To Catch a Cheat by Varian Johnson

Finished the book

The sequel to The Great Greene Heist is as equally entertaining as the first book. Another home-run for Johnson. I highly recommend this book. I sent Johnson a Facebook message telling him how much I enjoyed his books. He said that at this time there is not plan for another Jackson Greene novel. I hope that he will reconsiders and writes another Jackson Greene adventure. I will definitely be checking out his other books.

To Catch a Cheat by Varian Johnson

Interest Level: 3-6 grade

Reading Level: 4.2

Lexile: 650

Genre: Action/Adventure

Currently on pg. 107, chapter The Running Man


In this sequel to The Great Greene Heist, Jackson Greene and his crew Gang Greene are sucked back in to the art of conning. A falsified video is being used to blackmail the team into stealing a history final exam. Jackson and his friends must prove the video is fake and catch the real culprits. A little less than half way through the book, I am loving every minute of it. I can not put this book down.

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

Finished the book

The Horn Book Magazine review reads "All proper scary stories require a spooky, menacing atmosphere, and Auxier delivers the goods with his precise descriptions of the gothic setting and teasing hints of mystery and suspense." Scary tales are not my thing but I know there are middle school students that will thoroughly enjoy this book. This book will not be my choice for the 2017 Oregon Readers Choice Award. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy books that give them nightmares.

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

Interest Level: 5-8 grade

Reading Level: 5.3

Lexile: 690

Genre: Horror/Ghost Stories 

Currently on pg. 244, chapter 37

Amazon calls this book a Victorian ghost story with shades of Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The story follows two abandoned Irish siblings who travel to work as servants at a creepy, crumbling English manor house. The house and its family are not what they appear to be. The children are confronted by a mysterious entity and an ancient curse.

I am enjoying this story. I am not a fan of scary stories but can see the appeal to other readers. I have had one unpleasant element added to a dream because to this dream. That in itself will be enough of a recommendation to get some middle school students to read it.

The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson

Finished by book

This is going to be a hard book to beat as my choice for the 2017 ORCA winner.  On page 62, Johnson drew me in with his chapter entitled The Kobayashi Maru. From that point on, I was hooked. I was carrying the book with me everywhere. I have the second book in the series, To Catch a Cheat, on hold at the library. I will make sure that I purchase not only the 2 copies of The Great Greene Heist due to the ORCA contest but a couple of copies of To Catch a Cheat as well. I highly recommend this book. The twists and turns and the style of writing make this book enjoyable for adults and middle school students. If you liked the television show White Collar or the movie The Sting, you will love this book.