By Piranha T.

The raggedy witches have never been part of Mup Taylor’s peaceful life. She’s grown up in the mundane world, where magic isn’t common, surrounded by her perfectly normal mam and dad, her younger brother Tipper, and her beloved Aunty. Aunty has always warned Mup against the witches, and told her that if she sees them, she must tell Aunty and no one else. But the night Mup sees them out her car window, Aunty has died—and her family has no protection left against the raggedy witches.

Mup is quickly torn from familiarity into a world of strange and powerful magic where people can become animals, and an unjust queen forces rebels to speak in rhyme. But she’s a part of this world, too, because it’s where her mam was born. And the queen—who restricts all magic, and commands the powerful raggedy witches—wants her, because Mup’s mam is her daughter.

In an unfamiliar world where Mup doesn’t know who or what to trust, and raggedy witches seem to lurk in every shadow, Mup has a single goal: to keep her family together. But that might just be the hardest quest of all.

​Begone the Raggedy Witches is a modern novel and a fairytale at the same time. Celine Kiernan skillfully manages to create a very real world which feels very deep and multilayered, yet is simple enough to easily grasp, and adds to the story instead of complicating it. The cast, including Mup, is interesting and realistic. Those elements of realism are part of what makes Begone the Raggedy Witches stand out, because they integrate seamlessly into the fairytale-like story invoked by the plot and writing; the feel of this book often reminded me of A Path Begins. I highly recommend Begone the Raggedy Witches to lovers of fairytales and whimsical stories ages ten and up. 

Note: If you enjoy Begone the Raggedy Witches, check out our interview with the author, Celine Kiernan! 

By Piranha T. 

Midnight Train by Angie Sage, sequel to Twilight Hauntings, ​is the second and final book in the Enchanter's Child duology. 

The series takes place in a fantasy world where Enchanters and their children are hunted after a prophecy spoken ten years ago which says the king will die by the hand of an Enchanter's child. Alex has grown up in the city of Luma, where her only clue to the identity of her birth parents is a set of Enchanted cards. When she escapes the city and finds both friends and enemies in the surrounding lands, she begins to learn more about herself, her kingdom, and how to free it from the fear of Enchanters and their children. 

In Midnight Train, Alex continues her quest to destroy the malicious Twilight Hauntings who seek to kill all Enchanters. Like the first installment, this book is full of humor, quirky characters, and nonstop action. Angie Sage creates a witty story whose culmination fully fulfilled the expectations set for me by book one. I highly recommend Midnight Train and the Enchanter's Child Duology to readers ages nine and up! 

​
P.S. When we read and love the sequels to books we've reviewed, we'll give them 'mini-reviews' like this one - to share awesome sequels (and series) without spoiling the first book! 

 By Piranha T.

There are plenty of ways that Zenobia July is different from her fellow students when she starts Monarch Middle School. Her skills at tech, for example, developed over long days sitting at home when her father wouldn’t let her leave the house. The fact that she’s not living with her parents but with her two eccentric aunts. Or that although Zen was born a boy, in her new home in Maine, she’s been able to transition publicly to the girl she’s always been inside. Despite all the hardships she’s faced, though, Zen finds new challenges in middle school—girls who make fun of her, a boy who despises her for her skill at technology, and the constant fear that someone will learn she’s transgender. The only comforts lie in Arli, a self-proclaimed word geek, and the familiar riddles of Cyberlandium.

Then the school website is hacked, and it changes everything. Because although Zen knows she can find who did it, she’s also aware that success may not make her popular with her classmates. And as she delves deeper into the mystery, it makes her question the place she’s started to find for herself at Monarch Middle School.

It’s a multilayered puzzle which requires both cyber skills and determination. And Zenobia July may be the only one who can stop it before the hacker strikes again.

