The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Despereaux is the youngest in a mouse family.  He is different than the other mice, he does not scurry or cower or do anything else a normal mouse would do.  One day while trying to learn how to scurry, Despereaux meets Princess Pea and instantly falls in love.  Unfortunately it's a big no-no to fall in love with a human when you're a mouse.  Despereaux finds out that Princess Pea has been taken down to the dungeon by an evil rat and he knows is the only one who can save her.  But can he?

I first read The Tale of Despereaux when I was in second grade and I still read it often. I know you will too.

Young Bibliomaniac gives The Tale of Despereaux 5 STARS!

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

It's almost moving day and Timothy, Mrs. Frisby's son, becomes sick.  Mrs. Frisby needs help from the rats of NIMH, an highly intelligent species who were close with her husband.  You see, Mrs. Frisby's husband mysteriously died recently and the rats of NIMH just may be their only hope.  Can the rats of NIMH help her?

Mrs. Frisby is a character to remember; she's brave and willing to do whatever it takes to help her son.  Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is mysterious and suspenseful and forces you to keep reading.

Young Bibliomaniac gives Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH 4 STARS!

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Hatchet is an adventure story.  Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single- engine plane he's flying crashes. The pilot is dead, and nothing is keeping him alive besides a hatchet and his instincts. When I first looked at this book I thought it would be a boring classic written by some old guy. Within the first paragraph, I was totally hooked and couldn't stop reading. Both hunger and wild animals threaten Brian through this battle to survive.

When my grandpa read this book he liked it as much as I did. So I guess Hatchet is great for both kids and adults. Oh, and it's won the Newberry Honor Award.

Young Bibliomaniac awards Hatchet 4 STARS!