Danny Chung Sums It Up by Maisie Chan

My name is Danny, and I was so happy when my parents said I'd be getting a new bunk bed! I could now have my best friend over for sleepovers! However, I then found out I'd be sharing my room with my grandmother from China, and she couldn't even speak English. My life was ruined and was going to get enough worse.

What worked:

The book provides a glance at aspects of the Chinese culture, as Danny experiences conflicts with his American upbringing. The first incident occurs when he suggests doing nothing on a Saturday, like his other classmates. Danny’s father goes into another lecture about how they never take days off, and they expect Danny to have a better life than slaving away in the family restaurant. Danny is often given a talk about the Chinese Way and how he should work hard, respect his elders, and be grateful for his life. His grandmother’s appearance exhibits the diversity of Chinese culture, as her dialect of the language isn’t understood by Chinese from other regions of the country.

The book touches on different types and levels of prejudice. Despite the different Chinese dialects, Danny’s teacher can’t understand why Danny can’t communicate with his grandmother, Nai Nai. A classmate’s parents inform him that all Asians are good at math, while Danny clearly doesn’t fit that stereotype. This classmate doesn’t miss a chance to embarrass Danny, although he displays a suspicious kindness midway through the plot. Some Bingo players are upset that Danny’s grandmother is taking a seat even though she can’t speak English. Danny’s aunt thinks Bingo players are trashy, and Nai Nai should be lawn bowling with more cultured people. The aunt is very conscious of social status and doesn’t hesitate to share her thoughts with Danny and his parents.

Several characters undergo transformations, as they either reevaluate their prejudices or they finally get the guts to change their actions. Danny’s feelings about his grandmother, parents, cousin, math, and friendship change as he faces new experiences with each of them. That’s a lot of mind-changing, but it’s all for the positive. Danny’s parents slowly realize the Chinese Way might need some tweaking once they fully understand the relationship between Danny and his grandmother. Even Danny’s cousin changes her behavior once she finally rebels against her overbearing mother.

What didn’t work as well:

Danny’s bad feelings keep piling on during the first half of the book, and authors usually include some positives to provide balance to the character. Danny loves to draw, but even that takes a couple of negative turns from home and school. Danny must share a bunkbed with a Chinese-speaking grandmother he’s never met, he’s subtly demeaned by his aunt and cousin, and he’s teased at school. His parents tell him he should be grateful for his life, and his teachers aren’t overly sympathetic either. Even though characters in other books have been treated much worse, these events create empathy for Danny. This moment in the middle-grade boy’s life is a bummer, but it’s the starting point for his transformation.

The final verdict:

Love can bond generations. Danny’s struggles make the book’s opening pages less entertaining, as his life seems taken out of his control. However, his experiences with Nai Nai are humorous and heart-warming, and their connection grows. This book is highly recommended for lovers of friends, family, and growing relationships with grandparents.

Night Frights #1: The Haunted Mustache by Joe McGee

What worked:

If you like STRANGE mysteries, this book is for you. As the title says, this small town is being haunted by a mustache, and the people tremble in fear every October 19. Men grow mustaches, and women and children tape on facial hair for protection against the curse. It seems a man’s factory exploded and the only thing they found of him was his top lip and mustache. The ghostly bristles attack bare faces that are foolish enough to leave their homes on the fateful date. Legend says the mustache has killed before.

Lucas and Parker have formed The Midnight Owl Detective Agency. Their class is told the true history of October 19, and they don’t react in fear like most of the citizens. The plot unfolds into a mystery for the kids to solve, as they try to break the curse that’s plagued the town for decades. They have the enthusiasm to get it done, but they lack the essential knowledge needed to get the job done. A know-it-all girl from class has the information, so the boys reluctantly allow her to join their team. Presumably, other Night Frights books in the series will find the kids solving new mysteries in the small town of Wolver Hollow.

The plot contains all of the common elements readers might expect in a ghost story. It has a malicious ghost, a spooky graveyard, a creepy haunted house, and it takes place on a dark and stormy night. The kids use familiar defenses against creatures of the night, such as salt, moving water, and light. The mustache has unexpected abilities readers will not believe, and its evilness is combined with a bit of playfulness, much like a cat toying with a mouse.

What didn’t work as well:

The ending of the book was a bit confusing. Without trying to give away too much information, the conflict was resolved, kind of. Several times during the plot, a character states that ghosts may seek revenge, and they have long memories. The idea of the haunted mustache targeting the kids and returning in the future is offered as a possibility throughout the story, but the epilogue then muddles things up. The purpose of the epilogue is clear, but it adds more confusion to the resolution than anything else.

The final verdict:

Menacing facial hair may be stalking you! This book will appeal to young readers, as it presents an unusual, threatening “monster”. The action moves quickly through a free-wheeling encounter with the spirit that generates enough suspense and fear to entertain kids.

Game On! (Star Striker) by Mary Amato

My name is Albert, and my life changed the day I was cut from my school soccer team. I was abducted by aliens who wanted me to join their team of Zeenods in a huge johka tournament. I don't know why they wanted me, and I tried to quit several times. However, the Zeenods needed my help to overcome their horrible lives under the Tev's rule, and I started enjoying my teammates. I'm now starting to have more confidence, but I still have doubts that take over my mind. Maybe the Zeenods will be better off without me.

