Not quite as good as the original but still enjoyable.

Another excellent offering from Riordan.

Just as good as the original.

So good and so important.

Noah's mom and dad pick him up one day at school, and tell him that he is now going to go by Jonah, and that they are leaving immediately for the German Democratic Republic (GDR), also known as East Germany. He has no time to say goodbye to his friends. Additionally, his birth date has been changed, and his parents' names too. Why is the move so sudden? Why so secret? Can he speak German clearly enough with his stutter? When Noah gets to the GDR, he makes one friend Claudia (which comes out sounding like Cloud). This book was an interesting look at the period when the Wall was about to come down. I loved the secret files at the end, which provided historical context at the end of each chapter.

A good continuing book with a cliffhanger ending.

Not my favorite Nielsen book, but an interesting story about how our fear of diseases can cause us to separate ourselves into groups. I loved reading about Ani and Weevil, although I wasn't necessarily sure the romantic moments were necessary (few as they were). I also thought the ending was a little too neat, but I suppose if you can't have unrealistic happy endings in fantasy, then when can you?

Normally I'm not a fan of Alice-in-Wonderland-type stories, but I really enjoyed this one. Alice Alexis Queensmeadow is almost completely pale in a world where color is prized. She doesn't feel like her family really notices her, except for her father. Unfortunately, her father has been missing for the past three years. He left their country of Ferenwood under mysterious circumstances. Oliver, another boy Alice's age, is willing to help her find him. Soon, they go off on an adventure that will change them forever.

When it comes to Wonderland-type novels, I normally find them too weird for me. This one, despite the weird rules of Furthermore, worked for me. I found Alice to be very relatable, and I liked the way her relationship with Oliver progressed.

Beautiful poetry about the seasons, focusing mostly on ordinary days.

I liked Beans a lot as a character. He felt very real. I could see how a lot of us might react, if someone came in and said "Hey, your town could be a tourist attraction!" I also really enjoy stories that seem to be little vignettes of life. I would have liked characters to fess up to their mistakes a bit more often, but I think the reality of situations often are the way this book depicted them.

Note: I have not read "Turtle in Paradise" and I had no problem reading and understanding this one. No prior knowledge necessary.

Thank you Paris Public Library for letting me borrow this book!