Judy Moody Declares Independence
Judy Moody Book 6Megan McDonald (Author) Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)Candlewick
ISBN 9780763648510
eISBN 9780763652050
It was with great sadness that I read this book for it was the 10th and final current Judy Moody book for me to read. The good news is that I can read them again and this time I will likely do so in chronological order. The first time through, I read them randomly and each book is strong enough to stand alone. Judy Moody and her brother Stink are among my all-time favorite characters in children's books. I rank them up there with the Pevensie children in the Narnia books and with The Austin and Murry children in Madeleine L'Engle's books. These are characters I know I will visit again and again and will share with my children and if lucky, eventually my grandchildren. The Moodys are an amazing family as are their groups of close friends.
The chapters in this story are:
Bean Town, MOO-sa-chu-setts
Freedom (from Stink) Trail
Sugar and Spies
In a Nark
The Purse of Happiness
Huzzah!
The UN-Freedom Trail
The Boston Tub Party
Sybil La-Dee-Da
The Declaration of UN-Independence
Yankee Doodle Dandy
This book begins with Judy Moody and her family on a trip to Boston to visit some historical sites. Judy meets a girl from England and they become friends and commit to being pen pals. But Judy as usual ends up in a mood, and with all her historical perspective she decides to declare independence herself. With a trip to historic sites, a graveyard, a sailing ship, a bath tub tea party and water fight, this story is full of adventure and fun for the whole family. It is a great book and I can only hope that we get many more books by McDonald and Reynolds in the Moody series.
Books by Megan McDonald and Peter H Reynolds:
Judy Moody books:
1. Judy Moody
2. Judy Moody Gets Famous!
3. Judy Moody Saves the World!
4. Judy Moody Predicts the Future
5. Judy Moody, M.D. The Doctor Is In
6. Judy Moody Declares Independence
7. Judy Moody Around the World in 8½ Days
8. Judy Moody Goes to College
9. Judy Moody: Girl Detective
10. Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer
10a. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (Movie Tie-In Edition)
11. Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm
Judy Moody Activity Books:
Judy Moody's Double Rare Way Not Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do
Judy Moody's Way Wacky Uber Awesome Book of MORE Fun Stuff to Do
Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super-Sleuths
Stink Moody Books:
1. Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid
2. Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker
3. Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers
4. Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express
5. Stink: Solar System Superhero'
6. Stink and The Ultimate Thumb-Wrestling Smackdown
7. Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk
Stink-O-Pedia Volume 1: Super Stink-y Stuff from A to Z
Stink-O-Pedia Volume 2: More Stink-y Stuff from A to Z
Judy and Stink Books:
Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday
Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt
Stink and Judy Moody a Visual Bibliography
Books by Megan McDonald:
Sisters Club:
Sisters Club 1
Sisters Club 2 Rule of Three
Sisters Club 3 Cloudy With a Chance of Boys
Books by Peter H Reynolds:
The North Star
ish
The Dot
Rose's Garden
I'm Here
Bones
Terrifying Tales to haunt Your Dream
Edited by Lois Metzger
Scholastic
ISBN 9780545158916
This collection of seven short stories is all about the strange, the unusual and haunting. It is at times funny and at times frightening. From a story about a cell phone that seems possessed but wants to make its owner a better person, to a box of bones that speaks to a young boy about the same age as the skeleton within, this collection is the companion to Bites Scary Stories to Sink Your Teeth Into and both are excellent reads. The contributors are:
Todd Strasser
David Levithan
Elizabeth C. Bunce
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Richard Peck
R.L. Stein
Margaret Mahy
This was a fun collection to read. Much like children telling ghost stories at camp or during a sleepover, these stories are intended to stir up the imagination and they do just that. Lois Metzger does an amazing job of compiling a collection that can be read again and again.
Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express
Stink Moody Book 4Megan McDonald (Author)Peter H Reynolds (Illustrator)Candlewick
ISBN 9780763642341
eISBN 9780763651916
Stink Moody and his friends, Sophie and Webster, are trying to make a replica of the Great Wall of China using cereal boxes. But as they finish building it, it starts moving and as they investigate they discover it is making strange sounds also. The sound it is making is wee, wee, wee, wee. And the three children discover 3 Guinea pigs. And that is the beginning of a grand adventure of the 101 guinea pigs and the Great Guinea Pig Express. The chapters in this book are:
The Great Wall
One Hundred and None
Knock, Knock-Who's There?
Squeals on Wheels
The Guinea Pig Whisperer
And Then There Were Five
Virginia Beach or Bust!
This Little Piggy
All the Way Home
In this book, Megan McDonald and Peter H. Reynolds tell the story of a guinea pig rescue. They draw from a real rescue and road trip to find homes for animals rescued from labs where they were being mistreated. The story is hilarious and with 101 guinea pigs, Stink and his friends sure end up with their hands full. From the animals getting into a thermos of coffee and getting hyper, to being on the loose in Fur and Fangs pet shop, there is laughter at every turn and on almost every page. This is another great book in an awesome series. Go Stink Go.
