Sire, Oleander isn't dead! (Yet) by T.I. Avens

What worked:

The opening chapter introduces Marlow and leaves readers with a couple of significant questions. She is living with a guardian, so readers will wonder what’s happened to her parents. While delivering messages, she is saved by slayers, and readers are introduced to Oleander. However, later, Marlow’s guardian asks if the slayers recognized who she really is, and Marlow says they did not. What is her true identity, and why doesn’t she want anyone to know? Marlow has a complicated history, and her secret is a major focus during the book’s second half.

In the next chapters, readers learn about Oleander’s pressure-filled life. His mother is highly demanding, and she won’t accept that he’s not giving full effort at all times. She shows him a room honoring his family’s heritage, and renowned heroes highlight every generation. Oleander’s mother says he will be a footnote, forgotten forever, if he slacks off for even a moment. Her pressure causes Oleander to take risks, and he pushes Squallsong, the guild he leads, to go on non-stop missions. Oleander uses a poisoned blade to kill difficult wilders, but it has unexpected results. The creatures return from the dead and will continue to do so until they get vengeance against Oleander. Marlow notices a magical aura around her friend, but revealing her observation will give away her secret.

Marlow struggles with a family situation that causes complications and expectations that she can’t handle. In addition, the other slayers in Oleander’s guild have trouble with his leadership, and they choose to follow someone else. Oleander reflects on his life path and must make hard decisions about his future. Oleander and Marlow find support and understanding in each other, but Marlow’s secret may fracture their relationship.

What didn’t work as well:

There are numerous fictional monsters, and it can be challenging to visualize them. The story includes brief descriptions, but matching their names from memory is tricky. A glossary or collection of illustrations would help.

The final verdict:

Young readers will enjoy the adventures of Oleander and Marlow, and the endless stream of dangerous wilders creates suspense and fighting scenes. I recommend you try this book for yourself. 

A Sprinkling of Danger (Alice Eclair, Spy Extraordinaire #3) by Sarah Todd Taylor

What worked:

The book is set in Paris, right before the start of World War II. Alice works her way onto the movie set by baking cakes and pastries for different scenes. Readers will know from the previous books that Alice is an expert chef, so she can whip up delicious, decorative, and detailed pastries at a moment’s notice. She is tasked with locating the map that reveals French agents secretly working throughout Europe, and identifying the spy sharing information with the Germans. The story presents several suspects, ranging from the movie’s star, Catrine, to movie employees and the hotel’s staff. Readers know Alice’s life is in constant danger after there are multiple events when she could have been killed. The lives of French agents are in immediate peril, so there is pressure for Alice to complete her mission as quickly as possible.

A different twist in this third book is that Alice is supposed to train a new agent. Readers know immediately that it will add a complication, since Pierre doesn’t want anything to do with her. He says he won’t listen to anything she has to say and that he works alone. He finagles himself onto the movie set and sneers every time he looks her way. However, Alice notices him passing secret messages to Catrine, and it crosses her mind that he might be a double agent. She also spots a man passing a package to an unknown accomplice, so readers will wonder if it’s one of the missing hotel artifacts.

Many young readers enjoy cooking and baking, so they’ll appreciate Alice’s talent and the products she creates. She works at her mother’s famous French bakery, but her mother is unaware of her daughter’s life as a secret agent. Alice bakes multi-tiered cakes, decorated like objects found in the hotel and on the movie set. She adds special effects that amaze everyone, although her plan for sparklers is disrupted by the sun. Luckily, the mishap explains one of the attempts on her life. It also helps Alice realize the identity of the traitor working with the movie production.

What didn’t work as well:

Readers may wonder about Pierre, since the story doesn’t give any information about him. He appears in the second chapter but goes on his own right away. If Alice is supposed to train him, how does he know what to do without her help? What is in his background that makes him totally reject Alice without even speaking to her?

The final verdict:

Lovers of mystery and adventure will enjoy this latest installment of Alice Éclair’s secret missions. She is in more danger than in the previous books, but that makes it more dramatic and exciting. I recommend you give this book a shot.

Trunk No. 3 by Allie Millington

What worked:

The first thing readers will appreciate is the author’s masterful ability to tell a story. They can feel the desperate emotions of Earl Grey and Cleo as they try to find their places in the world. Earl loves living with Oswald, but she longs to know who she belonged with Before Oswald. Cleo believes he is a failure, so he wants to run away. No one will miss him. The narrator explains, “And sometimes, you started breaking rules when you started breaking inside too.” An old, battered trunk is the center of attention, and it supplies footnotes with explanations from its point of view. It had to say something when Cleo commented that it smelled “… like bad breath that had been held in for too long.”

Oswald and his deceased wife used to mine for memories, and his Repertorium contains objects holding strong, emotional experiences. “It’s like the expression of walking a mile in another person’s shoes.” Guests can touch the items and experience moments that leave them feeling thrilled, curious, or surprised. Oswald’s never shown Earl how to mine, but she discovers that she gets visions and emotions just from touching other people. This ability will have readers wondering more about Earl and where she came from. How can her ability be explained?

It turns out, there’s more than one trunk. Cleo steals Trunk No. 3 from Earl, but he doesn’t realize how his theft will bring them together. Earl finds another trunk, Trunk No. 2, and the two characters discover the trunks are “magically” connected. Earl’s bunny climbs in her trunk, and the lid closes, and it immediately appears in Cleo’s trunk. This begins their “pen pal” correspondence, even though they’re unaware of each other’s identity. Readers will anticipate the moment they figure out their paths have already crossed. Also, readers may wonder if there’s a Trunk No. 1.

