The Maze of Bones

The Thirty-Nine Clues is a great book series. There are two kids named Amy and Dan Cahill. Their parents died in a fire, and their guardian abandoned them when they began the search for the thirty-nine clues. The clues lead to some great power, the source of the Cahill family's power. There are four branches of the family. The Lucian, Janus, Tomas, and Ekaterina branches. There is also another branch, the Madrigals, that are very, very, very, deadly. Nobody knows much about them and the Madrigals don't associate with anybody else in the family. Certain people, randomly selected, in the family, are called to choose between two options. They can either take one million dollars per person and walk away, or become a contestant, in the search for the thirty-nine clues, against other dangerous players.  Amy and Dan have twelve opponents. Amy and Dan manage to find the first clue, Ben Franklin, and get a lead start. I can't wait to write about the second book...

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins is a good book. It is not at all like I would have imagined it, though. Mary Poppins is not at all like she is in the movie. She is short-tempered, impatient, vain, and many other things. Not to offend the author, but I like the movie better than the book. Most of the exploits of Mary Poppins, Jane, and Michael are featured in the movie. I sort of wish that the Mary Poppins in the book was like in the movie. Nevertheless, Mary Poppins is a fun book, and I like it!

The Wall and the Wing

The Wall and the Wing is one of the best books I have ever read. There is a young lady named Gurl. She meets this boy named Bug. Together they discover her hidden past, what she can do, what he can do, and become the best of friends. At the end, Bug is amazing! He flies twenty stories high and dives down super fast, landing just an inch above the ground. I love the idea of flying, but personally, I'd rather be invisible. I mean, yeah flying is cool, but I totally think that being invisible would be fun. I can probably make myself a flying jet pack or something. I would be able to sneak past Pop in hide-and-seek or tag, maybe even capture the flag! And not only that, there would be more uses, such as sneaking an extra cookie or two...

At the Stroke of Midnight

Though it is not a book, and it's not going to really further my education in writing, I decided to write about the new i-Pad app that Pop bought. I have gotten through quite a bit of it, and I find it amazing.

I would love to have been the one to think up this story. It is about a novelist who is staying in an old house to get inspiration for her new book. There are ghosts, mysteries, and more! My family loves it, except Angelina (she's so scared she needs someone to go into the hallway with her). It keeps us guessing what will happen next. I've been guessing and I bet I'm close to the truth. I would love to tell you, but that would be giving all fun away! I really am liking this app!

The Mystery of the Cupboard

Feeling like I needed a story about little people, I turned to one of the offshoots of The Indian in the Cupboard series. Omri knows far more about the cupboard, now that he's found his wicked-great-great grandmother's notebook. It carries the secret to the cupboard. As the book continues, he learns more about the cupboard than he thought possible. This book is wonderful and I could read it again and again!

LA Zoo (Snow Days)

The L.A. Zoo is a wonderful zoo. We go there a lot each year, and it is so much fun. I really liked the new Asian elephant exhibit, though the elephants wanted to go inside. Guess why? Because there are heated floors inside! The bear didn't seem to like the snow that had been placed on the ground either. Only the snow leopard seemed to like it. He was sleeping, then he woke up and walked to the back to rest in the snow. He batted it, then turned around and around before actually resting. I also really liked the aviary. It was so much fun going to the L.A. Zoo!

The Ben Franklin Exhibit

At the Bowers Museum, last Sunday, we explored the Ben Franklin exhibit. We did a group "electric shock" experiment, went to Philadelphia, stood trial before the British court, and tried out one of his inventions. I liked the journey to Philadelphia best. It was so cool! I can't wait to go there again sometime!

James and the Giant Peach

I had never read this classic, but finally, when I got to the point that I had no books to read or write about, I plucked the book off the bookshelf. I had started it a long, long time ago, and never read more than two pages. I have to say, I like the book much better than the movie (no offense to the directors). It is so awesome. I never knew about the cloud men or the fact that the ladybug marries the fireman. Kind of funny, wouldn't you agree? A ladybug, marrying a fireman! It's ridiculous. I like this book a lot!

Valentine's at the Library

Today we will go to the Paul A. Biane Library for the Valentine's program. It was fun last year and I can't wait to go again. It is so much fun! We play bingo, and we get decorate-the-scene sheets. We have bean-bag-toss and so much more. I just can't wait. It will be so much fun to have Valentine's at the Library!!!

Where the Red Fern Grows

Where the Red Fern Grows is a good book that I enjoyed a lot. It is heartwarming and I never read a book about dogs like this ones. Yeah, I get to watch the movie soon. My Dad says the book is better than the movie. I can't wait to find out! Till next time...

W.I.T.A.

Today I am going to a meeting at my friend's house. She has started a group called W.I.T.A. I am in. It is really excited. Soon we will be going! This is my first meeting, and I just can't believe that I've joined. It will be so cool. It is a writer's group, perfect for me. I can't wait!

The Diary of Anne Frank

This book is one of the best I ever read. It is a bit sad, but overall it is very, very, very good.  I kind of giggled at the first few parts, but then I sobered at the part where Anne Frank learned about how her family had to go into hiding. Why did people hurt others just because they were different? It seemed pointless, yet sometimes I wonder what reason had the Germans come up with? Whatever it was, it wasn't a good excuse, and I am one who would not join him ever, if I had lived back then.

To Kill a Mockingbird

One of the best stories I ever read, To Kill a Mockingbird, is an award winning classic. It won the Pulitzer prize in 1961 and was made into an Academy Award-winning film. To Kill a Mockingbird is an awesome book. I had never read the book before I watched the movie, but my Pop still let me watch it. Pop decided I should tell him if, even though I watched the movie already, I thought it was like the movie. It has been a while, so when I read it, the movie came rushing back to me, and I remembered everything about the movie. The book reminded me so much of the movie and when I watch it again, I am sure it will be the other way around. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the best books in the universe!