What a wonderful story. The author has created a wonderful world for his characters. Imagine you are a twelve year old boy living on an island in a hole in the center of the earth and you have the basic setting for this story. I would love to spend an hour with the author to ask him questions about the creation of such a fantastic world. Calvin Comet Cobble is an orphan. HE came to live at Hidden Shores Orphanage when he was five. He’s twelve now and constantly finds himself in trouble. No matter what he does, trouble always seems to find him. It is hard to hide or lay low when you have flaming red hair. One day he watches the gardener Mr. E. skipping stones across Arctic Lake. A friendship is built and Mr. E. begins to teaching him the art of skipping stones. This is a very unique island. I loved the fact they named it Robert. One half of the island, the half with the orphanage is in the sun. The other half of the island is in the shade and house a prison for the worst of the worst. Calvin is curious about what actually happened to his parents. Through a series of events he learns his father may actually be alive and living in the prison on the other half of the island. He, Mr. E. and his best friend Berneatha set out to discover if this is true. Let the adventures begin.
I had never heard of this author before this story. It definitely won’t be the last time. This is a book that I will proudly display on my shelves at school. Young and old alike will find something to love about this book. ( )

I honestly have to say I have not read a book like this ever. It was very unique and had a combination of different stories that are tied together. The most interesting thing about it is the situation of the main character, Cal. Cal lives in an Orphanage in the middle of the Earth. This orphanage is very poor. I was very saddened by their situation in which they eat almost inedible food, no clothing, no toys, no proper schooling. When the description of the food and clothes are mentioned I wanted to gag. Also the school is borderline with a Penitentiary that holds very dangerous criminals that were sent to the Center of the Earth for their behavior, only the worst of the worst are there. To be so close to an Orphanage was very shocking and dangerous in my opinion.
My favorite part was the fact that the Penitentiary and the Orphanage were on opposite sides of the land and divided by a Shadow Line. To be exact as soon as you stick your arm or foot through the shadow it disappears completely from sight. The criminals are housed on the shadowed part of the land and that makes it a darker, more edgier story because of that.
There is also the side story of Bart and the huge golden screws that ties in to how the Orphanage and the Penitentiary came to be. This was probably the most unique part of the story and a little weird and interesting as well. And worth the read for its originality.
I think middle grade boys will love this story, there is adventure and some danger and making friends even in the most dire situations.
Orphanage = disgusting unkempt poorly managed place
Prison = Scary, dark and foreboding
Giant gold screws= unique, imaginative and completely new concept
Friends =can be found in the most unexpected of places and people ( )

Poor Calvin Comet Cobble is a 12 year old redheaded boy who lives at an orphanage in the middle of the earth, on an island called Robert, with a population of 521, otherwise known as "the forgotten 521". Half of the island is taken up by the orphanage, full of forgotten children, and half by a prison where the worst of the worst are sent. Cal is bullied by the other children and the teachers alike, and spends his time just trying not to be noticed - until he discovers that the man who mows the lawns, Mr. E., goes out every morning at sunrise and skips stones across the lake that surrounds their island. A very unlikely friendship starts up between these two, and Cal finds within himself a courage that he didn't know he had.

This is a very imaginative world that Andy Hueller has brought to life with wonderful descriptions and storytelling. There are actually two stories being told in this book: The one in real time and another one from 12 years prior that told how the hole in the center of the earth was discovered, and what happened to Calvin's parents that he became an orphan. Both stories are very important and necessary to get to the big finale at the end of the book, and both stories are told in a way that makes this book very easy to read. The characters are fleshed out and three dimensional, and the story flows from one point to the next very easily, even when you are jumping from present to past to present again.

This book is a great way to get middle grade boys to read. It's a story that I think they will be able to relate to, the insecurities of being a 12 year old boy, regardless of where you live and your personal set of circumstances. ( )

Cal is no hero. He regrets not taking action in the past, and he suffers form discrimination because of his hair color. He's learned not to talk back to adults because he's always dealt swift and horrible punishments. What he wants is not to attract attention. Then he meets Mr. E., and he learns to see another side of the world, one where one tween can make a difference. From there, the story quickly progresses, sweeping you into a story very similar to Cal's and which took place twelve years ago.

Twelve years. This number plays a significant role in the book. Twelve years ago, Bart's Screw was discovered. Twelve years ago, Cal was born. Twelve years ago, two brothers' lives changed. Twelves years into the future (aka. present day), Cal is in an orphanage in the middle of the Earth, and he spies on Mr. E. early in the mornings. The switching perspectives develops the backstory of the novel while furthering the plot. These shifts take place just as you reach the climax in one story, leaving you hanging until the last few pages of the book when it all comes together.

Skipping Stones at the Center of the Earth brings to you a child's worst fears (cue: evil teacher, bad cafeteria food, and oversized bullies). On the brighter side, it expresses the importance of speaking out and being yourself. It tells of relationships: friend-friend, student-mentor, and child-parent. It brings to you the best friend who isn't afraid to tell you off and who is too smart for her own good, the quirky teacher who has a big heart under his scary exterior, and the no-good father who's never been around but who also has a story to tell.

This book would make a good novel for a middle-grade reader book club. It has the bad and the funny of tween life and will entertain readers while keeping them engrossed in life at the center of the Earth. At the same time, it instigates the reader to raise questions such as the justice of judging people based on looks, how the city of Robert came to be forgotten, and the role that Mr E. plays in Calvin's lives. There are more thought-provoking questions provided in the back of the book that will generate great discussions. ( )

My thoughts:
This is an interesting story set in a most unusual place! The center of the Earth! What a creative mind to have built such a setting. The author leaves the reader the opportunity to easily see and feel the similarities and differences between people (good and evil sides of them) and the world he has created for the orphans and prisoners in the center of the Earth.
The characters are brought to life by careful descriptions. Mr. E - of course - is my favorite character, besides Bernie and Cal. The orphanage and it's teachers and staff are given terrible personalities and totally dishonorable human traits. Such unfortunate situations for children, so much hardness and sorrow. The bright spot being Mr. E and his skipping stones.
The characters are courageous and I found myself cheering, holding my breath, being outraged at their treatment, and hoping. Cal and Bernie find a friend in each other and a true friend in Mr. E. It is here in the story where you will see the true measure of determination. The story leans towards deep meaning and gives the reader the opportunity to find their own story within the tale. ( )