Kevin Martinez and the Crimson Knights #2: Rise of the Whiteface Order by Mike A. Torres

My friends and I are certain Raven has sent evil, white-faced creatures to Whitefield. They're attacking different boys named Kevin, and it's clear they're searching for me. We're not sure how they were able to leave Derathiel, since Maviel's Mirror opens the only portal between our worlds. However, we've recently learned that the leaves from a crystal plant might be able to open other portals, and this would be disastrous. We must find answers about Raven and his plans, so it looks like we'll be heading back to Derathiel soon. Before dying, Jey gave me a letter saying I need to seek the fallen god of fire named Brealin, so we'll need to find a guide to locate him. Princess Hayla should be able to offer us assistance, although I know she's fighting to save her kingdom. I have Flameclaw to protect us, but it would be very helpful to find the other weapons of the fallen gods. 

You need to read A Game of Mirrors, to fully understand what's going on in the series. The most entertaining aspect is the characters, and there are quite a few main characters. Kevin is THE main character, but his close friends are equally important. They all contribute in their own ways and create their own dynamics to the group. Kevin has a new crush on Olivia, and his discomfort is understandable for a normal seventh grader. Zander is a local bully, and Kevin does all he can to understand and support him in becoming a better person. The presence of the whitefaced invaders creates tension, as it's clear they'll eventually find the correct Kevin. They have overwhelming powers that include changing people into plant-like warriors. Most of this book takes place on earth with short trips to Derathiel. Two of the boys have weapons of the fallen gods, and I expected each book might have a character matched up with a new one. Didn't happen this time. New questions are raised with the introduction of several new characters including Princess Hayla's father, a woman in black, and a baby. I really enjoy books with knights mixed in with a little magic, and this series perfectly fits the bill. I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series, but alas, I don't know how long I'll need to wait. Update! The author contacted me and said the third book should be out in the Fall of 2021!

Ultraball #1: Lunar Blitz by Jeff Chen

My name is Strike, and I'm the quarterback for the Taiko Miners, runner-up for the Ultraball Championship the past three years. The pressure to win this year is suffocating, since the survival of 3,000 colonists is riding on it. A Dark Sider named Boom showed up out of nowhere, and she's the new rocketback 1 our team needs. Little is known about Dark Siders, and most people see them as traitors. I'm not sure about Boom myself, since she gets very defensive when I ask anything about her past. I don't even know her real name! Add that to the rumors that one of my teammates is being paid to stab me in the back, and my suspicions always focus on her. But what if it's someone else? I trust 

I'm not sure why, but I was determined to finish this book in one day. I like sports so Ultraball pulled me in, but the non-sports problems really held my interest. Nothing extraordinary, but it grabbed me for some reason. It was the story of little guys (the Miner colony) versus domination by the largest, richest colony. Its governor would do anything to win and get richer, including the bribery of Strike's best friend in last year's championship game. He has plans for the Miner colony this year that will doom all of its citizens. The story is broken up into different Ultraball games leading to the championship. The rules are similar to football, but the suits and field make the game very different. There are only five Ultraball suits per team, so you can't play if it doesn't fit. The mystery of which Miner might be taking a bribe takes up much of the plot, and the reveal during the climax is a surprise. Actually, the identity isn't totally out of the blue, but the reason for accepting the money is creative. Who knew losing could be winning? Ultraball will appeal to sports lovers, but everything else makes the book more interesting. I'm not sure where the sequel will go, since Spike has a hard time fitting into the Ultraball suit. The book will surely deal with battling injustice, so I recommend you give the series a shot. 

