The Cloud Kingdom by Maire Zepf

What worked:

The illustrations are enchanting, artfully depicting the characters, creatures, and scenes. The sketches found inside the cover and on the title pages are rough yet detailed, enough to pique readers’ imaginations. The colorful pictures within the narrative capture the whimsy and imagination of the author’s stories. A mechanical jellyfish, a Graggally, and a dragon ghost are just a few of the creative creatures featured in the book.

The book is broken up into short stories, which is perfect for younger readers. They can feel success by completing each “chapter” and then taking a break before tiring out. The premise is that Nancy is telling these stories to the faeries that stole her cat. Interestingly, each of these stories contains a line from another tale that will be shared in the next chapter. This detail connects all of the separate stories into a cohesive overall plot. 

Each tale finds a character standing up for what’s right, and the good guys always come out on top. A young girl stands up to her entire village to save them from a greedy hat salesman. The townspeople fear a lonely dragon ghost for generations until a girl is brave enough to change the dialogue. An inventor and his daughter undermine a domineering factory owner’s efforts to save a mechanical jellyfish from exploitation. There’s even a chapter that features an appreciation for artists and their creations. The collection of stories will leave readers feeling good about the world.

The final verdict:

This delightful book returns to a world of simple stories with happy endings. The blend of descriptive narratives and colorful, expressive illustrations results in a literary gem for all readers. I highly recommend you add this book to your reading list!

Game Zero (Escape Room 2) by Christopher Edge

What worked:

The author creates an innovative world that blends reality and virtual reality. Eden finds herself inside The Escape, although she’s not sure how she got there. She meets Ted, but there’s a significant difference between these two characters. Ted wears a VR helmet to play the game, but Eden does not. How is this possible? Readers will know The Escape is different for Eden, because she slowly forgets details of her life outside the game. And she doesn’t know how to escape back to reality. The narrative describes background music throughout the story, which contributes to the tension. The music gets louder and faster as the story becomes more suspenseful, which should cause readers to feel more anxiety.

The Escape is much like other adventure stories where the characters follow clues to reach a destination or goal. The characters begin with three riddles that they repeat throughout the story. They must find three keys to unlock three different worlds, leading to the next set of puzzles. They encounter several characters from the first book, although it’s not absolutely necessary to know this. Eden and Tom encounter many obstacles and dangers, even though Eden seems to be the only one experiencing physical harm. Tom gets an additional life if his character “dies”, but Eden may not have that option. The author leaves a couple of big surprises at the climax, so the plot continues a bit further than readers might expect.

What didn’t work as well:

The book doesn’t take any time to develop the characters, so readers can’t learn much about them beyond the game. Also, Eden is surprised when Ted repeatedly uses his helmet to make their quest easier, and readers may want the challenges to be more challenging. Ted isn’t a model teammate, and readers may be annoyed or angry at his selfish attitude.

The final verdict:

Actually, this book feels like the beginning of the series, as the climax introduces a large problem that will continue into the next book. Readers should probably start with the previous book in order to understand the background information surrounding the game and minor characters. Ami and Oscar have important roles in this book that readers new to the series won’t appreciate. I recommend you try this book for yourself.

A Blood Moon (Snowlands 1) by Morr Meroz

What worked:

Outcast stories create immediate sympathy, and in this case, it’s due to Feba’s fur color. The other cubs don’t like her, and many of the adult wolves believe tales that white fur means bad luck. The pack makes immediate plans to kill Feba, so she flees on her own. She doesn’t have a destination in mind and hopes to find a new pack to join. Being set adrift and alone will have young readers empathizing with Feba’s predicament and hoping she can find a friendly ally. Causing readers to become emotionally connected to the characters makes the story more engaging and entertaining.

The story teaches young readers valuable life lessons. Feba is a loyal friend who doesn’t acknowledge illogical customs, so she does the right thing. Usha believes leopards should live solitary lives, free of attachments to others. That’s the way it’s always been. Feba doesn’t accept this premise and refuses to abandon her new friend. Feba unites different species of animals through kindness, acceptance, and bravery. How else do you explain a wolf and leopard becoming friends, and baboons, alligators, and vultures helping them along the way? Batu is described as a bumbling wildcat, but this character adds a little humor to the story. The only word he says is “batu”, so readers will have fun trying to interpret what he’s trying to say.

