Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja by Simon Higgins - ADVISABLE

Higgins, Simon Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja, 312 pgs. Little, Brown and Company, 2010. Language – G, Sexual Content – G; Violence – PG; Moonshadow is going on his first mission: steal some weapon plans from Silver Wolf. But just like everything else, there are complications. Moonshadow has to launch his attack a day before planned and there’s another spy trying to steal the plans! Moonshadow’s improvising was fun to read and the action scenes were amazing. I thought the first day of his mission went a little too smoothly, but it was all made up for later in the trouble that popped up. I’m looking forward to reading the next book of Moonshadow’s adventures—I need to know what comes next. MS – ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: CCH

Rebel Fire by Andrew Lane - ESSENTIAL

Lane, Andrew. Rebel Fire (Young Sherlock Holmes), 343 pgs. Farrar Straus Giroux,2011. $16.99 Language: G ; Mature Content: G ; Violence: PG.  Young Sherlock Holmes finds himself involved in a mystery which hinges on Abraham Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth. The story involves kidnapping, murder, and possibility of a second U.S. Civil War. How an American problem of such importance can reach across the Atlantic and involve young Holmes and his friends is another fascinating, and exciting adventure for the up-and-coming sleuth. Good: I enjoyed this book. Victorian England, along with post Civil War America, made two great settings for the story. The detail that the author gave to period clothing, machinery, food, transportation, and events really kept the in my mind" playing. Bad: I think that more time and background information could have been given in building up the bad guy/villain and then in bringing about his demise. There is quite a lot of time spent on developing other characters. MS - ESSENTIAL  Reviewer: Kevin R. Moray