Reading Level: Elementary

All Tide Up

The unsinkable detectives Mango and Brash are back in InvestiGators: All Tide Up, a high seas adventure that takes the hit series by John Patrick Green into uncharted waters!

When a delirious cruise captain is found drifting at sea, the search begins for his missing passengers and ship. Did it sink? Was it boat-napped? Are supernatural forces at play? And can the InvestiGators unravel this maritime mystery before a second cruise befalls a similarly unfathomable fate? Seas the day and find out in this new nautical adventure! 

When a cruise ship mysteriously disappears, Brash and Mango come face to face with a brand-new villain: the “dread pirate ghost, Willy Nilly.” In addition to Willy Nilly, the InvestiGators also meet new friends along the way. These new characters give the book an interesting twist and keep the reader guessing as to their motives. When a group of pirates board the ship, it allows for new puns as well as some funny suspense. 

Unlike the previous installments of InvestiGators, All Tide Up can be read as a singleton because the book neatly wraps up the mystery of Willy Nilly by the end. Similar to previous installments of the series, a combination of human and animal characters blend together to make a ridiculous story with humorous wordplay. Readers will enjoy the puns and the pirate talk, as well as the mystery of the ghost of Willy Nilly. 

This imaginative story comes alive in brightly colored artwork that shows the characters’ wide range of emotions. The illustrations and unique storyline with Brash and Mango will appeal to even the most reluctant readers. Each page has three to eleven sentences per page. The sentences range from one word to more complex sentences. The varied sentence lengths add to the humor while keeping the story accessible to all readers. 

Readers familiar with the InvestiGators Series will have a splashing good time with All Tide Up. While the majority of the story can be understood if you haven’t read the other books, there are some small references to previous books that may confuse new readers. While All Tied Up is full of humor, it also reminds readers that friendship is more important than money. In the end, “The real treasure is the friends that you’ve made along the way.” 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Sven, an octopus, was a child, an eel stole his toy. Sven’s cousin, a squid, “could’ve let Sven fight his own battle. But I stepped in, and things got out of hand. . . literally!” Sven loses a tentacle, and it never grows back. 
  • Pirates tie Mango and Brash up, then discuss the InvestiGators’ fate. One pirate says, “I say we stomp ‘em! Then we keelhaul ‘em!” The InvestiGators are forced to walk the plank, but they manage to create a raft out of balloons and eventually, they are rescued. 
  • The owner of a cruise ship tries to escape, but a man stops him by waving a sword at him. Then, Mango and Brash tie him up.  
  • Sword-wielding pirates surround the InvestiGators. A squid jumps to their aid and hits the pirates with his eight legs. In the process, one of the squid’s tentacles is chopped off.  
  • A man delivers a cruise ship to a deserted island so the ghost of Willy Nilly can throw the passengers into a fiery pit. Later, the reader discovers that all of the people are alive and well.  
  • Mango and Brash confront the ghost of Willy Nilly and throw him into the fiery pit.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Name-calling is used infrequently. It includes fool, scum, slimy sea slug, lily-livered scallywag, and bilge rat. 
  • Mango calls a ghost a “spectral scuttlebutt.” 
  • When Pirates take over a cruise ship, they call the captives names such as lily-livered landlubbers. 
  • Dang, darn, and drat are used infrequently.  

Supernatural 

  • The pirate Willy Nilly was cursed, and his ghost comes back 300 years later; this is the time period the book is set in.  
  • According to legend, “Nilly was cursed to pay back the debt by delivering a thousand souls to the island before the three hundred years pass. If he failed, his stolen fortune would disappear forever!” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Polar Oceans

The extreme climates of the North and South Poles make the polar oceans unlike any other bodies of water on Earth. Despite the severe conditions, an amazing diversity of wildlife thrives in the Arctic and Southern Oceans, depending on these bodies of water for survival. In Polar Oceans children will learn about similarities and differences between Arctic and Antarctic waters, how polar ocean creatures have adapted, polar ocean food chains and food webs, permanent ice and ice formations, interconnections among polar oceans and other seas and oceans, and the global consequences of environmental changes. 

Polar Oceans packs a lot information into short sections that clearly break up the text by topic. Because the book’s intent is to teach readers about oceans, the text uses many words that readers may not be familiar with. This will make it necessary for adults to read the book to younger children, rather than them reading the story on their own. Many of the polar ocean terms are bolded within the text; however, the glossary is only half a page and many of the bold words do not appear in the glossary. Despite this, the book will appeal to many readers because of the large and colorful pictures that appear on each page. In addition, the book includes many pictures of the polar animals as well as a diagram of the food web.  

Any child who wants to learn more about life in both the Arctic and Southern Oceans will be fascinated by the information in Polar Oceans. In addition, readers will be amazed at the diverse life that lives in the freezing ocean water. Polar Oceans introduces children to the wonderful world of the polar regions. While readers will be drawn to the book because of the cute animals, the book ends with a list of websites readers can investigate to learn more about how to help protect the polar oceans, polar animals, and polar ice.  

To learn more about ocean animals, Polar Oceans can be paired with Otters Love to Play by Jonathan London. Odder by Katherine Applegate is also a beautifully written story that focuses on one otter’s misfortune in order to show how scientists are working to save injured otters. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Escape from Atlantis

The last way that Riley Evans wanted to spend spring break was studying whales on the family sailboat in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle. With only her dad, aunt, and annoying cousin Alfie for company. She is so bored staring at the waves that she’s starting to see mermaids between them. But when their boat capsizes during a sudden storm, Riley finds more excitement than she bargained for as she and Alfie are washed ashore with neither of their parents in sight. Where they’ve been shipwrecked is no deserted island, though.

Atlantis is a place beyond imagination, inhabited by both people and incredible creatures ranging from unicorns and gargoyles to talking animals. But not everyone welcomes the cousins’ arrival, and beneath the wonder of this mythical land lurk dangerous secrets—something strange is happening to the inhabitants. What Riley wants more than anything is to find her father and go home. But the closer she gets to this goal, the more the islanders seem determined to keep her from reaching it.

As Riley and Alfie unravel the mystery of Atlantis and its most terrifying part, the Forbidden Zone, they realize that the clock is ticking. If they can’t learn what happened to their parents and find a way off the island soon, it may be too late to leave. 

Even though Riley and Alfie are family, they can’t stand each other and most of the blame lands on Alfie, whose hot temper and mean words make him an unlikable character. Unlike Alfie, the book’s protagonist Riley is a more well-rounded which makes her more relatable. When Riley discovers animal-like creatures called Cloaks living on Atlantis, she is fascinated by them and treats them with respect while the Atlanteans treat the creatures as if they are invisible. Riley’s acceptance of the Cloaks shows the importance of treating others with respect and dignity no matter what they look like.   

While Riley’s acceptance of the Cloaks is admirable, she is also manipulative and dishonest as she tries to leave Atlantis. Her singular focus to find her father and aunt puts others in danger. However, she refuses to give up her quest. When Riley, Alfie and her family finally leave Atlantis, the situation is so dire that readers may have a hard time cheering for Riley’s success.  

Unlike most stories that focus on the mythical island of Atlantis, Escape from Atlantis portrays the legendary city as one full of danger. While this premise is unique, the island’s world-building is murky which leads to confusion. While the Cloaks add mystery and suspense, the details regarding people transforming into Cloaks are unclear—no one knows why people change into animals or how the process works. In addition, no one knows why the sea serpent, the Lavianthan, will not allow anyone to leave the island. 

Readers who love stories with well-defined rules and clear world-building may find Escape from Atlantis a frustrating read. However, readers who are intrigued by mythology and Atlantis may find this unique version interesting. While Riley and Alfie are at times annoying, they show personal growth and perseverance. In addition, the unique characters and the book’s resolution will leave readers with a new appreciation of accepting others—even those who are different than us. If you’d like to read more fast-paced stories that take place in a magical world, read The Revenge of Magic Series by James Riley or The Door at the End of the World by Caroline Carlson. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Riley finds her cousin Alfie reading her diary. She “snatched at her diary, but Alfie kept pulling it away and taunting her with it. . . She hauled back and punched her cousin in the stomach as hard as she could. Alfie dropped the diary, collapsing onto the bunk, gasping for breath.” 
  • A sea serpent attacks the boat Riley and her family are on. “Another violent strike knocked the boat, followed by a rush of water that nearly washed [Riley’s] father away. . .  Riley added her own scream when she saw the dark head of some kind of massive snakelike sea serpent rising out of the water and smashing against the front end of the boat. Its long, scaled body coiled completely around the boat like a snake constricting around its prey.” 
  • Eventually, the sea serpent “was rising itself farther out of the water and climbing high above the ship. It roared once, and then opened its mouth even wider and struck like a viper, biting off the front end of the boat.” A different creature grabs Riley and takes her to an island, where she finds her cousin, but their parents are gone. The scene is described over four pages.  
  • When Riley and Alfie wake up on an island, they meet Bastian, a boy about their age. When Bastian tries to get the cousins to go to his community, “Alfie charged up to Bastian and poked him in the chest.” Alfie walks away. Riley and Bastian follow. They eventually see a Red Cloak who attacks them. “Behind them, Miss Pigglesworth [a huge dog] growled, barked and leaped over and ran straight at the Red Cloak. . . The sights and sounds were sickening at the immense dog and Red Cloak met in a vicious fight. They started rolling in the sand.” When Miss Pigglesworth is injured, Red Cloak runs towards the kids. 
  • The Red Cloak is a creature with a tail named Mada. “All Riley could do was watch as Mada crossed a great distance in a single leap. Right before he landed, two of the unicorns galloped forward. . .” A unicorn touches Mada and then “Mada roared once and then collapsed to the sand, unconscious.” The kids quickly leave. The scene is described over four pages. 
  • Riley and Alfie want to confirm that their parents are dead so they go to dig up their graves. However, a catlike creature attacks. “Suddenly Riley was knocked to the ground by something very large and painfully heavy. Acting on instinct alone, she held up the shovel for protection just as a tooth-filled mouth came toward her. Snarling and hissing, it bit down on the shoved handle instead of her throat. . . As he moved, his rear claws raked Riley’s legs and she cried in pain.” Before the cat can kill her, a gargoyle grabs it and flies away. Riley is injured, but Alfie cares for the wound. The scene is described over four pages. 
  • Riley and her friends are attempting to save an injured gargoyle when Mada appears intending to kill Riley. “As Mada started to charge, the horns on the five unicorns started to blaze brilliantly. They whinnied loudly, and the one that had escorted them reared and slammed down to the sand. . .” Mada runs away.  
  • While swimming to a different part of Atlantis, Riley and Alfie are threatened by the Lavianthan, a huge sea serpent. Galina, a siren, uses her voice on the Lavianthan. “It glided past Riley . . . The leopard roared and howled as the Lavianthan changed directions and dove down into the depths, taking the leopard with it.” 
  • An alligator attacks Alfie. The water “erupted in struggle as Galina was wrapped around the alligator that was holding on to Alfie’s leg and spinning. . . the struggle moved deeper beneath the surface. Moments later, Galina lifted Alfie to the surface. He was unconscious.” Alfie is seriously injured but recovers.  
  • When the Red Moon comes, the tide goes out which allows the dangerous animals to attack the people of Atlantis. The people hide in their ship, the Queen, while Cloaks are left to die. Someone asks Riley, “Haven’t you ever wondered why there aren’t more Blue or Yellow Cloaks here? After all this time, there are only a handful of us. . . There were more. Many more. But because they won’t let us on the Queen during the Red Moon, we are hunted and killed by the wildlings.” 
  • When trying to escape the island, Mada tries to attack Riley, but Riley’s friend Maggie intervenes. “Maggie appeared out of the fog with her cloak off. A sleep leopard jumped onto Mada’s back and knocked him from Riley.” Riley and her friends run, leaving Maggie. Maggie is seriously injured and she may not recover.  
  • Merfolk cause a storm in order to stop Riley, Alfie, and their friends from leaving Atlantis. “Terrifying merfolk” call the Lavianthan in order to stop their boat from leaving. “The Lavianthan made another pass at the yacht. It raised itself high out of the water and came down on the front of the bow. The boat’s back end was lifted out of the water, throwing everyone down to the deck.” Riley’s father talks to the merfolk, who let the yacht pass.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Atlantis uses Memory Berries. “When you eat them, you forget everything. We are a small community and we have to get along. If there is trouble, berries are used, and the trouble stops.” 
  • Alfie is given Memory Berries which completely changes him. “The expression on his face was all wrong. . . The Memory Berries had changed him completely.” Riley puts crushed-up leaves in his soup, which reverses the effect of the berries.  

Language  

  • Riley and Alfie are mean to each other. To annoy Riley, Alfie calls her “shorty” and she calls him “creep.”
  • There is often name calling including stupid, spoiled brat, idiot, chicken, moron, freak, etc. 

Supernatural 

  • Atlantis has magical creatures such as unicorns, sirens, and other intelligent animal-like creatures.  
  • The island has “those in cloaks” who are not supposed to be approached. Riley approaches one and finds a “furry creature. He looked just like a cuddly koala, with a large black noise and rounded ears on the top of his head. But he was bigger and had golden eyes.” 
  • Gargoyles live in Atlantis. Riley describes them: “It was huge and had bat wings and big ears. Its legs like tree trunks.” 
  • The people of Atlantis eventually turn into “wildlings,” but the process isn’t clear. Maggie, who is turning into a feline, explains, “I may stop changing now and stay in this yellow cloak, or perhaps I might turn into a simple cat and be accepted. . . But I may also turn into something more ferocious and not be able to control myself.” 
  • Even though all Atlanteans will change to wildlings, “We don’t know why the transformation happens or how. . . when it starts, we retain our humanity. But some embrace their change and give up what it means to be human. They become a danger to all.” However, “they retain their intelligence, which makes them more dangerous.” 
  • The gargoyle, Gideon, turns to stone and his wing breaks off. If his wing isn’t fixed before the sun comes up, he will die. With Riley and others’ help, Gideon’s wing is fixed before the sun comes up. 

Spiritual Content  

  • Riley prays several times. For example, when Alfie is given the Memory Berries,
    Riley “prayed Gideon’s antidote worked.”  

Summer of the Sharks

When twelve-year-old twins Eric and Susan move in with their aunt, they never dreamed that they would end up on a remote island in the Bahamas for a coral reef restoration project! Susan bubbles over with excitement at the promise of underwater adventures. But the thought of cruising around in a large ocean full of creepy and dangerous creatures scares Eric.  

Eric tries to keep his fear a secret and makes excuses for staying behind. But with expert guidance from Aunt Sally and Uncle Merle, the twins are soon swimming, snorkeling, and SNUBA diving in a dazzling undersea world of wonder and beauty. The living kaleidoscope of swirling colors, lights, and shapes teaches both scientific and spiritual lessons about the Creator—lessons that draw Susan, Eric, and their friend Kevin closer to God. Then one day, an encounter with a monster of the deep thrusts Eric face to face with his deepest fears—and puts his faith to the test. Will Eric trust God to help him overcome his terror and keep him safe from harm?  

Summer of the Sharks focuses on Eric, who is afraid of going underwater in the ocean. Many readers will sympathize with Eric, especially with his desire to keep his fear a secret. Despite Eric’s fear, when his Uncle Merle is injured, Eric jumps up to the plate and helps his aunt with her research. While Eric helps his aunt, he learns more about ocean creatures and realizes he loves taking photographs of them. It is through SNUBA diving that Eric realizes if he stays focused on an ocean creature, he forgets his fear. Likewise, if he focuses on God, Eric will come to trust Him, which will also lessen his fears.  

After staying home alone, Eric goes snorkeling with a neighbor, Mr. Wood—without permission and without telling his aunt where he is going. Afterward, when Eric’s aunt and uncle find out, they remind him of the dangers. “Leaving the house and going off with Mr. Wood was dangerous. You didn’t know what kind of person he is—whether he’s trustworthy or even how skilled a diver he is. . . Praying for God’s presence and care doesn’t mean that we can become careless or irresponsible. We have to act wisely—to do what we can to prevent bad things from happening to us.”  

