The League of Seven #2: The Dragon Lantern by Alan Gratz

My name is Cody. I'm a soldier inside a ten-story mechanical man that is commanded by Captain George Custer. We've been ordered to help Archie, a boy made of stone, capture a fox girl who stole some kind of lantern. This lantern is mighty powerful; it changes people into hideous monsters! Archie says I'm supposed to be the leader of this League of Seven, but I'm not sure what that means. Catching this fox girl has been a pain in the butt, since she's able to make us see things that aren't real. This lantern she had was supposed to have something to do with what happened to Archie, but that ain't true. The real truth is unbelievable, and he's pretty upset about how it will affect his friends. Hachi's down in Louisiana trying to find out the names of the people who murdered 100 members of her tribe, but her quest is tangled up with Archie's past. I told Archie it's going to be okay, but I'm not sure what's going to happen when they get back together.

You should read the first book in the series before reading this one. Archie was the first character in that book, and the plots have been focused on him. However, the author has done a nice job of developing subplots, most notably the story about Hachi's need for revenge. This book offers up some surprises, as an important character is uncovered as a main antagonist. Another character seemed to be joining the League of Seven, but that changed before it really got started. I enjoy the twists to real places and events in history, although young readers may not understand them. The book includes some humor, as the spirit of Buster the dog is transferred to the mechanical man/ten-story tank. Imagine a 100-foot tall robot chasing trains and scratching for fleas! I'm anxious to read the next book in the series, The Monster War.