The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman

Bibliography
Gutman, Dan. 2006. The Homework Machine. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division.

Plot Summary
Meet Brenton, Judy, Kelsey, and Sam. Four very different kids who come together for one reason...homework. When Sam (the cool kid) discovers that Brenton (the smart kid) has created a machine that does his homework for him, he had to see it for himself. Overhearing the conversation, Judy and Kelsey join Sam at Brenton's house to see the homework machine for their own eyes. Not wanting to spend hours on homework, they (Sam, Judy & Kelsey) convince Brenton to allow them to use the homework machine for their assignments. Every day after school, they all met at Brenton's house to "work" on their homework. As the days pass, a friendship, that caught everyone by surprise, starts to form but will it last?

Critical Analysis
Dan Gutman introduces us to four unforgettable characters in The Homework Machine. Sam is the cool kid; Brenton is the geek; Judy is the teacher's pet; and Kelsey is the rebellious one. Despite their differences, these four very unique individuals form a lasting friendship while "working" on their homework.

Gutman does an excellent job creating characters that are present at every school across the country. It will be easy for a kid to find a character or characters to relate to. Humor and suspense are added to the storyline which makes this a very enjoyable read.

Reviews
Children's Literature: "Short chapters of alternating voices tell the story, which is funny in some places, but is not without intense and sometimes sad moments. This is another engaging book by Dan Gutman."

School Library Journal: "The story is told entirely through short excerpts from police interviews. This device shows the developing relationships through the kids' own observations. There are touches of humor in the way the four classmates talk about themselves and one another. Ominous hints about the legal trouble maintain tension throughout the story, but its exact nature isn't revealed until near the end. A dramatic and thought-provoking story with a strong message about honesty and friendship."

Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret

Bibliography
Kehret, Peg. 2003. Escaping the Giant Wave. New York: Aladdin Paperback/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Plot Summary
Thirteen year old Kyle is looking forward to his summer vacation away from school and the school bully, Daren. It gets even better when he learns that his father has won a family vacation to the Oregon coast for being the top salesman. However, Kyle's excitement turns south quickly when he learns that Daren's family has been awarded the same vacation.

Kyle didn't think it could get much worse but it did. An earthquake followed by a tsunami hits the coast during the family's vacation while Kyle is babysitting his little sister, BeeBee. It is up to him to take care of his sister during this disaster and get them to safety.

Critical Analysis
Peg Kehret delivers a winner in Escaping the Giant Wave. Kyle is your typical, ordinary 13 year old boy...he wants a higher allowance, better batting average, and the nerves to stand up to the school bully, Daren. When his family's vacation turns disaster after an earthquake followed by a tsunami hits the coast of Oregon, it is up to this ordinary boy to save the day.

Kyle is babysitting when the earthquake occurs so it is up to him to keep him and his little sister, BeeBee, safe until they are reunited with their parents. He is smart, brave, and thinks quickly. Everyone will fall in love with Kyle! An excellent choice to open up discussions on a variety of topics...bullying, survival, responsibility, being prepared, and disasters.

Reviews
Children's Literature: "While the story has the potential to be highly interesting and suspenseful, it lacks the realistic detail for readers to become involved in the plot and invest themselves in the characters. The best part of the book is the sub-plot of eight-year-old BeeBee's obsession with the financial market."

School Library Journal: "While this is a satisfying read for victims of bullying, it is unremarkable in plot and style. One character does stand out, Kyle's sister, BeeBee, a financial whiz who follows the stock market and names her teddy bear after Bill Gates."

Otto's Orange Day by Jay Lynch

Bibliography
Lynch, Jay. 2008. Otto's Orange Day. ill. Frank Cammuso. New York: RAW Junior, LLC.

Plot Summary
Otto is a cat and his favorite color is orange. He thinks the color is pretty, bold, strong, and even created a song about all of the orange things that he likes. After receiving a genie lamp from his Aunt Sally, he asks the genie for his one wish which was to make everything orange! At first, he loved the results but soon realized how boring and confusing life was when it was all the same color.

Critical Summary
Author, Jay Lynch, and illustrator, Frank Cammuso, team up to create the toon book, Otto's Orange Day. When Otto the cat receives a genie lamp as a gift from his aunt Sally, he redeems his one wish and asks that everything is turned orange which is his favorite color. He was so excited when he saw that his wish came true...orange planes, orange bats, orange cars, and even orange snow. His excitement quickly changed when his mother served him an orange lamb chop, orange spinach, orange mashed potatoes, and orange milk for lunch. It was not great to have everything orange but how was he going to return everything to normal since he already used his one wish!

