Student Saturday: Four Great Reviews today

Four great stories just in time for Halloween

Please remember these are sixth grade students, not professional bloggers. All of their reviews are their own opinions. Please feel free to comment, but be kind.

The Ghost on the Stairs by Chris Eboch
Genre: Mystery

From Goodreads:

Thirteen-year-old Jon and his eleven-year-old sister, Tania, are typical kids—except Tania can communicate with ghosts. Their parents also happen to be the producers of a ghost-hunter television show—and have no idea one of their own kids can see ghosts. In The Ghost on the Stairs, the brother-sister duo join forces to help reunite a newlywed couple from beyond the grave. In The Riverboat Phantom, Jon and Tania try to help the ghost of a steamboat worker find peace at last—and find more than they bargained for on the river!

Student Reviewer: Stefanie
The Ghost on the stairs was a great book. I recommend this book to my sister and anyone who likes to read mysteries that gives goosebumps, with some love at the same time. When I was reading this book I thought of my sister because she loves to read books that give her goosebumps. The story's main characters are Jon, a thirteen - year-old boy, Taina an eleven-year-old girl, their mom and Bruce the TV show guy. Most of the story takes place in a haunted house. In the story Taina went to the haunted house and she could see the ghosts and her brother Jon thinks she is in danger. At the same time Bruce is trying to catch the ghost on camera. She and her brother try to free the ghost. Will they be able to do it?  This is a must read book.

Scary Tales: Home Sweet Horror by James Preller
Genre: Horror

From Goodreads:
Welcome. Have a seat. Let us tell you a story. But be warned. Home Sweet Horror isn’t just any tale. This is a Scary Tale.
Meet Liam Finn, who’s just moved into a new home with his father and sister. But this old house that seems empty, isn’t . . . Bloody Mary is here. Called back from the dead by a game, she’s just dying to talk.

Student Reviewer: Alma
I read a book about a family without a mom who moved to a new house. Their son Liam Fin knew there was something going on with the house, his sister didn't believe a word Liam was saying. Then they both worked together to figure out the mystery of the house. It was a really amazing, interesting, good book. I would recommend this book to people who really love scary and mysterious books.

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn
Genre: Mystery/Horror

From Goodreads:

When twelve-year-old Florence boards the crowded horse-drawn coach in London, she looks forward to a new life with her great uncle and aunt at Crutchfield Hall, an old manor house in the English countryside. Anything will be better, she thinks, than the grim London orphanage where she has lived since her parents' death.
          But Florence doesn't expect the ghost of her cousin Sophia, who haunts the cavernous rooms and dimly lit hallways of Crutchfield and concocts a plan to use Florence to help her achieve her murderous goals. Will Florence be able to convince the others in the household of the imminent danger and stop Sophia before it's too late?

Student Reviewer: Mayra

This book started with an eleven-year-old girl  named Florence that lived in an orphanage with a lot of girls and a lot of ladies that take care of them. Florence gets to  go live with her uncle in a big house that is out of town. She goes and finds out her cousin Sophia had died and her cousin James has been sick ever since Sophia died. It has been almost a year. Florence feels like something is following her and she is trying to find out what or who it is. I recommend this for people who like mystery books. I had a connection to this book, because sometimes I feel like something is looking and me and there is nothing there.

Shadow of Darkness by Rashad Freeman

Genre: Horror

From Goodreads:

Anthony Dimair isn't your average teenager. Anthony Dimair doesn't have your average teenage problems. Unfortunately, Anthony Dimair doesn't know that yet.

By most accounts Anthony's been a pretty normal kid his whole life. When he starts what should be a normal year of high school, he suddenly begins to change. There's something dark buried deep inside him, but it wants to get out.

As people start disappearing and unknown assailants start following him, Anthony turns to his Uncle for answers. With only the help of his friends he sets off on a quest to discover the truth. But discovering the truth may very well get him killed.

Follow Anthony on an epic adventure as he races against time and the darkness inside him. Will he survive to find out the truth? Or will he get himself and his friends killed in the process?

Student Reviewer: Darietne

The main character in this story is Anthony. There’s a mystery in his life he doesn’t know about. They were at Dr. Heizwick’s and Dr. Vorcick’s lab when Dr. Vorcick did something wrong. Anthony was just going to start school when he started hearing things. This book made me feel curious about what was going to happen next. This book is great for anyone who likes horror stories. I though of all the things that happened and why they happened. It reminded me of a movie called “The Evil Dead”.

Ghosts of Manitowish Waters - G.M. Moore

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:
Fifteen-year-old Tess O'Brien finds her life inexplicably intertwined with the rebellious teen Cain Mathews and the conflicted Wesley Thayer as they search the vast Wisconsin woodlands for a mystical albino deer herd.

An ominous curse, a mysterious fog and villainous poachers plague their journeys as the three struggle to come to terms with their lives, their parents and the wilderness they love.

"Ghosts of Manitowish Waters "is a coming of age story about finding your own path and following it. It's a lesson in knowing when to obey your parents and when to have the courage to defy them.

My Thoughts:
So suspensful. I read it in one sitting. What happens when you have an over protective parent? You rebel. I understood Tess's father being overprotective. I became that overprotective parent after my son was run over while playing in our front yard. If it had not been for my marriage to a wonderful man who was patient with me while teaching me it  was okay to give my son and daughter some freedom, I would have remained that overprotective parent.

For Tess, her rebellion causes her to meet Cain and start a quest with him. The quest will put them in danger from poachers. They are trying to protect the white deer. There is a large herd of these albino deer in Wisconsin and the author did a great job of making this plight known through this story.  Sometimes it is necessary to do what you know is right. That is a lesson taught in this book. This is a wonderful, mysterious read. 

Popular Purple Pencil Sharpener

I received this product in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

To say that I love these pencil sharpeners is an understatement. I have shown them to just about everyone I know. When parents came to our "Back to School" night, the kids took their parents to my pencil sharpener to show them how it worked. Then I watched parents pull out something to write with and write down the website. Our night custodian comes in each night and sharpens the pencils he finds in the hallways. He loves my pencil sharpener. The best salesman in our school is one of our parent liaisons.  He came to my room and saw the kids lined up at my desk. He asked about it and I showed him.

Mr. Belvin is trying out my brand new purple pencil sharpener while one of my students uses my ever popular pink pencil sharpener. Students line up with multiple pencils so they don't have to use the sharpeners in the other classrooms.

Mr. Belvin and my student compare
the sharpness of their pencil leads. The number one comment about their lead is that the end is not so pointed that they snap the minute you begin to write. The sharpness seems to last longer than most sharpened pencils.









Mr. Belvin was so impressed with the purple pencil sharpener I thought I'd lost it. He snatched it up and left my room yelling he'd bring it back. He took it around to different rooms to demonstrate it to the teachers. He tried to see the principal and was unable. I however, did see her after an afternoon meeting. I demonstrated it for her and she asked for the information because she would like to buy them for the teachers at our school.

 Several of the parents have told me they are ordering one for their child for Christmas. I can think of nothing better for a Christmas gift. I love the way they are heavy duty and durable. I like that if the sharpener ever gets dull I can replace it for just a few dollars. I especially like the fact that I can change it my self.  I rewarded Mr. Belvin for his great job of promoting this sharpener by purchasing one for him and his children. I will continue to promote this sharpener. I do not get paid for this. I don't need to. You may think that is crazy, but I believe in this product that much. I would recommend everyone get this sharpener. It comes in many colors. However, This new purple one is something to be very passionate about.