​By Ella

Scarlett McCain might go by a different name for every bank she robs, but it's no accident that whether Jane Oakley, Jenny Blackwood, or some other name entirely is plastered across the papers, the red-haired outlaw never ends up behind bars. Whether she's sneaking in under the cover of dark or walking brazenly into the bank manager's office in broad daylight, Scarlett always has a plan, and she's quick enough on her feet that if that doesn't work out, well, she'll just think up a new one. Sure, it's not always easy, but challenges make life more interesting, and everyone besides Scarlett is too afraid of the Wilds that surround the handful of Surviving Towns that she never gets pursued very far.

That is, not until now, when she picks up an optimistic, oblivious boy named Albert Browne from the ruins of a bus crash. Scarlett isn't one for sentimentality--she's survived this long by working alone and moving fast--but she grudgingly agrees to guide Albert to the nearest town.

But what she expected to just be a brief few days before heading out on her next job turn into much more when they're pursued deep into the Wilds after her latest job, and not by the usual unmotivated pack of guards and dogs that she'd expect from the bank she'd robbed. No, these are hardcore, trained hunters who are more than a match even for Scarlett's wit and inginuity. And as they race to outrun their pursuers and the things they aren't telling each other, Scarlett begins to ask herself: what if they aren't looking for her, after all? What if, instead, they're looking for...Albert?

Set in a futuristic, fractured version of modern Britain, The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne is an action-packed, remarkable, and funny story which I absolutely loved. If the opening sentences aren't enough to pull you in, the first chapter surely will; Jonathan Stroud (also the author of the excellent fantasy novel The Amulet of Samarkand, among others) makes Scarlett so improbably relatable and funny, and her narrative so perfectly poised and unique, that I found this book quite simply irresistible. Scarlett and Albert are in many ways polar opposites--Scarlett alert, driven, and sarcastic, and Albert dreamy, hopeful, and oblivious--and so they bounce off each other in a way which feels gratifying and authentic in every possible way, in addition to being absolutely hilarious. When written down, neither of their personalities seem so revolutionary, but the way Stroud pulls them off is, and at no point did my interest lag with them driving the story. The mix of clever twists, action, adventure, and the unusual details of the settings together make the story move quickly and completely absorb the reader, and it's carried wonderfully throughout the book. I highly recommend The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne to readers ages ten and up looking for an awesome and brilliant adventure story.

By Ella

Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris is the sequel to Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, and the second installment in the Theodosia series. 

[Look out--there are spoilers for the first book!]

After saving England from the sinister actions of the Serpents of Chaos, trouble has died down for Theodosia Throckmorton, daughter of the head curator of a London archaeology museum. Clearly, though, some peaceful time to catalog artifacts and remove some nasty lingering curses is too much to hope for, because after uncovering an artifact she is fairly certain is the legendary Staff of Osiris--imbued with the power to raise the dead--in the museum's basement, a small platoon of mummies appear in the foyer. The police are convinced her father stole them, but Theodosia believes they were summoned by the Staff of Osiris--and that the Serpents of Chaos are well aware of the mummies' unusual behavior. 

Determined to clear her family name, outwit the Serpents of Chaos, and avoid her grandmother's latest succession of prospective governesses, Theodosia sets out to solve this latest mystery before the Serpents of Chaos succeed in their latest plan--and use the Staff of Osiris for something far more sinister than moving the dead. 

Once more, Theodosia Throckmorton does not disappoint. Somewhat like a fantasy version of Flavia de Luce, she manages to be witty, sharp, and indisputably an eleven-year-old in the best possible way, making this series constantly surprising, unexpected, and brilliantly clever. Combining fantasy, mystery, historical fiction, and ancient Egyptian archaeology, Theodosia has a bit of everything, and it's all pulled off brilliantly well. I highly recommend Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris and the Theodosia series to readers ages ten and up who enjoy mysteries and fantasy novels. 

By Ella

The Last Fallen Moon is the sequel to The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim, and the second book in the Gifted Clans trilogy. 

[Look out--there are spoilers for book 1!]

