Supernatural Investigations #1: Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

My name is Amari, and I didn't know what I was going to do when I lost my scholarship to the academy. Then, a message from my missing brother arrived, and I found myself accepted to the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. However during the opening ceremony, I was given the rare moonstone badge, and I nearly destroyed the Crystal Ball when it announced I was an illegal magician! Everyone says humans aren't meant to have so much magic, and apparently, I have more than anyone ever. Chief Crowe is letting me stay, for now, and I've been accepted as a trainee for Supernatural Investigations. It's what my brother did before he disappeared, as he became a hero among the supernaturals. I'll do all I can to rescue my brother from wherever he's being held even if everyone at the Bureau either hates or fears me. I just hope my magic doesn't make me evil like they all expect.

The book has similar qualities to other successful middle-grade series. Amari has unmatched powers that others have never seen before, but she could potentially be seduced into becoming evil. She has few friends at the Bureau and is scorned by most of the people due to fears of what she might become. Add to this, Amari has been demeaned for years due to her upbringing in the poor, seedy part of town. Her skin color makes her a target for ridicule. All of these factors make the book a fantastic underdog story. The Crystal Ball enhances the strongest talent of each trainee, so the characters might be described as personalized superheroes. Amari's roommate is a weredragon, and her creativity is enhanced to make her a super inventor. Amari's complication is the fact that magic is illegal in humans, so she's not allowed to develop her special talent. She gets help from an anonymous magician to learn some basic spells. The author includes hidden secrets, as Amari strives to find her brother while struggling to survive the training to become a Bureau Investigator. The story deftly utilizes misdirection to create a surprising climax. Actually, it won't shock readers who are able to notice clues from early in the book. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend you give it a shot. I'm looking forward to the sequel, Amari and the Great Game.

Barb: The Last Berzerker #1 by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

My name is Barb, and I was tired of being excluded from battling alongside the other Berzerkers. Everything changed when I got my hands on the Shadow Blade. It gave me incredible strength in battle, but now I must use it to rescue my friends. Porkchop and I are venturing to get help from the Northern Zerks, but we never could have expected how our fortunes would turn.

What worked:

Berzerkers are from Norse mythology, and they were said to go into a wild, killing frenzy during battles. Contrast that description with Barb, a smallish girl wanting to become a brave warrior. The prologue finds her friends captured by Witch Head, while Barb retrieves the legendary Shadow Blade. Barb is able to summon its powers and transform into a Berserker, although she becomes exhausted after the energy wears off. The rest of the book describes her quest to locate the Northern Zerks, so they can help with rescuing her friends. Barb has several mini-adventures along the way, and she shares the tale of how she met her sidekick, Porkchop the blue yeti. The plot offers twists, turns, and surprises that keep the whole book entertaining.

Barb’s character is brave, virtuous, and loyal, and she is an admirable main character. Berzerkers are meant to fight and kill monsters, but that’s not in her nature. Sure, she battles them when it’s called for, but she has empathy for many of her enemies. She tries to understand them and show them compassion, and her character finds some of her foes aren’t that bad. Just like humans, not all monsters are evil, and some of them can become friends and allies.

The book is full of humor and gross descriptions that might offend some readers. Young readers will surely love it! Barb and Porkchop face vampire goats, mergoblins, snot goblins, and the grub of death. Porkchop is constantly hungry, although he often lets out loud burps and sometimes can’t keep food in his stomach. Barb first meets Porkchop after he steals all of the sausages, even the kielbasa, from a peddler. They later have a pillow fight before their first night sleeping in actual beds. The dialogue includes witty comments from characters that add to the amusement. When Barb speaks directly to readers, she wonders when she started talking to herself.

What didn’t work as well:

The graphic novel doesn’t provide detailed storytelling and relies on pictures to fill in some of the gaps. The dialogue offers a general description of the plot, but it doesn’t have time to include specifics of the events or to fully develop character relationships. An underlying story with Barb’s mother adds some depth to the story. An exciting adventure enhanced by colorful illustrations and characters is the charm that attracts lovers of graphic novels.

