Treasonous Tycoon (The Adventures of the Flash Gang 2) by M.M. Downing & S.J. Waugh

What worked:

The book is set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during the Great Depression and the descriptions of that time in history make it historical fiction. The plot centers on streeters, kids living on the streets, and their struggles to survive. They shoplift, pickpocket, and do random menial jobs, anything to find food and shelter from the elements. Some of them even run errands for the mob or sell information to those who can afford it. The steelworkers during the Depression are struggling too and there is unrest between them and the factory owners. Hitler is gaining power in Europe (a few years before WW II) and he’s being supported by the antagonists in this book. The concept of fascist sympathizers underlies the conflict in the plot and highlights an issue that’s not often talked about. Pittsburgh suffered one of its worst natural disasters in 1936 and the book reflects this when the city is devastated by a torrential flood.

Lewis, or Brain, is the leader of the Flash Gang, although he is determined to not use the Recipe again. The Recipe is a mixture of powders from the previous book that creates a blinding flash of light allowing Lewis to steal food for his gang, the church, and others in need. The four members of his gang behave like a family and they combine their efforts to survive. However, the enemies of Lewis and Pearl think they’re dead, and using the Recipe again will let those enemies realize Lewis and Pearl are still alive. Young Mac doesn’t understand why using the Recipe is a big problem and he’s angry at Lewis for not using it to keep them from feeling starved all of the time. A huge problem arises when Mac disappears from their hideout after Lewis chooses not to use the Recipe to rescue him at a critical moment.

As always, Pearl is a highlight of the book. She calls herself Lola and Lewis is called Sir Nigel after characters from her favorite radio show. She talks incessantly and her creative mind generates various stories out of the most mundane tasks. She often speaks of her father, a world-famous explorer, and it’s hard for Lewis to tell when to separate her imagination from reality. She was mistreated while staying with her aunt so she’s now living with Lewis in an abandoned factory. Pearl quickly gets worked up when she even thinks about Nazis and she has her sights on J.J. Pickering, a major Pittsburgh benefactor and entrepreneur. Lewis and her determination to stop Pickering the ongoing conflict in the series.

What didn’t work as well:

Much of the book follows Lewis as he investigates the disappearance of many streeters but Pearl is absent for chunks of the story. The interest level drops a little when she is gone even though the author continues to develop the mystery of the streeters. Pearl adds flair to the story and she will reappear at the most critical moments.

The final verdict:

The book continues the wonderful underdog story of the Flash Gang. I recommend you begin with the first book but it’s probably not essential to enjoy this one. The flooding in the second half of the book provides an exciting, natural complication to the plot that enhances the conflict with Pickering. Overall, young readers will become engrossed with Lewis and his gang and I highly recommend you give this book a shot.

The Kid by Jeff Schill

What worked:

The plot is extremely unique for middle-grade readers. First off, there aren’t many books about Wild West gunslingers that feature young characters. The author builds the Old West climate through descriptions of the setting, actions, and the characters’ language. A thief and gunslinger named Snake-Eye Sam crosses hot, dusty plains on horseback to Destiny, Colorado, and spends nights under the stars. He makes stops along the way to rob stores and travelers, often riling himself up into a mood to kill. Surprisingly, the author never actually describes Sam shooting or murdering anyone so it’s appropriate for middle-grade readers. The scenes include tobacco spitting, drinking sarsaparilla (not Sam though!), and encountering rattlesnakes. Readers will let their finds drift back to the 1800s to immerse themselves in the Wild West.

Four different stories are told featuring four different main characters. Perhaps the most important perspective features The Kid, a young boy who’s a quick-draw gunslinger. Other chapters focus on Henry and his brothers as Henry creates stories of The Kid to keep thieves and the state away from their family farm. Another point of view features Sam who has eyes on building his reputation by killing The Kid. Finally, another narrative follows a magazine editor named Harold who’s traveling West to find out why he hasn’t been receiving more stories about The Kid. Harold is naïve about this part of the country and has a lot to learn.