Riley Oh just saved the world--it seems like she should have a chance to celebrate. But since in the process nearly everyone she knows lost their memories of her and the Gom clan no longer has their healing gift...well, let's just say that not everyone is thrilled about what Riley has done. 

Determined to fix at least one of her mistakes, Riley enters the Spiritrealm, or the world of the dead, to recruit a new patron for the Gom clan and restore their healing powers. Only the Spiritrealm is in the midst of its own problems, and with the help of a mysterious, white-haired boy named Dahl, Riley has to figure out what's really going on and stop a particularly nefarious plot before the Spiritrealm and Mortalrealm are endangered. 

I loved The Last Fallen Star, so I was thrilled to read the sequel. I loved it! With the same hilarious characters, fast pace, and intricate plot as book one, The Last Fallen Moon lived up to my expectations and introduced me to a whole new side to Riley's world that was constantly funny, interesting, and unique. I particularly liked getting to know both old and new characters better during this story, especially Hattie and Dahl. I highly recommend The Last Fallen Moon to readers ages nine and up looking for a strong, exciting series full of mythology and magic. 

​By Ella

Breaking Badlands is the third and final book in the Talespinners series by Scott Reintgen, preceded by Saving Fable (book one) and Escaping Ordinary (book two). 

[Look out--there are spoilers for the first two books!]

Indira Story has now saved the land of Imagination twice, and she's ready for a vacation. But that's before she gets swept up in a mysterious group known as the Antiheroes, who ask her to go on a dangerous mission to infiltrate Antagonist Academy before the leader of the villain school can execute a plan which would be disastrous not only for Good and Evil in all stories, but the very land of Imagination. Although Indira is at first certain this new mission will be a piece of cake, not all is as it seems. She's defended Imagination from all sorts of nefarious dangers--but can she protect it from herself? 

So often with humorous, brilliant books--particularly when the jokes made are specialized--I find the sequels something of a letdown. I begin them hoping they will be everything their predecessors were, and they never quite are. But just like the second Talespinners book, Escaping Ordinary, Breaking Badlands does something truly remarkable: in my opinion, it not only meets the strengths of book one, it's even better. Breaking Badlands delivers everything which was great about the first two books and makes it all even better, perhaps in part because the cast is all familiar, making it a new and wonderfully clever adventure inhabited by characters who are already old friends. It expertly wraps up the subplots and characters from the previous books, all while shining with new twists, settings, and humor. As a fan of well-drawn villains, the setting of Antagonist Academy was particularly enjoyable to me. I highly recommend the entire Talespinners series to anyone who loves stories and the characters who inhabit them ages nine and up. 

By SK

Ten-year-old self-proclaimed natural-born cynic Flora Belle Buckman has studied enough of her beloved comics to know that it is imperative to be prepared for the Terrible Things that can happen to a person. So when her next-door neighbor's birthday present, a Ulysses Super-Suction, Multi-Terrain 2000x vacuum cleaner, accidentally suctions up a hapless squirrel, she doesn't hesitate--she administers CPR. To the squirrel. 

Except....he's not quite an ordinary squirrel anymore. He looks like a squirrel (albeit a slightly bald one, thanks to the vacuum cleaner), and thinks like a squirrel ("Food?"), but now the newly dubbed Ulysses has the powers of a superhero from one of Flora's comics: He can fly! Lift enormous objects! Type! He even writes poetry. 

If Flora knows one thing about superheroes, it's that they always have a job to do, and people to save. And Ulysses' new powers do spark an unexpected chain of events, setting Flora on a wild adventure filled with a variety of quirky characters, including a dramatic divorced romance novelist (who also happens to be Flora's mother); a doctor of philosophy from Blundermeecen; Flora's father, who shares her love of comics; her improbably named, poetry-loving neighbor Tootie; and William Spiver, Tootie's pedantic, eccentric great-nephew who insists that he is temporarily blind. They will face opposition, archenemies, and giant donuts. They will realize that the universe is a very random, very beautiful place. And in the end, Ulysses might just save the day. 

