Where the Water Takes Us by Alan Barillaro

What worked:

The book’s synopsis pretty much sums up the entire book. The focus is on Ava’s conflicted feelings about her mother’s pregnancy and the different ways they affect her character. She’s sad and angry when she’s forced to spend time at her grandparents’ house on a lake instead of staying home at her mother’s side. Ava’s moods waver between disappointment for being stuck there and her love for Nonna and Nonno. Her thoughts about the unborn, twin brothers are mixed since her mother’s serious health problems are caused by the pregnancy. Then, Ava’s imagination takes over as she thinks she’s cursed and must atone for a woodpecker’s death during a storm.

A boy named Cody offers a contrast to Ava’s character as he’s excited about everything related to the lake. His outgoing, positive personality really irks her since she’s trying to be upset with being separated from her mother. Ava finds him annoying and weird and she’s further bothered that he doesn’t consider the pain she’s experiencing. However, readers may realize that Ava’s not very understanding herself as she doesn’t know anything about Cody’s life either. His upbeat demeanor may not sit well with Ava but it also provides some optimism missing in her life.

Life around the lake is much different from the lives of most young readers. They’ve probably never heard of party lines which is the connection Ava must use to call home. Nanno has a canoe for Ava to use that allows her to explore Deer Island and other parts of the lake. She’s surprised to hear Nanno say deer, bears, raccoons, and other animals can swim anywhere and there’s nothing stopping them from visiting his home. Adventurous readers may relate to fishing on a lake, digging through dirt with their bare hands to find huge earthworms, and discovering bird eggs in the wild. How many people have collected fresh water from a natural spring? While it’s not a fantasy world, living among nature’s wonders provides an equally magical setting for a story.

What didn’t work as well:

The drama and conflict are mostly in Ava’s mind which may not appeal to everyone. Her concerns are realistic and relatable although the suspense doesn’t reach the high levels found in other books. Of course, that’s not true for the climax when Ava and Cody find themselves in a life-threatening situation.

The Final Verdict:

The plot shares Ava’s internal struggles with adapting to her growing family. Cody offers a playful contrast to balance Ava’s character. Overall, this is an entertaining story and I recommend you give it a shot.

Daughters of Oduma by Moses Ose Utomi

What worked:

The author artfully crafts a rustic world where there’s a definite hierarchy of social levels. Bowers like Dirt and her four “sisters” are at the top and spend every day training for competitions. Bowing seems to be a form of sumo wrestling with a bower throwing her opponent to earn points or forcing them out of a circle of sandbags to end the match. Dirt is part of the Mud Fam and she’s the Second Sis in the clan. The First is expected to represent the Mud in the God Bowing tournament and this year’s results will be extra important. Dirt will soon become a woman and leave her sisters and they’re already at the minimum number to remain together. The winning Fam will inherit all of the new bowing recruits and the Mud Fam will disband without that happening.

The most interesting part of the story is Dirt’s character and her internal struggle to become a champion bower. She’s out of shape and unmotivated and one of her younger sisters can even kick her butt. On the other hand, she knows the importance of the God Bowing tournament and how her family’s survival is at stake. To not compete would insult the Mud Fam but her skills and moves are slow and clunky and she tires too easily. The First has confidence in her and offers unwavering compliments and support. So why does she listen to the doubting voice in her head that always leads her to defeat? She is brave. She is fat. She is Dirt. This is what she must remember.

Different chapters focus on different characters to provide various perspectives on the story. Dirt’s sisters love living in their Mud Fam but they’re uncertain about their futures. Swoo aspires to become a champion bower and she resents Dirt’s attitude toward the championship. Nana has dreams beyond bowing but tradition dictates the direction of her life. Verdi isn’t the First of the Vine Fam but she manipulates Carra Carre to do her bidding. Carra Carre is obsessed with winning to help her Vine Clan but Dirt eventually realizes they share some of the same vulnerabilities. Verdi’s distorted vision of future Fams will result in drastic changes and it requires sacrifices and destruction in its wake. The various points of view allow readers to develop an overall picture of conflicting events.

