Race for Midgard: The Marleau Twins 1 by Maya Y. Lefèvre

What worked:

The book opens with a quest adventure for Kate, Jack, and Stefan. These three characters have grown up together, and they pass through a portal into another world. The king gives them the option of rescuing his daughter or spending time in the dungeons, so the friends opt to rescue the princess. Stephen, Jack, and Kate are taught battle skills before they are ready to embark on their quest. The journey takes them through forests and over a mountain before arriving at the castle that’s holding the princess. Readers will enjoy the fight scenes with guards and mythical creatures, but they’ll be surprised by what the characters discover when they reach the princess. It turns out that her rescue is merely the introduction to the actual conflict.

The book is divided into three parts, each with a complete plot. The first part is summarized above, and its resolution leads into the next story. The Marleau twins and Kate must find a way to unseat a mysterious, cloaked man who’s claimed the title of king. This conflict will lead the kids across the world and into other moments in time. Stefan and Jack also learn that one of them will become the next guardian of Migard. The Norse gods will force them into a contest against each other, the winner becoming the guardian and the loser being forgotten. This story is part of the book’s third part, along with their efforts to return Princess Annabeth to the throne.

Kate is a very interesting character, and it sometimes seems she should be highlighted equally with the Marleau twins. She becomes accomplished with the bow and arrows, and she’s the first to act when the king is poisoned. Kate is separated from the others in the book’s second section, and she’s featured in this critical part of the group’s plans. Readers learn that common folk can’t see portals leading to other realms, and they’re only visible “in the presence of people with significant ties to the nine worlds.” The twins are connected through their father’s bloodline, but why is Kate able to activate the first portal? What is her connection to the realms?

What didn’t work as well:

The story skips the yearlong training to become warriors, which leaves readers feeling like they’ve missed quite a bit. In one chapter, the characters are normal teens with no fighting talents, and in the next chapter, they’re experts with the sword, spear, and bow. Some parts of the story abruptly change settings, while other parts are double-spaced or are formally separated.

The final verdict:

The plot can be enjoyed by all upper middle-grade readers, although the main characters are 15-16 years old. There’s a good deal of adventure and action, and the epilogue introduces an interesting twist for the sequel. I recommend young readers give this book a shot!

Airrelle of the Maroon Witches by Sumayyah Beck

What worked:

Obviously, identifying witches in the title means there will be magic, and the author adds new twists. The witches live in hidden settlements around the world, and the setting for this story is Missen Dessalin. The witches work together to create an invisible shield that conceals the settlement. Airrelle must collect four patrons; her first is a crane, to become a full witch. Patrons select their witches and offer advice and assistance. Witches are expected to fly, so Airrelle’s first rite of passage is the soljourney. Witties, witches in training, must survive in the wild in their astral forms until they learn how to fly. Airrelle is most excited about the prospect of flying, so she can travel beyond the barrier and into the Overside.

The story includes subtle commentary about the real world. Airrelle’s first venture into Overside with her mother reveals many disturbing sights. They find perfectly good food tossed into the trash, even though hungry people are living on the streets. Cars pollute the air, and buildings replace nature. Airrelle’s mother says concrete is the most abundant substance in Overside. Related to this, the witches have a close connection to nature. Their patrons are plants or animals, and patrons are often attracted to the witches’ songs. Witches must show them respect, since nature decides who is worthy of help. Witches often thank elements of nature and appreciate the beauty and wonder. Young readers may develop admiration and gratitude for natural things they take for granted.

Rabiah is a character who brings mystery and uncertainty to the story. She’s from the Overside, but Airrelle wants her to train to become a witch at Missen Dessalin. She’s not a clear candidate, so there are mixed opinions about whether this is a good idea. A scry indicates she has the potential to become a powerful witch, but the settlement will have problems if her family searches for her. The weakening shield may allow Oversiders to see into the settlement. Airrelle agrees that Rabiah should be returned to Overside if she fails to pass her trials, with her memory erased. However, Airrelle is determined that Rabiah will succeed; what will she do if things don’t work out? It gets complicated.

What didn’t work as well:

Halfway into the book, it’s still unclear where the plot is headed. Several things are happening: the father is away and in trouble, there’s something wrong with the mother, and Airrelle is trying to get her maroon cloak and befriending a non-magical girl. Many readers prefer having a more focused objective in the plot.

The final verdict:

This book feels like it’s establishing the backstory for future books. There’s a focus on the world of Maroon Witches, along with some of their issues and problems. It’s a creative view of witchcraft that features many interesting characters. Overall, you check out this book and decide for yourself.

Girl of Lore by Melanie Dale

What worked:

Mina is the main character, and she has a variety of issues. Her psychiatrist says it’s unlikely that she’ll ever act on her thoughts of stabbing people, and her OCD is how her body maintains control. She doesn’t know how to get along with people, and she’s not sure why popular, pretty Jackie is still her friend. Mina needs Jackie’s support, but what does Mina have to offer? She hides her sketches of gory scenes, and visiting the graveyard is her favorite activity. Mina feels disturbed and confused when she “hears” a book telling her to “release me”.