I first read Flora and Ulysses when I was eight or nine, and I remember enjoying it then--but when I recently reread it for a book group, I utterly adored it. The characters are pitch-perfect and irresistibly quirky, and it's an absolute joy to watch them grow and connect over the course of the story. Kate DiCamillo is brilliant, and her writing makes the many wacky characters, events, and unexpected occurrences hang together perfectly with ease, and keeps the story fast-paced and the reader constantly laughing. It's a difficult book to do justice to in a summary, given the quirky premise, but I can honestly say that it's one of my all-time favorites, and a book which I could read over and over, and would bring me joy every time. Filled with madcap wit, wisdom, hilarity, and surprising tenderness, I would highly recommend Flora and Ulysses to readers ages eight and up--it's an excellent read-aloud, audiobook (complete with superhero music!), or book group selection, and is also a delight to read on one's own. 

​By Piranha T. 

Indira Story has spent her life in the town of Origin, a character-in-waiting who wants nothing more than to be chosen for a story. So when the Author Borealis arrive and Indira is chosen to go to Fable--home to the school which has trained every Protagonist in literary history--it's like a dream come true. 

But when Indira arrives at Protagonist Preparatory, she's set on the side character track--a far cry from the hero she's always dreamed of being. She's determined to do her best anyway, and impress her teachers, who are all famous protagonists in their own right from Romeo to Odysseus. If she works hard, Indira is sure she can become a protagonist, too. 

Somehow, though, even her best efforts don't seem to be working. She's failing at being just a side character. Indira's future is looking bleak when strange things start happening at Protagonist Preparatory, and she starts putting the pieces together--pieces which someone nefarious is trying very hard to keep hidden. 

Will Indira have it in her to be the hero she's always dreamed of--or will she fail, leaving Fable to a disastrous fate? 

If any part of the above story description sounds the least bit familiar, or even a little cliché, that's the point. Saving Fable plays on the most stereotypical, most traditional, most familiar tropes and mixes them up with a world populated by characters and full of clever literary puns, and the result is extraordinary. There are many books which play off story elements of heroes and books--some favorites of mine include Finding Serendipity and The Thieving Collectors of Fine Children's Books--but Reintgen pulls it off here with spectacular and outstanding flair, full of brilliant jokes and constant humor which is so incredibly self-aware. The brilliant writing craft references, which essentially make up the whole world of Saving Fable, are particularly notable in my opinion, in part because they are so incredibly brilliant but also because they create such an atmospheric, detailed, and truly hilarious world; whether it's references to famous protagonists, brainstorming, or simply the classic hero-versus-antagonist plot, they never fall flat and made me laugh my way through this whole book.

​But part of what makes this book stand out is that you don't have to get all of these jokes to love it--they're more of an undercurrent which makes it even more spectacular. The characters, including Indira, are also awesome, and all seemed to sparkle with something of their own; together with a fully realized world and a bright and even surprising plot, they created a full and complete story which I couldn't put down. I highly recommend Saving Fable to fans of fantasy ages nine and up, particularly those who have read enough books to recognize both the funny and familiar in its story. 

Note: If you like Saving Fable, check out our interview with author Scott Reintgen! 

By Piranha T. 

More than anything, Riley Oh has always wanted to have magic. Her sister, Hattie, does, just like everyone else in their community of Korean-American witch clans hidden out in the middle of LA. But Riley is a saram--someone born without magic, an ordinary human, adopted by the Ohs soon after she was born. And though her adoptive family is awesome--particularly Hattie, who's Riley's age and the best sister ever--the rest of the Gifted community definitely doesn't think she belongs. 

So when Riley and Hattie discover a spell which allows them to share Hattie's magic between them, they're ready to perform it, no matter what. But everything changes when the spell doesn't go as planned--and it turns out the cost might be Hattie's life. 

Riley's last hope to save her sister is a bargain with the Cave Bear Goddess, but of course agreements with immortals can never be simple. Not only does she give Riley a task she has no idea how to complete--finding the Godrealm's last fallen star--she also has a time limit. If Riley can't find the star, and fast, Hattie will be gone forever. 

