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fairy-whispers

Synopsis

A necklace, a movie, and a murder...

Identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are thrilled when they land small parts in a movie being made in Sweet Valley. The film is based on the true story of the mysterious death of twelve-year-old Lillian Keller, and it's being filmed at the creepy old Keller mansion.

One Stormy afternoon, Jessica finds an old necklace on the beach near the mansion. She puts it on, and that very night she has a terrible nightmare about a girl falling to her death. She becomes convinced that someone - or something - is trying to tell her that the mysteryof Lillian Keller's death is far from solved. But can a necklace really hold the secret to a murder?

Comment

I never read the Sweet Valley books as a girl, but now I think I really missed out on something. These are some great books and this is a fine example. If you like ghost stories, thrillers, mysteries or family realationships, you'll love this book. If you have daughters, don't let them miss out...get them some Sweet Valley books!

Synopsis

In a death-defying blend of past and present, Bruce Coville has gathered together a phantastic host of ghosts.

Discover the mystery of the ghost who couldn't let go, why the leader of the school choir had to come back for a final chorus and whether the Pooka can ever be captured.

Bury yourself in twelve spooky stories to be read after dark...

Comment

This was a fascinating book of short ghost stories for children. Though I didn't find the stories too scary, I did enjoy reading them, especially those told from a ghost's point of view.

Synopsis

Boggis, Bunce and Bean are just about the nastiest and meanest three farmers you could meet.

nd they hate Mr Fox. They are determined to get him. So they lie in wait outside his hole, each one crouching behind a tree with his gun loaded, ready to shoot, starve or dig him out. But clever, handsome Mr Fox has other plans!

Comment

Roald Dahl always has a good tale for the kids and this one is no dissapointment. Short enough to read to your kids and easy enough for beginner readers to read alone, everyone will love this hilarious tale about three nasty farmers being outfoxed by a fox!

Synopsis:

The three Pine Kids truly belong in the bushland. And they have nicknames to match - Resin, Turps and Colombine.

They like fishing for Yabbies, taming unusual pets, riding in the local show, and astonishing their teachers.

But their usual adventures are nothing to the dire events that take place when somebody lets loose the February Dragon - the dreaded bushfire.

Comment

This book is a great example of Australian Literature. We follow the adventures of a group of children living on a farm in the Australian Bush. Colin Thiele's uniquely Australian writing style perfectly captures the character of the Australian Bush as he relates the adventures of these three young larrikins. But their greatest adventure is yet to be faced - the most terrifying danger of the hot, dry Australian summer - the February Dragon. A great book for kids and adults alike.

Synopsis

"The boy was waiting at the end of the jetty, the boat held steady against the stumps. I took his hand; it was cold and moist to the touch and when I felt that chill I hesitated for a moment..."

In this spine-chilling collection of weird and spooky stories, nothing is as it first appears.

What could possibly be dangerous about the smiling boy rowing his boat across a country lake? A pretty picture in a suburban sitting room? An old-fashioned child playing a never-ending game of cards in a derelict house?

Comment

I finally got around to reading this. This is a book of short stories. Very creepy short stories. This book was written for teens but adults will enjoy it just as much. I really enjoyed reading this and I got a few chills along the way.

Synopsis

"There was on kid, Alison Ashley, and because no one was sitting next to me, Miss Belmont put Alison Ashley there. And from the first day I hated her."

So says Erica Yurken when the oh-so-perfect Alison Ashley turns up at Barringa East Primary...

Comment:

Unbelievably, I managed to live the first thirty years of my life without ever reading this book. Since it is a classic of Australian children's literature, I thought I'd better read it before I give it out at the xmas fair. I'm not sorry I did. This was a great story of what it is like to be jealous of someone and embarrassed about your own family. Definitely worth the read.

Yurk is jealous of Alison, who is elegant, poised, well dressed, has healthy lunches and lives in a nice house. Even as she hates Alison, Yurk strives to be like her. Until she finds something about Alison that she is not jealous of. A great book for tweens and teens.

Synopsis:

Stacey's in luv again! Wes looks like a movie star, he's a genius, and he has the most gorgeous smile in the world. (Or so Stacey thinks.) There's only one problem - Wes is Stacey's substitute math teacher.

The other Baby-sitters think that Stacey is in way over her head. But Stacey is in way over her head. But Stacey can tell that Wes is paying extra attention to her. And it's not just because she's raising her hand with all the right answers.

Can love conquer all? Stacey hopes so!

Comment:

Who among us hasn't had an unrequited crush at some point in our lives? This book deals with this issue in a way tweens and early teens can understand.

Synopsis:

Stacey can't wait! Her best friend from New York, Laine Cummings, is coming to Stoneybrook for a whole week. Laine can spend a day at SMS, attend club meetings, and maybe even go to the Valentine Dance.

But the minute Laine arrives, things don't go as planned. Laine thinks Stacey's sleepover with her friends is so childish. And she can't believe Stacey's still into baby-sitting. Laine's used to hanging out at high school parties. She even has a fifteen-year-old boyfriend!

Stacey doesn't want to lose her childhood friend. But Laine's growing up way too fast for Stacey. Is this the end of their friendship.

Comment:

Growing up and growing apart are issues we all have to face sooner or later and this book deals with these issues admirably. I'd recommend this to tweens and early teens.

Synopsis:

4th November, 1501

I hardly like to make a mark on the beautiful, blank pages of this book, but I must. Mama gave it to me as a parting present so that I could write about this journey from Spain to England. "Don't waste it." she said. "Just write the important things." I'm sure Mama would be impressed by the great procession in which we have slowly made our way from the West Country to London. Horses and carriages, litters and baggagewaggons and attendants, soldiers, courtiers, ladies, pages, jesters - and Catherine herself, Catherine of Aragon on her way to wed Prince Arthur, oldest son of the King of England.

Comment:

This story, written in diary format, gives an insight into what it must have been like to live in the household of Catherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII. Residing in a strange land and subject to the whims of a King, life could not have been easy for Catherine and her household.

This is a great way for kids to learn about history. The main story is followed by a timeline and some pictures from the period. Worth getting for your tweens.