The Mystery of Insch Brae House by Susan Fiddes

What worked:

The author describes a mysterious, depressing setting for Muriel, as she’s sent to stay with a guardian she’s never met. Miss Floss demeans her at every opportunity to the point where Muriel is afraid to move about the house. The house itself is drab and dusty, with most of the rooms standing empty. However, food surprisingly appears outside her bedroom door, but it seems Miss Floss doesn’t know anything about it. Strange sounds and Muriel’s curiosity lead her to begin investigating the house.

The author uses short chapters, which should appeal to young readers. The conflict focuses on the history of Insch Brae House, since Muriel doesn’t understand why it’s in such poor condition now. She deduces that it may have been a school where Miss Floss once worked, but Muriel wants to know why she’s now so sad and bitter. A young boy from town joins Muriel halfway into the story, and together, they follow clues to uncover what happened to the house and Miss Floss. The truth involves bullying and a tragic love story and builds to a surprising climax.

What didn’t work as well:

The prologue and an early chapter describe Muriel’s father in India. He’s injured during an earthquake, and her mother travels there to be with him. However, her parents aren’t a major part of the story, and readers may be disappointed or surprised by that. Perhaps the parents will be more present in the book’s sequel.

The final verdict:

The plot isn’t a suspenseful mystery, but it features unique characters and a heart-warming ending. I suggest you give it a shot.

The Nightkeeper’s Apprentice by Jude Reid

What worked:

Eilidh joins her aunt and cousin on a barren, rocky island, and readers' speculation begins with her arrival. She’s told to never enter the lighthouse but isn’t given a reason. Most readers will join Eilidh, as her imagination comes up with many ways to explain why she can’t visit a lighthouse that doesn’t shine a warning light for ships. Adding to the intrigue is the question of what her aunt can possibly be doing in there every day. Readers know that something will happen, making Eilidh eventually break her promise to her aunt and venture into the strange tower. This will change the trajectory of the story.

Two characters contribute to the mystery and an unpredictable course of events. Magnus is Eilidh’s cousin, and he’s fairly quiet for much of the story. He clearly doesn’t want her around and spends much of his time stomping around the house or going off on his own outside. He knows about the lighthouse and its secrets, and he moves about the property as if he’s searching for something. Later, Cam joins the story, and he’s the ghost mentioned in the synopsis. He feels he hasn’t moved on because of unfinished business, but he has no idea what it might be. Ghosts always include a bit of uncertainty. However, Cam infuses some humor as he becomes acquainted with Eilidh.

There’s a simmering conflict behind the scenes between the Finfolk and the Landfolk, though it isn’t clear whether the humans are aware of it. Long ago, all creatures were Finfolk until some discovered a way to live on shore by trading their fins for legs. Eventually, Landfolk forced Finfolk to remain in the ocean, and they then took all the fish and polluted the waters. Finfolk have never forgotten. Sing-In-The-Shallows is infatuated by Landfolk, but she’s angered by their wars and killing. The author inserts pages between some chapters that explain what Sing-In-The-Shallows is doing and what she observes. Readers will remain curious as they discover how she fits into the story. A magical horn emerges as a major conflict, but readers must wait to find out what it means.

What didn’t work as well:

The Finfolks’ current attitude toward Landfolk is unclear. The pages about Sing-In-The-Shallows describe her curiosity about humans and how she helps them in times of need. However, she says the other Finfolk wouldn’t approve of her actions, but they don’t enter the story until the very end. Their feelings are still ambiguous even after that scene.

The final verdict:

Readers under ten years of age can still enjoy this book. It’s reminiscent of Irish selkie stories and creepy water creatures. The mystery of the Nighthouse will keep readers captivated, although readers will predict that Eilidh will make a questionable decision. I recommend you try this book for yourself.

The Grimlore Game by Kalyn Josephson

What worked:

Grimlore Manor is a magical house, although none of the characters are stereotypical back-stabbing relatives. The curse causes scenes to change and memories to be shared. These visions offer information that can be used to solve puzzles and end the Grimlore Game. Kit is shocked to see a fancy-dressed cat open the front door when she first arrives, and even more surprised to learn no one else can see him. Carmine is an aloof character and feels no need to speak with Kit. Her luggage floats up to her suite, and meals are prepared by bowls and utensils guided by Carmine’s instructions. Kit’s best friend is a tarantula named Gregor with an insatiable love for sweets. He’s not magical, but he adds color to the story.

