My name is Doug, and my best friend Arcade has this awesome magical necklace. I'm hoping he can use it to help me with my problems. I've been living with my great-grandmother for years, but now she's been placed in an assisted living facility. Of course, I can't live by myself, and I don't know any relatives around here that might take me in. The brownstone is going on the market, but the realtor will have trouble showing it to potential buyers. I'm keeping Arcade's flamingo in the bathroom, and it's making quite a mess. Well, the flamingo actually came from the Beijing Zoo, but that's because of Arcade's necklace. It takes him on adventures to unbelievable places. But, like I said, I just hope he can use it now to help me find a new home.
I recommend you read the first two books in the series to fully understand the story's progression. The second book introduced the possibility that the token could transport Arcade to the past or future, and this book sees him learning to control it. The token's history is explored, and it's testing Arcade to see if he's worthy of being its owner. The book has a spiritual quality and promotes positive messages. Arcade's parents include Bible quotations in their notes and include prayer in dealing with difficult times and decisions. Despite some minor teasing, Arcade and his older sister have a special bond. Zoe always supports her brother and helps him stay safe physically and mentally. It's refreshing to read a series that focuses on good things in the world without accentuating the bad. A subplot involves the disappearance of the family dog that adds an amusing twist to the book. It's like playing hide and seek with the hider moving around somewhere, and sometime, in history. Overall, I can easily recommend this book, and series, for your enjoyment.
My name is Sabrina, and someone's been stealing magical objects from witches. Also, the new mayor, The Queen of Hearts, has levied new property taxes that will force most humans to leave the town, and the former mayor, Prince Charming, has disappeared. I don't see how Grandma will ever raise enough money to save our house, and I have mixed emotions about Charming's absence. And to make matters worse, Canis is finding it harder and harder to keep the Wolf inside. However, Grimms have been solving mysteries for centuries, and that's what Daphne and I need to do now. We're afraid the three stolen objects might be used together, but we can't predict the consequences.
As with the other books, there is a main conflict, the theft of magical items in this case, blended with the lesser conflicts. The new mayor and sheriff have upped the tensions with their hatred of humans, another example of a novel addressing prejudices. I wasn't crazy about the introduction of time travel into the series. Over the previous four books, the series set guidelines and limits for magic, so time travel was an unexpected twist that broke the rules the author had already established. I felt like the author could have developed a more "realistic" conflict (based on the past books) instead of taking an easier path with time travel. With all that being said, I still enjoyed the book. Sabrina and Daphne were a bit rebellious and got themselves into sticky situations. Puck has always been an amusing character in the stories, and seeing him in the future added a new twist. Overall, this was another entertaining book, and I recommend you give the series a shot.
My name is Ashala, and I have a big question to answer. Should I search for my best friend Ember even though she says she doesn't need to be found? It's not safe for Illegals like us to walk among the humans, and her message said I might hate her for things she's done. I don't care. A stranger arrived a short while ago with more information about Ember. I don't know him but I trust him, and he's helped me learn some things about Ember's family. Connor will be furious if he finds out the identity of her brother! I want to rescue Ember and return before the start of the Resurrection. However, I didn't know at the time the importance of that event. All Illegals will be in terrible danger if I can't get back in time.
Details from the first book returned as I got into the story. Ash and the rest of the Tribe had abilities related to different animals, and the book opened with her living among wolves. Her boyfriend Connor was able to move air and could fly, while Ember had a connection to birds and an ability to change memories. The whole idea of Ember's terrible secrets added suspense and anticipation to the plot. It was unclear how Ash would respond when she found out, so it was impossible to predict where the story would go. The discrimination and prejudice against Illegals were at core of the conflict, and the origin of these feelings was revealed. Humans' thoughts and feelings were manipulated, and the consequences were still being felt. Some leaders fed the fears of citizens in order to achieve their own private agendas. Readers might notice some similarities to the real world. The main characters were portrayed in their upper teens, and there were moments where mature emotions were shared. There wasn't anything inappropriate, but the book's not for younger readers. Overall, I'm enjoying the series and plan to read the sequel, The Foretelling of Georgie Spider.
My name is Emily, and no one knows I'm a mermaid. I only found out when my phys ed class went swimming, but luckily my legs came back when I left the pool. Please keep my secret, or everyone will start calling me a freak. My father left my mother and me when I was a baby, and my mom never talks about him. It's strange that my mom's afraid of the water, but we live on a houseboat by the ocean. Anyhow, I snuck into the water one night and swam farther than I have before. I rested atop some a rock formation and found Shoana on the other side. Shoana is a full mermaid and can't walk on land. She told me Neptune is their king, and he gets irate when mermaids or mermen interact with humans. I'd love for Shoana to become my best friend, but it may be dangerously deadly if Neptune ever finds out.