Readers immediately know this will be a strange story when Mina dreams of possessing a body. The body is in a car that crashes into a sinkhole, while three shadowy figures watch from above. The next day, Mina learns that a car crashed into a sinkhole near her home. Coincidence? Animals seem to attack her, which is confusing when, later, she calms some dogs and a horse with her mind. Most people in London, Georgia, are skeptical about creatures of the night, but Mina sees evidence and hears stories that make her think something dangerous is going on. A woman wrote a book about local lore, but Mina later finds her dead, with bite marks on her neck. These events will interest readers interested in the paranormal.

The author uses a familiar point of view about vampires, making them easy to understand. These vampires don’t like sunlight and anything related to God. They can control the amount of blood they take, meaning victims can be killed or turned into vampires. Victims can be saved from turning if the vampire is killed before the victim dies. Vampires grow fangs and have heightened senses. An additional danger is added to this story when readers learn that something powerful is beginning to rise in London, and it is capable of killing all humans on earth.

What didn’t work as well:

Different sources indicate this book is for middle grade, but it’s for tweens and young adults. The characters are high school age, and the scary emotions generated by the author’s writing can get pretty intense. The book has a dark tone, especially when the topic of vampires arises.

The final verdict:

Again, this book is not for most middle-grade readers due to strong, dark emotions. However, the overall story is captivating, and I recommend that mature readers try it for themselves. It looks like a sequel will follow.

Where There Be Spies (The Outersphere Series Book 2) by Alby C. Williams

What worked:

Middle-grade readers will feel a sense of familiarity as Glory and Marcus find themselves mixed up in a major problem once again. Paxton was the main antagonist in the first book, and she’s still roaming behind the scenes in this book. Glory is certain she’s up to something, and she’s certain Paxton must be responsible for missing charts. However, many students assume Glory was involved in the theft because she was the last person seen holding it. In addition, the school chancellor is missing, and Glory is certain the two incidents are not a coincidence. The characters and readers will suspect that someone at the school is still helping Paxton. Readers will recognize magic being used, but the characters don’t run around casting spells. The magic comes from potions and objects, with different materials attracting, repelling, or remaining neutral toward it.

Glory experiences social and emotional problems that will be relatable to young readers. She’s annoyed and angered by her classmates’ whispered comments accusing her of being responsible for the missing charts. She’s also aware of her mazy head, which means her mind can become overactive and go on tangents. She thinks everyone else knows she’s mazy-headed, and they think that makes her stupid and strange. These concerns are compounded by the fact that her mother is a famous spherinaut. On the one hand, Glory is proud of her mom but feels pressure living up to expectations. On the other hand, Glory fears that teachers and students treat her differently because of her famous mother. She feels angst after being assigned to the first-year dorms, even though she’s older than all of them.

A large part of the plot involves non-humans. There are two types of monsters, feral monsters and monsterfolk, but some people don’t view them differently. The feral monsters are wild and dangerous, so they are feared. The school and community have frequent monster sirens going off, sending frightened humans scurrying for safe places. These alarms may remind readers of tornado warnings. Monsterfolk are sentient creatures and are just as intelligent and eloquent as humans. This is the first time monsterfolk have been allowed to attend the school, and many students and citizens don’t like it. Glory’s roommate detests the monsterfolk, but Glory becomes good friends with the goat girl in the room next door.

What didn’t work as well:

The opening of each chapter includes numbers and words that describe location and time. However, it’s not clear how this information applies to what’s happening in the story.

The final verdict:

Readers should probably start with the first book, since prior events and characters are frequently mentioned. Glory is a likeable character, as she always wants to do the right thing, and she trusts others. Perhaps too much. I recommend you give this book a shot!

How to Build a Human: The Incredible Design of the Human Body (Tomorrow's World) by Scott Goldie

What worked:

The author uses several techniques to make the non-fiction information more palatable and approachable for young readers. The numerous, colorful illustrations are most obvious, but the backgrounds and text boxes are multi-colored too. Humor is an important part of text, making the information entertaining. Questions about the human body are often used as a bridge to relevant facts. Some pages include “Four Facts and a Fib” that create active reading instead of remaining passive. “Fun Facts” break up the narrative by sharing short, related information.

The book is surprisingly comprehensive. It begins by exploring what it means to be human and then addresses cells and pathogens, microscopic things found in the body. Other chapters describe the skeletal system (since we’re vertebrates) and then the brain and nervous system. It shares the various types of bones and even the different kinds of bone joints. There’s a section about the BCI, which enables humans with disabilities to recover some mobility they may have lost due to paralysis. There’s an explanation of how our sense of smell works, along with an amusing page titled “How to Safely Remove a Booger”. The book covers everything readers expect, such as the heart, lungs, liver, and less obvious topics kids might find interesting. Poop, pee, blushing, and sweating are natural bodily functions, so the book talks about them. Young readers are aware of reproduction, allergies, and diseases, and these subjects are covered toward the end.