What didn’t work as well:

Part of the world-creation includes dialogue specific to the story so the vocabulary sometimes affects understanding. Readers should still be able to get the gist of what characters are saying but the exact ideas may require inferencing. That being said, a unique language is necessary in order to effectively immerse readers in the culture.

The Final Verdict:

The unique culture and conflicts in the story are highly engaging. The author crafts an emotional tale where the dramatic suspense builds to an epic climax between two formidable forces. Overall, I highly recommend you give this book a shot.

Rare Birds by Jeff Miller

What worked:

The major focus of the story is how families deal with serious health issues. Graham’s mother has traveled across the country seeking medical treatments for her ailing heart and now they’ve landed in Florida, in the town where she once lived and where doctors want to perform a transplant. Graham meets a girl at the hospital named Lou who seems to have a father dealing with a possible heart transplant of his own. Both characters share their stress, anxiety, and other mixed emotions of concern surrounding the uncertainty of their futures. For example, Graham passes a severe car accident on the road and feels guilty for wondering if one of the victims might provide the heart his mother needs.

Lou and Graham have lived isolated lives due to their families’ medical issues but they discover a kinship and bond they both need. Graham has a name for their “club” based on the dire status of their lives but Lou has a more positive outlook. She is more adventurous and wants to live life in the moment rather than wait to try things in the future. She’s gung-ho about trying to locate an endangered Snail Kite in the swamp even though boaters can easily get lost and there are tales of an enormous alligator lurking in the dark waters. Graham’s mom was an avid birdwatcher when she was younger and the Snail Kite is the one bird she never found. Together, Graham and Lou are determined to take a picture of one but are they prepared for the challenges they’ll face?

While his mom is in the hospital, Graham stays with one of her childhood friends named Dom. She figures it’s a good situation since Dom’s son is the same age as Graham. However, neither parent is aware of the emotional baggage Nick is carrying and they don’t see the animosity he covertly displays toward Graham. Readers will wonder what’s really going on in Nick’s head as his behavior fluctuates throughout the story. Is he annoyed that he needs to share his space? Is it genuine anger toward a boy whose presence has upset the dynamics of his home life? Nick brings a couple of other characters into the story later on that escalate the conflict to a whole new level.

What didn’t work as well:

Graham and Lou don’t make steady progress searching for the Snail Kite so that part of the plot moves rather slowly. However, it gives the characters time to talk about health issues and time to become close friends. Dom gives them warnings about boating in the swamp so readers will know those dangers are sure to arise, thus creating more tension.

The Final Verdict:

This story evokes many emotions due to life-threatening problems in the hospital and in nature. The author reveals an important secret concerning Lou as the plot nears its climax to help the book come to a dramatic conclusion.

I Am the Walrus (N.O.A.H. Files #1) by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman

What worked:

Readers immediately realize there’s something different about Noah but the author merely offers clues to entice them. Noah’s had several near-death experiences where he somehow miraculously survives. Afterward, Noah has impressions of what happened but he can’t remember exactly the details of how he stayed alive. Readers may notice a pattern between Noah’s bizarre incidents and behaviors before the author reveals what’s actually going on. The plot takes an unexpected turn when Noah realizes he’s been targeted for death by aliens. However, he has no idea why, and the characters helping him are forbidden from sharing any details. This “serious” storyline is the backdrop of a plot that’s embellished in unexpected ways.

A good deal of humor runs throughout the story and it’s often provided by Noah’s best friend Ogden. Ogden seems to know everything as his logic usually results in spot-on hypotheses. That’s a good word to use because Ogden is likely to test out his ideas in strange, and sometimes dangerous, ways. Locking Noah in a meat-freezer is a good example. Androids, aliens, and holograms are part of the story too, and they don’t have a very good sense of human culture. Misunderstandings of human behavior, the English language, and figures of speech contribute to amusing dialogue and incidents. The opening pages find Noah trying to explain the volcano that popped up in the middle of town, monsters crawling out of the pond, and why he’s wearing caveman furs. Zaniness might be an appropriate word to use when describing some parts of the story.

