Nic Blake and the Remarkables (The Manifestor Prophecy) by Angie Thomas

What worked:

Remarkables have endless powers unlike limited Unremarkable magic that uses wands and there’s a bit of animosity between the two groups. Nic desperately wants to learn to use her Gift but her father keeps saying he’ll train her to use it next year. However, strange things happen when she touches two other Remarkables as she drains their powers and temporarily knocks them unconscious. Her father has no idea what’s happening so it sounds hollow when he says everything will be alright.

Nic doesn’t remember her mother and she’s been told her mother left for some unknown reason. This establishes a conflict for readers to consider as they try to figure out why the woman’s not around. Nic’s father isn’t fully open about why they left her mother and it’s clear there’s something unusual about Nic. Nic realizes she knows a lot more about the Remarkables than she thought when she finds out the books she loves to read are based on true events. Stories of Roho being the Manowari, prophesized to bring down the Remarkable world, and the disappearance of the missing Msaidizi are mostly true. It turns out Roho may not have been the Manowari and the actual destroyer of Remarkables will arise soon.

Black history is mentioned throughout the book to enhance the story without moving it into historical fiction. Past injustices spanning decades are woven into the plot as memories or motivations for current events. Nic and her friends experience suspicion in a store and with the police simply due to their skin color. Slavery led to an awakening of Remarkable powers that had been quashed by slave traders and owners. An actual Underground Railroad for Unremarkables fleeing to freedom gave rise to the Underground Railroad we know from stories of Harriet Tubman. Racism and violence cause the Remarkable community to live segregated from Unremarkables although some wonder why they can’t use their powers to help those in danger.

What didn’t work as well:

Nic receives a hellhound puppy on her birthday but it’s participation in the story is less than expected. I mean, hellhounds are supposed to be terrifying creatures that burst into flames and Cocoa only manages to bite ankles and puff smoke. I assume she’ll become a bigger factor in the future and evolve into more than an adorable pet.

The Final Verdict:

The author provides readers with many chances to wonder how the plot will unfold. It’s reasonable to assume the identity of the Manowari will be revealed but the events leading up to that moment will be surprising. Overall, this book is an entertaining start to a new series and I anxiously await the publishing of its sequel. 

Aliyah Serin and the Box of Zenas by Lucy Anne Holland

What worked:

After determining Aliyah is able to control two elements, her parents are murdered so she’s raised by her two uncles. The plot takes a turn when she’s suddenly sent to a private school for elemental students. Aliyah immediately becomes a curiosity at Petrovis since she must choose between the fire and water and elemental houses. Her training is always interesting since she has an affinity for water but working with fire is always volatile. She feels additional pressure to perform when she’s chosen to join one of the school’s quest teams as its fire elemental. Her self-doubt creates a conflict throughout the book as she’s afraid of letting her friends down or possibly causing them to be harmed.

With Aliyah being a bit of an outcast, it’s natural that she gravitates toward other students who aren’t readily accepted. Seth’s element is aether which makes other students uncomfortable. It’s a rare, mysterious ability they don’t understand and it's even banned from the Atheneum, the building housing the leaders of all Canadian elementals. Rae is an earth elemental who has her own self-doubt and often messes up in critical moments. She’s also a bit impulsive which sometimes leads to endangering Aliyah and Seth. Together, the trio spends much of the plot investigating secret tunnels and passages where they enter a maze with increasingly difficult puzzles to solve. They also encounter the ghost of Aliyah’s relative who offers assistance in a frustrating manner. Rae immediately dislikes him but the trio probably can’t survive without his help.

The author creates a mystery when Aliyah is sent to the school due to her uncle’s ambiguous thinking. The actual reason establishes an underlying problem for the entire series but it’s not revealed until much later in the book. An unusual twist to the plot is how Aliya’s best friend Dorian flees to a secret destination with his family and the excuse is connected to Aliya’s own problems. Dorian isn’t physically part of the story but his communication with Aliya offers insightful information related to Petrovis and the Box of Zenas.

