Explorer Academy #2: The Falcon's Feather by Trudi Trueit

My name is Emmet, and we've finally set sail on Orion. Cruz, Sailor, Lani, and I have figured out the Explorer Academy flagship must travel to Norway to locate the next piece of a secret formula for a miracle medicine. However, the captain and Cruz's aunt are the only other people on the ship who are aware of our search. Nebula Pharmaceuticals will do anything to stop us, including murder. We know they have spies everywhere, so we don't know who can be trusted. I've set up surveillance and security equipment in my room, so we can see if anyone tries to steal the journal and the first stone Cruz is hiding. However, the Orion has been hailed for a rescue mission to save a pod of whales, so our search for the next part of the formula will need to wait. 

You should read the first book in the series, The Nebula Secret, before reading this one. The author included some pages from some members of Nebula, so I was able to gain some insight into the mind of the main antagonist. There was a hint that one of the Explorers is spy for him, so that kept me wondering about this character's identity. I liked how Lani, Cruz's best friend in Hawaii, was still included in the story even though she wasn't a member of the academy. Cruz's feelings for her were unclear, since he became a little jealous about Lani spending time with another boy. On the other hand, a female Explorer is interested in Cruz, so he was forced to deal with those emotions himself. You should have an interest in science, mysteries, and the environment to enjoy this book and the series. The Academy's main purpose is to protect the planet, and the Orion sails the ocean on expeditions and nature-saving missions. The plot includes information about animals in nature, conservation measures like the world seed bank, and historical events around the world. You can learn some interesting facts about our planet. The book is full of impossible inventions that add to the fun-factor of the story. I won't try to describe them, but rest assured they're imaginative and impressive. Overall, this series won't appeal to everyone, but I'm enjoying the fresh characters.

Nevermoor #3: Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

My name is Morrigan, and a virus started infecting the Wunimals in Nevermoor. I experienced the transformation in behavior several times, and luckily, I survived the vicious attacks. However, the Wunimals finally collapsed and fell into hollow comas. They're not just unconscious, there's no evidence of life inside them. The citizens of Nevermoor will panic if they learn of this virus possibly affecting Wunimals walking among them. A good thing happening at school is I started learning the Wondrous Arts from teachers who can't see me or speak to me, and I have no way to interact with them. Maybe I'll learn something useful that will make everyone stop fearing me as a Wundersmith, and they'll stop comparing me to Ezra Squall. 

You should read the previous two books in the series before reading this one. The Wunimals are sentient, talking animals, although many humans still have a hard time accepting them. At one time, humans kept Wunimals as pets, so it reminds me of people not accepting the rights of slaves after slavery was abolished. Morrigan's lessons are creative, as she visits lessons from the past by stepping through time. No one living, aside from Ezra Squalls, knows how to practice the Wondrous Arts, so Morrigan is forced to learn by stepping through time to watch Wundersmiths from the past. Of course, Ezra Squalls killed all the others but know wants to mentor Morrigan. This conflict has been going on since the series began, but it gets more complicated in this book. I don't like how Morrigan's lessons are separating her from her friends, and she tends to do things on her own. The Deucalion Hotel where Morrigan lives offers an amusing addition to the story. It has its own personality and moods, and it does strange things when it gets upset. This book gets into the politics of feuding governments, and Morrigan learns it's complicated. She also learns the republic's leaders don't always have her best interests at heart. Overall, this is an entertaining series that begins with The Trials of Morrigan Crow, the 2018 Cybils Award winner in Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction.

Explorer Academy #1: The Nebula Secret by Trudi Trueit

My name is Cruz, and I've arrived in Washington to attend the Explorer Academy, the place where my mom died when I was little. Along with the other twenty-three recruits from around the world, we'll be the next generation of explorers to conserve and protect the planet. However, a group called Nebula seems intent on killing me if I don't leave the academy. Don't believe me? Remember the guy who tried to kill me back in Hawaii, or the scarred guy who threatened me on my first day here, or the gas that almost poisoned my friends and me? I've always dreamed of traveling the world on conservation missions, but why would anyone want to stop me? It must have something to do with my mom's secret research. I don't know anything about it, but I've learned that she left a journal for me. I know it will answer all of my questions if I can only decipher the clues to find it.

I randomly found this book in my library's directory, and this science fiction novel was a nice change from some other books I've read recently. The story of a young boy being accepted to a select academy isn't unusual, and there seems to be an unknown reason why Nebula has targeted him. To appreciate this book, you should enjoy science and puzzle solving, as the plot requires an understanding of both. It includes all kinds of impossible things including Cruz's voice-activated drone bee that he uses for protection and surveillance, and the mood-sensitive glasses created from the mind of his roommate, Emmet. The team of characters learns to get along, and Dugan presents a challenge in that area. He feels Cruz is getting help from his aunt, a member of the faculty. The author does a good job of developing uncertainty about the antagonists, as Cruz isn't sure which characters deserve his confidence. At least one person at the academy seems to be working to undermine Cruz. Overall, I really liked this book and have already started reading the sequel, The Falcon's Feather. I know this series won't be for everyone, but lovers of science, conservation, and mystery will enjoy it. 

