Oliver Blue and the School for Seers #1: The Magic Factory by Morgan Rice

My name is Oliver, and I'm sick and tired of being bullied by my brother Chris. My parents don't even care, and they let him get away with it. So, it was an easy decision to leave home after meeting my favorite inventor, Armando. I decided to stay in his factory and help with the development of his fantastic inventions; I even finished making an invisible coat! How was I to know the other strange things happening to me were due to my powers as a seer? I now find myself in the School for Seers, and I've made some good friends. I can't say where they're from, but it's more important to say when they're from. Esther, the cute girl in class, is from my neighborhood, but about fifty years before me. However, I've discovered Armando's assistant is planning something dangerous against the school, and no one can stop him. Except me.

This book will appeal to lovers of science and inventions, as Oliver loves to create new things. There is some magic involved, as the seers are able to manipulate things using their specialized powers. Of course, the main character is going to have the rarest and most powerful specialty. Bullying is a big part of the plot, as Oliver faces it almost everywhere he goes. His brother, parents, classmates, and teachers all treat him unfairly. Friendship is another big part of the story, although his relationship with Esther isn't typical for most eleven-year-olds. Ralph is his best friend, but their bond isn't as close as I would expect. They're buddies, but they don't seem much closer than others in the group. The hardest thing to accept is Oliver's mastery of his ability. It's first presented as something difficult to perfect, but he somehow performs powerful spells with almost no training. He's also told he could end up good or evil, so that question continues throughout the book. I appreciate his loyalty and caring toward Armando and his friends, and his positive qualities will most assuredly come out on top. Overall, time travel, magic, and comradery appealed to me, so I recommend you give the book a shot. 

The Remarkables by Margaret Peterson Haddix

My name is Marin, and I hoped the move to Pennsylvania would help change my life in a good way. I'm still upset about how my friendships ended back in Illinois, but my first impression with the boy next to my new house wasn't much better. Charley and I are the only people able to see the teenagers on the other side of the hill. They looked really happy while I was watching their party, but then they just disappeared! Charley is sure one of the boys is his father, and one of the girls is named Missy. Something tragic happened at this house twenty years ago, and it's haunted Charley's father ever since. Are we seeing time travelers? Ghosts? I'm not sure what they are, but Charley calls them the Remarkables. He's convinced we can do something to change the past and heal his father. Can it be possible?

Marin had an ongoing, internal conflict regarding her past friends, and it was hard for her to resolve. The plot began when she saw the teenagers beyond the trees and thought they had the ability to become invisible. Charley brought focus to the events, as he knew local backstories and had been watching the Remarkables for a while. The Remarkables felt more like ghosts than time travelers, and they created a curious cast of characters. Charley and Marin tried to figure things out, but the story tended to meander around. It wasn't clear where the plot was headed or when it might end. However, I should have known the author had something up her sleeve, as the last fourth of the book flipped everything around. Assumptions were corrected, inconsistencies were cleared up, and the story would probably end happily ever after. The story addressed common middle school issues and the complications of friendship. Once again, the answer to the problems boiled down to communication. Overall, I enjoyed the book very much and recommend you give it a shot. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

My name is Constance, and I'll call you whatever I want to. I don't know why Benedict allowed me to pass all of his tests, but he's put me on a "team" with three other weird kids. Stinky memorizes everything he sees, but the kid is ridiculously nervous. Kate carries a stupid bucket around where she holds "useful" things like a kaleidoscope. Reynie seems kind of normal, and he's the only one willing to give me a chance. I know I'm a pain and mouthy, but I'm going to give him a chance too. Benedict thinks our team (I came up with the name Mysterious Benedict Society) is the only hope for stopping the Emergency. Someone is sending hidden messages through televisions and radios, but we don't know why. Benedict thinks they're coming from a private school on an island, so he's going to send us there as students. I don't know why he'd send kids into a dangerous situation, but I'm going to go anyhow. It's my choice, not his. 

The plot contains a lot of thinking, as the kids try to figure out what's going on with the Emergency. Most of the book takes place at the private school where the kids try to excel in the strange classes. They try to advance to a higher level where they'll gain access to more secrets. The director is clearly manipulating the minds of the students and public, but he has an unexpected connection to Mr. Benedict. This becomes important to resolving the conflict, although the problem will continue in the book's sequel. As mentioned above, the main characters are a strange blend of personalities. The most entertaining part of the book is how they work together in unconventional ways. Reynie becomes the leader and is able to think through and solve perplexing problems. Kate is impulsive but athletic, Sticky is very book smart but anxious, and Constance is just plain difficult. The others don't understand why Constance is part of the team, but her personality is important during the climax. All of the kids have issues with their family situations, but the plot's resolution brings everything to a happy conclusion. Overall, the book was very entertaining, and I recommend you give it a shot. The movie follows the gist of the book, but the book is almost always better.

