Emily EctonReseñas

This book is about 3 students from different schools who get an invitation to a scavenger hunt, but not is all as it seems. There were some things that I really liked about this book. I enjoyed all the different ways of writing - lists of clues, texts between drivers, chalkboard etc. I find that really adds interest to a book. I really enjoyed the drivers and their relationships with the kids.
I didn't like that the clues seemed very obscure and I didn't find it realistic that these kids would be able to solve these. Also I don't know a lot about Chicago and they were very specific to the city. I didn't really connect with all of the characters and I think they could have been developed a bit more, but overall I think middle school readers will enjoy this book.

funny and engaging read that gives the reader the inner thoughts and conversations of a group of pets trying to figure to what to do when their human is hospitalized for a while. the first third or so was great, and really quite funny, and then it dipped down for a while, getting back to almost the same quality by the last bit. it definitely didn't sustain itself, but it was always light and humorous, and full of heart. a fun read.½

A feel-good, Chicago-centric MG novel about 3 clever but trouble-prone kids who foil thier adult wannabe-exploiter.

First, I'm not a big fan of animal fiction for middle graders. There are a few reads, which I enjoy but usually, it's just not a genre which gets me excited. This book was one of those rarities.

Butterbean didn't mean to land Mrs. Food in the hospital, but she did. Now, her and the other animals in Mrs. Food's household are in trouble. While they are being temporarily cared for by a girl, they also caught wind that the situation might quickly take a turn for the worse...if Mrs. Food doesn't return. Luckily, this pack of friends (a dog, a cat, a bird and two rats) are craftier than humans might think. Soon, they come up with a plan to make sure they can afford to purchase their own food and take care of themselves in the future. And what a plan it is!

The first pages already had me hooked. A super cute, sweet dog accidentally has knocked out her owner, and maybe even murdered her. I can't say I've ever had a book start quite like that, and it did grab my attention. Especially since it isn't a serious read. These animals pack personality and then some. Their interactions and thought processes are simply funny, and yet, they have a very serious heist to pull off. One they mastermind...and it's a delight every step of the way.

This is advertised as a mixture between Ocean's Eleven and The Secret Life of Pets. While I usually read such comparisons with a bit of a smirk (often, the books don't really hold up to these), but this one does. And in a quirky way. There's also a ton of heart involved. I especially enjoyed their concern for Madison (the girl), and how the pets accepted each other. Even in more questionable moments, they had each others' backs.

This isn't a 'based on reality completely' sort of read. Obviously, not. There are some parts which go beyond logic and a few others things which take imagination. But that's also part of the magic of imagination and doesn't hurt the story in any way. Also, the artwork deserves extra kudo points. It was always a treat to stumble across the next illustration.

I'd recommend this one to readers eight to eleven, since slightly older readers are probably going to want a little more in some ways. But even I as an adult enjoyed reading this and found myself smiling more than a couple of times.

Recommended Ages: Gr. 4-7

Plot Summary: Three students receive a letter at their school about a scholarship. Although it baffles all three schools because these students aren't typically the recipients of these types of opportunities, all three students go to the meeting. There they sign a contract saying they won't discuss the scholarship with ANYONE. They each receive a debit card, a personal driver, and a flip phone, even though smart phones are already out. They each want to win the scholarship for their own reasons, but they go about it very different ways. Each kid receives three clues and is told if they are the first person to solve the clues, take a picture of the location in Chicago, and report back to Mr. Smith, they could win $10,000.

Melissa seems to want it the most. She doesn't have internet at her house and has to use her elderly neighbors computer when she wants to search something. That's hard when the clues don't make any sense. She doesn't believe it's even a real scholarship anymore, but just for fun, she starts to ask everyone she meets about one of the things written in the clue. When someone knows what she's talking about, she finally tries harder, but she sure resists using that chauffeur, especially since she's not allowed to have anyone with her and she's always watching her little brother after school. What should she do?

Wilf doesn't seem interested in solving the clues at all, especially when he discovers there a debit card and personal chauffeur. He makes a list of all the things he wants to do in Chicago, including the aquarium, zoo, ferris wheel at Navy Pier, and a hot dog taste test. His chauffeur gives him the nudge to solve the clues, but will he put in any effort to win?

Bondi is on the fast track to solving the clues. He knows the first one right away and is swiftly and confidently making progress. Is he the first to solve the clues? Will he win?

