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.

The Icemark is not a country for the faint of heart. Hemmed in by mountains filled with strange creatures to the north, and the bloodthirsty Polypontian Empire to the south—led by the famed general Scipio Bellorum—the tiny Icemark has always struggled to defend itself. Yet it has always managed to fend off invaders—until now.

Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield is a warrior princess, the only child of the Icemark’s king. Known for her skill and daring, it has long been acknowledged that someday, she will lead her country well. But when her father is killed in a border conflict with Scipio Bellorum’s armies, fourteen-year-old Thirrin is left to lead her country into war against one of the most infamous generals in the world.

So she gathers her strength. With the help of her advisors—her elderly tutor and a witch’s son with more power than anyone seems to realize—Thirrin sets out to rally the strength of her country and forge new alliances. She joins with the fierce Hypolitan, seeks the aid of The-Land-of-the-Ghosts and the Wolf-Folk to the north, and journeys even further still, to partner with legendary Snow Leopards. But even with that added strength, will Thirrin be able to lead the Icemark into victory?

I’ve wanted to read The Cry of the Icemark for a while, and it did not disappoint. Thirrin is a strong and undauntable protagonist who reminded me of Kel, in that they are both fierce and brilliant female main characters. That said, although this is a fantasy novel with elements of a medieval/historical world, it doesn’t fall into the same mold as many others; it is multilayered and full of unusually portrayed magic, focusing on war while still having a story beyond it. The Cry of the Icemark may be about Thirrin’s struggle to protect her country, but it is so much more than that. This story is about alliances and friendships, the world and characters in some ways contributing more to the feel of the story than the war itself. Even if you feel tired of what may feel like repetitive fantasy novels, I suggest you give this one a try. And if you do like fantasy—particularly books like Seraphina, The Goblin Wood, or the Protector of the Small Quartet—this is definitely a top pick. To fantasy lovers ages eleven and up, I highly recommend The Cry of the Icemark. 

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.

On the outskirts of the Thickety—a sprawling forest full of strange, dangerous creatures—lies Kara Westfall’s village, which lives in fear of the evil witches who some say were all killed hundreds of years ago. But when Kara was five years old, her mother was murdered after she was reported to be a witch. And although Kara never displayed the same skills, people whisper that she’s a witch, too.

It’s been seven years, but those rumors have never faded. Kara and her younger brother, Taff, have been ostracized ever since the fateful night when their mother died, even though they know as well as anyone else that magic is evil. But that doesn’t matter to the villagers, and least of all Grace Stone, the village leader’s snooty daughter, who is determined to make Kara’s life a misery.

But then Kara is lured into the Thickety by a one-eyed bird who leads her to a grimoire—a volume of spells which she believed was once possessed by her mother—and with it, she discovers that she too can cast spells. She knows she must destroy it, but it pulls at her, not allowing her to let it rest. And she begins doing things with it she never would have done before.

There are secrets in the village: about the Thickety, the grimoire, even Kara’s mother. But will she be able to uncover them before it is too late? Or will she become the witch the villagers have always believed she had the potential to become?
​
A Path Begins is an engaging, brilliant fantasy novel, the first in a quartet full of twisting plotlines. Kara is a strong main character struggling to understand her magical powers and the essence of who she is, one of the best heroines I’ve recently read. She reminds me of strong characters like Mara in City of Islands, Makenna in The Goblin Wood, and Luna in The Girl Who Drank the Moon. I also liked the unique feeling of the world J. A. White evokes in both the Thickety and Kara’s village, full of danger and strangeness with creepy undertones. Altogether, I highly recommend The Thickety: A Path Begins to fantasy lovers ages ten and up. 

Note: A Path Begins was selected as one of our favorite books of 2020! 

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 Super Kitty

Seventh grader Castle Crenshaw, aka Ghost, can run. For him, sprinting isn't something he's trained for, it's just something he can do--something he's had to do. Because he's not one of those rich kids he sees practicing on the local track after school. And his earliest memory of sprinting as a gun went off isn't from a race. 

Ever since his dad chased Ghost and his mom from their apartment years ago, pointing a gun straight at them, something in Ghost changed. Not something obvious. More like a scream that's caught inside him, anger and fire that can spring to the surface at a moment's notice.

When he gets recruited for the Defenders, one of the best track teams in the city, the whole thing feels like some scene from a sports movie. Ghost can run, yeah, but that doesn't mean he wants to spend hours training with a bunch of kids he's never met--kids whose clothes and shoes and just about everything make it clear that they'll never be friends. But (somehow) his mom agrees to let him join, and before Ghost knows what's happened, Coach has promised he won't get into any trouble at school if he wants to stay on the team. 

Here's the thing: Ghost tries. He really does. But when kids like Brandon Simmons, the biggest bully in his class, start mouthing off at him, sometimes he just loses it. How's he supposed to be the bigger person--stay calm--and still stand up for himself, anyway? 