What didn’t work as well:

The antagonist is kept anonymous throughout the book and is never clearly identified. Aliyah and her friends suspect they must keep the Box of Zenas away from someone evil but they don’t know who or why. It’s sometimes easier to build tension from the conflict when there’s more clarity so the seriousness and intensity of the problem could have been elevated. On the other hand, not knowing the villain first lets readers’ imaginations free to imagine the many possibilities.

The Final Verdict:

Attending a school for kids with powers will be a familiar format but this book offers creative angles to make it different. Racing to navigate a maze of tunnels by decoding puzzles to beat an unknown opponent is novel and problems with Aliyah’s uncle are interesting. Overall, this book is an exciting start to a new series and I recommend you give it a shot.

Festergrimm (The Legends of Eerie-on-the-Sea #4) by Thomas Taylor

What worked:

This book is fourth in the series but it can be read independently of the previous books. Herbie, Viola, and Sebastian Lee clearly have a contentious past but enough details are shared to let readers know Lee is a despicable villain. Herbie and Viola are the only characters fully aware of Lee’s wicked past so everyone else is willing to assume he’s remorseful and a changed man. This attitude allows him to move freely about town, threatening the two kids when no one else is around. A few adults have doubts about Lee but they just plan to watch him rather than actually taking action to stop his plans. It’s unclear why Herbie and Viola haven’t shared details about Lee with the adults but it adds subtle drama to the plot.

The author establishes Eerie-on-Sea as a creepy, mysterious setting that non-residents will avoid at all costs. Many parts of the town are rundown and the overall story has a dark, gloomy atmosphere. Then, an abandoned building called Festergrimm’s Eerie Waxworks is introduced with its own level of spookiness. It’s shadowy and dusty inside with disturbing wax statues of strange, legendary personalities from the town’s past. Herbie ventures down into the underground section of the museum where he discovers even more wax sculptures and something more. He could swear one of the figures turns its head to stare at him.

The plot evolves into a mystery of sorts with Sebastian Lee scheming to uncover Eerie-on-Sea’s greatest secret. Herbie and Viola are determined to uncover it first and their investigation leads to connections with their own pasts. Vi finds a book written by her father that reveals details of the museum’s origins and leads to speculation about Lee’s plans. Herbie begins to sense he has hidden memories about a connection to the waxworks and he’s troubled that Lee may know more about his past than Herbie knows himself. The story is told from Herbie’s point of view so readers will have intimate knowledge of his emotions and thoughts. He knows Viola is more daring and adventurous when it comes to gathering clues but his own talents mesh well with hers and make them a formidable duo.

What didn’t work as well:

The initial conflict is a bit strange since Herbie and Vi want Sebastian out of town before they even know what he’s doing. It turns out they have reason to be suspicious. The conclusion of the plot may not appeal to everyone but that may be because it’s not a typical, happy ending. The book ends by opening the door for its sequel so readers should expect to read it too.

The Final Verdict:

The author creates an innovative story of love, loss, and greed. Herbie’s vague knowledge of his past is very compelling and makes me want to read the next book in the series. I recommend you give this book, and its sequel when it's published, a shot. 

Kelcie Murphy and the Hunt for the Heart of Danu (The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts #2) by Erika Lewis

What worked:

Kelcie and her friends find themselves in the middle of serious drama once again that ranges from saving the Land of Summer from total destruction to navigating boy-girl relationships. Kelcie learned in the first book that she has the rare abilities of a Pulse, able to manipulate all four elements of land, water, air, and fire, although she hasn’t learned to control them without disastrous outcomes. Much of her focus in this book is training in sword skills plus she must eventually learn to blend them with her elemental abilities. She’s upset with Niall but he’s dealing with complications arising from being the queen’s son. She must sort out her feelings for him (is she a bit jealous?) before the time of the formal ball arrives.