What didn’t work as well:

Earl seems to have a better handle on the whole situation than is believable. She’s struggling to learn about her past, but she somehow manages to offer Cleo sage advice about his situation. The eloquence of her messages to him seemed more mature than her character should have been.

The final verdict:

The book shares a tender, budding friendship between two characters who are trying to understand their places in the world. I recommend that middle-grade readers try it for themselves.

The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good by Kirsty Applebaum

What worked:

Readers are treated to two stories instead of one, and the two parts are combined to form the overall plot. The opening pages describe Imogen and a friend named Bex when they approach a garden behind Stillness Hall. Everyone in town knows to stay away from it, but Imogen dares Bex. The book’s synopsis picks up from there, as Fran discovers no one knows a girl named Imogen. The plot follows Fran as she slowly realizes that the people here are trying to trick her. An unusual twist in this book is that there is still physical evidence of Imogen’s existence; her organized, dusty bedroom hasn’t been touched since she disappeared. There’s even a photograph of Bex alongside Imogen, but Bex has no memory of her. How can Imogen find Imogen when no one in town knows she exists?

Alternate chapters tell the tale of the original owners of Stillness Hall. The wealthy couple finally gives birth to a baby boy, but he later becomes dangerously ill. No one knows what’s wrong, so the parents go to drastic measures to save his life. Grief, anger, and enchantments lead to consequences that last for decades. Fran has no idea of the truth surrounding Stillness Hall, so she’s in danger of becoming the next victim. The book follows her relentless search for Imogen, and alternating chapters reveal the mystery's origins and the property's terrifying legends. Readers will anticipate the moment when the two stories merge to an eerie conclusion.

The plot addresses bullying and perceptions of others. Fran dreads seeing her cousin, Imogen, because Imogen is bossy and no fun to be around. Imogen doesn’t care for her sloppy cousin either, so their dislike is mutual. Imogen wants to be liked by a popular group of girls, so she bullies Bex into accepting a dare. That’s what ignites the main conflict. Fran realizes she may have bullied Bex, too, by pressurizing her into doing something she didn’t want to do. In a related way, the plot addresses atonement, as the girls try to make up for past indiscretions.

What didn’t work as well:

Part of the enchantment can be tricky to understand, as it doesn’t affect everyone. The story includes an explanation, but it may still have readers thinking twice.

The final verdict:

This speculative fiction story is skillfully crafted to share Fran’s determined efforts to do what’s right. Stillness Hall provides a mystery, and readers will follow hints from the alternate chapters to put together a solution. Of course, understanding the mystery doesn’t explain how to solve the problem. Overall, I recommend this book for all middle-grade readers who like mysteries.

Creepers: Soul Harvest (Creepers Horror Stories) by Edgar J. Hyde

What worked:

This book is easy to read due to its short chapters and total number of pages. The entire story takes place over the course of one day. The eerie black-and-white illustrations help create a mysterious, supernatural tone. The new ghoulish neighbors dressed in “black and old-timey” clothing silently move in, so readers immediately know these characters have evil intentions. The name of the series is appropriate, since the book is creepy, but not so scary that it will give young readers bad dreams. At first, the strange behavior only seems to affect adults, but the main characters discover that other children are behaving oddly, too.

Jacob is the main character, but his younger sister, Ava, is the hero. Noah is Ava’s best friend, and Alex is Jacob’s best buddy. Early in the book, Ava behaves like a typical little sister, but it’s clear that Jacob loves her dearly. He is the one who consoles Ava when their neighbor angrily yells at her. In contrast, Ava volunteers to perform two risky tasks that are critical to stopping the strange happenings in their town. However, young readers and the characters will anxiously await news to find out what’s happened to her after the climax.

What didn’t work as well:

Obviously, a book this short sacrifices any kind of descriptive development of the characters and plot. Readers are left to wonder how the “seeds” are planted before souls can be harvested. Why are the four kids the only ones not affected?

The final verdict:

This will be popular with young or reluctant middle-grade readers. It’s fast-paced and spooky, which will make it appealing to them. I recommend you give this book and series a shot.

Down the Plot Hole by Annaleise Byrd

What worked:

The main characters travel into Grimm’s fairy tales to correct gaps in the book’s text. Basil and Terry are the stars, and they’re tasked with finding missing sheep in different stories. Terry has a crush on Gretel, and she told the boys that plot holes are the worst thing that can happen. Members of FANCY are charged with locating and fixing any holes that develop. However, Gretel says the missing sheep aren’t a big problem, so there’s no need to worry. She seems to be echoing Herr Korbes’s words, but it doesn’t make any sense.  Why isn’t the leader of FANCY concerned about plot holes that could destroy everything in the fairy tale world?

The story lets readers revisit familiar characters in new situations and exposes them to less familiar tales. Readers will know the Grimms’ tales of Hansel and Gretel and Sleeping Beauty, but their stories of The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage, The Pink, and Clever Grethel will be new. Characters from different tales interact, and they are aware of each other’s plots. Many fairy tales feature gruesome, gory storylines, and this issue is the main conflict. SAD EGGS and another group are frequent victims in these tales, and their protests are creating problems. Prejudice and assumptions create bad feelings, so Basil and Terry will need to find a way to bring everyone together.

What didn’t work as well:

Apparently, Terry and Basil aren’t friends, but the evidence contradicts that. They formed a bond after the events in the first book, but this time they show no friction toward each other. Also, the plot creates questions and contradictions that aren’t resolved.

The final verdict:

This book can be read independently of the first one. It has a fast-paced plot and unexpected twists that young readers will enjoy. I recommend you try this book yourself.

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.