Zenobia July is an amazing book, one I’m so glad I’ve read. It’s the tale of a transgender girl figuring out who she is and navigating an unfamiliar world, but it’s also a cyber mystery with a strong friendship storyline. Lisa Bunker creates a many-layered, real story with an interesting, engaging plot. Her characters were well-drawn and unique, and every part of the story felt natural and smooth. To readers ages ten and up who like mysteries or books with diverse protagonists, I highly recommend Zenobia July.

By Super Kitty

Twelve-year-old Horace F. Andrews is a very logical person. So when he sees a sign with his name on it through a bus window on the way home from school, he can't quite  convince himself that it's a coincidence--sure, Andrews is a common name, and the chances of having "F" as a middle initial seem greater than one in twenty-six, but...Horace? Definitely unusual.

He decides to investigate. And the results are most certainly not logical.

When Horace gets off the bus and looks for the sign, he stumbles into a towering man who smells of brimstone--and who no one else on the street seems able to see--who tells him that curiosity is a walk fraught with peril, his tone not a warning but a threat. Shaken, Horace slips away and finally finds the building the sign was advertising for: the House of Answers, which somehow only leads to more questions. He is introduced to Keepers of Tan'ji, or objects with magical powers--and is told that he, too, has the aptitudes necessary to bond with a Tan'ji and become a Keeper. And that the tall, brimstone-smelling man is one of the Riven, a people that has been fighting the Keepers for the Tan'ji for eons, and must be avoided at all costs.

Sure enough, Horace discovers his Tan'ji, an extraordinary box he immediately feels a bond with. Charged with uncovering the abilities of the box on his own, Horace slowly discovers its incredible powers, and in the process meets Chloe, a prickly girl who is bonded with her own Tan'ji and can see Riven, too. Together, Horace and Chloe might change the tide of an ancient war for the power of the Tan'ji, and Horace is willing to do anything to protect the box from the Riven. But the influence of the Riven runs deep, and they always seem to be a step ahead, threatening everything that Horace has gained.

Because Horace's instinct was correct: the box is extraordinary. And the Riven are determined to take it. At any cost. 

The Box and the Dragonfly is a fast-paced, clever, and highly amusing fantasy that kept me engrossed for days. Although it's a fantasy, (with science fiction components), it strongly reminded me of the Mysterious Benedict Society books, especially the quirky characters and writing style--if Trenton Lee Stewart wrote a fantasy book, I suspect it would read a lot like this one. Horace is a smart, determined, appealing protagonist, Chloe is irritable and hilarious, and the other supporting characters each have their own distinct quirks and personalities. 

As I was writing the above book description, I was struck by how many of the elements of The Box and the Dragonfly aren't uncommon in fantasy (scientifically inclined protagonist, ancient struggle, magical objects), yet the way Sanders uses them is genuinely fresh and unique, and one particular aspect of the generally excellent plot is truly original and different from anything I've ever read before! (The reader/writer part of me found the way the plot plays with time irresistible, and my astrophysics-enthusiast side greatly appreciated the references to gravitational time dilation...) Similarly, many of the powers the Tan'ji have aren't objectively super unusual, but the ways that the characters use them and the rules attached most certainly are. Filled with quirky characters and clever twists, plus one brilliant plot unfolding in multiple times (read it and you'll see what I mean!), I would highly recommend The Box and the Dragonfly to both dedicated fantasy/science fiction fans and readers new to the genre(s) ages nine and up.

By Piranha T.

Cassia Arroyo still thinks she’s normal the day her dad pulls her out of school and tells her they’re leaving the country. Cassie has been a lot of places and done a lot of things—Rome is just the latest of many homes—but this is definitely new. In the rapid car ride which follows, all he tells her is that someone wants to kill her before he’s injured and hospitalized, leaving Cassie alone in Rome, with no idea who she can trust and who might be a potential assassin.