The author builds the plot up to the much-anticipated climax between Snake-Eye Sam and The Kid. The Kid is a fictional character wearing an over-sized hat but readers will immediately note that Henry also wears his father’s too-large cowboy hat. Sam’s anger grows whenever he hears the magazine stories about The Kid so his fury builds to an inferno by the time he reaches Destiny. The big question for readers is how Henry, a boy with zero talent for guns, can survive a showdown with a ruthless, skilled killer. Henry’s main asset is his brain but can that defeat a six-shooter?

What didn’t work as well:

The timeline of the different points of view is a little confusing. The book opens with a tale of The Kid and later chapters describe the outlaw Snake-Eye Sam, the magazine employee Herbert, and finally Henry and his brothers. The strange thing is the introduction of Henry creating The Kid comes after the book has already shared a couple of stories about The Kid. The early sections about Herbert seem out of place but they become more significant once he arrives in Destiny.

The final verdict:

It’s challenging to find middle-grade novels that stand out from others but The Kid is successfully different. Henry’s idea to save the family farm is thoughtful and creative but once readers meet Snake-Eye Sam they’ll realize a final showdown between the two is inevitable. Overall, the plot unfolds into a tense, descriptive tale and I recommend you give it a shot!

The Griffin's Egg by Cole Poindexter

What worked:

Gnish-Gnash is an intriguing character as he likes to overstate his abilities and is clearly reluctant to share some information about his past. This goblin is in possession of the last griffin egg but there’s some uncertainty surrounding how he’s gotten it. The vagueness in his comments indicates he’s hiding things from Phoebe which may make readers wonder if he’s good or bad. He’s also done something wrong among the goblins because he may not be welcome if he tries to return home. The uncertainty of his past makes him an interesting character to watch.

The plot has continuous action as Phoebe and Gnish-Gnash try to stay one step ahead of the Dark Mistress Lucinda. She’s forced some characters to recover the griffin’s egg and others hope to gain her favor once she controls all the lands. Other characters are enchanted into supporting Lucinda and are unaware of their own behaviors. The positive part of her evilness is Phoebe and Gnish-Gnash are constantly on the run which allows readers to constantly discover new magical settings and characters. Whenever the characters enter new settings, there’s always doubt as to whether they’ll encounter helpful friends or dangerous foes. The conflict between Phoebe and Lucinda is the focus of the story.

Some vagueness in Phoebe’s past makes her the most interesting character. She’s given her grandfather’s purple cape when her grandmother decides she’s responsible enough to have it. It’s a little wacky to wear a purple cape and why would she need to wait to receive it? After she enters a portal into the magical world, Phoebe discovers she’s able to change into different kinds of animals. This ability is attributed to the purple cape although other characters posit that Phoebe’s actually a witch. Maybe it’s due to the magical world itself. Readers begin to assume she’ll be able to use her powers to escape every situation but they may also wonder if she has other undiscovered abilities. It turns out that she’s a pretty smart young girl since she uses her quick thinking to come up with creative ways to use her powers. Her unending kindness creates its own form of magic.

What didn’t work as well:

Phoebe doesn’t bat an eye when she discovers a goblin, a griffin’s egg, and a portal to an enchanted world of magic which is hard to believe. The author doesn’t provide any time for Phoebe and readers to adjust to the change from reality to fantasy. There are quick transitions in action and events throughout the plot, more so in the beginning, which seems too abrupt and underdeveloped

The final verdict:

The fast-paced plot and Phoebe’s character are highlights of the book. The griffin’s egg is the catalyst for the conflict but the story goes beyond that. Overall, this book is very entertaining and I recommend you give it a shot.

The Princess Protection Program by Alex London

What worked:

I’m not a young girl but I can see them cheering for characters rebelling against fairy tale, gender-biased expectations. Rosamund is awakened after a 100-year sleep but why should that mean she must marry the well-intentioned prince and live with him forever? All of the girls at the HEA agree that getting kissed while you’re asleep is gross and wrong. However, the school has no servants and the students are responsible for completing all of the chores like dusting and cleaning the bathroom. Readers will watch Rosamund transform as she develops an appreciation for the hard work done by her former palace workers. She also becomes an independent thinker with a strong motivation to right the wrongs she encounters.

