Skandar and the Chaos Trials (Skandar 3) by A.F. Steadman

What worked:

The author creates uncertainty between the unicorns and their riders. Skandar and his friends are now Fledglings, third-year students at the Eyrie, but their unicorns have reached a rebellious age. They don’t always obey their riders even though they’ve become more connected during the past two years. The unicorn might decide to chase a rabbit, shoot lightning from its horns, or release sparkles from its butt. Readers should expect the unexpected. Skandar’s older sister has a forged bond with a wild unicorn and is connected to all five elements; most riders have one special element. The Weaver forges Kenna’s bond, so everyone is leery and frightened of what Kenna might do.

Skandar and the other Fledglings must pass four Chaos Trials by collecting spirit stones from each of the elements: air, fire, water, and earth. These trials break the book into separate milestones while the longer stories of helping Kenna and locating missing unicorn eggs are going on. Each trial presents different rules and challenges that might result in death or injury. In the first trial, the Fledglings must climb to the top of a mountain that seems to have a mind of its own and doesn’t want to be climbed. The Weaver adds to the danger as Skandar and Flo spot her during two of the trials. Why is she risking being seen, and does she truly want to kill Skandar, her son?

Several subplots are equally interesting. Skandar is afraid of what the forced bond with a wild unicorn might be doing to his sister, especially when he sees what her magic can do. He has an idea of how to fix the bond, but Kenna’s reaction to it is unpredictable. The missing unicorn eggs mean there won’t be any new rider ceremony for the next decade, but Bobby is expecting her younger sister to come this year. Readers don’t see much of the Weaver for most of the book, but the characters can’t figure out what she’s up to. They assume she’s behind the missing eggs, but they don’t know why she might want them. Rex Manning is now in charge of the Silver Circle, and there are concerns that he wants more power. He’s been helping Flo navigate her problems this year, which worries Skandar.

The final verdict:

This book seems to mark a pivotal moment in the series. Two important events occur as the book nears its climax that will surely have a dramatic effect on the future. I highly recommend you read this book, but you’ll enjoy it more if you start the series from the beginning.

Save Noah (Superworld 1) by Yarrow & Carrie Cheney

What worked:

The book’s title refers to a game that normal Noah plays with his superfriends; they put his life in danger and then try to save him. The book opens with Noah having just broken eighteen bones in his body. The premise of the story is very unique, as everyone else in the world has a superpower, and they all want to rescue Noah. In addition, many of the citizens are supervillains with Destructo being the most powerful. The author develops Noah’s low self-image as Noah feels useless among his friends; his six-year-old sister even has two superpowers! Noah is shocked and skeptical when Mobius tells him he’s the only one who can save the world. Ironically, a non-super person may be the savior of all the superheroes.

Noah’s group of friends presents innovative abilities and personalities. Arturo (super name Replay) can do anything his character could have done in a video game. Tabitha (Hairstrike) is an ultra-fast thinker and can wield her hair like super-powered tentacles. Hugh (Hugh-Mongous) is usually rather small but can quickly grow into a huge, powerful fighter. Ivy (Nightingale) is perhaps Noah’s closest friend, and she’s what’s called a Fixer. Ivy can fix anything that’s broken, which means she can repair those eighteen broken bones Noah suffered playing “Save Noah”. The characters are enhanced by fantastic, black-and-white illustrations that depict scenes of them in non-stop action. Readers will encounter pictures every time they turn a page.

The story includes an abundance of humor, some of it being a bit juvenile. Noah’s parents, especially his mother, are overly protective since he doesn’t have any super abilities. His mom grows to a giant size and literally hovers over his school to make sure he’s not being hurt. He goes on dangerous missions with his friends but he can’t let his parents know he’s part of them. His little sister Joy may be six years old, but she’s a sneaky toddler. She’s a big fan of Dr. Destructo, and Noah’s afraid she’ll grow up to become a villain. Noah begins working with the five most popular superheroes and he’s mentally joined with the team. He discovers it can be embarrassing when others know what you’re thinking. In addition, one of the superheroes is an invisible rat who tends to startle Noah when perched on his shoulder. It’s absurd when the characters get super-brain and become uncontrollably obsessed with fighting villains.

What didn’t work as well:

The sense of humor may not appeal to everyone. As mentioned, it’s often silly but entertaining for readers with a tolerance for it. Also, there are a lot of characters, so they’re not fully developed.

The final verdict:

This book is perfect for middle-grade readers looking for superhero humor with awesome illustrations. It may not appeal to everyone but I recommend you find out for yourself.

