Imagine if you could live in a hotel. Not just any hotel, but one where each of the rooms had a different theme. If you like cuddly toys, you could live in a room full of cuddly toys of every size, colour and type. If you like Playstation, you could live in a virtual reality room where you could be a character in any game you chose. In Patrick Carman’s new book, Floors, Leo lives in the weirdest, most wonderful hotel in the whole world, the Whippet Hotel.
Leo Fillmore and his father Clarence live and work at the Whippet Hotel as the caretakers, making sure everything is in working order. The hotel’s eccentric owner, Merganzer D. Whippet disappeared one hundred days ago and hasn’t been seen or heard from ever since. This leaves the mean hotel manager, Ms. Sparks in charge of the hotel, and when the hotel doesn’t work as it should, everybody hears about it. Leo spends his days helping his father maintain the hotel and making sure Betty and the other ducks get walked. One day, as Leo is returning the ducks to their pond on the roof, he discovers a mysterious box in the duck elevator. This box is the first of four that will lead Leo to discover the secrets of the Whippet Hotel and the mystery of the missing Merganzer D. Whippet.
Floors is full of wonder, mystery and mahem, and made me smile the whole way through. Patrick Carman has created this weird and wonderful hotel and filled it with one exciting room after another. There’s a Pinball Room, which is set up like a pinball machine, with bowling balls as the pinball and couches for the flippers; the Cake Room filled with real cakes that are delivered by the chefs each morning; and the Central Park Room which contains a scale model of New York’s Central Park. The characters are just as weird and wonderful as the hotel. There’s Captain Rickenbacker who thinks that his arch-nemesis is out to get him, the obsessive writer, Theodore Bump, and the nasty hotel manager Ms. Sparks. Floors is one of the most fun, imaginative stories you’ll read this year. It’s perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snickett.
One of my favourite series is the Billionaire Trilogy by Richard Newsome. They follow the adventures of Gerald, Sam and Ruby as they uncover the truth about Gerald’s family. You can read all about the three books in the trilogy, The Billionaire’s Curse, The Emerald Casket and The Mask of Destiny here on the blog. Richard Newsome is coming to Christchurch this Friday (25th November) and you can meet him and get his books signed.
Richard Newsome will be at The Children’s Bookshop, 227 Blenheim Square at 4pm on Friday 25th November.
For those of you who can’t be there we’ll be giving away a signed set of the three books in the Billionaire Trilogy next week right here on the blog.
Elise never really knew her parents. Her mum died after her birth and her dad got sick and died of cancer a few years later. Her Uncle Hugh and Aunt Bessie promised to look after her and she has lived with them ever since. She’s been best friends with Franklin for years and they’ve always loved playing games like Knights together. When they start middle school Elise starts to get embarrassed by Franklin and doesn’t want to hang around with him anymore. Then there’s her locker buddy, Amanda who nicknames her Scabula and squashes her lunch every morning. Elise starts to hate school and is afraid to go because of Amanda’s bullying. Just when she needs it a special surprise comes along. Her father leaves her a mystery to unlock and with each discovery a new key arrives.
Eight Keys is about a girl discovering who she is and learning about the parents she didn’t know. When Elise is feeling lost and worried, the mystery that her father left for her comes along and helps her choose who she wants to be. It helps her see who her mum and dad were and how much they loved her, even before she was born. You see a real change in Elise, from the worried, confused girl at the start to the confident, happy girl at the end. I really liked the character of Franklin because he’s funny, loyal and will do anything to help his friend. Eight Keys is the perfect book for girls who like Jacqueline Wilson and Cathy Cassidy. It will make you laugh and cry, but leave a smile on your face. Recommended for 9+ 8 out of 10
If you’ve read the Clarice Bean books by Lauren Child, you’ll know that Ruby Redfort is Clarice Bean’s favourite book character. She’s a super brainy genius with terrible eyesight and loves to wear t-shirts with slogans like ‘What a total yawn’ and ‘Bored beyond belief.’ In Look Into My Eyes, we find out how Ruby got started as a secret agent.
Ruby Redfort lives her life by a set of rules, like Rule 1: You can never be completely sure what might happen next, or Rule 7: Never forget the little things – it’s the little things that will lead people to notice the big things. When a mysterious stranger calls Ruby and sets her a challenge, her rules help her to solve the puzzle. It’s not long before she finds her way into the HQ of the most secret of secret agencies – SPECTRUM. After sitting SPECTRUM’s Agency Test, Ruby is put to work solving a code that one their agents failed to solve before she died in an avalanche. The closer she gets to the truth, the more danger she finds herself in. Ruby has grabbed the attention of some of the world’s most evil villains and crooks, but will SPECTRUM be able to save her before it’s too late.
Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes has got me hooked on Ruby Redfort and her adventures. Ruby Redfort is a very cool character and the sort of girl that everyone would like. She’s smart, fearless, funny and isn’t afraid to stand out from the crowd. She has quite an old-fashioned way of talking (she calls people buster and bozo), but that’s something I really like about her character and it makes her stand out. The way that Ruby answers the phone made me crack up every time. Ruby’s butler (or household manager as he like to be called), Hitch is one of the coolest butlers ever! He’s very mysterious when you first meet him, but he’s always there when the Redforts need him. Apart from Hitch, alot of the adults in the book are boring, stupid and just interested in themselves and their parties. I was wondering how a girl as smart and full of personality as Ruby had such dull parents.
If you love books full of mystery, with kids who are secret agents, and evil villains who want to commit the crime of the century, then Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes is the book for you. As Clarice Bean says, ‘you will literally be on the edge of your wits.’ Recommended for 9+ 10 out of 10
Two years ago we were introduced to Gerald Wilkins, the boy who inherited 20 billion pounds from his aunt Geraldine. In The Billionaire’s Curse Gerald found out that his aunt Geraldine had been murdered and that she wanted Gerald to track down her killer. In the second book, The Emerald Casket, Gerald and his friends, Ruby and Sam traveled to India on holiday, only to get mixed up with a mysterious and deadly cult. The final book in the trilogy, The Mask of Destiny brings Gerald’s story to a thrilling conclusion.
Gerald’s foe, Sir Mason Green has been arrested and Gerald has to act as a witness in the trial. Disaster strikes at the trial when Mason Green collapses and is pronounced dead. Gerald thinks this is the end of their problems and he can finally enjoy his billions, but the police come calling and want to arrest Gerald for the murder of Mason Green. With Mr Fry’s help, Gerald goes on the run with his ever faithful friends, Ruby and Sam. They head to the island of Mont-Saint-Michel in France hoping to uncover the truth of Gerald’s ancestors and clear Gerald’s name along the way. Their search takes them from France to Italy and Greece, to the heart of an ancient city that has been buried for centuries.
The Mask of Destiny is the perfect finale to this amazing series from Richard Newsome. The story speeds along like a train out of control and just when you think you know what’s going to happen there’s a twist. Gerald, Sam and Ruby are incredibly brave and courageous and I was amazed at how they found their way around Europe by themselves. My favourite thing about the series are the characters Richard Newsome has created. The clumsy, pigeon-loving Constable Lethbridge makes me laugh every time and my favourite from this book would have to be Walter, the life coach that Gerald’s mother hires. He’s creepily nice and Gerald knows there’s something not quite right about him. If you’ve read the other books in the trilogy you’ll love The Mask of Destiny. If you haven’t discovered this fantastic series full of mystery, action, adventure, family secrets and sinister villains, go straight to your library or bookshop and get reading them now.
If you’ve read the Clarice Bean books by Lauren Child you’ll know who Ruby Redfort is. If you haven’t, she’s Clarice Bean’s favourite book character and is an undercover agent and mystery solver. Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes is the first book in the new series and it looks great.
Spencer Fogle is an ordinary kid who lives in the extraordinary town of Filmington. His hometown used to be called Flemington, until film and TV crews discovered its range of landscapes, from fiery volcanoes to snowy mountains and lush rainforests, and took over the town. The town’s richest resident, Jimmy Jangle, controls most of the business within Filmington and holds alot of people’s futures in his hands. When Spencer is walking home from school one day, he hears blood-curdling screams coming from one of the science labs and goes to investigate. Spencer uncovers a dark plot involving carnivorous plants, genetically modified flies and a mysterious, hidden file. However, Jimmy Jangle and his thugs are willing to do anything to keep the truth covered up.
The Flytrap Snaps is the first book in The Fly Papers series, by New Zealand author Johanna Knox and illustrator, Sabrina Malcolm. It’s a quirky story with action, mystery and plenty of laughs. I love the idea of Filmington, with it’s different companies set up for the movie and television industry. There’s the science labs that create experiments to be used in films, catering companies to supply food and drink for the film and TV crews, and the BodySlam Stunt Wrestling Club where they train stunt people for the movies. I really liked Spencer because he’s just an ordinary kid who has to deal with an extraordinary situation. I can’t wait to read the second book to find out what Spencer, Dion and Tora get up to next, and to solve the mystery of The Fly Papers.
What would you do if you found out there were only 100 days until the end of the world?
When Luke and his mum move to the town of Phoenix, out in the middle of nowhere, Luke knows straight away that something isn’t quite right about the place. There are no cars, no phones and no internet. All the houses look the same and the only way to get around the town is to walk or bike. The town was especially built by the Shackleton Cooperative, the mysterious company that offered Luke’s mum a job, and their security officers roam the streets. A coded message brings Luke together with Peter and Jordan, and when they decipher the message they realise they’re in serious danger. Someone is plotting to wipe out the human race in 100 days and Phoenix suddenly becomes the safest and most dangerous place on earth. When Luke discovers a note in his backpack inviting them to a secret meeting at the Phoenix Airport, they hope that they’ll get some answers. However, their meeting at the airport gives them more questions than answers and as they hunt for information about Phoenix and the deadly plans, the more dangerous it becomes for them in the town.
Arrival is the first book in the action-packed, heart-stopping Phoenix Files series. It’s one of those books that you just have to keep reading to find out what happens. It grabs you from the very first page and doesn’t let you go until the end. You’re left with lots of unanswered questions about Phoenix and the Shackleton Cooperative, but this just makes you want to go and pick up the next book straight away. Luckily there are 4 books already released (and in the library) of this 6 book series so I can read them all before Fallout gets released next year. The Phoenix Files are perfect for those who like mystery, adventure and suspense, or books about secret agencies and the end of the world. If you like Michael Grant’s Gone series, then you’ll love The Phoenix Files. Recommended for 12+ 10 out of 10
By the way, has anyone written a story for FaBo this week? I hope so, because I’m the judge this week. If not, there’s still time. You’ve got until 5 o’clock tonight. Check out the details etc at – www.fabostory2.blogspot.com
This week’s challenge was to write a mystery story. I used to read loads of mystery stories when I was younger. But I haven’t read any for a long time. And I’ve certainly never WRITTEN a mystery story before. It was very difficult coming up with an idea. I finished my story last night, and you can read it next week when I post it on the blog along with the winning story (or stories …) I’m also going to give an extra prize this week for the funniest sentence or word or simile. I’m allowed to do that because I’m the judge! hehehehehehe
OK, I hope to read some exciting entries from Christchurch this week. Now I SERIOUSLY need to do some proper writing…
Geronimo Stilton is a rodent who works at most famous rodent’s gazette in all of mouse island. It’s valentines day and he’s going on a date with Petunia Pretty Paws but he mucks it up big time. He gets to solve a hard mystery in the book and has to eat 100 cheesecakes. After he had finished he went hospital. Does he hate cheesecakes now? You’ll have to find out. Be a detective like Geronimo and go find the rest of the series it will make you feel cheesy inside.
Saxby and his friends Izzy and Muddy are private detectives who are always ready to solve crime. The mystery of the pirate’s blood, Mary Rogers and the lunchbox of Notre are all cases that are successfully solved by Saxby and his friends. This is a great and enjoyable book so look out for the rest of the Saxby Smart series!
Yee-haw! Welcome to the Wild West where you’ll meet outlaws, miners, saloon owners, detectives, Indians, Celestials, Soiled Doves and a whole cast of other characters. Caroline Lawrence transports you to the West in her new book, The Case of the Deadly Desperados, the first book in The Western Mysteries series.
The story starts with P.K. Pinkerton trapped down a mine shaft, writing about what has happened.
“My name is P.K. Pinkerton and before this day is over I will be dead. I am trapped down the deepest shaft of a Comstock silver mine with three desperados closing in on me. Until they find me, I have my pencil and these ledger sheets and a couple of candles. If I write small and fast I might be able to write an account of how I came to be here. Then whoever finds my body will know the unhappy events that led to my demise.”
So, stuck down the mine, P.K. tells his story of how he came to be trapped in the mine, starting with his foster ma and pa being killed by three deadly desperados dressed as Indians. P.K. escapes and hops on a stagecoach to Virginia City, followed by the three desperados called Whittlin Walt, Dubois ‘Extra Dub’ Donahue and Boswell ‘Boz’ Burton. P.K. meets many colourful characters in Virginia, some that help him, like newspaper reporter Sam Clemens and Poker Face Jace, and some that steal from him, like Belle Donne. Will P.K. escape from the mine and the three desperados? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
The Case of the Deadly Desperados is a fantastic story and will go on the list of my favourite books. P.K. is such a cool character and I loved seeing him deal with different situations in the story. At the start he tells us about his ‘Thorn’, which means that he’s not good at recognising emotions – he can only spot happiness, fear and anger. He can’t spot whether someone is lying or telling the truth and as P.K. says, “People confound me.” Caroline Lawrence paints a vivid picture of life in the American West and you can almost smell the drunken miners, feel the dust and grit in your eyes, and taste the Comstock layer cake.
Put on your spurred boots, grab your quick draw library card and head to your nearest dry goods store (library) to get your copy of The Case of the Deadly Desperados. Recommended for 9+ 10 out of 10
If you could have only one super power, what would it be?
That’s the question that Jacob Fielding asks at the start of Thirteen Days to Midnight, the dark new book by Patrick Carman. One Saturday morning in search of breakfast, Jacob and his foster-father, Mr Fielding are out driving when they crash into a tree. The last words that Mr Fielding says to Jacob are ‘You are indestructible.’ Mr Fielding dies, leaving Jacob completely unhurt and trying to figure out why. As he experiments, Jacob discovers Mr Fielding has transferred an amazing power to him – he is now indestructible. The priests that run his school take Jacob in and he eventually goes back to school, where his best friend Milo introduces him to the new girl, Ophelia James (or Oh for short). Oh is a bit of a daredevil and so she’s come off her skateboard and broken her arm. She wants Jacob to be the first to sign her cast, but when Jacob signs it with ‘You are indestructible,’ the trouble begins. They realise that by uttering those three words, Jacob can transfer his power to another person. They test the power out and use it to help save others. But with every heroic act, the power grows stronger and soon feels more like a curse.
I got totally engrossed with this story and couldn’t put it down. The story twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s a story that really makes you think. There are lots of unanswered questions about Mr Fielding’s past and the power that Jacob has inherited, and you keep trying to put the pieces of the story together to answer these questions. One of the things I really liked about the story was the dark, creepy atmosphere , which tells you that this isn’t your normal story about a boy getting super powers. I also loved the way that Patrick Carman weaved history into the story, with the connection to a famous magician. Thirteen Days to Midnight is a story full of suspense, action, mystery, and a curse passed down through time. Recommended for 12+ 10 out of 10
The lake is almost like a second home to brothers Simon and Jem. They’ve gone there every summer holiday for years to stay with their granddad, Barney. They’ve explored the bush, the bays and coves, and swum and fished in the lake. They feel safe here and it makes them happy. But this year, things have changed. Their dad has gone to Australia to look for work, Simon has been getting more and more annoyed with his little brother Jem, and the old farm is now a holding yard for old houses, guarded by a fierce dog and surrounded by barbed-wire fences. What’s going on behind the fences and why is there so much security?
When Simon breaks into the yard and tries to find out what’s happening, he has a run-in with the owner, Squint Lewis who warns him never to come near the yard again. Simon stays as far away from Squint as he can, but when he and Jem meet Squint’s children, Rosie and Tommy, they decide they have to figure out what’s going on in the yard before someone gets badly hurt.
At the Lake is a mysterious, adventure story set in New Zealand. Jill Harris’ description of the ‘dark green’ lake, surrounded by ‘the bush, warmed by the sun, which was alive with insects and birds’ made me want to be there. At first, I didn’t like the character of Simon, because he was always being mean to his brother, but he makes up for his behaviour throughout the story. Squint Lewis matched his name perfectly and he was a very sinister character. At the Lake is a great book that will keep you reading and is perfect for fans of Des Hunt.
Laura has spent most of her life as an orphan, living at the Sylvan Meadows Children’s Home, in between foster homes. What Laura longs for “is to have a life packed with excitement” like some of the characters in the books she reads. She has always been told to be careful what she wishes for, and one day she discovers that she has an uncle that will adopt her. When she arrives in the seaside village where her uncle lives, little does she know that the life of mystery and adventure she has longed for is just around the corner. Why does the quiet Indian boy have bruises and cuts on his arms? Why is her uncle so secretive? Is the bird watcher hanging around her house who he says he is? Who is the mysterious ‘J’ in her uncle’s books? Laura has to start thinking like the detective in her favourite books, Matt Walker, so that she can solve the mysteries around her.
Dead Man’s Cove is the fantastic first book in the Laura Marlin Mystery series by Lauren St. John. Laura is a great character who reminded me of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, because she loves stories and is very inquisitive. Like Laura, you’ll gather clues and put the pieces of the puzzle together to track down the villains. Dead Man’s Cove is perfect for anyone who likes books full of adventure, mystery, heroes and villains. I can’t wait to read more of the Laura Marlin Mysteries!
First Light by Rebecca Stead tells the story of two children who live two very different lives. Thea has never seen the sun. She lives deep within a glacier in Greenland. Long ago, her people were accused of witchcraft and escaped hunters to take refuge under the ice in their new home, Gracehope. When Thea is handed a map of Gracehope, she discovers a secret passage leading to the outside world, which she sets off to explore. However, her search forces her to defy her grandmother, who is the leader of her people, and reveals the truth behind her mother’s tragic death. Peter lives in New York, but has come to Greenland to live on the ice while his father studies climate change. While in Greenland, he starts to have strange visions that lead him towards a meeting with Thea. Their two worlds collide and life for the people of Gracehope will never be the same again.
First Light reminded me a lot of Juno of Taris by Fleur Beale. Thea lives in a society that is shut off from the outside world and when she discovers that their leaders have deceived them, she tries to find a way out. The story is a mixture of real life, fantasy, adventure, science and mystery that will keep you guessing right to the end. I loved the world of Gracehope with its transport (ice skates), technology (light globes and ice sealant) and the Chikchu (husky-type dogs). If you’re looking for First Light in the library it has a different cover and doesn’t have a blurb (which is why I haven’t picked it up before), but don’t be put off because it’s a great story. Recommended for 10+ 8 out of 10
Did you finish the 39 Clues series and still have unanswered questions? Never fear because you only have to wait until April for Book 11 in the series, called Vespers Rising.
“In Vespers Rising take a whirlwind trip through Cahill history and uncover secrets too explosive to reveal during the Clue hunt.
Travel back to the days of Gideon Cahill and Damien Vesper to read about the rivalry that shattered the Cahill family . . . and changed the fate of the world.
Learn about Madeleine Cahill’s first chilling encounter with Damien and how it inspired her to form the Madrigal branch.
Follow thirteen-year-old Grace Cahill as she embarks on her very first mission during one of the most dangerous moments of the 20th century.
Finally, flash forward to the present to join Amy and Dan as they prepare to fight their new enemy—the Cahills’ historic rivals—the Vespers.”
Check out the 39 Clues website for more information about the book and watch the book trailer.
-A small town called Elbow
-Rain
- Five misfit kids
-One bouncy dog
-A jar of Herman’s Devil tounge Chili
Bring ingredients together, and one real-life dead body and you have yourself one crazy, red-hot adventure.
Thats exactly what happens to Bea and her friends the rain town convicts.
The town Elbow is well known for its summer weather, rain.
When Bea and her best friend Sam take a photo of a dead body their worlds and the rest of the towns, turn upside down.
When the discover that they are not the only ones in on the secret of the dead body, then they begin a fight for their lives,
trying to discover the clues before they do…..
The rain in Elbow can be very annoying, it can drive you insane by the constant sound of ‘tik tik tik tik’ you would run out into the street with your pj’s on and yell ‘stop! Make it stop!’
I think this book is suitable for 11 and over and I would give the book a rating a 10 out of 10.
The most boring book in the world contains a dangerous secret that could destroy the world if it got into the wrong hands. If only you could stay awake long enough to read it.
To get out of a punishment for pulling a school prank, Luke and Tommy must prove that The Last of the Mohicans is the most boring book in the world, but they discover that there is another book that is actually the most boring, a book called Leonardo’s River. There is only one copy of this book left in the world, which has been lost for many years and it’s worth $2 million. When Luke and Tommy help to rescue the rare books from the basement of the university library they can’t believe their eyes when they discover the most boring book in the world in among the other books. The boys save the book but there are others who will do anything to get their hands on it. They uncover the terrible secrets of the book and if it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences would be disastrous.
The Project is a great read for anybody who likes history, science fiction, action, adventure and mystery. You’ll get caught up in the story and taken along for a wild ride as Luke and Tommy race to save the world. It is definitely NOT a boring book and you’ll be kept awake wanting to find out how the story ends. Brian Falkner talked about The Project last month when he was our Star Author so if you’d like to know more about the story, check out Brian’s post about The Project.
Imagine that you lived on a dumpsite. Every day instead of going to school you wander off into the mountains of rubbish, hunting for things that are worth something, something you can sell. You spend your days wading through trash; sifting it, sorting it, breathing it and sleeping next to it.
This is the life of Raphael and his friends, Gardo and Rat in the amazing book Trash by Andy Mulligan. They live on a dumpsite in the city of Behala and they are surrounded by trash. One day though, Raphael finds a small leather bag that holds an extraordinary secret, a secret that the police will do anything to get their hands on. Raphael and his friends must escape the dumpsite and solve the mystery of the bag and it’s contents.
Trash is a one of my favourite books of the year and unlike anything I’ve ever read. The different bits of the story are like puzzle pieces that all come together at the end. I loved the characters of Raphael, Gardo and Rat and different parts of the story are told by each of them, as well as other characters. If you like stories about different cultures, stories with mystery and adventure, and really interesting characters, you’ll love Trash. Recommended for age 10+ 10 out of 10
Imagine if you could live in a hotel. Not just any hotel, but one where each of the rooms had a different theme. If you like cuddly toys, you could live in a room full of cuddly toys of every size, colour and type. If you like Playstation, you could live in a virtual reality room where you could be a character in any game you chose. In Patrick Carman’s new book, Floors, Leo lives in the weirdest, most wonderful hotel in the whole world, the Whippet Hotel.
