Murder At Midnight

Murder at Midnight is a mystery novel by the award-winning author, AVI.  This novel is set in Italy in the year 1490, which also affects the vocabulary and vernacular in the story.  While AVI is so well-known for writing many different genres, this mystery novel is sure to keep readers on their toes!  The book is 254 pages, so it is a shorter read that moves quickly.  The events that take place in the novel only span a little less than a week in time, so the novel is very fast-paced.  

Fabrizio is an orphaned boy who has recently been placed by city of Pergamontio in the home of Sophia and Magnus, a magician.  Fabrizio has not been there long, but he can already tell he is not well-liked by his master, but found favor in the mistress Sophia.  Fabrizio tries hard to earn his master's attention and affection, but without much success.  He works hard on his chores around the home and works diligently in his studies to learn to read, always grateful to the couple for taking him in.  But one evening at Magnus's magic show, a man in a black cloak startles Fabrizio as he is collecting money from the audience to tell him that his master is in great danger.  It is the next day that mysterious papers begin circulating through the city that declare the king unfit to rule and encouraging a revolt to take him out of power.  The papers are quite mysterious - written in a beautiful font, each paper is identical to another.  As hundreds of these papers appear throughout the city, the citizens are appalled at each one and how identical they are.  The only answer to their likeness can be magic.  The king, who has forbidden magic in the city, is certainly unhappy about the attack on his leadership and to the throne, as well as Magnus's use of magic to create them.  Fabrizio, in an effort to save his master from scrutiny, tries his best to race through the city and collect the papers to destroy them.  But he is seen by the king's soldiers, who believe he is distributing the treasonous papers at the request of his master.  Fabrizio is arrested and then taken to the castle to stand before the king himself.  The king then sends guards to Magnus's house to arrest him for treason.  Fabrizio is immediately sentenced to death as a message to the citizens of the city to show the king's authority.  Magnus will stand trial before the king in an effort to spare his own life.  Fabrizio knows his master is innocent, but how can he prove it?  Can he do it in time to save himself and his master, Magnus?      

Murder at Midnight is a great mystery novel for middle school readers, as well as upper elementary readers.  Again, the style of writing, vernacular, and word choice make this novel better suited for grades 5 and up.  Fans of mystery novels will enjoy this read - but you must pay attention to all the details to figure out who is planning this treasonous plot to overthrow the king!  Both guys and girls will enjoy the action in this novel and its fast pace.  While the book does include a fictitious country in a land ruled by a king and queen set in a time long ago, even readers not usually a fan of fantasy novels will enjoy this book.  The book does bring up an interesting concept of technology and how advancements in technology can make people uneasy and uncertain.  AVI is an amazing writer and his style and clever use of well hidden clues will surely have all readers hanging on to each word to see if Fabrizio can save himself and see who is after his master, Magnus.  

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson is a realistic fiction novel that is perfect for middle school readers.  If you are looking for a "funny" book, look no further!  James Patterson is a very well-known author who has written hundreds of novels, but most recently started to write youth fiction.  The novel is long with 283 pages and 76 chapters.  However, there are LOTS of illustrations throughout the novel that help the pages turn much faster than other novels this size.  This novel is the first in James Patterson's "Middle School" series.  

Rafe Khatchadorian is starting 6th grade at Hills Village Middle School and is NOT excited about it.  Lots of other people are excited for the first day of school, but not Rafe.  To Rafe, middle school sounds like more responsibilities and homework.  So to spice things up a bit, Rafe comes up with a brilliant plan with his best friend, Leo: Rafe is going to break EVERY rule in the HVMS Code of Conduct.  The operation is called PROJECT R.A.F.E. - Rules Aren't For Everyone.  Together, Leo and Rafe come up with the rules (no hurting other people), how the game is played, a point system, and how many "lives" Rafe has before he loses the game.  Rafe decides to kick off the game with a bang by breaking one of the biggest rules on the very first day of middle school: he sets off the school's fire alarm!  Rafe certainly begins to catch the attention of his classmates, his teachers, and the administrators - all who have their eye on Rafe.  But he has also caught the attention of the school's bigger, older bully: Miller.  As if that were not enough, Rafe's antics have also caught the attention of "Bear," his mom's fiance that lives with them.  Rafe and Bear have never gotten along, but now Bear is fed up with Rafe as he progresses through the game.  Can Rafe beat his and Leo's game and break all the rules in the Code of Conduct before the school year ends or will Rafe find himself in more trouble than he is prepared for?

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is a great novel for ALL middle school readers.  It is even appropriate in language and content and difficulty for upper elementary readers as well.  Both guys and girls will enjoy this novel, but especially the boys.  I picked up this novel because so many of my students ask for a "funny" book when they come to me for a recommendation and I think this novel is a perfect fit for those readers.  However, don't think this novel is all laughs.  Rafe's life isn't easy and his family situation isn't the best.  The story also includes several unexpected twists and turns for the reader!  This is also a great transitional novel for students who shy away from "long" books or students who enjoy graphic novels.  The pages turn quickly with short chapters and graphics.  Patterson's style of writing helps the reader feel like he/she is a part of the story and one of Rafe's friends.  It is Patterson's writing style that makes this book comical, along with Rafe's ridiculous shenanigans, of course.  Readers who enjoy this novel and want to continue with Rafe on his journey through middle school may also enjoy his other novels in this series that follow: Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!, Middle School: My Brother Is A Big, Fat Liar, Middle School: How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill, Middle School: Ultimate Showdown, and more!