The Ghost Orb (A Pix and Gabe Adventure 2) by Kate Machon

What worked:

Pix’s character provides uncertainty as her body contains a bit of angel power from the previous book. Other pixies, faeries, and magic folk, including her parents, are leery of her since possessing this magic is unnatural. Pix already has a questionable reputation among the faery folk since her love of pranks is legendary and has gotten her into trouble with the queen. She must still fight the urge to act up, trying hard to gain Gabe’s trust again. She tries to create a charm to release her from Gabe’s angel power, but things go terribly wrong. Unfortunately, Pix doesn’t share a few details about what’s been happening even though Gabe’s bound to find out eventually. It’s hard to build trust when she’s not being totally honest. The story is told through Pix’s eyes so readers will experience all of her fear, anger, mischievousness, and irritation.

Gabe is an angel, and he’s assigned to supervise Pix after her pranks had nearly disastrous consequences. His character is very different from Pix’s since he’s a stickler for rules and doing what he’s supposed to do. His stiffness is in stark contrast to Pix’s playfulness and love for adventure. Gabe’s angel power is quite formidable and it’s often called on to get them out of tricky situations. Pix is frustrated when Gabe must always check with the Brownie Brigade, the Angel Council, or the MDS (Magical Disturbance Section) for permission before doing anything. The MDS monitors for unusual magic, but they haven’t detected the strange orb of light that’s been tormenting Pix and Gabe.

The ball of light adds mystery to the plot as Gabe and Pix have never seen or heard of anything like it.  The MDS doesn’t think it’s harmful or dangerous, but it’s stolen some of Pix’s charms from their van. This may sound unimportant, but Gabe has placed protections on the van so no one should be able to touch it. The problem becomes more serious when Rachel, their giant spider friend, is absorbed by the light and disappears. At first, Pix and Gabe can defend themselves, but the orb becomes more resistant to their spells. It seems to be getting more powerful as it absorbs more things. Gabe thinks the light is targeting him, but Pix thinks there’s more to it. Many unexplained things have happened since Pix released the angel power from her body, and she doesn’t believe in coincidences. And the orb of light is becoming unstoppable.

What didn’t work as well:

Readers may be challenged to understand the differences between pixies, brownies, and angels. Gabe needs Pix’s rainbows to travel long distances but angels and brownies find their modes of travel are better to use as the plot moves along. The orb becomes resistant to Pix’s magic (or faery science) and Gabe’s powers, but Pix’s friend can use her brownie abilities against it. There’s no clear distinction for how the different magics work.

The final verdict:

The exciting adventure finds Pix facing a seemingly unbeatable force with unexpected twists popping up later in the story. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy faery folk and spells and I recommend you give it a shot.

Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring: A Spy on History Book by Enigma Alberti & Tony Cliff

What worked:

This historical fiction follows Mary Bowser as she collects secrets from the desk of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy during the Civil War, to help the Union win the war. It includes many facts from this critical time in our country’s history that young readers might not know. They’ll learn that there were four million slaves in the South who had no freedom or rights as human beings. The story mentions famous battles and army officers from both sides, including Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. Many people might not know that Lee changed the South’s strategies by becoming more aggressive against the North instead of defending Richmond, Virginia. 

The most dramatic aspect of the story is Mary’s role as a spy. It’s incredibly important that she pretend she can’t read to avoid suspicion. She’ll be immediately caught if anyone sees her reading even a single piece of paper. The pseudo-antagonist is another servant who’s mistrustful of Mary from the moment she arrives at Davis’s house and constantly watches her. Mary examines important papers on the president’s desk while pretending to dust the room, always on the lookout for the other servant. Another dangerous part of Mary’s role is passing the information to others in the spy ring. She must be careful to do it unnoticed or her friend or the baker might be hanged as spies. Paragraphs at the end of the book describe the real lives of the main characters and what happens to them after the Civil War ends.

What didn’t work as well:

The plot moves very quickly, so there’s little depth to the plot or character development. The narrator’s voice is like a separate observer, so readers may not make emotional connections with Mary’s character.

The final verdict:

This book shares information about an important time in United States history that may be new to today’s readers. Mary’s perilous role as a spy is engaging, especially when President Davis and other Confederates become aware that their secrets are being passed to the Union army. It’s an educational, exciting tale and I recommend you give it a shot.

Innovative Octopuses, Half-Brained Birds, and More Animals with Magnificent Minds by Christina Couch

What worked:

The common thread connecting the book is studies of how animals think and then comparing them to human brains. It’s pretty comprehensive as it touches on all areas of the brain. The book opens with a study of how the brain interprets messages from the sensory organs, including our reflexes. A quick activity ends the chapter with a test of how quickly people can respond. Jester is a blue-and-green parrot that was mistreated, and scientists are studying how it recovers from trauma and fear. Did you know llamas and pigs can help humans deal with stress? Other chapters address memory, communication, aging, and even sleeping! Connections are made to a goldfish driving a car, sperm whales speaking in different dialects, and birds napping while they fly.