One theme that is reinforced throughout the book is the necessity of taking a closer look at God. At one point, Susan compares God to shells. She says, “The closer you look, the better He gets.” Later, Eric thinks “that he would get more excited about God by looking closer. And the more he knew about God, the more confidence he would have in Him.” 

Summer of the Sharks is an engaging story that pulls readers underwater, where they will gain a new appreciation for God’s wonders. While Eric’s struggle is relatable, the message is a little hard-hitting and the discussions about God are longwinded. Despite this, the story has enough suspense and wonder to keep readers interested until the end. In addition, anyone who struggles with controlling their fear will gain a new understanding of trusting God. By exploring the ocean, Eric realizes, “If I want less sin of any kind in my life, including being fearful and not trusting God, I need to look closer at Him until I trust Him to take care of me like He promises to do.” Readers who want to read more books with Biblical teaching should also read The Cooper Kids Adventure Series by Frank E. Peretti. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Since the book is in the Christian fiction genre, not all references to God are documented below.  
  • While preparing for a trip to a coral reef, Susan says, “Each creature is like a picture of Jesus. I think I’ll list them in a notebook . . . Then I can write what they are trying to say about God.”  
  • Susan, Eric, and his friend Kevin have a short conversation about sea animals hiding under rocks. Eric thinks, “If I could really believe that Jesus is a safe place for me and trust Him like those tiny creatures trust the rocks, I wouldn’t be so afraid.” 
  • After Eric refuses to go on a trip to the Bahamas, his sister “prayed that [he] would come.” After Eric’s uncle is injured, Eric decides to go to the Bahamas to help. 
  • Aunt Sally and Susan see a shark while snorkeling. After they retell their experience, Uncle Merle thanks God for “looking after his family.” Afterward, Kevin said, “Today I learned the truth about James 4:8: Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”  
  • Susan compares God to shells. “The closer you look, the better He gets.” Later, Eric thinks “that he would get more excited about God by looking closer. And the more he knew about God, the more confidence he would have in Him.”  
  • Eric and his family discuss God removing their sins. Eric asks, “Is it a sin to feel afraid?” Eric’s friends summarize the conversation message, “If I want less sin of any kind in my life, including being fearful and not trusting God, I need to look closer at Him until I trust Him to take care of me like He promises to do.”  
  • After learning how to SNUBA (a type of scuba diving), Eric learns not to be afraid of the ocean. He learns that if you look closely at God, you can trust Him to care for you. Eric’s aunt reminds him, “Feelings aren’t bad. . . But you can’t let them be guides to your choices and behavior unless they come out of your original focus.” Instead of following your emotions, you need to focus “on God’s word and what He says about something.” 
  • When Eric decides to quit baseball, his uncle prays: “Dear God. Thank you for turning Eric’s ship in a new direction. Fill our sails with the wind of the Spirit and guide us like a captain takes hold of a ship’s rudder. Send us off, full of joy, in the right direction. Amen.”

The Accidental Invasion

Kaya, raised in the undersea, high-tech world of Atlantis, has always been fascinated by the legends about life above the water. Despite the government’s insistence that they’re only stories, she can’t help but dream about the Sun People—and when a group of officials known as Erasers move to bury those legends for good, Kaya sets out to the surface to uncover the truth once and for all.

In the world above, where climate change has led to giant tsunamis that threaten Earth’s coasts, all Lewis wants is to spend more time with his scientist father. When he stows away on his dad’s top-secret research trip, he finds himself thrown headfirst into an adventure much bigger than he bargained for. 

Told from alternating perspectives, The Accidental Invasion takes readers on an action-packed adventure under the sea. Kaya introduces readers to her world—Atlantis—where people have evolved and thrived. Despite Atlantis’s advanced technology, the large population is threatened by the pollution caused by the People of the Sun. However, only a select few know that the People of the Sun aren’t just fables. When Kaya meets real Sun People—Hanna, Lewis, and his father—she is determined to keep them safe. Kaya’s determination, courage, and curiosity make her a likable character whom readers will root for.  

When Lewis narrates the story, his voice is unique and readers will have no difficulty distinguishing his narration from Kaya’s. Lewis’s voice adds humor to an otherwise serious book. For example, when Lewis sees Kaya and Naxos for the first time, he wonders, “Should he run? Call for help? Hide under the fold-down kitchen table? Do the Chicken dance? No. Too much pressure. Instead, he shrugged and waved.” While Lewis makes light of many situations, readers will understand his desire to return to his family above the ocean surface. 

The Accidental Invasion gives clear examples of the harm that people have caused the oceans. “You Sun People are poisoning the oceans with your plastics and chemicals. Soon, the oceans will be so ruined that [Atlanteans] won’t be able to feed ourselves. . . We fear the oceans may need decades to recover.” This idea is reinforced when Kaya, Lewis, and Hanna fly over the surface of the ocean. “The ship flew over huge islands of garbage and plastic that stretched for miles.” It is then that Lewis and Hanna realize that the People of the Sun “really were poisoning the seas.”

While the story explains many of the technological advancements of Atlantis, the end of the book also describes the science behind the book as well as the effects of using plastics. In addition, the author encourages kids to take action: “Don’t wait for your parents to make a difference. . . There’s nothing stopping you from putting down TikTok or Instagram, becoming informed, and turning yourself into an ocean ambassador.”  

The Accidental Invasion has interesting and well-developed characters, but it also has wonderful descriptions of Atlantis. The world-building is detailed and inventive while also showing that even in Atlantis, nothing is perfect. The storyline is action-packed and suspenseful while also teaching readers about human’s destructive ocean pollution. The Accidental Invasion is an entreating and thought-provoking book that will have readers eager to read the second book in the series, The Brink of War. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Kaya travels to Edgeland, which is known as “a magnet for criminals.” While there, a man wants to steal Kaya’s gravity suit. “A thick-lipped man had both hands clamped around her ankle now. Whistling, Kaya dialed up the power in the drive and kicked at his hairy knuckles. . . Desperately, Kaya stomped on the man’s face. He grabbed his eye and loosened his grip just long enough for her to plant her foot on his head and push off. . .” Kaya soars away from the man. 
  • Lewis, his father, and Hanna find Atlantis. Once they are close, their subsphere [an underwater submarine] is blasted with a sonic sound that knocks them out. An Atlantean man carries the three unconscious people out of the subsphere. When the man realizes that the “Sun People” are not invaders, he helps them escape.   
  • The Atlanteans have created a sonic blaster, a nonlethal weapon, which is used often in the story. For example, while trying to get the Sun People to safety, Kaya has to get past two workers. “Kaya pulled out her sonic blaster. . . her hands were shaking. The two dockmasters could see she was nervous, too. They stomped forward. . . Her finger pulled the trigger, and they dropped into crumpled heaps on the stone floor.”  
  • When the Erasers find Kaya, they try to capture the Sun People. While trying to escape, “A group of men and women holding deadly trumpets and frightening flutes raced out. . . Lewis watched the muscles in his fingers tense as he aimed his trumpet at their cruiser. The Eraser squeezed the trigger. . . Then his dad fell forward, and Kaya pushed the throttle, rocketing the ship into the darkness.” Lewis’s dad is put in jail. 
  • Naxos, an Eraser who helped the Sun People escape, appears at Kaya’s apartment. It is implied that Naxos was beaten in order to get him to talk. “Naxos’s face was bruised. A cut was swelling over his left eye. . . A thin stream of blood trickled out of the cut above his eye.” When Kaya sees Naxos, she points a sonic blaster at him, but Kaya’s grandmother scolds her and says, “You do not point weapons at people!” 
  • Atlantis has been creating tsunamis because the Sun People “continue to poison and pollute the oceans.” An Atlantean man, Demos, explains that he doesn’t feel bad that “waves ruined homes, towns, entire cities” because “we’re doing it to protect the hundred million people here in Atlantis.” 
  • The Atlanteans do not want people to know they exist. Demos says, “Have you studied the history of your civilization, child? When new lands and peoples are discovered, they are conquered, slaughtered and destroyed.”  
  • Kaya, Naxos, and the kids are trying to escape from the Atlanteans who want to imprison them. “Naxos tackled Kaya to the ground, then pulled her behind a desk. . . A pulse rushed through Kaya, a vibration that rang in her bones. She was shaken but awake.” 
  • To communicate with the Sun People, Atlantis sent a group to the surface. However, the Sun People assumed the vessel was a missile. Kaya explains, “My mother was killed on a peaceful mission to the surface when her ship was destroyed by the People of the Sun.”  
  • In a multi-chapter chase, the Atlanteans give Hanna and Lewis a ship to go to the surface. However, it is a trick because the Atlanteans plan to destroy the ship. Kaya realizes this and swims to the ship. The Atlanteans shoot a missile and it “exploded, sending waves pulsing through the water in all directions. Their warship flipped upside down and then turned over on its side.” 
  • Another missile is fired. “The explosion shook the ship before Lewis could strap himself down. The whole vehicle pulsed as he flew backward. . . His ribs felt busted. The bones in his hands felt like they’d splintered. It hurt to breathe.”  
  • Kaya flies the ship near a dome that contains a massive fleet of ships. When the warships fire, “Lewis turned to try to see the scene below them. The water was roiling. . . Lewis saw three vehicles lying around the base. Or what was left of them, anyway. The ships were shattered. Even the metal hulls were busted into pieces.” 
  • During the battle, enough torpedoes hit the dome that “the weight of four miles of seawater drove the glass, the inner walls, and the thousands of ships below into the depths of what had been the actor’s lower floors. . . Waves rocked their ship; Lewis gripped his seat as they were flipped over at least three times.” Kaya, Lewis, and Hanna escape to the surface. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • While walking through Edgeland, Kaya sees two men singing and she guesses that the men are “deep into their drink.” Atlanteans make a drink from fermented kelp.  
  • In Atlantis, people are imprisoned in glass cells surrounded by deadly toxins. In order to free Lewis and Hanna, Lewis’s father “swam out of the cell to save us.” Naxos flees with Lewis’s father in the hopes of getting him to a doctor. 

Language  

  • Hanna tells Lewis that he and his father are emotional idiots.  
  • Hanna calls Lewis an imbecile once. Later, an Atlantean calls the Sun People imbeciles. 
  • Kaya explains that “Edgeland is [full of] mostly scoundrels and rogues.”  
  • An Atlantean refers to Lewis and Hanna as “things.” Lewis thinks, “No one had ever called him a thing. He’d been called a bug, a donkey, a mother-less goat. . . Someone had called him a walking wedgie once, too. . . But he’d never been referred to as a thing.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Lewis lies to the Atlanteans saying he is going to send a transmission to the surface. Afterward, Lewis prays. “Normally, Lewis didn’t pray all that much. . . But now Lewis began to pray. Not to any particular god or goddess or ancient spirit. He was begging all of them. The Big Guy, with the beard and the robes and the throne on the clouds, the Greek and Roman gods, the cool Hindu ones, including that really smart elephant—even the Aztec spirit with the hard-to-say name, the one that sort of rhymed with pretzel. He pleaded with any and all mystical beings for help.”  
  • When the Atlanteans give in to Lewis’ demands, he thinks, “The pretzel god had listened. Or the elephant, or one of the Greeks.” 

Magic Marks the Spot

Hilary Westfield has always dreamed of being a pirate. She can tread water for thirty-seven minutes. She can tie a knot faster than a fleet of sailors. She particularly enjoys defying authority, and she already owns a rather pointy sword. There’s only one problem: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to let girls join their ranks of scourges and scallywags. 

The world believes that girls belong at Miss Primm’s Finishing School for Delicate Ladies, learning to waltz, faint, and curtsy. But Hilary and her dearest friend, the gargoyle, have no use for such frivolous lessons. They are pirates! 

To escape a life of petticoats and politeness at her stuffy finishing school, Hilary answers a curious advertisement for a pirate crew. Suddenly, she finds herself swept up in a seaworthy adventure that may or may not involve a map without an X, a magical treasure that likely doesn’t exist, a rogue governess who insists on propriety, a talking gargoyle, a crew of misfit scallywags, and the most treacherous—and unexpected—villain on the High Seas. 

Magic Marks the Spot is a fast-paced adventure that focuses on Hilary, a girl who longs to join the The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates (VNHLP). Using the book Treasure Island as her guide, Hilary and her gargoyle set off to join a pirate crew. But before she sets sail, Hilary’s governess tracks her down and insists on joining the crew. The creative cast of characters has plenty of unique quirks that keep the story interesting. Instead of portraying pirates as dishonorable villains, Jasper, captain of the pirate ship Pigeon, is most nearly honorable: he wants to redistribute magic objects to keep high society from abusing their power.   

Adventure-loving readers will find Hilary’s travels fascinating. While there are plenty of pirate fights, the book’s humorous tone continues throughout the action-packed fight scenes. As Hilary learns to be a real pirate at last, readers will root for her as she improves her skills. The fact that Hilary is fighting her evil father, Admiral Westfield, gives each battle an even more satisfying win, especially because Admiral Westfield underestimates Hilary’s abilities and is often patronizing. In the end, Hilary proves that she is a capable pirate and becomes an important part of Jasper’s crew.    

To give readers additional information about Hilary’s world, the book includes excerpts from several newspapers including The Augusta Scuttlebutt, “where high society turns for scandal.” There are also letters and the Official VNHLP guide to help readers understand the complexities of the story. While many of the excerpts are interesting, they slow down the plot, which drags towards the middle. Despite this, most of the world-building creates a clear division between pirates and High Society and allows readers to understand the ridiculous expectations for girls. 

Jump aboard the Pigeon and take a ride into Hilary’s world where you’ll find action, adventure, and some very likable characters. Magic Marks the Spot will entertain readers with humor as it leads readers on a suspenseful trip where danger is behind every corner. Seafaring readers who want even more pirate-related action should also read Lintang and the Pirate Queen by Tamara Moss, Piratica by Tanith Lee, and the Starcatchers Series by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • During dinner, Claire upsets another student, who then uses magic to punish Claire. “The fish sticks on Claire’s plate started to wobble. They squirmed. . . they formed a tidy line. Hilary stared at the regiment of fish sticks in horror as, one by one, they leaped off the plate and smacked themselves against Claire’s forehead. . .By the time the assault reached its end, Claire was dripping with crumbs and smelling quite a bit like Queensport Harbor herself.”  
  • Charlie, one of the pirate crew, is a young boy whose parents were killed. “The navy sank their ship with no apologies.” Later, Claire finds out it was her father who was responsible for sinking the ship. 
  • The queen writes a letter to Admiral Westfield, telling him to take a voyage because the royal treasurer is in the infirmary. “He is confined there for the moment because, as you may be aware, he was bashed over the head with a priceless porcelain vase whilst guarding the Royal Treasury last week.” 
  • Hilary and her friends try to go into a pirate establishment, but the guard refuses to let them enter. When Hilary argues with the man “a wall of air hit Hilary hard in the stomach and sent her staggering back into the street. She landed on the cobblestones a good ten feet from the Scallywag’s Den, and Charlie crashed to the ground beside her.” 
  • Hilary’s father, Admiral Westfield, and his men board a pirate ship that Hilary and her governess are on. Hilary saw, “Miss Greyson clutching her golden crochet hook in one hand and giving a naval officer a swift kick in the pants. . . the officer sailed across the deck and splashed into the sea.” 
  • During a battle, Hilary faces off with a young officer who “was not much better at dueling than Hilary was, but several of his wild blows came dangerously close to her head. . . When the officer’s sword whizzed past her ear again, she clutched her hands to her chest, gave a dramatic gasp, and sank into a simple swoon. . .” The officer put down his sword and Hilary “leaped up and pointed her own blade at his throat.” The man jumps into the sea to escape.  
  • Another officer, Orange Mustache, swipes at Hilary. “Her left cheek stung where the officer’s sword had grazed it . . . As Hilary dodged Orange Mustache’s blade and attempted to whack him with her own, she performed several waltz steps. . . Orange Mustache stood in front of her, with his sword at her throat: he had her cornered . . . Hilary struck him in the head with a well-aimed tin of beets . . . Hilary tossed a second tin at him just to make sure he’d stay unconscious.” When the Admiral discovers that Hilary is on the ship, he orders the pirate to take her back to finishing school. He and his men then leave the ship. The battle is described over six pages. 
  • While on Gunpowder Island, a fight breaks out between Admiral Westfield and a group of pirates. “Many of them didn’t seem to care whose side they were on, and they brandished their weapons at anyone who happened to be within reach.” Hilary, Charlie, and the gargoyle use the diversion to escape and look for treasure. 
  • Miss Primm plants a fake treasure. When Hilary and her friends find the treasure, Miss Primm uses magic to restrain them. “Jasper dropped his sword as though it had burned him. Charlie reached for his own sword in response, but his arm froze in midair, and Miss Greyson muttered a pirate curse as her hand came to a halt. . .” Jasper and Miss Greyson are taken to the dungeon. Charlie and Hilary are taken back to Miss Primm’s finishing school. 
  • When Miss Primm was young, she fell in love with an honest man. Scoundrels wanted to take all Miss Primm’s treasure for themselves, so they went after Miss Primm’s love. “The scoundrels came for him when he was out in his balloon, with no protection to speak of. They conjured up a fearsome wind, and that was the end of it.” Miss Primm’s love died. 
  • Hilary, Claire, and Charlie find hidden treasure. As they debate what to do with it, Admiral Westfield appears. Charlie “grabbed a porcelain-handled letter opener from Miss Pimm’s desk and held it out like a sword as he approached Admiral Westfield. Charlie was quick, but the admiral was quicker: he lunged forward and caught hold of Charlie’s arm, twisting it backward and holding it there until Charlie yelped with pain. . .” 
  • To get help, Claire threatens to scream, but the admiral stops her with magic. “Claire opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She stood quite still for a moment, clenched her fists, and let loose a string of perfectly silent words that Hilary guessed were not at all complimentary to Admiral Westfield.”  
  • When the admiral tries to use the gargoyle’s magic, the gargoyle “sank his teeth into Admiral Westfield’s arm. . .Hilary dove headfirst into Admiral Westfield’s legs. The admiral shouted and cursed, and the three of them crashed to the floor. Charlie pinned Admiral Westfield’s feet down with his good arm, Claire grabbed Admiral Westfield’s hands. . .”

