By Super Kitty

Ten years ago, three young children were taken from their home, escaping an ancient being of darkness who wished to destroy them. Separated from their parents, the siblings are sent from one orphanage to the next: fourteen-year-old Kate, who promised her mother to take care of her younger brother and sister just before they were taken away; Michael, a twelve-year-old bookworm with a deep fondness for dwarves; and Emma, the fiery, fearless, and often irritable youngest, willing to fight just about anyone and who thinks dwarves are completely ridiculous. Remembering their mother’s promise that one day their family will be reunited again, they have refused to be adopted, getting transferred to increasingly horrible orphanages as year after year goes by.

Just when they think things can’t get any worse, they are moved once more—this time to an ancient, crumbling house in a half-forgotten town that no one seems to know anything about. While searching for the truth about the strange village, the siblings stumble across a hidden book, and are pulled into a conflict that has raged for eons. The book holds a power that some fear and some desire, and to unlock its secrets and set right the wrongs that have been done in its name, Kate, Michael, and Emma begin a journey that will take them through time itself. Along the way, they will meet monsters and sorcerers, allies and enemies—and, perhaps, find out the truth of who they really are.

Kate, Michael, and Emma are great main characters—they might have extraordinary destinies and be the key to ridding the world of evil, but they’re also believable children who argue and make mistakes, much like the protagonists of Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society. In fact, the entire cast is well done, especially the (very intriguing) villains, who we can’t wait to see more of in the rest of the trilogy. There are lots of books which include time travel, but the way John Stephens uses it doesn’t feel cliché—the various twists and side effects of altering the past are both creative a​nd amusing. Clever, fast-paced, and fun, I would highly recommend The Emerald Atlas to readers ages nine and up.

By Piranha T.

There is nowhere in the world seventh grader Coco Hidden loves more than El Corazón, the bean-to-bar chocolate shop she and her mom run in her small Colorado hometown of Heartbeat Springs. Even when her best friend, Leo, stops talking to her, she can find reassurance in her favorite food: chocolate. Nothing in her world seems concrete, but she’s sure she’ll never lose El Corazón.

But then her mom tells her they’ll have to close the chocolate shop. Coco is certain that if she she’ll be able to save it if she can find a ceiba tree which has been haunting her dreams. But she’s never even left Colorado—how is she supposed to get to the Amazon rainforest?

Before long, Coco finds herself on an astonishing trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon with Leo and Gali Gallo, her elderly inventor-neighbor who has secrets of his own. But this small, unexpected bit of hope is deeply threatened. The jungle is being destroyed by loggers and oil-drillers who don’t consider the trees they’re cutting down or the ecosystems they’re destroying. Will Coco be able to find the ceiba tree and rescue El Corazón before it’s destroyed forever?

Tree of Dreams was an amazing book, simultaneously funny and deep. It confronts the damage being done to rainforests in a deeply relatable and unusual way—instead of feeling as though this was the reason Laura Resau wrote this book, it simply read like something which was drawn from it, in a very powerful way.
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However, you don’t have to be looking for that to love this book! Coco is a funny, relatable heroine with complicated relationships and a deep love of chocolate. The settings—particularly the rainforest—felt completely real to me. All in all, I would highly recommend Tree of Dreams to a wide range of readers ages nine and up: to people who love rainforest conservation, readers who love stories about kids and their adventures, and, of course, anyone who loves chocolate!

By Piranha T.

Cimorene is far from a normal princess. To the consternation of her tradition-loving parents, she has had various people at court teach her fencing, magic, cooking, and all sorts of other things before the king and queen have found out and put a stop to it. Finally, in an attempt to get her to settle down, her parents arrange a marriage for her with the prince of a neighboring kingdom. Cimorene’s response is to run away.

On the advice of a talking frog, she journeys into the Mountains of Morning and volunteers to become princess of the dragon Kazul. There, she finds all kinds of excitement—from a plot among the dragons to the suspicious activities of the neighboring wizards, to the troublesome number of princes who come to Kazul’s cave to try to rescue her, assuming she got there by force and not by choice. Cimorene’s life is now far from the boring monotony she’d experienced at the castle—and when she learns more about what’s going on in the Mountains of Morning, she realizes it’s about to get even more interesting still.
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Dealing with Dragons is a hilarious, entertaining read. Patricia C. Wrede spoofs classic fairytales in a unique way which is extremely funny. Cimorene is a strong, interesting and determined heroine who is just about as far from a stereotypical princess as you can get. I would highly recommend Dealing with Dragons to readers ages ten and up.

