Royal Reads = Fantasy

Q: What are "Royal Reads?"
A: Books that I have read and recommend to you! Enjoy!

Today's 1st Royal Read:

The Phantom Isles by Stephen Alter

When Courtney, Ming, and Orion break into the library late one night to sneak a closer peek at a book that is supposed to conjure the dead when certain passages are read, they find themselves in the middle of a ghostly adventure that began long ago. At first glance it appears that their recitations from The Compleat Necromancer are ineffective. However, when Alma Parker, local librarian opens the doors of the library the next day, she knows right away that things are not right.

The three friends soon realize that the passages they read aloud did indeed work and they can clearly see several ghostly spirits trapped within the pages of many library books once owned by Professor Hezekiah T. Osgood. With Alma's help (along with some ghostly intervention), the three friends work to release the ghosts who were trapped by the experiments of Professor Osgood many years ago. However, the race to free the spirits hits a frenzied pace as members of the community began to suspect that something is not right in the library.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy mystery and suspense with a ghostly connection. As this story is told in alternating viewpoints and contains footnotes explaining elements of the story, it is most suitable for intermediate readers and older.

KEYWORDS: ghosts, library, friends, mystery


Today's 2nd Royal Read:

Punished by David Lubar

"Just when you thought it was safe to go to the library..."

When Logan and Benedict head to the library to get a head start on the reports they have been assigned, Logan finds himself in trouble when his horseplay causes him to run into a gentleman using the reference section of the library. The gentleman decides Logan must be punished for his rude behavior and Logan soon finds himself sneezing through a thick cloud of dust. When the dust settles, Logan finds himself unable to speak using anything except puns, a different kind of "punishment" then he has ever experienced!

After a day of speaking strictly in puns and unable to bear his punishment, Logan tracks down the gentleman and learns that what he must do to lift his punishment. Determined to succeed, Logan sets off to work. With his best friend Benedict irritated at him, and his family tired of his "punny" talk, Logan is on his own. However, the task is difficult and Logan soon finds himself running out of time.

A fun read filled with lots of "punny" situations, this book can be enjoyed by readers who enjoy and understand word play and literary elements.

KEYWORDS: library, puns, school