The Worst (Team Bomb Shelter Book 3) by Mark Binder

What worked:

Most young readers probably haven’t read a middle-grade book about a school shooting. The opening chapter describes the narrator’s post-shooting, conflicted thoughts and plants the incident firmly in readers’ minds. The second chapter begins to share the final year of eighth grade, with all of the normal and abnormal middle-school behavior readers expect. Awkward feelings at a summer camp square dance and a massive snow adventure will resonate with all readers. The book’s first half may remind readers of Gordon Korman’s books featuring unique, light-hearted tales of mischievous kids. The last half of this book switches to the last day of eighth grade, the day a teenage shooter with an M-16 terrifies the school.

Readers might be leery about an author describing a school shooting to a middle-grade audience.  In this book, the event begins with the characters wandering the school, trying to avoid returning to their science class. They hear three popping sounds, and the plot becomes more intense. Part of the narrative briefly addresses the shooter and his reason for turning to violence. Resolving the situation is dangerous and tricky, but it involves one of the characters’ previous pranks. The story doesn’t get overly intense, but the climax is dramatic.

The characters are the highlight of the book. Adam is the narrator’s cousin, and he is smart, responsible, with growing skills in martial arts. Fat Charlie is talented at all sports, and he’s comfortable with his size. Helen is the only girl in the gang, and she’s confined to a wheelchair. Jesus is a world-class artist who keeps an illustrated record of the group’s activities. In all, seven eighth-grade kids are in the tight-knit group, and they constantly offer moral support to each other. They come up with crazy ideas to amuse themselves, and young readers will enjoy them. The book’s title refers to a frequent adjective used by the kids, although “the worst” can describe something good or bad.

What didn’t work as well:

Perhaps I missed it somewhere, but the author never identifies who is narrating the story. All of his friends have names, so readers are left to wonder who is sharing the tale. Perhaps the author is the narrator, but readers new to the series won’t know that.

The final verdict:

Readers may be uncertain about a book that combines humor with a school shooting. However, they’ll be amused by the group’s hilarious antics, and they’ll be impressed by how they step up in a terrifying situation. I recommend you check out this book for yourself.

The Sea Witch Prophecy (Witchlings #5) by Claribel A. Ortega

What worked:

Ambert is still the main antagonist, as he’s slowly gaining power and support. His petition to run for chancellor in a special election has enough signatures, and many witches feel he can’t do anything wrong.  Seven and other monstruo witches are called Spares, meaning they’re lesser witches with weaker magic. However, Seven is an Uncle who possesses uncommon power, and her connection to nature is growing stronger. Her abilities make her a threat to Ambert, and her team of friends must fulfill a prophecy to stop him. However, archaic magic should be taking a toll on Ambert, but he sometimes appears younger and stronger than possible. This mystery will perplex the characters and readers until late in the book.

Seven is the main character, and other witches fear her monstruo magic. She’s joined by several other characters who bring interesting subplots. Valley and Thorn have openly begun showing feelings for each other, although the other characters have remained quiet about it. Valley and Thorn turn red when others notice, and Seven is chided by the rest of the team when she asks what’s going on. Figgs and Seven share a fondness for one another, and they have admitted it. However, they fear that Figgs may be part of the prophecy, but Seven won’t let him make the ultimate sacrifice. Her reaction shows the depth of her love for him and the seriousness of the prophecy.

Older middle-grade readers might notice similarities to the real world. The characters can’t understand how Ambert wins the election for chancellor when the majority of voters know he’s a bad person. Witches speaking out against him are thrown into prison, and misinformation runs rampant. Cult members supporting Ambert cause violence, but much of it is blamed on witches with monstruo magic. Written information that might stop Ambert is destroyed, while books or news supporting him are promoted. The witchlings know it will take brave individuals and communities to stop Ambert.

What didn’t work as well:

The plot has many characters with backstories, and it’s challenging to remember what’s already happened. Luckily, young people reading the series today won’t need to wait for the next book to be published, so past events should be clearer in their minds.

The final verdict:

The story has emotional relationships, action, and builds to a dramatic showdown in the climax. This book ends the Witchlings series, and you should definitely read the other books first. I recommend you try the series for yourself.

Elder Ascending: The Rise of Princess Alex by Jeff Eivers

What worked:

The author quickly gets readers thinking and speculating in the opening pages. The prologue describes a woman being threatened by shapeshifters, telling them her baby is dead. Then, the opening chapter finds 12-year-old Alex writing in her journal about her dream of that same scene. She then goes to Tae Kwon Do class where her sparring partner, Derek, says that she’s more powerful than she knows. Alex is confused about this new student’s knowledge of her, and readers will wonder about his identity and abilities. Alex’s puzzlement will continue throughout the book as she finds herself caught between two factions of Elders. Someone is trying to sabotage Alex’s efforts to find her mother’s crown, and readers will be engaged as they try to figure out the character’s identity. It will be a surprise.

