Golden+Dragon

**Golden Dragon**



__Swindle__ __The Willoughbys__ __The Graveyard Book__ __Babymouse Monster Mash__ __Gemini Summer__ __Raymond and Graham Rule the School__ __All the Lovely Bad Ones__ __The Seer__
 * Sarah Ducharme** - **Budapest**

**Susan Matter - Warsaw** __Swindle__  by Gordon Korman--Good--started out slow, but the suspense picked up about 30 pages in. Not much characterization, however __Buddha's Diamonds__--Good, but I would not want to put it on the GD list until a student has read it. My impression is that the writing is more for adults. I will write to one of my fifth grade teachers to see if I can get someone to try it out. It also is in another setting (Vietnam) and the message is a good one--to be happy with what you have. __The Willoughbys__ --Good, vocab might be hard for 4th grade, but a very funny bookRed Ghost by Bauer--okElvis and Olive--Good +, surprising book--at first glance seems like a simple friendship theme, but really talks about a variety issues __The Graveyard Book__ - Bit scary at first, and maybe something we advise for 5th grade and only very mature 4th, but it's an excellent book. RL 5.7 __Gollywhopper Games__--Good--plot is a little too pat at end though __Bronze Pen__--Good __The 13th Reality__-the journal of curious letters by James Dashner, RL 6.2--good--first in a series __The London Eye Mystery__--it was good--my only comment is that there is one small reference to kids being kidnapped for sexual purposes. Otherwise really good read __Hate that Cat__--ok--Not nearly as good as Love that Dog  __Clementine's Letter__--good minus--It's not as good as the first, but would work for WU if we don't find anything better. __Oggie Cooder__--Good--Despite the terrible front cover, the book is very interesting and certainly has a strong message about being yourself   __Calder's Game__ - I think it is a bit too complicated, plus the art won't interest many students. Not that it's a bad book, but if I'm rating for general student appeal, I would give it an ok. <span style="display: block; text-align: left; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__Babymouse Monster Mash__--Good theme as in the other GD Babymouse. __Being yourself and standing up to bullies__. It will work for ESL and <span class="yshortcuts" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; display: block; text-align: left; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">low level readers <span style="display: block; text-align: left; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.__My 100 adventures__--Good book, BUT I think difficult to understand for kids. Maybe someone else can read and see what they think?? <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;">__The Magic Thief__ by Sarah Phineas, RL 6.7, Good +

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<span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;">__Alvin Ho__--ok I thought it would be more of a Stink type book. If we include this one I would say definitely keep it as a WU. It's about a second grade boy. ======

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<span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;">__Puppy Power__ by Judy Cox, RL 3.0, Good + It's about a 3rd grader, it's easy to read, plus I really liked it because it's told from the point of view of the bully, who doesn't realize at first that she is a bully. ======

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<span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;"> __<span class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Masterpiece __ by Elise Broach--RL 5.3 It's really quite a good book--Good +--A story of friendship, bravery, loyalty, and art. But not too heavy on art. Got an SLJ starred review. <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;">__Gemini Summer__--Good book, but I think too difficult for GD. Language is <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;">colloquial, it takes place in the 1960s in the USA, which will bedifficult for some children. Maybe someone else can read it and see if you also think it is too difficult??? <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;">__Me and My Bike__--Good--fine for WU, has a good moral about being content <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;">with what you have <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;">__<span class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Tall Tales __ — Good, but again I'm not sure about the GD aspect. It is ======

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<span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;">about a girl with an abusive alcoholic father. Too mature for 4thgrade, or maybe a good book to read about living with an alcoholic. <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;">__The Magic Half__--Good +--surprising book. I thought it would be a silly ======

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<span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;">girls book, but I had a hard time putting it down. Nice spin on familyrelations and judging people. <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;">__Eleven__--Good ======

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<span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;"> __Minn and Jake__--ok--I'm not so sure kids will get it without having read the first book. It's a good book about friendship, but as I recall, the first Minn and Jake wasn't well received?? ======

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<span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;">__Lost and Found__. I thought it was good and would be well liked as a <span class="yshortcuts" style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;">Golden Dragon <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;">__Andy Shane and <span class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Queen of Egypt .__ I don't know if that level of book just drives me crazy or what, but I only thought it was ok. If we need another really easy read, it would be fine though. Maybe kids will like it better than I do. ====== <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt;">__The Sherlock Files__--100-Year-old secret...Good book. Mystery plus a bit of what it's like to move to another country and be the new kid. <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;">__Waggit's Tale__--6.2--Peter Howe--OK + A good book for dog lovers--talks about plight of strays. Similar to <span class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer; font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;">A Dog's Life <span style="font-family: Geneva; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; display: block; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; display: block; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; text-align: left; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Linda Marti ** - **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Prague **<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 9pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__Sisters of the Sword__. Exciting, but then at the end it wrapped up quite abruptly to set the stage for the sequel. Didn't help my review that my favorite character was killed off at the end! <span style="display: block; text-align: left; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__Cool Zone with the Pain and the Great One__ by Byars - Good __Found__ by Haddix - Excellent __Alvin Ho__ - good; nice to have a main character who's Chinese; will appeal to Wimpy Kid fans __Terracotta Girl__ - good minus, but I think it would be good to keep it again because it's a setting other than US or UK <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> __Just Grace Walks the Dog__ - OK - I stopped halfway through as I found the the character of Grace annoying. <span style="display: block; text-align: left; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__Step Fourth__, Mallory! by Friedman - Good, much better than the Grace book! <span class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer; display: block; text-align: left; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="display: block; text-align: left; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__<span class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Kaspar, Prince of Cats__ by Morpurgo - Good <span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 12pt;">__Lost and Found__ - liked it very well!

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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 12pt;">__<span class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">The Underneath __ by Appelt. It's well-written but limited kid appeal. Disappointing as I was hoping for something more likable. ====== <span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 12pt;"> __<span class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Masterpiece __ - thought it was very good. One of the best of what I've read on this list so far.

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