Legend #2: Prodigy by Marie Lu

June and I had nowhere safe to go after escaping the Republic, so we headed to Vegas in search of the Patriots. My knee was really torn up and needed surgery, and the Patriot doctor replaced it with mechanical parts. However, the Patriots wouldn't help without getting a commitment from June and me, so we agreed to assassinate the new Elector Primo. The plan involved June getting captured by the Republic and hopefully not getting killed in the process. My new role was becoming a Patriot Runner, and I was to be the one who actually fired the shot to kill the Elector. However, things changed. I'm now not sure if June is fully committed to the plan, and I'm wondering if the Elector has gotten into her head. My main goal is getting my little brother back, so am I fully committed? The day of the assassination is quickly approaching, so we'll soon find out. 

You need to read Legend first. The story is told from the alternating points of view of the two main characters, June and Day. June is the former Republic wondergirl who helped the Republic's most wanted terrorist, Day, escape in the first book. Voluntarily putting June in the Republic's custody creates a great deal of tension and suspense, while Day's time with the Patriots shares information about the overall picture of the war with the Colonies. A history of the fall of the United States is included, and the Colonies becoming a bigger part of the plot and action. An interesting development concerns Tess, Day's closest friend and companion from the first book. While Day views her as a sister, Tess's feelings for Day go beyond that. This creates more pressure on Day's emotions, since it appeared Day and June were becoming a couple. The author includes clues opening the possibility of future complications, and it seems the assassination plot is shaky from the start. Conspiracies are revealed, loyalties change, good becomes bad, and evil becomes caring. I enjoyed this book better than the first one, so I recommend you give it a shot. This book is part two of a trilogy, with Champion bringing it to a conclusion. 

Keeper of the Lost Cities #8: Legacy by Shannon Messenger

My name is Sophie, and we're trying to figure out the Neverseen's next moves. They've taken Tam and plan to use his shadow powers against us, but I was still able to use my telepathy to contact him. He said the Neverseen is planning attacks that will directly affect us, and he's been ordered to kill Keefe on sight. We're thinking the dwarves are likely targets for the Neverseen, and the Council wants me to lead a small group of friends to investigate. It's hard to focus on the task without knowing the identity of my parents. I'm unmatchable, and that's pretty important to a teenage girl. It's creating stress for me and is complicating my relationships. If Fitz is my boyfriend (Is he my boyfriend?) then why do I feel funny around Keefe? There are so many questions without any answers!

I really enjoy the concept of the story and the characters' blend of abilities. My biggest dislike is the over-description and detail that causes the plot to move very slowly. The Neverseen are a covert organization that causes problems throughout the series, and Keefe's mom is one of its leaders. The main characters have special talents, but Sophie is different. She was genetically engineered by the Black Swan to have multiple talents, but this makes her parents unknown. Her internal conflict is a major issue and consumes much of the plot, but the Council strongly tells her making the identities known would have tragic consequences. The battle with the Neverseen takes a backseat to Sophie's quest to discover her genetic parents, since characters are usually determined to pursue things they're forbidden from having. The most frustrating thing about this book is the ending has me really wanting to read the sequel, but I don't know if I want to read another slow-moving plot. The first three-fourths of the story is posturing and laying foundation without accomplishing much of anything. Then, the last fourth of the book gets exciting with new revelations and confrontations. Based on other reviews I've seen, my feelings are quite common. I can recommend you give the series a shot if you're a mature reader and don't mind taking your time to finish a book. 

Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy by Joshua Levy

Wow, Jackson. You never thought things could get any worse after your father got disgraced and fired from the school, PSS118. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn't listened to his secret message to me? How was I to know he'd invented humanity's first rocket capable of faster than light speed, or that he installed the engine in the school? Or that he programmed the computer to give me control of the ship? I guess ignoring the warnings was on me, but I had no idea what the Quarantine was. So now Ari, Becka, and I find ourselves... somewhere. The computer says our location is unknown. The main thing we've learned about this planet is the Minister is in charge, and she forces all of the aliens to love her. We need to find some way back to our solar system and hopefully get help to rescue the rest of the school.

