(Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society by Melissa de la Cruz

What worked:

The cast of eight child characters comes from a variety of backgrounds with a wide range of personalities. Readers are immediately curious when the narrator hints that Harold really shouldn’t be included and another boy cheated on his contest test. Edwin comes from a one-parent home, is a hard-working, conscientious boy, and seems to be the most “normal”. A couple of the kids come from privileged families which is reflected in how they treat others. Some of the characters are motivated by power, some by curiosity, and one boy would rather be anywhere else but at the institute. Competitive and cooperative personalities are thrown together and readers are left to wonder exactly what’s going on within each character’s mind.

Obviously, learning to work cooperatively is a major issue but surprises await as the characters work their way through the institute. Edwin becomes the team leader but several members typically exchange ideas before decisions are made. However, one girl constantly suggests they leave someone behind while another boy wastes all of his trying to contact his father. All of the kids have personal issues to overcome as their intelligence has encouraged past teasing and bullying from their peers. The institute is the first time they’ve been around kids like themselves and they’re not sure how to behave or what to expect. They’re not used to having their voices heard or having their thoughts and suggestions seriously considered by others. Overcoming their past fears opens new possibilities.

The genre of the book is well-hidden until the kids face their first challenge. It appears to be realistic fiction until desperate situations arise and supernatural things begin to occur. There is a brief inkling that something supernatural is happening when the narrator mentions not every student can see the 108^th question on the contest test. The children soon learn that the building is more of a maze or labyrinth than a structure full of rooms and laboratories. The settings they encounter will have readers scratching their heads trying to figure out how they’re possible. Desperate situations result in characters performing miraculous feats that help the team escape from potentially fatal dangers.

What didn’t work as well:

The first fourth of the book sets the stage for the Octagon Valley Society and introduces the eight kids but it doesn’t effectively connect with readers. The narrator alludes to what might be happening at the institute and gives vague information about what the kids will be doing. The story doesn’t focus on any one character or what’s happening so it’s a questionable way to hook readers.

The Final Verdict:

You can get a small sense of the narrator’s voice from the synopsis and it contributes humor to the story. The book becomes much more intriguing once the characters start exploring the institute and the author takes the events in unexpected directions. The conclusion leads right into a sequel and I recommend you give this book a shot.