Imagine.  You are at a magic show.  The magician promises to produce a bouquet of lilies, but instead he makes an elephant fall through the ceiling—that elephant lands on a woman’s lap, crippling her legs.  And so begins The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo.  Unfortunately, that is the most exciting part of the book.  Although I love Because of Winn Dixie and am a fan of anything involving elephants, I just couldn’t get into this book.  After the elephant falls on page 15, nothing much exciting happens until the book ends 200 pages later.  I give this book a thumbs down.  (For ages 8 and up)

Book reviewed by Mary S., Youth Services Department Head

Savvy by Ingrid Law.  For most people, turning 13 might mean getting a cool present, but for Mibs, it means receiving her special power.  Being special can be fun, but it can also be scary.  Her brother Rocket’s power makes light bulbs explode, and her brother Fish can cause hurricanes.  To make matters worse, Mib’s father is in a terrible car accident right before her birthday.  Now Mibs desperately wants her power to be something that can save her father.  If you secretly wish you had a super power, this book is for you!
Book reviewed by Mary S., Youth Services Department Head

I love princesses, and Sharon Creech is one of my favorite authors, so I was all set to love Castle Corona.  But I didn’t!   It is about a poor brother and sister who have found a stolen bag containing secrets that will affect the royal family.  Sounds interesting, right?  Wrong!  The characters were boring and so was the plot.  What did you think?  Click “comments” to tell us your opinion.

Book read by Mary S., Youth Services Department Head