Sizzling summer reads

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This article was published 29/07/2023 (980 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Free Press Summer Reading Challenge for Kids kicked off a month ago, and it didn’t take long for eager readers to submit reviews of the books they selected from the three curated lists created by McNally Robinson Booksellers.

We asked Summer Reading Challenge participants to read the books with a critical eye and offer feedback for other kids, answer questions such as what they did and didn’t like, say whether the book is recommendation-worthy and rate it out of five stars. As you’ll read below, they really came through with some candid critiques.

The Summer Reading Challenge runs through to the end of August, so there’s still time for readers to join in. Visit Kidsbookclub to register for free and to learn more about all the books on the reading lists for each age group (7 to 9 years, 10 to 12 years and 13 to 15 years). Once registered, you’ll receive email updates including instructions and deadlines for submitting reviews as well as reading guides for each book. Any questions can be sent to bookclub@winnipegfreepress.com.

 

Ride On
By Faith Erin Hicks
First Second, 224 pages, $19
Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

Ride On is a graphic novel about a girl who switches barns because she gets in a fight with her friend. The art was OK. I liked the ending, when they became friends again. It was a fun book to read. This is a good book for older kids. Girls might like this book. ★★★★ of 5 stars

— Elly Lyons, age 8

Personally, I would give Ride On 4.5 stars. This book is about some kids who ride horses at a stable. I like pretty much everything about Ride On. It was very funny at some points and very dramatic at other points. The story was relatable because the characters spoke realistically, and the illustrations seemed realistic too. My favourite part was when all the main characters got along and watched a show together. I would recommend this book to people who like horses, sci-fi, drama and comedy. ★★★★1/2 of 5 stars.

—Samuel B., age 11

I didn’t like this book because it focused a lot on unimportant scenes that don’t really get mentioned, and it goes through the important scenes very quickly. I didn’t like the characters because they were very rude and mean to each other, and they would hurt each other’s feelings and pretend like nothing happened. Another thing I didn’t like about this book was that it was all based on a show called Beyond The Galaxy. If you haven’t watched that show, the book can be very confusing at times. At the end of the book there were still a lot of unresolved problems that make you confused about what will come next.

I would recommend this book to very young readers who don’t like reading things that are too complicated. ★ of 5 stars.

— Sophie Lyons, age 11

 

Pluto Rocket: New in Town
By Paul Gilligan
Tundra, 88 pages, $14
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Pluto Rocket is about a pidgeon named Joe Pidge who finds an unusual creature and becomes friends with it. I thought it was funny that Joe Pidge had French fries on his hat! It sure was funny when Pluto Rocket had a hat that was a dog on his head! I liked that Pluto Rocket made friends friend with Joe Pidge. The book was interesting. There weren’t any parts that I didn’t like. I think any age people would like this book. ★★★★★ of 5 stars.

— Natalie Neufeld, age 6

Pluto Rocket: New in Town is an awesome graphic novel by Paul Gillian. Pluto Rocket comes on a secret mission to learn about earth. When Pluto Rocket lands, she meets Jo Pidge — a pigeon who says he knows everything. This book the start of their adventures. I give this book five stars. I like that they are both really funny. It makes me want to read about them more. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series! ★★★★★ of 5 stars.

— Stephanie Boon, age 8

It is a graphic novel type of book about an alien called Pluto Rocket who lands on Earth to learn more about our planet. Pluto Rocket meets Joe Pidge, a city pigeon, and at first tries to copy the hat Joe Pidge is wearing to blend in. Joe Pidge doesn’t realise that Pluto Rocket is from outer space and teaches Pluto Rocket some less than nice things, but Pluto Rocket always seems to turn them into nice things. Examples are like when Joe Pidge is arrogant, but Pluto Rocket turns that into being overly nice to everyone.

In the end Joe Pidge seems to have learned some good habits, while Pluto Rocket is finding that the people on Earth are generally very nice. I really enjoyed this book and rate it as three stars — it was very good, but not quite great. ★★★ of 5 stars.

— Rafaela, age 8

 

Apartment 713
By Kevin Sylvester
HarperCollins, 240 pages, $22
Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

I really liked this book because the story was very good and it made you just want to find out more. One thing I didn’t like about this book was that it didn’t give you much background information about the characters.

For example, when Jake moves into his new apartment where the story takes place you don’t really get to know how he got there or what situation he is in. The book also doesn’t tell you about any of the characters’ looks or personalities.

My favourite part of this book is when the answer to the big mystery falls into place and you finally get to know the reason for some things that didn’t make any sense before. I would recommend this book to people who like mystery books and like to learn about the past of places. Overall I would give this book a ★★★★ out of five star rating.

— Sophie Lyons, age 11

This book is about a kid named Jake who is living in an old, broken-down building named the Regency because his mom lost her job, and he doesn’t like it one bit. One day, as Jake was exploring, he followed a trail of kittens to an elderly lady’s apartment, then to the bowels of the building, followed by taking a part-time job assisting the custodian. Every day, Jake learns something new about the residents, and they start to grow on him.

