The Mysterious Benedict Society

Hi everybody, I'm Smart Girl. Today, I'm going to review one of the most interesting and best children's books in a while, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Let's get started!

First, the synopsis. The book's main character is a young boy named Reynie who doesn't fit in at his orphanage. He has his own tutor, because he has already finished the orphanage's education program. One day he sees a mysterious ad in the newspaper asking about children interested in "special opportunities." After going through a series of odd tests, he meets four other children named "Sticky", Kate, and Constance. Together, they meet the mysterious Mr. Benedict, who sends them to the "Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened." The Institute is run by a man named Mr. Curtain. The most surprising thing about Mr. Curtain is that he looks exactly like Mr. Benedict. Who is Mr. Benedict, why did he send these four children to this institute, and is he Mr. Curtain? If he isn't Mr. Curtain, than who is Mr. Curtain, and why does he run this institute with "no rules?" To find out, READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, my opinion. I LOVE this book! It is long and interesting, which make for an excellent combination in a book. The characters are very interesting and lifelike. The author makes a very interesting cast of characters and has many puzzles and dilemmas for the characters and readers alike to solve. The book makes it very clear that the author is a clever person himself. He has now also written two sequels, so if you like this, you can read those too. The book is an excellent read for children and adults alike.

Best Read by Ages: 8 and up
Official Smart Girl Grade: A+

Just to let you know, I won't be reviewing any more Warriors because reviewing the books after the first one give spoilers, so I can't. That's all for now, Smart Girl.

Peter and the Starcatchers

Hi everybody, Smart Girl here. Today I have a very special guest.
Hola peoples of Earth.

My guest is Chick with the Purple Guitar. Today we will be reviewing Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Now let's get on with the post!

First the synopsis.This book is a prequel to Peter Pan. It tells the story of young Peter before he could fly, when he still grew up, and when he didn't even know his last name. He meets a girl named Molly Aster, and his simple life gets turned upside down. Especially with the infamous pirate Black Stache on the loose. We learn Peter's backstory as well as where Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys came from. How does Peter learn to fly, where does Tink come from, and who is Molly Aster? Read and find out!

Our opinions: I really like this book. It is a creative explanation of Peter Pan. It is funny and all the characters are very good. The plot is good and makes sense. I hope you read this book.
Three words: AWESOMEST BOOK EVER!!!!

Best Read by Ages: 8 and up.
Official Smart Girl Grade: A+
Official CPG Grade: A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That's all for now, from Smart Girl. I hope you liked it. Adios.

Number3Son: Lego Star Wars 2 (Gamecube)

Hi everybody, Smart Girl here. Today my brother, Number3Son, is going to do a post about Lego Star Wars 2 for the Gamecube. Let's get on with the show!

Now, in Lego Star Wars II, you have to play as many characters to beat this game. Always play a Jedi character when doing free play. I had to beat this game! I had another copy, but it was broken. I got another copy. Playing the Dagobah mission, however,was a risky task, but I got past it. My sister, Smart Girl, was stuck on this mission. When I was doing the Rescue-the-Princess mission, playing as Han Solo wasn`t an option. I decided to start off as Ben, but he disappears after a moment. In the second-to-last mission, there`s only one reason I like this fight: the music. As you get deeper into the fight, you have to continuously swap between Vader and Luke!


Always take my advice. If you get stuck in this game, fear not! I will help you. I don`t have the Gamecube version of the 1st game, but I do have its PS2 version.

I have Anakin (Ghost), too. In the first game, your exit-the-game place is Dexter`s diner, But now it`s the Mos Eisley Cantina. I even pummeled through Rebel attack. (Yoda, his ghost, and Anikin`s ghost are the only charecters that jump differently.)

Whatever happens, I have finished this post. Enjoy!

Brian Jacques Tribute

Hi everyone, Smart Girl here. As some of you may know, Brian Jacques passed away recently. I really liked him and I thought it would be nice to do a tribute. My tribute is going to have the books in chronological order and my grades for them (I might add a reason for some of them). Just a warning, there are a couple I don't remember very well, so my grades aren't going to be perfect. Now, on with the post!

1. Lord Brocktree: Official Smart Girl Grade: A
2. Martin the Warrior: Official Smart Girl Grade: A- (Way too sad)
3. Mossflower: Official Smart Girl Grade: A
4. Legend of Luke: Official Smart Girl Grade: A
5. Outcast of Redwall: Official Smart Girl Grade: A-
6. Mariel of Redwall: Official Smart Girl Grade: A+ (First and favorite)
7. The Bellmaker: Official Smart Girl Grade: A
8. Salamandstron: Official Smart Girl Grade: A
9. Redwall: Official Smart Girl Grade: A+
10. Mattimeo: Official Smart Girl Grade: A- (Too boring)
11.Pearls of Lutra: Official Smart Girl Grade: A
12. The Long Patrol: Official Smart Girl Grade: A
13. Marlfox: Official Smart Girl Grade: A+ (About time there was a good fox villian)
14. Taggerung: Official Smart Girl Grade: A+ (I love otters!)
15. Triss: Official Smart Girl Grade: A+
16. Loamhedge: Official Smart Girl Grade: A
17. Rakkety Tam: Official Smart Girl Grade: A (Would be A+, but lame villian death)
18. High Rhulain: Official Smart Girl Grade: A
19. Eulalia!: Official Smart Girl Grade: A+
20. Doomwyte: Official Smart Girl Grade: A-
21. The Sable Quean: Official Smart Girl Grade: A