Rosamund is gifted with curiosity and she’s always been taught that the most important question to ask is “Why?” However, the headmistress and teachers disagree and tell her she needs to accept things as they are. Why? She can’t understand how the other students can answer all of the teachers’ questions, sometimes before they’re even asked. Rosamund begins to sense something is off at the school and the plot becomes a mystery to answer her questions. The story takes a dramatic turn when one of her friends disappears right before her eyes!

A fun aspect of a story based on fairy tale characters is trying to figure out the connections between the two. Rosamund is Rose Red as she fell into a deep coma after pricking her finger on an enchanted spindle. Rana comes from a tale involving a frog prince while Sirena used to be a mermaid. The characters maintain traits from their fairy tales and luckily Rana isn’t shy about breaking the rules. Cinderella and Prince Charming are represented although Charlie is the only boy at the school. Readers will discover later that he has knowledge about what’s going on that the other students do not. The characters at HEA learn to live in the real world with lessons ranging from government to using technology like cell phones and TikTok. These concepts are part of a “magical” world in the minds of fairy tale characters.

What didn’t work as well:

The narrative moves very quickly with revelations and twists arising at every turn. This style will capture the interest of readers but it limits the ability to fully develop characters other than Rosamund. This may not bother readers much but it would be nice to know more about Rona’s character too.

The Final Verdict:

This book introduces unique ideas that aren’t often seen in these types of stories. The setting and conflict are innovative and the author saves some surprises for the end. I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I do and I recommend you give it a shot.

Penny Draws a School Play by Sara Shepard

What worked:

This book is the sequel to Penny Draws a Best Friend and Penny continues to struggle with anxiety. She writes journal entries to her dog as a coping mechanism when she’s stressed. The author provides several worrisome incidents to create conflicts for Penny. She was getting used to her strict, fifth-grade teacher but now they’ll have a substitute for the rest of the year. The new teacher is changing the way the class play will be produced this year and everyone will have a part in it. Penny hates standing in front of the class let alone on a stage. Finally, her parents just announced they’ll be moving to a new house next week! Penny then learns that her best friend and new neighbor are “sworn enemies”. Young readers should be able to empathize with Penny and her new challenges.

The narrative is accompanied by sketch drawings that enhance the story. They’re a step up from stick figures so they’re easy to understand and follow. The pictures don’t just go along with the story as they are actually part of it. The dialogue in the illustrations fills in gaps so readers need to be sure they read the words or they’ll miss information. The drawings show interactions between characters but sometimes they show the thoughts going on inside Penny’s mind. The illustrations almost act the same way as in graphic novels but they support the text in this book.

Penny continues to visit Mrs. Hines and this teacher helps Penny and her best friends handle their issues with stress. Mrs. Hines offers helpful suggestions when they feel overwhelmed with pressure and young readers may relate to the hints too. The other kids don’t seem to lose control as much as Penny but they still offer help to each other. Petra is the one who wrote the class play, Rocco gets the lead role as a vampire, and Penny is expected to play a bat. Rocco is really stepping out of his comfort zone so he becomes Penny’s vampire twin, the two of them agreeing to stick together when they’re stressed.

What didn’t work as well:

The text in the speech bubbles is quite small when a character has a lot to say which can make the print less clear and harder to read. Also, the plot moves quickly and at a nice pace but character development is limited, except for Penny. These issues shouldn’t be big problems for young readers as the book is still very enjoyable.

The final verdict:

This book can be read independently from the first one. Penny’s character is engaging and relatable for young readers and the narrator’s voice is fitting for the upper elementary grades. The overall book is pleasant and amusing and I recommend you give it a shot.

Swift & Hawk: Undercover by Logan Macx

What worked:

Swift and Hawk are code names for Caleb and Zen, two members of a spy group located at a private school in London. Caleb’s expertise is in computer programming while Zen creates highly advanced robotic creatures. Zen is also more physically fit than most people so her agility, intelligence, and parkour talents will come in very handy to go undercover. A radical group against military weapon production plans an attack on a technology company that almost leads to devastating consequences. This group raises some challenging questions about the issue that may make readers question the business practices of big companies.