The author relates the animals to specific people, which humanizes the factual information. A war veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is unable to talk about his terrifying experiences with doctors, but he begins to open up while working with Jester. An octopus named Sawyer has fun with his handler and enjoys playing with the toys Zoe brings him. Color photographs and illustrations fill the pages to add visual interest to the topics. In addition to the activities at the end of the chapters, the book includes short sections on related topics. For example, robo-rodents can hop after scientists studied squirrels, and there are jellyfish smaller than pencil erasers that are virtually immortal.

What didn’t work as well:

How the brain works is an abstract concept for many young readers, and the book doesn’t shy away from the relevant vocabulary. Definitions are included throughout the chapters so the meanings stand out and are easy to recall. Young people can still enjoy the animal studies and other pages even if understanding the exact workings of the brain is a challenge.

The final verdict:

The author does a fascinating job of combining scientific information, interesting animals, and related anecdotes, resulting in a remarkable book about the brain. I recommend you give it a shot!

Ain't It Funny by Margaret Gurevich

What worked:

Maya is the main character and has a range of issues that should connect with many young readers. Her parents are separating, and she gets to spend weekends with her father in the city. Maya’s parents still get along okay, but her grandmother constantly makes disparaging comments about her father. Maya gets what she calls “hot, hot, hot” when she’s overwhelmed with emotions. She can feel it slowly creeping up inside her, but she must learn how to deal with it. Maya may have a little OCD in her as she becomes anxious when her teacher changes the classroom routine, and she keeps her colored pencils in a specific order. She can’t effectively communicate to her parents how consuming her anxiety gets, so they downplay it as normal worries. Maya’s mental health is the main topic of the book.

The story has humor that should appeal to middle-grade readers. Maya’s father is an aspiring comic, and the author includes some of his jokes. He gets inspiration from the customers who frequent the family’s Russian deli, although he must be careful not to embarrass Maya’s family. Maya decides to join the sixth-grade talent show because she thinks her dad will spend time with her creating a routine. He gives her a book for beginning comics, and young readers may appreciate some of the book’s tips. Being a professional comedian sounds like it would be a lot of fun, but the story describes the difficult challenges of being discovered.

A curious twist to the story happens when Maya notices her teacher does everything in groups of three. She walks back to the Smartboard after helping three students and taps on a doorknob three times. These observations cause Maya to research for more information, where she learns more about her own anxiety, too. In some ways, it’s a relief to find someone else with anxiety issues, but it doesn’t really help when dealing with stressful situations. She struggles to hold it together while working the counter at the deli, especially when she must serve demanding, irrational regular customers. Her teacher begins visiting the deli too, but that has mixed effects.

What didn’t work as well:

For a book called Ain’t It Funny, the depression from Maya’s anxiety overshadows the humor. It shares the fact that people who seem to have it all together may be battling internal demons. After seeing the title, readers expecting a light-hearted story may be disappointed, but the truth is reality isn’t always fun.

The final verdict:

This is an emotional, heartwarming story of a young girl struggling with her mental health. The underlying Russian culture is uncommon, and Maya and her father’s comedy contributes a little levity to a very serious plot. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.

How to Survive on the Moon: Lunar Lessons from a Rocket Scientist by Joalda Morancy and Neon Squid

What worked:

At first look, this appears to be a typical kid’s book about traveling to the moon. It has large pages with colorful illustrations that make it eye-catching but young readers will see the difference when they notice the topics covered. It goes beyond the moon’s rocky surface and covers information needed to settle there. Where would people live (in underground tubes), where would they find food (in greenhouses with worms to improve the soil), and what would we use for power? The brief answers to those questions are in underground lava tubes, in greenhouses with worms to improve the soil, and with nuclear and solar power. In addition, who would imagine the potential dangers of moon dust?

The book goes a step further since settling on the moon creates more issues than just surviving. Many people living there will create a society that requires jobs, government, and laws. The people will need to exchange goods and services so what will they use for money? Moon settlers will rely on robots to do dangerous tasks on the surface, such as the construction of buildings and roads. Humanoids can monitor projects and jobs that might be life-threatening for humans. There are a couple of pages dedicated to touring facilities that will be unique to moon life. Psychologists and doctors will study the effects the moon might have on people living there while other sites research new foods, and the moon’s geology, and explore the rest of space using giant telescopes.

What didn’t work as well:

The book is non-fiction so it will most appeal to lovers of space travel. To help young readers, the information is presented in short paragraphs or sentence clusters and it doesn’t try to be overly detailed or comprehensive. It introduces lunar-related topics without getting too complicated for young readers.

The final verdict:

It’s an excellent resource for kids interested in the next step in space exploration. The colorful graphics blend with brief summaries of information about the many issues of settling on the moon. I recommend you give this book a shot.