Well, I got through them all. I have read every single book on that list, and those are all the Redwall books written. So, it's good that a new one is coming out this May. By the way, I will do a post about that when I've read it. That's all for now, Smart Girl.

Last Post of the Year!

Hi everybody, Smart Girl here. Well, as you know, this is New Year's Eve. I thought that it would be appropriate to do a top ten book list. So get ready for the Smart Girl Best Books of the Year!

10. The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan

9. The Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling

8. Taggerung, by Brian Jacques

7. Chasing Lincoln's Killer, by James L. Sawnson

6. Running Out of Time, by Margret Peterson Haddix

5. Redwall, by Brian Jacques

4. The Innocence of Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton

3. The Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling

2. Mariel of Redwall, by Brian Jacques

And now the big one. Who will win? Who will take home the award? Now, the moment you've all been waiting for!

And the winner is... Into the Wild by Erin Hunter!

In case you hadn't figured it out, I made a list of the books I reviewed, not the ones that came out this year. Happy New Year! That's all for this year, Smart Girl.

Warriors: Fire and Ice

Hi everybody, Smart Girl here. As said in the last post, I am currently obsessed with the Warriors series. Let me explain something about Warriors. There are three series I know about, and so we don't have too much Warriors, (is there such as thing?) I will do each series separately. This book -- Fire and Ice -- is the second book in the first series. Is that clear? Now, on to the review!

First, the synopsis. Firepaw is now Fireheart, because as you go from apprentice to a warrior, your second name changes. Fireheart and Graystripe get apprentices; Fireheart gets Cinderpaw and Graystripe gets Brakenpaw, brother and sister. Cinderpaw falls into the river and Graystripe saves her, but needs to be saved himself. He is saved by a RiverClan cat named Silverstream. After that, Graystripe starts slipping away from camp. Fireheart meets his sister, Princess, a kittypet, and eventually she has a litter and gives her firstborn, Cloudkit, to Fireheart to raise in the Clan. Tigerclaw says that ShadowClan has been stealing prey and wants Bluestar to come see, but she is sick. Cinderpaw says that she'll go, but Fireheart forbids her. Later, when he goes to see, he finds Cinderpaw injured by the Thunderpath (what the cats call roads). Will Cinderpaw live? What happened with ShadowClan? Is Brokenstar still leader? Do you want to find out? READ THE BOOKS!!!!!!!

Now, my opinion. I like this book, but not as much as Into the Wild because of something that will be revealed in a later post. I think that what happens to Cinderpaw is sad. This book is full of cats doing things in secret. I like how Cloudkit was introduced, because he's a good character later in the series.

Best Read by Ages: 8 and up
Official Smart Girl Grade: A-

These are great books, and I recommend them to anyone who likes cats. Be warned, though. THESE ARE WILD CATS! This means that housecats, called kittypets, are thought of as wimps and Fireheart is never allowed to forget his non-Clan heritage. Also, there is violence, and later in the series, some cats get seriously injured. That's all for now, Smart Girl.

Warriors: Into the Wild

Hi everybody, Smart Girl here. I'm going to review another series about talking animals. It's the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. I am currently addicted to this series, and have already started the second series of it. Anyway, let's get started.

First, the synopsis. Our main character is a housecat named Rusty. One day he decides to go out to the forest near his house. There, he meets another cat named Graypaw and then two other cats named Bluestar and Lionheart. Bluestar invites Rusty to join ThunderClan, which he decides to do. He becomes Firepaw and an apprentice to Bluestar, the Clan leader. Two deputies die and then a cat named Tigerclaw becomes deputy. Firepaw becomes suspicious of Tigerclaw. ThunderClan is having problems with ShadowClan and their bloodthirsty leader, Brokenstar. Brokenstar has driven WindClan out of their territory and RiverClan has given hunting rights to ShadowClan. Can ThunderClan stand up to ShadowClan and defend their territory?

Now, my opinion. I love this book. It's a great book to begin a great series. Firepaw is such a great character and I really like how Erin Hunter has day to day things and how organized and thought out everything is. If you read the Redwall books and liked them, I would recommend this to you.

Best Read by Ages: 8 and up
Official Smart Girl Grade: A+

That's all for now, Smart Girl.