Kit is full of emotions that will take readers on a rollercoaster adventure. Her parents were victims of the curse, and Kit desperately misses her father. They used to solve all kinds of puzzles together, and Kit uses that knowledge to unlock new clues. She doesn’t really have a home anymore, since her relatives only tolerate her because she might inherit Amos’s money. Kit doesn’t hide her disdain for them, and they treat her like a rude, disobedient little girl. Readers will wonder what will become of Kit once the Grimlore Game concludes. No one shows her any kindness, so who will become her new guardian? Kit slowly comes to realize the game may be more about solving the curse than locating the family wealth.

Mystery and puzzle lovers should enjoy this book, as that’s the driving force of the plot. All of the Devlin relatives gather for the reading of their grandfather’s will, hoping to inherit his wealth. Kit never met the man, but he seemed to favor her over all of her aunts and uncles. She encounters a puzzle box, riddles, and other confusing clues that lead to other mysteries. Kit gets reluctant help from her cousin Harlow, but he has low self-esteem and is afraid of almost everything. Initially, Kit thinks she needs to do everything herself, but she’s forced to admit she needs Harlow. All the while, Kit doesn’t understand why her Grandfather Amos took an interest in her.

What didn’t work as well:

Excerpts from “A Guide to Curses” follow some of the chapters. They often repeat information readers already know, but they also add some food for thought. However, they don’t add much to the overall story.

The final verdict:

The book’s charm comes from Kit’s journey to break the curse and find a home where she can feel wanted and safe. The search for clues will appeal to mystery lovers, and the plot builds to an unexpected resolution. I recommend you try this book for yourself!

Chloe Vega and the Missing Unseen (Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic 2) by Leslie Adame

What worked:

The Unseen is a barrier separating the magical and non-magical worlds. In the first book, Chloe accepted one of the three strongest gems in the world, the opal gem, but this time she learns of its side effects. Using the power destroyed the Unseen around the Mexican-United States border, so innocent people are being exposed to dangers and magic for the first time. The immigration issue remains a conflict in the story, as Chloe’s parents are undocumented. Congress is considering a bill that will make life easier for immigrants, and the academy students are well aware of its effect. In the meantime, Osthall and his followers still want to eliminate the Unseen all over the world. 

As with many middle-grade speculative fiction books, Chloe doesn’t know how to handle her immense new power, and readers learn it responds to her emotions.  She is thirteen years old, and it’s difficult to control feelings at this stage of life. She loses control of herself a few times, and she’s very distressed after harming her best friend. Other students hate or fear her, except for her closest friends, so the school drama is ramped up. The adults decide it will be best to remove the gem’s powers from Chloe, but the security council may use an illegal process to do it. Reese offers to tutor Chloe in a process that will make it easier for her to voluntarily give up the power. However, Reese used to be Osthall’s second in command, so readers will be leery of his intentions. Chloe’s emotional turmoil is a highlight.

The opening chapters are full of action, as Chloe is attacked several times before arriving at the academy. She faces personal attacks at school, and a council representative aggressively tries to catch her making mistakes. One more misuse of Chloe’s opal power will result in it being painfully extracted from her. Chloe alienates her friends to keep them safe, even though she needs as much emotional support as she can get. The plot builds to a dramatic showdown full of fighting and surprises. Readers will need to figure out which characters are behind Chloe and which ones are secretly working against her. Readers will be shocked by the final revelations. 

What didn’t work as well:

Some readers may tire of Chloe’s constant drama with friends and the council representative. However, these trials and tribulations are important for developing the conflict and plot. They complicate her mastery of the opal gem and add suspense to the story. 

The final verdict:

Readers should probably start with the first book in the series. This one is full of conflicted feelings and character relationships, but the author’s surprises at the end are especially entertaining. I highly recommend you give it a shot.