The plot is told from different points of view which seemed unnecessary in the beginning. However, there are a couple of characters working independently of each other with different interests in Noah. Mr. Kratz is one of his teachers but he used to work for a secret government scientific agency until he was disgraced and fired from his position. He’s prone to misinterpret what he sees so readers can expect comedic relief from his character. Apparently, the group frowns upon employees who add extra body parts to their colleagues. Noah’s other pursuers are an alien and her partner with recent, failed missions in their past. Their motive seems obvious but readers will discover there’s much more to it.

What didn’t work as well:

The plot contains a lot of strange humor, perhaps too much. Except for Noah and Sahara, pretty much all the other characters have silly, funny facets to their characters. The conflict would feel more dire with additional seriousness added to the plot.

The Final Verdict:

This book will appeal to lovers of aliens and absurdity as it presents a funny tone to the plot. Of course, having the survival of the human race at risk offers entertainment too. Overall, this is a fun book to read and I recommend you give it a shot.

The Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner

What worked:

I don’t think I’ve ever read a middle-grade book featuring dinosaurs as all of the characters. Scientists believe a giant meteor may have struck the earth, drastically altering the climate, and killing all of the dinosaurs. This book presents is an alternate reality where the meteor doesn’t kill all of the dinosaurs as the survivors have adapted to the new world. These creatures have the ability to talk and think and species have merged into three groups. Two of the three are herbivores while carnivores form the last group of mostly-independent predators. While dinosaurs have developed the humanlike characteristics of speech and community, they’ve also acquired the ability to wage war. Eleri, the main character, is able to ponder the concept of killing and envisions the value of all lives.

Readers will enjoy the wonderful underdog story where the main characters are expected to die. They’re all exiled to the Deadlands for different offenses but their herds assume they’ll never survive the barren, dry, toxic lands full of meat-eating carnivores. Eleri, disgraced runt son of a prince, is kicked out for warning an enemy about an impending danger, and Tortha, the enemy heir to his herd, is banished for not killing Eleri when ordered to. To complicate the situation, they’re from opposing herds and have deep-seated feelings of animosity for each other. Tortha’s destiny makes it more difficult to adapt to an alliance since she’s trained to become a warrior and has a grumpy personality. Sorielle is a seemingly naive, kind creature but she has an amazing mathematical brain. Lerithon is a world traveler and speaks in philosophical tones while providing spiritual and navigating guidance for the others.

The author creates mystique through events and characters to keep readers wondering. Eleri notices a secret meeting between unlikely characters that doesn’t make sense to him. He also observes some carnivores that seem to be working together even though he’s always been told that doesn’t happen. A minor character flies overhead with the intent of selling secrets to opposing sides in the war. He’s able to view happenings on the prairie and in the mountains and he accepts a deal with a hidden character to ensure Eleri dies. However, watching Eleri and his new team causes him to have second thoughts so readers will have trouble predicting what he will do with this new information.

What didn’t work as well:

I have a hard time visualizing the dinosaurs as they interact, especially as talking, sentient creatures. It might have helped if the author had included pictures of different dinosaurs in the beginning along with identifying their different herds. The introduction already has very general descriptions of each animal but illustrations would help readers envision the lesser-known ones.

The Final Verdict:

The author expertly develops personalities for the main characters, especially the star, Eleri. Readers will empathize with them as they’ve all been exiled from their friends and families and they struggle to survive the Deadlands. The plot builds to an exciting climax and the resolution leads nicely into a sequel. I recommend you give this book a shot.

