Ghost of the Chicken Coop Theater

Ghost of the Chicken Coop Theater
Linda Salisbury
Tabby House
PO Box 544 Mineral, VA 23117
www.BaileyFishAdventures.com
978-1-881539-44-5, 2008
Reviewed for Reader Views Kids, 03/08.

Summer is almost here! What do you plan to do with all your summer days and nights? Bailey, Fred and Noah have come up with an idea how they could make their summer fun and get extra credit for their homeschool at the same time. Let's change the old chicken coop into a theater! Sparrow is a friend of theirs who wants to be a part of the production even though she is forced to be in a wheel chair. Noah and Fred are Bailey's adopted brothers. Sugar lives with her grandmother because neither of her parents care about her.

Their dad offers to help them convert the chicken coop into a theater. As long as they help with fixing it up for rehearsals and the production of the play. After all, they still have to do their regular chores. The play should have some history in it since there are alot of ghosts in the history of their area. But the kids also like space adventures. They enlist the help of Dr Robinson who helps them with a delightful and entertaining story. They came up with the idea of charging admission because they wanted to raise money for the chickens. They brainstorm their own ideas for a play and are given an old trunk full of costumes. It looks like they might have their own production after all.

Donise and Bean check into the Keswick Inn.Donise goes by the name of Lil' Bonbon and is immediately intrigued by the children's goals. However, since she was a child actress she decides that she needs to be the #1 director. She even rips up the script that the kids worked so hard to develop. Li'l Bonbon is brutually mean to all the cast members and certainly HATES Clover, Noah and Fred`s dog. Lil' BonBon walks off in a huff. Will the production be put together by the end of summer? One of the kids thinks that they can drive, but end up in the lake and need a rescue, is there a reason why Bailey's last name is Fish?
"The Ghost of the Chicken Coop Theater" is a great story! It uses some historical facts along with a great storyline. It shows kids who have an imagination for their own fun. It also serves as a lesson on how to deal with a bully even if the bully is an adult. I loved this book and didn't want to set it down until I was completely finished. "The Ghost of the Chicken Coop Theater" will have you cackling with laughter from start to finish.

The Secret Cave

Title: The Secret Cave
Author Lisa Marie Lanno
Published by I Universe, 2006.
ISBN: 978-0-595-40585-5.
Reviewed for Reader Views Kids, 9/07.

Joe and Ronnie are about to have a summer vacation unlike any other. They are 13 years old cousins and are looking for fun on the lake and hiking on the many trails. They have a couple of what they would call "pesky" sisters both older and younger. One day when they are investigating a trail, they make a strange discovery. There are giant rocks forming the shape of a skull. There is a hidden scroll that leads to more clues.

Of course, being adventuresome young boys they find themselves trying to discover what else lurks in these wooded trails. Day after day, they are getting closer to the solving of the mystery of this place. They don't want their parents to uncover what they have been doing so the older sisters also play a part in the adventure. Will they make it before vacation's end?

From page to page, you will find yourself wanting to not lay down "The Secret Cave" until it is finished. Lisa Maria Lanno is an awesome story teller. Each chapter builds on the last and you to try to try to figure out the mystery on your own. Its almost as if you are right there by Ronnie and Joe. Each chapter ends with a set of questions making you think and draw your own conclusions. "The Secret Cave" is a must have for kids who enjoy a great mystery. Its a novel which appeals to kids like because it is kids who are the main characters. I simply loved "The Secret Cave: and hope that Lisa Marie Lanno continues to write more books like one!

The Penderwicks

Have you ever gone on vacation to a different place and am not sure if you will like it? Summer vacations are supposed to be fun, right? What if there are some people who scare you with their harshness. If you have, you can relate with the Penderwick sisters. Their father, Mr Penderwick is a widower who is a botanist and has had to make a change in plans right before vacation. The home which he had always rented on Cape Cod has been sold. He rents a place with the name Arundel. The journey to the cottage begins on a wrong track, they get lost on their way.

Mr Penderwick, his daughters and Hound eventually find the place where they will spend the next three weeks. Rosalind is the oldest of the Penderwick girls at age 12 who experiences her first crush, and next is Skye who is 11. Jane is 10 and is quite an author and is trying to write a new novel this summer and little Elizabeth whose nickname is Batty is 4 and has a fascination with little wings. Little do they know when they move into the cottage that their summer vacation is going to be adventure filled and they will meet some very unique individuals along the way.

Mrs Brenda Tipton is the owner of Arundel and she lives onsite with her son Jeffrey. A frequent visitor to the estate is Dexter Dupree is has been dating Brenda. He is none too happy about her son being around much less her renting the cottage out to the Penderwicks. He labels them as troublemakers and tries everything he can to make the boy out to be what he wants him to be. He tends to think that Jeffrey belongs in a military school. Brenda doesn't take the time to listen to her son's needs or plans for the future. . He and the Penderwicks become fast friends and find themselves in much mischief together.

The hired help at the estate add to the delight of this summer story. Cagney is the hired gardener and is gaining a wealth of knowledge in botany from Mr Penderwick. He has two pet rabbits who can be quite mischievous on their own. Rosalind clearly is experiencing her first crush on Cagney. Churchie is a loveable old woman who serves as cook for Brenda and Jeffrey.

Will Jeffrey finally have his opportunity to get his mother to listen to what he wants for his life? How will Mr Penderwick be able to handle all of his girls and their unique personalities. This will definitely be a summer they will never forget!

"The Penderwicks" is an excellent book for children ages 8-12. It is very easy to see why it is a National Book Award Winner! From cover to cover, the story will keep you entertained. It has mischief, mystery, summer love and the challenges of girls who are growing up all in the story. This is a must read for all girls who enjoy a great story and treasure their summer vacations!