What didn’t work as well:

After the opening pages, all of the illustrations are in black and white, but that’s not an issue. The transition between settings is unclear, as the story shifts from Feba back to the wolf pack, and then to the antagonist, a sheep called Umanga. Some graphic novels differentiate transitions using labeled chapters, text boxes, or colors. It takes a moment or two to realize the settings in this book have changed. Also, my third-grader agrees that the print is pretty small.

The final verdict:

Amazon indicates this book is for ages 9 and older, but that might be due to some violence. There’s nothing inappropriate or overly concerning, so younger readers can enjoy this animal adventure, too. I recommend you check out this book for yourself!

Wrath of the Ravelwind Knight (Spindleheart 2) by T.I. Avens

What worked:

As with the first book, alternating chapters follow the stories of Wynn and Calla, as they track down a malevolent magic-stealer named Brume. The two main characters have separate storylines. They had a brief encounter in the first book, and Calla and her sister, Saffron, wonder if Wynn and her friends are enemies, too. These characters are called larks, because they are sentient, intelligent creatures, while wilders are animals without the ability to communicate verbally and reason. Brume can transform his appearance, so readers and characters will never know when he might show up. Perhaps readers will unknowingly encounter him in the form of a seemingly innocent minor character.

Wynn is the guardian of the Spindlechest, but Brume stole it in the first book. She’s on a quest to get it back before Brume becomes too powerful to stop. Calla is a caster, meaning she can wield magic. Her quest is to bring justice against Brume and stop him from stealing magic. Each girl follows Brume’s trail through a magical veil and into a world of breeps. The breeps are covered in wool above the waist, scales below, with wings that enable them to fly. These creatures are wary of strangers, which complicates the efforts of Calla and Wynn. Wynn is nearly imprisoned or executed, while Calla isn’t shown any favor, even after saving the life of a young breep and snatcher.

Wynn is accompanied by a caster named Lance, and their relationship provides more conflict and drama. Wynn notices he seems to struggle after casting spells, but Lance won’t admit it. Wynn also thinks he’s keeping secrets from her, and their interactions become prickly. Wynn knows she needs the caster’s help, but they may not trust each other anymore. Calla and her sister disagree on a plan to defeat Brume, and discussions about it are postponed. Calla deals with problems head-on, so she wants to use magic and force against Brume. Saffron is more diplomatic and wants to talk and understand his motives. They’ll need to come to some kind of agreement before they locate and confront him.

What didn’t work as well:

Readers may find it challenging to visualize the characters, as they come in all shapes and sizes. Calla and Saffron are flower elves, while Wynn is a swirlear, Beryl is a blue beetlewark, and Lance is a green thistle-hopper. Small illustrations are displayed on the first page of each chapter, but mentally picturing the characters in the narrative and action scenes may not be easy. Also, the book’s title doesn’t have a clear connection to what happens in the story. There are breep knights in Ravelwind, but the wrath of one specific knight isn’t a factor in the conflict.

The final verdict:

Readers will enjoy young characters thrust into quests to stop the evil Brume. They’ll appreciate revelations about his past, as well as Wynn’s heritage, but the conflict moves on to the third book in the series. I recommend you give this book a shot, but read book one first.

Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique

What worked:

The author writes a narrative that’s reminiscent of a folktale. The book’s opening describes the formation of the world, as the shells of two turtles form the continents. An Egg is laid, and it becomes the center of the conflict. Endellion and his tribe of Tenemusuh steal it, as they strive to wield power over others and take anything they want. The Egg of the World Turtles is guarded by five tribes, but the Tenemusuh control a massive creature that can’t be defeated. Kyta, the main character, is destined to save the world, and he’s certain that stealing the Egg back is his defining moment.

Occasional chapters are written in boldface font, and these pages describe the conflicted existence of the Tenemusuh creature and its captors. Yes, it slaughtered the warriors guarding the Egg, but it was forced to do it. Readers may feel pity toward this juggernaut of a beast when they realize its freewill has been taken away. It’s confined to a cage when it’s not being used as a weapon, and it dreams of joy and freedom running under the stars. The creature isn’t a prominent part of the overall plot, so these chapters remind readers of its impending threat. Readers will anticipate that Kyta will eventually need to face it when stealing back the Egg of the World Turtles.

 Kyta uses a myth told by his tribe as the template for his quest. The story says four team members are needed, so he must find three other young people to fill specific roles on the mission. Yudove is ostracized from her tribe, but she’s experienced with handling the horses they’ll need. Eno was banished for predicting the destruction of the Egg, but he’s an expert at stealth and using ropes. The final team member is Tumuhv, the son of a tribal chief. Tumuhv views himself as a mighty warrior, but he hasn’t earned his father’s respect. His prickly, condescending attitude makes him a questionable team player, but Kyta needs him to fill the role of warrior. Kyta is the leader, since it’s his destiny to save the world. However, he must learn the meanings of teamwork and selfishness to complete his quest.