By Piranha T.

Nathaniel is apprenticed to one of the magicians who forms part of London’s government. Although he isn’t entirely content, he’s happy enough to stay that way. But things change when one of the most skilled magicians in London, Simon Lovelace, humiliates him. Keen on revenge, Nathaniel learns spells necessary to get him back—and summons a five-thousand-year-old djinn called Bartimaeus.

Bartimaeus isn’t particularly pleased at being summoned by an eleven-year-old boy, but he’s forced to do Nathaniel’s bidding. He’s sent to steal one of Simon Lovelace’s most prized possessions—the Amulet of Samarkand, which authorities have been searching for for years. Nathaniel’s plan is to use it to show the public what Lovelace is really like—but instead, it pulls him and Bartimaeus into a tangle of complex politics, the rebellion known as the Resistance, and the plans of Lovelace—which may be much more ominous than either of them realize.
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The Amulet of Samarkand was an engrossing read, with lots of complicated plot twists so it read like a mystery. Although it alternates between Bartimaeus and Nathaniel, it isn’t confusing. Nathaniel’s narration has more of an upper-class tone, while Bartimaeus has five thousand years of experience and an extremely snarky narrative, which makes the book even better—and much more amusing. I would highly recommend The Amulet of Samarkand to readers ages ten and up, but older readers would enjoy it as well!

By Super Kitty
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When ten-year-old Fidge loses her temper, she expects some things to happen. Little things, like getting a scolding, and maybe being tortured by her maddening cousin Graham. Definitely not getting trapped in an alternate world, where she’s been mentioned in a strange prophecy and has to overthrow a villainous ruler in order to get home. But there’s more to the strange, colorful, cheerful world that Fidge is stuck in than she first thought: things seem oddly…familiar. And that connection might be the single thing which can save the peculiar world, and get her and Graham home…
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I liked Wed Wabbit for several reasons. It’s entertaining, exciting, and highly amusing, plus it has great characters and a very amusing and original setting—read it and you’ll see what I mean! I would recommend it to readers ages eight and up who like funny stories, clever puzzles, or have been forced to read an annoying picture book again (and again and again.)  

By Super Kitty

The emperor of Camellion, it is said, is the worst ruler in the history of the land. He’s spoiled, selfish, and doesn’t have the faintest idea of how to lead an empire—nor does he have any intention of learning. To make matters worse, he is nearly of age to rule, and will gain full power in a few days’ time. He needs to be taught a lesson. And fast.

Begonia, a dairymaid from the country, doesn’t know anything about the shortcomings of her exalted ruler. She has enough to deal with without worrying about things like that—her cow has disappeared (again) and she has to find her as soon as possible. However, when two ancestor spirits decide to take matters with the emperor into their own hands, things start to get out of control, and Begonia seems to be the only one who can stop it. To save the empire and set things to rights, she sets off on a journey which will cross paths with a strange collection of characters, including a self-proclaimed Finder of Things That Are Lost, a peculiar—and incredibly rude—stranger, a stubborn cow, a suspicious circus owner, plotting lords, and an eight-foot ostrich. But even with her new friends to help her, is Begonia bold enough to face unnamed dangers to stop the injustices in her land?  Or has she taken on much more than she bargained for?

I liked this book for a lot of reasons. It was amusing, captivating, and most of all fun. A cast of quirky characters and usurping villains, not to mention a very determined ostrich, brought the story to life, and various escapes and twists kept it entertaining and original. I would highly recommend it for ages seven and up, or for any readers looking for a light but satisfying new read.

​A big thank you to Julie Berry, for sending us a review copy of her book!

By Piranha T. 

When the headmistress of Saint Etheldrada's School for Young Ladies and her brother are mysteriously murdered during dinner, their students decide not to contact the police. Instead, they take matters into their own hands and keep the crime secret. They have complete freedom - but only so long as no one catches them. And that takes more work than any of them expected. 

Faking their way through visits from investigating policemen, disastrous social gatherings, and curious lawyers, they begin to realize that there's even more to worry about. For if the murderer falls for their charade and thinks their headmistress is still alive, nothing's stopping them from trying again. 

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place is a hilarious historical mystery set against the backdrop of Victorian England. It has a funny, distinct characters and a brilliant plotline for mystery lovers. I'd highly recommend The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place​ to readers ages ten and up. 