With the help of friends, a magical scooter, and the last person Riley ever would have expected, it's up to her to find the last fallen star and bring it to the Cave Bear Goddess before her time is up. But as Riley begins to uncover secrets which were never intended to be revealed, she has to decide what it really means to belong--and what she's willing to give up to fit in. 

The Last Fallen Star blends myth with the modern day in a story full of action, adventure, and awesomeness. Riley is a brilliant protagonist who I love--she's determined, funny, and immensely relatable, and I'm glad there will be two more books about her to enjoy! I also love her relationship with Hattie--the strength of the love between them is palpable throughout and one of the best sister relationships I've read. Graci Kim creates a complete world which feels real, with a cast of unique supporting characters who are all interesting and fun. Perhaps the most standout part of this book is the plot--every time I thought I knew just a little where it was going I was wrong, and a constant flow of action, surprises, and laughs made this book speed by until I couldn't believe I'd reached the end. I highly recommend The Last Fallen Star to readers ages ten and up who love fantasy adventures with strong characters, a fast-paced plot, and a fully realized world. I can't wait for book two! 

By Piranha T.

Oliver Nelson loves to read. Books are quite frequently his only escape from his life, where he’s learned from years of terrible mistakes and miserable misfortunes that things can always get worse. But books are also the reason for his darkest secret: he steals them. Not many, of course, and just from his local library when they are musty, ripped, or even incomplete, like his favorite tome, The Timekeeper’s Children. Still, Oliver lives in fear that someone will learn he’s a thief.

And indeed, this fear seems to be realized when the Pribbles summon him to their mansion. The Pribbles—extraordinarily rich inventors, philan-thropists, and collectors of fine children’s books. What could they possibly want with Oliver except to sell him out for his crimes?

But instead of revealing Oliver’s thieving tendencies, the Pribbles are determined to steal The Timekeeper’s Children--from Oliver’s mind. Using their latest invention, they send him into the world formed from his memories of the original, and instruct him to follow the story. Chapter by chapter, they intend to take it from his thoughts, thereby securing the last copy of this rarest of children’s books.

Now Oliver must partner with the timekeeper’s children from the title, Cora and Jack, to complete their quest and save their land from the grip of an evil sorcerer. They’ll encounter hungry eels, angry warriors, and even the Nasty Rodent Eater (nice to meet you) on the way—as well as a strange, shadowy figure who Oliver definitely does not remember from the original text.

But even if Cora and Jack succeed, can Oliver find a way to keep this story? Or will the Pribbles steal it from him forever?

The Thieving Collectors of Fine Children’s Books is a hilarious, fast-paced, and wonderfully weird story. This book is so fantastically quirky and witty, particularly the writing and plot, that I couldn’t help but fall in love with it; both Oliver’s home and the book’s world of Dulum come alive with all manner of peculiar people and places, including the aforementioned Nasty Rodent Eater, who is definitely my favorite character. Adam Perry takes familiar story elements and makes fun of them so successfully that he creates a story I’ve never read anything quite like before. For this reason, I think this book would particularly appeal to young writers. I highly recommend The Thieving Collectors of Fine Children’s Books to readers ages eleven and up who like stories which take a new spin on books, reading, and fantasy adventures. 

By Super Kitty

Note: When testing links in our archives, we discovered we'd accidentally deleted this review's original post. Years later, it's remained one of our favorites, so we decided to (re)share it. Enjoy! 

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has made her fair share of mistakes. She has what she likes to call an imagination—and what her snooty classmates call a skill at lying. When three school bullies finally confront her with her stories, she’s determined to prove that she’s been telling the truth about some things, at least. So she accepts a dare. She lights a lamp. And she unleashes a legendary monster, who, if she cannot stop him, will tear Time itself apart. Which is definitely her record for Biggest Mistake Ever.

To keep the darkness she has loosed at bay, Aru must journey from her home to the Otherworld to the kingdom of Death itself, joining forces with a sarcastic pigeon (yes, a pigeon) and a skittish yet super-smart girl apparently woven into Aru’s destiny, searching for a way to destroy the ancient evil, and maybe even (gulp) save the world. Which might be way more than Aru and her new friends can manage. Because not only do stories turn out to be true— things Aru thought were true turn out to be stories.