The Fatal Infiltration: Cyber Twinsters by S.M. Wire

What worked:

A potential cyber-attack is a modern problem that will resonate with young readers. The author has a strong interest in creating secure technology and her passion is clearly communicated. The twins first notice a potential cyber-attack in their city so they start investigating on their own. It turns out an attack is in progress and the scale of the impact is much grander than they thought. There is no shortage of suspects to consider, and the security of the entire nation is at risk.

The twins have clearly developed an impressive reputation for solving cyber-crimes but they’re willing to admit they don’t know everything. They previously helped a classmate resolve an issue with cyberbullying and she’s now become proficient with cybersecurity. The twins’ father is an expert with computers so they ask for his help too. A national cybersecurity agency realizes the twins have superior talents of their own and enlist their assistance to thwart the attack. However, joining the team results in unforeseen problems and dangers to complicate the girls’ lives.

The cast combines a variety of characters with different perspectives that create uncertainty about their motives. Can one of the people helping to solve the attack actually be one of the people behind it? The twins are above reproach since they’re the main characters and the head of the cyber division should be honest. However, the cyber unit investigating the attacks includes a former hacker and the twins’ father enlists the help of two more notorious hackers. They seem to want to help but readers will wonder if they might have covert, devious intentions. In addition, hackers are able to manipulate online information so can characters trust the evidence they uncover? What if damning evidence has been planted by the bad guys to implicate someone else?

What didn’t work as well:

There’s a lack of cohesiveness to the chapters as some information is redundant or seems to forget about prior events. Characters draw conclusions but the evidence they’re based on isn’t always shared with readers. The plot lacks detail during important moments, which keeps the story moving quickly, but may leave readers confused or wondering about what just happened.

The Final Verdict:

This book is most appropriate for at least middle-school readers due to the subject matter. All of the characters are high school-age or adults and the entire focus of the story is on computers, technology, and cybercrime. Readers aren’t required to make many inferences and the straightforward explanations may not appeal to all readers. Those with a strong interest in computers and the cyber world will enjoy the book.

Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards by Susan Tan

What worked:

Deep fears are an issue in the book and pyromania is a big problem for Mo. Mo’s family lost their home so they’re now living with her Uncle Ray. Mo can’t sleep unless she’s checked the house for fire hazards and made sure all appliances have been unplugged. She also has a fear of ghosts but it’s not clear where it originated. Her phobias are exaggerated when she hears a story about the ghost of an elephant haunting the town after it was killed in a circus tent fire many years ago.

This strange tale of Maudie the elephant becomes the focus for the rest of the plot. Residents keep the myth of her ghost alive as a tourist attraction although there’s usually a hint of truth behind these kinds of stories. Mo reluctantly makes friends with a classmate named Nathaniel out of necessity. She has dreams about the elephant and fire but discovers some unexpected evidence that there’s more going on than she thought. Nathaniel has a strong interest in ghosts so he’s a perfect partner to help her uncover the mystery. The junkyard next to Uncle Ray’s house is the epicenter of the problem and makes an especially creepy setting, even more so at night.

The plot involves many serious issues and feelings that might be encountered by young readers. Mo’s stepdad left and remarried so she has mixed emotions about remembering him. He’s the only father she remembers but he abandoned the family and doesn’t treat her like his birth-daughter CeCe. In addition, Mo’s mother is still struggling after the divorce so she hasn’t been behaving very motherly. Being the new kid at school, Mo has trouble with classmates and doesn’t see the value in making new friends. Nathaniel’s father died a year ago so those emotions are still fresh in his mind, especially with the memory of his last words to his father.

What didn’t work as well:

Uncle Ray helps Mo deal with her stress throughout the book by listening to remixes of old music and discussing the song lyrics. I’m a huge fan of classic rock but young readers probably won’t appreciate song references without having some idea of their words. Readers will still get the gist of some songs after Uncle Ray shares his thoughts and the overall plot can still be enjoyed.

The Final Verdict:

The early part of the book may not grab readers right away due to Mo’s phobias and negativity. However, the author tenderly addresses Mo’s deep emotions and blends that with her quest to bring a peaceful resolution for Maudie’s spirit.