Junior High – Sneak Peek Books

Will’s Race for Home

It’s 1889, barely twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a young Black family is tired of working on land they don’t get to own.
 
So when Will and his father hear about an upcoming land rush, they set out on a journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to the place where land is free—if they can get to it fast enough. But the journey isn’t easy—the terrain is rough, the bandits are brutal, and every interaction carries a heavy undercurrent of danger.
 
And then there’s the stranger they encounter and befriend: a mysterious soldier named Caesar, whose Union emblem brings more attention—and more trouble—than any of them need.
 
All three are propelled by the promise of something long denied to them: freedom, land ownership, and a place to call home—but is a strong will enough to get them there? 

Twelve-year-old Will longs for adventure and wants to prove to his father that he’s no longer a child. Reluctantly, Will’s father takes the boy on a journey to claim land in Oklahoma’s land rush. Will struggles to understand his father but still wants to make his father proud of him. As the two travel together, Will fights rattlesnakes, racism, and thieves. He also gains insight into the discrimination that exists despite the Emancipation Proclamation. Along the way, readers will empathize with Will’s fight for survival and his hope of finding a better future — a future where he is free.

Will’s Race for Home shines a light on the history of the land rush as well as the Civil War. Will and his father meet Caesar, a Black man who fought in the war. Meeting Caesar allows Will to understand the effects of war on soldiers. Despite fighting for a noble cause — freedom — killing a man leaves a wound that is difficult to heal. Will’s father relates this to his own experience of killing a man; he says, “It’s wrong to kill. Wrong to enslave people. Some call the Civil War a ‘just’ war. But everyone deserves to live. Shooting a man, even in self-defense, even by accident, damages your soul.” After Will claims his land, he is confronted by a “gunslinger” who tries to steal the land claim. Will, like others before him, must decide if he is willing to kill in order to keep the land he has fought so hard to claim.

Will’s Race for Home mixes historical facts with action and adventure to tell the compelling story of the Oklahoma land rush. While owning land is one step toward freedom, Will demonstrates that loyalty and friendship are more important than land. The short chapters keep the story moving quickly while still having moments of quiet where Will reflects on the past and the future. This allows the reader to see Will grow from a child seeking adventure to a man capable of protecting what he loves. To learn more about the struggle for freedom, readers should add Charlotte Spies For Justice by Nikki Shannon Smith and The Underground Abductor: An Abolitionist Tale about Harriet Tubman by Nathan Hale to their reading list.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

While traveling through Texas, a rattlesnake threatens the family’s mule. Will hits the snake with a branch. “I dart, trying to wound it. . . Hit again and again. Some hits are wide. Some glance off the snake’s scales. . . I slam the log down, crushing the snake’s head, its tan jaws bursting.”
While in town, Will’s father goes into a store and leaves Will to protect the wagon. Three men attack Will. One man “grips my waist, trying to pull me down. I kick, hitting his chest again and again.” Another man pushes “Will right into the thief’s arms. I squirm, slap, trying to batter his face. . . The second man tries capturing my hands.”
As Will struggles, he is thrown into the dirt. “A boot lands on my back. I moan. My arms and legs twitch, flail. I can’t get up.” A Black man finally intervenes by pointing a gun at the men and threatening them.
When Will’s father comes out of the store, he “punches the man holding our rifles. Then the mustached man, too.” The thieves give back the money and rifle and leave. Will is angry that the sheriff won’t put the white men in jail.
The thieves find Caesar and attack him. Will runs for help “hearing hits, thrusts, and moans. . . The mustached man shoves Caesar. Arms flailing, he falls forward. The other two men flip and hold him down. . . The mustached leader stomps on his hand.” The fight stops when the sheriff fires a gun and orders Caesar and Will’s father to leave town. Caesar’s hand is broken.
Caesar goes into town again, and the three thieves ambush him. “The first bullet misses; the second flies overhead. The third hits his shoulder, spinning him ninety degrees. He collapses. His gun skitters in the dirt.” Will lies on Caesar, protecting him with his body. The doctor tries to help Caesar, but the sheriff prevents him. A man drapes the unconscious Caesar over his horse, and the sheriff orders Will to leave town.
Will and his father remove the bullet from Caesar. Will holds Caesar down while “Father’s knife tip presses deeper. Caesar groans, the sound whistling up from his chest, through his teeth. Both legs kick out. His hands clench.”
After the Civil War, Will’s grandfather, Pa, and Will’s father leave the plantation. “An overseer attacked us. . . Pa stepped in front of me, telling me to run. I couldn’t . . . Any shot would most likely pierce us first.” Pa and the overseer fight over a gun, and the overseer is shot. Pa tried to save the man, but he died.
People had to forge a river to get to Oklahoma. When Will gets there, he sees “dead horses, men, women float in the churning, muddy brown river.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

Will and his father go into town, where they see some drunk men enter the saloon.
Caesar agrees to travel with Will and his father. To celebrate, Caesar takes out a flask of brandy. There is enough for each man to have “one good swallow.”

Language 

After Will kills a snake, his father grabs him and repeats, “Oh, Lord. Oh Lord.”

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

The Samuels family has a Bible with an incomplete family tree.
Will struggles to get along with his father. Will thinks, “The Bible teaches me to respect my father. I try. I do.”
When the Civil War ended, Will’s grandfather was freed. “Seeing people free themselves from slavery made him happy. Made him feel he was an instrument of God’s justice.” As Will’s father tells the story, he says Deuteronomy 32:10 and explains its meaning: “Though they may be enslaved, even struggling with faith, God never stops watching over his people. The promised land is real.”
When forging the river, Will prays “for all of us.”
While waiting for the land rush to begin, Will meets a preacher who says, “The Lord promised our people a promised land. This is it.”
When a gunslinger tries to force Will to leave his land, Will refuses. He wonders, “If I’d killed the gunslinger, would it have been the right thing? Father would say, ‘No. Exodus Twenty Thirteen, ‘Thou shall not kill.’”
During Christmas, Will reads the family bible. “[Mary] brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Temple of Secrets

Plum is facing the most difficult test of her Guardian powers yet. Lotus Island is in danger, and there’s not much time to save this special place.

Power-hungry Councilor Yurn is headed to the island with a ship full of hoverbots and a devious plan in mind: he means to take over Lotus Island and build a new city there. His plan will destroy the fragile ecosystem, including the island’s precious lotus plants. When the Guardians learn that their unique powers are dependent on the lotus flowers, they realize just how much is at stake if Yurn succeeds. Plum must rely on her smarts, her Guardian powers, and most importantly—her friends—to save Lotus Island and all it stands for.

In the last installment of the Legends of Lotus Island, Plum and several friends set out on a boat to travel to a mysterious island. Once there, Plum and her friends discover everyone on the island is a Guardian. At first, Plum is excited and pleads for help; however, the isolated island wants to protect their anonymity and refuses to let Plum’s group leave. Neff, a boy who seeks adventure, helps the group escape and battle Councilor Yun.

Temple of Secrets reunites the core group of novice Guardians from the first installment of the series.

The book also incorporates people from other islands, including Plum’s grandparents, showing the community’s importance. However, readers may be disappointed that the book doesn’t give more details about the mysterious island. For example, Neff plays a pivotal role in the beginning of the book, but then he fades into the background, leaving readers to wonder what he and his island are like. In addition, Neff helps the Guardians read the inscriptions of the Temple of Secrets, but little is revealed about what the secrets are or why they are important.

The Legends of Lotus Island Series must be read in order because each book’s plot builds on the previous story. One of the enjoyable aspects of the story is seeing the characters’ growth from novices to confident Guardians willing to go against others to do what is right.

Readers who have read the previous books in the series will enjoy seeing the novices reunite and finally defeat Councilor Yurn. The story allows Rella to redeem herself and she learns that her past mistakes do not have to define her future. Overall, the Temple of Secrets does not take an in-depth look at the people and places of the book, but is still an entertaining story with positive lessons about forgiveness, helping others, and standing up to protect the places you love.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

Power-hungry Councilor Yurn sends hoverbots to take over Lotus Island. Some of the Guardians prepared traps, “but the net traps that they had set up didn’t stop every bot. An elk-bot broke free. . . [Plum and the bot] clashed, antler to antler, wrestling for control.” The bot runs away.
One of the Guardians, Rella, “attacked the leopard-bot with such ferocity that she had it pinned to the ground in seconds.”
While Rella was holding the leopard-bot down, Councilor Yurn pressed buttons on a control panel. “A thick trickle of some strange dark substance spilled out of the leopard-bot’s open mouth. It pooled up on the ground and then began oozing uphill, towards us . . . They seemed to swallow up everything they touched.” The shadowy substance kills the plants it touches.
The shadows surround Rella. “She reared up on her back legs. She raised both paws and shouted, ‘HA!’ Her burst of power created a boom like a thunderclap. Dark shadows went flying in all directions.”
To save her friends, Rella absorbs the shadows into herself. “She was absorbing them like a cloth blotting up ink. Once the shadows soaked into her, they didn’t escape.” Rella becomes unconscious and “underneath her skin, the shadows swirled like dark rivers.”
When the shadows kill the last lotus plant, Plum puts her hands into the pond’s mud. To gain more power, Plum chants the names of her friends. Then, “I left it in my fingertips, soft as an earthworm’s heartbeat. A thrum, a stirring. It grew. . .The shadows had shrunk away. . .” The dormant lotus seeds grew until “they sprouted buds that popped open in full bloom.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

A girl uses “holy shrimp tails,” “holy linchens,” and “holy barnacles” as exclamations.
When Councilor Yurn runs away from the shadows he created, someone calls him a coward.

Supernatural

The students learn how to turn into mythical creatures, such as a fox bat and a gillybear. When they’re in their Guardian form, they have special powers. For example, one girl can control shadows and use them to disappear.
Plum and her companions go to an isolated island where everyone is a Guardian. While there, she meets a boy who can turn into a moss badger. He used his power to manipulate rocks, and “algae-covered stones slowly rose up from the deep, filling the empty space in the walkway. They fit perfectly together like puzzle pieces.”
One of Plum’s powers is to strengthen the other Guardians’ powers.
Hoverbots say ancient chants that turn them into Guardian forms.
The lotus flowers are beginning to die. The Guardians’ powers are connected to the flowers.
One of the Guardians is “a Breath Guardian. My power is bestowing the gift of slumber.” He uses his power to put guards to sleep so Plum and her companions can return to Lotus Island.
Plum rubs an eggplant’s leaf and talks to it. Then, “The stalk of the eggplant thickened and rose higher. Yellow flowers burst out all over the tips of the plant. . . The seedling was now full grown and heavy with hanging eggplants.”

Spiritual Content 

None

Lifeboat 5

When Nazi bombs begin to destroy Bess Walder’s hometown of East London, Bess convinces her parents to evacuate her and her younger brother, Louis, to Canada aboard the SS City of Benares. On the journey, she meets another evacuee, Beth Cummings. Bess and Beth have a lot in common—both strong and athletic, both named for Queen Elizabeth, both among the older kids on the ship, and both excited about life in Canada.

On the fifth day at sea, everyone starts to relax, but trouble is right behind them. That night, a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the Benares. As their luxury liner starts to sink, Bess and Beth rush to abandon ship aboard their assigned lifeboat. Based on true events and real people, Lifeboat 5 is about two young girls with the courage to persevere against the odds and the strength to forgive.

When Bess boards the Benares, she doesn’t expect to find a friendship that will last a lifetime. Despite the dangerous situation, Bess and Beth instantly connect and enjoy being aboard a luxury ship where the crew treats them kindly. The two girls like to share secrets and imagine their life once they get to Canada. Bess is a relatable character who finds her brother annoying, enjoys flirting with the crew, and desperately wants to find a place where she belongs.

Even though the story is mainly told from Bess’ point of view, readers also get a glimpse of the people who impacted Bess’ life, such as the boys’ escort Michael Rennie. Michael showed kindness to the children, and when the ship sank, he did all he could to save the boys from the freezing water. Michael died before being rescued, but those who knew him remembered his kindness and heroism.

The story of Lifeboat 5 is told through prose, and the text is often shaped to emphasize emotions. However, the prose does not allow space for character development, keeping readers emotionally distant from the events. Several aspects may make the book confusing for readers. The characters use colloquial language. For example, Bess says, “We’ll settle in and have us / a jolly good chin wag.” In addition, some of the story is told from different characters’ and the ocean’s point of view. This requires readers to pay attention to the chapter titles that are labeled with the narrator’s name.

Lifeboat 5 educates readers about the devastating sinking of the Benares and the kindness and heroism of the adults who tried to save the children. In the end, Beth and Bess’ friendship allowed them to survive a harrowing nineteen hours in the ocean. As an adult, Bess learned: “Forgiveness / can be. . . beneficial to the soul . . . / helpful in healing deep wounds / of the mind.” Since most of the ship’s crew and passengers died, Lifeboat 5 may be a difficult book for some readers. However, for readers who want to learn more about World War II, Lifeboat 5 is a must-read book that reflects on the destructive nature of war.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

There are references to the violence in England. For example, Bess’ family goes to a bomb shelter. “Huddling inside, / we hear the drone / of the airplanes— / a low thunder, / then the pop-pop-pop / of the antiaircraft guns, / then the whistle / of the bomb drop.”
A girl talks about why she is fleeing the country. “I didn’t have much left after / the Volendam [a ship] was torpedoed / and my house was bombed. / All my stuff was wrecked.”
The ship’s departure was delayed because “the Germans / have dropped mines / in the mouth of the Mersey, / blocking our path.”
The SS City of Benares is torpedoed. “Whoosh! / A cold, hard missile / rockets / through the sea’s sleep. . . Sound explodes in [Bess’] ears. / The dresser smashes into / the cabin door. / The whole ship / shudders / beneath me.”
As the ship is evacuated, a crewman has to chop through the door to Bess’ room. “The crewman reaches / in again and pulls Ailsa out, / but she’s wounded / by the ragged woodwork.”
The evacuation is chaotic. People jump into lifeboats and rafts, and “some just jumping / straight into the sea— / children and adults alike.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

After being rescued, a sailor gives Bess “cool sugar water and rum.”

Language 

Bess tells her friend, “You’re a cheeky one! / Don’t be daft!”
While in the ocean, Bess “wees” and then thinks, “Who knew taking a piss / could feel so good?”

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

While traveling to Canada, the children are gathered to say morning prayers. For example, Reverand’s hands “lift to God / fold in prayer / lead a hymn / embrace the world / bless us all.”
When the Benares sinks, Bess holds on to a capsized lifeboat and thinks, “God help me.”
While hanging on to the lifeboat, Bess thinks about the bullies back home and thinks, “I thank God / Beth and I are/made of stronger stuff.”

Two Lascars are also hanging on to the lifeboat. When she hears them speaking, Bess thinks that they are praying. Later, “[Bess] hear[s] a voice calling to Allah. / It’s one of the Lascars / on the end of our lifeboat.” Bess says the Lord’s Prayer.
Bess believes that her brother is dead and thinks, “Oh God. / It will break [her parents] / And it will be all my fault.”
Three of the rescued boys die and are given a sailor’s funeral. “Officers, sailors, stewards, / escorts, and children / stand together to / sing hymns, / whisper prayers, / and weep. / We grieve for / the three boys / who died last night / and for all who were lost.”
A man tells Bess’ father, “Your children are safe.” Her father says, “Thank God.”

Rock ’n’ Goal

Robby Madison’s life hit rock bottom when his older brother and idol, Ricky, died after a tough battle with sickness. Without his brother by his side, Robby spends his days in sadness, where “everything reminded [him] that Ricky was gone.” However, when Robby’s school counselor, Mrs. McDaniels, encourages him to join the soccer team, Robby fears it won’t improve his attitude. Even worse, he doesn’t think he’s good enough to help the team win games. Will Robby discover the courage to play soccer and find peace with his brother’s death?

