No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman

I really wasn't sure about reading this book.  I like Gordon Korman's books, but this one didn't stand out to me.  My mom insisted I try it anyhow and I am really glad she did.

Wallace Wallace is the most honest person you will ever meet. Ever since he was little, he has told the truth and nothing but the truth. One day, his truth telling abilities go too far when he tells his English teacher what he really thinks about the about an assigned book, which happens to be their teacher's favorite one Old Shep My Pal.

As his punishment, he has to serve detention at the play rehearsal for Old Shep My Pal until he writes a proper book report. As he serves detention, he uses his truth telling skills to give his opinion and ends up changing the play from the boring original to what he thinks it should be.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. The storyline, the action, the emotion, it all just clicked for me. I loved how every chapter and every part was told by a different character resembling a different point of view. I liked how Wallace's truth telling skills were good, but sometimes it backfired on him.  The characters were so real and how they were described showed what they looked like in my head. I really hope Gordon Korman writes a sequel to this one.

I Survived ... Series by Lauren Tarshis

The "I Survived" series is about fictional kids living during real live events like the sinking of the Titanic and the Great Chicago Fire. In each one, you learn about the actual event that is going on and the characters in it.  Besides being good reads, these books also teach you a lot about what was happening at that point in time.

Some of my favorites are:

I Survived The Battle of Gettysburg - In this book, Thomas and his little sister, Birdie, are born and raised slaves. One day, they run away and march with an army to war.

I Survived Hurricane Katrina - In this book, when Hurricane Katrina hits, Barry and his dog are stuck on an overturned car to wait out the storm.

I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor - In this book, a boy named Danny is trapped on the Hawaiian shore at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attack begins.

I loved all the books and hope the author comes out with more. There are currently 15 books in the series and a side series called I Survived True Stories.  I think these stories would appeal to both boys and girls who enjoy history or historical fiction.

Jackie Ha-Ha by James Patterson

I wasn't sure how much I would like this book when I first picked up. The pink cover with girl as the main character almost turned me away, but since it was by James Patterson, one of my favorite authors, I decided to give it a shot.

This is about a girl named Jacky Hart who is telling her daughters about her childhood as Jacky Ha-Ha. She loves to make people laugh, even with her stutter, but makes a promise atop a ferris wheel to try and be more mature. With her mom gone and dad doing something fishy, Jacky and her sisters are left running and cleaning the house. How will Jacky survive when the new English teacher wants her to try out for the school play and make a speech in public?

Even though this book did not appear to be what I normally read, I really enjoyed it. I like how, even though she lived with many sisters, the littlest one was practically in charge. I love how the funny storyline also had some mystery in it. I think that this book is meant to show that you should you can't accomplish anything without believing in yourself first. I'm excited to read the next one when it comes out and I think all kids who enjoy James Patterson books will enjoy this one too.

Galactic Hot Dogs 3: Revenge of the Space Pirates by Max Brallier

For my birthday in August, my aunt and uncle sent me the first two books in the Galactic Hot Dogs series.  They also pre-ordered me the third.  It was released on 24-October and arrived in my mailbox the same day.  I spent last night staying up to finish it!

In the third installment of the Galactic Hot Dogs series, Humphree has just won the hot dog eating contest when a space pirate named Rani kidnaps Cosmo.  Rani is the same space pirate who originally brought him to space and she's back to finish out her plans.  While on Rani's ship, the Looting Star, Cosmo dreams about his past and how he first came to space.  When he realizes that the reason he was kidnapped was for his rubbery friend, Goober, he starts to get suspicious.  Who is it that really wants Goober and how will Cosmo protect his friend?

I really loved the first two books in the series already, and I think this one is even better.  I love how it shares Cosmo's origin story which he doesn't want to talk about in the first two books, and I like knowing how the whole adventure came to be.  Even though there were several new characters introduced in this story, the author did a great job explaining their stories so the reader could easily follow along.  It's also funny how Cosmo uses Earth references and the space people don't understand what he is saying.

Kids who enjoy books like Stick Dog series, Creature from My Closet series, or The 13 Story Treehouse series will also really love the Galactic Hot Dogs series.  It's a hysterical read that keeps you turning the pages.  I highly recommend reading this series in order, and I hope the author writes a fourth book in this series.

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

The Cay by Theodore Taylor is the second book I read for literature this school year.

With war raging around him, including the seas, Philip and his mother race to escape their island home and head back to the United States.  When the boat carrying them to safety is hit by a torpedo, his whole world changes.  With only Timothy, an elderly African sailor, and Stewcat, the cook's pet cat, as his companions, Philip must learn how to survive on a deserted island while he hopes for a chance of rescue.

While I was assigned The Cay to read as a school novel, I really enjoyed it.  I'm looking forward to reading the sequel which tells Timothy's backstory and Philip's future.  Even though it is a single book, each chapter felt like its own individual story and helped add on to the big picture.  Philip's island adventure felt like it could have really happened and it was interesting to see how his relationship with Timothy changed over the story.  I also liked how Stewcat was always there when Philip needed him, like he was Philip's loyal pet.

Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O'Donnell

At the start of the school year, Sam Gibbs' sixth grade class mysteriously acquires a hamster.  Having a class pet will be fun, won't it?  When the hamster begins to growl, Sam decides the perfect name for the hamster is "Hamstersaurus Rex"!  Everyone is extremely psyched about their new furry friend, but not even 10 minutes into class, Hamstersaurus Rex escapes.  Sam and his best friend Dylan are determined to find him before the school bully does first.  But when the hamster gets into the Dino-Blast Power-Packer Ultimate Muscle Mix, that's when Hamstersaurus Rex begins to change and the real adventure begins.

I really loved this book!  I thought it was adorable because, after he ate the muscle mix, Hamstersaurus Rex turned into his own breed of tiny dinosaur.  For a small guy, he could roar really loudly and he could eat over 100 times his own weight!  Although there weren't a ton of pictures, the ones in the book really helped tell the story and added to the humor.  My favorite picture was when the illustrator compared the main character's hair to a narwhal or a sad unicorn.

I discovered that this is the first book in a series.  The second one is out already and the third comes out in January.  I can't wait to read both of those.

Rocket and Groot: Stranded on Planet Strip Mall! by Tom Angleberger

Tom Angleberger is one of my favorite authors and Guardians of the Galaxy is one of my favorite movies.  When I saw that Rocket and Groot: Stranded on Planet Strip Mall was out, it was on my must-read list.

This book is about Rocket and Groot, two members of the Guardians of the Galaxy and former criminals, and their tape dispenser, Veronica.  After getting attacked by space pirahnas, the three crash land onto an uncharted planet called "Planet Strip Mall".  Searching for food, water, dry cleaning services, and a way off the planet, the trio wanders into many stores where they repeatedly get attacked by robots and toilets.  How will they survive?  Will they get off the planet?  And will Rocket ever get to use the bathroom again?

I think was one of Tom Angleberger's best books, and I really like his other books!  I thought it was really hilarious that these former master criminals were getting beaten by robots and toilets.  I also loved how it was Rocket and Groot, and a tape dispenser, that were fighting the battles.  The doodle-style of the illustrations was perfect match for the silliness of the story as well as telling parts of the actual story.  I think kids who like Marvel would really like this book and I can't wait to read the sequel!