As Ghost attempts to stay cool at school and figure out the new track team, he starts to get to know the other newbies, who have more in common with him than he thinks.   

But as pressure rises from all sides, each mistake has bigger consequences, and he wonders how far he'll go to fit in. 

Maybe he needs to come to peace with his past before he can tackle his dreams for the future. 

I've heard a lot about the Track series, but I only read Ghost recently--I've never done track, and I thought it would be one of those books which is centered purely on a sport, which I don't usually enjoy. After reading several of Jason Reynolds' other books and loving them, though, I decided to give them a try, and (of course) I was completely blown away. Reynolds has that rare ability to truly capture the voice of a middle schooler, and reading each book in the Track series is like having a conversation with a friend--or seeing yourself. Track plays an important role in each book, but that's certainly not all they're about; school, friendships, and finding yourself are all major components as well, just to name a few. There's a perfect balance between depth and humor, and I love the way that the "newbies"--Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu--connect over the course of the series. An outstanding series, which I would highly recommend to readers ages ten and up--each book is about a different newbie, and they're each distinct and different, yet all are amazing.

By Piranha T.

I can’t remember a time before music.
I can’t remember the first time I heard
                “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
                “Clair de Lune”
                “Rhapsody in Blue.”
Before this year
All my friends were like songs that I knew by heart.
                               -Excerpt from Emmy in the Key of Code

Twelve-year-old Emmy loves music. She’s heard songs for so long she can’t remember life without them; music is a tangible part of her life. With a pianist father and an opera-singing mother, she’s never wanted anything more than to be a musician, too. But no matter how hard she tries, she’s never been able to carry a note or play a tune. After years of musical disappointments, she knows she can’t pretend to be what she isn’t. Still, she’s disheartened when, in her new school in San Francisco, she’s placed not in a music class, but in Computer Science.

But from the first time Emmy enters the computer lab—and meets the teacher, Ms. Delaney—she discovers a new type of music: the music of a keyboard and lines of code. Coding helps Emmy find a place in her new school, a teacher who she cares about, and even a best friend.

One day we will learn what [the code] does.
Every word. Every line.
Every note played on the keyboard.
But right now…it’s just music
Written in the language called Java.
                                                                                      -Excerpt from Emmy in the Key of Code

Just as Emmy begins to find a place in her new school—one made from lines of code, not notes of music—the last thing she expects happens, and she’s left struggling to come to terms with an event which changes everything.

When I started reading Emmy in the Key of Code, it wasn’t by any recommendation; it was just because it had an interesting title and a cool cover. But this is a book I’ve been telling everyone I know to read. I love the way Emmy developed and learned her true talents as a coder, made friends, and overcame her struggles with self-confidence. She’s a character I fell in love with both for her courage and talents but also her realism; I found myself instantly connecting with her because she feels so true. All the situations she fell into, and the other characters she encountered, were so realistic that it felt like I was moving through the story right next to Emmy. This book is written in rhythmic free verse interspersed with lines of code, with musical terms used throughout, which added to the story and the feel of this book as a whole. Aimee Lucido effortlessly combines elements of coding, music, women in science, bullying, moving, friendship, and self-discovery in a truly outstanding way. I highly recommend Emmy in the Key of Code to readers ages ten and up, particularly those who love science, math, or music. 

Notes: We interviewed author Aimee Lucido, which you can read here. And we selected Emmy in the Key of Code as one of our favorites from 2020! 

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 or twisting storylines. 

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

By Super Kitty

On her twelfth birthday, Nisha receives her first diary--a beautiful book where she feels she can record all of her thoughts and wonderings. She struggles to speak in front of anyone other than her family, especially her twin brother Amil, or Kazi, her family's beloved cook, who gave her the notebook. But when she writes, words flow onto the page, telling the story of the sudden changes which have begun in the world around her. 

India has been freed from British rule, but in the summer of 1947, things only seem to be getting more complicated. Before, it didn't seem to matter what religion people were, but suddenly there is talk of India becoming two countries--one for Muslims and one for Sikhs, Hindus, and all other Indians. Everyone is taking sides, from the country's leaders to the students at Nisha and Amil's schools. But the only side Nisha wants to be on is her family's--Amil, Kazi, Papa, and Dadi, her grandmother. 

Dadi and Papa are Hindu. Kazi is Muslim, and so was Nisha's mother, who died when she and Amil were born. So where in this new world does Nisha belong?

As tensions escalate and violence begins to break out in their neighborhood, Dadi, Papa, Nisha and Amil escape and begin the long journey away from what is now Pakistan, away from their Kazi and their bungalow and everything Nisha and Amil have ever known. They cross the desert to what is now the new India on foot, desperate for water and facing the growing tensions between refugees of all religions, escaping their old homes to places they have never seen. They find hardship and danger on their road, people filled with cruelty and some who have lost everything. But there is also unexpected kindness in those they encounter, and the hope for a better future.