The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street by Laurn Oliver

My name is Cordelia, and I wish I could tell people that my father is a veterinarian for monsters. My mother was a famous author of a book on monsters before she disappeared several years ago. However, most people are either terrified of them or don't believe they exist. It makes life difficult, since I often find myself fighting with classmates. I regret that a monster cost me my best friend. Today, I woke up to discover all of the monsters and my father missing, and a threatening letter in his desk. I don't have any clue as to where they've gone, but a homeless boy named Gregory has offered to help. We make a strange team. I'm trying to hide a baby dragon and a filch, while Gregory has a zombie puppy, a zuppy. I don't know where this adventure will lead, but I have a feeling there's much more to this kidnapping than I know.

The plot didn't provide anything new or novel, but that only made the events easily relatable. The book was set it late 1800's in England. I most enjoyed the three monsters with Cordelia and Gregory, as they were quirky and unpredictable. The zuppy was impulsive, needed a little blood each day, but was Gregory's best friend. The dragon mostly remained hidden until his fire breath was needed. I had some trouble picturing the filch, but he reminded me of a bundled up little chimpanzee. A subplot developed, as Cordelia was forced to face some unresolved issues with her former best friend. This led to the emergence of some additional details about the relationship between monsters and humans. The kids met a gentleman later in the book with interesting views of monsters, the animal kingdom, and humans. Are humans the real monsters? When was the last time you read a middle grade book that discussed Darwin and his theory of evolution? The conflict boiled down to humans' intolerance for things that are different or unexplained. The story's antagonist, revealed late in the book, had a surprising backstory of his own regarding monsters and humans. The plot became an adventure mystery, as the kids tried to locate Cordelia's father and the missing monsters. Overall, I enjoyed the book and can easily recommend it to you. Give it a shot. 

Beast Quest #1: New Blood by Adam Blade

My name is Sam, and my cousins and I received unusual bequests following our grandmother's death. She left us arm bands that my mother says are completely worthless. However, we later discovered some secret stairs in our grandmother's house that led to a blue egg. We were immediately attacked by a gargoyle beast, but my band changed into a chain and grappling hook! Amy leaped in to help when her band became a clubbed mace. Together, I managed to hold the creature, while Amy smashed it to smithereens. Afterwards, I went and picked up the egg, and a small dragon hatched into my hands. We're able to communicate with our minds, and our connection protects me from fire. How cool is that! We didn't know it at the time, but he just became Guardians of Avantia, and we are the only ones able to hatch Beast eggs. Unfortunately, the Dark Wizard wants the eggs, so we know Malvel will be coming for us.

This book was a very quick read; I finished in less than an hour. It's probably best for upper elementary readers, as the plot was fairly simple and fast-paced. There was plenty of combat to keep young readers interested, and each main character wielded a unique weapon. On the downside, there wasn't much time to develop backstories or to develop the characters. The three kids were all cousins, but Sam had an unpleasant disposition. I expected this to be the personality of his character, but it quickly changed due to the quick pace. As expected, the lack of depth in the whole story made the events more unbelievable than some other books. There was a zero-learning curve, as the kids easily manipulated their new weapons. There wasn't an inner feeling about how to use them, but the kids still defeated the evil creatures. The main antagonist was easily predictable, but the kids made him seem less formidable. Again, they were able to stop him a couple of times on their first day of becoming Guardians. Overall, this book tells an entertaining, short story with magic and monsters. Younger readers might not be bothered by my reactions described above, so the book will appeal to the right audience and reading level. 

The Undertakers #1: Rise of the Corpses by Ty Drago

My name is Will, and this morning I discovered my neighbor is dead... and my teacher... and the assistant principal. I might have been dead too if the new girl at school hadn't saved me. We ended up at an abandoned warehouse in downtown Philadelphia where I met the Undertakers. They're a bunch of kids who can See the Corpses, hidden behind their Mask illusions. Adults can't See the Corpses, intelligent and organized creatures that have taken over the bodies of dead humans. Their Masks conceal their true identities from the public, so they can hold positions as policemen, politicians, and even that popular newscaster on television. The Undertakers say they've been waiting for me to become a Seer, but I can't believe the other things they're telling me about my father. 

