The Sable Quean

Hi chaps! Oh, H'I say, it's been a jolly long time since Smart Girl has done a bally post, wot wot! Well, now I'll cut the act and get down to business. (By the way, that is the accent of most Salamanstron hares. They are in most Redwall books.) Ironically, the main character of the next book is a Salamanstron hare. So now, on with... The Sable Quean.

First, the synopsis. In this one, the main character is Buckler, the Salamanstron blademaster, the best since his grandfather. He wants adventure, so the badger lord sent him on a journey. In the course of the trip, they find out that someone is kidnapping young ones from all over Mossflower. It turns out to be Vilaya, the Sable Quean. Buckler finds out that Vilaya's commander, Zwilt the Shade, killed and robbed his brother, nearly killed his sister in law, and kidnapped their young children. So, will the young ones be rescued, and will Buckler avenge his brother, or will all be lost? If you read it, you'll find out.

Now, my opinion. I think that this one is in the middle. I really like Buckler, but I just don't like this one as much as others, like Redwall and Mariel of Redwall. It just doesn't have that zing feeling that the others do. However, that doesn't mean that it's a bad book. It just isn't in my top five. So, I still recommend it for people who like good books.

Just as an unrelated note, I won't be doing any of the Twilight series, that's all for now, Smart Girl.

Mariel of Redwall

Hi everybody, Smart Girl here. Today you're going learn about Mariel of Redwall, by Brian Jacques, my favorite one in the whole series. So, let's get started!

First, the synopsis. In this one we meet the self-named "Storm Gullwhacker,"a young mouse who was washed ashore around Salamandstron. She finds her way to Redwall Abbey, where she meets another young mouse named Dandin. While at Redwall, she regains her memory (which she had lost) and learns that she is named Mariel and that she was kidnapped by Gabool the Wild.

Now, my opinion. I think that this is the best Redwall book in the entire series. It has a very funny line one time she's at Redwall. The line is when a dubbin (a term for very young Abbey dwellers) asks if Mariel wants to play. She "plays" by throwing a ball and then hitting it into the air with her Gullwhacker and it lands on another Redwaller. When the infuriated Redwaller asks who threw it, Mariel replies, "I hit the ball high. It's called playing. D'you want to play?" Mariel is a great character as well as all the others. There are some really funny moments. Therefore, I recommend this to anybody who wants a good book.

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


Have a great summer, and that's all for now, Smart Girl.

Redwall

Hi everybody. Long time no see. Sorry about that. So, anyway, for my first summer post I am going to review Redwall. Not the series, the book by that name. So, on with the show!

First, the synopsis. In this one, the first of the series, there is a giant rat named Cluny the Scourge who is heading toward the fair abbey of Redwall. Meanwhile, at Redwall, there is a young mouse named Matthias who wants to become the abbey warrior in what everybody thinks is a time of peace. However, it soon turns out that Cluny, who everybody thought was just a fairy tale, is very real and wants to conquer Redwall. Redwall has the spirit of Martin the Warrior, and he is the only one who can pick the true abbey warrior. Who will he pick? And can they defeat the horrible Cluny the Scourge? If you want to find out, READ THE BOOK BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU!

Now, my opinion. I think this book is REALLY, REALLY GOOD. It is the perfect blend of action, slight romance, and humor. If you don't like romance, don't worry, it's not all kissy-kissy. I really like, and really hate how Brian Jacques goes back and forth between the good guys and the bad guys (something he does in all the books). I really hate it because he'll get to something exciting, and when you turn the page, you're reading about someone different. This is really annoying when you first read the book. Note: this is the first one he wrote, so start with this one, then read the others in any order at all. Just so you know though, there are others that are chronologically before this, and you can start with others. In fact, I started with a different one. In short, this is a good book.

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

Just before I go, I'm going to tell you that I will do some of my favorite Redwall books, but not all of them. That's all for now, Smart Girl.

Another New Post!

Hi, Smart Girl here! Guess what I've got for you today. Yep, you got it, a new post! Today I'm going to review G.K. Chesterton's The Innocence of Father Brown, so let's get started!

