The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone

Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone

When Winnie and Danny drop their daughter off in Bottlebay, Maine, mysteries start piling up like dust under a bed.  Eleven-year-old Felicity quickly becomes Flissy and The Gram, Aunt Miami, Uncle Gideon and the unknown person living at the top of the hall only add to the series of unanswered questions.  When will Winnie and Danny return to pick Flissy up?  Why is everybody whispering?  What are in the letters the postman delivers that get snatched up by Uncle Gideon? How can Flissy and her new found friend crack the Romeo and Juliet code?  As the country becomes engaged in World War II, the secrets intensify.   This delightful book builds with intriguing revelations riveting the reader’s attention to its surprising conclusion.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Steweart

After hearing, “You’ve got to read this book!” from many 4th, 5th and 6th graders, I finally read The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trent Lee Stewart.

The story begins in a city called Stonetown when a young boy named Reynie Muldoon notices an unusual advertisement: “Are You a Gifted Child Looking for Special Opportunities?”  Children from all around the city answer the ad, but only Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and little Constance are chosen by Mr. Benedict for the job. Why are these children chosen and what are they supposed to do? Read the book and solve the mystery alongside the four unlikely adventurers. Don’t miss the sequels!

Toby Alone by Timothee de Fombelle

I just finished reading Toby Alone.  I must admit that I was totally engrossed in the story even though I found myself annoyed at Toby’s character at times (why does he jump to wrong conclusions about the people he knows and loves?).   The premise of the story is quite unique.  Toby is just one and a half millimeters tall.  He lives with his parents in the Tree, a world unto itself that includes all strata of a typical society, from the wealthy that reside in the Treetop to the working class folks that scrape out a living year-to-year in the Low Branches.  What happens when Toby’s father, Sim Lolness, a brillant but controversial scientist, warns the Treetop community that the Tree shows signs of failing?  Rich characterizations and imaginative settings abound.  Elisha Lee, a girl who lives near the Border, thugs like Razor, Torn, and Joe Mitch, and the Asseldor family living at Seldor Farm are just a handful of the myriad personalities in the book.