Shelly's Book Blog

Things Hoped For, by Andrew Clements, is a sequel to Things Not Seen, which I read a few years back and really liked. In Things Not Seen, Robert wakes up one morning and realizes that he is totally invisible. Clements explores the fantasy of invisibility thoroughly, really delving into detail in answering the question most people have asked at some time in their lives: what would it really be like to be invisible?

Things Hoped For focuses on a new character, Gwen, who plays the violin and is living in New York City with her grandfather while she prepares for auditions to Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music. She meets Robert (of Things Not Seen) in a coffee shop one day and they realize that they met each other at the Tanglewood music festival the previous summer. Eventually, Gwen and Robert share important secrets with each other: she that her grandfather has disappeared, and he that he was once invisible. I enjoyed the adventure these two characters shared, and my only complaint is that the book was rather short (167 pages). The story continues, though, with Robert's girlfriend's story in the next book, Things That Are.

In Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things, by Lenore Look, Alvin tells readers about his life at home and at school. He is starting second grade this year, and his brother, Calvin, is starting fourth. He also has a younger sister named Anibelly. Alvin writes about many familiar topics, such as climbing trees, playing games outside with other kids, dealing with school bullies, taking piano lessons, and getting the chicken pox. Alvin is a little different from other kids, though, because his fear affects him so much at school that he cannot speak. He tries to cope by carrying with him at all times his PDK (personal disaster kit), but his inability to speak often creates difficulties. It's a good thing he has his good friend, a girl nick-named Flea, to help him out of the tough spots.
I enjoyed this story and will recomemend it to younger kids (about grades 2-4) who like light, funny stories. Alvin has a second book out this year: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters.

The Case of the Missing Marquess, by Nancy Springer, is the first in the Enola Holmes mystery series. Enola is the much younger sister of the famous Sherlock Holmes, but it turns out they hardly know each other, because for the last ten of her fourteen years she has been living in the country with her mother, while he has been in London. Enola is a wonderfully smart, energetic, and irreverent heroine whom many young girls will like and admire. Also, the writing is top-notch: well paced and laced with wonderfully descriptive language.
I was intrigued with the story from the first chapter, and the ending satisfies by providing just enough suspense and excitement. I really like to read about strong, smart female characters who refuse to be outdone by their male counterparts. All the more fun, then to read about Enola in 1800's England, where her disregard for the strict gener/social rules of the time shocks and dismays her oh-so-proper older brothers. I will recommend this to middle schoolers who like a good mystery, but especially to young women who enjoy a story where "girl power" rules.