What worked:

Albert is recruited to play in a popular johka, a sport similar to soccer, tournament on a far-off planet called Zeeno, but the more serious conflict involves the Tevs and Zeenods. The rest of the universe is unaware the Tevs have taken over the planet and have been suppressing the freedom of Zeenods for decades. It takes Albert quite a while to fully appreciate the plight of his Zeenod teammates, but he finally understands how critical this tournament is to the original inhabitants of the planet. It may be the answer to years and years of oppression.

The story has a spiritual aspect to it, as Albert learns to overcome his fears and learns how to mesh with his teammates. The brain has great power. Albert feels fear, anger, and anxiety but lets his emotions take over his thoughts and actions. He fails to make the school soccer team and is jealous of his neighbor’s popularity as the school’s best player. This feeling becomes anger that is directed at his neighbor and at himself. He gradually understands he needs to accept his emotions are natural and okay, but his reactions to them need to become more positive. Fear and anger can be debilitating, but the energy from emotions can be used to help yourself and others.

Several different points of view are shared throughout, and in other books, this sometimes results in confusing and disjointed stories. However, the inclusion of a disgruntled scientist adds danger, mystery, and tension to the events. A botmaker named Mehk is determined to force Albert into quitting the tournament, so his robot can replace Albert on the team. It’s unclear why this is so important to the scientist, but Mehk attempts strategy after strategy to get it done. He’s actually a brilliant man even though he’s mentally unstable. The author adds a complication to Mehk’s plans when an unknown person also tries to stop Albert from competing, although this person’s plans involve killing the young boy. The dog living next door to Albert also shares a point of view to the story, although its impact in the whole book isn’t clear until later.

What didn’t work as well:

Early in the book, chapters from the neighbor dog’s point of view seem rather unusual and unimportant. Tackle barks and jumps a lot when Albert is around, so Albert becomes scared and the dog gets into trouble. Tackle is actually trying to warn Albert about a spybot squirrel hiding in the tree, but the boy doesn’t understand. Albert is usually at school or traveling to the planet Zeeno for johka practice. However, Tackle’s role in the overall plot becomes more crucial as the story moves along, and his chapters are some of the most entertaining. The relationship between Albert and Tackle evolves into something special.

The final verdict:

An emotion-filled adventure of danger and secret plots. This book will appeal to lovers of aliens, soccer, and friendship. While the johka tournament is the backdrop for the book, the real story is about Albert’s transformation to help the Zeenods overcome their oppression. The action, mystery, and danger make this book a recommended read for middle-grade students.

Bradley's Dragons by Patrick Matthews

My name is Bradley, and I'm an Egg. It's still weird to say that, but I really hope I'll change into a dragon soon. I'm being stalked by hunters, so they can steal the gallu draig that will transform me and give me power. Once I've changed, I'll be able to protect myself. I have this "condition" that makes me deathly afraid of strangers, but my parents think I'm overreacting about the old man who moved into our trailer park. Why would any wealthy person choose to live next to a swamp, in a trailer?

What worked:

Bradley has a “condition” that makes him deathly afraid of all strangers. He can’t look them in the eye, let alone speak to them. There’s no explanation offering a reason, and his parents accept it as something he needs to deal with. His parents reveal that he’s an Egg, and he’ll be able to become a dragon once he’s able to control the gallu draig power inside him. It’s quite a contrast to envision a terrifying dragon that’s afraid of strangers.

The author skillfully builds anticipation and suspense with Bradley’s character. The first pages of the book share a time when he’s attacked by a hunter, although he’s forgotten about the incident. However, these pages demonstrate the danger of hunters toward dragons, so readers immediately start preparing for the next attack. The author does not relieve the expectations for quite a while. Then, Bradley discovers he’s an Egg, and he’s vulnerable to the hunters until he transforms into a dragon. He desperately tries to initiate the transformation, since it’s the only way he can truly be protected. He’s given a book to help him understand the process, but it usually provides cryptic messages that he doesn’t understand. Bradley begins showing a variety of abilities that make predicting his type of dragon difficult. If the book is like many other middle-grade books, his character will become a rare, super-amazing dragon. Readers will get to interpret the same clues as Bradley and imagine what will eventually happen to Bradley, and when.

The conflict of hunters stalking dragon Eggs is straightforward, but the author includes many complications and subtle clues to keep things interesting. The hunters usually look like humans, but an unexpected enemy appears that makes things immensely more difficult. Bradley’s dad is a powerful swamp dragon, while his mom is a sky dragon with impressive mind-control and illusions. However, the extended dragon family has issues, and they may not have a defense against the hunters’ new strategy. A couple of characters are keeping secrets about their feelings or past, so readers are left wondering if they’ll lead to unexpected trouble. Most dragons view humans as inferior species, so their relationship is uncertain. Bradley thinks his mother’s mind control is wrong, and he has simmering anger that she erased one of his memories. Internal conflicts about his mother, hunters, and transforming abound.

What didn’t work as well:

Bradley provides a clue early in the story that unnecessarily gets repeated several times. He asks if humans ever work with hunters when searching for dragons. The response is that it’s unlikely, but not impossible. Once the question has been asked and answered, asking the same question again becomes redundant. The first question plants the idea in readers’ minds since the whole book is about hunters hoping to capture and kill dragon Eggs. Additional questions about humans helping hunters start to get annoying. The underlying secrets being held by some characters help to make up for any annoyance.

The final verdict:

The perilous birth of a dragon. Following the process of a human becoming a dragon, while being targeted by hunters, creates an exciting adventure. The highlight of the book is the anticipation of when Bradley will transform and what type of dragon he’ll become. The whole conflict with the hunters is dependent on Bradley’s ability to change. Overall, this book is highly recommended and will appeal to lovers of dragons.

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.