The final verdict:

Great heroes come in different sizes. Overall, Barb’s character and her quest to save others create a delightful and perilous story. The illustrations creatively contribute to an eventful journey that will entertain young readers. It’s highly recommended that you read this first book in an exciting new series.

Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm by Lori Adams

My name is Avalina, and I recently learned I'm an Heir in the magical world of pirates. However, I may, or may not, have a curse, and the ghost of a ruthless pirate has sworn to kill all of the ancestors of Davy Jones. I am the last ancestor. Then there are the struggles to pass my Pog classes, being bullied by the Renegades, and being accused of a terrible crime that may get me thrown back to the orphanage and Landlubbers. Other than that, I'm loving my life as a Pirate Heir.

What worked:

Avalina’s been living in an orphanage since the age of four but later discovers she’s the daughter of magical pirates. Both parents have died, and now Avalina is retrieved and taken into the world of pirate Heirs. Magical pirates may sound strange, but their world is similar to most stories with unusual and amazing events and characters. The pirates don’t go around casting spells, although some have unique abilities, life on the pirate ship school is full of magic. Below the deck, readers will find a world of caves, beaches, and classrooms that are magically enhanced to reflect the mood and needs of the ship. The setting underneath the ship’s deck is clearly larger than the size of the ship itself.

Avalina lived most of her life as a Landlubber, so she’s not readily accepted by many of the other pirate students and Heirs. Plus, she may, or may not, have the family curse, and she’s rejected by the bullying Renegades, the house of pirates she was assigned to. Luckily, she’s accepted by her new friends in the Buccaneers. She has a natural connection to water (she can breathe underwater), so she wonders if it might be evidence of the curse. In addition, the ghost of a treacherous, dead pirate captain has sworn to kill every last relative of Davy Jones, and Avalina is the last one still living. The threat of his attack looms throughout the entire book.

Rather than writing two separate books, the author divided the book into two parts. The first half deals with Avalina’s efforts to graduate from Pog to Shellback, and problems and characters complicate things for her. She’s blamed for everything that goes wrong due to thoughts about her curse, and she’s charged with a serious crime that could expel her from living among the pirate Heirs. Avalina recognizes one teacher is not as nice as she seems, and this teacher seems out to get Avalina. She’s the one who accuses Avalina of the crime. The second half of the book sees the crew in a contest with three other pirate ship schools to decode a treasure map and retrieve the long-lost booty. Avalina is a key member of a select group trying to figure out the clues, even though the prejudices against her continue. Mysteries thrive as the plot progresses, and several surprises spring up as the events near their climax.

What didn’t work as well:

The Renegades are presented as antagonists in Avalina’s life, but they come off as more annoying than actual threats. They tease her whenever possible, and some skirmishes arise during the course of events. They especially enjoy when the teacher mentioned earlier punishes Avalina, usually unfairly. The Renegades aren’t as evil as they could have been, but maybe that’s due to a pirate code of loyalty. Treating other pirates dishonorably is something most of the characters avoid, lest they be kicked off the ship.

The final verdict:

Magical adventure on the high seas! The story can be compared to other books where characters discover an unknown world of magic or fantasy. The addition of pirates creates some interesting and unique twists, and the story feels fresh despite its similarities to other middle-grade books. Overall, lovers of speculative fiction will enjoy this book and will anxiously yearn for the sequel once it's published.

Prodigy Quest by Verlin Darrow

My name is Tris, and I can't help that I'm so much smarter than everyone else. My psychiatrist surprised me with his intelligence at our first session, and he shared that he's experienced memories of past lives too. He agreed to help me locate a book of wisdom that was written by past hosts of my own soul. I was supposed to get it published and released to the world, but we didn't have any idea where to start looking. Once we got started on the right track, we didn't expect to be misled and threatened by cult groups along the way. However, the most amazing thing about the adventure was the knowledge gained by me, the smartest kid in the world. I never imagined the changes I'd experience.

What worked:

The story is based on the concept of reincarnation, as Tris has a dream message from his soul’s former host, a woman named Susan Granger. His soul was also hosted by Merriweather Lewis, of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition, and Tris experiences memories from past moments in history. The memories and guidance from these past hosts create a mystery adventure to resolve.

