A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

 A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Follows Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into eight more tales, encountering such wicked creatures as witches, along with kindly strangers and other helpful folk. Based in part on the Grimms' fairy tales Faithful Johannes, Hansel and Gretel, The seven ravens, Brother and sister, The robber bridegroom, and The devil and his three golden hairs.

I really liked this book for one reason mainly; the author. He would jump in and say his opinion on what was going on. He also would make sure the little kids were gone and out from under the bed. It really brought the humor to the story.  A short description of this book would be a modern twist on classic fairy tales. Another thing I really liked about this book is that each chapter is its own little story, each consecutively keeping the book going.  This is a great book but NOT FOR BEFORE BED!!!!

Review by Olvia, going into grade 5

In Business with Mallory by Laurie Friedman

     

    In Business with Mallory by Laurie Friedman  is a great book. It starts with Mallory watching her favorite show, Fashion Fran, and Mallory and Mary Ann are both watching the show and talking over the phone (In this book Mary Ann doesn't live next door). Fran shows an item called The Perfect Purse, a purse with ten different covers, and Mallory and Mary Ann both want it desperately, but the purse is a little pricey. They make a plan to both get one and wear it when Mary Ann comes to visit next weekend. Good news: Mary Ann's mom gets her one. Bad news: Mallory's mom doesn't get her one. So Mallory goes to Plan B. She picks up the phone and calls her Grandma. Mallory tells her grandmother all about the purse, expecting Grandma to buy it for her. Instead, Grandma tells her a story.

      "When I was a young girl, there was a doll I wanted... one day I tore a picture of the doll out of a magazine and showed it to my parents...They didn't get it for me, even though I begged and pleaded and promised I would do anything if they would just get me the doll... My parents told me the doll was very expensive, and that even though she was beautiful, she was a silly waste of money...I decided to buy the doll myself...I had to go to work to make enough money to buy the doll...I started a business going door to door selling oranges for a penny until I had enough to buy the doll" Mallory wonders what she could do. Her Grandma tells her, "Give it some thought. Talk to people. I'm sure you'll come up with something...Good luck, Honey Bee, and let me know what happens."

       Mallory tries four businesses, but they all become a flop. Mallory tries one more business and she works together with Mary Ann, and it's a success! But Mallory has barely enough money to buy herself the purse. And Max's, her brother's eleventh birthday is soon. Should she get the purse, or get her brother a present? She's worked so hard on getting it, and Mary Ann even helped. Meanwhile her neighbor, Joey Winston, is annoyed with Mallory. She's been so busy trying to get that purse that she doesn't even have time to skateboard. Will Mallory make the right decision on what to buy? Will she patch things up with Joey?

Review by Sarah B. Grade 4

Happy New Year, Mallory! by Laurie Friedman

I really liked Happy New Year, Mallory! by Laurie Friedman. 

It's about Mallory and Mary Ann's (Mallory's life long best friend and next door neighbor's) Winter/New Year's Reunion with her Camp Blue Lake--there's also another book about Camp Blue Lake called Campfire Mallory--friends, Carine and Taylor. Mallory's VERY excited for them to come--she hasn't seen them since last summer. She thinks this will be the best New Year's ever. 

       "I...love starting a new year. But this year, I... love it more than ever. NOT because Mom is having her special New Year's Eve dessert party...NOT because Max and I get to stay up until midnight and celebrate. NOT because Dad is buying blowers and shakers and hats for everyone... NOT because Grandma is here. And NOT even because it might snow... This year, I, Mallory McDonald, am... more excited than ever about starting a new year because this year my friends from summer camp are coming to stay at my house for a winter reunion."

      Mallory thinks nothing will stop her reunion from being absolutely perfect. WRONG! Mallory has a bad stomach ache and it gets worse and worse. The day Carine and Taylor come, Mallory's stomach ache is worse than ever. When the girls go outside in the snow, Mallory's stomach just can't handle it. Her mom calls the doctor. Mallory is horrified to find out the bad news: she has appendicitis. Mallory is rushed to the hospital, leaving her reunion behind. Mallory spent days planning out her reuinion and is super sad she's missing half of it for an operation. Will this really be the best New Year's ever?  

Review by Sarah B. Grade 4