Into the Shadows (Anomalies 53 #1)

4.0

0.0 (0)

87 0

Write Review Add to favorites

Author(s)

Angela Cervantes

Publisher

Harper Collins

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

August 12, 2025

ISBN

978-0063245884

Buy This Book

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

It’s one thing to leave the world behind; it’s another thing when you can never return.

Next door to the notorious Area 51 sits Area 53, the underground lab where the government secretly holds “the anomalies.” These are the Earth-born mythical and magical creatures—fairies, wyverns, manticores, and more—that have been captured and brought in for careful study. It’s also where eleven-year-old Ollie Robles and his best (and only) friend, Garen Jackson, the kids of Area 53’s lead researchers, have grown up. They’ve lived safely within these cement-and-steel halls their whole lives . . . that is, until the day that Ollie and Garen accidentally free six anomalies: two sprites, a wyvern, a baby manticore, a llamacorn, and a golem named Henry. Now it’s up to Ollie and Garen to chase down the anomalies and bring them back home.

It’s a daring, high-stakes adventure into a world full of magical creatures, dark corners, and surprising revelations as told in the way only Pura Belpré Honor–winning author and master storyteller Angela Cervantes can.

Editor review

1 review

Stranger things are happening

March 24, 2026 (Updated: April 06, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

What worked:
The mixed bag of supernatural creatures will amuse young readers. The prologue describes a newly caught wyvern that can mentally communicate with the main characters, Ollie and Gerin. Their parents study elves, goblins, and other creatures, and Ollie’s father has made discoveries that help the world. He’s currently working on the severe lightning storms worsening outside. A golem named Henry has been granted freedom to roam the facility in exchange for assisting Anomalies 53’s security. A manticore cub arrives and causes a major disruption, sending the plot in an unexpected direction. Most of the story happens outside Area 53 after the anomalies escape. Ollie and Gerin are sucked through a portal and end up in the Shadowlands. All anomalies live safely there, but readers learn that problems happening around Area 53 are connected to problems in the Shadowlands.
Gerin and Ollie are best friends, but that may be because they’re the only kids. Gerin is two years older and enjoys challenging Ollie to tasks that he can never win. She’s starting to display heightened physical skills and even beat a mermaid’s swimming record. Ollie is most confused about her ability to pass through all of the facility’s security measures. Passcodes are changed every six hours, but somehow, she still knows how to open locked doors. He also notices something strange about her freckles, and readers will eventually learn the truth about what’s happening, or has already happened.
What didn’t work as well:
There’s not much character development, but that’s to be expected in fast-paced plots. Readers may wonder what the rest of the world is doing while the lightning storms are raging. Readers learn these tempests may destroy the planet, so it’s reasonable to wonder what else is happening.
The final verdict:
This book will appeal to a wide range of middle-grade readers, especially those readers interested in mythical creatures. The story moves quickly, and the author saves surprises as it nears the climax. I recommend you give it a shot.