Minion by John David Anderson

This is the story of Michael, adopted son of a genius inventor who creates machines for bad guys. Michael has been aiding and abetting his father's crimes for years, and now he's actually helping his father rob banks. Michael's father is super smart, but Michael has his own power. He's able to make people do as he says just by looking in their eyes, but he's not supposed to use his power without permission. Michael sometimes wants to live a normal life, especially when he meets a cute girl at the mall. However, his father is afraid of what might happen to Michael if anyone discovers his special power. There's a new group of masked robbers striking all over town, a new superhero has appeared, and Michael has told his best friend about his mind-controlling power. His father wants to skip town and start a new life, but it may be too late.

I wasn't really sure where the plot was headed during the first half of the book. The main conflict wasn't clear to me. Michael was an interesting character, because we don't often read about the children of criminals like they're regular kids. The story became more focused as the plot moved on, and I really enjoyed it. The climax was a little surprising, but I was able to predict the resolution.

The Boggart and the Monster by Susan Cooper

Jessup and Emily are excited to revisit the Scottish castle once owned by their grandfather. They especially miss the boggart living there. In this book, a boggart is a mischievous, shape-shifting creature. The new owner of the castle agrees to take the kids to visit the Loch Ness. The boggart tags along and discovers his cousin has been sleeping at the bottom of the loch for hundreds of years. However, his cousin is very sad and has forgotten how to change from the dinosaur shape that many people have seen. The kids want to help, but things get complicated when a snoopy reporter shows up.

I didn't realize until I finished the book, that this book is the second one in a series. I don't think you need to read The Boggart first; I was able to enjoy this book without it. The conflict is pretty unusual. How many times have you read about a monster trying to help his cousin that wasn't in a picture book? It didn't read like a cutesy story, but it wasn't overly serious either. The book was an easy read.

Green Boy by Susan Cooper

Trey and his mute, little brother love to explore the little island near their home in Jamaica. Their grandparents allow them to row over to the cay where they enjoy the birds, fish, and their own private cave. Then one day in the cave, the light starts to shimmer, Trey hears a sound, and the boys find themselves transported sometime in the future. The plants have been cut down, buildings and roads have taken their place, and all of the animals they knew are gone. Developers have destroyed all the beautiful nature of the island, and Trey discovers that his silent brother is the only one who can make things right.

Man versus nature. Man versus society. It's hard to stop businesses when they promise people money. The author captured the confusion, frustration, and determination of the two brothers. Little brother Lou had a lot to say even though he couldn't speak. It was amusing that Trey could panic, but Lou would just smile and make things better. The plot skips back and forth in time, as the kids try to figure out how to stop the future society.

How to Catch a Bogle by Catherine Jinks

Birdie works for a bogler named Alfred Bunce. Bogles are monsters that hide in chimneys, caves, and sewers. Alfred spears the bogles after Birdie sings and acts as bait to lure them from their hiding places. It's very dangerous work, and a woman says there may be a safer, more scientific, way to kill the beasts. Birdie fears she won't be needed anymore, and pleads with Alfred to keep bogling. However, he takes on one more job that may be their last. It seems there is someone else summoning the monsters, hoping to trap them. He's not happy with Alfred, and it may cost Birdie her life.

I've read many books with monsters, but this plot offered some new twists. Using children as bait and and having a monster hunter question the danger of his job made the story more interesting. Birdie was a spunky character, and she struggled with some internal conflicts. She lived a dangerous life, and she was offered a chance to live in more comfortable surroundings. I found each meeting with the bogles provided periods of suspense, and the plot led to a thrilling climax. I highly recommend the book!

The Elevator Ghost by Glen Huser

Carolina Giddle is a new babysitter in the apartment building, and she has a talent for storytelling. Specifically, her talent is with telling ghost stories. She also has a pet tarantula and likes to talk to the spirit of her dead aunt at the Blatchford seniors' home. She babysits for mischief-makers, scaredy-cats, and other children with special issues, but her stories always improve the situations. How to stop a child from painting on the wall? Tell a story about a painting of a giant monster that comes to life and destroys the building.

For the most part, this book is a collection of short stories. Each chapter introduces kids with different problems followed by Carolina Giddle's stories to change them. Readers won't find the stories scary, but I could picture her lighting candles in dark rooms to spook the toddlers. Overall, it was an enjoyable book.

The Feral Child by Che Golden

This book is a 2014 release that I found at my local library. Maddy lives with her grandparents in Ireland after the death of her parents. She's hard to handle, and it only gets worse when her three-year-old neighbor disappears. You see, Maddy saw a faerie take the little boy in the middle of the night, and everyone thinks he's safe after he's found outside an old castle. However, Maddy knows the boy has been replaced by a faerie, and she decides she must venture into the faerie world to save him. She must face all of the dangers in her imagination and survive the journey to find the Winter Queen.

I was surprised at how well this book captured my interest. I can't put my finger on the reason, but it was easy to read and created a great feeling of mystery and adventure. I expected a cute story with faeries in it, but there were some pretty ruthless characters. The setting had a Narnia feel to it, with the queen and talking creatures. Some were friendly, some were not, and some seemed to change sides. Maddy had to deal with her internal demons before she could complete the quest. Overall, a very entertaining book.

The Silver Rings by Samuel Valentino

This book is 2014 release, and I gave it a rating of four out of five. Alice and Celia are twin sisters, and they run away from their evil stepmother in search of their fairy godmother. The godmother tells them they should separate and go out on their own, dressed in lizard costumes. Alice finds a handsome prince, and he tries to do all he can impress her. Meanwhile, Celia is turned into a frog by an evil witch and can only be rescued by a prince's kiss. Sound familiar? Well, there are also goblins, giants, and ninja geckos. The twins wear silver rings to keep track of each other, and Alice must search for her sister when her ring signals red for danger.

This plot is a mixture and twisting of familiar fairy tales. Cinderella, The Frog Prince, and Puss in Boots are included. The silliness adds humor to the story, but it can become annoying if you don't have a tolerance for it. I enjoyed being able to predict the events in familiar stories, but I was able to appreciate the unexpected changes made by the author.