I don't read many books about zombies, oops I mean Corpses, so this was a change for me. The first half of the book described Will's orientation into the Undertakers and shared information about the Corpses. It bugged me a little that the Undertakers didn't know where the creatures came from; I assume the question will be answered at some point in the series. Will was the main character, and the story described his emotional roller coaster. He didn't readily join the Undertakers, as he felt fear, anger, and confusion. He missed his family and was shocked by the information about his father. It was nice to see a character reluctant to accept the change in reality, although I grew tired of him constantly disobeying rules. You can't keep regretting decisions and then turn around and do it again. Will unexpectedly became good friends with the bully character, and he had a complicated relationship with the girl who saved him. The plot included some mystery, as the possibility of a mole was presented. It gave the brain something else to consider. The plot contained adventure and action, and there were periods of fighting with the Corpses. People died, although there didn't seem to be a way to kill the Corpses. Overall, I enjoyed the book and plan to read the sequel, Queen of the Dead.

The Dragon Egg Princess by Ellen Oh

My name is Jiho, and the people from other lands don't understand the dangers lurking in the Kidahara. A company wants to cut down trees to build a road through the forest, but the creatures hidden there will attack and kill any threats to the lands. Magic in the Kidahara doesn't affect me, and I am able to sense monsters preparing to strike. My family needs money, so I've agreed to work as a scout for the company. However, I've learned their true plans and recognize it will lead to disaster. I can feel the eyes watching us from the shadows, but I don't know what they're waiting for. The foreman wants us to cut down a huge tree, but I know there's an evil force waiting to pounce. The foreman won't heed my warnings, so all I can do is prepare for the screaming and death. 

The conflict between technology and nature is a key part of the plot, but there's much more to be found. While the company wants to develop the Kidahara, the motives behind the development are more devious. The story of a missing princess is shared early in the book, so it's clear she will make an appearance at some point. Actually, she becomes the key piece of everything that's happening. Jiho is a wonderfully likeable character, as he thinks of the world in simple terms. He doesn't understand the complexities of other cultures and why they're so dependent on technology. This also adds some humor to the plot. Jiho appreciates and respects living with nature, things taught to him by his father. His father has been missing for several years, so that's an additional question lingering throughout the story. Jiho is bitter that his father left without any explanation of his disappearance. While many books focus on characters' magical abilities, Jiho's unexplained power negates magic. His family has always helped protect the Kidahara, but Jiho has no interest in becoming a ranger. The plot escalates to an exciting climax that brought everything to a satisfying conclusion. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and recommend you give it a shot. 

The Five Realms #3: The Beasts of Grimheart by Kieran Larwood

Assassins called bonedancers have finally tracked me down, and my storytelling skills are the only thing that may save me... "Podkin and his friends had already defeated the Gorm a couple of times, but the enemy regrouped and inflicted even more devastation. It didn't seem possible that anything could destroy the whole Grimheart Forest, but the Gorm had created a new weapon of destruction. Podkin's forces numbered around sixty, while the Gorm countered with hundreds of metal warriors. Podkin and his sister Paz had collected several Gifts of the Goddess, but they knew they needed at least one more, a magic bow held by their uncle. They ventured into the forest in search of his warren, but his hate for their mother was powerful. Then, along the way, Podkin and Paz discovered there was a traitor among them."

You really need to read the previous books first. The unique twist to the series is how it is told in two settings. A bard named Wulf (his true identity was revealed in a previous book) shares the story of Podkin and his quest to stop Scramashank, leader of the Gorm. This book seems to end the war, but the resolution leaves some questions. Podkin is an endearing main character, as he's an unassuming hero. He's thrust into the role of a leader, but he questions all of his decisions. It's a lot of responsibility, and he thinks his sister Paz would make a great chief. However, women are rarely considered for that position, and the story addresses this injustice. The book unites unlikely allies to combat the Gorm juggernaut. At the core of the conflict is an ages old feud between the gods and goddesses. Podkin pursues the history of it and makes it the focus of his strategy. Overall, this is an entertaining series that's easy to read. It's being shared by a storytelling bard! Give it a shot.

