Double Identity

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This book is about a young girl named Bethany Cole. Her parents are very overprotective. When they mysteriously drop her off at her aunt's house, who she never knew existed, she overhears her aunt say "You know I can't keep a secret." to her father. She wonders what the secret is, and who is this "Elizabeth" she keeps hearing about? She intends to find out.

One day her aunt decides to go grocery shopping, and makes a list of what to buy. Her aunt seems to already know what all of her favorite foods are. The mystery only deepens as time goes on.

Will she find out the answers to all of her questions? Read this exciting tale to find out.

On her website, the author suggests that this book is appropriate for 5th and 6th graders. I think that younger kids who are strong readers, and who like a good mystery, would like it too.

Margaret Peterson Haddix has a nice web site. It looks like she has a new series of books coming out called The Missing series. The first book is called Found. I'd like to read this one. The little video on her web site looks intriguing.

I really liked this book. Here's a link to Amazon.com

The Palace of Laughter

The Wednesday Tales, #1
by Jon Berkeley

This book was about a young orphan named Miles Wednesday, who sleeps in a barrel. One day, a tiger visits him and talk to him. He tells him that he can smell the circus in his blood. You see, he doesn't know who his parents are. He just knows that one day, he was left at an orphanage. When the tiger leaves him, he goes to investigate Circus Oscuro, which was moving through his town at the time.

While investigating the circus, he observes a young girl performing in the circus who is standing of top of a pile of all sorts or rickety objects. Suddenly, she begins to totter, and she falls through the air. Right before she hits the ground, she sprouts tiny wings and lightly touches down to the ground.

He finds out that the girl, whose name is Little, is being held prisoner. After helping her escape, he finds out that she has a friend who is being held prisoner at a place called the Palace of Laughter. They set out to rescue him, and end up having a great adventure.

I loved this book a lot. I'd recommend it for kids aged 8 and up.

Here's a link to Amazon.com.

Nancy Drew - The Triple Hoax

by Carolyn Keene

This Nancy Drew mystery is about three magicians who invite ten people up to the stage and take their belongings, then return them. A few days later, the people are visited by scam artists who sell them things. It turns out, the magicians are actually con artists, who use people's personal belongings to scam them.

They also kidnap a young girl Dolores, and then hold her for ransom. Nancy drew is determined to find Dolores and capture the Hoaxters. Nancy Drew finds herself chasing the con artists from city to city, trying to piece together clues. When she finally catches up with the hoaxters, she devises a plan to get their fingerprints and find out who they are, what they want, and how to capture them.

Will Nancy succeed or fail? Find out when you read this one-of-a-kind story.

I would recommend this book to all ages. There's excitement around every turn, and danger around every corner. It's one of the best Nancy Drews.

Here's the link. Enjoy.