Caleb modified a video game his father created that uses an AI he calls Sam. Sam is an additional character since Caleb has programmed some personality parameters that allow it to analyze data and make suggestions. Caleb’s even trying to teach Sam how to be a little more positive when predicting how situations may turn out. Sam can decipher code, explore all areas of the internet, and help Caleb manipulate the technology he encounters. Caleb and Sam work together as a team even though Sam is a product of computer coding.

The book has a creative subplot that could be the focus of a story all by itself. Caleb’s father developed a very popular free video game called Terrorform while Caleb and Sam have improved it. Players can build settlements in the imaginary world but attacks from other players are possible. However, a conflict arises when an unknown group of players join the game and quickly grow to wreak mass destruction. Player groups are common but the transformation, development, and havoc surrounding the Nameless are unprecedented. Caleb has no idea of the identities behind the Nameless or their motives but he suspects a competing game company might be behind it. Regardless, the Nameless are ruining the game experience for all of the other players as their avatars and settlements are being systematically destroyed.

What didn’t work as well:

There is a strong dependency on Sam and he seems almost magical at times. Caleb gets ideas but Sam is often the one who handles the problems. Sam researches information, uses security cameras to monitor suspects and surroundings, and reprograms computers that present problems or obstacles. The human characters would be lost without Sam.

The final verdict:

There is a strong focus on technology so math, science, and computer lovers should enjoy the book. I suggest reading the first book before this one as I felt I wasn’t understanding some references to earlier events. Overall, the story is an exciting adventure and I recommend you give it a shot.

The Plot to Kill a Queen by Deborah Hopkinson

What worked:

The book’s format is unique as the author presents the story as a three-act play. However, the story itself is written as a familiar narrative, not the scripted format of a play. The opening pages offer a teaser about a chase scene later in the book until the narrator realizes she should probably start at the beginning. The titles of each act are shared which helps readers anticipate what’s to come. The narrator explains that the prologue talks about past events and gets the audience ready for the show. Asides are included where the narrator speaks directly to readers and shares specifics about topics related to the plays or the story in general. There’s even a soliloquy, a longer form of an aside.

Information from this time is shared which makes the book historical fiction. It describes Emilia’s clothing including her thoughts that pants would be much more comfortable and useful than petticoats and dresses. She is the main character and meets William Shakespeare early in the book (before he’s written any of his famous plays) and she discovers they share a passion for writing stories and plays. The moat protecting Queen Elizabeth’s castle is also where body waste is dropped and transportation is by horseback or carriage. The well-known conflict concerning claims to the English throne by Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots establishes the major problem driving the plot. A section at the end of the book provides further details concerning the connections between the book and actual historical events during this time.

The narrative is told through the eyes of Emilia so readers gain insight into the complicated contrast between her thoughts and her actions. She has no experience as a spy but she’s been warned about what to expect in Mary’s castle. She remembers Shakespeare’s comments about an actor becoming their character and she heeds that advice as a lute player. Emilie’s nervousness will create empathy in readers since there’s an air of hostility from many of the castle residents she encounters. Her job is to discover how Mary is secretly communicating with supporters outside the castle which creates a mystery for readers to solve. Also, Emilia must secretly pursue her interest in writing a play as women don’t have the same opportunities as men. As always, she is accompanied by her pet dog named Mouse and the spaniel proves to be a competent assistant in adventure and the spy business.

What didn’t work as well:

Readers may want more drama in the plot although Emilia mounts a daring escape from Mary’s castle. The evidence she uncovers doesn’t generate the reaction she expects and that part of the story may feel anticlimactic.

The final verdict:

The author develops an entertaining, informative story featuring the intrigue surrounding the contested claims to rule England between Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots. Emilia’s relatable character carries the plot as she tries to create a contest-winning play while investigating alleged plots to bring Mary to the throne. Readers may want more suspense but I still recommend you give this book a shot.