Mandie and the Schoolhouse Mystery

Mandie finds pirate treasure in this book! She learns about a pirate by the name of Jeremiah Grey. She finds his treasure, all in secret rooms underneath the schoolhouse. She is excited, but she has more problems. There are rats in her room and everyone in the school claims they have a pirate ancestor by the name of Grey! Finally, Mandie finds the actual owner of the treasure, who doesn't want it. Since he is poor, Mandie and her friends help him. They restock his pantry and fix up the house. In fact, it looks like new when they're done! I can't wait to write about the next book!

The Jungle's Song

I made up this poem on Monday, during a W.I.T.A. meeting. It was so much fun! Pop is going to send it in to Babybug, with an illustration of his, and see if it can get published. I'm so excited. Anyway, I thought it would be nice to put it down here, so that all my readers could see it! Here it is:

The Jungle's Song

A twig cracks,

The tiger roars.

A leaf flutters,

One parrot soars.

The air is creamy,

The moon is white,

The Jungle sings,

On a perfect night.

The Firebird

The Firebird by Gennady Spirin is a very good book! This tale is taken from three Russian folk tales: Ivan-Tsarevitch and Gray Wolf; Baba Yaga; and Koshchei, the Immortal. In this tale, a great and mighty Tsar has discovered that something has been eating his golden apples! When his third son, Ivan-Tsarevitch finds out what it is, a firebird, the Tsar sends his son to get the bird for himself. Ivan meets a wolf who helps him to get to the palace in which the firebird is kept. But Ivan touched the cage in which the bird is kept, and instantly the king and his guards come. Ivan begs for forgiveness, and because Ivan's father is his friend, he consents, only if Ivan finds and gives him the horse with a holden mane. So Ivan goes. But he touches the golden bridle on the horse. The same thing happens, this time the king asking for his daughter that Koshchei the Immortal has. Ivan seeks the help of Baba Yaga the witch, whom the wolf advises. He finds the princess and falls in love with her, fighting courageously against the evil Koshchei and slays him once and for all. The two kings are given what they asked for, and Ivan marries the princess. Great story!

American Girl Magazine

American Girl Magazine is a fun, safe magazine for girls only. In the September/October Issue I got from the library, I learned a lot about girls unlike and like me! One of the amazing things I read was about a family that had just twins in it. The second set of twins born were both girls and wrote to American Girl. Their names were Kerima and Zenebe. In their family they have twin dogs too! They have older brothers who are twins and twin baby sisters also! Kerima loves to draw and is older by one minute and Zenebe is taller and a little shy. She likes to sew. Each one is different in her own special way, and alike in the same way! That's what's so cool about American Girl. They don't care if you are a really popular girl and have an amazing life or job, they don't care if you don't really have that many exciting things to share. They let you be yourself!!! I love American Girl Magazine!!!

The People of Sparks

Here is a great sequel to the first book, The City of Ember. I really liked reading it. I imagined the book like it was a movie, like it was happening, like it was real! I thought it was such a cool book! I learned more about the history of the Emberites, and met many new characters along the way. I really liked this book, though a lot of the tales about who did this stuff was a lie. Nevertheless, I really liked this second book!

The Viper's Nest

The Viper's Nest is the seventh book in the 39 Clues series. It is very good. Amy and Dan have now met the persuasive, purely evil, Isabel Kabra. She is determined to follow the next lead while Amy and Dan are stalled. Amy and Dan are not ones to be intimidated and pursue the next clue. It leads them to Lybia, Dan's style city. Of course he goes crazy with junk food, but Amy doesn't give him a lot of time to think about that. Soon, they find the next clue, and escape the clutches of their ruthless competitors. Their next destination? China. Their next historic relative to study on? Puyi, a supposed-to-be-emperor. I think that the seventh book was great!

In Too Deep

This book is awesome! The kids go to Sydney, Australia, one of the places I'd love to visit! On top of that, if it could get any better, they learn a lot about AMELIA EARHART!!! She is awesome! I've read so many books about her. She is one of the most awesome, most amazing figures, in history! She drove a plane by herself! Sadly, my fun was cut short when trouble came to take it's wages. The Kabras, Alistair Oh, and the Holts. Amy meets Isabel Kabra. Isabel Kabra is the mother of Ian and Natalie Kabra, one of their most deadly foes. I like this book a lot!

The Black Circle

In this book, Amy and Dan Cahill travel to Russia! They are in for some big surprises. Amy keeps having flashbacks about the night her parents died, but ignores them as more is learned about the Lucian branch and they travel through Russia. Irina Spasky and Isabel Kabra are now getting ready to pounce, though Irina is having second thoughts about what she's doing. The Kabras want to side up to the young troop (which includes their au pair, Nellie, and their ever hungry cat, Saladin), but Amy and Dan want none of it. They explore museums and libraries, learning more about what they are pursuing. Along the way they meet Natalia, the daughter of Anastasia, daughter of a previous Tsar in Russia. They discover the fifth clue, and get a lead to Sydney, Australia. It is really cool. The 39 Clues is an awesome series! I can't wait to write about the sixth book!

Marigold and the Feather of Hope, the Journey begins

Marigold and the Feather of Hope, the Journey Begins is the first book in The Fairy Chronicles series. The books are about nine year old girls who can turn into fairies. They are amazing. My favorite fairy is Firefly. She is really cool. She can do a lot of cool things, and doesn't have to worry when she flies. Those who don't believe in fairies only see a firefly, hence the name, "Firefly." My favorite mentor is Madame Swallowtail. She is a lot like Mom. She is graceful and elegant. She is wise and knows what to not do. She is really cool. I also liked the extras in the back of the book. Right now my Pop is scanning the extras, like recipes, for me. I really like The Fairy Chronicles!

The Danger Box

The Danger Box is a good book, written by Blue Balliet. I learned a lot about Charles Darwin. I loved The Gas Gazette, a newspaper that the kids in the book put out. My articles are just a family thing, and I just write about family events. But now, I've got some cool ideas about something I could do. Anyway, I loved the book. It took me a long time, because we've been busy, but I finally finished it. If I could take three things from the book and make them real, I would take out Zoomy, Lorrol, and The Gas Gazette. I think that would be so cool! The Danger Box is awesome!

Kay Snow Competition

I am entering another competition. The Kay Snow Competition is for kids to write a short story that is 1,500 words. Not a lot, and there have been others with more words, but it is still going to be fun. If I win, I will get a cash prize. I can't wait till I send it in and hear the winners. I'll soon write about my twenty millionth competition I'm entering....

One False Note

The 39 Clues continues in this new tale. Their next destination is Vienna, Austria and the main ancestor that they're focused on? Mozart and his sister, Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart. There is something funny with their family, especially the Mozart family. Now that the kids have a bunch of clues to what they're looking for, they have some cousins on their trail. They figure out the next clue: Japan. So they are headed to Japan. Can't wait to write about the third book....

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!