In the book’s prologue, readers discover the Land of Winter has a plan for revenge against the Land of Summer, and a young girl named Lexie has been ordered to go undercover at the academy. It’s not exactly clear what she’s going to do once she gets there so readers have plenty of time to imagine what kind of chaos she’ll create on Ascension Day. Lexie quickly “befriends” Kelcie and subtly begins to dig for information from her friends. She tries to ignore their kindness and remembers there will be serious consequences from the queen if she fails her mission. An interesting twist to Lexie’s character is that she’s a Pulse like Kelcie although her skills are more developed. Her fianna moves behind the scenes with their own elemental powers, preparing for the attack, but again, readers will have no idea where the plot is headed.

The lands of Summer and Winter have been waging a never-ending War since their origin. No one seems to know why they’re still battling and their queens dispense propaganda to maintain the conflict. However, this book brings characters from the two cultures together allowing them to compare and contrast the two lands. This consideration is mostly presented through Lexie’s eyes since the other characters don’t know she’s from Winter. She’s immediately surprised by the vivid colors but she later wonders about another character’s clipped wings. She’s heard about how Roswen failed the Winter queen and wonders who might have dished out her punishment. This motivates Lexis to fulfill the queen’s mission but she has second thoughts when she discovers the truth about the Heart of Danu.

What didn’t work as well:

There are many references to events from the first book and readers may feel like they’re missing information, especially with regards to Kelcie’s first year at the academy. The story shares how her father is the most hated man in the world but readers won’t fully understand why. Also, even though Kelcie is the main character with rare abilities, readers may need to remind themselves that she’s not the leader of her fianna.

The Final Verdict:

This book has a myriad of intriguing problems that will engage and entertain readers. There are many dynamic characters with contrasting fiannas from both Winter and Summer. Overall, this book and series should fascinate middle-grader readers and I recommend you give them a shot.

Mission to Shadow Sea (Future Hero #2)

What worked:

The book begins back in Jarell’s cousin’s barbershop where Jarell is transported to a world where he’s the ancestor of a legendary hero named Kundi. Jarell’s reunited with the warrior Kimisi and they’re quested with locating and retrieving the second missing part of the Staff of Kundi, the Iron Crocodile. Readers will notice a similar format to the first book although much of the action this time occurs underwater. The science fiction angle of the series kicks in as Jarell’s suit allows him to stay submerged for most of the adventure.

Jarell’s character oozes integrity as he’s always trying to do the right thing and protect the innocent. Kimisi is laser-focused on the mission, getting the next piece for the staff, but Jarell displays understanding and compassion for all of the characters he meets. These qualities prove to be valuable as they promote positive attitudes, support, and cooperation from others. This is demonstrated as Jarell encounters manatees in distress, a monster terrorizing the waters, and sea horse creatures that have been cursed. The spirit of Kundi speaks to Jarell in his greatest times of need and helps to connect him with the kingdom of Ulfrika.

What didn’t work as well:

The book lacks character and plot development due to its fast-moving story. Sacrifices must be made when the author creates a short, action-filled plot but emerging young readers should enjoy it. More experienced readers may be looking for more description and depth to the characters and conflict.

The Final Verdict:

Like the first book, this one can be read very quickly which will appeal to young readers wanting to feel like they’ve accomplished something. The story is full of drama and action which should maintain reader interest. Overall, this book is fun to read and I recommend you give it a shot.

Future Hero #1 by Remi Blackwood

What worked:

The action-packed plot moves very quickly so it should hold the interest of most young readers. In the first few chapters, Jarell goes from being teased in school to emerging as the savior of Ulfrika in another dimension. Ulfrika has qualities of an African culture blended with science fiction. Jarell meets a young, spear-wielding, armor-plated warrior named Kimisi who’s able to transport them to new locations via portals or pilot a futuristic plane. They’re forced to hike across a desert on their way to a volcano while encountering a painted wolf and were-hyenas. The events are depicted in accompanying illustrations to help readers envision characters and settings. 