The Hyrands believe the immortals should live in harmony with humans and act as their guardians. However, the Vestrals believe humans should be their slaves, causing a rift with the other Elders. Malachon leads the Vestrals, he wants the rift to continue, and he’ll do anything to stop anyone opposing him. Alex learns that her parents came from the two different sides, and Malachon kills her mother in the book’s opening pages. He wants Alex dead, and she spends much of the story learning to defend herself and avoiding Malachon’s cronies. All the while, she’s trying to learn about the world of Elders and how to master her rapidly emerging abilities. Arthur and Dominic share information from the Hyrand’s point of view, while Derek is sharing contradictory ideas from the Vestrals.

Learning that she’s an Elder princess creates conflicts in Alex’s human life. She begins to clash with her mother, who doesn’t understand the pressures she’s facing. Alex can’t tell her best friend, Jenny, anything either, and this causes animosity and hurt feelings. Alex wants to tell her the truth, but she’s afraid it will endanger Jenny’s life. Alex dreads being around Jenny because she doesn’t know what to say to her friend. She still considers confiding in Jenny until Arthur shares a blunt truth. If any Elders discover Jenny knows the truth, one of them will kill her to protect the secret.

What didn’t work as well:

Being told you are immortal should come as a shock, but Alex takes it in stride. Also, epilogues usually tell readers what’s happening after the plot’s resolution, but this one clarifies something that happened during the story. The word epilogue creates expectations, so perhaps the title should have been left off the last chapter.

The final verdict:

Alex’s situation creates tension and suspense, as her thirteenth birthday becomes a countdown clock. The book has action, complicated character relationships, and mystery, so I highly recommend you try this book yourself.

Greta Grimsdark and the Normal New Neighbor by Haley Neil

What worked:

Making new friends can be challenging for young children, so they can relate to the book’s plot. It can be scary trying to figure out the best way to find common interests with strangers. Greta decides to give her new neighbor a test by starting with a tour of the castle. Agnes isn’t troubled when meeting Greta’s dragon parents or petting the pet alligators out front. Greta thinks she can learn more about Agnes by spying, but she’s surprised when Agnes directly asks her what she likes to do! The story's amusement stems from their starkly different home lives, as they slowly discover common interests and forge a friendship.

Another conflict results from Greta’s perfect housewarming gift for Agnes. She decides a pet will help undo the cuteness of Agnes’s cozy cottage, but her plans don’t work out as planned. Greta follows instructions to trap a monster pet, but she fails to read the small print. Of course, this is a mistake and could have a catastrophic effect. Greta and Agnes must work together to find a solution to their new problem, but they learn that there isn’t a clear way to do it. Young readers will enjoy the zaniness of the problem and the wacky attempts to resolve it, but the two main characters will use them to solidify their budding friendship.

What didn’t work as well:

Agnes doesn’t have any problems accepting Greta’s family and home, which is fine. However, it’s harder to understand why Agnes’s father doesn’t bat an eye about his daughter’s monster pet. The problem, in Greta’s eyes, comes from the family differences, but the effect is muted when other characters don’t seem to notice. 

The final verdict:

This book is perfect for low- to mid-range middle-grade readers. They’ll enjoy the story’s strangeness and Greta’s unusual feelings about “normal” and friendship. I recommend you give it a shot.

A Dash of Daring (Alice Eclair Spy Extraordinaire 4) by Sarah Todd Taylor

What worked:

Alice now has a reputation as one of the most skilled bakers in France, and she once again creates amazing, impressive cakes. She’s joined by Sophie, a young, gifted engineer who also appeared in the previous book. These two characters developed a close rapport, and Sophie is working as an unofficial spy. Alice’s Uncle Robert reappears to cause trouble, as Sophie knows he’s working for the Germans. He was Alice’s mentor until she discovered that he’s a traitor to France. The book’s setting is pre-World War II, and the French fear Germany may be preparing for another war. The missing inventor’s encoding machine will be a game-changer for whichever country possesses it. 

Alice’s baking talents project a compelling cover identity, allowing her to move freely around the training camp. Adele is an aspiring Olympic cyclist, and she’s receiving threatening letters that instruct her to drop out. There’s no apparent reason to target her, and Adele isn’t going to let the messages stop her from competing. The letters sound very similar, so Alice suspects there’s more to them than may appear. Young readers who enjoy mysteries and puzzles will like being inside Alice’s head as she tries to uncover the suspicious messages and threats. 

