The Social Porcupine

 A faded grey sparrow's bright tune is abruptly interrupted by a strange sight. A young girl cradles a frog in her palm. Fear sparkles and falls from her eyes.  "Ought I to break your spell?" she asks the frog. "I could never bear to have you settle for me."  "Never would I settle for you! Nay, rather I yearn to settle with you!"  "But the first kiss may be unpleasant . . ."  The bird wonders over all this; at a pretty girl holding an ugly frog. It was clear that it wasn't so much she thought kissing this slimy thing would be distasteful, but that the creature would be disappointed by herself.  "It's not the first of which I dream, but each one that shall follow," the frog says.  "But . . ." Her lip quivers. "I'm such a horrid girl."  The frog croaks, "It is I that am the beast. Your kiss will save me."  The bird watches as the girl hesitates, fighting some uglier creature locked away, deep ...

The Indian Mummy Mystery I really like Troy Nesbit's mystery books. My dad gave me one when I was little, and I've loved them ever since. Just recently I found two more at an antique store! They are very old-fashioned, simple, and full of adventure. 15-year old Joe knows when Fibber, his grandfather, is just telling a tall tale, and this sure isn't one of those times. He and his two younger friends, Huff and Denny are determined to solve the mystery of the lost mummy and earth pots.  But is it even possible when the stuff was stolen over 60 years ago, and everybody else that was involved, but Fibber, is dead? Helping out at Joe's grandfather's Rocking O' Ranch, excavating at a burned down ghost store, and searching in Mesa Verde, the boys track down, clue by clue, the mystery of The Indian Mummy. Likes: Very simple, no-brain read. Though the boys may be silly and immature, and the plot unrealistic, it is still an enjoyable adventure. For me...