Skygull Calamity by Bronwyn Fairchild

What worked:

The setting is quite unusual, as Nova City sits vertically atop long stilts in the middle of the ocean. Blue, the main character, works in a weather station at the top, alongside a retired zephyr named Lucado. The wealthy live on the upper levels with a nice view of the sky, while the poor, like Blue and his mother, live on the lower levels. Thelanamous Green runs Green Industries and the Zephyr Consortium, and his influence makes him the most powerful man in Nova City. Rain and snowstorms with high winds constantly bash the structure, and the Consortium has ignored Lucado’s warnings of an imminent catastrophe. Blue’s daily climbs to the weather station using rope ladders and back down to deliver Lucado’s weather reports help readers understand the difficulties of living in a vertical city. However, it seems evident that the Consortium is hiding secrets, but why?

Blue’s mother was a famous pilot, and he once hoped to follow in her footsteps, but he failed to pass the initial entrance test. Blue feels pressure from many directions, causing readers to empathize with him. His family is poor, and his position as an apprentice zephyr would have provided a significant, steady income. Thelanamous thinks Lucado is insane, so Blue knows his family will be homeless if he loses his job. A girl named Coraline brings intrigue to the plot, as she’s been studying the worsening weather for years. Blue doesn’t want anything to do with her, but she’s persistent. Maybe she’ll become a friend? And what about the photo Blue finds showing his mother in a place that’s not Nova City? Throughout the story, Blue compares his anxiety levels to severe storms and ranks his fear on a scale from 1 to 11. The numbers help describe Blue’s stress as he encounters ever-perilous challenges.

The story takes a turn when Blue and Tate miraculously find Lost City. The book’s second half introduces new characters, drama, and conflict, and the plot includes several surprises. Blue learns more about his mother’s past, but many questions remain. Tate always seems to know more than Blue, but even she may not have the answers to escape Lost City. The pair discovers the cause of the dangerous tempests threatening Nova City, but the kids are shocked when they learn its origins. It won’t be easy to find a solution, because people are willing to do anything to keep the storms brewing.

What didn’t work as well:

There are “miraculous” events that will test readers’ tolerance. Blue suffers falls in death-defying situations, but he always survives with minimal injuries. Tate is a smart girl, and she always has the skill or knowledge needed to solve any problem they face. The pair somehow escapes two instances in which their flying machine is blown to pieces.

The final verdict:

The book’s early chapters have drama, but things get very interesting when the plot shifts to Lost City. I recommend this book to lovers of adventure, science fiction, and steampunk.

 

The Traitor Moth by Katharine Orton

What worked:

How many books have you read that feature moths? Catclaw is the main character, and he belongs to the Nameless clan. Dreamkins used to have the ability to see premonitions of the future until the queen of all moths took that power away. Their clan is now known as Nameless. Most moths live around twelve moon turns, which readers will assume means twelve months. The moths find refuge in trees, tall grasses, and other vegetation, and it’s dangerous for them to fly during daylight hours. Bats and toads are common, natural enemies for moths, but Bluewings are mutant wasps that nearly wiped them all out. Catclaw fears the Bluewings are now returning.

The main conflict finds Catclaw on a quest to speak with the moth queen. He has a premonition of Bluewing attacks, and it’s believed the queen once repelled them by using her voice. However, the Nameless don’t believe Catclaw had a vision, so it’s unlikely other clans will listen to him. The queen rarely agrees to see visitors, and Catclaw must collect tokens from the other clans before he can even hope to approach her. The Nameless haven’t had contact with the other clans for years, and Catclaw discovers the situation is much worse than he expects. The other clans aren’t communicating with each other anymore, so how is he supposed to collect the tokens he needs? A huge surprise awaits once he finally reaches the queen’s fortress, and the book’s title makes sense.

The author includes some mystique to accent its speculative fiction. The Nameless Master dies, but first, he gives Catclaw his diary. Catclaw carries it with him during his adventure, but he realizes the book provides guidance. He thinks or speaks questions, and the book displays cryptic answers. However, the last page also states Catclaw Traitor. Catclaw has premonitions of future events, so readers are given hints of what’s to come. In contrast, italicized paragraphs relate to stories Master Saturna told Catclaw in the past, and they provide information related to current happenings. Catclaw also senses someone is watching him during his journey, but he’s never able to spot anyone.

What didn’t work as well:

Even though all kinds of creatures can be found in speculative fiction books, some readers may still have trouble wrapping their minds around moths. Some of the descriptions and movements are hard to visualize when readers consider the characters are moths.