Jarell needs to overcome self-doubt due to his school bullying and comparisons to his older brother. His brother has all of the confidence and athletic skills so Jarell feels inadequate following in his footsteps. Teachers and classmates mock Jarell when he daydreams about a fantasy land of warriors and goddesses. He draws these images to escape bad experiences with people but that leads to his distracting imagination. Others see him as absent-minded and weird which only makes him want to retreat into his sketchbook. However, readers quickly discover these make-believe characters and locations aren’t totally fictional.

What didn’t work as well:

It feels like the story is over before it barely gets started. The whole plot involves locating and retrieving one piece of a powerful staff and Kimisi is able to find it fairly quickly. There are a couple of complications and battles along the way but the story lacks depth or development. This style may not work for many students but it will be attractive for middle-graders who are not avid readers. 

The Final Verdict:

This book is one of those engaging, quick-reads that help motivate reluctant readers. The energetic adventure jumps from one exciting conflict to another as Jarell and Kimisi try to stop an evil being from gaining enough power to invade other worlds. 

Hollowthorn (A Ravenfall Novel #2) by Kayln Josephson

What worked: 

The author skillfully crafts a creative story that makes readers anticipate what’s in store as events develop. Ravenfall Inn has its own personality and typically fulfills most of the roles of a typical hotel staff. However, the opening chapter finds the inn acting strangely so readers don’t know if that will become something significant. In the same way, Max, a jabberwocky usually appearing as a cat, always has a testy attitude toward certain characters so his behavior is unpredictable. However, animals in stories often sense secrets that human characters can’t. Anna’s father is typically absent from Ravenfall, off searching for magical artifacts, but he reappears in this book while his wife travels off to Ireland. Anna is eager to prove to him that she has more abilities than visions of death but she’s still learning to magically connect with inanimate objects. She’s starved for her father’s attention and becomes frustrated and angry with him.

A new character is introduced as Simon, an old, experienced Raven, who’s seeking help from Anna’s father. Colin’s only recently discovered his own abilities as a Raven so he’s excited to learn from such a talented veteran. Colin’s older brother never lets Colin do anything on his own but Salem encourages him to trust his powers and kill every magical creature they find in the Otherworld. Anna is okay with Colin learning to master his abilities but she has some reservations about some things he’s being told. Max, on the other hand, clearly doesn’t like Salem and everyone chalks it up to a grudge from the Raven stepping on Max’s tail. Salem leads the group in search of the Tree of Life but something seems off with the quest, especially once they enter the Otherworld. Colin’s internal struggle dealing with the death magic inherited from his father adds another uncertain element to the story.

The Jewish religion is a big part of the story but it’s not overdone so much that it becomes a distraction. The setting is around the time of Hannukah but Anna notes that she uses it to keep track of time and not necessarily a celebration of the holiday. She also realizes she’s growing up Jewish but doesn’t really understand what it’s all about. Her father makes a connection between Hebrew letters and numbers and Anna hopes her father will teach her more about the Hebrew alphabet once their adventure ends. Jewish demons, gods, and bible references are part of the plot, and protecting the Tree of Life is the goal of Anna and Colin’s quest. A Hebrew prayer plays an important role at a critical moment in the plot.

What didn’t work as well:

The story is told from two points of view which isn’t typically a problem. For some reason in this book, I need to remind myself when Anna or Colin is narrating a particular chapter. It’s not a big issue and it lessened as the plot move along. Periodic chapters share concerns from Ravenfall and it’s nice to be reminded the inn is still part of the story.

The Final Verdict:

You might be able to read this book on its own but I recommend reading Ravenfall first. It will be especially helpful in understanding Colin’s turmoil. This book takes readers on an exciting adventure to the Otherworld and they’ll sense an underlying problem that’s waiting to explode. Overall, this book and series are quite entertaining and I recommend you give them a shot.