The Cricket in Times Square

The Cricket in Times Square is about exact as a title could be. It is about a Cricket. In Times Square. With the story of a mouse, a cat, and a cricket, and a Human named Mario, it is definitely a hilarious book.

One of the best things about this book, is that it isn't very long. A mere 133 pages, it even better as there are many images. Although the images are black and white, it is very artistically drawn! 

Now to meet some of the characters:

Tucker is a street mouse, very capable of fending for himself, and making the most interesting friends. He lives in a drainage pipe, but leads happy life all the same.

Mario is the human boy who helps out his father at the newspaper stand here at Times Square. Helping his father out is one of the things he does until he stumbles upon a cricket. 

Then there is our main character. Chester Cricket. What he does best is what all crickets to best. Crick. By rubbing his wings together, he can create beautiful music. Quite a talent for music he has. 

Last but not least, Harry Cat. One of the closest friends of Tucker, he finds himself in strange company: with a mouse and a cricket.

With these four characters, they get into tons of trouble, but manage to reach a somewhat decent ending. Chester ends up doing what no cricket has ever done before, with his three unlikely companion, they weave the story of 'The Cricket in Times Square" and one that is very adventurous in a down-to-earth way. 

George Selden wrote the Cricket in Times Square very well, and I do understand that writing a short book is not as easy as it may seem to certain people. The only thing that I would say against this book is that there were times when there was little to no action, which did not help to make the story very fast-paced. I recommend this book to kids ages 8-11.

***I give this book a 8.5 out of 10***

The Tale of Despereaux: being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread

I must state that Kate DiCamillo did write some amazing books. With the Tale of Despereaux and Beacuse of Winne-Dixie and many more, she is quite the writer!

This tale is about 'and unlikely hero with exceptionally big ears'. This hero's name is Despereaux Tilling. A mouse with large ears, a love for music, stories, and a princess Pea, a sense of adventure, and a sense of courage to match it. Yet The Tale of Despereaux belongs to another two characters: a rat by the named of Roscuro, living in the darkness with a love for light, and Miggery Sow, a girl with one impossible dream. However, to say the least, Miggery Sow is not the sharpest pencil in the pencil box.

"This story begins within the walls of a castle, with the birth of a mouse. A small mouse. The last mouse born to his parents and the only one of his litter to be born alive." -- page 11

So begins the amazing story of Despereaux. A unique, mouse never heard of before. But the castle he is in has a timely, fateful story to go along with mice. And to say that the King disliked mice would be a euphemism. From the very beginning of the book, readers can tell that Desperaux is not an ordinary, nor normal mouse. He is different. And his life isn't off to a very good start. 

"Have I mentioned that beneath the caste there was a dungeon? In the dungeon there were rats. Large rats. Mean rats. 

Despereaux was destined to meet those rats. 

Reader, you must know that an interesting fate (sometimes involving rats, sometimes not) awaits almost everyone, mouse or man, who does not conform." --Page 25

Meanwhile, a mouse named Chiaroscuro, called Roscuro's story begins backward in time, several years before the mouse Despereaux was born. His story is one of a rat exposed to light. And soon, Roscuro's wish is to see the light again, which, unfortunately, in the dark world he lives in, is no easy thing. Roscuro is told he is evil- that he has nothing to do with light. But in every heart there is at least a bit of good. And in Rosuro's there is an amount not easily found in a rat. 

And our third character, Miggery Sow, is finally introduced. Miggery Sow is "a girl born into this world many years before the mouse Despereaux and the rat Chiroscuro, a girl born far from the castle, a girl named for her father's favourite prize-winning pig." The start of Miggery Sow's story is not a happy one, but hopefully, even her story will have a happily-ever after. 

With those three destined to meet, in a horrible dungeon or a glittering castle, what happens to them? Reader, it is your destiny to find out. 

In the Tale of Despereaux are four books combined to weave a story of light, darkness, and love. 

Book the First

A MOUSE IF BORN

9

Book the Second

CHIAROSCURO

83

Book the Third

GOR! THE TALE OF MIGGERY SOW

123

Book the Fourth

RECALLED TO THE LIGHT

173

Coda

270

Kate DiCamillo weaves another tale of friendship, love, and adventure. With lovely illustrations, this book is a must-read for kids from 8 to 11. The Tale of Despereaux will absorb you into the story of a mouse, a rat, and a human.

This book has a great plot, great characters, and hidden within the layers, a great deal on the feelings of humanity. The Tale of Despereaux will be enjoyed by children all around. If something to pick at, it had a bit too much of the authour talking to the Reader.

***I give this book a 9.8 out of 10!!!!***

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel

Greg Heffley is back with more hilarious stories. As the 7th book of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, I do definitely enjoy reading about his adventures.

For those who are not familiar with the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, it is a mixture of a comic and writing together, spinning a totally comical tale of Greg Heffley and his life in middle school. If one family has hilarious happenings within their family, it would definitely be Greg's. However, if you have never seen this series before, I recommend that you should read the first book first before you go on to read the seventh!