The final verdict:

The title and moth characters may confuse young readers, but the plot contains everything they’ll want. Catclaw is an admirable character as he’s trustworthy and determined to save the clan that shunned him. Overall, I recommend adventure lovers check out this book.

Last Year With Maddy by Anna Rosner

What worked:

The story is told from Aviva’s first-person point of view, and she reflects on happy and troubled times with her best friend, Maddy. Aviva desperately laments about not speaking to Maddy anymore and hints at the reason. Readers will imagine what might have happened to keep best friends apart. The narrative is written using a middle-grade voice, including Aviva’s love for italics, capital letters, and poetry. Readers will understand her difficulties when she describes troubled moments, and these segments are offset by happier times together. The book’s purpose is presented as Aviva’s message to Maddy, and two pages at the end share Maddy response.

Midway into the book, the plot shifts to Aviva’s three-year-old brother. Unfortunately, serious childhood health issues aren’t uncommon, and Ethan’s development is delayed. He only says a couple of words, and he refuses to toilet train. A doctor diagnoses a physical problem, and the family hopes that surgery will make things better. However, they learn that Ethan is on the autistic spectrum, so he’s going to need to go through many different therapies to improve his deficiencies. The author shares a great deal of information and explanations about autism, and young readers will learn autistic people are different, not less.

What didn’t work as well:

Aviva states that she always says the wrong thing, but readers may disagree. She catches herself from saying things she shouldn’t, and her slip-ups don’t seem that offensive. Her worst comments arise when she’s angered, so readers can understand and forgive her for them. One of Aviva’s positive qualities is her empathy for others, and young readers can learn from her good example.

The final verdict:

The author shares an emotional tale of two close friends and the ups and downs they must navigate. Aviva acts as the narrator, so young readers can experience her rollercoaster of thoughts and feelings. I recommend this book for all middle-grade readers.

The First Flame (The Aerimander Chronicles Book 2) by Lily Berlin Dodd

What worked:

The same main characters from the first book regroup to save an aerimander from danger. Aerimanders will remind readers of dragons, and the main one in this story is Rubi. Dusty and Eva guarded her egg until she hatched, and they still have a connection with her. Eva and Dusty can sense when the aerimander is near, which comes in handy when they try to locate Rubi in the mountains. The story takes a surprising turn when the characters finally locate her, or rather, Rubi finds them.

Dusty, Eva, and Myrna bring contrasting talents to the story. Dusty grew up in an orphanage before escaping, so he has street smarts and physical skills the others lack. He has other abilities and connections thanks to his time in the Thieves Guild. Eva is book-smart and outspoken, so don’t expect her to hold her tongue. She has a keen eye for details and a talent for creativity. Readers find her in a reformatory for problem girls when she enters this story. Myrna is Eva’s best friend, and her strengths are planning and a sensitivity to nature. Eva is rescued from the reformatory thanks to Myrna’s step-by-step plans.

Several elements of the plot will have readers wondering about upcoming events. Myrna is not immune to aerimander flame, like Dusty and Eva, so it’s dangerous for her to be around them. Eoin Parnassus, the story’s evil antagonist, is searching for Rubi and wants to use her as a weapon. He’s nearing the mountains where Rubi is hiding, and he’s dragging a heavy box along with him. It’s obviously not good news, but what is in the box? Dusty, Eva, and Myrna discover people secretly living in the mountains, and the three kids pass a test to join their school. They’ll learn common school topics, but they’ll learn all about the aerimanders. However, these people seem to know everything about the trio, and Eva wonders how that’s possible. There’s a huge secret they’re not being told.

What didn’t work as well:

Rubi’s size may be confusing. On one hand, Dusty can carry her in his arms, but later she picks him up and flies him away to safety. There’s also a scene later in the book where Dusty and Eva wear a protective covering to complete a ceremony. However, Myrna later walks the same path without the same protection. Confusing. However, overall, this is a solid book.

The final verdict:

Readers should begin with the first book, The Last Ember, to fully understand the backstory. I recommend it for lovers of dragons and adventure.

I Know You Started It by Daphne Benedis-Grab

What worked:

The main characters represent the kinds of students readers encounter every day in school. Gabe is always angry and in trouble, but he’s promised himself that he’s going to change. He fears he’ll be accused of arson, and public opinion will find him guilty. Gabe, Liam, Dani, and Kate are the first witnesses called to the principal’s office, and Gabe is convinced that makes them look like suspects. Kate’s on the school newspaper, and she used to be best friends with Dani. Now, they don’t talk anymore, and readers are left to wonder what happened. Liam is new to the school, and no one has taken an interest in him. Maybe helping to find the arsonist will finally make classmates notice him. The chapters alternate the focus among these four characters, revealing their individual struggles.