Alice is joined by a team of unique characters, each one assisting in some way. Adele’s brother, Hugo, is a gifted artist, but he’s forced to use a wheelchair for long periods of walking. Adele and Hugo’s knowledge of their father is invaluable in solving coded letters. Hugo is training a pigeon to deliver messages, and it helps the characters communicate in difficult situations. Even a cat named Casper helps rescue Alice, although it usually causes trouble by sneaking into the kitchen.

What didn’t work as well:

Alice’s ability to create “masterpieces” of pastry and cake is hard to swallow at times. She always manages to come up with amazing recipes and designs even though she has limited time and uses different baking mediums. On the other hand, it makes her seem like a super girl, Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire!

The final verdict:

It’s unclear if there will be a fifth book, but this one wraps up all of the past subplots and problems. This book can be enjoyed on its own, but I recommend you start from the beginning. 

Adventure in the City of Stories (Cousins in the Time of Magic 2) by Emma Otheguy

What worked:

Each book in the series is set in a different time in history. This time, the cousins travel back to the United States in 1930, trying to return a “stolen” book from a present-day New York library. The book creatively describes life during the Great Depression, as the kids navigate the city. There’s an emphasis on racial prejudice, specifically against Puerto Ricans. A wealthy white woman tries to exaggerate her influence by focusing on any negative news stories that involve Puerto Ricans. She wants Puerto Ricans living in New York to become more “American”, although she’s reminded that Puerto Ricans are, in fact, already Americans. Some prejudicial thoughts are eerily similar to those the cousins have experienced in the modern world. The end of the book includes the author's words explaining factual historical information related to elements of the book. 

The cousins, Jorge, Camila, and Siggy, are the main characters, and they each have important roles in the story. Tia Xia is the dependable savior for the cousins during the adventure. The kids know she can always resolve their problems, although they’re all separated in this story. Tia Xia has experience with time travel, and she always seems to know people from previous trips into the past. One Harlem archive owner is aware of her time-traveling and is an invaluable asset in solving the conflict. Tia Xia also seems aware of how situations will work out, creating calmness and confidence in the other characters. An obnoxious, rich bully in the present has a surprisingly helpful part in resolving the conflict in 1930. 

What didn’t work as well:

The characters from the past are too carefree about the cousins traveling through time. They’re more curious and excited about the possibility than alarmed or disbelieving. Also, the mechanics of time travel aren’t clear. The characters hop into small boats and are carried to where and when in history they need to go. 

The final verdict:

You can still enjoy this book without having read the previous one. The plot is fast-paced, and it provides fun information about United States history. I recommend you try it for yourself.

Quetzal's Labyrinth by Karla Arenas Valenti

What worked:

The plot will sound familiar to young readers, as the main character, Diego, learns he is the new gatekeeper charged with saving humanity. He’s a normal thirteen-year-old kid thrust into a battle of gods and evil spirits. The author grabs readers’ interest by opening with a wolf-bear-wild boar sending Diego, Violeta, and a talking dog running for their lives. The setting then goes back two days, but readers know that the book will eventually return to Diego running for his life. The first few chapters are very short, which creates a feeling that the action is moving rapidly. They let readers know that the story will be full of strange creatures and lively action.

The author blends drama and humor, as Diego’s team strives to complete his quest. Throughout the book, Diego is tracked by a creature with five hands, including one on the tip of its tail. It will always be in the back of readers’ minds, and they’ll wonder when it will finally confront Diego. Diego enters the magical world of the gods and finds many characters are willing to help. However, skeptics will consider the possibility that some of them may not be allies. The rubber chicken helps Diego reach the labyrinth and adds levity to the story. The author uses sentence structure and description to develop suspense as the plot nears the climax.

The story is based on Mexican folklore and culture. Quetzal and Tezca are godly brothers who have taken turns wiping out mankind. Tezca will do it once again if he escapes the labyrinth, since Quetzal hasn’t been seen in years. Diego encounters many mythical personalities and creatures, and he’s surprised by some modes of transportation. His abuelo has taught him the history of the myths, and Diego is in disbelief that he’s now a part of it. However, he doesn’t fully realize the closeness of his connection until the plot nears the climax.

What didn’t work as well:

There are short sections when the author uses random creatures to describe what they see. It’s a unique strategy helping explain the story, but it sometimes makes readers pause to understand what’s happening. It’s more effective early in the book when evil minions take control of various animals, for example, a mouse.

The final verdict:

Experienced middle-grade readers will easily follow the story, as Diego is the reluctant hero, facing dangers he’s not ready for. Overall, it’s an entertaining version of Mexican folklore, and I recommend you give it a shot.