Amy Gordon

This book is nothing short of delightful. It is charmingly illustrated by Margot Apple, but is not really a picture book. The reading level and length aim it more for the independent reader, 3rd grade perhaps. The story is of a Lonely Only (only child) named Allie who double-wishes on a birthday candle and a falling star for a baby sister. What she gets is a Star Baby boy who falls from the sky and totally disrupts her life.

Star Baby Sammy floats, flies, swells enormously when bathed, and show more begins talking within days. Allie and her parents find themselves becoming fond of him in spite of themselves, and reacting with dismay when he wants to return to his Star home. This is a story of loving, adapting, and being careful what you wish for. Loved it. show less

Aiden Farmer misses her farm. When her father dies, her mother moves them to the city of Gloria and puts the farm up for sale. Aiden doesn’t feel like she fits in at the private school she must attend. The kids and even her teacher call her “farmer girl” instead of her name. She and her mother are staying in the tiny apartment of her famous opera uncle Tony Balboni. Throughout this book she meets Liesl, a strange adopted cousin, makes friends with Adam, meets charles the mouse who show more loves opera, befriends Rosie and her siblings who operate the elevators in the Ingle building, and stumbles upon the biggest mystery of her life. When Aiden hears a story about 20 gold falcons hidden in the Ingle building she dismisses it. That is until the bank has decided to accept them again and they become valuable. Stumbling upon several clues she decides to hunt for the hidden gold and in doing so uncovers several other mysteries.

I read this book straight through. It was so good. The characters were so believable I felt like I was in the story with them hunting for the gold. Amy Gordon is a master story teller. She drew her characters so well that you could not help but dislike Marissa and Quentin. You felt the evil exuding from Grip. You wanted to sit in the elevator with Rosie and listen for hours to her tell the stories of the old building. This was my first book by Amy Gordon but will definitely not be my last. I can’t wait for my students to get their hand on this and her other books. We need more books like this that keep you on the edge of your seat. show less

The ending is a bit predictable, but the story on the whole is a page-turner with plenty of surprises. Aiden, Adam, and her cousin are fun, sympathetic characters. For the most part, the relationships with adults are normal and do not fit the oft-seen parent-is-stupid model. I also loved that Aiden's cousins lived in a treehouse.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.

Willy Wilson's whole life is about to change. This timid and sheltered 12-year old boy is invited by his Aunt Bridget, a quirky costume designer, to come stay with her during his summer vacation in her big city apartment. Everything there is different and, most surprisingly, Willy finds that he is different there too. Through hilarious situations filled with unforgettable characters, by the end of the summer Willy finds he is richer in ways that he had never imagined before. A compelling show more chapter book for middle years readers who want to experience a summer they will never forget, this action-filled novel also has a sequel, “Return to Gill Park”. show less