Rumors, gossip, and cyberbullying are major issues. It’s what motivates Gabe, Liam, Dani, and Kate, and they think they must solve the arson case before the end of the school day. Classmates’ gossip will find them guilty if they wait for the principal to finish her investigation. Jonathan’s locker was the arsonist’s target, but he’s one of the most popular kids in school. Does Jonathan have a secret, unsavory side that makes someone hate him? As it turns out, identifying the fire-starter doesn’t end the story. Additional planning is needed before justice is served.

What didn’t work as well:

The synopsis says the setting is in a middle school, but it’s actually a combined middle school and high school. The high school characters make the book appeal to a more mature audience, but the narrative's vocabulary and sentence structure are appropriate for younger readers. It’s also unrealistic to think the entire story takes place between homeroom and 2:00 PM in one school day.

The final verdict:

The issues and characters are probably most relevant to teens, but the reading level is appropriate for mature middle-grade readers. I recommend you try this book for yourself.

Time Thief (Solve Your Own Mystery 2) by Gareth P. Jones

What worked:

The series includes a good deal of humor and strange events, which should appeal to young readers. Detective Klaus drives a car that used to be a dog. It wags its tailpipe when it’s happy or excited and makes soft, satisfied sounds when you scratch its car seats. Two talking gargoyle statues watch a museum’s back entrance, where a medusa-like character is the curator. The main police inspector is a minotaur, and the lead detective is an elf walking on stilts. A banshee news reporter details the facts of her stories, or she makes them up to make the stories more appealing to her readers.

The premise of the series is that the reader is Klaus’s assistant, and they make decisions on which clues to follow. Young readers will enjoy skipping pages to arrive at the next step in the story they have chosen. The different sections aren’t very long, which is appealing to young or reluctant readers. Like real detectives, readers identify the cast of suspects, examine their motives, and decide if they had opportunities to commit the crime. There’s always evidence pointing to different suspects, but readers eventually discover clues that narrow their focus. The book says there are three possible conclusions, depending on which clues are followed. The last page of the story lets readers move to alternate endings by directing them to different parts of the book. 

What didn’t work as well:

There isn’t much time spent developing characters or describing the events in detail. However, that’s the trade-off for skipping around to different parts of the plot. Readers may be curious about Klaus’s time with the UPF when he was the lead detective on the police force. It’s been mentioned in both books, but readers are left to wonder about anything specific. 

The final verdict:

Books that allow readers to choose how the stories unfold are always entertaining, and this one adds mystery and humor. Overall, I recommend this book to all middle-grade readers.

Monster Maker (Solve Your Own Mystery 1) by Gareth P. Jones

What worked:

These kinds of books allow young readers to control their reading experiences. The narrative asks them to make decisions as the story unfolds, and their choices direct them to different pages. This book indicates there are three possible endings, but there are many alternate pathways to arrive. The book’s format allows, even encourages, readers to reread the story while making different decisions. Every few pages offer choices, creating frequent breaks for young readers needing to stop. Reluctant readers also feel like they’re making visible progress at these spots without getting overwhelmed by the book’s length. Skipping to other pages makes young readers feel good. Humor is another attractive asset, along with the black-and-white illustrations in each chapter.

This particular mystery describes the theft of a monster-making machine, and readers are Detective Klaus Solstaag’s assistant. Klaus is a large yeti, and the client, Dr. Franklefink, is the only human in the story. Monsters don’t trust humans or bald characters. The theft occurred when the doctor held a birthday party for his son, whom he had created nine years earlier. The primary suspects are the parents of the kids attending the party, although Franklefink is convinced that a bald vampire must have done it. Klaus knows he can’t dismiss any suspects and must follow clues to identify the guilty party.

What didn’t work as well:

The story doesn’t end once a guilty person is identified. More information leads to further reading until the monster maker is finally retrieved. This situation isn’t necessarily bad, but it moves the plot further along than readers may anticipate. Also, there’s not a great deal of character development and story description, but that’s to be expected in this type of book.

The final verdict:

These kinds of books are fun to read, since the format is so different. Young or reluctant readers aren’t used to skipping pages, but making choices is empowering. Overall, I recommend you try this book for yourself.