Setting: Chicago

Characters:
Melissa - chauffeur Dimitri Omar
Wilf - chaufferu Frank Jennings
Bondi - chauffeur Inez Castillo
Mr. Butler & Mr. Smith - leading the scholarship

Recurring Themes: competition, struggle, scholarship, scavenger hunt, solve clues, teamwork, independence, work ethic, credibility

Controversial Issues:
pg 132 - hell

Personal Thoughts: For a book with very little character development, I really, really enjoyed this one. Maybe because I've been to quite a few places named in the book but probably because it was well written. I was able to suspend my disbelief that all three kids could be so independent without the knowledge of their parents, who weren't characters at all.

Genre: mystery

Pacing: fast
Characters: very little character development
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity:

When Melissa, Wilf, and Bondi are chosen as the three students to compete in a scholarship competition for 10,000, it catches the people who know them and themselves by surprise. When meeting Mr. Smith and Butler they are given rules, a set of unique clues, a driver, and a cell phone & credit card. The clues are tricky, requiring them to do some research and explore Chicago for the answers. When they start to question the competition, they risk breaking the rules to contact each other and figure out what is really going on.
A fun, mystery with engaging characters and a good dose of Chicago history thrown in.

This chapter book received rave reviews from the 6 year old I read it to during sequestered home schooling. He found the story and illustrations immensely amusing, and was eager to resume hearing it read each day. The cast of characters includes the pets of hospitalized Mrs. Food, leaving Butterbean the dog, Oscar the bird, Walt the cat, and Marco & Polo the rats to fend for themselves. A mystery surrounds Madison, the girl who has been hired to feed them, and the sinister Coin Man gives them all the creeps. By joining together and recruiting Chad the octopus from another apartment to help, the group problem-solves, overcomes numerous obstacles to reach a satisfying conclusion. The slapstick humor makes for fun reading aloud to younger grades, but will also be fun for independent reading for middle grades.

Set in Chicago (and those who know the city will enjoy this more), three not-so-stellar middle school students are chosen to participate in a scholarship contest. There are puzzles to solve but all is not as it seems. The three end up joining forces and solving an unexpected mystery.
The puzzle solving aspect of the story is not as all-consuming as other books of this type. For me, that is a plus. The three students are a hoot, and in the end this is a great friendship story.½

That thing, the one that had destroyed the contents of my hamper in what, thirty minutes flat? It was a bunny.

Yeah, I know. A tiny little fluffy bunny with soft tufty feet and huge Hallmark card eyes. Oh yeah, and a set of nasty-looking razor sharp antlers coming out of its head.

It was a jackalope.

--Chapter 2

This book is written from the point of view of the main character, Jeremy (a kid in junior high). The following people live in his apartment building: Professor Twitchett (a quirky old man who has Jeremy run his errands), Agatha (Jeremy's sort-of friend) and her mom, a flight attendant who is never around, the Garcias (who make cookies on Saturdays), Mrs. Simmons (an old lady who "doesn't have all her socks in the drawer") and Jeremy and his parents. So, when two men in fancy suits show up at the building, Jeremy knows that something isn't right. Turns out Professor Twitchett left his latest secret experiment in Jeremy's care and there are people who are desperate to get that experiment for themselves.

Jeremy & Agatha spend the book trying to figure out what to do with the Jackalope and how to stay hidden from the suit guys. They don't know who to trust and even start to question each other's loyalty. It is a fun adventure with a few suspenseful moments. And there are a few twists that you might not see coming.

I totally enjoyed this book. It isn't very realistic, but come on, it's about a jackalope. You don't really expect a book like that to be grounded in real life. It is a fast-paced fun read that middle grade students will surely enjoy.

Recommended to:
Kids in grades 5-8, both boys and girls should enjoy this book. The action gets a bit intense at times, but nothing too scary. Reluctant readers may find this one a fun, quick read.