First, the synopsis. This is a collection of short stories, all featuring Father Brown, a small Roman Catholic priest who solves crimes. In Father Brown, there is only one repeating criminal, Flambeau. He commits quite a few crimes, but in the end, Father Brown always catches him. The Innocence of Father Brown is the first set of Father Brown stories Chesterton wrote.

Now, my opinion. I LOVE THIS BOOK! It is the best collection of Father Brown stories that Chesterton wrote. To spark your imaginations, those of you who haven't read it, let me give you some of the titles of the stories. Do The Invisible Man, The Queer Feet, and The Eye of Apollo sound good to you? If so, you are awesome. Those are my three favorite Father Brown stories I've read. Now, you might be thinking, well, those sound kind of scary. They aren't. That's why I love Father Brown so much. He's never in real danger, because nobody ever tries to kill him or anything similar. There are other collections of Father Brown, like The Wisdom of Father Brown. A good version of The Innocence and The Wisdom is the Barnes and Noble Library of Essential Reading. Now, before I wrap this up, let me tell you something. After you finish reading this post, go to a bookstore and buy some version of this book.

Best Read by Ages:Anyone who likes good, mild mysteries
Official Smart Girl Grade: A+

Before I go, I would like to note that I love Chesterton. Also, I'll just be doing random things, not like long series. That's all for now, Smart Girl.

A New Post!

Hi, Smart Girl here. First, before I get started with this post, I would like to thank all of you for giving great suggestions, I'll be using them for quite a while. Now, out of all of your comments, the next thing I'm going to review is ..... The Speckled Band by Arthur Conan Doyle. It is the first, and so far only, Sherlock Holmes story I've ever read. Now, on with the show!

First, the synopsis. In this story, there is a woman who asks Sherlock Holmes for help. (What a surprise!) Sherlock Holmes accepts, (Another surprise!) and the woman tells her story. I won't give all the details, but basically her sister died and her dying words were "The speckled band!" (I wonder why the story's called The Speckled Band?) In the end, Sherlock Holmes figures out the mystery. (Amazing!)

Next, my opinion. Before I state my opinion, I want to say that this is my personal opinion, and nobody has to agree with me. I'm going to be straight with you. I HATE this book. When I read it, it gave me nightmares. I woke up in the middle of the night a bunch of times. If you like this book, I don't have a problem with you, but I completely disagree with you. That's pretty much it, I just plain hate it.

Best Read by Ages: Nobody, unless you like scaring yourself silly.
Official Smart Girl Grade: F-
Both of those are my opinion, so you can read it if you want.

Now, before I go, I have two more audio book recommendations for you. First, The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, or The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. That's all for now, Smart Girl.

An Important Message from your Friendly Neighborhood Smart Girl

Hello, Smart Girl here. I am going to need some help from the commentators, because I do not know what I want to review next. So, if you have an idea, please post a comment on Smart Girl's Guide To Books under this post. However, I do not guarantee that your ideas will be used. A note about visitors (like Smart Guy) I am not telling them, or giving suggestions about what they review. So, they will review whatever they want, so don't blame me if you don't like their post. Now, about your audio book question, I personally very strongly recommend any of the Harry Potter series read by Stephen Fry. They are great to listen to, because they aren't dull and monotonous. I believe he read all of them, not sure, so get your favorite one! I hope that you have a nice visit with your relatives in Virginia.

So long, Smart Girl.

A review by Smart Guy

Hello, Smart Guy here, today I will be (you guessed it!) reviewing a book. Namely the ABC Murders by Agatha Christie. This is a (you guessed it again!) murder mystery. In this book people are getting murdered like so: person named say, Billy Bob is killed with a random weapon in a town starting with "B". Of course it starts with "A". So our heroes: Hercule Poirot (main character) and Captain Hastings (narrator) have to solve the mystery.
Now, my opinion: this is a good book which I failed to figure out. (Wrong person for the WHOLE book.) So it will be rather gripping.
Age Recommendation: Don't ask me, I'm not a good judge of these things.
Official Smart Guy rating: An "A" or a "B" or a "C" [Ha Ha Ha!]

Smart guy, signing off!