The Last Resort, Book 3: Ghost Light, Sara Farizan

     Scary title, right? Perfect for this time of the year! I'll admit up front that I did not know this was book three of an ongoing series until I had started reading. Normally I would not review a book in a series unless it was either the first one, or I had already reviewed the first one and wanted to read more. The Last Resort is being written like the older 39 Clues books were - a different author for each book, but tying together characters and situations from book to book. The first book in this series was written by Erin Entrada Kelly, whom I love and read everything I can by. This book was written by Sara Farizan, who I have not read before, but it seems she was picked by Kelly and Jasmine Warga, the author of the second book, so I was hopeful that Ghost Light would be good, scary fun!

    Ugh, was I wrong. I finished this, because it wasn't so terrible that I couldn't finish it - which rarely happens, but does once in a while. But part of why I finished it was because I really trust author Kelly, and kept hoping this book would get better. It didn't. It had scary characters, and scary scenes, but nothing, and I mean nothing, flowed in this story. I think I may have dozed off once. Or maybe I saw a squirrel out the window and lost my place in the story. Maybe twice. I know Farizan has other books, at least one of which has won an award, so I won't say I wouldn't give her another chance with another story someday. But I can't recommend this one.

    I'm giving this 3 paws, one for the fact that this series is tied to Erin Entrada Kelly. Otherwise, 2 paws is about as low as I go for a book I have actually finished. On to the next (hopefully) great read!

I Am A Good Dog, by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko

     What do you get when you pair Newberry Award winning author Katherine Applegate (Odder, The One and Only Ivan) with Newbery Honor winner Gennifer Choldenko (Al Capone Does My Shirts)? But wait! Add in one handsome robot dog as the protagonist (main character) and many other wonderful (non-robotic) animals (and a few people, too!) and what you have is a beautiful, heartwarming book told through the eyes of Metal Head, the robot dog that will keep you turning pages even after it's time to go to bed!

    Metal Head lives at the rescue shelter with many other dogs hoping to someday be adopted. But the cast of dogs in this story are on the lower floor, which is where dogs go when it seems they may not ever find their forever homes. When young human Esme begins visiting regularly, Metal Head does everything he can to get her to adopt him and take him home. But Esme has her sights on another dog - Ghost - who has one yellow eye and one blue eye. With the help of Mouse (who really is a mouse, not a dog) and a cast of two-legged and four-legged characters, Metal Head cannot seem to catch Esme's attention, until...

    If you've read anything by either of these authors, you may have already decided to give I Am A Good Dog a try! They are two my favorite storytellers, and this book does not disappoint. I found out that this is one of three books in the Dogtown books - maybe the third one? I will definitely look for the other two, especially if they are anything like this one! The writing is suitable for any age reader, although it is recommended for grades 3 to 7. A strong 2nd grade reader could manage this, and even younger readers with the help of an adult. I wagged my tail all the way through this story, and I think you will, too! 5 paws!

Nat Again, by Maria Scrivan

     Another book in a series that I had not heard of before, but quite cool and fun to read! Nat is a very normal girl, living a very normal life, doing normal things that young people do when they are young - going to school, hanging out with friends, joining clubs, and being left off the invite list of the biggest party of the school year! Wait - how did that even happen? Nat doesn't know, and as she checks all of her actions, words and thoughts that might have gotten her left off of the invite list for the party of the year, Nat learns about "thought traps" and the importance of checking for the facts in every situation. 

    Well written and drawn by Maria Scriven, Nat Again reminds me of some of the more popular graphic novel series that you probably already know, like Raina Telgemeier (Smile, Sisters, Ghost, etc.) and Victoria Jamieson (Roller Girl, All Faire's in Middle School). Books like Be Prepared and Four Eyes also come to mind. Nat Again is very good - maybe a step below Telgemeier or Jamieson, but that could just be my bias of these other classics. If any of the above titles make your tail wag, try Nat Again - you'll likely keep wagging! 4 paws and a wag (for being the author and the illustrator)!

The Very Cranky Bear, by Nick Bland

     Very cute picture book alert! The Very Cranky Bear is one in The Very Bear series by author and illustrator Nick Bland, but the first I have laid my paws on. If the front cover doesn't make you smile and remind you of someone you know or have seen in your life, no picture will! The artwork is wonderful, and along with the rhythmic story this book made me want to go right back to the beginning and read it again. In fact, I asked my human to get another book from the series just to see if Bland has a one-hit wonder here, or if I'm just behind in my "very cute picture book" reading! I'm predicting the latter - that I'm just behind - but I look forward to catching up! 5 paws!

The Hungry Forest, by Kaela Rivera

     From the author of the Cece Rios series comes this newest, and very scary, book from author Kaela Rivera. The first thing I did when I finished this was double check on the recommended age range for this book, because my human found it in the children's section of the public library, but neither of us thought it was a book for younger readers! I was surprised to see it recommended for readers as young as 3rd grade...I have to say this seems much more of a solid middle grader read to me. 

    The Hungry Forest is a place at the edge of the town where brothers Ryan and Teddy live, and where there father went...and never returned. When Teddy thinks he hears is dad's voice calling to him from the forest, he goes in, and shortly thereafter Ryan goes in to find Teddy. Is anyone getting out of the forest alive? It wouldn't seem like it!

    As we enter autumn, I love love love to read some good scary stories, don't you? Goosebumps are always fun, and scary but not too scary. The Graveyard Book and Coraline, both by Neil Gaiman are some of my all-time favorites, although the first chapter of The Graveyard Book is pretty scary as well. There are some other one-off books I love, like The House in Poplar Wood by K. E. Ormsbee being one, but mostly they are older elementary or solidly middle grade reads. I don't think I would recommend The Hungry Forest to a 3rd grader, or even a 4th grader. Maybe a 5th grader...maybe? If you like scary books, this one will do it for you! But beware; it's pretty scary, and the monsters and such may stay with you long after you close the cover...4 paws!