Written in a series of letters to her mother, Nisha's journey is sometimes heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful, and although it's historical, it explores many issues which are still relevant today. I don't always prefer reading books written in a diary format--it can be difficult to immerse oneself in the story--but I loved the way that Veera Hiranandani weaves the story through Nisha's letters to a mother she never really met. The relationships within her family are believably imperfect, yet the relatively small cast of characters clearly truly care about one another, and the harsh journey they make together helps to bring them closer together. The story also explores a piece of history that I can't believe I didn't know more about--according to the Author's Note, the journey in The Night Diary "is the largest mass migration in history." Although the story itself is fictional, it is inspired by the journey made by the author's father when he was young, and her vivid details and descriptions bring Nisha's world to life. The Night Diary is written for a middle-grade audience, but older readers will enjoy it as well (though they may find the ending slightly too happy to be completely realistic), and they may be inspired to learn more about the historical events it describes. Overall, I would recommend The Night Diary to readers ages ten and up.  

By Piranha T.
 
Alex has never known the identities of her birth parents, and she has only one clue: the seven shimmering cards she’s had for as long as she can remember, with which she can see the future. She knows they’re magical, which could put not just her, but her adoptive family, in danger—Enchanters and their magic are forbidden in the city of Luma and the surrounding lands, and if her cards were discovered by the dangerous Sentinels, she’d be imprisoned for life. But they’re her only connection to her unknown birth parents, and she’s not going to give that up.

When Alex is betrayed to the Sentinels, she narrowly escapes Luma and finds herself in the perilous lands beyond, where mist-shrouded Hauntings track down magic workers, and a dark-winged Hawke searches for new quarry. But the land wasn’t always like this. And the king didn’t always seek to kill Enchanters and their children. With newfound allies and the aid of strange, Enchanted objects, Alex embarks on a dangerous quest: to dispel the Hauntings—and free the Enchanters—for good.

Full of Angie Sage’s signature humor and wit, Twilight Hauntings is perfect for both new readers and fans of her previous Septimus Heap series. Alex and the supporting characters are quirky, distinct, and hilarious—from a bereft Enchanter to a placid donkey, everyone in this novel feels fully developed and interesting. I also liked the layers to the setting and the elements of magic. I can’t wait to read book two! Angie Sage expertly lives up to the expectations set by her previous novels in character development, plot, and humor, so if you love her other novels, this is a perfect book to read. I highly recommend Twilight Hauntings to readers ages nine and up. 

By Super Kitty
​
"This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen. No one heard anything."
                                ​- Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

You see, everyone who would have noticed was busy--they were walking home from school. They were arguing, skateboarding, telling stories, and making plans. They were cracking jokes and asking hard questions, exchanging secret handshakes and hanging out with friends. They were far too busy to notice something like a school bus falling from the sky. 

I don't always enjoy short stories (it can be so hard to lose yourself in them when they're only the length of a chapter!), but I loved Look Both Ways. Each of the ten stories are distinct and unique (in characters, plot, and writing style), but they overlap just the right amount, with each character firmly absorbed in their own story, yet touched or affected by those of others. The characters might be vastly different from each other in experience and situation, but they're all unforgettably relatable and real--I felt like I was reading about kids I could have classes with, or was reminded of my own experiences. The stories, one for each block that a character lives on, unfold with twists and realizations while maintaining a believable open-endedness which makes them even more powerful. I've had several of Jason Reynolds' books on my reading list for a while, and now I can't wait to read more of his books! I would highly recommend Look Both Ways to readers ages ten and up looking for a book with skillful writing, humor, loss, and hope, and a believable, diverse cast of middle schoolers searching for their place in the world.

By Piranha T.

As World War II progresses and bombs are dropped on London every night, thirteen-year-old Kenneth Sparks’ home become a war zone. Before long, he’s glad to leave on the SS City of Benares, a luxury ship chartered to bring ninety English children to Canada to escape the war. To Ken, the ship is like paradise. He has plenty to eat, a comfy bed to sleep in, and a room of toys to play with.

But when the City of Benares is torpedoed by German U-Boats, Ken and forty-five other children, passengers and sailors escape on Lifeboat 12. They have limited rations and even less water. As the days drag by and no land or rescue boat appears, Ken begins to wonder if they will simply die at sea.

Lifeboat 12 was historical fiction, but it was about real people and real events (and don’t worry—it does have a happy ending!). All the characters actually lived, and narrator Ken Sparks really was on Lifeboat 12. Parliament’s decision to send children to the British colonies is a little-known piece of history which I found quite interesting. Of course, Lifeboat 12 is fictionalized, but was firmly based in the accounts of survivors and newspapers.

When I first picked up Lifeboat 12, I didn’t know if I’d like it. I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction. However, this book pulled me in, and I think it would be a great book for fans of little-known history, like World War II’s Fly Girls. In the back of the book, Susan Hood also provides historical context which was quite interesting. At the same time, the book was written as fiction—in free verse poetry—so unlike many similar books, it was quite engaging. I recommend Lifeboat 12 to lovers of historical fiction ages ten and up.