Rock ’n’ Goal is an emotionally captivating graphic novel that explores the importance of never giving up while also painting a realistic portrayal of the effects of a significant death. From Robby’s perspective, the story accurately represents Robby and his journey after Ricky’s death, highlighting Robby’s inability to find happiness in friendships, school, or hobbies. His character experiences immense development throughout the book, especially during the soccer season, when he learns the importance of perseverance and acceptance of his past. However, the story shines in its genuine characterization of Robby and the difficulty of death, making it highly relatable to readers who have experienced the same hardships.

The story presents an important lesson on perseverance and never giving up. Much of the book’s conflict arises from Robby’s inability to play goalkeeper well, and he nearly quits the team after dismal performances. However, by playing the memories and music from his brother Ricky, he finally accepts his brother’s passing and finds joy in playing soccer, especially with his brother’s song “NEVER GIVE UP” playing in his head. Robby’s experience teaches readers that despite life’s difficulties, they can overcome their trials through hard work, accepting the past, and finding what best helps them.

Rock ’n’ Goal is written in an exciting graphic novel format. Each page contains one to six panels in a simple, colorful art style, helping readers visualize the characters and settings easily. The text boxes are also clear and straightforward, utilizing two to three sentences and changing color to differentiate dialogue and narration. Although the graphic novel remains relatively simple concerning its layout, omitting more advanced aspects like “splashes” or “bleeds,” its variety of color and easy readability fit perfectly with its basic story.

Rock ’n’ Goal is part of a series called the Jake Maddox Graphic Novel series, which focuses on essential lessons in sports and competition. Alongside its illustrations, the story includes supplementary content, such as a glossary, a section about goalkeepers, and “visual discussion questions,” which ask the reader to identify how the art style coincides with its specific scene. While the book has inviting illustrations and a simple story, it also touches on some deeper themes, such as the death of a family member, which may invite good discussions between readers and adults. Overall, Rock ’n’ Goal tells an uplifting soccer tale with an invitation to explore deeper themes and characterization.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Medusa

Ava Baldwin has always tried to keep her anger in check, just like her mom taught her. But when know-it-all classmate Owen King tries to speak over her yet again, Ava explodes . . . and Owen freezes, becoming totally unresponsive.

Although Owen recovers, Ava’s parents whisk her off to her mother’s alma mater, the Accademia del Forte, a mysterious international boarding school in Venice. There, Ava and her brother, Jax, discover that the Olympian gods founded the Accademia to teach the descendants of mythological monsters how to control their emotions and their powers and become functioning, well-adjusted members of society.

But not everything at the Accademia is as it seems. After her friend Fia is almost expelled for challenging a teacher, Ava realizes the school is hiding a dangerous secret. To uncover the truth, Ava and her new friends embark on an adventure that could change the way they view history, mythology—and themselves—forever . . . or end their lives. 

Everyone is secretive about Ava’s ancestry, heightening Ava’s dread of finding out the mythological monster from which she is descended. Despite the school motto, “Ancestry is not destiny,” Ava is upset when she discovers that she is descended from the worst monster of all—Medusa. At first, Ava keeps this secret because she doesn’t want others to judge her based on her lineage. But a teacher tells her, “Just because you are descended from a monster, doesn’t mean you will become one. The choice is yours.” Despite being a granddaughter of Medusa, Ava is a relatable character to whom readers will connect because of her insecurities and her desire to have friends.

Ava has a small group of friends—Fia, Layla, and Arnold—who notice how women, including the goddesses, are treated unfairly. For example, when Fia is too outspoken, a teacher curses her, causing her to lose the ability to speak. To save their friend, the group travels to an island to find Medusa, who has also been cursed. Medusa says, “Stories are powerful. That’s why the male Olympians shaped the myths to celebrate and protect themselves. Look at those stories carefully. They either transform women into objects that have no voice—like a tree or a spider—or else they turn them into monsters.”

At first, Ava relies on the Greek Myths to teach her about the gods and goddesses. However, she soon realizes that many of the myths have multiple versions. Ava has the opportunity to meet many of the goddesses and monsters, and she witnesses firsthand how the gods manipulate history in order to retain power. The interactions between the gods and goddesses amplify the mistreatment of women, and warn readers to question history since “history is the story the powerful tell. It’s not always the true story.”

Ava’s story takes the Greek gods and goddesses off of Mount Olympus and puts them in a modern-day setting, creating a fast-paced and exciting story full of danger and adventure. As the story unfolds, readers will see the gods, goddesses, and monsters in a new light. To help bridge the two worlds, the story includes references from both modern-day sources, such as Twilight and ancient texts such as The Odyssey. The story reinforces the importance of liking yourself and using your voice. In the story’s conclusion, Ava says, “When you’re afraid to speak out and be yourself, it’s almost as lonely as being stuck on an island.” While Ava and her friends learn the importance of speaking up, Medusa reminds them, “You can’t change the world by force.”

Sexual Content 

While discussing Medusa’s lineage, Ava thinks, “Perseus had survived only by looking at Medusa in reflection, but that seemed like a tough way to conceive a child.”
The kids try to find out who fathered Medusa’s child. They find a love letter between Artemis and Orion. Ava reads the letter. “Thinking about Artemis snuggling up to Mr. Orion made her shut the drawer in a hurry.”

Violence 

Odysseus is referred to several times. Ava’s mom tries to teach her how to stay calm. Ava thinks, “All she’d done was teach her some breathing exercises, as if counting breaths had ever stopped Scylla from snacking on Odysseus’s men, as if all the Minotaur needed wasn’t yearly human sacrifice and a little yoga.”
One of the teachers reads a letter from a past student. “I am writing you from an asylum for the criminally insane. I could not control my powers and killed a man.”
In class, a “saw kicked up and landed on Arata’s forearm, chopping it clean off.” There was no blood because Arata is a Hydra, which can regrow limbs.
Ava’s classmates talk about “how Perseus had lopped off Medusa’s head.”
Ava’s friend Fia gets angry and “smoke billowed out of Fia’s mouth. . . Everyone dove to the floor as the fire shot up, scorching the ceiling.”
When Fia begins bellowing fire, the teacher calls on Poseidon. “The windows of the classroom blow out as a wave of water poured in. Fia screamed as the wave sped straight for her, dumping itself over her head, and extinguishing her.” Fia learns that she is the descendant of a Chimera, “which was part lion, part goat, and part serpent.”
A bully sees a boy crying, so “he hung me upside down out the window again…I really thought he was going to drop me this time.”
Ava and her friends go to an abandoned island, Poveglia. It’s a “medieval plague island where victims were left to die. Then it became the site of a really horrible insane asylum where the patients were tortured. It’s supposedly haunted.”
The kids travel to Tartarus to talk to Hecate. Along the way, “bolts of greenish lightning illuminated giants chained to the walls, iron collars around their necks. . . The Titans thrashed against their chains cursing Zeus.”
In Tartarus, Ava and her friends see a forest of trees. The trees “begun to writhe, and Ava realized they weren’t ordinary trees either but the twisted forms of women and girls. The tortured screams and cries were coming from inside them.” Hecate says, “They are woman and girls who disobeyed the gods and have been transformed.”
While in Tartarus, a Cerberus appears. “A head rounded the corner. It was as large as a bull’s, with glowing red eyes, a thick neck and enormous jaws.” The Cerberus attacks Ava. She “concentrated her stare on the pair of red eyes closest to her own. The first head lurched back, then froze in midair. . . [the third head] darted forward and bit her thigh. . . Ava felt something warm and wet, and when she looked down, she realized she was standing in a pool of blood.”
To save Ava’s life, her brother Jax “jabbed something into his arm, and when he pulled it out, he was bleeding too. . . His blood dripped onto her—she could feel its warmth as if it were real.” Since Jax is a descendant of a Gorgon, his blood has healing powers.
Athena turns into an owl and attacks Ava. “The owl dug its talons into Ava’s shoulders. Ava screamed in pain as it yanked her up off the ground. [Ava’s friend] Fia lunged just in time to grab Ava’s feet before she could be carried away.”
Ava tries to freeze Mr. Orion, but Zeke, a school bully helping Mr. Orion, “rushed Mr. Orion like a football player, knocking him backward with such force that the headmaster toppled onto the floor, dropping his club.” Later, Ava discovers that Zeke was Layla in disguise.
When the kids learn too much, Poseidon sends a flood to the school. “The pressure of the water on the glass had to be dangerously strong. . . With a smash of glass, the windows blew out. A torrent of cold seawater slammed into them, knocking them over and tumbling them around.” This is when the kids learn that they can breathe underwater.

Drugs and Alcohol 

To stop Dionysus from voting in line with Zeus, “Hestia poured too much wine for Dionysus, then changed his vote after he passed out.”

Language 

Ava calls a boy a jerk.
Athena calls a student “pathetic, a monster, and a loser.”
Athena calls the goddess of the hearth an “old fool.”
Zeke, the school bully, says, “Shut up, bird boy. . . You tried to make a fool out of me too! I should have dropped you on your stinky face long ago.”
Zeke calls another student “goat girl.”

Supernatural

In Ava’s world, the Greek gods, goddesses, and monsters are real and still alive. Since all of them have powers, only some are listed below.
Ava gets angry at Owen, a boy in her class. Unintentionally, Ava freezes him. “He stayed silent. Ava studies his face for a twitch of his lip or a flutter of his eyelid. In response. . . A trickle of drool ran down his chin.” He is taken to the hospital and recovers.
Ava and the other kids at the Accademia are at dinner when “coils of water sprang into the air from every goblet and pitcher in the room and combined to form shapes—dolphins leaping over waves, a herd of flying horses, a whirling ring of dancers.”
When the kids start to clap, “the swirls of water combined into waves and scooped up the applauding students. . . they were carried high over the tables on the foamy swells.”
Hermes cast a spell on the students so their “native tongue” could be understood by anyone.
Layla, one of the students, is “a descendant of an Empusa—a shape-shifting vampire.” Layla can shape-shift and uses this power to pose as a teacher and get Ava out of trouble.
Athena, in disguise, appears in the Great Hall. “The little old man leaped to his feet, transforming into an enormous horned owl that circled the Great Hall with an angry screech. The owl swooped down over the student’s heads with its sharp talons bared, making them flinch. . .” She also transformed into a soldier, and finally a young woman.
After Fia is disrespectful, a teacher curses her so she can’t speak or communicate by writing. One of the teachers says, “She’s lucky it’s not worse: having her liver eaten every day like Prometheus or forced to spend eternity in a state of hunger and thirst like Tantalus.”
Ava is given Hades’s helmet of invisibility, which she uses to steal a boat. When Ava takes the boat, the captain yells, “My boat! A spirit has taken my boat!”
Poseidon tries to stop Ava and her friends from reaching Poveglia. A wave “barreled toward them growing larger and larger—twenty feet, fifty, one hundred—as it sucked up the water of the lagoon. . . Ava could make out the barest outline of the sea god’s craggy face and some wisps of a long white beard in the wall of water.” Ava’s friend, Arnold, turns into a harpy and flies the kids to safety.
A student uses a spell to open a terrarium with a goddess trapped inside. “Open case, open glass / The strength of gods will let me pass / This seam unseal, this spell undo, / By Zeus’s power, let me through.”

Spiritual Content 

None

Swimming with Spies

It’s February of 2014 in the seaport city of Sevastopol in Crimea. Sofiya Oleksandrivna only wants two things: to figure out a way to get Ilya Ilyich to stop bullying her, and to convince her mother to come back home. But as battleships come to populate the waters around their city and Russian forces, including Ilya’s father, start to make their presence known, an even greater threat takes over Sofiya’s life.

Sofiya’s only escape is the dolphinarium where her father is a trainer at the forefront of teaching sign language to a pod of dolphins. And now the Russian military has ordered the dolphinarium to hand over its animals for military use. As armed Russian troops invade Crimea and conflict and tension continue to rise, Sofiya will do everything she can to keep her pod safe. And what she knows better than any of the soldiers occupying her city, is that the most powerful force is communication.

Sofiya’s world is forever changed when the Russians take over Crimea. As the daughter of a Ukrainian father and a Russian mother, Sofiya doesn’t want to choose sides. But when Sofiya is forced to work with Ilya, she is forced to look beyond Ilya’s public persona. Sofiya’s grandmother gives her sage advice, saying, “I told you to listen with your eyes, not only your ears. Everyone wants to be understood. Never doubt that. Most of all, though, we have to listen with our heart.”

Swimming with Spies highlights the complicated conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Often, Sofiya’s teacher, Miss Yvette, discusses the conflict with her class. One concern is that Russia will try to erase Ukraine’s culture because, before Ukraine became independent, “Ukrainians could not learn or work in their language. They had to function in Russian. And language as a weapon is something I overheard over and over since I was a kid.” Ukraine’s conflict is a central component of the book; Sofiya’s relationship with Ilya and the dolphins also highlights the importance of communication and working together.

Since the story is told from Sofiya’s point of view, the events focus on how the annexation of Crimea affects her and her friends. Sofiya grieves when the people she cares about decide to leave the peninsula. She’s frightened when her friend’s brother is arrested, and people begin losing their jobs. Using Sofiya’s point of view gives younger readers an understanding of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict without showing military conflict or violence. While most readers will not relate to the country’s conflict, they will empathize with the children and adults impacted by the annexation.

Swimming with Spies uses a unique premise to show readers the power of communication and the importance of using one’s voice. The book poses the question—are you Russian or Ukrainian—without giving an answer. In the end, Sofiya learns that “people can only decide—in the end—what’s best for them.” In addition, the book shows the power of forgiveness and not blaming others for life’s disappointments. Swimming with Spies is a powerful story that will give readers a new understanding of what it means to be Ukrainian.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

After Ilya and his friends use racial slurs, Sofiya’s friend Cedric and Ilya fight. “Ilya is a blur, and when I turn around, he and Cedric are tumbling on the ground. . .” One of the teachers breaks up the fight. Cedric has a slit lip but is otherwise uninjured.
Sofiya thinks about a Ukrainian protest where “some protesters were shot at.”
Ilya, a boy in Sofiya’s class, lost his mother in a boating accident. When he was four, his family was on a boat, and Ilya fell overboard. “Ilya was in the water, with a life jacket, thank God. But. . . well, Elena—his mother—jumped in after him. There was a large wave that crashed over her. They searched and searched, but no one could find her after that.”
Sofiya overhears a conversation about “peaceful protesters, with Ukrainian flags, went to the parliament building, and a swarm of ‘pro-Russian’ protesters got into a fight with them. Two people were killed. Others were arrested. Not Russians, though.”
A Russian military leader, Major Chaban, wants to use the sea animals for military purposes. While at the dolphinarium, Sofiya sees “the shape of Major Chaban. Six men with rifles are marching behind him straight to our front door.” The dolphinarium’s staff is forced to get Russian passports or be fired.
One of Sofiya’s friends is upset because her brother was arrested after “he posted a video of himself and his friends driving around Sevastopol the other night, singing the Ukrainian anthem.”
While at school, Sofiya gets angry and takes it out on Ilya. “The next thing I know, Ilya is under me, and I scramble onto my knees, and I feel a sharp pain. But I just start pummeling. . . I hardly land a couple of punches when I’m ripped off him.” Ilya gets a black eye.

Drugs and Alcohol 

Sofiya thinks that talk shows have “a lot of older people standing around and shouting. It’s like listening to the homeless men in the park when they’ve drunk too much vodka.”

Language 

Sofiya refers to a group of Russian classmates as “Ilya and the Idiots.”
Sofiya overhears a conversation where two men are talking about Russians who harass Ukrainians. A man said, “Rashist—a term, he said, that is cooked up from the words Russian, racist, and fascist.”
In another overheard conversation, a man uses the Russian word “Russkyi mir.” Sofiya thinks, “It’s not a nice thing to say. It means violence, and blood, and criminality, and corruption. Miss Yvette once said Russkyi mir involves having our Ukrainian language, our culture, our traditions all taken away, along with our land.”