Alex Rider #9: Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz

If I could feel emotions, I would be happy to help Scorpia settle the score with the British government and Alex Rider. Our contract to return Greek artifcats to their homeland is the perfect opportunity. I'm looking forward to continuing my experiments on torture by using the teenage MI6 agent as my subject. I have a foolproof way to blackmail the British government into returning these ancient treasures to Greece. The world will condemn MI6 and Britain when I reveal they've been using a teenage boy in dangerous missions. However, the evidence must be solid and irrefutable. I'm going to cast bait that MI6 can't ignore, and then I'll manipulate them into bringing Alex Rider back for another mission. I'm going to play them like a chess match that the British government cannot survive.

This book felt different from other books in the series, as Alex first appeared about a third of the way into the plot. The early chapters described Scorpia's plans to get revenge for past failures found in earlier books, and a character from Point Blanc returned in a key role. I continued to be amazed at how Alex could be coerced into becoming a spy again and how certain evidence could be ignored by experienced "intelligence" officers. Don't accept that a person is dead unless you recover the body! I've found Alex to be a very lonely character, as the MI6 missions left him distant and unable to tell anyone the truth. For the first time, Alex was accompanied on a mission by someone he actually knew, although it complicated things. This book brought the whole series to a close, so some secrets were revealed and old grudges were revisited. Scorpia's efforts have been a problem in many of the books, but this mission was the last straw. How many times could a criminal group be foiled by a teenager? I won't say the series had a happy ending, but it ended. Overall, I recommend to try the series if you enjoy spy stories with plenty of action and gadgets.

The Gatekeeper of Pericael by Hayley Reese Chow

My name is Porter, and I wish I could spend my time playing soccer instead learning to become the Kotalla kan protecting the Universe Gate. I know it's important to separate our world from Pericael, but there's no way I can remember all of the runes needed to create the necessary spells. My mom can't keep doing the job forever, but why can't my sister take over? And today, I probably shouldn't have answered the knock on the portal door, but how was I to know Mimoosh would need my help protecting his village from Raspurn? He's growing stronger by absorbing souls from the people in Pericael, but he really wants to get his hands on my Tok. With its powers, he'll be able to enslave everyone on both sides of the Universal Gate. 

This book is scheduled to be released in the Spring of 2021, and I recommend you give it a shot when it comes out. Porter is a wonderful character, as he possesses great power and abilities while lacking the motivation and confidence needed to be the Kotalla kan. He wants to join a travel soccer team and live as a "normal" kid, but someone from his family has always guarded the Gate. His cousin Ames is in stark contrast, as he finds the whole experience exciting and compares it to Star Wars movies. I don't remember many Star Wars movies being set in the jungle. In addition, Porter and Ames are joined by two sisters who are training to become shaman, but they each have their own issues to complicate matters. The magic in the book comes from spirits, and as the book says they do most of the heavy lifting. Porter must ask them to share their power, but a connection is formed when this happens. Porter has a constant fear that at some point the spirits will take control of his mind. This possibility is reinforced throughout the plot, so it's a lingering internal conflict for Porter. You'll love this book if you're into magic, spirits, and young mages learning to harness their powers. 

The Uncommoners #1: The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell

My name is Sylvie, and my brother Seb and I fell into a handbag and emerged in a world of uncommoners located deep under London. This world uses uncommon objects that are powered by the souls of dead people. My first experiences were with the teeth of a comb changing to pointy fangs and lemon juicers that provided light in a cave. We've been helped by a boy named Valian, but we don't fully trust him due to how he sneaks off. We've learned that our granma is an uncommoner, which means Seb and I are too! Her family disappeared in 1969 on the same day she lost her memory. It has something to do with the Dirge, and this evil group is trying to get something back from Granma, but what? Seb and I now have two days to figure it out and save the lives of our parents. 

I found this book randomly while searching in my library's directory. The idea of the uncommoners was unique, although I wish the author had come up with a more creative name. The uncommon objects made me curious, as I anticipated what they might do. It seemed like Sylvie was nervous about touching anything, because she didn't know what might happen. I mean, the "police" used toilet brushes as weapons! The plot developed into a mystery, as the siblings tried to figure out about their family's past and Granma's amnesia. What really happened back in 1969, and why had the Dirge returned after being dormant for all these years? Why would the Dirge be coming after their family now? The kids became detectives but were hampered by their lack of knowledge about the uncommon world. Valian was the wild card, as he helped them navigate the streets and caves but seemed to be keeping secrets. What was he really up to? The entire cast of characters was eccentric, as they had unusual appearances and abilities. There were different types of ghouls, goblins, and uncommoners who could transform their appearances or secretly maneuver around the city. Spectacles changed to drinking glasses, bells were able to talk, and paper clips became handcuffs. The whole book was quite magical and creative, and I recommend you give it a shot.