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The adult pirates occasionally drink grog. 
  • When Hilary is accepted into the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates, Miss Greyson “uncorked her bottle of grog, pouring a glass for herself and a few sips for Hilary.”

Language  

  • Several times, the book refers to someone cursing. For example, Hilary’s father let out “a barrage of nautical-sounding curses.” Later he shouted, “words that were impolite even to think about in high society.” 
  • Pirates are often referred to as scallywags, scoundrels, and rapscallions. Other name-calling includes rat, scum, and fiend. 
  • Blast is used as an exclamation, but not frequently. For example, when the gargoyle bites Admiral Westfield, he yells, “What the devil? Your blasted pet rock sank his fangs into me!” 
  • Drat is used as an exclamation several times. In addition, the gargoyle says, “Would you put down that dratted coin? It’s making my ears tingle. . .” 
  • A pirate calls a group of men “idiots.” 
  • Several times, Admiral Westfield calls a woman a “meddling old biddy.”  

Supernatural 

  • One of the main characters is a magic gargoyle who has been “living on a wall for two hundred years.” The gargoyle is supposed to use his magic to protect people. 
  • Magic items are made from a substance “similar to gold” but “when a piece of magic is held in the hand, it obeys the holder’s spoken request. It is said to draw its power from the user herself, and only a few individuals are powerful enough to use it in great quantities. . .”  
  • Hilary was talking to her father, when suddenly “one of the porthole windows. . . was growing larger and larger. . . It swallowed up the surrounding windows and half the wall besides.” The glass vanishes. “Then, all at once, every drawer in the admiral’s study flew open, and every door burst from its hinges.” As Hilary and her father watch the strange events, suddenly a scroll “traveled out the enormous window and into the waiting, black-gloved hand of the tall person on the lawn. . . Then with a great shudder, the porthole window collapsed back to its proper size.” The thieves get away with the scroll.  
  • A pirate uses magic to conjure costumes to disguise his crew’s identity.  
  • Miss Greyson has a gold crochet hook that can perform magic. For example, she used her “crochet hook to summon a wind.” Later, when a pirate asks for a drink, “a silver serving tray appeared on the deck. In the center of the tray, a pink china teacup perched on a lace doily, accompanied by a small pink bowl of sugar and a small pink pitcher of milk.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Mia Mayhem Rides the Waves

Mia goes on a super surfing family vacation, but her fun is interrupted when the tide goes out and leaves a trail of trash. Mia is afraid that the seagulls and other animals will mistake the trash for food. But this time, she can’t use her super-hero powers to solve the problem. Can Mia come up with a solution to save the beach? 

When it comes to cleaning the beach, Mia tries to get the seagulls to help pick up the trash. The seagulls add humor to the story, especially since “seagulls are not easy to talk to—at all.” In the end, Mia’s father uses his animal-talking skills to communicate with the seagulls. The seagulls pitch in and begin picking up trash which allows Mia and her family to clean the beach much faster. 

Mia is upset that her family vacation doesn’t go according to plan. However, her dad reminds Mia that “unexpected things happen all the time.” At one point, Mia gets discouraged that her animal-talking and surfing skills aren’t as good as her dad’s. However, with her mother’s help, Mia realizes that when it comes to any new skill you have to practice and fail as part of the learning process. 

In the eleventh adventure of the Mia Mayhem chapter book series, Mia reminds readers of her superpowers. For example, Mia thinks, “Ever since I got my superpowers, my five senses have sharpened. And I have to say, in times like this, super-hearing comes in handy. But it’s not so much fun in the bathroom at school, if you know what I mean. Pee-Yew!” The constant reminders of Mia’s superpowers slow the story’s action since she only uses one power—talking to the seagulls. 

Young readers will enjoy the book’s format, which has oversized text and black-and-white illustrations on every page. The large illustrations are often humorous, and they help readers follow the story’s plot. Mia Mayhem Rides the Waves has an easy-to-understand plot that is perfect for emerging readers. However, some important facts are left out of the story, which could cause confusion. For example, Mia’s father makes everyone on the beach freeze and then immediately unfreeze. Readers are left wondering what happened when the people were frozen. 

Mia Mayhem Rides the Waves will appeal to readers who have already been introduced to the series. Readers who are unfamiliar with the Mia Mayhem Series should start with book one in the series. Unfortunately, Mia Mayhem Rides the Waves has several plot points that need to be explored in more depth. Despite this, readers will appreciate Mia’s love of the ocean and her desire to help the sea animals.  

The story ends on a positive note that shows that anyone can make a positive impact. Mia reflects, “But here’s what this trip taught me: You don’t have to be an actual superhero to be a hero—sometimes being a hero is being responsible for yourself and doing the right thing. Whether that’s taking care of your beach, your neighborhood, or your school.”  

Adults who want to reinforce the importance of keeping the ocean clean should pair Mia Mayhem Rides the Waves with the picture book Rocket Says Clean Up! By Nathan Bryon. For a fiction story that is filled with fun facts, The Secret Explorers and the Lost Whales by SJ King would be another wonderful addition to your reading list. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The seagulls start “acting out. They were knocking down castles, umbrellas, and chairs, and even scaring some of the other kids!” Mia’s father orders everyone to freeze and they literally become frozen in time.  
  • One picture shows how the trash hurts sea animals. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • Mia has superhero powers such as super-hearing, super-strength, and being able to talk to animals. Mia can also fly. 
  • Mia’s father uses his animal-talking superpower to talk to the seagulls.  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

A Tale of Magic

Brystal Evergreen is a young girl who lives in the Southern Kingdom, where strict laws created by the town Justices prohibit women from becoming more than wives and mothers. Brystal and other women aren’t even allowed to read (although Brystal finds herself lost in stories of magic that her brother secretly supplies). Brystal considers herself lucky because in comparison to the other four kingdoms which punish magic users with the death penalty, the Southern Kingdom is praised for its mercy – those found practicing magic are sentenced to a life of hard labor at the miserable Bootstrap Correctional Facility. Brystal never expected to be one of them.  

When Brystal reads a magical incantation, she’s caught by the town guard and swiftly sentenced to life imprisonment by her own father, a Chief Justice. Brystal is sent to the Bootstrap Correctional Facility to be “re-educated.” The future seems bleak for Brystal until she is rescued from the academy by a mysterious woman named Madame Weatherberry, a self-proclaimed fairy who recruits Brystal to start an academy of magic. Madame Weatherberry explains to Brystal that there are two types of magic users, witches (who use dark magic for evil deeds) and fairies (magic users who use their power to do good). By creating the academy, training fairies, and using magic to help others, Madame Weatherberry wants to change the world’s perception of magic.  

Once Brystal accepts her place at the academy, she starts to develop her magic, as well as friendships with the other students. She also develops a close bond with Madame Weatherberry, although her teacher keeps disappearing for long periods to fight an evil witch called The Snow Queen whose growing power threatens to cover the world in snow.  

When Madame Weatherberry disappears, Brystal convinces the other students at the academy – her friends Lucy, Xanthous, Emerelda, Tangerina, and Skylene – to save Madame Weatherberry. The destruction of the north is devastating, shocking Brystal, but that is nothing compared to how surprised she is to discover that Madame Weatherberry and the Snow Queen are one in the same. Madame Weatherberry admits she can’t fight the Snow Queen any longer and asks Brystal to kill her, thus proving to the world that it needs good fairies to protect from evil witches. But Brystal believes that the world isn’t so black and white. Despite the evil and anger in Madame Weatherberry, Brystal chooses to see the good. Brystal says, “I’ll never understand why you chose violence as a road to peace, I’ll never understand why you chose fear as a remedy to hate, but I will not repeat your mistakes.” Brystal convinces Madame Weatherberry to keep fighting and allows her to escape. Brystal returns to her friends with a newfound determination to find a peaceful way to change the world’s perspective on magic. 

A Tale of Magic is a prequel to The Land of Stories Series that details how Brystal Evergreen later becomes Brystal Bailey, the Fairy Godmother. This story’s setting is set solely in The Land of Stories making it easier to read than The Land of Stories Series. If you’ve already read The Land of Stories Series, you should definitely check out this prequel series to learn more about the Fairy Godmother and how the Fairy Council (Brystal’s name for the coalition of fairies bringing about change) is formed. If you haven’t read either series yet, even though this book is a prequel, you should start with the Land of Stories because that book sets up the world in detail. A Tale of Magic is written under the assumption that the reader already knows what the Land of Stories is. Start with The Land of Stories to get the context you need to understand A Tale of Magic.  

A Tale of Magic is narrated by Brystal, who is an empathetic narrator. She cares deeply about others and sees the best in them even when they can’t see it themselves. Even though Brystal’s magic specialty is compassion, Brystal still has moments of anger and doubt, but these make her both relatable and realistic.  

This book’s theme may seem contradictory to Brystal’s character: rebellion. At first, Brystal is afraid to go against the path society has laid out for her. However, Brystal questions what she’s been told and aims to prove the innocence of magic, even if it means turning against the people she loves most. One of the most poignant scenes in the story is when Brystal stands in front of her father—the Justice who sentenced her to the correctional facility—and demands that he change his intolerant ways. Brystal questions her faith, her society’s criminalization of magic, and the patriarchy.  

Madame Weatherberry teaches Brystal that, “Ignorance is a choice. Hatred is a choice. Violence is a choice. But someone’s existence is never a choice or a fault, and it’s certainly not a crime.” People can choose to be intolerant, or they can choose to accept people for who they are. And Brystal chooses to support her friends no matter what. Similarly, Brystal extends this compassion to the world and Brystal ends the story determined to ensure that future generations will have a happy ending. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • In most of the kingdoms, the punishment for witchcraft is death. “In the Northern Kingdom, perpetrators and their families were put on trial and promptly burned at the stake. In the Eastern Kingdom. . . [they are] hung in the gallows. In the Western Kingdom, suspected witches and warlocks were drowned without any trial whatsoever.” 
  • When Brystal is imprisoned for practicing magic, she hears prisoners being tortured: “Bloodcurdling screams of prisoners getting whipped echoed through the halls.” 
  • At the Bootstrap Correctional Facility, the young girls are physically abused. Those who deserve worse punishment are subjected to the “dunker.” This is a well where a girl is repeatedly submerged and eventually drowned. Brystal is sent to the dunker but is saved before she is plunged into the icy water. 
  • Mrs. Edgar, one of the wardens of the Bootstrap Correctional Facility, slaps Brystal when she questions Mrs. Edgar’s perception of the Book of Faith and the nature of the Lord. Brystal said, “’What if you’re wrong about the Lord? . . . What if the Lord invented magic so people could help each other and enrich their own lives? What if the Lord thinks you’re the unholy ones for abusing people and making them believe their existence is a –’ WHACK! Mrs. Edgar slapped Brystal so hard her whole head jerked in a different direction. . . blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.” 
  • Xanthous, one of the academy students, reveals that his father beat him after coming home from the pub where he found Xanthous doing something “unspeakable.” Afterward, Xanthous sets his home on fire, and his father perished. Xanthous explains, “As he was hitting me, I became angry – really angry. I felt all this heat building up inside me like a volcano. . . next thing I knew, there was fire everywhere. . . Our house burned to the ground and my father. . . ”  
  • Emerelda, an academy student, tells a story about the Snow Queen. Emerelda says, “Many years ago, the Snow Queen was just a simple witch with a specialty for controlling the weather. One night, an angry mob found her home and killed her family.” Afterward, the Snow Queen turned evil. 
  • Brystal and her friends witness a fight between trolls and goblins. “Brystal and her classmates watched the brawl in horror—they had never seen such violence in their lives. The creatures ruthlessly bludgeoned and stabbed one another, and when their weapons gave out, they resorted to twisting noses and pulling ears.” Brystal and her friends run away before they see anyone get seriously injured. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The academy students find a bottle of “Fabubblous Fizz” when they break into Madame Weatherberry’s office. Xanthous asks, “There isn’t any alcohol in there, is there?” No one knows the answer. The students only have one sip each. It causes them to be able to blow bubbles out of their mouth. 
  • It is mentioned that Xanthous’ father beats him after coming home from the pub drunk.  

Language  

  • Heck is used twice. For example, when a witch breaks into his castle, the king of the Southern Kingdom says, “Who the heck are you?”  
  • Brystal’s friend, Lucy, plays the tambourine. When Lucy says she’s going to give up magic and go back to playing the tambourine, Brystal calls the tambourine “stupid.” 
  • Lucy insults witches by calling them “gizzard suckers.” 
  • The Snow Queen calls Brystal a “stupid, incompetent girl.” 

Supernatural  

  • In this world, magic can be used for just about everything from everyday tasks to creating storms, talking to animals, healing wounds, and more. It can also be used to turn one item into another; the possibilities are endless. 
  • Some magic users have a specialty, a type of magic or spell that they are very good at. For example, Tangerina, one of Madame Weatherberry’s apprentices, controls bees. Magic users also tend to have physical attributes that represent what they’re good at. For example, Tangerina has a beehive of orange hair that drips honey and is home to a swarm of bees.  
  • Madame Weatherberry can create storms. Her body is frostbitten due to creating powerful snowstorms. 
  • Skylene, one of Madame Weatherberry’s apprentices, controls water and has water for hair that evaporates at her feet. 
  • Madame Weatherberry has a magical carriage made of gold that is pulled by unicorns. Inside, there are plants that produce berries in every color of the rainbow. Madame Weatherberry can make the carriage into a brooch for easy transportation, which she does occasionally throughout the story. 
  • Xanthous, an academy student, controls fire. His power is hard to control, so Madame Weatherberry gives him a medal called a Muter Medal, which allows him to suppress his abilities.  
  • The castle that is home to the academy is magical and expands as needed. When new students arrive, a new bedroom grows in the castle. Madame Weatherberry explains, “The castle grows extra bedrooms based on the number of residents and designs the chambers around the occupant’s specific needs.” For example, Brystal’s room is a library, while Xanthous’ room is fireproof. 
  • A few magical creatures, such as goblins, gryphons, and unicorns, are mentioned in the story.  
  • Horence, a knight who protects the school grounds, is a spirit that can’t speak and rides a three-headed horse. Madame Weatherberry tells Brystal a story of how Horence was created. “Horence was in love with a witch. . . after he was murdered, the witch used witchcraft to bring him back to life. The spell was so dark and vile, the witch died in the process.” 
  • Brystal finds a Tree of Truth that can answer any question. The tree can speak to Brystal in her mind. 

