It’s late in the afternoon because I wanted to finish  The Windy City – IQ 5 before I wrote the post.  I wanted  to see if it was something you’d like reading.  I think it is!  IQ is a series of six books by Roland Smith.  The series is full of action, mystery and excitement.  Q (short for Quest) and Angela have recently become step-brother and sister.  Their parents are musicians   and their new songs have rocked to the top of the charts.  The band is touring the United States.  Q and Angela are traveling with them, but something is up.  A terrorist ghost cell seems to be following them wherever they go.  Philadelphia to Washington DC to Kitty Hawk and San Antonio and now Chicago.  Somehow Boone, who manages the roadies, takes care of things.  He’s not what he seems.  Is he FBI, CIA, something else?  Is he who he says he is?  He shows up in the strangest places and in the strangest way.   Can he be trusted?   It will take until the last book to know. (I’ll be starting that one tonight!)  The six books are all one story, so you do need to begin with the first and read on.  IQ is fast paced and exciting, full of espionage and gadgets. If you’re up for an action-packed challenge make sure you give IQ a try.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I  discovered a new series called, Starring Jules.  She’s in second grade and full of sass and pizzazz.  This shows at the diner when she teaches her little brother, Big Henry, how to make a “fizzy ice-cream cone” and sings a snappy jingle to encourage him along.  What’s extra-amazing about this moment is that the person sitting behind Jules in the next booth is Colby Kingston, a film agent.  She thinks Jules will be just right for a commercial.  After speaking with her parents, Colby invites Jules to an audition and one thing leads to another and another. The three books published so far in the series, Starring Jules (as herself), Starring Jules (in drama-rama) and Starring Jules (super-secret spy girl), share how Jules does at the audition and what happens next as she launches her acting career.  Along with acting, Jules is still in school.  And because of this, she has to deal with ex-friends, teasing, bossiness, jealousies and all the things that come with being part of a school, and a classroom and a family. Jules has a lot to show us about ourselves.  She is a lot of fun.  Enjoy!

Also fun are Detective Gordon – The First Case by Ulf Nilsson and The Top Secret Diary of Celie Valentine – Friendship Over by Julie Sternberg (author of Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie – with similar appeal.)