The focus of the quest is to find and publish a book that will bring wisdom to the entire world. That’s all the description given, so the details surrounding the book remain unknown. What are the actual contents of the book, and what makes this book different from other attempts to spread knowledge? The plot focuses on locating the book, but the book’s potential impact and influence on the world remain uncertain. As the story moves along, secret cult groups appear that try to find the book first, and one of the groups is willing to resort to violence. The hunt for the book and the threatening mysterious cults create the two main conflicts in the book. The author utilizes some trickery and misdirection to present complications. Rest assured, Prodigy Quest includes an appendix at the end with a synopsis of the book of wisdom.

Marc is Tris’s psychiatrist and guardian during the adventure, and he presents a steadying influence. Tris lacks social skills due to his absence of empathy, and Marc’s influence helps Tris transform into a more “normal” human. Tris learns to reflect on his own behaviors and emotions, as he analyzes himself and practices interacting with others. He dramatically transforms into an emotional young boy and grows to appreciate people for who they are, not who he wants them to be. He’s still the smartest kid in the world, but he discovers there’s more to being smart than having answers to all of the questions.

What didn’t work as well:

Tris is arrogant and has little tolerance for others who don’t meet his high standards, so he’s not a very likable main character. His personality makes it difficult to make connections with his character, so making an emotional commitment to the story is more challenging. Tris’s fame from a popular quiz show labels him as the smartest kid in the world. He’s often recognized in public, and these interactions create amusing moments in the story as well as useful tools to gain information toward the quest. Tris’s self-reflection throughout the story smooths some rough edges around his character. It becomes easier to have feelings for Tris, and readers may even learn to like him.

The final verdict:

The book of wisdom doesn’t have all the answers. The early chapters don’t construct an easily engaging story, as the dialogue is fairly objective and unemotional due to Tris’s character. However, the adventure slowly becomes more intriguing and exciting, as the characters collect clues. Overall, this book offers a thought-provoking drama for young adult readers.

How to Win a Slime War by Mae Respicio

My name is Alex, and I love to create colorful, gooey, wonderful slime! I never expected the students at my new school to love it as much as I, and I now find myself in the middle of a slime war with Meredith. I kind of got sucked into the challenge, but we're battling for control of the slime market in the entire school. My dad is taking over my grandparents' Filipino market, and I'm not sure about some of his ideas. Add to that, he's pressuring me to join a soccer team even though I've told him I don't like playing it. It's like he doesn't hear me. Moving to a new neighborhood is exciting, but it also comes with its own problems.

What worked:

It’s sometimes hard to find unique topics to write about, but how many books actually feature slime created by middle-grade students? The slime doesn’t become a monster, and it doesn’t terrorize the students. It’s just gooey, colorful, slime, and it’s for sale. The science teacher even makes it the subject of her first unit which gives Alex permission to practice making slime at home. Many chapters in the book begin with recipes for different kinds of slime, so young readers can make their own batches at home while they read the story!

Several subplots are skillfully interwoven with the slime war, and they mesh into an overall wonderful story. Alex’s father was a renowned athlete when he was younger, and he pushes Alex to join a soccer team. Of course, Alex has no interest in sports, so an internal conflict ensues. His father also now owns the Filipino market created Alex’s retired grandparents, but Alex is concerned that some popular features of the business will be eliminated by his father. How will his grandparents react when they find out? Meredith currently controls the slime market at school, and the slime war will determine if Alex will replace her. However, Alex is uneasy about his business partner’s marketing strategies, and Alex slowly discovers important secrets about his competitor. It’s important to put yourself in other people’s shoes to fully understand their behaviors, and the two competitors transform their relationship to resolve the slime war.

Alex is a good, honest character who cares about doing the right thing. Meredith treats him like an enemy, but Alex tries to treat her kindly when they interact. When she creates a smear video about his slime, Alex refuses to retaliate by making negative comments against her. He even tries to work with her when they’re partnered in science class. Alex respects his father by following his rules and instructions even though Alex doesn’t agree with everything his father says. He doesn’t like playing soccer but agrees to join a team to make his father happy. He respectfully questions his father about changes to the market and displays empathy for his grandparents, Lola and Lolo. Alex enjoys spending time with his older cousins, and they provide valuable guidance. The character relationships create a truly wonderful feel-good story.

