Grunthar's Revenge (The Outer Space Mystery Pizza Club 2) by Bruce Hale

What worked:

The story’s humor is perfect for lower-middle-grade readers. The two main alien characters are named Clorox and NoWay and they come from the planet Kroon. Clorox tends to interpret language literally and NoWay takes notes of wordplay they haven’t heard before. The human characters tell them to “Spill” the reason they’ve arrived on Earth but Clorox says they don’t have a drink to spill. Amazon indicates this book is for younger readers but they might not understand some of the word humor. A man tells the characters to “Beat it” and Clorox wants to know if they’re supposed to beat an egg or a rug.

The plot is easy to follow for younger readers and older, reluctant readers can finish it quickly. Grunthar is an alien inventor from Kroon and the characters are trying to figure out what he’s up to. Tina, her older brother Mateo, and their babysitter Jennica are the main human characters although they’re joined by a neighbor named Booker. Jennica might have a crush on NoWay. Tina wants to be the hero as she feels like Mateo gets all of the attention. Her favorite television show is about solving mysteries and she thinks she should be better at finding Grunthar. Grunthar’s motives are unclear but everything he’s doing involves pizzas.

What didn’t work as well:

More experienced readers might tire of the juvenile humor and expect more from the plot. While the story is humorous, it lacks detailed development that might create suspense or drama.

The final verdict:

The book will be entertaining for emerging or reluctant young readers due to its light conflict and corny jokes. I recommend it for this targeted audience but experienced readers may not like it as much. 

Shadow Wars: The Secret War (Shadow Wars Series 1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

What worked:

The story’s unusual, curious aspect occurs when Ryuichi’s protective yokai is revealed. Yokai choose the person they’ll protect and Masaru becomes Ryuichi’s guardian. However, Masaru is an evil demon and it’s unclear why he chooses an unremarkable samurai in training. It’s not unusual in books for spirits to protect heroes but it’s very strange when a “guardian” like Masaru doesn’t fulfill his role. Not only does he not appear when summoned but he’s prone to act against Ryuichi’s best interests. Masaru is allied with Ryuichi’s father, the malevolent Shadow King, who wants his son’s powers. Readers will enjoy the transformation of Masaru’s character when he experiences unexpected emotions.

Ryuichi’s life changes after being sent to the dangerous Night Patrol. The Night Patrol searches for demons during the night and most of its members end up lost or dead. They’re led by a disgraced, drunken warrior named Koichi who initially doesn’t provide much guidance. The dynamics change when Ryuichi is overwhelmed by a demon and the other members of Night Patrol come to his aid. Koichi begins to suspect something unusual about Ryuichi and the big secret is slowly revealed. Koichi is a fearsome protector for Ryuichi but also adds humor to the story. His sarcastic barbs toward others and himself lament becoming sober and taking on the role of Ryuichi’s guardian.

Ryuichi doesn’t know the identity of his parents so he feels unworthy of training to become a samurai. He feels he deserves the teasing and bullying from his peers and instructors which adds to his anger and loneliness. These feelings are significant since his character is teetering between good and evil. Negative emotions will lead him toward his father and allow demons to pass through the gate his mother once guarded. He’ll be overwhelmed by the shadows. On the other hand, he’ll become a guardian of his mother’s gate if he can stay positive and defeat the army of shadows.

What didn’t work as well:

The story includes an abundance of Japanese terms and readers should be able to use context clues to understand many of them. However, there are some terms whose meanings aren’t as clear. A glossary of terms might be helpful to ensure readers have correct meanings and mental images. It’s also challenging to keep a mental image of events as the characters fluctuate between humans, shadows, demons, and the shadow world.

The final verdict:

The plot is fascinating although the narrative sometimes makes it difficult to follow the events. A battle between good and evil always makes a good story and the immersion in Japanese folklore spices things up. Give the book a shot if you’re into Asian monsters or samurai.