Following her dad’s instructions, Cassie finds Brother Gregorio, an elderly monk who tells her all the secrets her dad never did. The car chase through the streets of Rome is only one event in a story which has been unfolding for the past two hundred years. He explains that there is a magical spearhead, called the Spear of Destiny, which can alter fate itself. And Cassie is one of only a few people who can use it.

Unfortunately, an organization known as the Hastati believes that the spear is too dangerous. They meant to hide it, but thirteen years ago, it disappeared. Their solution? Kill everyone who can use it. And Cassie is their next target.

Cassie doesn’t plan on sitting around, waiting for the Hastati to murder her. She figures that if she finds the spear and gives it to them, they won’t care about killing her anymore. With the help of Simone, her sarcastic best friend, and Asher, Brother Gregorio’s cautious nephew, Cassie sets off on a search across Italy, from crumbling cities to powerful fortresses and beyond. But there are more secrets than Cassie knows. And most of them aren’t pleasant.

Can Cassie find the Spear of Destiny? And even if she does, will it be enough to save her life?

​Moving Target is a fast-paced fantasy novel full of twisting plotlines, brilliant characters, and nefarious enemies. It’s set in a modern world, and Christina Diaz Gonzalez does a beautiful job of staying in that spirit, even with a story full of ancient lore and mystical objects and cities straight out of fairytales. I also love her use of the backdrop of Italy. Cassie is a great main character who feels like a normal kid, despite the dangerous story she’s in the center of. The supporting cast is also brilliant; I particularly like the conflict between Simone and Asher. This book is full of action and plot twists and is perfect for readers who love fast-paced fantasy. I recommend Moving Target to readers ages eleven and up. 

Note: If you enjoy Moving Target, check out both our interview with the author, Christina Diaz Gonzalez, and the sequel, Return Fire​, which we loved! 

By Super Kitty

​Ten-year-old Ailey Lane is determined to get the part of the Scarecrow in his school's production of The Wiz, and not only because his dance moves are just begging for the spotlight, and he loves coming up with impromptu raps. It's because he always messes things up, and the more people he tells about tryouts, the more he realizes that no one expects him to get it right this time, either.

Everything is shaping up perfectly, though--until it's Ailey's turn at tryouts and he freezes up. Bad. He might be a class clown, but it's totally different having all those eyes on him when he's not just goofing off, and it's like they hit an erase button in his mind. Maybe everyone was right, after all.

Ailey decides he'll never dance again, and when his family asks him how auditions went, he expects a grown-up pep talk about persistence and practice and so on. But Grandpa surprises him--that night, he tells Ailey that when he was younger, he loved tap dancing, and was so good that Bojangles himself tapped with him once and loaned him his tap shoes, saying to bring them back when Grandpa was ready to give performing a shot. But he never mustered the courage to do it, and the shoes, which Bojangles said have a smidgen of magic, are tucked away in a closet, a mark of the regret that Grandpa has carried throughout his life. He has always wondered how far he might have gotten if he had been brave enough to do what he loved. He tells Ailey that he doesn't want him to have regrets, too.

Later that night, Ailey can't stop thinking about Grandpa's story, and he finds the shoes and tries them on. And Bojangles was definitely right about the "smidgen of magic," because when Ailey opens his eyes, he's in Harlem. Harlem in 1939, to be exact.

Which happens to be when and where Grandpa lived and tapped when he was a boy. When and where his greatest regret began.

When Ailey finds a talented boy called Taps performing on the street, he knows that he must have been brought here to give him the encouragement he needs. But nothing seems to go right--Taps definitely isn't convinced that his future grandson has come from the future, Ailey has no idea how to persuade him to take up Bojangles' offer, and there's still the problem of how to get home.

But the two boys have more in common than being family. Taps can tap dance like he was born for it, and Ailey can come up with raps without even trying. On their own, neither quite has the nerve to get up on stage--but maybe together, they can push each other to change their stars.

