Overlander. New York: Scholastic.

Summary: A New York kid named Gregor falls out of his laundry room into a bizarre below ground world called the Underland. Gregor and his younger sister Boots go on an adventure in this Underland. They encounter giant talking creatures such as spiders, cockroaches, bats, and rats. Gregor finds out that he is part of a prophecy that foretells of his coming to the Underland.

Evaluation criteria: Setting/Theme - In Gregor the Overlander the setting is set in a bizarre underneath world called the Underland. Here his sister and Gregor encounter these giant creatures that have formed a society. The theme for this book indicates that one does not always have to go looking for adventure sometimes adventure finds you.

Gregor's book series by Suzanne Collins: