Linda Ashman
Children's Book Author

Calder, Petra and Tommy's latest adventure begins with a trip to the art museum. The Alexander Calder exhibit is there, with many of his famous mobiles. In one room is something called The Calder Game, and it sets off many ideas in the three kids' heads.

Calder is going to England with his dad, and is allowed to explore. One day after Calder's dad is pulling up, he sees Calder talking with a stranger. The following day, Calder is going to a maze. When his dad gets home, he finds a note from Calder saying that he was asked to do something important. But Calder doesn't come back-he's disappeared.

Calder's father calls his wife, and as she is leaving to go to England, she falls and can't go. So instead, Petra, Tommy and their friend Mrs. Sharpe go. When Tommy and Petra arrive at the maze to search for Calder, it seems as though he has disappeared from the face of the earth-in fact, he has!

Blue Balliett writes a masterpiece, the third of the series that began with CHASING VERMEER. THE CALDER GAME is a book most every age can enjoy. A mystery that is definitely worth reading.

RATING: 4.5 out of 5.

On his way to the National Science Challenge in Washington D.C., Steven 'Steel' Trapp is on a train when a woman leaves without taking a briefcase she carried on. Steel tries to return it to her, but she repeatedly insists it is not hers. Finally, Steel returns to the train and gives the briefcase to a conductor.

On the train with Steel and his mother is their dog, Cairo. When his mom is on the phone, Steel sneaks off to see Cairo. When he enters the empty cargo room, he finds the briefcase on a lost and found rack. He opens part of the briefcase and discovers something he cannot forget.

As he and his friend, Kaileigh, go searching for the solution to the mystery--followed by the woman from the train, a mob king, two government agents, his friend's babysitter, and Steel's mom--a great story unfolds.

Ridley Pearson's mystery is riveting to the very end. Sitting on the edge of their seats, readers will find themselves reading non-stop until all the puzzle pieces fit perfectly.

Rating: 5 out of 5. Incredible, gripping story. OUTSTANDING!!!

In the sequel to THE NAME OF THIS BOOK IS SECRET, Max-Ernest and Cass begin work with the Terces Society. Their first meeting with the society goes wrong, and they are captured by the evil people from the Midnight Sun. While being held prisoner, the two kids find a very important ball. They find a way to escape, and waiting for them is Owen, a member of the Terces Society.

The two get their first Terces mission and go off in search of a creature that might not exist.

Pseudonymous Bosch's sequel is every bit as good as the first book in the series. IF YOU'RE READING THIS, IT'S TOO LATE is gripping and beautifully crafted. The mysteriousness once was annoying, but you come to appreciate it, and soon you find yourself trying to figure out who everyone is and where they all live. The two books are a very promising start to the series, and Pseudonymous Bosch has finished writing a third book.

Rating: 5 out of 5. WHAT A MYSTERY!!!

Max-Ernest and Cassandra are the two main characters in this novel. Cassandra's 2 Grandpas, Larry and Wayne, own an antiques shop. One day, a symphony of smells is brought to their shop from the house of a dead magician, and Cassandra and Max-Ernest can't resist. What they find is a mystery.

This novel from Pseudonymous Bosch is very funny and gripping. The writing is one of a kind. The author keeps you waiting for the answer to the mystery about the magician's life to be revealed, and when it isn't, you want the sequel.

The sequel to this book is IF YOU'RE READING THIS, IT'S TOO LATE.

Rating 4.5 out of 5.

When a priceless Vermeer painting is stolen on a trip to a museum and a letter is found, everyone is in shock and no one knows what to do. Letters keep appearing from the thief saying that the "specialists" are wrong in judging the Vermeer paintings. Soon people realize how beautiful the paintings really are. But the stolen painting doesn't show up.

Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay, two young students, try to track the mysterious thief down. But everything is not what it seems in this fabulous mystery.

Blue Balliett's writing is terrific, with a great plot and very good characters. This book will not let you stop reading it until you are finished and the mystery is revealed, coming together piece by piece like Calder's pentaminoes. A great book that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Rating: 5 out of 5. FABULOUS PAGE TURNER!!

After a forest fire ends the class field trip early, Mrs.Starch goes in to get an inhaler and doesn't return. What happened? As this novel unfolds, you never know what will happen next.

Carl Hiaasen's newest novel keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end when the truth is revealed. This book is very hard to put down as you go from the black vine swamp to Bunny Starch's mysterious home and you even meet a crazy substitute teacher named Wendell Waxmo. This book is a keeper, and the end will have you smiling for a few hours after you finish.

I also highly recommend Hoot and Flush, also by Carl Hiaasen.

Rating: 5 out of 5. INCREDIBLE BOOK!!