Ailey and Taps' enthusiasm is infectious, and although I personally am not particularly interested in tap dance, I thoroughly enjoyed The Magic in Changing Your Stars! I liked the combination of time travel and family, and how Ailey meets many members of his family from a few generations back that he's heard stories about--and a few kids and teens he knows as adults from his own time. Every character is named after famous Black people from history, especially performers, and the book includes a list of all of the people mentioned along with a short blurb about their achievements, which was an excellent extra layer. The book itself also has lots of historical tidbits, and many readers might not be able to resist learning more about them! I would recommend The Magic in Changing Your Stars to readers ages eight and up looking for an amusing, engaging celebration of family, friendship, and the courage it takes to do your best. 

By Piranha T.

Twelve-year-old Bryn has always known she wants to be a Seeker. Ever since her father, a Seeker himself, told her stories when she was young about the magical creatures who live within the Wild Realm, she’s known she wants to follow his footsteps. Only Seekers can enter the Wild Realm, where they help heal the plants and animals which live there, and protect its magic from outsiders.

When one of the Seekers retires, with Bryn finally old enough to compete for his place, she jumps at the chance to fulfil her dream. There’s just one problem: Bryn is the first girl ever to join the Seeker competitions. And not everyone’s happy she’s participating.

When Bryn is kicked out of the training sessions—and therefore her best chance of becoming a Seeker—she thinks she might not be able to win after all. But then she meets Ari, her fellow competitor, who agrees to help her train—if she helps him care for an illegal baby dragon who he’s hiding outside the village.

Bryn knows that if they’re discovered, she and Ari will be disqualified. But this is her best chance at winning, even though Ari refuses to tell her where he got the dragon egg.

But then she and Ari begin to uncover unfolding secrets in their village, and Bryn realizes this is about much more than who becomes a Seeker. It’ll decide the fate of the Wild Realm.

Seekers of the Wild Realm is a fast-paced fantasy novel somewhere between First Test and Septimus Heap. Bryn is a brave and likable protagonist, and I like how the story unfolds as she uncovers mysteries. I particularly like Alexandra Ott’s worldbuilding—the Wild Realm feels interesting and magical, and the magic the villagers have is a little different than anything I’ve come across before. I’m looking forward to reading book two! I would recommend Seekers of the Wild Realm to readers ages nine and up. 

Note: If you like Seekers of the Wild Realm, check out our interview with author Alexandra Ott! 

By Piranha T.

Toronia has been ripped apart by the Thousand Years’ War for longer than memory lasts, a war fought not with an outer enemy, but within itself. King Brutan, the most recent ruler, seized the crown unjustly from his brother. He is an unmistakable tyrant, and the fighting continues.

But one night, three new stars appear in the sky. Their coming was prophesized by Toronia’s first wizard, many years ago, said to herald justice for the kingdom with the coming of three new heirs who will kill the king and seize the throne. And so the three heirs come, triplets born to King Brutan who he intends to kill. They are only saved by the intervention of an ancient wizard, who takes them away and sends them to different corners of Toronia, hoping to save them by separation until the prophecy is fulfilled.

The triplets grow up in secret, hidden apart. Agulphus, called Gulph, becomes an acrobat in a traveling troupe of entertainers. Elodie is raised by a wealthy lord, knowing she will become queen, but not of her brothers or the prophecy. And Tarlan grows up in ice and snow, raised by a witch and surrounded by powerful, enormous birds. The three soon find their paths colliding, and the prophecy being fulfilled. But they are pitted against a merciless king and dark magic—a power which only grows as they fight against it.

​Crown of Three was a very cool book which I enjoyed quite a bit. Gulph, Elodie and Tarlan are three very different protagonists who are all likable, but in whom I think most readers will find a favorite who they’ll find themselves rooting for especially—I certainly did! Despite carrying on three storylines for most of the book—following the three main characters—J. D. Rinehart managed to switch between them in a fluid way which kept me engaged in all of them. This book pulled me in and kept me reading to the end; I recommend it to readers ages eleven and up who enjoy high fantasy and multiple protagonists. 