By Piranha T. and Super Kitty

Philias Fogg is not the sort to plan a fantastical trip around the world. A reclusive English gentleman, he divides his time between his home and the Reform Club, where he spends time with colleagues and plays whist. One night, however, a disagreement arises at the Reform Club—according to a newspaper article, it is now possible to go around the world in just eighty days, and although his companions think it impossible, Mr. Fogg bets that he can do it. Accompanied by his manservant Passepartout, he sets out immediately, traveling by steamship, train, elephant, sledge, and more, and overcoming all manner of storms, setbacks, and an inspector from Scotland Yard named Fix, who believes that he robbed the bank of England and is determined to stop him at all costs.

Around the World in Eighty Days is an entertaining read, although it does take a little bit to get into. There are funny characters, clever plot twists, and interesting facts about transportation and the world in general in the late 1800s. Full of humor, wit and adventure, we’d recommend Around the World in Eighty Days to readers ages 10 and up, not as much because it would be inappropriate, but because the language may be more difficult for younger readers to understand.

*Note: there are many different editions of Around the World in Eighty Days, in many different languages, so we did not include a publisher or copywrite, as it was translated from the original French to English several times.

By Piranha T.

Twelve-year-old Oona Crate has no great love of magic. Although she possesses the rare gift of Natural Magic, Oona has a different passion—solving mysteries. And it looks like she might just get her chance. But when the Wizard of Dark Street is stabbed with an otherworldly dagger, Oona must combine magic and logic to solve the mystery before the world falls into disaster.

​The Wizard of Dark Street was a fun, amusing, quick read. A brilliant mystery, pot and world, with funny characters and varied suspects. Although not a ‘solve-it-yourself’ mystery, Shawn Thomas Odyssey gives the reader plenty of chances to uncover the clues right along with Oona. I would highly recommend The Wizard of Dark Street to readers ages eight and up looking for an entertaining, engrossing mystery.

Guest contributor: Sylvie Strawberry (age 14, Massachusetts)

Masha. Her dead mom, her dead grandmother. Her dad who proposed to a woman with a girl named Dani who bit Masha minutes after they met. How was Masha supposed to stay with a family who didn't notice her talents like her grandma had? Was she supposed to sit there and pretend life was all fun and games? That's when Masha remembered the Assistant Wanted ASAP ad in the paper. "Must have skills in hauling, obeying orders, cooking, and cleaning. Magical talent a bonus. Must be good with heights," it read. Then the last part. "Enter Baba Yaga's house to apply." Would Masha do it? Baba Yaga was a witch. An ugly witch who was famous for eating bad kids. She lived in a house on chicken legs, kept eels in jars, had long teeth, and was quiet one minute then extremely wicked and hungry the next. This was exactly what Masha was looking for as an assistant. Even if it meant kissing angry bears, washing a closet full of snakes, disappointing the witch, and finding Dani in Baba Yaga's bathroom, Masha will be tackling her new job no matter what. Join Masha on her journey as you read this spooky, funny, and surprising graphic novel full of wonderful pictures and never ending twists. Put your war face on like Masha as she enters a world full of danger and witchy disaster. And you'll wonder...Was it worth it becoming Baba Yaga's assistant?

By Piranha T. and Super Kitty

“In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be the eldest of three.” So starts Howl’s Moving Castle, an amusing, clever, and fast-paced favorite among Piranha T. and Super Kitty.

Sophie Hatter is one such burdened individual, staying hidden away in her stepmother’s hat shop. She knows that nothing exciting will ever happen to her, but her life takes a turn for the worse—and the more exciting—when the nefarious Witch of the Waste notices her and transforms her into an old lady. Knowing that she can’t stay where she is, Sophie goes from her home and out into the world.

Her life gets very complicated all at once when she makes a bargain with a fire demon, tangles with the greatly feared Wizard Howl and his apprentice, and at the same time tries to free herself from the Witch of the Waste’s curse. For she’s about to discover that not only Howl, but herself as well, are much more interesting than first meets the eye.

We have read several things by Diana Wynne Jones, and have enjoyed all of them, but none have come close to Howl’s Moving Castle. It is one of those books that we have been recommending to everyone we know, kids and adults alike. Weaving in elements of classic fairytales (and sometimes making fun of them), Diana Wynne Jones creates an all-time favorite with Howl’s Moving Castle. We’d recommend it to ages 9 and up, to kids, teenagers and adults as well! And if you're into audiobooks, we'd recommend the narration by Jenny Sterlin. It's great!

Note: Howl’s Moving Castle was made into an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki. The book is very, very different—so whether you loved the movie or despised it, READ THE BOOK! This is one of those cases where the movie is not just different from the book, they are almost separate stories. 

By Piranha T.