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

The Only Game

Jack Callahan is the star of his baseball team and seventh grade is supposed to be his year. Undefeated season. Records shattered. Little League World Series. The works. That is, until he up and quits.

Jack’s best friend Gus can’t understand how Jack could leave a game that means more to them than anything else. But Jack is done. It’s a year of change. Jack’s brother has passed away, and though his family and friends and the whole town of Walton think baseball is just the thing he needs to move on, Jack feels it’s anything but.

In comes Cassie Bennett, star softball player, and the only person who seems to think Jack shouldn’t play if he doesn’t want to. As Jack and Cassie’s friendship deepens, their circle expands to include Teddy, a guy who’s been bullied because of his weight.

Time spent with these new friends unlocks something within Jack, and with their help and the support of his family and his old friends, Jack discovers sometimes it’s more than just the love of the game that keeps us moving forward—and he might just be able to find his way back to The Only Game, after all.

Readers will sympathize with Jack, who blames himself for his brother’s death. As penitence, Jack gives up baseball. However, Jack’s grief isn’t explored in depth; instead, the story focuses on Jack’s unwillingness to tell anyone why he quit the team. His friends and family are even more confused when Jack begins to help coach Cassie’s team, and teach Teddy how to play baseball. While his new friends give Jack the courage to talk to his parents about his guilt, the conflict is resolved too quickly without showing any of Jack’s grieving process. While this allows the story to focus on baseball, it minimizes the story’s emotional impact.

When Jack quits the team, Cassie and Teddy immediately step in to take the place of Jack’s other friendships. However, the friendships don’t seem genuine. For instance, Jack soon teaches Teddy how to play baseball, even though Teddy has little interest in the game and the boys have nothing in common. In addition, Cassie is a braggart, and her arrogance may annoy some readers. Unfortunately, the supporting characters are not very likable, and their interactions with Jack do not feel authentic.

Even though Jack quits the baseball team, The Only Game still contains enough baseball action to keep sports-loving readers entertained. The book doesn’t delve into the many emotions of the grieving process, which allows the story to focus on Jack’s friendships and the importance of supporting each other in difficult times. The Only Game’s strength lies in showcasing the joy of competition and how baseball brings people together.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

Some of the kids call others idiots.

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

One of Jack’s friends “and their parents usually went to church at nine.”
After Jack and his best friend Gus stop talking, Jack goes to Gus’s house. Gus’s mom says, “I’m going to leave you alone to talk to your friend Jack now and also pray to the Lord that you remember your manners while you do.”

Unsouled

Connor and Lev are on the run after the destruction of the Graveyard, the last safe haven for AWOL unwinds. But for the first time, they’re not just running away—they’re running towards answers, in the form of a woman Proactive Citizenry has tried to erase from history itself. If they can find her and learn why the shadowy figures behind unwinding are so afraid of her, they may discover the key to ending the unwinding process forever.

Cam, the rewound boy, is plotting to take down the organization that created him. He knows that if he can bring Proactive Citizenry to its knees, it will show Risa how he truly feels about her. And without Risa, Cam is having trouble remembering what it feels like to be human.

With the Juvenile Authority and vindictive parts pirates hunting them, the group’s paths will converge explosively—and everyone will be changed.

Unsouled focuses on human evil, and Risa wonders, “Which is crueler, man or nature? She determines it must be man. Nature has no remorse, but neither does it have malice.” As readers delve into the world of unwinds, they will most likely come to the same conclusion as Risa. The world of unwinding is paradoxical; on one hand, people with disabilities are not allowed to be unwound. However, the lucrative business of unwinding created an industry that has no bounds to its greed and many teens are legally killed.

While changing the unwinding age to 17 was supposed to help teens, it has helped the black market become more ruthless and profitable. In addition, to get even more body parts, some politicians are encouraging people to vote for Initiative 11, which would allow criminals to be unwound. “So the question is, how do we want our violent offenders to pay their debts to society? Wasting into old age on taxpayers’ dollars—or allowing them to redeem themselves by providing much-needed tissue for society?”

Unwinding has become so popular that politicians want to “raise the legal age of unwinding back to eighteen and possibly beyond. Removing the brains of convicted criminals and unwinding the rest of their bodies. Allowing people to voluntarily submit themselves to unwinding for cash.” While at first unwinding was supposed to help in medical emergencies, “it’s becoming more and more common for people to get vanity transplants. You want a new skill? Buy it instead of learn it. Can’t do a thing with your hair? Get a new scalp. . . NeuroWeaves instead of education. Muscle refits instead of exercise.”

While the world is focused on the need for more human tissue, Cam—who was created by using unwinds’ body parts—questions his humanity. He wonders if he has a soul and, if so, what will happen to his soul after he dies. Cam thinks, “Certainly he exists as organic matter, but as a sentient being? As a someone rather than a something.” Cam looks to the Catholic church for answers but receives none. To add to this theme, when Connor finally meets Cam, instead of completely hating him, he recognizes Cam’s humanity. Cam’s existence forces the reader to contemplate the human soul—is it created by a “divine spark,” or can it be created by another human? Ultimately, the only answer comes from the court: Cam is legal property, not a person who can make choices for himself.

Connor, Risa, Lev, and Cam’s worlds collide, forcing them to put their personal desires aside. They hope to expose Proactive Citizenry’s insidious plan and, in the process, end unwinding. But Starkey’s violent attacks against harvest camps cause fear and chaos. In the end, the reader is left to wonder—will fear or reason prevail?

Sexual Content 

While at a fancy party, Cam enters a room to be alone. A girl follows him. “She undoes his bowtie. . . He holds her in his arms, and she leans forward, kissing him. When she pulls away from the kiss, it’s only for a moment. . . She leans in for another kiss that is far more explorative than the first. The girl says, “I want to be your first.” The girl’s father finds Cam and the girl kissing, and he drags her out of the party.
After speaking at a university, Cam takes three girls into a room. Cam takes off his shirt, and “one of the girls explores those seams and the varied skin tones of his chest. The other girl snuggles with him and feeds him Jordan almonds, sweet and crunchy.” Cam’s handler chases the girls away.
Lev fantasizes about Miracolina, a tithe he helped. “His current fantasies put them at the same suburban school . . . Go to the movies. Make out on the couch when her parents aren’t home.”
Starkey impregnates three girls. When his second in command, Bam, finds out about it she’s furious. Starkey “cranes his neck to kiss her, but their lips are still an inch away. . . he reaches behind her head, pulling her down into the kiss. That kiss is like a conjurer’s act. It’s artful, it’s worthy of applause, and it is everything Bam dreamed it might be, but nothing will change the fact that it’s only a trick.” Bam realizes that there is no meaning to the kiss.

Violence 

Scattered throughout are news items that use teen violence as a reason to continue unwinding, such as a clapper blowing up a school and killing a student. These ads are not included in the violence below.
While driving, Connor accidentally hits an ostrich. The creature’s body “wedges in the windshield frame, with a twisted wiper blade embedded in its slender neck. . . [Connor] screams and curses reflectively, as the creature, still clinging to life, rips at Connor’s chest with its talons, tearing fabric and flesh. . .” The Ostrich dies. Connor is wounded but recovers.
Connor goes into a grocery store to buy food. After he leaves, Argent, the checker, flags Connor down and attacks him. “A kick to the groin that registers a surge of shock, followed by a building swell of excruciating pain. . . Suddenly his attacker is behind him and puts Connor in a choke hold.” Connor wakes up in a cellar, tied to a pole.
To escape from Argent, Connor hits him with a glass pipe. “The pipe catches Argent just above his jaw and shatters, cutting the left side of Argent’s face in at least three places. . . His face gushes blood.” The deputy is tied to a pole but is given “a jagged piece of the broken bong from the floor and put into the deputy’s bound hands so he can eventually cut himself free.”
The police arrive at Argent’s cellar, asking about Connor, who is hiding. When only one deputy is left, “Connor makes his move, lunging out of the sack he’s hiding in, grabbing him by the ankles, and pulling his feet out from under him.”
Two clappers go into a gym. They split up so they can detonate themselves and kill the most people. “Suddenly an explosion rocks the gym, and the cardio desk comes crashing down upon the first floor. . .” Everyone in the gym dies.
A group of teens who ran away from being unwound band together. They enter a 7-Eleven and begin stealing everything. “The night manager reaches for the shotgun, but before he can grab it, there’s a gun aimed at his face, and another, and another. The three kids hold their aim steady.” As the group disappears, the manager shoots at them, but no one is hit.
As a man enters his house, “he’s hit in the head with one of his wife’s heavier knickknacks and falls to the ground. . . he looks up to see the face of his attacker. It’s just a kid of maybe sixteen.” Instead of calling the police, the man gives the boy a job.
Risa falls into a parts pirate’s trap. “She reached for a bag of chips, hit a trip wire, and a spring-loaded steel cable wrapped around her wrist. She was caught like a rabbit.”
When the parts pirate lunges at Risa, “he throws himself forward, Risa raises the pitchfork that she’s concealed in the hay. She doesn’t have to do any more than that: just hold the thing up. His weight and momentum do all the work.”
Later that day, a “coyote dines on the man, who is already beginning to grow rancid in the summer heat.” Later, the coyote bites Risa several times. She is saved, but the coyote and the trip wire injure Risa. She is also dehydrated. Risa fully recovers.
While in a state home, a girl attacks Risa. “When the girl pins her to the ground, Risa gouges the girl’s eyes, flips her, and spits in her face.” A teacher pulls them apart.
Cam has nightmares that are caused by the memories of the teens who were rewound to create Cam. Cam “would scream from the terror, from the sheer helplessness one of those kids felt as the surgeons moved closer, limbs tingled and went numb, medical stasis coolers were carried away in their peripheral vision. Each sense is shutting down and each memory evaporating, always ending with a silent cry of hopeless defiance as each Unwind was shuffled into oblivion.”
While Risa is looking for a place to hide, three boys surround her. One guy, Porterhouse, grabs her. “She smiles at him, lifts her foot, and jams her heel into Porterhouse’s knee instead. Porterhouse’s kneecap breaks with an audible crunch, and he goes down, screaming and writhing in pain. . .”
During the confrontation, Risa elbows another boy in the nose. “She’s not sure if she’s broken it, but it does start gushing blood.” A boy brandishes a knife at Risa, but an adult pulls Risa to safety.
Starkey hijacks a truck by pressing a weapon into the driver’s ribs. When he has a chance, the driver runs away.
Starkey and his group of storks attack a harvest camp. “Starkey gets out of the cab in time to see some of his precious storks go down. . . a sharpshooter is taking kids out. The first couple of shots are tranqs, but the sharpshooter switches rifles. The next kid to go down, goes down for good. . .”

Some of the kids “use counselors as human shields. . . The rebellion feeds itself, fueled by desperation and unexpected hope. It grows in intensity until even the guards are running, only to be tackled by dozens of kids and restrained with their own handcuffs.” The rebellion is described over two pages. It is unclear how many people are hurt or dead, but “at least a dozen kids litter the ground.”
After the rebellion, the harvest camp director, Menard, is captured, and Starkey orders a boy to kill him. “The kid is clearly terrified, but all eyes are on him. . . He squints. He puts the muzzle of the gun to the back of Menard’s head and looks away. Then he pulls the trigger. . . Menard crumples, dead before he hits the ground. . . There are no exploding brain bits and pieces of skull—Starkey and the crowd seem disappointed that an execution, in the end, is far less dramatic than the buildup.”
Starkey and his crew attack another harvest camp. They get the kids out safely, but then Starkey has five workers hung with a noose. “Starkey, one by one, kicks their chair out from beneath them.” He leaves one worker alive to give the authorities a message.
Cam follows one of his memories to a Chancefolk [Native American] reservation, and a woman he knows, Una, takes him to an abandoned sweat lodge and knocks him unconscious. Una “tears off his jacket and shirt and uses them to string him up between two poles six feet apart. She knots the fabric so tightly only a knife could undo it. The rest of his unconscious body slumps on the ground, his arms outstretched above him in a supplicative Y.” Una uses a chainsaw to trace Cam’s seams and threatens to remove his hands.
Connor finds Cam. “He’s tied to a pole, struggling to pull himself free. By the smell of the place and the look of him, he’s been here for a while, in this helpless, hopeless situation, without even the freedom to relieve himself anywhere but in his clothes.” Connor sets Cam free.
When Nelson, the parts pirate, discovers that Argent has been lying to him, Nelson “flips the table. Dinnerware flies, a plate smashes against the mantel, and Nelson pounces, pinning Argent against the wall so hard Argent can feel the light switch digging into his back like a knife—but it’s nowhere near as deadly as the steak knife that Nelson now holds to his throat.” Nelson threatens Argent but doesn’t hurt him.

Drugs and Alcohol 

At a fancy party, some of the adults drink alcohol. One lady has a “slight alcoholic slur.”
Argent chokes Connor and then ties him up. While Connor is tied up, the boy forces him to smoke the liquid from a tranq gun mixed with marijuana. “Argent takes a hit from the pipe, then puts it over Connor’s mouth, holding Connor’s nose so he has no choice but to suck it in.” They both get high.
A teen goes to New Orleans and drinks alcohol where “Drinking in the street is not only legal, but encouraged!”
A parts pirate who is injured “sleeps off a binge of the alcohol and painkillers he doused himself with.”
One of Connor’s friends “had slipped Connor some medicinal chocolate to get him to mellow out a bit,” which caused Connor to hallucinate.
While celebrating, two adults have champagne.
One boy’s father is a drug addict and was “offered a lot of money to sign the [unwind] papers,” which he did.

Language 

Profanity is used often and includes ass, crap, damn, freaking, goddamn, hell, and piss.
There is some name-calling, including bitch, bastard, moron, idiot, scumbag, wimp, and prime douche.
Grace is “low-cortical” which is the term for mentally challenged people. Her brother calls her feebleminded.
Native Americans are called ChanceFolk or SlotMongers, “that hideous slur put upon them by the very people who made casino gaming the only way tribes could earn back their self-reliance, self-respect, and the fortunes leeched from them over the centuries.”
Oh my God and Oh Jesus are used as exclamations.
Connor calls Cam “Pork-n-beans.”
Starkey’s crew has a sign “like a heil Hitler thing, but with just the middle finger.”

Supernatural

When a person is given a body part from an unwound person, the body part remembers what the person learned. For example, one man received a new hand, and the hand still knew how to perform magic.
Cyrus was injured and received half of Tyler Walker’s brain. Now, Tyler is in Cyrus’s head and occasionally talks through Cyrus. Cyrus and some of the other people who received parts from Tyler live in a compound, so they “feel the need to reunite the Unwind they share.” Some of the people have Tyler’s memories.
Some people who receive body parts from an Unwind have “cellular memory being transferred” to them. For example, “an eight-year-old girl receives the heart of a ten-year-old girl who was murdered. The recipient begins having nightmares about the murder, remembering details that only the victim could know, such as when and how it happened and the identity of the murderer. Her entire testimony turns out to be true, and the murderer is caught.”
NeuroWeaves take a part of an unwind’s brain and graph it to another person. This allows a person to acquire a skill without having to learn anything.

Spiritual Content 

Cam wrestles with his thoughts. “He begins to scour his memory, seeking out moments that ring with a spiritual connection. He had First Communion, a Bar Mitzvah, and a Bismillah ceremony. He saw a brother baptized in a Greek Orthodox church, and a grandmother cremated in a traditional Buddhist funeral. Just about every faith is represented in his memories. . .”
Cam goes to a Catholic church for confession. Cam asks the priest if he “qualifies as a human.” The priest tells him, “How can I speak to whether or not you carry a divine spark?”
While looking for answers, Cam “prays in nine languages, to a dozen deities—to Jesus, to Yahweh, to Allah, to Vishnu, to the ‘I’ of the universe, and even to a great godless void. Please, he begs. Please, give me a single reason why I shouldn’t hurl myself beneath the wheels of the bus.”
Before the harvest camp director is executed, he prays. “A man who kills for a living praying for deliverance.”
Starkey’s second in command is Bam. After the harvest camp is attacked, “she knows she mustn’t steal Starkey’s thunder. She’s Bam the Baptist, preparing the way for the Savior of Storks.” Later, the media refers to Starkey as “the Stork Lord.”
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 was used to convince the public to allow unwinding. According to a legislative candidate, unwinding “would be a tremendous incentive for children to give proper respect to their parents.”

