Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn is about Molly and Michael, siblings whose mother recently remarried. Their new step-sister, seven year old Heather, is determined to ruin their new family by telling lies about how Molly and Michael treat her. It is obvious to them that Heather is trying to break up their parents. The family moves to an abandoned church one summer, hoping the fresh air will do the kids some good. Heather just grows stranger and stranger, going out to visit the small graveyard behind their new "house" and pretending to visit a girl named Helen. Every time Molly and Michael try to stop her, she makes up a story about how mean they are being to her and Dave, her father, takes her side. Molly, however, is sure she's seen a ghost-like figure with Heather and is determined to get to the bottom of it. Michael and Molly do a little research at the local library and learn that the old, dilapidated house behind their own house used to belong to a family, 100 years ago, but every one of them died in a fire - including their seven year old daughter Helen. This is all the proof Molly needs. Michael doesn't believe in ghosts until strange things begin happening inside their own house and Heather claims it is Helen's doing. Meanwhile, their parents are being split further and further apart by the constant battles between Molly and Michael and Heather.

This books was an excellent ghost story! It was scary, but not so scary that I'll have nightmares. I was SO angry at Heather on behalf of Molly and Michael - that's how I know this is a good book! When an author is able to make me care so much about a character that I actually feel emotions, I know I'm hooked on the story!

Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett

Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett is about Dee Dee, an adolescent year old girl who idolizes her older brother, David. After their father is turned down for a promotion he thought he was getting and injures his back, their family is really hurting for money. Especially since their Meemaw is in an expensive nursing home. Dee Dee's dad seems to take out all of his frustrations on her, but David is always there to make things better. One day, however, David meets Jayne, and they become a couple. Dee Dee is so jealous of the time with David "the J-word" takes away from her, that she lets it ruin her own birthday party! As a result, David is in an unexpected accident and dies. His organs are donated to people all across the country. After a long bout of depression, Dee Dee finally enlists the help of her best friend Sam, and they set off on an adventure to Florida, searching for the person who now has David's heart.

This book was a quick read for me. It was completely engaging! I loved it!! It was touching and sad, and even funny at times, and everything came around full circle. The ending was perfect!

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late by Pseudonymous Bosch

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late by Pseudonymous Bosch is the sequel to The Name of this Book is Secret. In this one, Cass and Max Ernest are desperately trying to prove that they have what it takes to be members of the Terces (secret spelled backwards) Society. Through their adventures, they find a mysterious ball that allows them to hear sounds clearly, even if they are being made far, far away. Cass is able to use this ball to call the homunculus, a strange little creature that was created over 500 years ago. A mean old guy named Lord Pharaoh grew the homunculus in dung! When Lord Pharaoh died, the homunculus buried him with all of his his secrets. So, of course, the evil members of the Midnight Sun are after them! The only way to the secrets is through the homunculus, and the only way to him is through Cass and Max Ernest!

This book, just like its prequel, was hilarious! The author is REALLY funny!! There is a little mystery and a little adventure - enough to make a fun and interesting story. I highly recommend both books to anyone!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is about about Liesel Meminger, a young German girl trying to find her place in the world during WWII. Her mother had to turn Liesel and her brother over to live in a foster home. On the train ride to their new home, Liesel's brother died. The image of him laying on the seat beside her haunts her through the remainder of the story. It is at his funeral that she steals her first book - The Grave Digger's Handbook. She arrives at her foster home alone, with not much more than this book, which she hides under her bed, unable to read it. Her new foster parents are an interesting pair, and Liesel immediately bonds with her Papa. When she is awakened by the recurring dream of her brother's death every night, Papa takes this time to teach Liesel how to read, using The Grave Digger's Handbook. Eventually, a person from Papa's past arrives, causing much hardship for the family. Max is the son of Papa's friend from the war. Max is Jewish, and is hidden in their basement for a long period of time. Liesel and Max become very close during this time. Max even uses the pages of his book about Hitler to write his own book for her. Unfortunately, Papa makes a big mistake that forces Max to leave the house, for fear of the safety of them all.

