The Little Woods

   Calista Wood transfers mid-year to a boarding school called St. Bede's. While most people go there so they'll have a better chance at getting in to a good college, Cally is there for another reason.

   Although it has been ten years, Cally has held on to the hope that she can solve the mystery behind her sister's disappearance. Clare had gone missing from St. Bede's, and rumor has it she was murdered. But was she really? Or is she still alive, living  in the little woods? 

   I have read some mixed reviews about this book. Many complain that the author used too many big words, that the mystery was easy to solve, and that the characters were flawed. I, however, really enjoyed it. I though the author's descriptions of people were awesome. I liked how she described them just as Cally saw them, which mad it easier to relate to her. The mystery was pretty easy to solve, but it was still enjoyable. My only complaint would be that sometimes the characters were unrealistic, and their reasoning didn't actually make sense. Otherwise, it was a good book. 

Wonderstruck

  Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. So when Ben finds a clue in his mother's room and Rose reads a headline in the newspaper, both children set out on a quest to find what they are missing. Their stories--Ben's told in words and Rose's in pictures--are set fifty years apart, and the ways they are similar and how they intertwine are sure to amaze its readers.

  I had heard that this was a good book and it sounded interesting, but when I saw that one story was in words and the other was pictures, I thought it wouldn't be good. Wouldn't it just be confusing and hard to follow?
  However I was very wrong. Wonderstruck is a wonderful book, and both stories are unique and engaging. Rose's story isn't at all hard to follow. And I liked how the stories were connected.

City of the Beasts

 Alexander Cold is sent to live with his fearless grandmother, and shortly after his arrival they set out on a journey to the dangerous forests of South America in search of the legendary creature known as the Beast.
   But as Alex and his new friend Nadia find out, the unexplored wilderness is full of secrets. With the help of the forest spirits, both of them are led on an unforgettable and thrilling adventure. 

   This book is a quick read and hard to put down. I like the author's writing style and the characters are all very amusing. I especially like Kate, just because she has such a unique personality. I love that Alex and Nadia could just be really good friends, and I also like how Alex started the journey as a grump and a picky eater but completely changed by the end of the book. I recommend for any fantasy lover!