Second to None

In it to win it. Every school has their number ones: the class president, the first chair in band, the spelling bee champion. And behind every high rolling high achiever? A kid in second place.

Twelve-year-old DJ has a reputation for being the go-to kid for solving just about any problem. Need help getting an unfair teacher or bully off your back? DJ is your guy. He knows the social order of Ella Fitzgerald Middle School like the back of his hand. So when the usual winners start losing ― all at the same time ― he knows something is wrong. Very wrong.

With the help of his usual crew, Audrey, Monty, and Connor, DJ is determined to get to the bottom of what’s happening. Maybe it’s all in his head. Or maybe there’s a conspiracy at work. DJ and his friends will have to figure it out ― before the school saboteur comes for them.

Second to None is told from DJ’s point of view and uses a conversational tone that makes readers feel as if they are part of DJ’s crew. While at his previous school, DJ used his powers of observation and his ability to plan to take advantage of others. Now, in an attempt to relieve his guilt, DJ is using his skills to help others. DJ’s transformation from a criminal to a champion allows readers to see how a person’s actions have far-reaching consequences. DJ is an innovative, likable protagonist who makes readers want to hang out and hear his story.

DJ’s crew, while not well-developed, are unique, interesting characters who are unlikely friends. DJ’s best friend, Connor, is impulsive and often has to be reined in by DJ. While DJ only wants to use his skills to help others, Connor enjoys manipulating others. Even though it’s against the school rules, Connor plays in a gaming tournament where cheating is expected, and Connor is a master cheater. In addition, Connor bets on any school event involving a competition, including the spelling bee, and who will be the captain of the Quiz Bowl. The contrast between DJ and Connor adds interest to the story, but Connor’s behavior shows that cheating and gambling are acceptable behavior.

Any middle schooler (especially those who have older siblings) will relate to the events in Second to None because it focuses on students who have been in second place repeatedly. Anyone who feels as if they have been overshadowed by someone else will understand the hurt that causes. A group of second-place students plot to sabotage those who always come in first. The book acknowledges the frustration and pain of those who have lost while showing that sabotaging others is wrong. When the group’s leader is revealed, the person receives just punishment and is given mandatory counseling. Second to None would make an excellent discussion starter about honesty, integrity, and the importance of communication.

Readers first meet DJ and his crew in High Score; however, Second to None gets readers up to speed by summarizing the main events in High Score. Nevertheless, Second to None will be more enjoyable for those who have read High Score. Second to None is an entertaining read that explores the social hierarchy of middle school. The story features three different groups that use their power to manipulate others. While the events are a bit outlandish, middle-grade students will enjoy the story’s mystery and humor, as well as the friendship between DJ and his crew.

Howell does an excellent job of creating characters with a unique voice and highlighting the difficulties of being in middle school. Readers looking to add more mystery to their lives should also read the Spy School Series by Stuart Gibbs and the Jack and the Geniuses Series by Bill Nye & Gregory Mone. However, readers who love unique and humorous stories should read The Magical Reality of Nadia by Bassem Youssef & Catherine R. Daly and Lost in the Mushroom Maze by Ben Costa & James Park.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

Heck is used a few times.
Dang is used once.
A few of the students call a classmate an idiot.

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball

Baseball, America’s pastime, is a sport of moments that stand the test of time. It is equally a sport of a new generation of heroes, whose exploits inspire today’s young fans. This combination makes for a winning debut in Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball.

This is no traditional almanac of mundane statistics but rather a storyteller’s journey through baseball’s storied game. Told in short chapters and accompanied by iconic photos, a slew of “Top Ten” lists for kids to chew on and debate, and a timeline of the “40 Most Important Moments in Baseball History,” this collection covers some of the greatest players from Babe Ruth to Hank Aaron; the greatest teams to take the field and swing the bats; the greatest social triggers, such as Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier; the greatest playoff rivalries, including the 2004 showdown between the Red Sox and Yankees that turned into an instant classic; and, of course, the edge-of-your-seat World Series moments that left some cheering while others wept. 

The book begins with a note from the author encouraging people to read his book and “disagree with it, debate it, change it, have fun with it, decide for yourself” who is the greatest player and the greatest team. Bryant gives statistics and stories to help readers understand each player’s contribution to the sport. “Spring,” the book’s first section, discusses the greatest players, starting with Babe Ruth. This section is entertaining enough to keep all readers engaged. However, this changes in the book’s next two sections, which focus on specific teams such as the Yankees and the Red Socks.

The last two sections of the book include exciting play-by-play actions of specific games that will entertain baseball fans. Readers will feel the disappointment when a team loses a game and the excitement for the winning teams. In addition, Bryant helps readers understand how baseball changed through the years, as well as how baseball changed society.

Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball highlights all the reasons that baseball is our national pastime and why people still debate who is the greatest. Bryant uses interesting facts, anecdotes, and play-by-play baseball action that will thrill baseball fans. However, the pages use advanced vocabulary, and all the pictures are at the back of the book. Even though the chapters are short, the text-heavy pages may overwhelm struggling readers. However, baseball fans will find Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball enjoyable because it is packed with baseball history that will help them understand the sport and the players that shaped it.

For readers who want to learn more about baseball, Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball knocks it out of the park. Readers who want to delve deeper into baseball’s greatest legend should read Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse by David A. Kelly and Babe & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure by Dan Gutman. Readers looking for a fiction book that revolves around baseball should read The Batboy by Mike Lupica or the Baseball Genius Series by Tim Green & Derek Jeter.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

When Henry Aaron was a child, his mother would hide him and his siblings under the bed whenever she heard the Klu Klux Klan outside her window. “It was the 1940s, and the Klan targeted Catholics, Jews, and especially African Americans, intent on scaring them and often killing the ones who did not fear them, to keep them in their place.”
While playing in the major leagues, Henry Aaron received “terrible letters, the ones in which anonymous people threatened to kill him or members of his family. . . One letter was so serious that the FBI removed his daughter from college for her protection.” Aaron had to hire a security guard to protect him.

Drugs and Alcohol 

Sandy Koufax had severe pain in his left elbow and was given cortisone shots. The drug “eased some of the hurt, but left Sandy feeling uncomfortable.” Koufax decided to put his health first and retired from baseball.
Mark McGwire was being interviewed when a reporter “noticed a bottle of pills in McGwire’s locker. . . The pills were called androstenedione, and they were considered to have similar effects to steroids.” Later, it was discovered that Sammy Sosa and other players were also taking the pills. The scandal marred both McGwire’s and Sosa’s careers.

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

Despite anti-Semitism, Sandy Koufax “was true to his Jewish faith . . . Koufax was proud of his heritage. He did not hide from it.” When his team played in the World Series, one game was on Yom Kippur, “the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.” Koufax “refused to pitch.”

Aaron Judge vs. Babe Ruth: Who Would Win?

Babe Ruth may be the most famous name in baseball. Among the several feats in his historic career, Ruth was a member of seven World Series championship teams, one of the inaugural members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and a winner of the MLB single-season home run record. Understandably, Ruth is regarded by many as the best baseball player in the history of the sport. Although Ruth’s skill and legacy cannot be contested, countless new talents emerge every year with the potential of becoming an icon.

One such talent is Aaron Judge, a fellow New York Yankee who, in 2017, became the first rookie to win the Home Run Derby with 52 home runs. Judge is regarded as one of the greatest living baseball players. But does his record mean that he is a better player than the famous Babe Ruth? In Aaron Judge vs. Babe Ruth: Who Would Win, Josh Anderson compares the careers of Ruth and Judge to explore the difficult question: who is the better player?

The book is divided into four chapters. In the first chapter, Anderson explores the upbringing of each player. Readers will learn facts such as how George “Babe” Ruth discovered his baseball talent and earned his iconic nickname. On the other hand, Aaron Judge went from a star athlete on his high school baseball team to the star of the New York Yankees. In the second and third chapters, Anderson details the incredible accomplishments of each player. For example, readers will learn how Babe Ruth held the record for the most home runs with sixty home runs in a season, a record that Aaron Judge later surpassed with 62 home runs. Readers will also learn about the accolades each player has received, such as Ruth’s seven World Series championships and Judge’s Rookie of the Year award in 2017. In the fourth and final chapter, Anderson summarizes the players’ careers so the reader can determine who they believe to be the better player.

Each page of the book features pictures of Ruth and Judge during their careers, from black-and-white photos of Ruth’s childhood to full-color shots of Judge hitting a home run. Although Anderson maintains a simple vocabulary for young readers, newer readers may be overwhelmed by the plethora of statistics and facts. Each page features 1 – 13 sentences of small text. Although the book uses baseball terminology like “outfielder” and “innings,” Anderson includes a glossary for readers unfamiliar with baseball terms.

Overall, Aaron Judge vs. Babe Ruth: Who Would Win is an informative and approachable book that passionately describes two incredible careers. Regardless of readers’ knowledge about the sport, they will be captivated by Judge and Ruth’s many accomplishments. The book is an excellent choice for young baseball fans and an effective introduction of the two players for readers unfamiliar with the two baseball stars. Readers can learn more about Babe Ruth’s historic career by reading Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse by David A. Kelly and Babe & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure by Dan Gutman.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

The Viking’s Revenge

Travel back to the days of Vikings with time-traveling brothers Arthur and Finn to retrieve the stolen sword called Blood Hunter and rewrite the past. The two brothers plan to help the Viking leader Hallvard and his village from being killed by raiders. However, Arthur and Finn are accused of being spies. Some of the villagers want to kill the two boys immediately, while Hallvard wants to give the boys a chance to prove themselves. Will the boys escape the grip of the powerful Vikings and succeed in changing the course of history?

Arthur’s impulsive behavior led to his capture twice. Luckily, Finn is an intelligent, quick thinker who pays attention to history and is used to getting Arthur out of difficult situations. The two brothers are forced apart when Viking raiders take Arthur and Hallvard’s son prisoner. Arthur is absent for much of the action, which allows Finn’s loyalty and bravery to shine. Despite the risk, Finn doesn’t hesitate to fearlessly fight with the Vikings. While readers won’t relate to Finn’s dilemma, they will cheer when he frees his brother and helps return Blood Hunter to its rightful owner.

Short sections are interspersed throughout the book, giving more historical information, such as how Viking longships were used, the Vikings’ belief in many gods, the types of Viking weapons, and how raiders and berserkers fought. The detailed information explains the Vikings’ views of crime and punishment. If you stole from someone, “the person you had stolen from had every right to kill you.” The Vikings often trafficked slaves, who they called thralls. “They captured thralls in battles, kidnapped them on raids, or created them by condemning criminals to slavery . . . If you escape and get caught, you’ll be killed instantly.” While historically accurate, the descriptions of battles and death may upset younger readers.

Even though The Viking’s Revenge is part of a series, the books do not have to be read in order because each book focuses on Arthur and Finn going back to a different time period and each book wraps up the storyline.

In The Viking’s Revenge, danger in the first chapter and the non-stop action makes the book impossible to put down. Readers will instantly be drawn into the Viking’s world, where they will learn many interesting facts about the time period. Even though the focus is on Finn, he is surrounded by fascinating characters, including a Viking leader and a slave girl. The combination of diverse characters, fierce battles, and nail-biting danger make The Viking’s Revenge perfect for readers who hunger for adventure.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

When Arthur travels back in time, he appears in the woods. Brand, a Viking boy, decides to capture Arthur and turn him into a slave. Brand shoots arrows at Arthur.
Brand’s friend, Olaf, tries to grab Arthur. Olaf “clenched his fists and pulled his arm back to punch Arthur in the stomach. . . Arthur stepped back, and Olaf staggered forward with the force of the punch. . . Arthur dropped his shoulders and crunched it into Olaf’s chest driving him back.”
Brand shoots another arrow at Arthur, but it hits Olaf instead. “Olaf screamed in pain and stumbled backwards clutching at the arrow that was now lodged in his arm, spilling blood onto the forest floor.”
Brand and Arthur begin to circle each other, “and then Arthur felt an explosion of pain in the back of his head. The world tipped over as his head erupted into tiny points of light and his legs gave way from beneath him.” Arthur wakes up locked in a room.
A warrior’s ghost appears and tells his story. The warrior says, “They came in the night. They killed us and they took Blood Hunter. My sword . . .” The warrior needs help returning Blood Hunter to his family.
Finn opens the shed that Arthur is locked in. “Without warning, a fist connected with [Finn’s] chin, and he fell to the ground. Somebody jumped on him and grabbed his throat.”
When the Vikings find Arthur and Finn, some want to kill them, and others want to wait. The boys are tied to a tree. A Viking says, “Well, you have a dangerous night ahead of you boys. You will need Odin’s protection from the bears and wolves tonight. . .”
In the middle of the night, Viking raiders crept closer to the longhouse. “Two of the men at the back of the group fell to the ground with arrows sticking out of their necks. Finn fired his first arrow and a third raider went down.”
The Viking leader Hallvard “smashed the edge of a shield into the raider’s face and lunged forward with his sword, burying it in the man and then kicking him backward. . .”
To save Hallvard, Finn “fired another arrow, and it whistled past Hallvard and into the chest of one of his attackers, who fell to the ground.”
A raider throws an ax at Finn but misses. As the raider advances, “his body slapped face first into the ground once again just as the raider reached him. . . the huge man tripped and fell directly on top of Finn. . . Just as the raider began to lift his weight off Finn he grunted and collapsed back on top of the boy. Finn felt a warm liquid flowing down his neck.” Two of Hallvard’s men die. The battle is described over five pages.
Thorfinna, a teenage girl, tells the story of how she became a slave. A man who wanted power, Moldof, murdered one of her kinsmen. “Moldof stabbed the man in the back—it was no honorable fight—it was murder.”
When Thorfinna’s father sent men to arrest Moldof, “Moldof overpowered them. He bound their hands and feet and tortured them horribly. . . their bodies were unrecognizable.”
Later that night, Moldof and his men attack Thorfinna’s village. “They killed everyone except for those they could sell as slaves. . . I saw the men kill my father and mother. . .”
Hallvard takes a group of Vikings, Thorfinna, and Finn, to attack the raider’s village. While looking for movement in the village, Moldof captures Finn. “a cloth was stuffed into Finn’s mouth to gag him, his hands were tied behind his back, and a rope was looped around his waist.”
Finn is forced to watch the battle in the village. “There were . . . huge warriors slaughtering and being slaughtered. . . Men that Finn did not recognize began to turn and run, pursued by men he did recognize from the ship.”
When Hallvard sees his son in Moldof’s grasp, he cries out. “As he stood staring up at his son, his axe and shield fell from his hands. His legs crumbled and he fell to his knees. He did not see the injured man beside him bring out the knife. He did not feel it as it slid into his back. . .” Hallvard eventually dies from his wound.
Finn sees Maldof “grinning insanely as he put his hands around Brand’s neck and lifted him off his feet to dangle over the drop. Brand kicked frantically. . .” Brand is not injured.
One of Maldof’s men, “Ulf staggered forward and toppled over the edge of the cliff with an axe protruding from his back.”
Thorfinna surprises Moldof when she attacks him. He drops his sword. “Thorfinna drove her sword into Moldof’s chest and let go. With a look of shock, Moldof fell backwards off the cliff and plunged down to the rocks below.”
After Hallvard’s men win the battle, “Moldof’s men had either fled or been killed, while several of Hallvard’s men lay dead also.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

During a meal, ale is served.