I read the seventh book in the series before I actually knew there was a series! I figured it might be worth my time to read the first one. Stories about mermaids are unique unless you're watching a Disney movie. Much of the setting takes place underwater. Emily fears her secret might open her up to ridicule which is a feeling that will resonate with middle grade readers. Many students will go to great lengths to not stand out or seem different. Emily's driving motivation is to find her father. She doesn't understand why her mother never talks about him, but she later learns there's a very good reason. Kids want to know how they fit in, and children with a missing parent will often want the family reunited. That sometimes works, but it's a risky proposition. Readers should start having strong suspicions about where the plot is headed, and you'll probably be correct. Overall, this is a nice book that will appeal to lovers of sympathetic, determined female antagonists. Give it a shot.
My name is Zoe, and I won't leave my brother Arcade alone with the magic token on his new necklace. There's a man trying to get the token from him, so we convinced our parents to send us back to Virginia for a month. The token sends us on unpredictable adventures, and our cousins have now joined us. Arcade says the "Travel Guide", the token, will take us where we need to go, and it's up to us to learn the lesson. He got this message from a little old lady that no one else can see. However, I'm not totally sure why he has such an interest in the rundown putt putt course. The owner is very grouchy and mean, and the whole idea of putt putt makes no sense to me. I think Arcade should pay more attention to the cute girl at the bakery. I can see the sparks, even if he won't admit it.
There is a spirituality to the series that spreads a message of compassion for others. Words from the Bible are sometimes shared, but the story isn't overly religious. The theme of the book is caring for others and doing the right thing. Zoe and Arcade tease each other, but love is at the center of their relationship. As in the previous book, I'm surprised at how easily other characters accept the token. I wasn't expecting it to take the kids so far back in time and so far around the world, since the trips in Arcade and the Triple T Token happened in the present day. The positivity in the book is refreshing, and Arcade's kindness is key. Humbleness, understanding, and forgiveness are critical in resolving the main conflict. The return of the antagonist from book one is complicated by some new information. Some parts of the problem were easy to figure out, but the author saved some details for surprises. Overall, this is a fun, feel-good series, and I recommend you give it a shot.
My name is Saville, and my father's illness has forced me to become the tailor for all of Reggen. I've succeeded in concealing my identity as a girl in order to get the king's business. Terrifying stories have been spreading about giants destroying towns and villages, and they're headed toward our city. Wow, I never thought I'd consider this place my home. However, I decided to help a young boy living on the streets, and he quickly discovered my secret. We've come to an agreement, and I've grown fond of him. However, his curiosity has now gotten him into serious trouble, and no one else in the town is willing to help. If I'm successful, the king will probably want me to marry the princess, but I could never imagine that my decision would put the kingdom in peril.
Saville was the protagonist, and her time as a "boy" created political and emotional issues. The citizens would never accept a female champion, and budding feelings for an ally complicated matters. The young boy mentioned above, named Will, was an amusing distraction to the main plot. Saville became a surrogate mother to him, and he became her loyal companion. He used his role as a child to move unnoticed around adults and to collect information for Saville. An evil duke and his army of giants presented the major conflict, and Saville found herself cast into a key role to save the castle. Her observation skills and empathy for the "enemy" were invaluable. She was able to encourage and facilitate the transformation of several characters. Overall, this was a very entertaining book, and I recommend you give it a shot. I kind of wish it had a sequel.
My name is Arcade Livingston, and my life changed when an old lady gave me a necklace with a magical token. I don't know how it works, and I can't predict when it will start burning, but it always transports my sister Zoe and I on new adventures. My first trip sent me right into the middle of a bronco bull rodeo! The token has allowed me to help my friends choose careers for our school project, but I wish it would give me some ideas. I don't know what I'm good at, and I can't decide what I want to do. I'm also distracted by a mysterious man who's saying the token belongs to him. I'm a little scared, because he knows my name and I don't know what he might do. My parents will never believe me, although I suspect my mom might be able to help.
The early part of the book left me a little confused, as I couldn't figure out when or why the token transported Arcade and Zoe. The characters and I learned to accept the unpredictable nature of the token and enjoyed the ride. The minor characters in Arcade's group each had a moment of surprise before fully embracing the token's powers. That surprised me a bit. The book never fully explained how the token worked. Did the kids travel into the future? Did their experiences actually happen? The veterinary trip seemed to have occurred but what about the pit crew? It was cool that Zoe wanted to protect Arcade and didn't want him traveling alone. The parents were busy with their careers, but the father managed to write daily, motivational notes to the kids. The parents were prepared to drop everything if Arcade needed them. That was an inspiring portrayal of a modern family unit. Overall, this was a fun story, and I recommend you give it a shot. The story's resolution presented some questions, so I've already reserved the sequel from my library.
