Wolf Rider by Avi
Plot Summary: Andy Zadinski picks up a phone and a man (Zeke) says that he has killed a woman (Nina). As Andy is talking his friend, Paul, arrives. Andy writes a note telling Paul to contact the police and have them trace the number. After the call the police, Andy's father and Paul all think the call must have been a joke. Andy is reticent to let the call go because of his mother's death a year ago. Andy finds that there is a Nina at the college where his father works and that Zeke might be Dr. Phil Lucas at the same college. Andy begins to push Dr. Lucas into meeting Nina, with the hope of obtaining evidence on Dr. Lucas. However, Andy's plan backfires and Dr. Lucas kidnaps Andy and takes him into the woods where he plans to kill him. Luckily, Andy breaks free from Dr. Lucas's car,because Dr. Lucas forgot to put the parking break off and the car rolls down the hill. Dr. Lucas is killed in the car crash. Andy does not tell his father, but his father figures out the truth when he finds a cuff link Dr. Lucas use to wear.
My Impression: This is an exceptional novel. I am bowled over by how well it was planned and executed by Avi. I have not read any of Avi's other novels but I hope they are as well written as this one. This book could have just as easily been placed in the mystery section of a book store or library. However, Wolf Rider is not just an edge of your seat thrill ride. The novel nails the emotions of a teen coping with the death of a parent and the emotions of a parent handling a mixed up teenager. These background stories of the characters provide the emotional weight lacking other YA novels, as well as ratchet up the suspense. The novel feels a little dated since there is no mention of cell phones or the Internet, but that is a minor flaw.
Reviews: Do you enjoy reading twisted stories about mysterious phone calls, a murder that is yet to happen, and a mysterious man who is suspected to have murdered someone? If you do, then you will enjoy the book Wolf Rider by Avi. This is a compelling story about a 15 year old boy named Andy who got a mysterious phone call from someone called Zeke, claiming to have killed someone named Nina Klemmer. The strange thing is that Zeke hasn't actually killed Nina, yet. Can Andy stop Zeke from murdering Nina before it is too late?
http://www.buildingrainbows.com/bookreview/reviewid/19139
On an ordinary evening, just as he's about to leave for a party, 15-year-old Andy Zadinski receives a phone call from a stranger that changes his life. The caller, Zeke, confesses to the murder of a young woman named Nina Klemmer. Andy immediately calls the police, who shrug it off as a gag or a crank call. But Andy persists when he happens to meet Nina, who is just as Zeke described her. She takes his warnings as harassment, however, and everyone now thinks that Andy himself made up the call. His attempts to ferret out Zeke and protect Nina, while compromising his own safety, make for an exciting tale of the terror lurking beneath everyday surroundings and behind ordinary events.
http://martsubhub.lib.wv.us:8000/kcweb/kcContent?isbn=9780027077605&type=review&controlnumber=+++86013607&referedby=titlelist
Suggestions for Library Use: Avi's suspense novel would be a great book for a mystery book club. Or, perhaps merely a suggestion to a teen as a possible good read.
Cam Jansen and the Snowy Day Mystery
by David A. Adler
Plot Summary: Computers are missing from Cam’s school. Cam uses her photographic memory to help solve the case. Cam, short for camera, remembers the license plate of the get away car. Cam uses her photographic memory to deduce how the computers were stolen. There were no wet foot prints in the computer lab and the shortest distance from the room was to the teachers parking lot. Cam gives this information to the principal who passes it along to the police. Another case solved for Cam Jansen.
My Impression: If you have read one Cam Jansen book you have read them all. I completely understand why the concept of series are so popular. If you care about the character it is fun to revisit them again and again, but there can be too much of a good thing. Mr. Adler wrote 18 books in the Cam Jansen series and in everyone Cam uses her photographic memory to solve the mystery. Knowing that how could anyone read all pf the books.
Review:
This is a good example of realistic fiction because everything is realistic and yet never actually happened. Cam is the main character and she is a flat character who has a photographic memory. We know she's the main character because of the author's information and her interactions with her friends and others. She's a very quality girl. The plot is easily identifiable with the beginning scene set up at the school, the conflict with the stolen computers, and Cam solving the mystery at the end for the resolution. Media: Watercolor and oil pastels
http://www.librarything.com/work/298918
Today I am going to write about Cam Jansen and the Snowy Day Mystery. David A. Adler wrote the book in 2004. That's when Kathy was born! There are 57 pages in this book. The book is about three computers stolen and Cam is trying to find the thieves. Cam thinks she solved part of the mystery.The book is about Cam trying to solve a mystery. The mystery is about three stolen computers. Cam's. Eric's and Danny's computers were missing. Danny cannot be trusted to go in the hall with Cam and Eric. But he still gets to go. Danny always goes with Cam and Eric. At the end of the story, Cam and her friends found the computers. Cam and her class ate ice cream for a reward.I think the book is perfect for me. The book is a mystery book. Cam says "click" to remember stuffs she saw. That's how she solves mysteries. Cam's real name is Jennifer. When she was a baby, people called her Red because her hair was read.I don't think I have the whole entire set of Cam Jansen yet. I think I only need one more book. I like reading mysteries. I can borrow the only book I need at the library or the media center at my school. There are a little set of Cam Jansen books. I can look to see if there is a books I want. All I need is "Cam Jansen and Cat napping Mystery".I recommend the Cam Jansen's series to first and beginners of the second graders. Is going to write more about Cam Jansen's books in the future. I think boys and girls should read it. They are very good mystery books. Lots of kids at my school read Cam Jansen. The media center at my school has Cam Jansen books! I think Cam Jansen is a little famous. Everyone seems to know Cam Jansen!
Posted by Sarah at 4:57 PM
http://sarahhappylife.blogspot.com/2008/02/cam-jansen-and-snowy-day-mystery.html
Suggestions for Library Use: Since the Cam Jansen series is intended for younger readers and are relatively short, this series could conceivably be read at the library during a story time. A Cam Jansen book club could also be formed.
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