What didn’t work as well:

The book contains loads of information and facts, but readers will be challenged to find specific topics. There isn’t an index at the back, so readers doing research will need to use context, skimming, and scanning to locate needed pages. Most chapters have creative titles, so the relevant pages may not be obvious. The heart, blood, and platelets are in the chapter “Let’s Plug in the Heart”, and “The Finishing Touches” covers skin, hair, and fingernails.

The final verdict:

It’s always effective when an author makes nonfiction entertaining, so upper middle-grade readers will have fun while they’re learning. This book can be used for research or for short periods of reading amusement. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot!

You are Now Old Enough to Hear This by Aaron Starmer

What worked:

The author is a master storyteller, weaving several of them together in this book. Roman has never heard the entire story of his grandfather’s missing toe, and readers can expect the unexpected from events surrounding the grandfather’s death. Roman is surprised by his grandfather’s terrified face while padlocking a shed, and the man dies the very next day. However, Roman is shocked when he later finds his grandfather locked in that same shed. A series of short, creepy stories follows, and readers must piece together new information to make sense of the overall plot.

The short stories are divided into sections, so they stand out from the overall tale. This strategy helps young readers focus on them separately, helping with comprehension. The book opens with the events mentioned above, but it later describes the full story of the Toe Monster, The Girl, and the bucket. The bucket becomes a very important part of the plot, so readers will need to pay attention. The author wraps things up by alternating points of view between Roman and The Girl. These chapters provide a full explanation of how everything ties together, and reader imagination is required. The stories of the bucket and The Girl depict a family rite of passage, and the entire plot gives Roman and readers things to think about.

The Girl is the most intriguing character. Her name isn’t mentioned until late in the book, so she projects an aura of mystery. She’s always accompanied by dogs, and many family pets choose to join her. She takes over all the businesses in a small town, so readers will ponder her possible motives. On the other hand, she sometimes sounds lost and alone, causing readers to develop empathy for her character. A Tasmanian Tiger called Tiger is always nearby, and this extinct animal can talk and grant wishes. These two characters are at the heart of the plot, and their stories are revealed in the end.

What didn’t work as well:

The short stories are quite peculiar, so readers must be tolerant and open to strangeness. The ending will still have readers scratching their heads, trying to piece everything together.

The final verdict:

Hopefully, you understand this book is for active readers and requires mental engagement. The ending may leave readers with some unanswered questions, but overall, I recommend you try this book for yourself.

Ameti Rising (Miro Chronicles 2) by Emily Arons

What worked:

Two aspects of this book differ from those of others. The setting is on a planet called Miro, and the humans harvest power from rocks called Orra. Humans had mismanaged natural resources on their former planet, so survivors fled to Miro. Conservation of nature is a primary focus, as the characters try to protect the climate, Orra, and all living things. Orro comes in different colors, and each one has unique powers and qualities. The second different thing about this book is that the characters can communicate with their partner animals. This is accomplished through collars the animals wear and their humans’ orbs. The orbs also connect the humans to AI partners that provide knowledge and guidance. One unexpected event arises in the first quarter of the book when Jimmy, the main character, is reunited with his loyal, brave, and always hungry otter, Otto.

Des, Jimmy’s uncle, was the antagonist in the first book, and the characters are well aware that he’s still lurking somewhere on the planet. He wants to control all of the Orra and become the most powerful person on Miro. Des is causing changes to landforms and the environment, and he’s begun controlling powerful packs of wild animals that threaten the natural balance. Complicating matters, Jimmy feels pressure to live up to his family’s legacy, continues to verbally spar with a rival, and he fears he might have similar characteristics to his uncle. Readers know that Jimmy and his friends, Derek and Tala, will stop Des’s latest plans before the book ends.

The plot moves quickly, which should appeal to most middle-grade readers, even reluctant ones. The chapters are fairly short, which works well for young readers with short attention spans. The story includes periodic reminders of what’s already happened, along with emphasis on what’s at stake. The setting is reminiscent of Earth with similar climates, familiar animals, and people mining for oil. The book teaches messages on conservation of nature and resources that apply to readers’ lives on Earth.

What didn’t work as well:

The downside to a story moving at a fast pace is that there tends to be a lack of description and details. There are parts where there’s a retelling of action rather than a description of what’s happening. There are jumps in time, and readers sometimes need to make assumptions and connections about missing information.

The final verdict:

This book is a wonderful example of speculative fiction that can be enjoyed by a wide range of middle-grade readers. It contains action, humor, drama, and character relationships that make the story appealing. I suggest you give this book a shot.