Because Aru isn’t the only one with secrets…

This was one of those books which managed to be entertaining, surprising, and completely hilarious. Aru is an irresistible heroine, and her various adventures in a world where normal life and Hindu mythology overlap seamlessly make the book impossible to put down. The vivid settings and equally clever supporting cast combine to make this a highly enjoyable fantasy that I would recommend for ages 8+.

By Super Kitty

Bett Devlin: 12yo. Loves animals + being outside + adventures. Is a daredevil + proud of it. Lives in California with her dad near the ocean (which is AWESOME, by the way!!)

Avery Bloom: Twelve years old. Enjoys reading, writing, and learning medical facts. Has some "excessive worries" which really aren't that unreasonable and include drowning, getting a disease, and the fire hazard posed by paper lampshades which are too close to the light bulb. Lives in New York City with her papa. 

Both Bett and Avery are quite happy with their lives just the way they are. So when they find out their dads are dating, they're both horrified--both are just fine with staying the center of their dads' lives, thank you very much. But their dads have other (inexplicable) plans, and send them both to a camp in Michigan called CIGI ("Challenge Influence Guide Inspire") while they go on a trip to China to get to know each other better. (Yup, you read that right: CHINA.) They think it'll be a wonderful way for Bett and Avery to get to know each other and become friends--in fact, they might soon become family. 

In other words, things are getting desperate. 

Bett and Avery might seem like opposites, but they do have one very important thing in common: neither has ANY intention of becoming friends (and DEFINITELY not sisters). United by a shared determination to never see each other again, they plot ways to get their dads to break up and forget about each other. But things quickly get far more complicated than they were expecting, and they realize they'll need some very clever plots indeed to get everything to work out the way they want them to....

When I started the first few pages of To Night Owl From Dogfish, I was immediately hooked, but was expecting a light, fast read about two girls who are determined to hate each other, yet, over the course of one fateful summer, become best friends--a fun plotline, but not a particularly new one. However, that's only the very beginning--it's a delight to see the layers and twists unfold, so I haven't gone into more detail in my review, but suffice to say that every time a plotline began to feel like something I'd seen before, a twist (often a hilarious new take on an old cliché) would take the story in a new, unexpected direction, with surprises and mishaps until the very end. The authors manage to combine a handful of classic themes into a story that is both original and comforting, with two quirky, refreshing main characters (Bett and Avery sometimes remind me of Aru and Mini) who feel like real twelve-year-olds--stubborn, passionate, flawed, caring, and (eventually) inseparable. Although Bett and Avery aren't biological sisters, I've categorized this book under the "Sisters" category on the blog, a decision which I firmly stand by (read it and you'll understand!)

The whole cast is deftly drawn and appealing, and it's a joy to watch as the characters overlap, argue, plot, and connect to form a quirky, sprawling family that none of them were expecting. The story is written through emails, and while I don't always enjoy epistolary stories, this one was cleverly done and highly engaging, and added an extra layer of uniqueness. Ultimately, To Night Owl From Dogfish is an ode to big, messy, wonderful families--biological and not--and I would highly recommend this fresh, winsome, and highly amusing tale to readers ages nine 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 Piranha T.

Fourth grader Amy Anne Ollinger isn’t the type to speak out. But everything changes when her favorite book--From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler—is banned from the school library, simply because one of the moms doesn’t think it’s appropriate. She’s forced to act. With the help of her friends, she devises a scheme to defy the ban, and show everyone that one person shouldn’t be able to make those decisions. But will she be able to succeed, or will her favorite book be banned from the library forever?

Ban this Book is an exceptionally funny book which at the same time makes an awesome point about banned books and the right to read. Amy Anne is a funny, realistic heroine who doesn’t always say what she thinks but realizes that sometimes, speaking out is the only way to go. I’d highly recommend Ban this Book to readers ages eight and up looking for a fun realistic fiction book, perfect for anyone who loves to read. 

Note: If you like Ban this Book, check out our interview with author Alan Gratz! 

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.
​
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!