Language 

Several times, someone is called a coward.

Supernatural

Arthur and Finn’s grandfather created a museum about warriors throughout history. The museum is haunted, and when the grandfather died, “he started haunting the place too. He felt guilty about the trapped ghost warriors and vowed he would not rest in peace until all the other ghosts were laid to rest first.”
When one of the ghost warriors touches the boys, “we get transported to the time and place where the ghost lived and died. And we can’t get back until we’ve fixed whatever it is that keeps the ghost from resting in peace.”
The ghost of a Viking warrior appears, and he “will only be laid to rest when his sword is returned to him or his son. Find the sword, and he will find peace.”

Spiritual Content 

When Arthur hears a noise in the forest, he prays “that he will see Finn.”
To explain how he knows a raid will happen, Finn tells the Vikings, “Odin is our mater. He shows me things—he showed me your sword, Blood Hunter, and he showed me the raid that is coming.”
Two and a half pages explain the Vikings’ belief in gods and goddesses, but the passage mainly focuses on Odin, the God of magic, poetry, and war, and his son Thor, the god of thunder.
After the raiders attack, Hallvard tells Finn, “Odin gave an eye to gain knowledge and see the truth. Maybe if his boy gives an eye he too will see the truth. Call to Odin. Speak to him. Do whatever it is you have to do, and tell me who these men are!” Luckily, someone else recognizes the raider’s leader.
Hallvard tells someone, “None of us know what the Gods have in store for us.”
When Hallvard goes to save his son, Hallvard’s wife says, “May Thor give you strength in battle. And may Odin guide you to victory.”
The Vikings believed anyone who died in battle would “be taken by the Valkyries to feast in Valhalla.”
After his father is fatally wounded, Hallvard’s son prays, “Odin, hear me! Give me the strength to wield his sword and bring these men victory in his name and yours. Give me the wisdom to lead as he did.”
Some believed that Viking warriors known as berserkers were “Odin’s own warriors and that he gives them this superhuman strength.”

Paris

Is any city as beloved as Paris? People who live here revel in a culture that is both ancient and yet has changed with each wave of new arrivals. People who don’t live here have made it one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, with beautiful buildings, romantic vistas, and a one-of-a-kind sense of place. Inside, read how Paris has changed over the centuries, how the city shapes modern France and Europe, and how visitors can make their Parisian dreams come true.

Major World Cities travels the globe to bring readers the up-close story—from yesterday to today—of the people, sights, sounds, and achievements of key urban centers. This series is the ultimate city travel guide.

Major World Cities: Paris takes an in-depth look into the city’s history by breaking down information into super-short sections. Each page has blocks of information typed in large font and placed into different-colored boxes to help readers distinguish when a topic changes. In addition, each page has one or more full-color graphic elements, including artwork and photographs. Each page has two to four paragraphs; however, the wide variety of topics may overwhelm some readers. Some words appear in bold text and are defined in the book’s glossary. Nevertheless, the complex sentence structure and advanced vocabulary make Paris best suited for strong readers.

Anyone interested in Paris will find Major World Cities: Paris an interesting nonfiction book with a pleasing format. To show a change of topic, each page uses white and yellow boxes with large headlines. Most illustrations also have a one or two sentence caption that gives additional information. The book contains 18 two-page spreads describing Paris’s culture, religion, education, architecture, and other interesting topics. In addition, there is a map of the city, a timeline, and a glossary.

Major World Cities: Paris is the perfect book for anyone who wants to research Paris’s past and present. Because the book covers so many topics, readers will find other fascinating topics to explore. For example, Parisians are diverse people who enjoy designer clothes, fine foods, and wine. Paris was also the home of many important historical people, such as Marie Curie, Napolean I, and Edith Piaf. Major World Cities: Paris will expand readers’ knowledge about this city known for its romance.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

In the 19th century, “murderers and other major criminals were executed in this square.”
The Vikings “repeatedly attacked Paris, killing people, looting, and burning homes.” There is a black-and-white illustration of a raid, but no people are shown.
The Roman Catholics and Huguenots fought in the Wars of Religion. Henry IV “had to become a Catholic before he was allowed into Paris in 1594, but he was later assassinated by a Catholic.”
A two-page spread explains the French Revolution that started when “a mob stormed the Bastille prison in Paris. . . Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were guillotined in 1793. The following year became known as the Reign of Terror when opponents of the new government were killed.”
When Attila the Hun was heading to Paris, a nun named Genevéve “urged the people of the city to pray for help. According to legend, she then had a vision in which Attila turned away from Paris. He really did so, and the amazed Parisians believe that Genevéve’s prayers had saved them.”
In 2015, “a group of Islamic terrorists committed a series of attacks that in a few days terrorized the city. They stormed into the offices of a French satirical magazine. . . and killed eight people. Then they killed a police officer. . . Four hostages died, as did the gunmen.”
In 2015, a terrorist attack “took the lives of more than 120 people. Gunmen and suicide bombers sent by the ISIS group. . . carried out multiple attacks on the city, including strafing restaurants, setting off explosions near a soccer match. . . and capturing a concert hall and killing nearly 100 people, some execution-style.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

“Parisians drink wine, often French wine, with most meals.”

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

After the Franco-Prussian War, Roman Catholics built the Sacré-Coeur Church “as a token of thanks to God that Paris was not totally destroyed.”

Strength of the Mountains

The morning arrives. The balloon is filled. An unexpected storm strikes. Matt, all alone, swept off into the wilderness in an unfinished balloon. He crash lands in the wilderness without a cell phone or other means of contacting others. He must find a way to survive with only the items in the balloon.

He tries hiking out of the valley, but the steep mountains and raging rivers make the escape nearly impossible. While looking for a way out of the valley, he discovers a hidden house carved into the side of the mountain cliff. With only his survival book and a small food supply, Matt stays in the valley until he can catch enough food for a long trek back to civilization.

Then, another disaster strikes. After a pilot jumps out of his plane, sisters Erica and Natalie crash in the forest near Matt. Twelve-year-old Natalie is uninjured, but her older sister Erica cannot walk. Now, Matt must find a way to keep himself and the two girls alive. With little food and no hope of walking out, will the three ever make it home?

Despite being stranded in the wilderness, twenty-three-year-old Matt keeps an optimistic outlook and finds simple joys such as breathing fresh air and stargazing. At first, Matt spends his time exploring the Cliff House and the tunnels that twist deep into the mountains. His curiosity and resourcefulness never wane, and he never gives in to anger or self-pity. When Erica and Natalie arrive, Matt jumps in to help the girls without complaint, even though his plans must pivot in order for everyone to survive.

Even though Matt’s story is a survival story, his situation never seems genuinely dire. For example, he notices wolf and bear tracks but never encounters dangerous animals. Similarly, he knows he needs to find food but never runs out of breakfast bars. At first, he doesn’t realize how isolated he is, so he explores and enjoys nature’s ruggedness. This slows the story’s pacing, which doesn’t pick up until Erica and Natalie appear. The characters’ interactions help propel the story forward and show the importance of teamwork.

Readers will instantly like Natalie, who, like Matt, is optimistic and upbeat, while Erica often voices her complaints. Readers will enjoy Matt’s inability to form coherent words when talking to Erica. While the two eventually get engaged, their relationship never feels romantic. Unfortunately, the story’s conclusion comes too quickly to feel complete. In addition, not all of the plot points come to an end, leaving the readers with unanswered questions.

Strength of the Mountains will appeal to nature-loving readers who enjoy survival stories such as Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Even though Strength of the Mountains has few intense, action-packed scenes, Matt’s story is still compelling because of his curiosity about his surroundings, his friendship with a raccoon, and his willingness to care for Erica and Natalie. In addition, the book highlights the importance of forgiveness, teamwork, and reading the Bible. If you’d like to read more about teens who must rely on themselves to survive, grab a copy of Mayday at Two Thousand Five Hundred by Frank E. Peretti and Alone by Megan E. Freeman.

Sexual Content 

After Erica agrees to marry Matt, he “kissed her right on the lips. It was a right, wonderful kiss.”

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

Matt discovers a home carved into the side of a mountain. In a trunk, he finds a Bible with an inscription: “Read this Bible daily, live its teachings, and happiness and joy will be yours. / Pray to the Lord each day for each other and your family. Be thankful, and God will bless and prosper you on your journey. Let Him be your Strength, and He will always be there to help you.”
Matt often says quick little prayers. For example, after crash landing in the wilderness, he finds a breakfast bar and gives a blessing. “Heavenly Father. Thank You for this food. And thank You for keeping me safe, keeping me alive. Please, please help me find. . . my family. . . my home.”
While exploring the wilderness, Matt “offered a silent prayer for health and safety, and that he would be able to find his way back to Cliff House.” Not all of the prayers are included below.
Tunnels go through the mountain. While exploring the tunnels, Matt “offered a silent prayer about which way he should go.”
While looking at the stars, Matt thinks, “It’s almost as if we could reach out and touch the throne of God.”
Matt gives Erica’s sister a Bible and says, “If she’s grumpy, give her this to read.”
Matt, Erica, and Natalie discuss forgiveness. Erica doesn’t want to forgive “Turkey Tom,” who jumped out of the airplane and left Erica and Natalie behind, almost killing them. The discussion shows the importance of forgiving others “so we don’t carry the burden.” The discussion lasted for half a page.
While preparing to fly the hot air balloon, Matt says, “Prayer is good. We’re going to need all the help we can get.”
Erica finds an important paper in the Bible. She tells Matt, “You know how you said to take your problems to the Lord and He will always help you? Well, that’s just what I did. I picked up the old McAllister Bible and this paper fell out of it.”

Stay

Piper’s life is turned upside down when her family moves into a shelter in a whole new city. She misses her house, her friends, and her privacy—and she hates being labeled the homeless girl at her new school.

But while Hope House offers her new challenges, it also brings new friendships, like the girls in Firefly Girls Troop 423 and a sweet street dog named Baby. So when Baby’s person goes missing, Piper knows she has to help. But helping means finding the courage to trust herself and her new friends – no matter what anyone says about them—before Baby gets taken away for good.

Stay is written in alternating perspectives, with each chapter switching between Piper’s and Baby’s point of view. Piper often reflects on life before her family became homeless. She misses her friends, her Firefly group, and her grandmother, who died. As Piper meets more homeless people, she learns to look past their appearance and circumstances and see their value. However, this causes conflict between others who only see the homeless as problems.

Piper meets Jewel and her dog, Baby. Jewel suffers from a mental illness and has stopped taking her medication. Her mental illness skews her perspective of everything and makes her dependent on Baby. The little dog and homeless woman have become a “pack of two” and are utterly devoted to each other. When Jewel gets pneumonia and is hospitalized, Baby is sent to an animal shelter. The separation leaves both Jewel and Baby lost and confused.

When Piper hears about Jewel’s hospitalization, Piper and her friends jump in to learn more about Jewel so they can help her. Through this experience, Piper has to overcome her embarrassment of being homeless. Piper and her friends’ willingness to help motivates others in the community to come together and help Jewel as well. Even though Piper loves Baby and wishes he was her dog, Piper does what is best for Jewel and finds a way to reunite them. Through these experiences, Piper learns the power of friendship and community.

Piper’s experiences reinforce many positive lessons, including not judging people by their appearance or life circumstances. The book allows people to step into a homeless person’s world and see their struggles with finances, mental illness, and drug abuse. Each person became homeless for different reasons, which puts a spotlight on the person and allows the reader to feel empathy for them. When Piper jumps in to help Jewel, she shows others the power of words and storytelling.

The chapters told from Baby’s point of view are short and written in free verse, which allows Baby’s emotions to take center stage. Baby often uses his sense of smell and touch to explain his emotions. When separated from Jewel, Baby’s confusion and fear are obvious. However, these chapters slow down the plot, and the descriptions of Baby’s emotions may confuse younger readers.

Readers who have lost a loved one or have experienced homelessness will instantly connect with Piper and Baby. Throughout the story, Piper is reminded to look at the doughnut rather than the hole; this helps Piper see the good in small things—the sun on your skin, time with your family, and the kindness of others. Even though Stay has a powerful message about hope and the meaning of home, some readers may struggle to complete the book because of its slow pace. If you’re looking for another book on homelessness, consider reading How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor, Almost Home by Joan Bauer, and Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

When Baby’s owner, Jewel, gets sick, paramedics load her into the ambulance. She gets upset and starts crying for Baby. “Baby hurls himself toward his name. A man kicks the little dog away. Baby yelps in pain and frustration.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

Jewel stopped taking her meds. Piper finds a bag with Jewel’s meds: “Lithium. Zyprexa. Klonopin.” These are used to treat mental illness.
A homeless woman “goes to the clinic to get her meds.”
Noah lives with his brother because his “mom’s in jail for possession.”
A homeless woman smokes cigarettes. “The woman tosses her cigarette to the ground and stubs it out with the toe of her boot.”
A homeless person is an ex-drug addict.

Language 

Crud and holey moly are used once.
Dang is used twice.

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

Jewel, a homeless woman with a mental illness, refers to people who help as “angels,” and she sees wings on them. When the people give the homeless blankets, gloves, and hats, she says they are “Warm. Like God’s love.”
Jewel wrote in a notebook, “God is everywhere and in everyone.”
Jewel says, “God bless you.”

The Defiant

Be brave, gladiatrix. . .And be wary. Once you win Caesar’s love, you’ll earn his enemies’ hate. Fallon was warned. Now she is about to pay the price for winning the love of the Roman people as Caesar’s victorious gladiatrix.

In this sequel to The Valiant, Fallon and her warrior sisters find themselves thrust into a vicious conflict with a rival gladiator academy, one that will threaten not only Fallon’s heart—and her love for Roman soldier Cai—but the very heart of the ancient Roman Empire.

When dark treachery and vicious power struggles threaten her hard-won freedom, the only thing that might help the girl known as Victrix save herself and her sisters is a tribe of long-forgotten mythic Amazon warriors. The only trouble is, they might just kill her themselves first.

Fallon’s story continues in The Defiant, but the setting is given more scope as Fallon and her companions rush to save Fallon’s sister, Sorcha, from being sacrificed by the Amazon warriors. When the gladiatrices are given a chance to choose their fate, many follow Fallon because of her bravery and fierce dedication to returning to Rome to save the gladiatrices who were taken prisoner. During the journey, Fallon must grapple with the fact that she cannot save everyone—some will be taken prisoner, some will change sides, and some will lose their lives.

The Defiant does an excellent job of recapping the main events from the first book in the series; however, the series is best read in order. The Defiant features many of the same characters as The Valiant and introduces several new characters. Even though Fallon is surrounded by her sister gladiatrices and several Roman soldiers, she is the leader who makes decisions for everyone. Fallon’s inability to trust others leads to a lack of teamwork, which takes away some of the enjoyment of each battle won. In addition, focusing solely on Fallon keeps the other characters stagnant. Readers who love character-driven stories may be disappointed with the lack of character development.

Like the first book in the series, The Defiant includes adventure, action, and several surprises. However, some of the story drags because Fallon and her companions travel a long distance. Despite this, Fallon’s adventure is both entertaining and exciting. Readers who get squeamish during bloody battles should avoid reading The Valiant Series because each battle ends in bloodshed, and Fallon’s enemies include a group of men who eat people’s hearts. The Defiant is best suited for mature readers who enjoy political intrigue, bloody battles, and the fight against evil.

