SSAT/ISEE Core Vocabulary

 SSAT/ISEE Core Vocabulary, James Jones, Independently Published, 2021

Intended for students in grades 4-7, this book aims to help with learning and memorizing vocabulary words. It includes words that have appeared on the Lower/Middle portion of the SSAT/ISEE test.

The author has tried very hard to not present all the words in the same way. On one page. the student learns synonyms, while, on another page, the student learns antonyms. On one page, the student is given a group of words, with instructions to choose the odd one out. On another page, the student is given a word bank, and instructed to choose synonyms for words like intense and shallow, or dark and light, or rude and polite. Having all the answers in the back of the book certainly helps. 

This book is recommended for any student who wants to improve their vocabulary. It is not just for students preparing for the SSAT/ISEE test, though it is certainly recommended for them, too.

Tales of Aradia: The Last Witch

Tales of Aradia: The Last Witch (Volume 1), L.A. Jones, Amazon Digital Services, 2010

This young adult novel is about your average high school student who really isn't so average.

Aradia is the "new kid" at Salem (Massachusetts) High School. She can't help but notice that a larger-than-normal portion of the students are either incredibly handsome or incredibly beautiful. Those same people are openly staring at Aradia, and not just because of her flaming red hair.

As time goes on, Aradia learns that the school is home to a large number of beings that go under the general name of "hidden." They include werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, faeries, etc.; the hidden part comes from their greatest law, which is to never, ever reveal anything of their existence to humans. The interest in Aradia is because she has "abilities" of her own. The non-humans at school have never seen, or smelled, anyone like her. Aradia doesn't know what she is, only that she was found in a cave, as a newborn, and officially adopted by Ross and Liza Preston.

The town of Salem is being menaced by the Vampire Murderer. A pair of bodies are found, with puncture marks on their necks, and totally drained of blood. Aradia is assured that the chances of a vampire being the culprit are tiny; someone is trying very hard to frame them. Aradia takes matters into her own hands, and attracts the attention of the real culprit. Does Aradia help bring the murderer to justice?

This one is surprisingly good. The plot may be a little average, but the author does a fine job with it. Teens will enjoy this book; adults will also enjoy it.

The Curse of Borage-Doone

The Curse of Borage-Doone, RA Jones, 2012, Kindle e-book

This young adult novel is about a young boy, and his grandmother who opens the "wrong" email.

Sam is your average ten-year-old resident of Britain. His Gran is staying with him while Mom and Dad go hiking up European mountains. The two have a strong connection, because they are both "cunning people." This means that Gran is teaching Sam what herbs, and incantations, to add to his baking to, for instance, hypnotize people, or force them to tell the truth. This means that they have dealt with various beasts and goblins that are invisible to the rest of us.

Gran is an internet beginner, so she believes an email saying that she has won a chance to meet Aaron Kid, her favorite TV chef, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sam is skeptical, to say the least, but off they go. They stay with Mungo and Lottie, who are fellow cunning people. Mungo's eyes don't point in the same direction at the same time, and Lottie is physically frail, due to some ailment that is beyond the reach of human and cunning medicine.

Sam's skepticism is justified, and Gran is kidnapped. The whole thing has been orchestrated by a woman named Tabetha. Gran, Lottie and Tabetha were classmates, and good friends, when they were children, but something happened, and Tabetha is now looking for some serious revenge. Sam travels in the tunnels under Edinburgh, looking for help, a mission which, at best, is very foolhardy. Does Sam find, and rescue Gran, stopping Tabetha once and for all? Meantime, the stress of worrying about Gran, and searching for her in the damp Edinburgh climate, has pushed Lottie's condition from frail to critical. Can anything be done for her?

This one is surprisingly good. It is intended for 9-12 year olds, but older children, and maybe some adults, will enjoy it, too.