Lynch's simple writing makes this a great introduction to graphic novels. The flow and the rhyming of the text is a perfect combination and lends itself well to being read aloud. Cammuso's illustrations are a wonderful addition to the story. It is easy to get caught up Otto's excitement over the color orange. Children will want to hear and see this one over and over again!

Reviews
Children's Literature: " The story ends well and Otto learns a very valuable lesson. The illustrations are awesome; the writing has rhythm and is fun to read aloud. It is a book that is perfect for both boys and girls and is a great introduction to a chapter book (It has two chapters). This is a must own book for young readers."

Kirkus Reviews: "Cammuso illustrates comics veteran Lynch's tale in neatly drawn sequential panels, casting Otto as a cat (marmalade, of course) in human dress and pairing him with a blue, distinctly Disneyesque genie. Low on violence and high on production values, this comics-format "Toon Book" will leave emergent readers wishing for more."

Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown by Paula Danziger

Bibliography
Danziger, Paula. 2002. Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown. ill. Tony Ross. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Plot Summary
Amber Brown is starting 2nd grade and is a little nervous about it. She is nervous for a number of reasons but mostly because the school hired a new 2nd grade teacher. No one knows anything about her and they are all imagining the worst...how much homework will they have, will they get into trouble for coloring outside the lines, and will they be allowed to go to the bathroom? In the end, Amber decides that she can handle anything as long as she has her best friend, Justin, and her bear backpack.

Critical Analysis
Paula Danziger does it again! Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown is the 3rd installment of the A is for Amber series. Danziger created a fun and very likable character that kids will love to read more about. Amber is nervous about starting second grade because Mrs. Wilson is no longer the teacher. No one knows anything about the new teacher, Ms. Light, and Amber wonders if she will be liked by her. She also wonders what mean things Hannah Burton will be up to this year. The author provides the security that every 2nd grader needs to start a new school year...new school supplies, new backpack, and her best friend, Justin, to get her through the first day of a new school year.

Kids and Adults will love how Amber handles herself. She is determined not to let anything or anyone ruin the day or year for her. She shows confidence by standing up for herself and answering questions posed by the teacher. This is a great book to share with anyone nervous about starting school!

Reviews
Children's Literature: "Danziger manages to keep the story moving at a good clip, build a bit of suspense, throw in a few groaners and end it all with a light touch."

School Library Journal: "Youngsters will identify with Amber and her woes, and will want to listen again and again. A useful purchase for primary grade beginning reader collections in school and public libraries."

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Bibliography
Riordan, Rick. 2005. The Lightning Thief. NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0439865999.

Plot Summary
The Lightning Thief is the story of a boy named Percy Jackson who doesn't have much going for him. He has been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, kicked out of several schools, doesn't know his father, and has an awful step-father. After vaporizing his teacher, Mrs. Dodds, with a ballpoint pen, his mother decides it is time for Percy to know about his father.

During his trip to Camp Half-Blood (a camp for demigods), he discovers his best friend is a satyr, is almost killed by a minotaur, and looses his mother during the minotaur attack. Once he arrives, he discovers that Poseidon is his father and is forced to go on a quest in order to prevent a war between the gods.

Critical Analysis
Percy Jackson is the uncommon hero in The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Everything is stacked against him...he does not know his father, is ADHD and dyslexic, and has been kicked out of several schools. Now that he is 12 years old, his mother decides that it is time for him to learn more about his father and thus more about himself.

Percy's mother takes him to Camp Half-Blood where it is soon determined that he is the son of Poseidon, the Sea God. Because Poseidon has been accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt, Percy is sent on a quest to retrieve it and prevent a war between the gods. The quest is filled with action, suspense, and laughs. Both children and adults with fall in love this new series by Riordan.

Reviews
School Library Journal: "Mythology fans will love this take and kids who haven't been inculcated with the Classical canon will learn aspects of it here while having no trouble following a rollicking good–and modern–adventure."

Booklist: "The escapades of the Greek gods and heroes get a fresh spin in the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, about a contemporary 12-year-old New Yorker who learns he's a demigod."