Sexual Content 

Fallon and Cai kiss occasionally. However, only some of them are described. For instance, Cai returns to Rome after being in a battle. When Fallon sees him, “It took every last infinitesimal amount of self-control I could muster not to throw myself into Cai’s arms and devour him with kisses, right there in front of the whole academy. . .”
Later, when they are alone, Fallon “lunged at him, reaching up to pull his head down toward me, and silencing him with the kiss I’d been waiting on for months. . . his mouth opened hungrily on mine. His arms wrapped around me and he lifted me off the ground.”
In the evening, Fallon and Cai go to the garden. “Cai lowered his face to mine and kissed me on the mouth. I felt myself melting into his embrace as my arms circled around his neck. . .[they] sank slowly to the soft grass. . .”
Later that night, they show each other their battle scars and kiss them. Cai kisses her again. “A long, slow, teasing kiss that made my lips tingle and turned my skin to fireflies and feathers.” At this time, Fallon wished she was still a princess who should “be sleeping where—and with whom—she damned well pleased.”
While in a Roman bath, Cai and Fallon kiss. Fallon “lost myself to the sensation of his skin sliding against mine as he stopped swimming and, together, we sank beneath the surface of the water, breathing only each other’s air.”
Before a battle, one of the gladiatrices “leaned in and kissed [a Roman soldier], full on his open, astonished mouth.”

Violence 

One night, the Amazona, a rival gladiatrix academy, attacks Fallon’s academy, the Ludus Achillea. First, they kill the guards and set the barn on fire. As the Ludus Achillea women are being rounded up, a Roman soldier “lunged for one of the guard’s weapons. . . an archer up on the sentry walk spun and aimed, loosing an arrow. . . [the arrow] lodged in the breast of legionnaire Tullis . . . he sank to his knees and toppled forward motionless onto the ground.”
During the attack, the Amazona leader, Nyx, uses her whip to attack one of the Ludus Achillea girls, Lydian. “The crack of leather echoed across the yard. Lydia screamed and dropped to the ground a Nyx’s whip caught her on the side of her face, and blood poured onto the sand from between her fingers. . . the whip cracked again as it sliced across Lydian’s shoulder. . . drawing an arch of bright blood. She shrieked again in agony. . .” Later, Lydia is in the infirmary, and “the skin on the right side of her face, where the lash of Nyx’s whip had scored, was split to the bone.”
To stop the abuse, Fallon attacks Nyx. Nyx “brandished the heavy butt end of the whip like a club and caught me on the side of the head with it. Stars burst in front of my eyes. . . Nyx slammed the whip across my back like a truncheon. Then again. And again. . . A kick from her hobnailed boot lifted me off the ground.” Nyx stabs Fallon and then puts her in a dark cell.
To escape Nyx, Fallon has to kill Ixion (an Amazon warrior) from behind. “Ixion’s heavy dead body sagged away from me. . .Never mind that my hands were shaking as I wiped clean my blade on the dead man’s tunic.”
When Fallon and her companions are escaping from Nyx, a guard is killed. “The blade sliced through the rain, spinning end over end, and the man toppled soundlessly over the Ludus wall.”
One of Fallon’s friends tells her a story. “When I was a girl, I came across what was left of one of those captives. . . He’d been blood-eagled. Split open and strung up between the branches of a tree as an offering to our god and a warning to our enemies.”
Fallon and her companions flee from Rome. While sneaking onto a ship, guards called vigiles see Fallon and her fellow gladiatrix, Meriel. The girls attack the guards. “And two of them went down like sacks of grain the instant they attacked. I didn’t have time to think about how it felt to have to wrench my sword out of human flesh again, twisting as I did to avoid slipping in the hot, red rush of blood. . .”
A guard attacks, and Fallon “raised an axe over his head, screaming as he swung the weapon back for a killing blow. He screamed louder when he realized that he no longer had an axe—or an arm—to swing.” Fallon escapes, but Meriel doesn’t. It is unclear what Meriel’s fate is.
One of Fallon’s friends questions the goddess Morrigan’s kindness. He says, “Your fearsome war goddess. She who—as I’ve been led to understand—bathes in the blood of her enemies and feasts on their eyes after the battle’s done. She would not be so cruel?”
To free Fallon’s sister, Sorcha, some of the gladiatrices from the Ludus Achillea go to the island the Amazons inhabit. When they get there, Thalestris—who had kidnapped Sorcha—was to sacrifice Socha. Thalestris tied Sorcha to a menhir and called out to her god. “Cybele! Black stone mother! Guardian of the boundaries between the living and the dead! Accept this blood sacrifice that we may wash the shame of our sister Orithyia’s disgrace and defeat from our skins and our souls.”
Fallon and her group attack the Amazons. “The flaming iron cage balls soared out of the darkness like stones hurled from catapults, slamming into the protective shell made from our wall of shields, and the darkness exploded knot showers of sparks. . . Our blades darted out like serpents’ tongues, sometimes tagging flesh.”
An older Amazon woman “swung an oak staff at [Fallon’s] head. . .and I caught the blow at an angle.” Fallon head-butted the woman in the face. “I felt her nose break. Blood gushed and she reeled backward, pain-blind . . .” The fight ends when Fallon repeatedly yells stop. Fallon gives the Amazons a speech, and both sides put down their weapons.
As the Ludus Achillea leaves the island, Thalestris throws a fishing spear, killing a man. “His body stiffened and jerked, chest thrust forward, and the glistening red tip of a spear blade appeared as if by some evil magic, sticking out of the center of his tunic. . . When he opened his mouth to say something, all that came out was a gout of bright blood.”
While at Cai’s father’s home, the guards try to attack Fallon and her friends. When the guard tries to punch Fallon, she “blocked the blow with my sword. He didn’t have time to scream in pain before I circled my blade through the air and lunged forward, burying the point in his chest.”
When all the guards are dead, “the blood pooled beneath our feet, seeping from the mortal wounds of the seven dead vigils.”
Cai’s father, Varro, attacks Fallon, who “took the length of a pitchfork shaft in the stomach. I dropped to the ground, wheezing, and my sword fell from my hands. . . Varro turned and threw me through the air. . . It felt as though my head had been torn half off.”
To protect Fallon, “without the slightest hesitation, Cai thrust the blade between his father’s ribs. Right to the hilt.” As Varro took his last breaths, Cai said, “I renounce you, and your name, and your blood. I will not perform the rites for you, old man. I will not put coins for the Ferryman on your eyes. You go to Hades with no issue, no legacy, and no hope to ever walk the fields of Elysium beside my mother’s shade.”
The Amazon and the Achillea gladiatrices battle. Sorcha fights Nyx. As Thalestris goes to kill Fallon, Sorcha “brought her blade up and around. . . and thrust into the space beneath Thalestris’s arm as she tore my sword out of my grasp. . . Thalestris was dead before she hit the ground.”
Nyx joins the fight, wielding a fire chain. Nyx “swung the thing back and attacked again. And again. . . In her enthusiasm to spill my brains, it seemed she’d forgotten that I had a second sword. And she’d left herself wide open. . . I buried it between her ribs.”
From the stands, someone shot an arrow at Fallon. “It dented on impact, and I felt like I’d been hit by a catapult stone, but I was alive.”
Another arrow was let loose, but “Aeddan leaped in front . . .taking the second arrow that was meant for [Fallon] square in the chest. . . He spun around in a grotesque dance. . . toppled off the wall and hit the ground below.” The Achillea gladiatrices win the battle, but there are many deaths.

Drugs and Alcohol 

Often, Fallon and other adults drink wine. For example, after a practice battle, a drunk man asks Fallon for a kiss. She “snatched the cup from his hands and drank the wine in one gulp.” She left without kissing him.
At night, Fallon and the other gladiatrices sit around the fire with “mugs of beer.” Some of the girls get drunk.
When injured, Fallon is given a “potion” to stop the pain. Another gladiatrix is given “poppy draughts” when injured in a battle.
Fallon’s sister is rescued and given a sleeping draught.
To give Fallon and Cai time alone, Cai’s friend gets the guards drunk.
Fallon thinks a “potent soporific” made her have bad dreams.
One of the Sons of Dis put hemlock, a sedative, in Fallon’s wine. However, Fallon says, “The senator’s physician sent a cup of wine to my room every night to help me sleep. But I had such terrible dreams the first night; I just kept pouring the stuff out the window.”

Language 

Profanity is used occasionally. Profanity includes arse, ass, bloody, damn, and hell.
There is some name-calling, including bitch, bastard and whore.
“Lugh’s teeth” is used as an exclamation several times.
“Morrigan’s bloody teeth” and “sweet Juno” are used as exclamations once.

Supernatural

When Fallon is delirious with fever, she’s forced to flee the Ludus Achillea; she prays to her goddess. Afterward, she sees a vision of a warrior she knows. She follows the warrior, who leads her to safety. Fallon believes, “The Morrigan had sent his shade back from the Lands of the Blessed Dead to lead my friends and me.”

Spiritual Content 

The conflict revolves around “the Sons of Dis, a depraved and cultish secret society dedicated to the sacrificial worship of a god of the Underworld.” Fallon saw a group of men “in feathered masks crowding around [a gladiator’s] split-open carcass, greedily devouring the heart that had beat so strongly within his chest only a handful of moments earlier.”
Dis is “the dark incarnation of the Roman god Saturn—ruler of the Underworld, a pitiless deity who could grant his worshippers strength and power but would only be placated with blood.”
The Egyptians believed that “when we die, Anubis, the god of the dead, carves out our heart and weighs it against Ma’at, the feather of truth.”
Fallon often refers to her goddess. Her father promised her hand in marriage to a man Fallon didn’t love. After a time, Fallon wonders, “if my father’s decision hadn’t been a part of the goddess Morrigan’s plan for me all along.”
Before the gladiatrices are attacked, Fallon dreams of Morrigan appearing. “Her cloak was made of dagger blades. . .” Morrigan whispers the word “vengeance,” and Fallon wakes to find the stables on fire. Later, Morrigan tells Fallon to “Run! Live! Return to fight another day!”
When Fallon is seriously injured, she wonders, “Had the Morrigan forsaken me because I’d pledged my warrior’s gifts in service to Caesar?”
When Fallon’s enemy has captured her, he says, “Don’t you see, Fallon. Your goddess has laid out your fate’s path to lead right to the doorstep of my god. Dis and Morrigan are kindred.”
When Fallon is in danger, she prays to Morrigan. Later, she believes “the Morrigan had heard my prayers and given me this chance.” When Fallon is finally safe, she offers “a silent prayer of gratitude to the Morrigan.”
When Fallon’s sister, Sorcha, is kidnapped, a friend “made sacrifices to the goddess for her safe journey.”
Sorcha was kidnapped so she could be sacrificed “to the goddess of the Amazons under the light of the Huntress Moon. How spilling of her blood would make their tribe mighty again.”
Fallon’s tribe believes that after a person dies, they go to the Blessed Isles of the afterlife.
When a man in Fallon’s group dies, she “whispered a prayer for the Morrigan to guide his soul’s flight.”
Cleopatra tells Fallon that she can’t join the fight because “I am the daughter of the gods and, as such, should probably leave such robust bloodshed to you who are trained in those arts.”
For protection, Cleopatra gives Fallon a pendant with Sekhmet on it. “One of the goddesses, and much like—if I understand what your sister has told me—your goddess, the Morrigan.”

The Serpent’s Shadow

Following the events of Book Two of The Kane Chronicles: The Throne of Fire, Carter and Sadie prepare to face the Serpent of Chaos, Apophis. “It had been six months since the Chaos snake Apophis had escaped from his Underworld prison, but he still hadn’t launched a large-scale invasion of the mortal world as we’d expected.” Apophis has attacked several Nomes—organized groups of magicians—but Apophis seems to be waiting for the perfect time to launch a destructive attack on the entire mortal world. As Apophis’ attacks on groups of magicians continue, Carter and Sadie are determined to find a way to defeat Apophis, before he can reach his goal of overrunning the mortal world with chaos.

In this book, Carter and Sadie reflect on and experience a lot of loss, which some readers may be able to empathize with. Carter explains, “I’d already lost so many people. My mom had died when I was seven. My dad sacrificed himself to become the host of Osiris [Egyptian god of the dead] last year. Over the summer, many of our allies had fallen to Apophis.” Having lost so many people that they love, Carter and Sadie have grown closer, and they recognize how important it is that they support each other. As Carter explains, “I needed [Sadie].”

An important theme in The Serpent’s Shadow is Sadie’s evolving relationships with Anubis, the Egyptian god of funerals, and Walt, her friend and fellow magician. Middle-grade readers will likely sympathize with Sadie as she struggles to understand her emotions. Sadie explains that she does not really know what she wants and feels conflicted. “My heart had been torn between [Walt] and Anubis for months now, and it just wasn’t fair of Anubis to pop into my dreams, looking all hot and immortal, when poor Walt was risking his life to protect me.”

Things take a dramatic turn for Sadie when Walt, who has been dying of an incurable curse, is able to live—but only by becoming the mortal host of Anubis. At first, Sadie is mortified and does not know how to handle both Anubis and Walt being in one body, but she is ultimately able to accept this. Sadie “saw [Walt] smiling down at me. Anubis, too. I could see them both, and I realized I didn’t have to pick.” Sadie ultimately decides to pursue a relationship with Walt even after he becomes Anubis’ host, saying, “This was a new boy in front of me, and he was everything I liked.”

Ultimately, to defeat the Serpent of Chaos, Apophis, the gods and goddesses must work together with the mortal magicians. While the gods and goddesses keep the serpent at bay, Carter and Sadie are able to perform a spell and defeat Apophis by destroying his shadow, or his sheut. Carter and Sadie visit their parents in the underworld, where their mom emphasizes the importance of magicians working in tandem with the gods to create harmony. Carter and Sadie’s mom says, “Keep teaching the path of the gods. Bring the House of Life [the organization of the magicians] back to its former glory. [Sadie] and Carter will make Egyptian magic stronger than ever. And that’s good . . . because your challenges are not over.”

Readers who enjoy mythology, action, and magic will love this series, which is an absolute must-read because of its message of working together to make the world a better place, or in Carter and Sadie’s case, to defeat the Serpent of Chaos.

Sexual Content 

While running from an angry goddess, Walt, Sadie’s friend and fellow magician, kisses Sadie. “He nodded, then gave me a hasty kiss. ‘Good luck.’”
After successfully performing a spell to avoid being captured, Sadie kisses Walt. “I kissed him properly—or as properly as possible given our situation.”
Carter and Zia, Carter’s friend from the first two books and fellow magician, kiss. “She leaned over and kissed me. I’d imagined this many times, but I was so unprepared, I didn’t act very cool about it. . . I said something like ‘Hum-uh-huh.’”
Carter and Zia kiss while on a date in the mall’s food court. “She leaned over and kissed me.”
After Walt explains to Sadie how he agreed to become Anubis’ mortal host so that he could stay alive in spite of his curse, Walt and Sadie kiss. “[Walt] leaned down and kissed me.”

Violence 

Carter and Sadie fight alongside a group of magicians from another Nome, or magician group, from Texas. However, in the course of the battle, the demons sent by Apophis kill all the magicians that came to help Carter and Sadie. Sadie says, “The Texas magicians had welcomed us and supported us . . . ’They’re dead,’ [Sadie] said. ‘All of them.’” The killings aren’t described, but Carter and Sadie find remnants of some belt buckles worn by the magicians that passed away.
A rebel magician leader, Sarah Jacobi, has gathered a group of supporters who believe that Carter, Sadie, and their relatives are dangerous and that Carter and Sadie, not Apophis, have caused the many deaths of other magicians. Jacobi threatens Carter and Sadie, “The Kanes are a plague . . . you must be destroyed. Surrender yourself and your family for execution.” Carter and Sadie do not surrender to Jacobi, knowing that she is wrong, and that Apophis is the threat to magicians and to the mortal world at large.
A river monster attacks Carter and his friend, Zia, and Carter changes into a falcon so that he can get a better view of the monster during the fight. Carter says, “I dove at the monster’s eye, raking it with my claws . . . but I could tell that I hadn’t done any real damage.” Carter and Zia are saved by a giant who appears in the river and defeats the monster.
When Carter and Sadie cast a spell to destroy Apophis’ shadow and defeat him, the Chaos serpent explodes. “His head exploded. Yes, it was just as gross as it sounds. Flaming bits of reptile flew everywhere.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

Characters occasionally say stupid and shut up.