This particular book of the series starts off with Greg thinking about the days in his mother's womb, claiming the fact that he does indeed remember the days of his very very very youth. If it is a lie or not, only certain people will know! With his Uncle Gary here, and Greg's dad in a hostile mood, Greg should be on the lookout for trouble, and try to keep out of trouble. Well........ he's Greg. No way that's going to happen!

With the tale of a boy going through middle school, Greg is by far one of the funniest tellers of his 'astounding' middle school life. With an easily irritated father, an annoying little brother, a cocky older brother, a over-protective mother, and a certain Uncle Gary, this book is off to a great start, as always.

Jeff Kinney is a great writer, to say the least. Every since Diary of a Wimpy Kid came out, I have been much entertained my his stories of Greg and his life. To write a book so humourous and enrapturing is no small feat, but to write 7 more of the same quality is even harder.

I recommend this book to middle school, high school, and elementary school children all alike. This book will not fail to entertain!

***I give this book a 9.67 out of 10.***

Moomin Volume 6

Another volume of Moomin, containing chapters 22, 23, 24, and 25. Another four chapters' worth of hilarious stories of Moominvalley, and the adventures of Moomin and Moominpapa. Along with familiar characters, Moomin, Moominpapa, Moomintroll, Moominmama, and so else, many others are coming by to Moominvalley!

22. Moomin's Lamp

23. Moomin and the Railway

24. Moominpapa and the Spies

25. Moomin and the Circus

And so begin another recollection of the adventures of Moomin.

With the finding of a magic lamp of Aladdin  the possible destruction of Moominvalley, the construction of a railroad, the threat of some spies and a circus while they're at it, Moominvalley is as bountiful with adventure as ever.

Moomin is a comic strip, and each chapter is a story about Moominvalley. With straightforward but hilarious plots, it is sure to entertain readers of all ages. The best thing about a comic strip is definitely the images. Moomin, with great graphics, and a plot to match it, is surely one of my favourite comic strips. Not to mention the hilarious drawing of foreign, interesting-looking creatures of Moominvalley! The innocence of Moominvalley never stops to astound!

Lars Jansson wrote many many Moomin comic strips which you can enjoy. The best part about this series is that it doesn't quite matter which ones you read first. I do believe I started out with the 3rd one.... Each containing a comical 4 chapters of Moominvalleys' story, kids from elementary to high school should read these comic strip books! The only flaw I would give to the Moomin series is that there isn't very much of an intricate plot. It's a straight plot with much comedy!

***I give this book a 8.7 out of 10!***

Circle of Silence

A young adult novel book, Circle of Silence is one of the best reads I have had in a long time. With fast paced action and lots of drama, most teens will love this book. With a taint of romance mixed inside with a news crew, things don't get much more enlightening!

Valerie Gaines is up for the opportunity of a lifetime. With the opportunity to run a Campus News crew, ValGal is up for the challenge. Sooner than later, the story comes to her though. All with the start of a secret society. First it starts off with little pranks: underwear on flagpoles, toilets in the hallways, and so forth. But then things start getting more serious as people start getting hurt, and a student lands in a hospital without anything to say about their accident.With her team, which is quite the team: Marci, Jagger, Raul, Omar, and Henry, Val is ready and eager to crack the case right open.

Valerie Gaines is the main character of this story, and her life's dream is to become a news producer. With 2 brothers and 1 sister, her house is more than just 'crowded'. With Jesse and James (the two little brothers) running around their house, and one moody and quiet Bethany, her house is quite diverse with personalities. With such a big case in her hands, Val neglects to see that what she needs is just in front of her nose. 

Marci is a Korean girl, the co captain of WiHi's soccer team, and Val's best friend. She's pretty much into whatever Val is. With a steady boyfriend, Marci is a kind girl with an open heart to anything that won't wound Val. 

Omar is a boy, who, very much so, acts like a girl. Very open to many different aspects of life, he's an expert camera man all the same. 

Jagger is Val's ex, and not the most agreeable, according to Marci. According to Val, also, his and Val's relationship is not important to the story. He doesn't seem to really want to be in TV, and makes a point in that whenever he can.

Henry is possibly the closest to 'normal' in the group. Laid-back and easy going, he goes for what's right. Except when it comes to Marci.

With that news cast of 5, they go on an adventure which will bring them closer, if not also to their deaths. With MP going around the school, with no one actually knowing who they are, its bound to get interesting. Especially with the addition of a double agent. 

Carol M. Tanzman, also author of Dancergirl, wrote an elaborate story of a teenage girl with big dreams, and an even bigger future. In a mixture of lots of danger, and high school drama, big things are brewing, and one that has to have both wits and muscle to figure out. MP is dangerous, but smart as well. Spies are everywhere. But clues only appear to those who seek them.

I recommend this to teenagers, because of  the somewhat coarse language. However, the plot is very complex, and yet not very hard to follow. Its a great book which many teens will enjoy. A few things it lacked was a bit of character development. After all, even the evilest of the evils have a bit of nice in them, and the kindest of kind a bit of evil. 

***I rate this book a 9.5 out of 10.***