Books by Megan McDonald and Peter H Reynolds:
Stink Moody Books:
1. Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid
2. Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker
3. Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers
4. Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express
5. Stink: Solar System Superhero'
6. Stink and The Ultimate Thumb-Wrestling Smackdown
7. Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk
Stink-O-Pedia Volume 1: Super Stink-y Stuff from A to Z
Stink-O-Pedia Volume 2: More Stink-y Stuff from A to Z
Judy and Stink Books:
Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday
Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt
Stink and Judy Moody a Visual Bibliography
Judy Moody books:
1. Judy Moody
2. Judy Moody Gets Famous!
3. Judy Moody Saves the World!
4. Judy Moody Predicts the Future
5. Judy Moody, M.D. The Doctor Is In
6. Judy Moody Declares Independence
7. Judy Moody Around the World in 8½ Days
8. Judy Moody Goes to College
9. Judy Moody: Girl Detective
10. Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer
10a. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (Movie Tie-In Edition)
11. Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm
Judy Moody Activity Books:
Judy Moody's Double Rare Way Not Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do
Judy Moody's Way Wacky Uber Awesome Book of MORE Fun Stuff to Do
Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super-Sleuths
Books by Megan McDonald:
Sisters Club:
Sisters Club 1
Sisters Club 2 Rule of Three
Sisters Club 3 Cloudy With a Chance of Boys
Books by Peter H Reynolds:
The North Star
ish
The Dot
Rose's Garden
I'm Here
Judy Moody Saves The World
Judy Moody Book 3Megan McDonald (Author) Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)Candlewick
ISBN 9780763648596
eISBN 9780763652012
Judy Moody gets better and better. With each book I read, I am more impressed with the storytelling abilities of Megan McDonald and Peter H Reynolds. Their ability to capture family life, with all its quirks, is amazing. They also do an incredible job of capturing friendships and a child's enthusiasm for something that grabs their attention. And in this book, that is protecting the environment. It all starts in science class and the section on the environment. The chapters in this story are:
Crazy Strips Contest
Batty for Banana Peels
A Mr. Rubbish Mood
Pigtoes, Pumas, and Pimplebacks
Beetle Emergency
Pond Scum
Luna Two
Batty for Band-Aids
Project P.E.N.C.I.L.
Batty for Bottles
The Winking Disease
Judy, as usual, gets herself into trouble. She wants to save the world. And she starts at home. Unfortunately she upsets her mother, father, and little brother Stink in her first attempt. Second, she tries to do something at school, but she ends up angering her whole class. But that leads to the idea for Mr. Todd's class 3T to collect bottles to plant trees in the rainforest. The class works together and they achieve some amazing results. To find out what, pick up the book and give it a read.
This is another wonderful book in a great series. And while most of the books have lessons about learning who you are and becoming better at being, this one focuses outward and has a lesson we can all learn from. Great story in an amazing series.
Books by Megan McDonald and Peter H Reynolds:
Judy Moody books:
1. Judy Moody
2. Judy Moody Gets Famous!
3. Judy Moody Saves the World!
4. Judy Moody Predicts the Future
5. Judy Moody, M.D. The Doctor Is In
6. Judy Moody Declares Independence
7. Judy Moody Around the World in 8½ Days
8. Judy Moody Goes to College
9. Judy Moody: Girl Detective
10. Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer
10a. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (Movie Tie-In Edition)
11. Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm
Judy Moody Activity Books:
Judy Moody's Double Rare Way Not Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do
Judy Moody's Way Wacky Uber Awesome Book of MORE Fun Stuff to Do
Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super-Sleuths
Stink Moody Books:
1. Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid
2. Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker
3. Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers
4. Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express
5. Stink: Solar System Superhero'
6. Stink and The Ultimate Thumb-Wrestling Smackdown
7. Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk
Stink-O-Pedia Volume 1: Super Stink-y Stuff from A to Z
Stink-O-Pedia Volume 2: More Stink-y Stuff from A to Z
Judy and Stink Books:
Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday
Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt
Stink and Judy Moody a Visual Bibliography
Books by Megan McDonald:
Sisters Club:
Sisters Club 1
Sisters Club 2 Rule of Three
Sisters Club 3 Cloudy With a Chance of Boys
Books by Peter H Reynolds:
The North Star
ish
The Dot
Rose's Garden
I'm Here
Right Behind
A Parody of Last Days Goofiness
Mr Sock and Nathan D. Wilson
(Not Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins)
Canon Press
ISBN 9781885767875
This book was written to be a parody of the Left Behind series. It had a great deal of potential and the concept was amazing, but the execution was a little flawed. I am not sure if it was Wilson's youth or inexperience as a writer that lead to the let-down. Or maybe it was having read many of his more recent books and finding his fiction, especially in the 100 Cupboards series, almost 'Tolkienesque', that I 
had such high expectations. Instead, I read something like a Christian version of a fraternity joke. The style was a little rambling, the story inconsistent and it constantly made reference to the fact that it was an end-times book - characters referring to what evangelicals would and would not accept in the writing and also characters talking about their character and its focus or intent. Overall it was a let-down. I read it because I set the goal of reading all of Wilson's books and I will read the sequel to this but I know he could have done so much more with it if he had written it today!
Books by N.D. Wilson
100 Cupboards:
The Door Before - 100 Cupboards Book 0.5
100 Cupboards - 100 Cupboards Book 1
Dandelion Fire - 100 Cupboards Book 2
The Chestnut King - 100 Cupboards Books 3
Ashton Burials:
The Dragon's Tooth
The Drowned Vault
Leepike Ridge
Parody:
Right Behind
Supergeddon
Picture Books:
The Dragon and the Garden - The Old Stories
In The Time of Noah - The Old Stories
Non-Fiction:
Notes From The Tilt-A-Whirl
Death By Living
Author Profile Interview with N.D. Wilson
Judy Moody Declares Independence
This book begins with Judy Moody and her family on a trip to Boston to visit some historical sites. Judy meets a girl from England and they become friends and commit to being pen pals. But Judy as usual ends up in a mood, and with all her historical perspective she decides to declare independence herself. With a trip to historic sites, a graveyard, a sailing ship, a bath tub tea party and water fight, this story is full of adventure and fun for the whole family. It is a great book and I can only hope that we get many more books by McDonald and Reynolds in the Moody series.
