Sweet Valley Jr. High--Get Real

Sweet Valley Jr. High--Get Real
created by Francine Pascal



I wish I'd been aware of this book when I'd gone through middle school; it would have been such a great time to get into this series instead of starting off with the age-inappropriate Sweet Valley High series. This is the only Sweet Valley series that I haven't read, so naturally, the curiosity got to me. I only read the first book and loved it a lot more than some of the other SV series, I can tell you that. The characters are more real, and, as of book 1, although I don't know if it changed or not, this series seems like it might lack the unrealistic and/or supernatural elements found in some of the other SV series. Say what you will about the writing and plot in the Sweet Valley universe, and we all know that they are subpar, props to Francine Pascal for creating such a wonderful circle of characters that we've all come to know very well and love (or hate, depending on the character!). That being said, I wish some of the old characters were included in this series to provide at least a bit of continuity. As much as I dislike her, I was glad to see Lila make an appearance, just as a connection to the other books. I did like the new character Salvador, and I think he fits in with the universe perfectly. Wouldn't he and Winston Egbert be a laugh together? Anyways, yay for more teen angst, or something along those lines?

Rating: For an SV book, this one gets a high rating. I'm going with a 4/5.

I got this book from...:BookMooch

Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch

Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch
written by Barbara Park



This, among the other Junie B. Jones books, is a fantastic example of children's literature. The journal entries as well as the first-person narration make for a very relatable book for this age level. I know when I was a child, I completely related to Junie B. Jones, despite her love of over-exaggeration. It's childish in a charming way, and I can't wait to keep these books in my classroom when I'm teaching. The series is funny for all ages, and I was pleasantly surprised to find myself laughing through this reading of Boss of Lunch. I thought the humor would all be for the kids, but even as an adult, it's hilarious how insane Junie B's mind is. It's just a funny book, possibly even funnier to an adult than to a child!

Rating: 5/5

I got this book from...:Swaptree

Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy

Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy
written by Wendelin Van Draanen



The awesome thing about Sammy Keyes is that unlike her literary counterparts Cam Jansen and Encyclopedia Brown (nothing against the two of them, really, they both have their wonderful stories that I love and adore), her mysteries are not easy to figure out. The stories are filled with more plot twists and amidst the unpredictability is room for a lot of characterization, which is done wonderfully by Wendelin Van Draanen. The mysteries are, as I mentioned, a lot more complex. They're not just "hey, look, I've found a minor discrepancy in your story that solves this case" simple, there's actual sleuthing on Sammy's part, with false trails everywhere, never quite sure who the culprit is until the final big reveal. The Sammy Keyes books are descriptive in a witty, not annoying way, unlike most books. The description is all very true to the narrative tone. Another great thing about the books is that they really are a series, they work as stand-alones, but you miss out on some great subplots that run through the entire series that make it a really dynamic set of books. The greatest thing about this series is that it deals with real issues. There are children in foster care, really poor foster care at that, kids who take up smoking at a really young age, and things like neglectful parents do exist. They're not major issues in the story, but they're there in the background, dealt with in extremely tactful and age-appropriate ways. And yet, in spite of the hardships the characters have thrown at them, they do act their age. For instance, a majority of this book focuses on Sammy's tangential softball adventures, and her and her group of friends simply being kids. It's a fantastic series for kids that I highly recommend.

Rating: 4/5 for this installment of the series,
5/5 for the series overall

I got this book from...:Swaptree

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective
written by Donald Sobol



Thanks to my awesome friend Talitha for making me revisit such an amazingly influential childhood book. I know this series inspired me to read many other mystery series, like Cam Jansen, Nancy Drew, and The Boxcar Children. It's probably why I still like suspenseful mystery novels today. I remember being frustrated over not knowing the solution--well, funnily enough, rereading the book, I still rarely ever knew what the solution to the case was until I read it! I love the do-it-yourself element to the mysteries, although all the page turning always got on my nerves. It gives kids this great feeling of, hey, look, Encyclopedia can be a detective and SO CAN I! This is definitely a favorite worth introducing to your kids, so both you and they can have fun trying to solve the mysteries! If you're not a kid, still worth the revisit, see how many of the old cases you can crack now.

Rating: 5/5