Spiritual Content  

  • The Southern Kingdom’s religion comes from the Book of Faith. The religion is not described in detail but there is a “God” or “Lord” that is referred to occasionally with phrases like, “By God” and “God have mercy.”  
  • Brystal reads in a banned book that the Book of Faith has been rewritten many times to fit lawmakers’ political agendas. “If the Book of Faith was as pure as the monks claim it is, there would be no need to amend it or publish versions over time. However, if you compared a current Book of Faith to one from a hundred years ago, you would discover vast differences between the religion of today and the religion of yesterday.” The book says that the law and faith should be separate, but the Justices of the Southern Kingdom have made the Book of Faith and the law the same, thus “any activity or opinion that questions the government is a sin… The Book of Faith no longer reflects the Lord’s will, but the will of men who use the Lord as a tool to manipulate their people.” 
  • Brystal prays to God by saying, “Please, God, I need more than just faith to keep going. . .”  

The Immortal Fire

Is everything in our lives predetermined, or do we truly possess the ability to make choices? This thought-provoking question delves into the depths of human existence and raises profound philosophical inquiries. It forces us to ponder our agency and contemplate the intricacies of fate versus free will.  

This existential exploration forms the core of the extraordinary journey embarked upon by Charlotte Mielswetski and Zachary Miller. As the two protagonists find themselves unexpectedly transported back to the realm of Greek Gods, they become entangled in a web of divine destiny and mortals’ decisions. The collision of these two worlds sets the stage for an epic narrative of monumental proportions. 

In the wake of their encounter with Poseidon, the divine realm undergoes a chaotic transformation that bewilders even the gods themselves. The enigmatic disappearance of Poseidon, the emergence of terrifying monsters, and the relentless battles among the gods all contribute to the mounting tension that looms over Earth. Mortal lives hang precariously in the balance as the very fabric of existence unravels. 

Once again, the weighty responsibility of restoring order falls upon the shoulders of Charlotte and her beloved cousin Zachary, affectionately known as Zee. Their odyssey takes them on a perilous journey to the sacred Mount Olympus, where they face their most formidable challenge yet—none other than Zeus himself. However, this time, they must confront the mighty ruler of the gods without the aid of the Prometheans. As they grapple with the guilt of leaving behind their families and battle their arch nemesis, Philonecron, Charlotte and Zee embody resilience and determination in their unwavering pursuit of justice. Every ounce of their courage and wit are put to the test as they strive to reestablish harmony and balance. 

Throughout the captivating Cronus Chronicles Trilogy, readers will undoubtedly find themselves deeply enamored with the courageous and relatable protagonist, Charlotte Mielswetski. As they journey through the pages of this extraordinary series, their affection for Charlotte will grow stronger with each passing chapter. However, it is in this final installment of the trilogy that the undeniable connection between readers and Charlotte will be solidified, leaving an indelible mark on their hearts and minds. Brace yourself for an unforgettable conclusion that will leave readers yearning for more, as the remarkable journey of Charlotte reaches its climactic end. 

As readers delve deeper into the story and form a bond with Charlotte, they will also find themselves captivated by Zee. With his unwavering determination, sharp intellect, and deep affection for his cousin, Zee becomes a beloved character who will undoubtedly win readers’ hearts. Throughout the narrative, readers will be filled with anticipation and excitement as they witness Zee fearlessly confront and overcome various challenges that come his way. 

The Immortal Fire is an incredibly captivating and exquisitely crafted piece of literature that will undoubtedly engross readers from the very beginning all the way to the end. With its masterful prose and incredibly vivid descriptions, this truly compelling story takes readers on an unforgettable journey alongside the cousins as they courageously embark on the thrilling and perilous last leg of their epic adventure alongside powerful divine beings. Whether you are a devoted fan of Greek mythology or simply someone who is seeking a truly enthralling and deeply immersive reading experience that will transport you to another world, The Immortal Fire is the perfect choice. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Philonecron, a descendant of Poseidon and the arch-nemesis of Charlotte and Zee, finds himself in possession of the trident. He uses it to change Poseidon into a sea cucumber. This gives Philonecron the courage to continue changing gods, so they are not in his way. Unfortunately, Poseidon’s son Triton is no different.  “Triton gasped, as if to suck in the whole sky, and lifted the horn to his lips. But it never got there, for Philonecron swung the trident forward – he was getting really fast with it now – and where there was once a fish-tailed centaur on a life raft, there was now just a very small, fish-tailed weasel with a tiny conch shell around its neck.” 
  • Philonecron stops to visit the Oracle to see if she can tell him if he is fated to overthrow Zeus. When he is unsatisfied with the Oracle’s answer, he uses the trident against her. Philonecron levels “the trident at her. Within a matter of moments, an enormous, festering pimple appeared right in the center of her forehead. The oracle shrieked, hands flying to her face.” 
  • The Prometheans argue over whether it is right to let Charlotte and Zee escape with a boy named Steve, who is the prophesied son who would overthrow Zeus. Mr. Metos (a descendant of Prometheus and the cousin’s English teacher) and another Promethean, Timons, argue over whether to sacrifice Steve. This leads to an almost deadly battle between Timons and Mr. Metos. “Mr. Metos, turning his arm slightly, flicked his wrist. The dagger moved through the air, spinning balletically, and Timon let out something between a grunt and a yell as it pierced his thigh. [Timons] stumbled and grabbed his leg, the gun dropping to the floor. He seemed to be screaming curses . . . And then Timon had the gun in his hands again, and just as Mr. Metos reached for another dagger, he had leveled it at them, his face contorted in pain and rage. And then everything happened at once. There was an explosion from the gun, and at the same time, Timon screamed and wrenched to the side. A bullet flew through the air, whizzing by. . . hitting the wall. Timon fell to the floor, writhing, another dagger lodged in his shoulder.” Thankfully, no deadly harm is brought to either Promethean, but it is at this point the cousins escape with Steve. 
  • While sneaking around Mount Olympus, Charlotte stumbles upon a room full of gods. While she listens intently to their conversation, she is struck in the back with an arrow. “Charlotte could hear her scream hanging in the air like a big flashing neon arrow. Her heart started beating so fast it seemed it might run right off the rails. Everything seized up, and she was ready to burst off running somewhere, except her whole back stuck with pain, and she felt something cold and deadly begin to spread where the arrow had joined with her flesh. She went green, her skin turned cold.” Charlotte starts to slip into death, but Hera commands Appollo to heal her so that she can be brought before Zeus. 
  • Charlotte and Zee finally face Zeus. Zeus quickly shows his strength by pointing his thunderbolt at Charlotte. “Charlotte yelled and ran at Zeus, fists flailing. Zeus smirked before swinging his thunderbolt, hitting her with the flat of the blade. She let out an inhuman cry as she was flung backward, and she landed in a heap on the floor. She did not move.” Charlotte was again brought close to death, but did not die. 
  • Philonecron and Steve join Charlotte and Zee at the top of Mount Olympus for the final showdown with Zeus. Philonecron manages to separate the thunderbolt from Zeus and confine him with the power of the trident, but Philonecron must hand the trident, thunderbolt, and the power to kill Zeus all over to Steve to make the final decision.  
  • In the meantime, Zee grabs the thunderbolt. “As Philonecron screamed at Steve, Zee aimed the thunderbolt and ran toward him, thrusting the sharp point into the god’s back with all his might. Philonecron screeched and arched backward, the trident falling out of his hand. Zee dove for it as Philonecron fell to the ground. And then Zee was standing over him, trident and thunderbolt poised, as his tormentor howled.” Philonecron does not die, but his memory is wiped and he is transported away by two large black birds that come seemingly out of thin air. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Zee and Charlotte begin to grow frustrated with Mr. Metos. While Mr. Metos aims to support humanity, his tactics are not always considerate which leads Zee to yell at Mr. Metos. “You speak to us of these great dangers to us, but you won’t tell us what is going on, so the next thing I know I’m watching Charlotte be carried off by fluffy the Dragon Kitty while you’re skipping around trying to find its nest. So there will be no more locking us in cars, and there will be no more drugging people. We’re involved like it or not. . . You complain about the gods not taking responsibility, but you won’t let us take any . . . it’s arrogant. . . and pigheaded and . . . cruel. And it isn’t nice!” 

Supernatural 

  • After Charlotte and Zee’s encounter with Poseidon, things start to go awry near that area in the sea. The whole world is beginning to take notice of the unnatural incidents occurring across the world. “Something weird was going on. It wasn’t just the half-mile-wide hole that had suddenly appeared in the Mediterranean Sea or the behavior of the dolphins. Strange reports were coming in from the whole region. A fleet of ships from the Croatian navy had disappeared. Sharks off the coast of Rome had gone psycho, swimming after fishing boats and patrolling the beaches. A whirlpool had suddenly appeared in a shipping lane. The waters of the Aegean Sea had turned so choppy that no ship could travel on it. A several-mile-long swath in the Mediterranean had turned pitch-black and cold, as if it had simply died.” 
  • Charlotte watches these odd events unfolding on television, “A coastal town was being assailed by wind. . . Not a soul was in sight; it was like not a soul existed on Earth — they had all abandoned it to the wind. And then, just like that, the wind stopped. The trees snapped back in relief. All was calm. And then, suddenly, the debris began to stir, and the wind started up again, the trees bowed exhaustedly — in the other direction.”

Spiritual Content  

  • In the story, Greek Gods are real.  

Friends Fur-Ever!

It’s the start of a new school year, and the kids are excited about Oakville Elementary School’s new club for Animal Appreciation, Education, and Rehabilitation—even though their new club advisor, Mrs. Wen, doesn’t share their enthusiasm. But as the kids meet a decidedly unusual crew of animals, including a bearded dragon who won’t eat, a therapy pig named Truffles, and a prickly porcupine who needs first aid, kids and adults alike learn that when people help animals, the animals help them right back. 

When the kids decide to start a club, a kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Wen, is forced to advise the club. However, when the kids take a rabbit to visit a nursing home, Mrs. Wen’s grandmother loves the cuddly bunny that helps her remember her past. Seeing the positive effect the rabbit has on her grandmother changes Mrs. Wen’s reluctance to be the club adviser.  

To increase club membership, Mrs. Wen invites Jimmy. However, Jimmy isn’t always nice. In fact, he gets upset when the art club puts the wrong time on the posters for a nature walk and decides to retaliate. Jimmy explains, “They ruined our nature walk by messing up our posters. I figured I’d get them back by taking down their posters.”  

The Animal Appreciation, Education, and Rehabilitation activities are presented using brightly colored illustrations with super cute animals. The club members and the adults are diverse and encourage teamwork. Each page has one to eight sentences that appear in quote bubbles. While some of the sentences are complex, the majority of them are easy to understand. Because of the fun topic and simple plot structure, Friends Fur-Ever will appeal to many readers. 

The animal club’s members are mostly kind to each other, and they show compassion to the animals. For example, when deciding to take the rabbit to a nursing home, one of the boys gives the rabbit a series of tests to make sure that the rabbit won’t become frightened. In addition, the club members help find the school’s missing hamster. While most of the animal club’s adventures are safe and realistic, at one point the kids catch an injured porcupine in a backpack because they don’t want to wait for animal control. In addition, Mrs. Wen leads an unwilling horse into a parade, even though she is obviously uncomfortable with horses.  

Friends Fur-Ever encourages readers to treat animals with respect, but some of the club members forget this lesson. While the graphic novel will entertain readers, adults may want to discuss the episodes with young readers, discussing the dangers of trying to capture a wild animal. Readers who love animals and want an easy-to-read book will find Friends Fur-Ever a good book. For more pet-astic reads check out Pets on the Loose! by Victoria Jamieson and the Bird & Squirrel Series by James Burks. 

 Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Harry Houdini: A Magical Life

Elizabeth MacLeod presents the life and career of the Hungarian immigrant who rose from poverty to become one of the most famous magicians and contortionists of all time: Harry Houdini! While the book focuses on Harry’s magic, it also shows other aspects of his life; he was an international star, a Hollywood actor, and a loving husband. Harry Houdini: A Magical Life delves into Harry’s interesting life, beginning when he was a child and ending after his death.  

Harry was a great magician because he constantly learned and practiced new tricks. For example, when Harry wanted to learn to escape from a straitjacket, he “visited a mental hospital and watched violent patients try to break free from the straitjackets. Of course, Harry had to try to escape from one. It took seven tries and left him bruised and bloody, but he managed to wriggle out.” Harry’s work ethic allowed him to perform some amazing new tricks and captivate his audiences. 

Harry also used his fame to help others. He often allowed children and soldiers to see him perform for free. In addition, “Harry tried to use his survival skills in the airless coffin to help others. He said people in collapsed mines might live longer if they stayed calm and breathed slowly.” Readers will enjoy seeing how Harry used magic to improve other people’s lives.  

Because of his desire to help others, Harry was embroiled in a séance scandal. After Harry’s mother died, he began “looking into spiritualism, the belief that dead people can communicate with the living. . . Harry was against mediums (people who claimed to be able to contact the dead) because he felt they took advantage of people’s grief just to get their money.” Harry used his knowledge of magic to speak out against spiritualism and show people how mediums used tricks to deceive people.  

Even though Harry Houdini: A Magical Life is only 32 pages, it is packed full of interesting information. Each two-page spread features newspaper headlines, advertising posters, and historical pictures with captions that tell interesting facts. For example, Harry once said, “I could get out of anything—a coffin, a burglarproof safe, and even a preserved giant squid!” The graphic elements add to the book’s visual appeal, but some readers may struggle with the advanced vocabulary. This book in the Snapshots: Images of People and Places in History Series includes a concise timeline and a listing of pertinent Web sites. 

Anyone interested in magic should put Harry Houdini: A Magical Life on the top of their reading list. Not only is the book entertaining, but it also shows that hard work, practice, and magic all combined to make Harry Houdini one of the most famous magicians of all time. To learn more about Harry Houdini and the history of magic, read Abracadabra: The Story of Magic Through the Ages by HP Newquist. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball

When James Naismith takes over as the new teacher of a rowdy gym class, he quickly realizes that he needs a new strategy to handle the energetic group of boys. Forced to find a game with less physical contact and more skill, Naismith develops his own game with a soccer ball and two peach baskets. Naismith introduces the new game of basketball to the gym class, but he worries that the boys won’t accept it. Will basketball become the next exciting thing or yet another failed sport for Naismith?  

Set in 1891, the story follows James Naismith and his journey to invent the game of basketball. Naismith is portrayed as a thick-skinned, determined protagonist whose many failures to find the right sport for his gym class only push him to continue to try new things. Naismith’s fortitude and willingness to never give are very admirable, and his determination to succeed will inspire others.  

The story presents an enjoyable account of the real-life invention of basketball, and the plot details the creation, the execution, and the impact of basketball in a clear, fluid manner. From the start, the book is filled with energy and excitement, and the progressing storyline only enhances the appeal of basketball for both young and old readers. While the historical accuracy may be overly simplified, the story’s core is its main lesson of never giving up. Even when Naismith “felt like giving up” because of repeated failures, he remained motivated and “stayed up late thinking about the new game.” 