Brian Brown is looking forward to a perfect summer—a soccer-playing, camping-out, adventuring sort of summer. But it’s just Brian’s luck that his parents are away, so he must go to Boring, Illinois, to spend the summer with his Uncle Gary, Aunt Jenny, and Nora, their daughter. They’re just as boring as the town itself.

At first, all is just as bad—and worse—than he imagined. His aunt and uncle have decided that Brian will spend the summer using an online learning program of Uncle Gary’s making called Summer’s Cool—and the only interesting thing in Boring seems the forest which backs up on their property, which his aunt and uncle have forbidden him to investigate. But after he gets into a fight with Nora, they accidently stumble into the forest and discover the reason that they aren’t allowed inside—the precariously-built Matchstick Castle, where there live the van Dashes, a family as quirky as the house they live in.

Once they befriend the family, Brian and Nora are caught up in all sorts of unpredictable adventures. However, once they discover a plot to demolish the Matchstick Castle, Brian and Nora try to help prevent it. Of course, the van Dashes have more than Brian and Nora on their side—with the help of enormous insects, a leaky submarine, and a bit of dynamite, there might be a chance that the Matchstick Castle won’t be demolished after all.

​The Matchstick Castle is a quirky, fun-filled book about two ordinary kids who stumble upon a bit of adventure. The characters are well-developed and whimsical, and it’s full of nonstop action and humor. For any kid ages 8 and up, I’d recommend this quirky, funny, and awesome book.  

By Super Kitty

Abigail Hunter is an ordinary kid. Well, all right, not ordinary; she and her mom, Jennifer, have traveled around the globe together. Still, she feels abandoned when her mom suddenly ships her off to boarding school, saying she can’t spend the next year getting Abigail out of trouble (Abigail isn’t always quite as well behaved as she perhaps could be). But when she gets caught attempting and escape from her new school, Abigail finds there might be more to it than meets the eye. Before she knows it, she’s on a mission to save her mom—because it turns out that Jennifer Hunter isn’t all that ordinary either. And she might be in trouble. Determined to prove that she is a spy worthy of her mother, Abigail swiftly gets pulled into a conflict that gets more dangerous by the day, especially when the Ghost, a supervillain and her mom’s arch nemesis (yeah, it turns out her mother has an arch nemesis), takes notice of what Abigail is doing—and decides to stop it. In this brand-new, action-packed novel, Abigail must face her fears as she battles the criminals that are stronger—and closer—than anyone expected.

One thing I like about Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls is the characters. Abigail is realistic, and responds to various (less realistic, but still quite thrilling) situations accordingly. She, and the other characters too, have distinct personalities and emotions, and bond and clash accordingly. The plot is engaging, and several twists will keep you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced, funny, and generally fabulous read!
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Note: I would recommend Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls to fans of the Devlin Quick and TOAST mysteries, for although they were about kid detectives in a more realistic setting, and this is about, well, a secret spy center saving the world, they are reminiscent of each other in great characters, reading levels and interests, and generally entertaining writing styles.

By Piranha T. and Super Kitty

Eleven-year-old Ada Byron is feeling bereft at the prospect of a tutor after her beloved governess gets married. After all, she’s a genius—what could he possibly teach her? She is not cheered, either, by the fact that a strange girl is coming to study with her: Mary Godwin, an intelligent and adventurous fourteen-year-old eager to make friends with Ada. And, despite a rocky start, friends they become. Soon, they have founded a detective agency and are on a case—gathering clues, developing suspects, making discoveries, and, in the process, getting into Newgate prison, riding an omnibus (roof!), and sailing high over London in a craft of their own making. One thing is for sure: nothing will get between these detectives and the apprehension of the criminals!

When I first picked up The Case of the Missing Moonstone, I thought it was going to be similar to other mysteries I had read. However, it was quite amusing, and the main characters (as well as some of the supporting cast) were based on real historical figures—the main characters were based on Ada Byron (daughter of Lord Byron) and Mary Shelly (author of Frankenstein). At the end, there is an author’s note which says which people were real, which was really interesting. And although the historical aspect was fascinating, it did not get in the way of the story. Even if you are not usually drawn to historical books (Piranha T. is typically not), it is still a really cool story in and of itself. It would probably be best for ages 8+. It is the first in The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series, and there are currently two sequels out. If you are looking for a humorous, fun, and historical mystery with spunky female characters, The Case of the Missing Moonstone is the book for you!
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Note: although many of the characters in The Case of the Missing Moonstone were based on real people, the story was entirely invented.