More Summer Reading Book Reviews

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief

by Wendelin Van Draanen

Sammy Keyes is a seventh grader who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. She is in her Grandmother’s apartment, which she is not allowed in because it is for senior citizens always, when she sees a burglary take place with her binoculars. The only problem is she thinks the burglar saw her. To make matters worse she waved at him! Later that day she sees a bunch of police cars outside the scene of the crime, The Heavenly Hotel, and stops inside. She tells the police what she knows, but they don’t believe her. They ask for her address, but since she is not allowed to live where she does, she gives the address of her rich friend, Marissa. Throughout the book Sammy, with the help of Marissa, tracks down clues. By the end of the book they’ve found the thief and are able to help the police catch him. Review by Daniel

 

Death by Bikini

by Linda Gerber

This book is told through the eyes of a young teenage girl named Aphra Connolly. Aphra lives with her father at a quiet island resort. The location of the island makes the resort attractive to a lot of fake-namers (people hiding secrets, celebrities, you name it) so Aphra doesn’t find it strange when a family comes to the resort. What she does find strange is when her father doesn’t tell her the family’s name so she can check them into the hotel or search information on them. She also finds it weird that her father is putting them up in room 40 even though it is under construction. Aphra just assumes it’s just a famous family that is going to a lot of trouble to act like they’re not there, to be invisible. They are until Adam Smith, the only child of the mysterious family, saves Aphra from a tidal wave. Since there aren’t any other kids her age, Aphra befriends the boy. He seems sweet and kind and is good-looking – nothing out of the ordinary. Or so she thinks until the body of a young woman staying at the resort is found dead at the beach. Her bikini straps are tied tightly around her neck. Everyone thinks it was the water that did it, just an innocent drowning accident. Aphra, on the other hand, has other ideas. Does the murder (as Aphra presumes) have something to do with the Smith family? If so, does that mean the killer is still lurking around the resort? Since her father will not tell her anything about the Smiths Aphra decides it is up to her to discover the truth about the Smiths and the murder. She can tell no one of her plan. As she sets out for the truth, Aphra learns that when it comes to murder, you can trust no one. Review by Olivia

 

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (Ranger's Apprentice Series #10)

by John Flanagan

The Emperor of Nihon-ja is the final book in the Ranger’s Apprentice series. The story begins when the characters Will, Halt, and Alyss are in the land of Toscana negotiating a peace treaty between Toscana and Arrida. They decide, though, to depart for Nihon-ja to find their friend Horace who went there in the previous book. They set out on the journey on their friend’s new ship, Wolfwill. When the friends get there, they find out that a clan has rebelled against the Emperor of Nihon-ja Shigeru. They also learn that Horace has stayed to help the Emperor and is currently in Ran-koshi, a fortress. With some help, Will and his friends go and find him. They learn that Horace and Emperor Shigeru have enlisted the help of Kikori, which are timber workmen. With the snows protecting them, they have some time to train the Kikori against the rebelling warriors, but will it be enough? I would recommend this book to anyone who has read books 1 through 9 mostly because it is the final book. Overall I think this is not the best book in the series because the main characters are not in much danger. The majority of the book is planning a war and that, at times, can be rather boring. At the end of the planning phase, though, there is a battle, and that is quite interesting to read. In addition, it has a very nice and romantic ending. I think the series wraps up very nicely in the final chapter. Review by Derek