The book highlights the historical components of the story with colorful, page-full illustrations that enhance the plot and keep readers invested with a unique, watercolor art style. Even though Hoop Genius is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Each page features a short paragraph of text, but the advanced vocabulary will be challenging for younger readers. Nonetheless, older readers will still enjoy the book’s simplicity and illustrations. At the end of the book, an Author’s Note and a historical document about the early rules of basketball also provide an in-depth look at the real-life details of basketball. Overall, Hoop Genius is an entertaining yet informative tale about the creation of basketball that basketball fans won’t want to miss. To learn more fun facts about basketball add Swish!: The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters by Suzanne Slade to your reading list. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

Healer of the Water Monster

The prospect of spending his summer in Phoenix with his father and his new girlfriend, Leandra, makes Nathan feel sick to his stomach. Still unsettled by his parent’s impending divorce, Nathan decides to spend his summer with his grandmother, Nali. At her mobile home, away from cell service and the luxuries of modern technology, Nathan starts a summer project to keep him busy that involves growing corn in his grandmother’s garden.  

However, his summer gets off to a more exciting start than Nathan bargained for when his corn seeds start going missing. While trying to catch the thief in action, Nathan stumbles across a water monster named Pond, a creature from Navajo legend that can control the water. However, Pond’s lake is dried up and his power is fading, rendering him unable to sing the water monster songs that bring rain to the area. Nathan learns that Pond has been poisoned by radiation from a nearby excavated uranium mine. To save Pond, Nathan needs to go to the Third World and get medicine from Mother Water Monster, the strongest of all water monsters. 

Meanwhile, Nathan’s Uncle Jet is struggling with his alcohol addiction. Nali wants Uncle Jet to have an Enemy Way Ceremony, a cleansing ritual that will help Jet on his road to recovery. However, Uncle Jet is against the ceremony since he is depressed and doesn’t believe it will work. Nathan discovers that an Ash Being is clinging to Uncle Jet, a dark creature who is increasing Uncle Jet’s feelings of hopelessness.  

After learning a few water monster songs to protect him in the Third World, Nathan unites with other Holy Beings, such as Wind and Darkness, to meet Mother Water Monster. They solve a series of puzzles in the Third World before meeting her and getting the medicine for Pond. Nathan returns home to discover that Mother Water Monster did not give him medicine, but a rock instead, and Pond passes away. Nathan feels all his work was in vain, but Changing Woman, a Navajo Holy Being, reassures him: “You gave Pond a great pool of hope, for his own health and for the return of the rains. Hope is a very powerful medicine and can give every minute we have alive a great deal of meaning and worth.” 

Nathan realizes that he has someone else who needs hope – his Uncle Jet. He rushes to be present at Uncle Jet’s Enemy Way, in which the Ash Being is successfully expelled. The story ends as Nathan discovers that the rock is actually a water monster egg, which is now his duty to care for and continue Pond’s legacy.  

The main theme of Healer of the Water Monster, as Nathan learns, is hope. Nathan feels hopeless for various reasons: he struggles to learn the water monster songs, his parents are unhappy, and he’s losing his friend, Pond. However, by relying on others and asking for help when he needs it, he is able to prevail. The other characters, such as Uncle Jet, learn this valuable lesson too.  

Readers will find that Nathan is a relatable character due to his insecurities. He admits that he is afraid of the journey to the Third World and doubts that he is the right person to make such a dangerous and important journey. However, with reassurance from his friends, Nathan accepts that it’s his duty to help the water monsters. At the end of the story, Nathan also takes the responsibility of passing on the water monster’s songs to the baby water monster, who is a symbol of hope. 

This story, the prequel to Heroes of the Water Monster, is easier to read than the second book. There are only two main plots in this story, while the second book is difficult to follow due to its much larger scope. Thus, in Healer of the Water Monster, the reader is able to learn about Nathan in more detail. The inclusion of Navajo culture is interesting and straightforward, and it doesn’t overshadow the plot of Uncle Jet and his struggles with alcoholism. Uncle Jet’s dark thoughts brought on by the Ash Being and his PTSD from serving as a marine are heavy topics for this story but mentioned sparingly. Healer of the Water Monster focuses more on spreading hope, overcoming insecurities, and looking to the future than it does on the fantasy action which makes it more thoughtful – but not any less worthwhile – than its sequel. Readers who want to connect with other Indigenous characters should also read Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac and When the Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Nathan accidentally gets hurt while trying to pass by a fight and gets knocked out. “Two big men [were] fighting each other in the middle of the cars and trucks. They were cursing and saying many things that would make his mom mad. Their fists and knees slammed into each other’s bodies. . . They both fell to the earth, and a large dust cloud bloomed around them. Some dust flew into Nathan’s eyes. As he was rubbing his eyes, Nathan felt the full weight of two massive bodies pushing him up against the car. . . Nathan fell to the earth. Last thing he remembered, he heard a loud smack and then a lightning-like flare of pain made his vision blurry, then go dark.” 
  • Darkness uses its powers on a man who steals. “Darkness wrapped the shadows around the man. The man knelt down. His screaming was muffled, as if his head were under a pillow. The man screamed and writhed. It was kind of terrifying, and Nathan hoped the man wasn’t in pain. In seconds, the shadows unraveled, and like black ink slipped off the man, who was sound asleep.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Uncle Jet smokes once. “When [Uncle Jet] noticed Nathan was heading toward him, Uncle Jet quickly put out his cigarette.” 
  • Devin, a medicine man that Nathan and Nali visit, smokes tobacco. “Devin lit the tobacco with a lighter and puffed on it.” 
  • Uncle Jet is an alcoholic. This is mentioned multiple times in the story, but there are only a few instances where the reader sees him drinking. For example, Nathan finds Uncle Jet sleeping after many drinks. “The stench of alcohol crept up Nathan’s nostrils.” Nathan leaves him to rest. 
  • Uncle Jet takes Nathan to a party where people are drinking and he has a few drinks. “A crowd passed brown bottles and silver aluminum cans around. . . Uncle Jet chugged a can.” 

Language    

  • Nathan calls someone “stupid.” 

Supernatural  

  • The Water Monsters are a group of Holy Beings that play a central role in the story. They are creatures of legend from Navajo stories that inhabit bodies of water and look like lizards. They have many powers, including controlling water, turning it to ice, using it to travel long distances, and more. Other than Pond, Nathan’s water monster friend, Nathan also meets Mother Water Monster. “Far in the distance, a creature of titanic proportions rose from the water. Waterfalls cascaded from its scaly body. . . Water cleared from the face of the creature, and a pair of bloodred eyes stared at Nathan.” 
  • To control water, water monsters sing songs. Nathan learns some of these water monster songs; this allows him to freeze water and control it. Nathan freezes a water bottle to prove to his father that the water monsters, and their songs, are real. “Nathan stopped singing in his mind. . . [he] handed his father the water bottle that he had frozen completely solid. Both his father and Nali looked at the bottle in utter surprise. Tiny frost crystals had formed on the outside.” Later, Nathan uses the same song to freeze a lake in the Third World. 
  • Nathan discovers that a horned toad-looking creature is stealing his seeds. This creature, Seed Collector, is a being from the Third World. He can speak and stand on two legs. “Shocked, [Nathan] froze in place when he saw the large horned toad standing on its hind legs and holding a glowing quartz crystal. Atop its head was a tiny, horizontally striped turkey feather. A turquoise necklace dangled around its thorny neck. . . a trail of cactus flowers followed it, hovering right about its shoulder area.”  
  • Nathan has a turquoise stone that allows him to communicate with all beings. He uses it to speak to the water monsters and Holy Beings.  
  • Nathan befriends a spider. Nathan uses his communication stone to talk to Spider. She comes with him on the journey to the Third World, spinning webs for him so that Nathan can find his way back to the Fourth World. 
  • An Ash Being is a shadow-like creature that feeds on one’s fears and worsens feelings of anxiety and depression. Nathan notices that an Ash Being has latched onto his Uncle Jet. At one point, it latches onto Nathan, calling him “worthless” and making him feel depressed for a short time until the Holy Beings scare it away. 
  • A butterfly with rainbow wings called Changing Woman – a Navajo Holy Being – congratulates Nathan on his return from the Third World.  

Spiritual Content  

  • This story centers around Navajo beliefs, which are mentioned frequently. The main focus is the Holy Beings who help Nathan rescue Pond, including Wind and Darkness, figureless beings that are the personification of wind and darkness. The Navajo language is also used frequently, which can be translated with the glossary in the back of the book.  
  • The Third World and Fourth World are mentioned in the story multiple times. Humans occupy the Fourth World, while Holy Beings such as Water Monsters and more live in the Third World. A large part of the story is Nathan’s journey to the Third World to meet Mother Water Monster. 
  • The story describes these different worlds and how they came to be. “Ages before humans lived in our current Fourth World, it has been said that the ancestors of the Navajo left the mists and clouds of the Second World for the shimmering waters of the Third World. First to crawl onto the land were the beings of thought, First Woman and First Man. Second were the beings of land, Coyote, Turkey, Deer, Turtle, Cougar, Bear. . . ” This Navajo creation story spans four pages and describes how Coyote steals a baby water monster, enraging Mother Water Monster who attempts to destroy the third world, prompting the First Man, First Woman, and creatures of land into moving to the Fourth World where they now reside.  
  • An Enemy Way is a Navajo ceremony that people undergo when they experience trauma in their lives and undergo a spiritual cleanse to aid the process of recovery. A large aspect of the story is Uncle Jet undertaking this ceremony to start his road to recovery. In this multi-day ceremony usually for warriors who have returned from war, singing and other rituals are used to combat the dangerous effects of ghosts. 
  • A few times in the story, sweetgrass is discussed. The Navajo use sweetgrass as medicine that they burn and inhale the smoke of to purify the spirit and energize the body. Pond uses his sweetgrass to prolong his life and inhales it a few times. Two times, he lets Nathan do it too. “Nathan picked up the sweetgrass and held it in front of the water monster’s nose. The water monster blew upon it and small embers ignited. Soon, a sweet smoke wafted through the air and into its nostrils. Some of the smoke entered Nathan’s nose, and in an instant, he was no longer tired. He was alert, like he had awakened from the night of great sleep, though he was still hungry and thirsty.” 
  • Other sacred objects include corn pollen and turquoise; both of which are mentioned a few times in the story.  

Lost in the Mushroom Maze

Coop Cooperson lives in the Land of Eem, a fantastical realm where many different species live together, and there is always more magic to be discovered by those up to the task. The Dungeoneer Academy trains future explorers with classes like Dungeons and Mazes, Creatures and Critters, and Swords and Sorcery.

Coop believes in the academy’s mission and the Dungeoneer’s Code, but being the only human student can make it difficult to fit in. Lucky for Coop, his best friend Oggie the bugbear has his back. Oggie and the two other members of their exploring team—Daz the boggart and Mindy the imp—will have to rely on each other more than ever as the test for their Junior Dungeoneer Badges looms closer. If Coop and his friends fail to run the final gauntlet in the fungal jungle, they will have to leave the academy.  

As future dungeoneers, Coop and his team know to expect the unexpected, but nothing could prepare them for the adventure that lies in store. Coop and the Green Team must defeat the Zarakna’rawr (a dangerous spider monster), or the mushrums (a group of mushroom-like people) will turn the friends into soup!  

Lost in the Mushroom Maze takes readers on an epic adventure deep underground. Right from the start, readers will connect to the Green Team—Coop, Daz, Oggie, and Mindy—a group of misfits who struggle with typical middle-grade conflicts. Coop wants to break free from the mold that society has cast for him. Daz’s absent parents make her feel lonely and unwanted. Oggie wants to be an artist, but his father wants Oggie to be a great warrior. And Mindy works too hard, which doesn’t allow her to have any fun.  

Adventure-loving readers will be introduced to a wide array of characters, frightening monsters, and an unexplored mushroom civilization. Large, black-and-white illustrations appear on almost every page, which helps readers visualize the imaginative world of Eem as well as heightens the suspense. The fast-paced story includes heart-stopping action scenes, humor, and mystery. And the book’s rich language adds to the story’s fun tone. 

The book is wonderful to read aloud because it’s filled with alliteration, onomatopoeias, silly names, and made-up words. However, some readers will struggle with the liberal use of idioms such as on thin ice, a piece of cake, etc. In addition, the story uses difficult vocabulary such as grudgingly, calamitous, pulverized, mycelium, and juggernaut. Another thing that may cause confusion is that Tymbo, a mushrum, speaks his own dialect of English. For example, when encountering a monster, Tymbo says, “The Oo’graw’nok is the creature we are seeing. The almighty Zarakna’rawr is a creature we are not seeing.” Despite this, readers will be so caught up in the story that any language difficulties will not prevent them from reading the entire book.  

Through it all, the Green Team succeeds by working together and using their unique talents. Readers will connect with the Green Team’s conflicts and root for them as they face a bully, an exiled rebel, and a multitude of monsters. Through the Green Team’s experiences, the story encourages readers to embrace their unique differences. 