By Super Kitty

Twelve-year-old Charlie has grown up hearing stories of her relatives who were killed in the Holocaust, especially her grandmother's sister Charlotte. So when her history teacher assigns a family history project, she knows just who she wants to research--Charlotte, better known as Lottie, who was an extraordinary violinist and played for the Vienna Philharmonic in her teens. It's not just because she's Charlie's namesake, or their shared love of violin. It's because she disappeared, and though her family tells her that she was almost certainly lost in the Holocaust, Charlie wants to find out what really happened.

As she digs deeper, Charlie begins to piece together more of Lottie's life, and learns more about her family--both those she's researching and the ones she lives with. But her discoveries only lead to more questions, and she begins to wonder: Was Lottie really killed? Or could she still be alive? 

And is there really any way, over sixty years later and an ocean away, to find the truth? 

I've read many books about the Holocaust, but this was the first which explored its effects on the second and third generations of families, and although the story is relatively straightforward, as an older reader I also really also enjoyed it. Charlie is an immensely likable protagonist, and I loved how the mystery of Lottie's story unfolded, and the combination of historical and contemporary plot threads. The ending was particularly well done--although it's a happy ending, it also felt believable, and I liked her balance between connections and open-endedness. I would recommend Searching for Lottie to readers ages eight and up looking for a warm, engaging, and satisfying story about family connections and keeping memories of loved ones bright.

By Piranha T.
 
Words have power—and in an alternate version of Earth, they can create worlds. Certain people, known as scriptologists, are able to write worlds into reality. One of three branches of magic, scriptology is a finite and dangerous science which can easily be done wrong. And one worldbook holds a dangerous power, one which many people are desperate to use.

Elsa is from Veldana, the first—and only—populated scribed world. Her mother, Jumi, is a Veldanese scriptologist who is constantly expanding their still-new world. Perhaps Veldana’s age, and its small size, is why it is still uncomplicated by war or countries or technology.

But when Jumi is kidnapped, Elsa’s world falls apart. She escapes to Earth just before Veldana’s worldbook is burned, and without it, she knows her home is gone. Now, her hope is simply to find—and, potentially, save—her mother, who she is certain is somewhere on Earth. Yet even that may be more dangerous than she anticipates. For she is also a prize to her enemies.

With the help of a group of new friends—including Leo, a boy whose past is dark and whose future is closely tied to Elsa’s mission—she searches for the truth about her mother’s kidnappers, and a book she scribed before her disappearance. A book her kidnappers are desperate to find.

​Ink, Iron and Glass was one of those books I picked up off a library shelf, and completely engrossed me. Gwendolyn Clare’s version of a magical Victorian Italy, and her depictions of the scribed worlds, are some of the best fantasy settings I’ve read in a while, reminiscent of The Glass Sentence and The Golden Compass. The magic is interesting and unique, fitting effortlessly into the atmosphere of this book. Elsa and the supporting characters are all extremely deep and distinct, with no two quite alike, all with their own personalities which bounce off of each other beautifully. And the story itself is unpredictable and engaging. This book is one of the best I’ve read this year, and I think it would appeal to readers who loved the theme of writing in Inkheart and Finding Serendipity, but are now looking for something a little older; that said, Ink, Iron and Glass is a great novel for anyone who loves fantasy. To lovers of brilliant worlds and deep characters ages eleven and up, I highly recommend Ink, Iron and Glass. 

By Piranha T.

Back home in Kansas, everyone was used to the fact that Aven Green doesn’t have any arms. She was born like that, and even though it’s never stood in her way—her adoptive parents have always helped her figure things out on her own—she’s always been different in the eyes of other kids.