This was an excellent book. The narrator is Death, which makes the story even more interesting! I usually have a hard time reading stories that take place during WWII because of the ghastly things people did to other people. This book, however, was not difficult to read at all. The author did not make light of the atrocities done to the Jewish people during Hitler's reign, but it was told in such a way that was not too upsetting. There were so many elements within this story that came full circle and were resolved in the end. It was incredibly powerful!

White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages

White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages is the sequel to The Green Glass Sea. Both stories are about Dewey Kerrigan and Suze Gordon, two eighth grade girls living in New Mexico during the late 1940s. In White Sands, Red Menace, Dewey has been living with the Gordon family for nearly two years since the death of her father. The army has now asked the scientists who had been working on the atomic bomb to continue their work, but with rockets. Suze and Dewey struggle to fit in to the new school and town - dealing with the typical struggles of adolescent teens - but also dealing with being headstrong, smart, and curious girls during a time when men ruled the scientific world. The girls also struggle with one another as they try to figure out their relationships. A kink gets thrown into the mix with Suze's mom gets pregnant and Dewey's long lost mother returns.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as The Green Glass Sea. Unfortunately, I found it a little boring. It was interesting to read about the history of New Mexico and the work they did on rockets during the late 1940s. I also liked the way Dewey's story was wrapped up nicely.

The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues Series #1) by Rick Riordan

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan is about Amy and Dan Cahill, orphans whose wealthy and influential grandmother just passed away. In her will, she gave 40 of her relatives a choice - take $1,000,000.00 or give up any inheritance to go on a quest to solve the 39 clues. These clues will lead the victor to a surprise that will make him or her the most powerful person in the world. Amy and Dan decide to go on the adventure! After solving the first clue and narrowly escaping death after someone burned down their grandmother's mansion, the Cahill siblings enlist the help of their nanny as they travel overseas to find the second clue. Amy and Dan aren't the only Cahills after the treasue. They are being followed by some of their distant relatives who are out to get them. Not only are they working to solve the cryptic messages left by ancient (and famous) ancestors, but they are trying to stay alive, facing attack after attack!

This is the first book in The 39 Clues Series. Amy and Dan solve the first clue in this book and are well on their way to solving the second. It is full of action and adventure, and of course, mystery. There are cards and an online game that accompany this book series. I spent a good portion of Sunday afternoon playing online - solving the clues and learning more and more about the Cahill family. I even found a hidden message within the book itself - I don't know what it means yet, but I'm sure it's important! I absolutely love this mystery so far!! I can't wait to read the second book when it comes out in December!

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott is about twins Sophie and Josh. Josh has been working for Nick Fleming, aka Nicholas Flamel, in his book shop. Nicholas's true identity is revealed when Dr. John Dee comes into the shop and tries to steal the Codex, an ancient and mysterious book that Nicholas has been guarding for the last 600 years. Josh and Sophie accidentally get involved in the fight and end up fleeing with Nicholas. In the mean time, Dee kidnaps Nicholas's wife, Perenelle and enlists the help of some of the Dark Elders, Egypt's Bastet (the cat goddess) and the Morrigan (the crow goddess). Nicholas and the twins pick up Scatty, an ancient warrior in a teenaged body, and head to Hekates Shadowrealm. Nicholas knows a secret about an omen within the Codex and believes that the twins will eventually save the world. He also knows that in order to do this, they need to have their powers awoken. Hekate is one of the Elders who has this power. Unfortunately, she is only able to awaken Sophie's powers before Dee, the Morrigan, and Bastet show up with an army of enchanted cats and crows!

This is the first book in a new series by Michael Scott and I absolutely loved it! There is so much legend, myth, and folklore within this book - it is amazing. Michael Scott offers easy explanations for many of the common stories, creatures, and people within. The stories of Nicholas and Perry Flamel and John Dee within the story were taken from the factual information that exists about these real people! This was an excellent blend of fiction, fact, and legend. I will definitely read the rest of the books in this series!