What We're Reading Wednesday: Akiko and the Intergalactic Zoo

 It's Wednesday again, and now it's time to choose a book for WWRW. I know what your thinking, "Why don't you choose a book before today?" and yes, I'm supposed to, but I don't. Logic.  Well anyway, after amounts of searching, I found a library book called "Akiko and the Intergalactic Zoo." I know, it sounds like one of those books about a handsome thirteen year old boy who's humble and unrealistic, and, coincidentally, he has a girl sidekick who has a crush on him. Sound familiar?

 Well THIS book's not. This is actually the fifth book in the series, and earlier she goes on a mission to rescue the prince of planet Smoo. Anyway, it's about a girl in fifth grade (yes fifth grade! No teeny teen gal nonsense) who, after all the stress of rescuing a prince gets to go on vacation to the Intergalactic Zoo. Of course, it's definitely non realistic, but that's my kinda thing. I already have enough of realistic things, so I love to bury myself into fantasy books. I don't want to give it away, (who am I kidding you're all grownups, you're never going to read it!) but the vacation turns to an adventure, with surprises everywhere , but it doesn't go over-the-top. So I think this book is really good, and recommend it to every kid of ages 8 - 12. (yes, it's that good!I've been reading it since I was eight, and still am!)

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

Well, you see, I once decided that I would read all of the horse books in existence, (meanwhile writing a few as well) and I happened to stumble upon The Black Stallion. As soon as I opened the front cover I was delighted to see that Walter Farley had written a whole series of Black Stallion books! In fact it was so big a series there were twenty one of them! So I checked them all out, only to find that I loved the first one, liked the second, was OK with the third, and didn't even read the rest. You know the saying: "First time's funny, second time's silly, and third time's a spanking." So, if you're like me, and you want to read all of the sappy horse books in history, I'll save you the trouble: If it's a series, only read the first ones.

In the book, young Alexander Ramsey is shipwrecked on an inhabited island with a wild stallion. The way the author writes takes you inside Alec's mind without going into the first person. In almost all the books you can find, the first words are boring, and they encourage you to stop reading. Well, that is if you don't read The Black Stallion. It's entertaining from the very start, introducing the characters without being bland, witch is a pattern I see in a lot of books.

So again, if you like horses and you happen to be a kid, I highly recommend The Black Stallion.