Fans of The Last Kids on Earth and The Treehouse Series will also enjoy reading Lost in the Mushroom Maze. Not only is the book exceptionally entertaining, but the Dungeoneer’s Code, which is referred to often, also teaches important lessons such as working together and “always do what is right, even if other options are easier.” Lost in the Mushroom Maze is the perfect book for any reader who enjoys humor and adventure.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The Green Team is on a practice mission when Coop accidentally steps on a pressure plate and “something sharp and pointy whizzes by my head. . . Gouts of flame blast from jets in the floor and ceiling . . . All of a sudden, a pendulum blade swings toward us from the darkness above.” No one is injured. The scene is described over six pages.  
  • While in the cafeteria, the school bully, Zeek, throws food at Coop. “Something wet and slimy hits me hard in the side of the face. A blob of mystery casserole.” Coop wants to retaliate, but his friends stop him.   
  • Zeek corners Coop. “Zeek wrenches my neck into a headlock, stuffing my face into the crook of his sweaty armpit. It stinks like fish butts and cabbage. . .” Oggie steps in, but Zeek’s minion, Axel, “lifts him off the ground. . . Axel hisses as he slams Oggie into a locker.” 
  • Coop gets angry and finally begins fighting back. “With a swift tug and a nimble roll, I break free of Zeek’s grip and sprint to my feet. Digging in my heels, I draw my finger like a sword and poke Zeek in the chest. . . Zeek pushes me so hard, I trip and land on my tailbone with a thud. Sprawled on the ground, I watch Zeek and Axel laugh.” Coop’s friend appears and Zeek takes off. The scene is described over five pages. 
  • Headmaster Munchowzen and his friend, Lazlar Rake, founded The Dungeoneer Academy. But Lazlar “was banished after three students were killed while under his negligent leadership during an unauthorized exploration mission.” No other information is given.    
  • While on a sputter-train, Zeek takes Coop’s journal and reads it aloud. Oggie gets up to help, “but Axel kicks him, and Oggie stumbles back into his seat.” Then the sputter-train crashes and “things go topsy-turvy.” 
  • While in the Mushroom Maze, the Green Team, Zeek, and Axel hear a “roooooarrrrrr!” They run and hide, but the monster follows. “Somewhere above, we hear skittery clicking sounds. . . one of those crablike insects I saw before, red and shiny, crawls down from above us. We stare at it. It stares back with black, unwinking eyes. . . Suddenly it leaps onto Zeek’s leg. . . Zeek smacks it and the bug goes flying. . .”  
  • After Zeek hits the bug, “there’s a thunderous thump as a toadstool tree topples over, and hundreds of these hidden red insects skitter in random directions along the jungle floor.” Then a beast appears. “The monstrous creature [called a gwarglebeast] opens its powerful jaws wide enough to scoop up two more crab-bugs and then bellows. . .” The Green Team befriends the gwarglebeast. 
  • Zeek mocks Coop and calls him names. Then, Coop describes how Zeek’s fist “connects squarely with my nose. Crunch! I feel the rush of blood spurt out, and I fall to my knees.” Afterward, Zeek takes off. 
  • While lost in the Mushroom Maze, the Green Team runs into a group of mushroom-like people called mushrums. The team begins to back away, but “before we can leave, an array of crystal weapons juts out from the bushes surrounding us.” 
  • The mushrums take the friends to their leader, who plans to eat them. “The mushrum guards grab us by the arm and march us toward a boiling cauldron. Steam blasts our faces, so hot that we have to turn away.” Coop bargains with the leader: if they let them go, they will kill the Zarakna’rawr—a dangerous monster. 
  • While underground, the Green Team falls into brackish water. “Suddenly tentacles slither from the water and coil around Tymbo with ferocious speed!” The Green Team grabs Tymbo, “when suddenly countless more glowing yellow eyes peer at us from below.” The kids fight the terrible beast for seven pages. Everyone makes it out of the water alive, except for Tymbo. The beast cuts Tymbo in half, but thankfully, “Mushrum folk can reconstitute themselves after dismemberment.”  
  • While trying to find a way out of an underground tunnel, the Green Team sees a mysterious boy, who turns out to be an exiled student. The boy blows up the tunnel entrance. The explosion is not described. 
  • Chromadytes, large crystal beasts, attack the Green Team and Tymbo. “One of the chromadytes swipes at Tymbo with its jagged crystal-covered arm, but the mushrum trackers deftly dodge in opposite directions. . .” Daz uses a shield as a battering ram. “The force of her charge knocks the chromadytes aside, buying us enough time to duck past them down the tunnel.” The group runs safely away.  
  • In a multi-chapter battle, the Green Team must defeat a Zarakna’rawr, “a titanic mushrum spider monster.” The monster tries to stomp on Coop, but “Oggie tackles me just in time. Our bodies thud to the ground, and we roll clear of the spider’s massive stomp.” 
  • Daz jumps in to help Oggie. “Daz tosses one of her gemmed daggers into the air and catches it by the point between her fingers. With a swift spin, she hurls the dagger into the spider’s leg. The Zarakna’rawr lets out a bloodcurdling roar. . .” 
  • The Green Team learns that Dorian Ryder, an exiled student, has a scepter that allows him to control the Zarakna’rawr. Dorian commands the Zarakna’rawr to attack. “The monster roars, its sound so loud. . . and we all reel back in horror. With reckless abandon we sprint away as the spider creature pursues us, its tremendous bulk crashing through the Fungal Jungle. . . with its enormous, scorpion-like tail it plucks toadstool trees from the ground and hurls them after us.”  
  • As the battle continues, the spider creature “sprays us with ropes of spittle and slime.” Most of the Green Team’s fighting does little to stop the Zarakna’rawr. Coop raises his sword to strike, but “the creature’s powerful forelimbs strike so hard that the wind is knocked out of me. I slide across the floor wheezing. . . my ribs ache. My back throbs. The metallic taste of blood is in my mouth.”  
  • When defeat seems imminent and all of Coop’s friends are down, Coop yells at the beast. “The spidery horror turns its creaking, chittering head toward me. Its mandibles jitter wetly as saliva drools to the ground. . .” With his sword raised, Coop runs towards the spider. He cries “out defiantly as I fall toward my enemy and strike!” The illustration shows the monster’s brain being sliced off.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Often, the students call each other names; however, the school bully does most of the name-calling. The name-calling includes jerk, loser, twerp, nerd, and hairbrain. 
  • Zeek calls Coop, “Pooperson.” Later, Zeek mocks him, saying Coop is a “no-good, river-rat human” and that he doesn’t belong in the academy.  
  • Heck and dang are both used a few times. 

Supernatural 

  • This fantasy world has imps, bugbears, shrym, and other types of characters.  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth

It’s a big weekend for Jasmine Toguchi! She’s excited to celebrate Girl’s Day—a Japanese holiday honoring women and girls—with her sister, mother, and best friend, Linnie.  

On Friday after school, Linnie comes over to plan their outfits for the Girl’s Day celebrations, and Jasmine’s neighbor, Mrs. Reese, lets them search through her old clothes for the perfect accessories. But the clothes are in her dark garage, which is kind of scary. And then Linnie decides to go home early, which is kind of weird. Plus Jasmine’s big sister, Sophie, doesn’t seem to want to join in the Girl’s Day fun this year, which is kind of confusing. WHAT is going on?

As her big weekend plans start to unravel, Jasmine must use her sleuthing skills to spot the clues around her. Then maybe, just maybe, she can put everything back in order before Girl’s Day is over! 

Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth explores the topic of friendship with a relatable conflict between Jasmine and her best friend, Linnie. Jasmine and Linne play dress-up at their neighbor Mrs. Reese’s house. Afterward, they do not have time to properly clean up. Jasmine tells Mrs. Reese that it was Linnie’s fault that the clothes weren’t put away right. This upsets Linnie, who then tells Jasmine’s mom that she wants to go home. When Linnie explains why she is upset, Jasmine thinks, “Linnie was snitching on me! She was not a good friend at all.”  

After Linnie goes home, Jasmine “was afraid Linnie would be mad at me forever. I was afraid she would not be my friend anymore. I needed to make things right.” Jasmine realizes that even though she tries to be a super sleuth, she “missed some important clues” that prove Linnie is a super friend. In the end, even though it’s difficult, Jasmine apologizes and the friendship is repaired.  

The story is accessible to fluent readers who are ready for a book with multiple plots. Black and white illustrations appear every two to three pages and show Jasmine’s daily life. Many of the illustrations show the characters’ facial expressions, which will help readers understand the characters’ emotions. Another positive aspect of the story is that difficult words are explained within the text. For example, Jasmine’s teacher asks the class what a detective is. Jasmine answers, “A detective is someone who solves mysteries by using clues. Another word for detective is sleuth.”  

Even though Jasmine Toguchi is a series, the books do not need to be read in order because each book focuses on a new storyline. And for even more fun, the back of the book has directions on how to make origami paper dolls. 

Young readers will enjoy the engaging plot of Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth. With relatable conflicts, positive adult role models, and a kind protagonist, Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth will please young readers and their parents. One of the best aspects of the story is how Jasmine uses her powers of observation to solve a mystery and understand others. In addition, the story has positive life lessons about friendship, communication, and dealing with changes. Jasmine’s mom says, ”Change doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Growing up. . . is a part of life. Just make sure you’re doing things because you want to, not because of what others might think.” Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth will appeal to many readers, especially those who love to imagine themselves as super sleuths. For another educational and entertaining mystery, check out King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code by Dori Hillestad Butler. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Jasmine’s friend, Linnie, celebrates Hanukkah. However, the holiday is not described. 

Middle School Mischief

Nadia loves fun facts. Here are a few about her: 

  • There was a magical—and hilarious—ancient Egyptian teacher named Titi trapped in her hippo amulet until she freed him last fall. 
  • Her school is choosing a new mascot and her idea is totally going to win! 
  • She’s going to kick butt writing for the school newspaper this term. . .  

A couple of weeks in, the newspaper is a big mess. The mascot contest is mayhem, too. (Who knew choosing a costumed character could cause such controversy?!) Then Nadia and Titi discover that the hippo amulet holds a second secret, one that’s super powerful—and super scary. Too bad they have no idea how to stop it. But Nadia is on the case! If she can solve the mystery of an ancient amulet, then winning the mascot contest and acing her reporter assignments should be easy. . . right? 

In the second installment of The Magical Reality of Nadia Series, Nadia learns that sometimes good intentions go awry. In hopes of bringing the student body together, Nadia proposed that the school’s mascot, the petunia, be replaced with something that represents everyone. Unfortunately, the contest to find a new mascot causes unexpected drama. In an effort to be heard, Nadia writes several articles. However, the first one is off-putting because it is preachy and the second one gives false information. Through it all, Nadia learns the importance of checking the validity of internet sources.  

Readers will connect with Nadia, who is imperfect and often makes mistakes. Like many middle school students, she unintentionally hurts people’s feelings which causes friendship problems. Since Nadia loves to tell people fun facts, she often comes off as a know-it-all. Despite this, Nadia’s imperfections and good intentions make her an extremely likable protagonist.  

Titi, an ancient professor, becomes a substitute teacher at Nadia’s school. Nadia begins to feel jealous when Titi has less time for her. Plus, Nadia begins to wonder if Titi is a true friend or if he is just using her. Nadia’s relationship with Titi adds suspense and humor to the story as well as reminds readers not to make assumptions.  

Middle School Mischief’s fun format and fast-paced plot will appeal to many readers. While most of the story is in traditional text, the book includes sections of black-and-white comics and lively black-and-white illustrations throughout. Several times throughout the story, Nadia mentions admiring Nellie Bly, which may spark the reader’s interest in the journalist. Unlike the first installment of the series, in Middle School Mischief Nadia’s fun facts are not integrated into the story; instead, they appear in the margins which makes it easy to overlook them.  

Middle School Mischief has many positive aspects that will appeal to middle-grade readers. While the story is full of humor, it also has many important life lessons including how mistakes are an important part of learning. The entertaining story also shows the importance of inclusion. In addition, the book briefly mentions microaggressions and explains that “just because something isn’t familiar to you doesn’t mean it’s weird.” Middle School Mischief is a highly entertaining book that reminds readers that no one is perfect.   

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Titi’s enemy, the magician Khefren, is determined to get revenge. The magician “turned on the news. And there it was—the scene of the ‘accident’ he’d orchestrated—the crushed chandelier, the broken glass, the flashing lights of the ambulances.” A news anchor goes on to explain, “A deranged squirrel caused massive destruction to the foyer of Elvis Presley’s historic home. The rodent chewed through a cable, causing a chandelier to fall on a local tour guide and Elvis impersonator.” No one is injured.  
  • When Titi lived in ancient Egypt, his friend Khefren became “very powerful. There were rumors that he had put a dark spell over the pharaoh. Our good and noble leader was now weak and confused. Anyone who questioned Khefren was put to death or imprisoned.” 
  • During lunch, Nadia was speaking to the student body. Someone gets upset and then, “Something hit the megaphone, then oozed off. Someone had thrown coleslaw at Nadia.” A food fight breaks out, but no one is injured.  
  • While in a classroom at Nadia’s school, Khefren gets angry and “pulled back his hand, fathering red smoke and sparks, and threw them toward Titi. The sparks bounced off him, hitting a gigantic seahorse and shattering it.”  
  • Khefren threatens to hurt Nadia and her friend Adam. “Titi dove to block the green and yellow sparks that flew from Khefren’s hand toward Adam. Adam hightailed it out of the classroom. . . Then [Khefren] threw electric blue sparks at the gigantic fish net hanging above. It landed on Nadia and Titi as Khefren disappeared down the hallway.”  
  • Khefren chases Adam down a hallway. To help Adam, Titi uses magic. “Suddenly, Nadia, Titi, and Adam were tiny animated versions of themselves, standing on the bake sale poster. ‘Eat us! Eat us!’ The cupcakes cried, jumping up and down.” As the three jump from poster to poster, the animated items on the poster chase them. 
  • Nadia, Titi, and Adam lock themselves in the gym. Khefren turns into a crocodile. “Croc-Khefren. . . rammed into the doors with his massive body. The lock broke like it was made of cheap plastic.” The students in the gym think the crocodile is part of Titi’s magic show. After an epic magic battle, Khefren is sent into an amulet.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • After the magic fight in the gym, Titi uses his magic to give everyone cotton candy. Titi says, “That delectable delight is filled with memory-erasing magic. Once everyone has a taste, all they’ll recall from today is that they saw a really amazing magic show. . .” 

Language  

  • Heck is used twice. 
  • Titi has many interesting ways to show surprise. For example, he exclaims, “Heavens to Mentuhotep” (an Egyptian pharaoh), “Cleopatra’s needles,” “for the love of Iris” (goddess of the rainbow), and more. 
  • Khefren calls Titi pathetic and a fool. 

Supernatural 

  • Khefren can shapeshift. To get revenge, he takes over another human’s body. 
  • Titi can dive inside a comic book “to any point in history and bring Nadia and Adam along.”  
  • Titi is sent into a poster. For example, “Titi snapped his fingers and—POOF!—suddenly appeared on a poster of Pompei next to the whiteboard, a tiny animated version of himself.” 
  • Khefren takes over Principal Taylor’s body. Khefren believes Titi is in an amulet, so he plans to destroy it. “Taylor began chanting some ancient words, presumably the spell that would destroy the amulet forever. Purple smoke, then sparks began to form around his hand. . . Titi recites the backward words out loud and . . .purple sparks bounced off the amulet and head back toward Taylor.” This forces Khefren out of Taylor’s body. 

Spiritual Content  

  • Nadia makes a comment about how hawks “were revered in ancient Egypt—there was even an all-powerful hawk-headed god named Horus.”  

City of Magic

In the third installment of Avi’s Midnight Magic series, Fabrizio and Mangus the Magician are back for a final adventure. It is Pergamontio, Italy in 1492, and King Claudio and the tax collector call the elderly Mangus to them. As Pergamontio is losing money, Mangus must find the “magical” book about numbers written by Franciscan monk Luca Pacioli. If Mangus and Fabrizio don’t succeed in their mission, they risk death. The biggest issue: the book – and the monk – are in Venice. 

City of Magic mirrors the first book, Murder at Midnight, in a few ways. The king is especially superstitious and requires Mangus to sort out any foreign entities that may enter the kingdom. In this case, accounting has become Mangus’s new domain, which Fabrizio and Mangus realize is not something they understand. Since Mangus is elderly and in poor health, they are reluctant to take a long and arduous journey to Venice. The tax collector, like the other villains of the series, is obviously evil. The similarities to the first book did make certain plot elements, like the villains, feel a bit repetitive. 

In this installment, Fabrizio is less wide-eyed than in previous ones. However, he has become more interested in earning respect for using his illusions and tricks. As a servant and a child, he doesn’t have the same access to power that Mangus the Magician or King Claudio have, so he sometimes makes bad choices because he’s looking after his interests – in this case, being respected and honored by others. Fabrizio pressures Mangus into traveling to Venice. While there, Fabrizio realizes that he’s made a series of horrible mistakes and tries to atone for them by saving Mangus.  

As the characters enter Venice, the reader learns that Venice values secrets and money more than anything else. In many ways, it is a different world than Pergamontio, including the secret Black Hoods who act as an undercover police force and take people to prison. As Fabrizio is liable to give away excess information to strangers, he inadvertently gets Mangus arrested. Fabrizio also gets several other characters wrapped up in his adventure. The difference in location adds interest but also shifts the tone in a slightly darker direction. 

Similar to the first book, City of Magic has many historical references, including the Franciscan monk Brother Luca Pacioli, who during his lifetime was a philosopher and friend of Leonardo Da Vinci. Avi provides further historical notes at the end of the book. As usual, the story’s pacing is fast and upbeat, which moves the characters along at breakneck speed through the mystery, weaving in and around the narrow Venetian streets. Fans of the previous two books will enjoy this one as well, and they’ll find  

Fabrizio’s journey into maturity is compelling. Young readers will identify with Fabrizio’s desire to be respected for his intelligence and ultimately prove himself useful, even if it sometimes gets him into  trouble. Learning how to gain this respect is something readers and Fabrizio can learn through the course of the book. This was a solid new installment to the series, even if it reuses some key ideas from the previous books. Readers who want to be drawn into another magical series should read The Magic Misfits Series by Neil Patrick Harris.

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • Fabrizio and Mangus enter Venice and are not greeted very kindly at the immigration port. A man warns them of another man lying at the base of one of the columns, saying, “he’s dead. Executed for breaking our laws.” Fabrizio looks at the man initially and only thinks that he’s sleeping. Other details of this body are not given. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • The tax collector shows up at Mangus’s home and demands that he come to see King Claudio immediately. Fabrizio comments to the tax collector that his master no longer practices magic, which is illegal, and the tax collector responds, “I don’t give a fig what Mangus does.” 
  • Light language is used throughout. Terms include fool and stupid. 

