Knights of the Lunch Table

The Dodgeball Chronicles by Frank Cammuso

Title: Knights of the Lunch Table: The Dodgeball Chronicles
Author: Frank Cammuso
Series: Knights of the lunch table
Recommended for: Grade 4-6
Pages: 144
Call Number/Link:  GN J CAM V. 1
Synopsis: Artie opens a mysterious locker at Camelot Middle School and ends up in a dodgeball game with the school bullies.
Review: “Knights of the lunch table” is a retelling of the King Arthur story with a grade school twist. Artie King is a new student at school. Instead of pulling the stone from Excalibur, Artie opens an unopenable “magic” locker. The story is clever in its retelling with most of the elements of the Arthurian legend here in one form or another. It is a decent yarn, though not particularly deep. I would recommend it for grades four through six. The colorful characters make it a possibility for reluctant readers, although the language is a bit complicated.

 

Lost in Paris

Title: Lost in Paris                  
Author: Cindy Callaghan
Series:
Recommended for:  3rd thru 6th grade girls
Pages: 165
Call Number/Link:  J FICTION CALLAGHAN

Synopsis:  “Gwen Russell is thrilled to hear she will be heading to Paris with her family. Even though the main reason for the trip is to see her three older brothers play lacrosse, Gwen and her Mom have plans to tour the city when they can — As soon as they land, Gwen is swept up in the city she has always wanted to see, and even meets a cute boy named Henri. If that wasn’t enough excitement, Gwen finds out that her all-time favorite band is playing a one-night only concert in Paris—and there are tickets available to the sold-old show for three lucky people. The catch? Fans who want a golden ticket have to work for it via a scavenger hunt around the City of Light.” — Provided by Amazon.

This is one of our new J Fic choices, which is why I chose it. Since I am used to reading adult fiction or picture books, it took a little adjustment to reading a book geared for later elementary school or early middle school – the difference being depth of material.  I thought the story was okay but not wonderful.  The is a fun, quirky character who helps Gwen in the hunt around the city for the tickets.  I did not like that the adult tour director abandoned her group to go in search of the tickets.  It would probably be a good recommendation for the 3rd or 4th grade girl – older if their reading level is a little lower.  I am sure they would enjoy it.

 

Fly Away

Title:   Fly Away
Author:   Patricia MacLachlan
Series:   —
Recommended for:   Grades 2-5
Pages:  108
Call Number/Link:   J MacLachlan, P.

Synopsis:   While in North Dakota helping her Aunt Frankie prepare for a possible flood, Lucy finds her voice as a poet with the help of her two-year-old brother Teddy, the rest of their family, and a few cows. 

Rating:  ****

 

 

My comments:

I liked Fly Away.  It was a nice story and Lucy and her little brother Teddy had a lovely, affirming relationship.  (It was reminiscent of the special bond that Meg and Charles Wallace share in A Wrinkle of Time.)  Life for their family isn’t perfect.  For one thing, Lucy can’t sing – and everyone else in her family can.  And their mother looked away for just a moment and Teddy was gone – having quietly disappeared without a trace just as the river is rising and everything is flooding.  Everything works out fine.

I liked this book, but I’m not sure of it has universal kid appeal.  It’s a great choice for kids who like gentle reads and happy endings.  Kids who like scary stories and lots of suspense will want to read something else.