Review Detail

CHARM BREAKER is an engaging chapter book about friendship and magic. The Star Friends have another magical mystery to solve in this latest story, where their parents and other townsfolk are under the influence of a charm that makes them extra-energetic and soon reckless. They will need to work together to figure out what is behind it and resolve it.

What I loved: This is an engaging story with a hefty dose of mystery - and friendship. The Star Friends are a unique group that work together and use their strengths to solve magical mysteries and keep their town safe. This chapter book is a nice step up from the early chapter books with some complex words and more density, though with illustrations every other page spread or so. The illustrations capture the characters and story well, adding some extra fun to the reading and helping to give independent readers some context and breaks.

What left me wanting more: This story wasn't quite as gripping as others in the series, with the pace feeling a bit slower and the resolution feeling a bit abrupt. While it was still a fun read, it didn't hold attention in the same way as some of the earlier stories, perhaps in part due to how many characters we are now following.

Final verdict: CHARM BREAKER is an overall engaging chapter book with magical mystery and a focus on friendship.