Supernatural

Carter and Sadie discuss the various parts of the soul. Carter and Sadie’s friend and the goddess of cats, Bast, explains the shadow part of the soul. “You can never be free of your shadow—your sheut. All living beings have them…The sheut is not just a physical shadow. It’s a magical projection—the silhouette of the soul.”
Carter is able to channel the power of Horus, a god, since they worked together in the past two books. Because of this, Carter is able to use Horus’ power to change into a falcon if he needs to. “I changed into a falcon . . . it was fairly easy magic for me, since the falcon was Horus’ sacred animal.”
While the gods fight off Apophis, Sadie and Carter are able to combat Apophis with a spell. Sadie explains how she uses the magic. “I faced down my own chaos. I accepted my jumbled emotions about whether I belonged in London or New York, whether I was a magician or a schoolgirl. I was Sadie Kane, and if I survived today, I could bloody well balance it all . . . I stilled my restlessness and let go of my doubts. ‘Ma’at [order]’ I said.”

Spiritual Content 

Like in the other Kane Chronicles books, Carter and Sadie encounter the gods and goddesses of Egyptian mythology throughout this book and often fight Apophis, the Serpent of Chaos, alongside the gods. The Egyptian gods in this series are not really worshipped in a traditional sense, but rather are given human characteristics—anger, revenge, love, and jealousy.
Sadie explains of the Egyptian gods and goddesses, “the gods are not human. They have trouble thinking of us [humans] as more than useful tools or cute pets. To gods, a human life span doesn’t seem much longer than that of the average gerbil.”
Characters rarely exclaim “gods of Egypt” when frustrated or surprised.

Hispanic Star: Selena Gomez

Meet Selena Gomez – once just a girl from Grand Prairie, Texas, who loved to perform for her family. Her courage, drive, and empathy have been guiding posts in her lifelong career since her beginnings on Barney & Friends. Selena’s skyrocket to fame took her from the Disney Channel to becoming one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world in 2020. An emblem for her generation, Selena shows that you can be exactly who you are and follow your passions wherever they may lead you.

Hispanic Star proudly celebrates Hispanic and Latinx heroes who have made remarkable contributions to American culture and have been undeniable forces in shaping its future. If you can see it, you can be it.

Millions around the world admire Selena Gomez for her talented artistic career. However, few know about the challenges she faced as a child to become the famous star she is today. For example, in 2016, Selena had to cancel part of her concert tour because she was dealing with mental health issues and fighting Lupus. Selena said, “I need to face this head-on to ensure I am doing everything possible to be my best.” She wanted to show fans “how important it was to get help when you are struggling.” Selena’s story showcases the importance of taking care of your physical and mental health.

Hispanic Star: Selena Gomez shines a light on social media’s harmful effects and how Selena struggled with her self-image because of it. At one point, Selena realized she needed to step back from posting on social media so she could retrain her mind “to not go to these negative places when you say something wrong, do something wrong when you wear a certain thing or represent a certain culture.” Selena acknowledges that social media made her feel as if she was not good enough. Hopefully, teens will read Selena’s story and learn to limit their interaction with social media.

Short passages explain key vocabulary and historical information relevant to the book to help readers fully understand Selena’s life and accomplishments. For example, one section explains the kinds of roles in film and television, including background talent, recurring, guest star, etc. Other sections explain the battle of the immune system, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, etc. To make it easy to recognize, the supplementary text appears in a gray box. The book also includes black-and-white illustrations every three to six pages.

Hispanic Star: Selena Gomez takes a deep look at Selena and discusses how Selena’s hardships have shaped her into a better person. She values self-reflection, thoughtfulness, fearlessness, and empathy and uses her platform to help make the world a better place. Selena wants young people “to take care of themselves and one another; to stay true to who they are and what they believe.” Hispanic Star: Selena Gomez makes it clear that Selena is much more than a singer—she is an advocate for others and wants people to believe in themselves.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Alex Morgan

Learn all about one of the top stars of the U.S. Women’s National Team in this action-packed book. Unlike most professional soccer players, Alex Morgan did not start playing club soccer until she was fourteen. But her talent was so obvious that only three years later, she was called up to the U.S. women’s under–20 team. That was just the beginning of a history-making career that led her, most recently, to a second World Cup title as co-captain of the U.S. women’s team. This new edition of Alex Morgan—revised and updated from cover to cover—follows every step of her journey, not only as a soccer player but also as a best-selling author, an actor, and so much more!

Alex Morgan uses a fun format that pulls readers into the book with full-colored illustrations, fact boxes, and short bursts of text. The pages feature a full-page illustration, large, attention-grabbing titles, and oversized text. Instead of using the traditional paragraph format, some pages only have two sentences plus facts. For example, one two-page spread has a large illustration with six all-star soccer players, giving each player height. This helps readers understand how height plays a role in sports.

While the book focuses on soccer, several pages break down events that affected Alex Morgan. These include the student protest in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, films of the year, Alex Morgan’s zodiac sign, and more. In addition, the book includes play-by-play action on some of Alex Morgan’s accomplishments on the field, complete with pictures of soccer action. Several pages also give information on other all-star soccer players.

Alex Morgan is jam-packed with information about Alex Morgan. Readers will learn about her accomplishments on and off the field. The book shows several pictures of Alex’s Nike advertisements, her book series, and her fiancé. Since the book contains so much information, none of the sections are well-developed, leaving readers with many questions about Alex Morgan. Despite this, any reader who loves soccer will find this fast-paced book fascinating and fun. Soccer-loving readers can score with these fiction books: Breakaway by Andrea Montalbano, The Academy by T.Z. Layton and The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Holes

Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.

It doesn’t take long for Stanley to realize there’s more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.

Stanley is an interesting character who has been bullied his entire life but has never fought back. When he’s sent to Camp Green Lake, his life takes a turn for the worse. There is trouble between Stanley and his cabinmates when, unbeknownst to them, Stanley agrees to teach Zero to read in exchange for Zero’s help digging Stanley’s hole. Even though Stanley doesn’t feel like the trade is fair, like everything else in his life, he goes along with it because it was Zero’s idea. Similarly, when Stanley’s cabinmates begin to beat him up, Stanley takes the punches without fighting back. Readers will empathize with Stanley’s insecurities and inability to voice his opinions even though they may not relate to his struggles.

Stanley’s tale follows two storylines—his current struggles at Camp Green Lake and those of his ancestors, beginning with his “no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.” Stanley’s unlucky ancestors face discrimination and hardships, but it’s up to the reader to decide if their downfall was due to fate or their decisions. While his ancestor’s hardships don’t coincide with Stanley’s struggles, the conclusion explains how each storyline connects. The ancestors’ storyline is interesting, but some readers may find the back-and-forth between plots confusing.

Holes uses an interesting premise to create a story with unique characters who show how a person’s ancestors’ decisions can impact generations. At first, Stanley feels he’s destined to have bad luck, but when his friend Zero disappears into the desert, Stanley finally steps out of his comfort zone to help his friend. The story’s conclusion gives both Stanley and Zero a happy ending, but readers are left to question whether Stanley has changed and is willing to stand up to others and let his voice be heard.

Most of the story’s action comes from the characters’ interactions and from Stanley’s difficulties digging holes. Some readers may struggle with the story’s slow pace and the constantly shifting perspectives. However, Holes is worth reading because it explores real-world issues such as justice, friendship, cruelty’s destructive nature, and history’s importance in everyday life. Readers who enjoy Holes should also read the Alabama Moon Series by Watt Key and Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.

Sexual Content 

In the past, someone saw Kate Barlow kissing a black man.

Violence 

Stanley calls a boy by his given name instead of his nickname. The boy “threw Stanley to the ground. Stanley stared up at him, terrified.”
Armpit, one of Camp Green Lake’s inmates, questions the Warden. “The Warden jabbed at Armpit with the pitchfork, knocking him backward into the big hole. The pitchfork left three holes in the front of his shirt and three tiny spots of blood.”
Zigzag and Stanley were digging in a hole when “Zigzag’s shovel caught him in the side of the head. He collapsed. . . Stanley brought his fingers up the side of his neck. He felt his wet blood and a pretty big gash right below his ear. . . Mr. Sir made a bandage out of a piece of his sack of sunflower seeds and taped it over Stanley’s ear.” Stanley has “throbbing pain,” and the wound is “considerably swollen.”
The Warden mixes rattlesnake venom with her nail polish. When Mr. Sir annoys the Warden, she scratches his face. “He had three long red marks slanting across the left side of his face. Stanley didn’t know if the redness was caused by her nail polish or his blood. . . Mr. Sir screamed and clutched his face with both hands. He let himself fall over . . . Then his head jerked violently, and he let out a shrill scream, worse than the one before.” Mr. Sir’s face swells “to the size of a cantaloupe” and has “three dark-purple jagged lines running down his cheek.”
When a boy asks Mr. Sir about his wound, “there was a crash [and] Mr. Sir holding the boy’s head against the oatmeal pot. . . Mr. Sir had the boy by his throat.” Mr. Sir choked the boy and then let him go.
Some of the inmates get angry at Stanley. Zigzag began pushing Stanley “hard,” but Stanley wouldn’t hit back. “Stanley made a feeble attempt to punch Zigzag; then he felt a flurry of fists against his head and neck. Zigzag had hold of his collar with one hand and was hitting him with the other.” The supervising adult, Mr. Pendanski, encourages Stanley to fight back.
When Stanley still refused to fight back, Zigzag jumped on Stanley. “The side of Stanley’s face was pressed flat against the dirt. . . Zigzag’s fist slammed off his arms and pounded his face into the ground.” The supervising adult does nothing to stop the fight.
Zero helps Stanley. “Zero had his arm around Zigzag’s long neck. Zigzag made a gagging sound, as he desperately tried to pry Zero’s arm off him. . . Armpit charged into them, freezing Zigzag from Zero’s choke hold.” Finally, the supervising adult shoots a pistol in the air, stopping the fight.
After the supervising adult, Mr. Pendanski, berates Zero, “Zero took the shovel. Then swung it like a baseball bat. The metal blade smashed across Mr. Pendanski’s face. His knees crumpled beneath him. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.” Mr. Pendanski “had two black eyes and a bandage over his nose.”
Zero walks off into the desert. “The counselors all drew their guns.” The Warden tells the counselors to let Zero leave because he’ll either come back to camp or die in the desert.
Stanley’s great-grandfather was robbed by “Kissin’’ Kate Barlow. “Kate Barlow didn’t actually kiss Stanley’s great-grandfather. . . She only kissed the men she killed. Instead, she robbed him and left him stranded in the middle of the desert.”
Kate Barlow was a school teacher who fell in love with Sam, a Black man. When someone sees them kissing, they destroy the school. Kate goes to the sheriff (who is drunk) for help, but he will only help Kate if she kisses him. “She slapped him across the face. . . She tried to slap him again, but he caught her by the hand.”
The sheriff planned to hang the man Kate loved because “it’s against the law for a Negro to kiss a white woman.”
Kate Barlow and her love try to escape on a boat, but a man named Trout Walker finds them. “The Walker boat smashed into Sam’s boat. Sam was shot and killed.”
Kate Barlow survived. “Three days after Sam’s death, Miss Katherine shot the sheriff while he was sitting in his chair drinking a cup of coffee. Then she carefully applied a fresh coat of red lipstick and gave him the kiss he asked for.” Kate turned into an outlaw.
During Kate Barlow’s bandit days, she went to a cabin to rest. “She was awakened one morning by someone kicking open the cabin door. She opened her eyes to see the blurry end of a rifle, two inches from her nose.” Trout Walker and his wife, Linda, wanted Kate’s loot. When Kate refused to give it to them, they forced her to walk on the hot sand “until her feet were black and blistered. Whenever she stopped, Linda whacked her with the shovel.”
A lizard with “sharp black teeth bit into her leg. Its white tongue lapped up the droplets of blood that leaked out of the wound.” The bite killed Kate.

Drugs and Alcohol 

A camp counselor is trying to stop smoking. In a stressful moment, he “lit a cigarette.”

Language 

Hell is used once.

“Oh my God” is used twice.

Supernatural

According to family legend, Stanley’s family is cursed. Stanley’s great-great-grandfather “had stolen a pig from a one-legged Gypsy, and she put a curse on him and all of his descendants. Stanley’s parents didn’t believe in curses, of course, but whenever anything went wrong, it felt good to be able to blame someone.”
According to legend, after Kate’s love was killed, the town was cursed. “That all happened one hundred and ten years ago. Since then, not one drop of rain has fallen on Green Lake.” The narrator asks the reader, “You make the decision: Whom did God punish?”

Spiritual Content 

When Kate Barlow kisses Sam, a Black man, a woman tells her, “God will punish you!” In addition, someone calls her “the Devil Woman.”
When the sheriff refuses to help Kate Barlow, she says, “We’re all equal under the eyes of God.”
In Kate Barlow’s time, Mrs. Tennyson’s daughter becomes sick. Mrs. Tennyson gave her daughter Sam’s onion tonic, which healed her. When Mrs. Tennyson thanks Sam, he says, “I’m sure the good Lord and Doc Hawthorn deserve most of the credit.”
Stanley disturbs a yellow spotted lizard nest. When he safely exits the hole, the warden says, “Thank God.”

Rising Above: Inspiring Women in Sports

Some of the most accomplished and famous athletes in the world—tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams, Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Biles, World Cup superstar Carli Lloyd and others—faced earthshaking challenges in their youth. But they refused to give up. Through hard work and determination, they rose above their circumstances and went on to conquer the sports world. This collection of mini biographies, complete with firsthand content drawn from in-depth interviews, is a source of inspiration and self-empowerment for kids and sports fans of all ages.

Included in the book: Venus and Serena Wiliams (tennis), Simone Biles (gymnastics), Carli Lloyd (soccer), Wilma Rudolph (track and field), Mo’ne Davis (Little League baseball), Swin Cash (basketball), Elena Delle Donne (basketball), Bethany Hamilton (surfing), Ronda Rousey (mixed martial arts), and Kerri Strug (gymnastics).

Rising Above is a motivational book that will appeal to anyone—athletes and non-athletes alike. Each chapter focuses on one athlete who is a legend in their field. However, even for these elite athletes, life threw unexpected challenges their way, including chronic illnesses, injuries, harsh criticism, and racism. For example, basketball player Elena Delle Donne had to overcome criticism about her body and her choices. In addition, she had to overcome having a chronic illness.

Each athlete’s story is told using specific examples, quotes from the athlete and others who knew them, and motivational advice anyone can apply to their lives. For example, soccer player Carli Lloyd said, “You’ve got to work hard to turn negatives into positives…That’s really the key in life.” Even though most readers will never have the intense public scrutiny that these athletes were forced to face, readers will find each athlete’s story motivational and inspiring.

One theme that comes through in every athlete’s story is the need to bounce back from failure. After having polio as a child, Wilma Rudolph became an African American Olympic legend in track. Along the way, she learned, “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. If you pick up after a crushing defeat and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.” Each athlete admits that they are not perfect and that they had to turn to others for help. “Turning to a friend, parent therapist, or other person for help or guidance isn’t a sign of weakness. Instead, it can be the best way to deal with life’s trials.”

The book’s afterword summarizes the similarities in each athlete’s situation and recaps their important life lessons. By reading Rising Above, you will see how athletes faced serious setbacks and rose to overcome them. Autor Gregory Zuckerman wrote: “The stories from Rising Above can serve as useful life lessons for those facing their own challenges.” Whether you dream of being a sports star or being a nurse, you can take the stories in Rising Above and apply the athletes’ lessons to your own life.

Sexual Content 

While in the ocean, Bethany Hamilton was attacked by a shark. “Out of nowhere, Bethany saw a flash of grey. A split second later, she felt two lightning-fast tugs and then tremendous pressure on her left side. Bethany saw the jaws of a huge, fourteen-foot tiger shark covering the top of the surfboard and her entire left arm. Almost immediately, the water around her turned red.”