So when her parents take a job managing a decrepit cowboy-themed park in Arizona, Aven isn’t surprised when her armlessness is the first thing everyone sees in her. Still, she finds a friend in Connor, a boy who’s as isolated as she is, and together, they begin to uncover an unexpected mystery in Aven’s new home—one which seems suspiciously connected to herself.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus is a funny, eye-opening, entertaining book. Author Dusti Bowling seamlessly tackles difficult themes of disabilities and exclusiveness while simultaneously crafting a hilarious story about friendship, mystery, and change. Aven is a funny and relatable main character who truly carried this book. Unlike many other thought-provoking novels, it didn’t feel like Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus was about Aven not having arms. Instead, this was simply one part of it, a section of Aven’s life which was a part of the story without taking it over, which was extremely well done. Overall, I would recommend Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus to readers ages nine and up, whether you’re looking for a thought-provoking read or simply a relatable realistic fiction book. 

By Piranha T.
 
Up until the day when twelve-year-old Maya sees the color bleed from the world, the weirdest things she’s ever heard of are the stories her dad tells her about his travels. She hasn’t believed his magic-filled tales of battling werehyenas, fleeing impundulu, and outwitting elokos for years, but she knows she saw the world turn grey, and her friends’ explanations of ghost invasions and poisoned food can’t explain it. Still…she must be making it up. Right?

But then she sees ferocious werehyenas on the nighttime streets of Chicago. And there’s a shadowy man twined with silk ribbons lurking in her dreams.

Just when Maya becomes sure she can’t be imagining this, she learns the truth. Her dad is a spirit-god, an orisha, and the guardian of the Veil, a barrier which separates Maya’s world from the Dark. But the Veil is tearing, courtesy of the powerful and malicious Lord of Shadows on the other side. And Maya’s dad is the only one who can repair it.

But when her dad is taken by the Lord of Shadows and the other orisha don’t dare to try to rescue him, Maya knows she’s the only one who can enter the Dark to get him back. Because not even the Lord of Shadows can keep this determined half-orisha from getting to her dad.

Maya and the Rising Dark is a well-plotted, fast-paced fantasy novel full of unique characters and multilayered magic. Maya feels like someone I could know, and her reactions to learning about a whole side to her world she never knew about feel realistic. Rena Barron weaves a complex universe of magical creatures and orishas over our everyday world, in a way which reminds me of Aru Shah and the End of Time. I’m looking forward to reading future books about Maya! I highly recommend Maya and the Rising Dark to fantasy fans ages nine and up, particularly those who like stories drawn from diverse mythologies. 

By Piranha T.

Kek is a refugee from Sudan, fleeing his home after the deaths of much of his family. He is sent to his family in the United States, where he struggles to learn the language and understand the culture. His new school seems like a paradise of freedom to Kek, but he feels isolated until he meets Hannah, a girl who befriends him and helps him navigate the complexities of his new life. But even with Hannah’s friendship, he won’t forget the mystery of what happened to his mother—and the question of whether she’s alive at all.

Home of the Brave is the story of Kek’s struggle in a foreign new home, told in free verse. It is deeply relatable, sometimes funny, a book about change, prejudice, coming of age, and so much more. This is a book to be discussed in book groups, a simple story with a deepness which will remain in reader’s minds. I think Home of the Brave would appeal to fans of books like The Year of the Dog and Other Words for Home, centering around people from other cultures finding a way in a world which sees their identity as their home country, and not who they ​are. I would recommend Home of the Brave to readers ages ten and up. 

By Super Kitty

Living in London with her father and aunts, Tally is perfectly content. But there is the war, of course, getting ever closer, and news of the Nazis every day in newspapers and on the wireless. Children are getting sent to the countryside to protect them from the coming air raids. Tally has no intention of leaving, but when her father gets the opportunity to send her to a boarding school in the country, he accepts, determined to keep her safe from the anticipated air raids on the city.