Stella's Thoughts:
This book was funny and unique and the concept behind it is fantastic. The concept itself can be a Dreamworks animated movie where I think kids will definitely have a good time watching the story unfold. However, the story failed to reach its potential in many ways. Here are some of the issues I had with the book:

1) Character development. Everything was so rushed. Jeremy, the main character finds a Jackalope in his room; left there by his mad-scientist neighbour, and immediately things begins to roll. Actually, more like Usain-Bolt-lightning-speed. The next thing you know is he is teaming up with his other neighbour, Agatha to find the missing professor. Many things felt left out and the relationships between characters seem to be easily dismissed. Can be get more of an introduction to Bob? Can we know more about Jeremy and Agatha's relationship? They claim to be just acquaintances, then why do they seem to know so much about each other? I often had to read back a page just to make sure I didn't miss anything.

2) Not very believable. To think men in black suits come and visit your house and school looking for you, you'll think there will be some suspense to this novel but the plot just became very unbelievable. Jeremy's parents doesn't seem to question the two men staking outside their apartment, no one at school ratted Jeremy and Agatha out when the two men came to their school and raided their lockers. You will think someone must have seemed them leaving the school...through the front doors. After leaving school, they walked to the zoo. Oh really??? Oh they also sneaked into the zoo's lab and picked the lock. Who are these kids?

3) Why a jackalope? Wouldn't it sound scarier and more intense had the animal been a baby dragon? I think so.

Finally, a praise - Being a science student myself, I did enjoy some of the science aspect to this story but I think it is also this science background that made me doubt so many of the events in this book. It touched on topics that high school students will understand, which was fun for me to read.

This book is like Meet the Robinsons and I think a 9 year old who enjoys science will eat this book right up. Did I mention this book is very funny and I laughed out loud a couple of times? :)

Reviewed by Breia "The Brain" Brickey for TeensReadToo.com

When Arlie woke up that morning, she had no idea that her life would be turned upside down in a matter of minutes.

Arlie's mom had given some of her toys to their neighbor, Cookie. When Arlie stepped outside, she saw Cookie removing the inner workings of her old orange kangaroo Fred's head. Arlie snatched it from her and ran, only to run over Tina's friend, Bethany Burgess, ruining her new white capris.

She couldn't stop, so she ran past a very surprised Ty and ended up in a tree near Mrs. Wombat's house. Ty showed up a few minutes later and ends up in the tree with Arlie.

While in the tree, Arlie finds a black dragonfly pendant and that's when the craziness really takes off. The pendant turns out to have an odd power - it turns inanimate objects into living, breathing things. Pretty soon lawn ornaments and other objects all over town are awake and wandering around.

Arlie, Ty, and Mr. Boots have their work cut out for them trying to get everything back to normal.

I found NIGHT OF THE LIVING LAWN ORNAMENTS to be even funnier than her last book, BOOTS AND PIECES. The characters were engaging and hilarious. Kids, teens, and even adults will laugh out loud while reading this book.

I enjoyed this book so much that I am passing it on to my younger sister and I know she'll love it as much as I did. This was a fast read mainly because of how humorous it was. Emily Ecton is definitely a must-read for me from this point forward!

Reviewed by Breia "The Brain" Brickey for TeensReadToo.com

For someone like me who has older siblings, I can relate very well to the life that Arlie leads on a day-to-day basis.

That being said, BOOTS AND PIECES also has some scary elements to it, as well. I think that older kids will like it and maybe some of the younger kids if they don't scare easily.

I thought the adults in the story were slightly off with their way of thinking. I don't know any parents who behave the way the adults did in this book!

Overall, though, this was a funny, enjoyable read and I loved the way it ended. I am planning on getting other books by this author. I rate this book 4 stars only because I wanted the adults to be smarter!

Boots and Pieces is a childrens book about two kids, Arlie and Ty, who are learning more about the recent disappearances of kids in their town than they wished they knew. What's worse is no one believes them. As the prom on Lake Heather gets closer it becomes evident that the disappearances are caused by something not human. In order to try and be school heros Ty and Arlie, and Mr. Boots the chihuahua, try to save prom, and all their fellow school-mates.

This book was very well written. I'm not a big fan of kids books anymore I have to say that I did like this one. It had a good plot, and the character development was better than many adult novels I've read. The story is action packed and leaves you guessing till the very end. It's part of a series so there wasn't much in the way of resolution. I probably won't be picking up the rest of these, but if you're looking for something for your children to read I'd say this is a good one to go with. I did have one issue though, towards the end of the book the word pissed is in there. For a kids book I didn't think it was appropriate, but I guess depending on the age of the kid reading it, it's not that bad of a word.