What didn’t work as well:

Some readers prefer rebellious characters and dramatic confrontations, but this book will disappoint them. The characters aren’t perfect, but their actions aren’t evil or overly devious. The typical middle-school bully doesn’t do anything terribly bad, and he displays encouragement toward Alex as the soccer season moves on. The kid’s two-faced behavior doesn’t make him likable, but it doesn’t create much negativity either. However, the book develops positive feelings between friends and family, so the author’s writing strategy is a huge success.

The Final Verdict:

A feel-good story of friends, family, and slime. A middle school being so obsessed with slime isn’t realistic, but it forms the basis for an engaging story. The positivity of the main character makes this a must-read for young readers.

Willodeen by Katherine Applegate

My name is Willodeen, and I don't much care for being around other people. My parents and brother died in the last great fire, and I appreciate that Mae and Birdie have welcomed me into their home. I love exploring the forest, and I've taken to recording my observations of hummingbears and screechers. No one likes screechers, so the town council is paying hunters a bounty for killing them. On the other hand, the town survives on money made at the annual Faire when visitors come from all over to see the migrating hummingbears. However, hummingbears are becoming scarce, and I fear all of the screechers have been killed. Everything in nature works together and needs to be in balance, so I wonder if the demise of the two creatures might be related. 

The plot shares a message regarding the interdependence of living organisms. Mankind tends to exterminate things in nature it doesn't like without regard for the consequences. Cutting trees down takes away homes for squirrels and birds and may remove food sources for other creatures. In this book, Willodeen is the one who recognizes how nature works, but how many adults take advice from young children? Plus, she likes screechers, so most people view her as a little wacky and strange. She's a loner, but this fact is challenged when Willodeen meets a boy willing to help her. He helps her realize she can benefit from being around other people, and maybe humans have an interdependence too. The story is well-written and sticks to the main conflict without numerous subplots to complicate things. The result is a book that flows smoothly, is engaging, and teaches a valuable lesson. Overall, I highly recommend you read this book, as I've nominated it for the 2021 Cybils Award in Middle Grade/Elementary Speculative Fiction. The characters are endearing, and Willodeen is an inspiration for people wanting to have their voices heard. 

Theo Paxstone and the Dragon of Adyron by James Turner

My name is Theo, and I've become a squire for Sir Bentham, a brave, crippled knight in the realm. Surprisingly, a gigantic dragon attacked the local festival, killed many brave knights, and kidnapped the princess. Why would a dragon take the princess instead of eating her? Someone must rescue her, so we're now using the steam mech I created from junk parts since Sir Bentham's damaged mech was destroyed by scavengers. Sir Drake, my childhood hero, is also searching for the princess, although Sir Bentham and his other squire, Riley, think he's a fraud. The dragon's strange behavior makes its motivations puzzling, but Sir Bentham is determined to slay it. I'm committed to helping him, although Riley makes the adventure more challenging. I can't figure out why Riley resents me so much.

I always enjoy a good underdog story, and Theo escaping the futility of existing with a greedy junkyard boss fits that description. His special talents for mechs and building things aren't superpowers, but they make him an unassuming hero. The most interesting part of the book is the relationship between Theo and Riley. They're very competitive in gaining Sir Bentham's favor, and Riley especially tries to take advantage of situations. Theo can't figure out the problem until he discovers Riley's secret. Sir Drake is another interesting character, although there are numerous hints along the way that he's not an honorable man. In contrast, Sir Bentham is an extremely honest and noble knight, but he can't physically handle the skills of a warrior. He's lost his legs, but his knowledge is invaluable. The plot boils down to rescuing the princess, but it's clear something's going on with the dragon. In the end, Theo and Riley unlock the mystery of its behavior and use that information to make a plan. The book contains plenty of action and adventure, so it can be enjoyed by most middle-grade readers. I highly recommend you give it a shot.