Tally does not want to go to boarding school--uniforms and field hockey and endless rules are the last things she wants to worry about, and she longs to stay with her family and friends. But when she arrives at Delderton, it turns out to be nothing like the schools she's read about in books. Students only go to classes if they want to, and the classes themselves are entirely different than she was expecting--drama and handicrafts and biology lessons in the woods are taught along with English and math. She meets children who dream of movie stars and revolutions and one with a pet axolotl. Instead of scolding and nagging, her housemother is writing a book about a German philosopher. And Tally begins to think that maybe, just maybe, Delderton is a place where she can be happy. 

Karil, crown prince of Bergania, has spent his whole life surrounded by royals and officials and ceremonies, and has never had friends or felt really free. He is destined to be king someday, but he's never found a place where he feels he truly belongs. And now, with the war close at hand and his father refusing to obey Hitler's orders, tensions at the royal court make things lonelier than ever. 

When Tally learns about the king of Bergania's daring stand against the Nazis, she moved by his courage and longs to visit his beautiful country. The opportunity arises when she learns of a youth folk dance festival that the country is hosting, and she gathers a group of students to choreograph a dance so that they can attend. There, she and the other students meet children from all over Europe, but for Tally, the closest friendship she forms is with someone who's not even supposed to speak to her--Karil, prince of Bergania.

Their friendship might be forbidden, but there are far more dangerous things occupying the minds of the country's leaders. And when Nazi forces infiltrate Bergania's government, it is up to Tally and her friends to help Karil escape to safety. 

Eva Ibbotson is one of my favorite writers, and this book completely lived up to my high expectations. Ibbotson grew up in Vienna, Austria, but fled during World War II as a child, and it's clear that she experienced many of the things described in The Dragonfly Pool--the descriptions and details she writes with have the feel not of careful research, but of personal experience. Her writing is beautiful, and the story is poignant and moving, but still has the characteristic humor and quirkiness which I've enjoyed in many of her other books. And Tally is a wonderful main character, caring and brave but still believable, and I loved the way her friendship with Karil develops. (I also appreciated the lack of romance--so many middle grade books with girls and boys who are friends focus on it, but in The Dragonfly Pool it's all but nonexistent.) I would highly recommend it to readers ages ten and up. 

By Piranha T.

It is 1940 in England; bombs rain down every night. Twelve-year-old Katherine Bateson and her brother and sister are sent to a crumbling castle-turned school in Scotland to escape the Blitz. It seems to be a perfect solution, despite the mysteries and rumors cloaking Rookskill Castle. Kat and her siblings will be safe there—won’t they?

Despite the stories Kat hears on the way to Rookskill Castle, she insists it isn’t dangerous. After all, she reasons, everything can be explained without falling back on something so ridiculous as magic. She didn’t believe her great-aunt, when she claimed her antique chatelaine had mystical powers; there is no evidence for her temporary home to be haunted.

Before long, more peculiarities are revealed. Lady Eleanor, the castle’s ruler, seems to be more than she appears—and attempts to conceal a chatelaine like Kat’s grandmother’s. Kat hears wordless singing from one of the towers at night, and watches unfamiliar children wander the grounds. She finds but one reasonable solution: Rookskill Castle must be harboring a Nazi spy.

But when Rookskill Castle’s other refugees begin disappearing, Kat realizes the truth is much more complex. She must answer a question she’s never asked herself before: what if magic is real?
​
The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle is at times creepy, at times gripping, but always full of intrigue and unfolding secrets which kept me turning the pages. Kat is an excellent protagonist who has a logical mind without provoking the exasperation readers often feel when a character refuses to accept something which seems utterly obvious; she feels very real, and so does her relationship with her brother and sister, which made me think of The Emerald Atlas. The plot keeps unveiling new layers and eye-opening secrets. This book is filled with mystery and power, including a very interesting villain and kind of magic which I look forward to reading more of in the upcoming second installment. I recommend The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle to readers ages eleven and up who love historical fantasy and twisting storylines. 

Note: If you like The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle, check out our interview with the author Janet Fox, and the sequel, The Artifact Hunters!