Supernatural 

  • Mangus the Magician no longer practices his magic, but Fabrizio does. Fabrizio notes that Mangus refuses to teach him magic. Fabrizio says, “[Mangus] claimed he didn’t know any. How exasperating. How annoying. How regrettable. If I’d known even a bit of magic, I would have done all manner of marvelous things.” 
  • Fabrizio says he once learned that “if you don’t cover your mouth when you yawn, evil spirits can slip into your body.” He believes in many superstitions like this and occasionally brings them up. 

Spiritual Content  

  • City of Magic is set in 1492 Italy, in the Kingdom of Pergamontio. All the characters are Catholic and will frequently make exclamations of God’s name or saints’ names, and they will pray in times of fear. Mangus’s wife Sophia, for instance, exclaims “Dearest Saint Monica” and crosses herself when the king summons her husband. 
  • Fabrizio and his new Venetian friend Bianca hide out in a church during what Fabrizio notices is “Midnight Mass.” Bianca notes, “I come here often and pray…I like to be alone with Saint Antonio.” She prays for her father’s return. 

Pippa Park Raises Her Game

Pippa Park’s seventh-grade year is looking bleak. With her failing math grade, Pippa’s older sister Mina is thinking about restricting her from trying out for the basketball team. However, a scholarship allows Pippa to reinvent herself by transferring to the prestigious Lakeview Private (as long as she keeps her grades up).  

At first, everything seems to go smoothly; she makes new friends, establishes herself as a star player on the basketball team, and even improves her math grade through tutoring sessions with the school’s resident jock, Eliot Haverford. Pippa has officially invented herself as “cool.” But the cost of her newfound popularity is her family and former friends. Pippa starts to ignore her best friend Buddy, who is “uncool” by her new friends’ standards. Most of her friends come from privileged backgrounds, so Pippa feels pressure to hide the fact that she’s being raised by her sister, Mina, who owns a laundromat. In addition, Pippa absolutely can’t let anyone know about her crush on Eliot Haverford, or that she hails from Victoria Middle School, the public school that is Lakeview Private’s number one enemy.  

Soon, Pippa’s lies start to catch up with her, and an anonymous cyberbully starts to send her threatening messages online, exposing the truth of Pippa’s past. Her friendship with Buddy is ruined, her new “friends” turn against her due to her interest in Eliot, and her scholarship falls into jeopardy when her math grade plummets. Additionally, her desire to learn more about Eliot has caused a rift in his family.  

Overnight, Pippa’s life falls apart. Pippa says, “I got caught up in this idea that I could be someone different . . . I kept thinking that if I just made myself into someone else, then one day I would become [popular]. I would be Eliot’s girlfriend. I would belong at Lakeview. But I never will. It’s not my world.” Mina’s husband, Jung-Hwa, reassures Pippa by saying, “Everyone makes mistakes. . . This will pass eventually.” This advice, though simple, helps Pippa reassess the situation and start to make amends for the things she can change, like apologizing to Buddy. Soon, she is able to embrace her past, repair her friendships, and start anew – this time, as her true self – at Lakeview Private. 

Pippa Park Raises Her Game is a story about self-acceptance. Middle school is a trying time – both an opportunity to reinvent oneself and a challenge to figure out who you are. Pippa believes that trying to be cool will make her happy. But she discovers that accepting herself, her background, and her flaws gives her more happiness than trying to fit the mold of a typical Lakeview Private student. Pippa is a relatable character because she’s similar to middle school kids who are trying to find their identity, and caving to societal pressures. Pippa is a bit impulsive, which gives the story more action than a typical middle school novel. The overall plot is simple but has enough layers to be interesting and keep readers guessing until the end. Pippa’s love for basketball (and her knack for getting into trouble) makes this story entertaining.  

Pippa is also Korean American, and her family occasionally speaks in Korean, which is Romanized from the Korean alphabet in the book. The language makes sense in context and is paired with Pippa referencing Korean cultural touchpoints, like snacks, Kpop, Kdramas, and Chuseok, which Pippa explains is like a Korean Thanksgiving. Other characters do occasionally commit microaggressions against Pippa, making comments on various aspects of her Korean identity. For instance, one of Pippa’s teammates smells the kimchi that Pippa brings for lunch. When Pippa explains what it is, the girl says, “I was wondering what that smell was.” In the text, it is not meant kindly, and it deters Pippa from bringing her family’s leftovers for lunch in the future. Although these moments aren’t the focus of the text, they present a real battle that Pippa must deal with at her new, upper-crust, and presumably white school. 

Pippa’s shame and acceptance of her culture is another point of contention with her Lakeview identity. She says, “The shame I’d felt about Jung-Hwa’s homemade lunches, irritation at his clumsy gestures of affection, and embarrassment at his grimy clothes – they all sent a wave of guilt over me. He was the kindest man I’d ever known. Why did any of the rest of it matter?” Pippa thinks that being cool means not associating herself with her family or her origins, but ends up wondering why she should have to be ashamed of her family to fit in. Overall, Pippa ends up being a layered, yet relatable narrator who learns that embracing her identity – not running from it – leads to more genuine happiness.  

Pippa Park Raises Her Game is good for basketball fans and students who are looking for a novel that doesn’t only focus is basketball. Pippa’s story is not uncommon, and it’s important that young readers learn to recognize and empathize with these themes. Although the dialogue sometimes feels a bit young for middle schoolers, the story doesn’t lose impact because of it. Young readers will be able to take away many lessons from this book, especially about staying true to oneself and improving self-esteem. If you’re looking for a book with similar themes, check out I’m Ok by Patti Kim and The Comeback: A Figure Skating Novel by E.L. Shen. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Eliot’s grandfather and grandmother died in a car accident. Eliot’s grandparents’ car “ran off the road” leaving “their little baby son an orphan.” It’s described once briefly, “some maniac ran their car off the road.” This is mentioned a few times. 
  • Mina is Pippa’s older sister who raised her. In many ways, Mina is like Pippa’s parent. Mina is angry at Pippa one day and says, “I have half a mind to really bring you up by the hand . . . The tips of Mina’s fingers twitched, like she was thinking about giving [Pippa] a good slap.” 
  • Jung-Hwa, Mina’s husband, brings news that Pippa’s mom has been in a car crash in Korea. Jung-Hwa says, “She’s in the hospital, in critical condition.” Mina explains later that, “She ran a stoplight. Another car slammed right into her. After it hit the passenger side, her car spun out of control, and she had a head-on collision with a light pole.” Pippa’s mom survives the crash. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • Pippa calls herself an “idiot” for telling her name to a stranger, “Oh man! I definitely wasn’t supposed to tell him my name. I wanted to hit my palm against my forehead. Idiot!”  
  • Light language is used occasionally throughout the book. Terms include lousy, stupid, and jerk. 
  • Pippa is Korean American, and some of the people she meets are openly racist towards her. For instance, Pippa struggles with math and one student in class says to her, “Aren’t Asians supposed to be good at math?”  
  • Pippa mentions other backhanded racist comments that people often say. For example, Pippa is talking about Disney movies and mentions that most people think that Mulan is her favorite because they say, “You look just like her!” 
  • A classmate of Pippa’s, Caroline, comments on Pippa’s skin tone, inadvertently being racist. Caroline says to Pippa, “You do look a little sick. Or maybe you’re always this washed-out.” The other girls reprimand her, but don’t address why what Caroline said was rude. 
  • Another girl comments on the medical care that Pippa’s mom is receiving in Korea. She says, “I’m sure there are really good doctors in Seoul. My dentist is Korean —  he’s great.” 

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed!

Welcome to Dungeon Academy, where monsters and creatures train for the dark world that awaits just beyond the dungeon walls! But Zellidora “Zelli” Stormclash is a bit—different. She’s the one thing monsters and creatures of the Forgotten Realms fear the most: Zelli is a human!  

Knowing she’ll never be accepted, Zelli’s parents disguise her as a minotaur in hopes she’ll blend with the academy’s monstrous surroundings. Zelli does her work, keeps to herself, and becomes “invisible” to everyone.  

While in History of Horrible Humans class, Zelli learns of the great human adventurer, Allidora Steelstrike, who oddly resembles her. Could Zelli also be a Steelstrike? Seeking answers to her true lineage, Zelli embarks on a dangerous adventure.  

But she won’t be alone. A vegan owlbear, a cowardly kobold, and a shapeshifting mimic will join Zelli on her quest for truth in a world that holds no place for them. And who knows? Perhaps these monstrous misfits may discover some truths of their own.  

Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed! is told from Zelli’s point of view. Like many middle-grade readers, Zelli wonders where she belongs. At first, she tries to isolate herself from others. But when she stops a bully, Zelli gains a group of unlikely friends. Each creature in the friend group goes against the usual stereotype for their species. For example, Hugo is an owlbear who is kind and has no desire to use his strength to defeat others. This allows the author to reinforce the importance of embracing each other’s differences.  

Readers who are not familiar with the world of Dungeons & Dragons may have difficulty understanding Zelli’s world. In addition, some readers will struggle with the book’s advanced vocabulary such as rudimentary, vambrace, begrudgingly, baldric, surreptitiously, and necromancy. The book also uses made-up words which at times can be confusing. For example, “The goblins ate with goblins, the oozes slorped with the oozes, and the myconids multiplied with the other myconids.” 

Since the story takes place in a fantasy world full of strange monsters and creatures, the book includes illustrations that are black and white with pops of orange. The illustrations, which appear every two to five pages, give readers a visual of all of the strange creatures as well as the battle scenes. Even though the battle scenes are described in detail, the illustrations do not show any gory details.  

Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed! is best suited for readers who are already familiar with Dungeons & Dragons. The unique characters highlight the importance of accepting yourself, even if you’re different than others. In addition, the story makes it clear that everyone makes mistakes—the important part is to learn from those mistakes. While the story has positive life lessons, the book’s long descriptions slow down the book’s pacing which breaks up the action and suspense. In addition, most of the action begins in chapter 11, which makes some of the adventure unexciting. Despite this, readers who are familiar with Dungeons & Dragons will enjoy entering the world where monsters, creatures, and humans come together to defeat evil. Readers who enjoy Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed! should also read the Dungeoneer Adventures Series by Ben Costa & James Parks. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • While in the forest, Zelli and her friends are surrounded by a pack of wolves. The group believes they are doomed, but Zelli’s friend Bauble transforms into a tambourine. “Zelli couldn’t believe what she was seeing—the banging and the noise actually worked. The wolves shied, showing their teeth, yellow eyes glowing with hungry intent, but gradually their shaggy gray heads bowed. . .slinking back toward the edge of the forest. . .” 
  • Zelli’s classmates are put under a spell and walk mindlessly into a deep cave. Zelli and her friends follow and discover a human, Allidora Steelstrike, fighting a necromancer. Steelstrike is cornered and “five skeletal warriors dove at Allidora Steelstike, overwhelming her, slamming her to the ground . . . Steelstrike’s sword tumbled out of her grip, spinning away uselessly, lost under a tide of skeletal feet.” The battle is described over four chapters. 
  • Zelli and her friends jump in to help Steelstrike. Zelli’s “sword collided with the nearest skeleton, and the impact hit her not as a human, but as a minotaur. Swinging her weapon, throwing her weight around, she felt strong and sturdy. . . she bowled [the skeletons] over easily while [Zelli’s friend] lashed out with his shield at any that managed to get by.” 
  • Soon, Zelli and her friends are surrounded by skeletons. Then Bauble [a mimic] turns into a ball and bounces through the skeletons. “Flash [a blink dog] popped out of Hugo’s bag, appearing the next instant inside the rib cage of the skeleton. . . making the skeletal minion explode in a shower of bone fragments.” The fight against the skeletons continues for a page.  
  • A necromancer, Lord Carrion, creates a fire, but Zelli’s friend, Snabla, who is a kobold, uses his shield to get through the flames. “Lord Carrion turned on the kobold, striking with the end of his staff. . . the heavy wooden weapon connected hard with Snabla’s shield, sending him flying to the floor. Dazed, Snabla tried to rise again, but Lord Carrion’s skeletons descended. . .”  
  • Lord Carrion uses a spell to freeze Steelstrike and others. Then, Lord Carrion puts the owlbear, Hugo, under his spell. Hugo’s eyes, “Suddenly filled with hatred. . . Hugo gnashed his beak and lashed out at [Nelli and her friends] with lethal claws, gouging a long scratch into Snabla’s mighty shield. His eyes flashed purple, his claws elongating, glowing like otherworldly dangers. . . Again and again, Hugo’s glowing claws beat against the shield, and Snabla did his best, but he was just a young kobold . . .”  
  • Zelli attacks Hugo with her sword, but “the owlbear’s crushing grip landed around her upper arm and with ease, he hoisted her into the air, opening his beak wide to tear out her throat. Zelli kicked and punched but to no avail . . . She thrashed and hoped he would at least miss her neck and land somewhere less vital.” 
  • When Hugo attacks Zelli, his “sharpened beak came down with a snap on her shoulder joint, and she heard the crunch of bones and felt the hot splatter of blood against her chin as the owlbear took the first bite.” The taste of flesh brings Hugo to his senses and he stops his attack on Zelli. 
  • The fight with the skeletons continues. “Hugo, now enraged in his own right, bashed [the skeletons] with his heavy fists . . . Minion after minion flew across the cave, crumbling as their frail bodies hit the stone.” The blink dog “popped up just in time to catch a broken leg bone before it could reach the floor.” 
  • Once the skeletons are defeated, Snabla goes after the necromancer. “Snabla slammed right into his legs, sending the necromancer end over end and into a dusty, musty corner. . .” The necromancer begins a speech, “But Bauble had heard enough. . . The mimic changed rapidly into an iron pan, and Zelli had the strength left. . . knocking the necromancer out of his wits before he could finish his vile spew.”    

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • There is some name calling including sneak, slimeball, fart breaths, dummy dumb, fiend, and witless worm. 
  • “By Bane’s Black Hand” is used as an exclamation once. 
  • After Zelli and her friends leave the school without permission, one of the teachers says, “By all the gods and oaths, what were you four thinking?”

Supernatural 

  • The world has magic and many monsters and other creatures. 
  • Bauble is a mimic that can change shapes. For example, when it gets scared, “the mimic shrank down into a small box with a lid and enameled handles, a miniature dancer turning behind a glass pane, gentle, tinkling music drifting out into the icy cold dungeon. Then it transformed again, this time into a quill; then it returned to its initial book form.” 
  • One of the instructors is “undead” and he is “merely a floating bespectacled skull engulfed in blue flames.”  
  • When Zelli and her friends run away from the school, they go through the Endless Forest. “The forest recognizes those who are welcome and allows us passage but anyone else will wander and wander for days until, well. . .” 
  • Part of the story deals with necromancy, which is communicating with the dead. 
  • Zelli and her friends find a blink dog, which can disappear and reappear someplace else. 
  • The necromancer opens a portal and sends monsters and creatures through it where his master will turn them into his army.  
  • Zelli is given a Steelstrike emblem that is “enchanted with powerful magic. They call to each other. . .” Her biological mother says, “Should you need me, simply hold the emblem tight and speak the words, ‘By sword and by light, Talos guide my sight, summon my kin, call the Steelstrike.’” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Who Was Roberto Clemente?

Growing up the youngest of seven children in Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente had a talent for baseball. His incredible skill soon got him drafted into the big leagues where he spent 18 seasons playing right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Who Was Roberto Clemente? tells the story of this remarkable athlete: a twelve-time All-Star, World Series MVP, and the first Latin American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Through this biography, children will learn about Roberto Clemente’s life in twelve, easy-to-read chapters. The book explains how Roberto’s early life living in Puerto Rico shaped him. Right from the start, readers will be amazed at Roberto’s dedication to baseball and his desire to help his community. However, when Roberto arrived in the United States, he faced many obstacles including segregation and loneliness. Despite this, Roberto persevered to become one of the greatest players in Pirates history. 

Who Was Roberto Clemente? focuses on Roberto’s baseball career as well as his dedication to the people of Puerto Rico. “Whenever he could, Roberto talked about Puerto Rico. He was enormously proud of his island home.” Despite his fame, Roberto continued to help others. He helped younger players improve their baseball skills, answered fan mail, and donated money to the Pittsburg Children’s Hospital. Throughout his life, Roberto was motivated to help others. So, it was no surprise when Roberto helped collect supplies after a hurricane hit Nicaragua. In order to make sure the supplies made it to the people who needed them most, Roberto decided to travel to Nicaragua. Unfortunately, he died when his airplane crashed into the sea.  