The plot of the book is a little zany, but it's strangely engaging. Ari is the genius friend who does most of the computer stuff, and Becka is the seventh-grade bully/troublemaker with unexpected talents. She fills a role to run the school/spaceship, plus Ari loves her. Jackson's role as leader is due to the fact he's the only one the computer listens to, but he has a lot to learn about actual leadership. Most of the story takes place on Elvid IX, and the Minister is the main antagonist. Humanity's technology is an infant compared to the capabilities of the aliens, and the Minister's power is based on fear and suppressing the rights of everyone. Jackson's dad's rocket power is the target of her violence and creates the conflict for this book and its sequel. The author mixes humor with adventure, as the three kids try to escape Elvid IX. Familiar details are included on this planet, including a seven-hundred story shopping mall that sells everything from shredded hand towels, to dragons, to rocket fuel. The computer and robot lunch ladies don't talk like machines, and the normalcy of alien life is amusing. Imagine a parent going to a pet store to buy a sea monster and reminding the child that he's responsible for taking care of it. Overall, I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would and recommend you give it a shot. It will appeal to lovers of light-hearted space adventures, as it includes some silliness. 

Ghosts of Wierdwood: A William Shivering Tale by Christian McKay Heidicker

My name is Wally, and my life now has purpose. I used to roam the streets of Kingsport as a thief and pickpocket, but I've become a novitiate for the Manor. I haven't learned to use the magic within me, but Sekhmet's still brought me along on a mission to close a Rift between the Real and Fae worlds. We want to figure out how the Order is able to locate Rifts before us. There are new members of the Order we've never encountered before, and they have powers we've never seen. The most disturbing foe is the Eraser. It leaves a void wherever it goes, disintegrating anything or anyone it touches. How do you fight something that can't be hurt? I'm sure Arthur would have some grand idea with one of his stories, but he can't accept that he doesn't have any magic. Stories aren't much help against a real enemy.

You should read Thieves of Weirdwood first, and the sequel Nightmares of Weirdwood will end the trilogy in the spring of 2022. The plot follows the two separate paths of Wally and Arthur in alternating chapters. Arthur's story has a more interesting character angle, as he tries to atone for his past behavior and mistakes. The queen of the dragons still wants vengeance for the death of her son, and she blames Arthur. His behavior hasn't changed much, as he still stretches the truth and takes risks at the expense of others. However, the positives in his character take over as hidden truths are revealed. The most interesting twist to Wally's plot is the presence of his brother Graham. Graham is a seer, and he's working against all of the Manor's plans. Wally is torn between supporting the Manor and keeping his brother's communications secret. As mentioned above, the Eraser presents a formidable foe, as the Manor can't understand how it even works. The conflict seems unsolvable and creates wonderful tension. Overall, I'm enjoying the trilogy and recommend you give it a shot. It requires imagination from readers, as the characters move between real and imaginary worlds. Give it a shot.

The Haunting by Joan Lowery Nixon

I can't believe my parents are actually planning to move into the old Graymoss house that my great-grandmother left to our family. On her death bed, she told me to read her diary that described the evil found inside the house. No one has spent more than a night in the house since the Civil War, because they're terrified away by the evil presence. I admit that I'm curious to spend a night in an actual haunted house, but my parents are planning to adopt a dozen unadoptable kids. My mom is a psychologist and thinks the ghost stories are from active imaginations, so she's not worried at all. However, I still don't see how it's possible for so many people to have very similar terrifying experiences over the decades, even the courageous women in my family's history. I'm nothing like them, but it seems like it's up to me to end the haunting. 

This book was a classic ghost story without any complications. Lia recognized the danger and seemed to be the only one capable of removing the evil presence. The key was trying to figure out what it wanted before it would leave. Lia was a stark contrast from her ancestors, as her grandmother liked to remind her. She loved to read, which her mother assumed created an overactive imagination. The whole plot built up the suspense toward a final confrontation with an evil spirit, but the climax was anticlimactic. I won't say what happened, but it wasn't satisfying. Overall, this book is a nice ghost story for readers not wanting any gore and little intensity. I typically like Nixon's books, and this one was okay. Not great, okay.