Jack and the Geniuses #1: At the Bottom of the World by Bill Nye & Gregory Mone

Have you seen the new building with no entrances, over by the pizza place? Something in there grabbed my sister's drone, and I fell while trying to scale the walls up to a window. Turns out, THE Dr. Hank Witherspoon owns the building, and he hired my family to work for him. Actually, he hired my genius sister and genius brother, and I was part of the deal. After a couple of months, I was ready to quit when Hank said we were traveling to Antarctica! It wasn't my first choice for a vacation, but it beat cleaning and organizing the labs. However, when we arrived, we discovered Hank's friend was missing. She supposedly discovered something that would change the world, but no one knows what she found. Surviving in the frigid desert was nearly impossible, so I made it my mission to save her. 

I chose this book because one of the authors is Bill Nye the Science Guy, and science is clearly at the forefront of the plot. The inventions included are fairly realistic, which keeps the book from becoming a fantasy. There are a couple of pages at the end that even describe how the ideas for some of the inventions come from real ones created by kids. The authors do a wonderful job of including scientific information without interrupting the flow of the book. The underlying story describes efforts to change salt water to fresh water and maintaining ice masses in Antarctica. Finding Hank's missing friend becomes the focus of the plot, as Jack wouldn't give up on the mystery of her disappearance. The book is full of suspects, much like a game of Clue, and the director of the science lab wants to find any reason to get rid of the kids. Jack is a foster child and lives with his foster brother and sister. Ava invents things, Matt is great at math, and Jack usually feels worthless next to them. However, Jack comes up with clever plans and adds humor to the story. Overall, I enjoy the simple fun of the book, and recommend you give it a shot. Lovers of science and mysteries should appreciate it. I plan to read the sequel, In the Deep Blue Sea.

Spy School #7: British Invasion by Stuart Gibbs

My name is Catherine, and I'm hoping to help my daughter and her friends finally bring an end to SPYDER. We've discovered a flash drive that can bring the evil organization down, but we need to find the creator to decode the encryption. Luckily, the criminal lives in England, where I'm from, but he lives in a remote castle and won't allow anyone inside. He doesn't trust humans, so all of his services and security are done by computer. We're used to Ben coming up with plans to save the day, but he seems to be off his game. I wonder if his crush on my daughter has anything to do with it, although Erica views friendship as a liability. SPYDER has something in the works that will happen very soon, and it will probably result in bad things happening to Europe and the United States. I think everyone has talents they can offer, although my ex-husband may be the exception. We're going to need all the help we can get. 

I've found you can enjoy these books independently, although it's always best to read a series in order. You just need to know the main characters are kids learning to be spies, and they're constantly trying to save the world. If you've read other books in the series, then you understand the gist of what's going on. Ben's always liked Erica, a superstar junior spy, but things get complicated with Zoe forcing him to decide if he actually has feelings for her. Ah, the complications of teenagers dealing with emotions. The entertaining parts of the book are Ben's plans to thwart SPYDER, the action, and the zany characters. The computer criminal is starving for attention, and Erica's dad is finally admitting that he's not a very good spy. The author adds a twist to the plot, as he suggests there might be another evil organization wanting to bring down SPYDER. It's not clear if this is true, but the possibility is still out there. Overall, this book and the rest of the series present adventures featuring teenage spies saving the world. Humor and emotion are sprinkled in to create engaging stories. I've enjoyed all of the books so far, and I recommend you give them a shot. 

Braderwood #1: Stanley Finnigan and the Race Around the Universe by

My name is Stan, and I was living an unremarkable life in Braderwood when my life suddenly changed. A little man in a huge spaceship informed me that I'd won a lottery on some planet across the universe. Luckily, my science group agreed to come with me, but the lottery wasn't what we expected. The king said we needed to travel across the universe within a week to collect four relics on four different planets. We'd get something if we succeeded, and we'd be killed if we failed. Wow, we won the lottery?! We didn't have much choice, and it ended up being the most memorable experience of my life.

You must have a tolerance for silliness to enjoy this book. It opens as a story about a bullied, average seventh grader and quickly becomes a space adventure. Stan is joined by his best friend Richey, who is always taking risks and looking for a fight. This is more amusing since Richey is shorter than average. Betsy is Stan's smart friend, but she goes along reluctantly. Bryan is the geeky fourth person in the group, but the other kids don't know him very well. The plot itself is pretty far-fetched. The kids are specifically summoned from a distant planet (it's unclear how they were chosen), and creatures in the various worlds already know their names. The "relics" are unusual for a quest (a blue headband?), but luckily the different tasks are completed relatively quickly. The most interesting task involves a planet with amazing technological advancements, but one of its creations goes wrong. Overall, the book is interesting, but I can't highly recommend it to you. It requires a love for science fiction and a patience to deal with goofiness. If this sounds like you, give it a shot.