Unfortunately, Jake has no idea what fate has in store for him. One day, a letter from the city arrives and Jake learns they have plans to demolish the Regency. Then, Jake is summoned to the mysterious apartment 713, which is off-limits. Somehow, Jake is sent to the past. With the help of his new friend and guide, Beth, Jake has to figure out a way to save the Regency.

I liked this book because it had a lot of interesting plot twists. You could spend your entire life trying to find all the secrets in the Regency and you would never be able to do it. People who like mystery, adventure and puzzles would enjoy this book. ★★★★ of 5 stars

— Bethany Neufeld, age 10

Apartment 713 is a truly amazing novel, written by a great author, Kevin Sylvester. The story is about Jake, who moves into a “dumpy” apartment building called the Regency. I put dumpy in quotation marks because, after making friends with the superintendent, Jake comes to really like his new home. Unfortunately, he soon learns that the Regency is scheduled for demolition.

One day, Jake enters apartment 713, even though he was warned to stay out, and he travels back in time where he meets Beth, who lived in the building many years before. At first, Jake cannot believe that he is in the past, and Beth cannot believe that Jake is from the future, but before long they become friends and work together to find a way to save their home.

I like this story because it has elements of time travel in it. I personally love time travel stories, but it is the story of a deep friendship that makes it a really good book that I think everyone should read! ★★★★★ of 5 stars.

— Atticus Penner, age 10

 

Skull Cat and the Curious Castle
By Norman Shurtliff
IDW Publishing, 112 pages, $20
Buy on mcnallyrobinson.com

 

This book is about a tiny and scared cat who explores a scary castle and makes an unlikely friend. I liked that it had some unusual creatures in it like whipping turtles and goblin smoke bombs. Sometimes I just like things that are abnormal. I liked that it had comic books inside a comic book; it’s kind of funny that way. Skull Cat’s broken-off sword was very weird and a tiny bit humorous.

There wasn’t really anything I didn’t like about the book. I think young comic book readers from ages 7 to 8 who don’t mind a hint of horror would enjoy this book. ★★★★ of 5 stars.

— Alex Neufeld, age 8

 

The Grace of Wild Things
By Heather Fawcett
HarperCollins, 368 pages, $22
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Grace has never been good at much — except for magic. It’s not like anyone actually believes her. When all the other kids are adopted from the orphanage, she makes up her mind and runs away to find her own home and becomes a nearby witch’s apprentice.

This turns out to be quite the struggle, as she and the witch make a deal. If Grace can learn the 150 spells in the witch’s grimoire, she’ll become the witch’s next apprentice. But, if she fails, she loses her magic and the only thing she has ever been good at. But soon the witch’s past threatens Grace’s future. Will Grace be able to keep the home she’s built? Or will she lose it all along with her magic?

A wonderful story with many twists and turns. This story is inspired by Anne of Green of Gables and is a great read for anyone looking for a similar storyline, or a good read for a rainy day. I really enjoyed this book, so I would give it four out of five stars. I really liked the magical element in it, and the creativity of the story. But I flew through the book only to find there were no more books in the series. If you want a short, pleasant read, then this is the book for you! ★★★★ of 5 stars.

— Amy B, age 12

Grace runs away from her orphanage, where nobody wants her to find a new life as a witch’s apprentice. There she finds herself making a deal with the witch: if Grace can learn 100 and a half spells from the witch’s grimoire she will become her apprentice but if she fails, the witch will take her magic. As Grace and the witch become closer, Grace is learning new spells with the help of her new friends but will she master them all or will she lose all her magic?

I really liked Grace’s outgoing personality, which is similar to Anne’s from Anne of Green Gables. I could tell that it was inspired by that book because some of the scenes were similar to the ones in Anne of Green Gables. One thing that I didn’t like as much was the ending. I wished that it was more complete because I still have questions about Grace and her magic. I would recommend this book to people who like Anne of Green Gables and fantasy books. ★★★★ of 5 stars.

— Lyla Bemister, age 12

 

Ghostlight
By Kenneth Oppel
Tundra, 400 pages, $24
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Ghostlight starts in the year 1839. Keeper Strand is the keeper for Gibraltar Point Lighthouse. But he also uses the lighthouse light to spot ghosts climbing up the shore and obliterate them. One night, Keeper Strand takes his daughter Rebecca and shows her how he destroys ghosts. He also shows her how he fits an amber lens, called a ghostlight, into the lighthouse beam. The lens amplifies the beam and destroys more powerful ghosts.

One day, an evil and very powerful ghost named Nicholas Viker, sneaks up into the lighthouse. Viker grabs Keeper Strand and Rebecca and flings them both off the edge of the catwalk to their death. In the second chapter, the time is back to the present day. Three friends, Gabriel, Yuri and Callie, find the ghost of Rebecca Strand and help her in her quest to find the ghostlight to destroy Viker. The story really heats up when they finally find the ghostlight, but Viker is not easily defeated.

I really recommend reading this book because it is very interesting. I was on the edge of my seat with excitement when they found the ghostlight and were about to use it on Viker! I don’t have a favourite part because the whole book was excellent! ★★★★★ of 5 stars.

— Atticus Bolton, age 11