Mystery on Pine Lake by Tamra Wight

 

Mystery on Pine Lake

Wight, Tamra.  Yarmouth, ME: Islandport Press, 2013.  9781934031865

Quantitative Reading Level: 

This book has not been released yet.  It is being marketed as a book for ages 8-12.

Qualitative Reading Analysis: 

I would rate this as Middle Low on the “Text Complexity: Qualitative Measures Rubric for Literary Text”.  It is a realistic fiction book with a single layer of complex meaning.  Although it is a mystery it is not very complicated.  The language is contemporary.  The mystery is about loons but readers are given facts about loons at the beginning of each chapter which helps in understanding the text.

Summary:

 

Cooper’s family has always loved the outdoors so naturally Cooper though running a campsite would be great for the family.  Unfortunately the campground is so busy that he only sees his dad when they are cleaning bathrooms or picking up trash and his mom only seems to need him to watch his younger sister.  Then Cooper discovers that the loons, which help draw tourists to the campground, are in danger of losing their eggs.  With the help of a new friend, Packrat, Cooper discovers a way to save the loon’s eggs and unravels the mystery of who wants the loons gone.

Author’s Website: http://www.tamrawight.com/

Personal Thoughts:

This was a really enjoyable read.  It was not a complex mystery by any means but very appropriate for grades 3-5.  The length of the text was perfect for the intended age and it had just enough mystery and suspense without going too far.  My students especially will enjoy that it is set in Maine.

Subjects/Themes: Family, Man vs. Nature

Character Names/descriptions:

Cooper:  Cooper loves nature and wants to be a game warden someday.  He believes someone is out to harm the loons and is determined to find out who and protect the loons.

Packrat:  Packrat is a seasonal camper and Cooper’s new friend.  He helps Cooper solve the mystery and save the loons.

High Interest Annotation: Who would want to harm some loons?  It is up to Cooper and Packrat to find out.

 

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

    

The Screaming Staircase

Stroud, Jonathan.  New York: Disney Hyperion, 2013.  9781423164913

Quantitative Reading Level:  

This book has not yet been officially released.  It is listed as a grade 3-6 interest level.  

Qualitative Reading Analysis: 

 I would rate this as Middle Low on the “Text Complexity: Qualitative Measures Rubric for Literary Text”.  The text structure is fairly straightforward but it does have a few flashbacks that interrupt the normal flow of time.  In addition, the book is written by British author and takes place in England so the setting will be slightly unfamiliar.  The “problem” which is an infestation of ghosts and other paranormal activity make this a fantasy novel and although it has a modern feel it is obviously an alternate reality.  

Summary:

 

There is a big “problem” in London.  All sorts of ghosts and other paranormals have invaded.  There is a curfew and many companies are making money selling iron products to repel the ghosts.  In addition, there are many companies that employ children, with their natural psychic, to fight and get rid of the “problem”.  Lockwood and Company is run by Anthony Lockwood who is himself a child.  The only other employees are George and Lucy.  After an unfortunate accident during a case Lockwood and Company are forced to undertake a suspicious and dangerous case in order to save not only their reputations but also their company.  

Author’s Website: http://www.jonathanstroud.com/index.htm

Personal Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book.  It had good elements of mystery and creepy without being too over the top.  I figured out some of the mystery pretty early on but I don’t think the intended audience would catch on as early as I did.  Readers will enjoy Lockwood and Company taking on the ghosts without adult help and how the characters figure out and solve the mystery. 

Character Names/descriptions:

Anthony: Anthony is the leader of the group.  He is willing to take some risks to save his company.  He is able to “see” the ghosts before the others.

George:  George is the brains of the group.  He does a lot of the research into the history of the various haunted locations.

Lucy:  Lucy has the ability to “hear” the ghosts.  She has made some mistakes in the past and feels she has a lot to prove.

Series Information: This is the first book in a new series called Lockwood and Co.

High Interest Annotation: Lockwood and Co. feel that they have a lot to prove both to themselves and to the other adult-run companies.  Have they taken on more than they can handle?

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

   

The 5th Wave

Yancey, Rick.  New York: G. P Putnam’s Sons, 2013.  9780399162411

Quantitative Reading Level:

 This is considered a YA novel.  I was unable to find a grade level equivalent.  The reviews have generally said grades 9 and up or age 14 and up.

Qualitative Reading Analysis:

I would rate this as Middle High on the “Text Complexity: Qualitative Measures Rubric for Literary Text”.  The main reason for this analysis is the shifts in point of view.  The book is told from both Cassie and Ben’s point of view.  The point of view changes with chapters and parts but it can sometimes take a few pages to figure out who is taking.  In addition, the whole book relies on the concept of trust so although the reader may be suspicious of different characters it is hard to know who and what to believe.  There are also flashbacks and other shifts in the timeline of events.

Summary:

 

Cassie, her dad, and her brother Sam have survived the 1^st Wave when “the visitors” arrived and knocked out all the power.  They survived the 2^nd Wave when major earthquakes triggered tsunamis and destroyed coastal populations.  They survived the 3^rd Wave where a plague was spread by the birds.  In the 4^th Wave “Silencers” are picking off the survivors.  But what is the 5^th Wave?  Can Cassie survive?  Can she save her brother?  

Ben was a high school football star with a great smile.  He too survived the first 4 waves.  Now he is being trained to detect and destroy the aliens.  Or is he?

Cassie, Ben, and the other survivors must decide who to trust and how to survive this alien invasion where the enemy looks like us, knows how we thinks, and maybe IS us.

Author’s website: http://www.rickyancey.com/ (has book trailers as well)

Personal Thoughts: 

 This was a great book.  I enjoyed it very much.  I appreciated the differing points of view and the way the book messed with my head.  Although, I felt like I knew what was going on relatively early in the book it did not lesson my enjoyment of the book.  Yancey even had a few more surprises to throw in.  I felt the book ended in a satisfying manner but wasn’t too surprised to see that it is the first in a trilogy.  I look forward to reading the other two books.

Subjects/Themes: Losing Hope, Overcoming, Will to Survive

Series Information: This is the first book in a trilogy.

 

Character Names/descriptions:

Cassie – Cassie has survived the 1^st – 4^th Wave but has just witnessed the death of her father by the same people who took away her brother.  Not knowing who to trust, she only knows she must find her brother and somehow survive the 5^th Wave.

Ben – A high school football star with a great smile he has also survived the 1^st – 4^th Waves and is now being trained to hunt and kill aliens.  Now he has become “Zombie” an unfeeling soldier.  But what if everything he believes is a lie?

Evan – The mysterious stranger who saves Cassie’s life may not be what he appears.  Where does he go at night and how does he know so much about her?  Can Cassie trust him or is he a one of them?

Sammy – Cassie’s younger brother who was taken away to safety.  Or was he?  Now he is being trained with “Zombie” to hunt and kill the aliens.

High Interest Annotation:  They survived the 1^st-4^th Waves but can they survive the 5^th when the enemy might just be ourselves?