After his death, Roberto’s passion for helping others continued to inspire others. Roberto’s wife wanted to fulfill Roberto’s dream of opening Roberto Clemente Sports City in order to help young people improve their baseball skills. Because of the sports center, Roberto is still helping the youth of Puerto Rico, even after his passing. Roberto continues to influence others because his experiences show that men from the Caribbean can succeed in baseball. “Roberto was not the first Latin American ballplayer to make it, but he was the best. He led by example. His hard work, courage, and generosity continue to impact Puerto Rico, baseball, and the world.”  

The book includes information that will help readers understand more about Roberto’s experiences. For example, one page gives information about Puerto Rico and another explains what spring training entails. To help readers understand the times that Roberto lived in, there is a timeline of Roberto’s life and a timeline of the world.  

Who Was Roberto Clemente? will delight all readers — not just baseball fans. Roberto shows the importance of perseverance, hard work, and kindness. Even though Roberto’s fame comes from his baseball career, readers will be encouraged by Roberto’s dedication to helping others. Even now, Roberto’s words encourage people to help others. “If you have a chance to accomplish something that makes things better for people coming behind you, and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on earth,” Roberto said. To learn more about Roberto, read Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories by Andrew Gutelle.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Roberto was young, his sister died. “She was burned in a kitchen accident and never recovered from her injuries.”  
  • When Roberto comes to America, he is exposed to segregation. Black players “were not allowed in the nice hotels. White players enjoyed trips to golf clubs and swimming pools; black players were not invited.” 
  • Roberto died while on an airplane. When the plane took off, “one engine made a loud bang. . . the airplane was over the ocean. It could not turn back. The airplane crashed in the sea.”  
  • Roberto witnessed an accident and “helped pull an injured person from a fiery car accident.” 
  • Roberto and his brother, Luis, were in a car accident. “Roberto hurt his neck and back. . . Luis passed away after the next day.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!

Vivy Cohen is determined. She’s had enough of playing catch in the park. She’s ready to pitch for a real baseball team.

But Vivy’s mom is worried about Vivy being the only girl on the team, and the only autistic kid. She wants Vivy to forget about pitching, but Vivy won’t give up. When her social skills teacher makes her write a letter to someone, Vivy knows exactly who to choose: her hero, Major League pitcher VJ Capello. Then two amazing things happen: A coach sees Vivy’s amazing knuckleball and invites her to join his team. And VJ starts writing back!

Now Vivy is a full-fledged pitcher, with a catcher as a new best friend and a steady stream of advice from VJ. But when a big accident puts her back on the bench, Vivy has to fight to stay on the team. 

Many readers will relate to Vivy, who often struggles with understanding other people. Because she is autistic, Vivy often feels stupid, worthless, and weird. Even though it is difficult for her to discuss her feelings, she tries to use positive communication skills. However, when Vivy joins the baseball team, one of the players, Kyle, often makes mean comments to her. Even though the comments are hurtful, Vivy doesn’t tell her coach or her parents. Unfortunately, VJ Capello is the only person she confides in, and despite his advice to tell an adult, Vivy refuses to do so. 

Much of the story revolves around baseball practice and games. In addition, the story also includes some interesting baseball facts. Vivy’s love of baseball is clear and her determination to play despite her mother’s protest is admirable. Through baseball, Vivy becomes more confident and is also able to make a friend. Despite the baseball action, some readers may have a difficult time navigating through Vivy’s inner dialogue. Readers will gain insight into autism and understand Vivy’s emotions, but sometimes Vivy’s feelings are described in great detail which makes the story drag. 

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! is a must-read for any reader who wants to understand autism. However, the story will also appeal to any reader who loves baseball as well as those who feel different. Through Vivy’s experiences, readers will learn the importance of perseverance. In addition, the story highlights the importance of talking to a trusted adult. However, one of the most impactful lessons is not to make assumptions about other people. At one point, Vivy’s dad reminds her, “Don’t assume things without talking to someone about it first.” A Boy Called Bat would be an excellent book to pair with Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! if you want to learn more about autism. However, if you want a winning baseball book, Soar by Joan Bauer hits it out of the park. 

Sexual Content  

  • Vivy’s brother reveals that he is dating another boy. Afterward, Vivy thinks, “I don’t think my parents are bigots. One of my dad’s friends from work is gay, and our rabbi is married to another woman.” Her inner dialogue goes on for half a page. 

Violence  

  • During practice, Kyle grabs Vivy’s ponytail, and “he tugged it. HARD.” Vivy starts yelling. “Everything was bad. I felt Kyle’s slimy hand on my hair long after he pulled away. It oozed from the tips of my hair down to the base of my spine.” The coach calms Vivy down. However, Vivy doesn’t tell him about Kyle’s bullying.” 
  • After practice, Vivy “finds a note in my duffel bag. . . It was written on yellow notebook paper in black Sharpie: GO AWAY, FREAK.” 
  • During a game, one of the players puts “a gigantic wad of already-been-chewed gum right in the middle of the webbing.” 
  • During a baseball game, Vivy is pitching when “the ball rocketed straight off the bat. Toward me. . . I froze. The big white boulder roared right toward my head, filling up my sight. . . It hit me in the forehead.” Vivy has to go to the hospital and has a concussion.  
  • After Vivy’s accident, she tells her parents, “There’s only ever been one person who got killed by a baseball. That was a hitter, not a pitcher. In 1920 Carl Mays hit Ray Chapman with a pitch and he died later that day.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • In her inner dialogue, Vivy often calls others names such as jerk, stupid, coward, buffoon, loser,  
  • When Vivy joins the baseball team, her teammate Kyle bullies her. At school, Kyle says, “I thought my father got a regular girl for our team, but it’s even worse. We have ourselves a monkey-girl. She can’t even eat a sandwich. Or talk like a real person.” Another boy from the team, joins the group and calls Kyle and his friends “losers.” 
  • Kyle calls the catcher on his team “shrimpy.” 
  • Klye makes fun of Vivy saying, “I’m Vivy and I can’t pitch to the big scary boy because I had mush for brains even before I got hit in the head.” Later, he continues to harass her by saying, “Hey, monkey-girl . . . I thought for sure you’d switch to softball. Or the Special Olympics.” 
  • In a letter to Vivy, VJ Capello writes: “There’s no excuse for such cruelty and I know too well how much it hurts. Even if the people hurling the insults are utter buffoons like Kyle. . .”  
  • After a bad game, Vivy thinks, “I totally sucked.” 
  • Heck is used five times. 
  • Freaking is used twice. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Vivy’s dad “always says that he has two religions—Reformed Judaism and baseball.” 
  • Vivy’s family is Jewish and occasionally she talks about a religious holiday. 

Life in the Balance

Veronica Conway has been looking forward to trying out for the All-Star softball team for years. She’s practically been playing softball since she was a baby. She should have this tryout on lock. Except right before tryouts, Veronica’s mom announces that she’s entering rehab for alcoholism, and her dad tells her that they may not be able to afford the fees needed to be on the team.

Veronica decides to enter the town talent show in an effort to make her own money, but along the way she discovers a new hobby that leads her to doubt her feelings for the game she thought she loved so much. Is her mom the only one learning balance, or can Veronica find a way to discover what she really wants to do with her life?

Life in the Balance takes a close look at how alcoholism affects Veronica, as well as her family and friends. When Veronica’s mom goes into rehab, Veronica is embarrassed so she doesn’t tell anyone. This, in addition to softball tryouts, adds a lot of stress to Veronica’s life. Since the book is written from Veronica’s point of view, readers get an inside look at her struggles. Often, Veronica worries that her behavior may hurt her mother and force her to revert to drinking alcohol. Readers who know someone who has been affected by alcoholism will learn positive ways to cope. However, because most of the story revolves around Veronica’s inner turmoil, there is little suspense or action.

Readers who want a fast-paced sports book will be disappointed by Life in the Balance, which has no play-by-play softball action. While Veronica says that she loves playing softball, trying out for the All-Star softball team only brings her stress. This is partly because Veronica’s family has a history of playing softball. This includes Veronica’s mom, her grandmother, and her great-grandma, who played in the All-American Girls Softball League during World War II. Unfortunately, Life in the Balance’s only softball action is when Veronica goes to practice, but even none of the scenes are described in detail.

Readers affected by alcoholism will be able to relate to Veronica’s struggles and gain insight into the importance of getting professional help. Readers who aren’t interested in the topic of alcoholism will have a hard time finishing the book because of its singular focus and slow pace. If you’re looking for a more exciting book that deals with alcoholism, check out The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick. For a fast-paced softball story that also deals with middle school angst, catch a copy of Much Ado About Softball by Rajani LaRoca and Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages.

Sexual Content  

  • During a “Growing Up” lesson at school, the teacher “didn’t separate the girls and the boys because he wanted to make sure kids questioning their gender would be comfortable.” 
  • One of Veronica’s friends’ “parents kiss a lot in public, which makes us blush and avert our eyes.” 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Veronica’s mother is an alcoholic who enters rehab after she goes to work drunk. Veronica’s mom says, “I drank a bit too much during my lunch meeting. I hadn’t quite, um, gotten back to normal, and the client I was meeting with noticed what was going on. She, uh, told my boss.” 
  • Veronica and her dad go to the rehab center to visit. While taking a tour, Veronica’s dad says, “This reminds me of the dorm room I had senior year of college. . . The kitchen was such a mess, too, always covered in empty beer bot—” Veronica thinks her dad looks upset, “like just mentioning the word beer he’ll get in trouble.” 
  • Veronica takes Tylenol for a headache. 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • One of Veronica’s friends gets a psychic reading from her aunt, who says, “The future is looking bright and the people [she] loves won’t let me down.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Hall of Fame Heist

Third-grade twins Zach and Zoe are huge baseball fans. When their class visits Middletown’s town hall to see a pop-up museum by The National Baseball Hall of Fame, they can’t wait to see all the famous cards, gloves, and jerseys. They especially want to see Hank Aaron’s signed baseball—the one he supposedly hit over the fence at Middletown Park. However, when they reach the Hank Aaron exhibit, they notice that the baseball is gone! And nobody knows where it went! Can Zach and Zoe use their detective skills and solve this mystery before The National Baseball Hall of Fame leaves Middletown? 

Zach and Zoe are the exciting young protagonists of the story. Their kind personalities and determination to do what’s right make them commendable characters. More importantly, their excitement and curiosity about the missing baseball highlight the story’s lesson of working together to solve big problems. Although the twins discover many clues about the mystery, Zach acknowledges that they can’t solve everything and that “there’s somebody here who might be the best problem-solver in the world . . . our mom!”  

The Hall of Fame Heist includes several illustrations peppered throughout the short chapters. The pictures typically show the twins and a critical moment in the plot, which helps younger readers easily grasp the story’s progression. Alongside the mystery, the story also gives an impressive amount of baseball history, especially on certain players like Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson. While some of these facts can be too technical for beginner readers, they allow them to learn more about baseball and appreciate its history. 

However, due to the book’s simple characters and plain vocabulary, older readers may quickly grow bored with its straightforward plot. More importantly, certain readers may become frustrated at the fractured nature of the story due to constant jumping between the main mystery and unnecessary moments. As a result, The Hall Of Fame Heist will mostly appeal to a younger audience as it offers a somewhat engaging story about a baseball mystery. Thanks to its positive message about teamwork and authentic facts about baseball history, this story will appeal to beginning readers who love sports.  

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

The Hero Two Doors Down

This book is based on the true story of a boy in Brooklyn who became neighbors and friends with his hero, Jackie Robinson. 

Stephen “Steve” Satlow is an eight-year-old boy living in Brooklyn, New York who cares about only one thing: the Dodgers. Steve and his father spend hours reading the sports pages and listening to games on the radio. Aside from an occasional run-in with his teacher, life is pretty simple for Steve. 

But then Steve hears a rumor that an African-American family is moving to his all-Jewish neighborhood. It’s 1948 and some of his neighbors are against it. Steve knows this is wrong. After all, his hero Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball the year before. 

Then it happens — Steve’s new neighbor is none other than Jackie Robinson! Steve is beyond excited about living two doors down from the Robinson family. He can’t wait to meet Jackie. This is going to be the best baseball season yet! How many kids ever get to become friends with their hero? 

Steve’s childhood is chronicled in the first five chapters of The Hero Two Doors Down. While this allows readers to understand Steve’s behavior, the story has a slow start. Much of the story focuses on Steve’s inner thoughts and lacks actions. Despite that, anyone who admires Jackie Robinson will enjoy the story.  

Since Jackie Robinson is the main character in The Hero Two Doors Down, readers might expect a story about baseball. However, there is little baseball action because the story focuses on Steve’s relationship with Jackie. This gives readers an inside look into Jackie’s personal life and highlights his positive attributes. Jackie’s influence changed Steve from an angry boy who used his fist to solve problems to a boy who understood that “punching someone who has verbally attacked you will only make things worse.” 

The Hero Two Doors Down illustrates important life lessons including the importance of self-control. At times the adults are preachy, but this makes the message impossible to miss. By reading the book, readers will learn positive ways to interact with others, even when they both disagree. Jackie helped Steve learn that “You’ll become your best self if you stay focused, set goals, and don’t let anyone stop you from making your dreams come true.” While the story lacks baseball action and has a slow pace, the book’s message makes it worth reading. Readers who want to learn more about Jackie Robinson should also read Play Ball, Jackie! by Stephen Krensky. Readers looking for more baseball action can find it in The Contract Series by Derek Jeter and Prime-Time Pitcher by Matt Christopher. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Steve gets into trouble after school. He hears that his teacher, Miss Maliken, plans to make a home visit. Steve and his best friend, Sena, try to stop her. “Sena’s hand reached toward Miss Maliken, but I followed her lead. Together we pushed Miss Maliken, then watched in shock as she toppled over the hedge. The air filled with her screams. . . Women scrambled to help her.” Steve is suspended from school. 
  • Steve’s grandparents “fled Russia, along with two million other Jewish families, hoping to find freedom to practice their religion . . . In Russia, Jews were treated very badly. . . There was a lot of violence against them, and many men, women, and children were hurt or killed simply because they were Jewish.” 
  • Some players are upset that Jackie is playing baseball. “He’s been hit six times by pitchers and been insulted plenty just because he’s a black man in a previously all-white game.” Some of the players also tried to “slide into second base with their cleats pointing forward. It was dangerous and could lead to a serious injury for the second baseman.”  
  • When Jackie was in school, he joined a gang. He said, “We didn’t do anything really bad. . . stole some golf balls and sold them back to the golfers. . . took fruit from stands.”  
  • During a pick-up game, Steve drops a ball. Afterwards, “Several boys on our team ran over to me.” When they started calling Steve names, he “jumped up from the ground. . . and got in their faces. . .” Sena tried to drag Steve away, but Steve “pulled [his] arm away and jammed it into the belly of one of [his] attackers instead of retreating. The boy punched [him] hard in the gut. [He] dove into the other boys.” Sena and Steve finally run away. 
  • Steve has some anger issues and he “was sent to the principal’s office because [he] bloodied a classmate.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Some boys call Steve a sissy and a liar. 
  • Someone calls Steve a chicken. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Steve and his family are Jewish and occasionally pray, but no actual prayers are included. 
  • Steve’s family celebrates Hanukkah. On the first night, “when your father lights the first candle, he will say a special prayer asking for peace in Israel . . .” 
  • Jackie gives Steve a Christmas tree. Steve’s parents want to return the tree because “it is a symbol of a Christian holiday. Like Hanukkah, Christmas is part religious holiday and part tradition.” 
  • Steve’s favorite part of Hanukkah is “watching my father pray for peace, understanding, and friendship . . . I learned that whether you are Christian or Jewish, we both pray to God.” 
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