The final verdict:

Kyta is a kind-hearted, humble, and determined boy who exhibits positive characteristics that young readers can admire. The plot includes action, drama, character conflict, and ends with an exciting, emotional climax. The resolution indicates a sequel will be forthcoming. I highly recommend this book for all middle-grade readers, especially those who enjoy folklore. 

Sleepless by Gordan Korman

What worked:

This plot answers the question, “What if there were more hours in a day?” The characters not only don’t need sleep; they never get tired. It’s interesting to consider their five different viewpoints, as they’re presented in alternating chapters. Mickey is tired of being bullied at school, so he starts running and lifting weights at three o’clock in the morning. Levi likes to make posts on social media, so he creates multiple personas for different time zones around the world. Skye is already an outstanding student, but she uses her extra time to expand her learning and develop impressive projects. Cyrus uses the night hours to create new inventions, and he starts by trying to perfect his family’s toaster.

Readers will notice that the characters all use the same allergist before they do. This revelation leads to the main conflict in the plot. Most of the characters don’t view sleeplessness as a problem, but one of them thinks it’s cheating. Her position reminds readers that there are always multiple ways to view a situation. The characters eventually discover there are other sleepless kids, and it’s a relief to share their experiences and feelings. They eventually get together to question Dr. Malachi about how this happened, but his answers aren’t what they expect.

Readers who enjoy Gordan Korman books may enjoy the story's mysterious twist. Sleeplessness is treated as a huge secret, so the kids don’t tell their parents or friends. The early chapters will have readers wondering how it happened, but the answer may be more troubling. Then, they begin to notice clues indicating someone else knows about their secret. Who is this person, and what do they want? Is it a stalker out to harm them? Again, the answer only creates more questions.

What didn’t work as well:

A conflict involving Mickey and Skye develops, and its resolution comes out of the blue. Even Mickey is shocked when it happens. Even though it seems plausible, it feels like a step is missing from the process.

The final verdict:

Fans of the author will be pleased, and the alternating chapters sharing the characters’ five points of view provide a familiar format. I recommend all readers give it a shot.

A Secret Escape (The Liars Society #3) by Alyson Gerber

What worked:

The book does a decent job of recapping previous events, so new readers won’t feel totally lost. The story alternates between Jack and Weatherby’s points of view, as they’re thrown into the middle of family and Liars Society drama. Jack’s father is one of the leaders of the society, but Jack hates his father’s ruthlessness and malevolence. His father will do anything, including murder, to maintain power and leverage over others. Weatherby’s father also detests him, even though they’re brothers. Weatherby would like to be closer to her father, but she barely knows him. She doesn’t think he’s capable of killing, but it bothers her that she can’t be certain.

Jack and Weatherby don’t want to live in a family where deceit has kept their fathers estranged and feuding. The cousins hope to discover a secret truth that will bring their fathers down. In addition, they’re competing with other new members of the Liars Society, with the reward being money and power. Jack and Weatherby team up with close friends, but the prize can’t be shared among them. Some members of the Liars Society don’t agree with this competition, and the cousins are threatened by an anonymous person. They assume the threat comes from an individual who committed a recent murder. They pursue the reward despite this danger, and they’re not sure how their fathers would react to them trying to reveal the family secret. They wouldn’t kill their own children, would they?

The plot is a blend of quest and mystery, as the characters follow a path leading to the ultimate prize. Characters failing to collect small stones at each step are eliminated, as they won’t uncover the next clue. However, the instructions say there aren’t any governing rules, and anything goes. Jack and Weatherby get help from their friends, and some competitors think that’s cheating. Nope! Readers may be surprised as secret alliances are revealed, and they won’t know who can be trusted. They’re all part of the Liar’s Society, so that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Jack and Weatherby eventually learn the family secret, but readers should know that there will be a fourth book.

What didn’t work as well:

There are many characters, and it’s not always easy to understand their relationships. Jack and Weatherby can’t be totally honest with their friends, and this causes conflict between Weatherby and a former close friend.

The final verdict:

I didn’t read the first two books in the series, but readers can still enjoy this one independently. This strategy may leave readers with questions about the characters, so it’s not my recommendation. The plot is intriguing and dramatic, as the characters follow the clues to uncover the family secret. I recommend you read this book after starting the series from the beginning.