Violence 

Ronda Rousey’s father was paralyzed in an accident, and he “had to deal with a rare disorder that made it impossible for him to stop bleeding.” Her father was in extreme pain and “unable to deal with the unbearable pain and with no hope in sight, Ronda’s father had taken his own life.”
When Ronda Rousey was a child, she began training in judo. The kids would tease her about being muscular. “One day, a boy crept up behind Ronda and grabbed her throat. Ronda reacted with unusual quickness and strength, throwing the boy over her hip on the cement, stunning him.”
When Ronda was in eighth grade, a girl challenged her to a fight. “Ronda defended herself and earned respect from her classmates for refusing to accept the abuse. Ronda dropped the eighth grader with a single punch.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

Simone Biles’ mother “suffered from drug and alcohol addictions,” causing her to lose custody of her children.
After Simone competed in the Olympics, “hackers released the medical files of various Olympians, a leak that showed Simone was taking a drug that was on the prohibited list. . .Simone acknowledged taking the medication since childhood for ADHD. . .She had permission for the drug and wasn’t ashamed.”
Elena Delle Donne contracted Lyme disease and “began taking about fifty different supplements to keep her disease under control.”
Basketball player Swin Cash was injured. She said, “Sharp movements would feel like someone was stabbing me with a steak knife.” Because of the pain, she took painkillers and injections.

Language 

While playing tennis, Serena Williams dealt with racism. She said, “I heard the word nigger a couple of times. I couldn’t believe it.”
When Wilma Rudolph, an African American Olympic runner, was young, white kids taunted her, saying, “Hey, nigger, get out of town.”
Wilma Rudolph was nicknamed “the Black Gazelle” and “mosquito, ” and some referred to her as “gorilla.”
While shopping in Honolulu, a white woman saw three African Americans window shopping. The woman said, “What are you natives doing out in the streets?”
Ronda Rousey was bullied, and kids called her “Miss Man.”
Pissed is used twice.

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

People criticized Simone because of her muscular build. She says, “Love your body. You were born with it. God has blessed it. Don’t pay attention to negativity.”
When Elena Delle Donne quit college to go back home, “some criticized Elena for squandering her God-given talent.”
After losing her arm in a shark attack, Bethany Hamilton had to be resilient. “Bethany says her religious faith also helped her. She felt God had a plan for her and was guiding her and helping her adjust to living with only one arm.”
When basketball player Swin Cash was injured, she said, “You cry out to God, and you’re trying to understand, ‘Why is this happening to me?’” She eventually overcame the pain. “It was a lot of prayer, a lot of family, and a reevaluation of my life.”

Gracie Under the Waves

Inspired by her own experience, beloved author Linda Sue Park tells the story of a girl learning how to impact a cause she cares about while navigating the ups and downs of a sibling relationship and turning disappointment into opportunity.  

Gracie loves snorkeling! She loves it so much, she convinces her parents to let her plan a family vacation to Roatán, Honduras, where they can all snorkel together. She even makes a new friend there. Now, if only her irritating little brother would leave her alone, everything would be perfect. Then Gracie hurts her leg, and all her carefully made plans start to come apart. Worse still, she learns the reef itself is in serious danger. Gracie wants to help the reef . . . but she’s just a kid. What can she do to make a difference? Fortunately, her new friend has a few ideas! 

Gracie is a resourceful protagonist who loves planning things. However, she can’t go with the flow, especially regarding her energetic, enthusiastic brother, Ben. To Gracie, it seems as if her brother ruins all of her plans. This is no different when the family arrives in Roatán. While snorkeling, Ben accidentally knocks into Gracie, causing her to hit her leg on the coral. Unable to snorkel, Gracie’s frustration grows, and she takes her anger out on her brother. However, when Ben gets caught up in a jellyfish bloom, Gracie doesn’t think twice before she jumps in to help her brother.

Gracie loves snorkeling so much that she wants to show her family the wonders that live under the sea. This often takes the form of educating herself and learning more about the fish she sees while snorkeling. Once on Roatán, Gracie learns about the dangers of global warming and other reasons that the coral is dying. Gracie wants to help save the coral and she learns how small changes, such as using reef-safe sunscreen, can make a big difference. Gracie’s knowledge also allows her to help her brother escape a jellyfish bloom. After being stung by jellyfish, Ben doesn’t want to go back into the water. But with Gracie’s help, Ben realizes that “they weren’t being bad. They were just being jellyfish.”

Gracie Under the Waves educates readers about the effects of global warming and gives a list of resources that show ways people can help save the reef. Several times, Gracie mentions the Netflix documentary Chasing Coral, which offers additional information about the importance of the reefs. In addition, the book has many black-and-white illustrations of the different types of fish that Gracie and her family see. Teaching about the ocean reefs isn’t the only positive aspect of the story. Gracie’s family is a traditional two-parent family with realistic conflicts, and they uses healthy communication skills to discuss their feelings. Readers who love the ocean will find Gracie Under the Waves an educational and entertaining story that gives them suggestions on how they can help save the reefs. Ocean-loving readers can learn more about saving ocean creatures by reading Odder by Katherine Applegate, Manatee Blues by Laurie Halse Anderson, and Out of My Shell by Jenny Goebel.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

When Gracie gets injured, she is given antibiotics.
Ben and Gracie are stung by jellyfish. The doctor tells them to use vinegar and “antihistamines for a bad case.”

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

Have you ever heard of the Mercury 13 women? Did you know that nearly twenty years before the first women were let into NASA’s astronaut program, there were others who tried?

What are the requirements for being shot into space, piloting a hunk of metal while carrying the hopes and fears of your nation? Mastery of flying, as well as courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, and fitness—any checklist would certainly include these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was an unspoken rule in place: astronauts must be male, and they must be white.

Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved not only that they were as tough as any man but also that they were brave enough to challenge the government. Their passage to space was blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and a note scrawled by one of the most powerful men in Washington. But in the end, their inspiring example empowered young women to take their rightful place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. Almost Astronauts is the story of thirteen true pioneers of the space age.

Every young girl should read Almost Astronauts, which gives the account of determined women who refused to take no for an answer. The Mercury 13 women “knew their own minds, their own hearts, their own dreams.” The women took the same test as male astronauts and often outperformed the men. “They showed up ready for anything: to be run ragged, spun in circles, pushed to their limits. They were ready to show their smarts, their strength, and their courage.” The Mercury 13 women’s stories will encourage young women to persevere despite the heavy roadblocks that are placed in front of them.

Many people, including President Lyndon B. Johnson, NASA, and the Navy, believed that women should not be allowed to be astronauts, but they were careful “not to be seen as dismissing women’s concerns outright.” But pilot Jerry Cobb and other women refused to be dismissed. Pilot Jerry Cobb said, “The race for space will not be a short one—nor any easy one—but it is one in which we must all participate. Let us go forward, then—there is space for women!” In the end, while the Mercury 13 couldn’t overcome the social constraints of the time and become astronauts, they forced their way into the pilot seats of airplanes and opened the hatch that would eventually allow other women to take their place in the cockpit of a space shuttle.

Black-and-white and color pictures appear every two to four pages. The text often breaks up information with subheadlines that include the date or topic. The back of the book includes an author’s note, an appendix, further reading, a bibliography, sources, source notes, and an index. The book includes information on many famous women who influenced NASA, including Katherine Johnson, Mae Jemison, and Mary Golda Ross.

Almost Astronauts is an educational and engaging story that will empower young women to reach for the stars. It is a must-read because it shows how many women took their place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. The women’s accomplishments show that women are truly capable of making impossible dreams come true. To learn more about how women influenced space travel, read To Fly Among the Stars: The Hidden Story of the Fight for Women Astronauts by Rebecca Siegel and Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Ambush at Sorato

Will and Maddie are in Toscana on a diplomatic mission when word comes of a cavalry force crossing the northern body and marauding through the countryside.

At the behest of the emperor, the rangers head north to investigate. They discover that the invaders are a group of Temujai—a reconnaissance force searching for a place to penetrate and invade. So Will and Maddie must split up to gather forces and information in order to push the Temujai back once again.

As the Temujai move their forces ahead, cutting at the Toscan forces, Maddie and Will must step up and lead their allies to victory, despite the danger of one of their greatest enemies.

Ambush at Sorato mainly focuses on Will, who advises the Toscan forces and travels to recruit Genovesan mercenaries to help fight the battle. As always, Will is an honorable leader who respects everyone despite their position. While traveling to meet the main fighting force, “Will had treated the shield bearers fairly and humanely, making sure they had comfortable quarters, good bedding, and nourishing food.” As in previous books, Will shows concern for others and is willing to step into battle when called upon.

The story is told from the third person omniscient point of view, which allows the reader to understand the different leaders’ perspectives including the Temujai’s leader, Mat’zak. While this helps the readers understand multiple perspectives and see what each force thinks, the plot is choppy and often switches to another person’s perspective. While there are many different leaders, Maddie is not one of them. For most of the story, Maddie disappears into the background while Will organizes and plans the battle. Unfortunately, neither Will’s nor Maddie’s character changes or grows, which makes the story stagnate.

Many characters, including the invading army, are familiar because they appeared in previous books. This, coupled with the lengthy travel to engage the enemy, slows the pacing and erases any suspense. The author introduced new, exciting elements to each book in previous installments of The Ranger’s Apprentice Series and The Royal Ranger Series. However, Ambush at Sorato relies on familiar characters and mundane situations, and while the story ends with a hint that another book will be written, readers may not be enthusiastic about continuing with Will and Maddie’s story. Readers looking for their next action-packed adventure should read the League of Archers Series by Eva Howard and No Good Deed by Kara Connolly.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

The Temujai send forces into Toscan. The soldiers attack towns throughout. The Temujai “horsemen swept into the narrow streets between the houses, initially cutting down the inhabitants with a storm of arrows, then following up with their long, curved sabers. . . The invaders would ride up to the defenses, coming from two or three directions at once, and shower the defenders with plunging fire from their bows.” The Temujai killed everyone in the town before moving on to the next one.
The Temujai attack a walled town. At first, they shot arrows at the guards. “The man on the gatehouse threw up his arms and fell backward with a yell of pain as the heavy arrow slammed into him, punching through his leather armor and into his flesh. . . another defender on the wall spun around, clutching an arrow wound in his right arm and letting his javelin fall . . .”
Not realizing it was a trick, the town’s commander, Caligus, orders his men to attack the retreating Temujai. The Temujai surrounded the soldiers. “As they came within range, [the Temujai] began to shoot and several of his men dropped, arrows hitting their unguarded back.”
The Temujai began shooting arrows at the Toscan forces, who were trying to retreat. “There were few mortal wounds; the men’s armor and shields saw to that. But the wounds they did suffer—to legs and arms and any momentarily bared flesh—made men drop out of line. . . Those who did drop out were quickly finished off by the cruel sabers of the Temujai.”
Caligus tries to flee, but an arrow hits him. “Then he was face down in the dust, his blood staining the ground around him.” All of the Toscan soldiers die.
Maddie must evade two Temujai soldiers who are chasing her. During the chase, the soldiers shoot arrows at her, but they do not hit their mark. Maddie hides in a rock outcrop until the soldiers are closer. “As the leader of the two Temujai nocked an arrow, he heard a whizzing sound and a sickening thud. His companion threw his arms wide and was hurled backward out of his saddle, with a strangled grunt of pain.” It is unclear whether the soldier’s wound was fatal.
Maddie launches another stone, but this one hits the Temujai horse. “The horse reared and plunged, screaming in agony. . . The Temujai was nearly hurled from the saddle.” The next shot hit the Temujai’s upper left arm, breaking the big bone there and sending a flare of agony searing through the man.” The man crashes to the ground.
Peloni, a mercenary, was practicing shooting his crossbow with a peasant who would load his crossbow. Peloni angrily “launched a resounding slap at the other man’s face.”
Selethen, an Arridan leader in the military, leads a group of soldiers to attack the Temujai while they sleep. The soldiers set the tents on fire and then attacked. “As Selethen reached the command pavilion, the guards on duty there moved forward to bar his way. He hacked down at the nearest, who was trying to level a heavy spear at him. The man cried out and fell to the side.”
After the attack, the Temujai buried their dead. The men were “laid out in two rows, wrapped in their bedding, ready for burial. The wounded were being treated in the healers’ tents.” Fourteen men died, and twenty-three were wounded.
The Temujai go after Selethen and his soldiers. The Arridan soldiers continued to harass the Temujai who were trailing them. As the Temujai’s wagons were forging a river, the Arridans attacked. “As the running men were dispatched by the two lancers, Selethen’s blade knocked the driver’s sword to one side and continued on, smashing into his ribs. The Arridan commander jerked his sword free, and the cart driver doubled over and fell to the mud under the cart’s wheels.”
Selethen is captured during one of the raids. His hands are tied and attached to a horse’s pommel. When his captor started moving, “Selethen attempted to keep pace with the rapid movement but failed. The rawhide tugged painfully at his wrists, the long grass tangled between his riding boots, and he was jerked off his feet to crash heavily onto the grass.” Selethen is dragged behind the horse until the enemy reaches his camp.
After being captured, his captor hurts him before being taken to be interrogated. “The Temujai stepped in and hammered a fist into his solar plexus. The unexpected blow drove the air from his lungs with an explosive grunt. . .” Selethen falls, and “the Temujai’s boot caught him in the side, driving out what little air was left in his lungs.” The description of the beating is described over two pages.
While rescuing Selethen, Maddie shoots an arrow. “The shaft hit the sentry in the chest, the impact stopping him, then knocking him backward on his heels. The saver fell from his hands and he crashed full length on the grass with a muted groan of pain.” The Temujai give chase, and Maddie shoots arrows at them. “The first two Temujai tumbled from their saddles. . . Maddie’s third arrow transfixed [another soldier’s] left shoulder, the impact and sudden agony knocking him from his horse.”
Will lures the Temujai’s leader, Mat’zak, into a trap where he and his men are surrounded. “The javelins smashed down into the mass of [Temujai] riders, bring down horses and men . . .” The Temujai send a volley of arrows into the Toscan’s ranks, and several men are injured.
The Genovesans, paid mercenaries, help the Toscans. “From behind seventh-five shields, the crossbowmen emerged, leveled their weapons, and released, cutting swaths through the galloping horsemen. Mena and horses screamed in pain and fell, and the [enemy] calvary faltered as the crossbow bolts struck him.” The battle is described in several chapters, and over two hundred enemy men died or were wounded on the battlefield.
Will is angry at the Genovesans’ commander, Peloni. When Will complains about his bad behavior, Peloni challenges Will to a duel. During the duel, “Will shot him in the chest. There was a brief flash of agony. Peloni felt himself being flung backward by the force of the arrow, then he hit the grass, and everything went dark.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

While spending the night in a town, Will is served wine. “Will poured himself a small glass and sipped carefully. The wine was surprisingly good. . . He limited himself to one glass. . .”
The second night, Will and his companion, Brasos, are given more wine. Will “limited himself to one glass. He noted that Brasos gulped his first glass down and hurried to refill it.” Will cautions Brasos about drinking too much, so Brasos drinks coffee instead.
The mercenaries drink wine with their meals.

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Reading Level: Junior High

Will’s Race for Home

Temple of Secrets

Lifeboat 5

Rock ’n’ Goal

Medusa

Swimming with Spies

The Only Game

Unsouled

Second to None

Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Baseball

Aaron Judge vs. Babe Ruth: Who Would Win?

The Viking’s Revenge

Paris

Strength of the Mountains

Stay

The Defiant

The Serpent’s Shadow

Hispanic Star: Selena Gomez

Alex Morgan

Holes

Rising Above: Inspiring Women in Sports

Gracie Under the Waves

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

Ambush at Sorato

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