Reviews written by Mark Buxton, Staff Reviewer

What worked: Anya has emotional concerns that sometimes overwhelm her. She’s tormented by her parents and older brother, which is more than sibling rivalry. He thinks life was better before Anya joined the family, and she frequently suffers his threats and physical abuse. Anya also suffers from panic...

What worked: The opening hook is dramatic and should draw in young readers. Kai becomes a twelve-year-old puppet emperor after his father suddenly dies. He’s the emperor in name only until he reaches the age of 13, so his shady advisor makes decisions that run the empire. Kai...

What worked: The illustrations are enchanting, artfully depicting the characters, creatures, and scenes. The sketches found inside the cover and on the title pages are rough yet detailed, enough to pique readers’ imaginations. The colorful pictures within the narrative capture the whimsy and imagination of the author’s stories....

What worked: The author creates an innovative world that blends reality and virtual reality. Eden finds herself inside The Escape, although she’s not sure how she got there. She meets Ted, but there’s a significant difference between these two characters. Ted wears a VR helmet to play the...

What worked: Outcast stories create immediate sympathy, and in this case, it’s due to Feba’s fur color. The other cubs don’t like her, and many of the adult wolves believe tales that white fur means bad luck. The pack makes immediate plans to kill Feba, so she flees...

What worked: As with the first book, alternating chapters follow the stories of Wynn and Calla, as they track down a malevolent magic-stealer named Brume. The two main characters have separate storylines. They had a brief encounter in the first book, and Calla and her sister, Saffron, wonder...

What worked: The author writes a narrative that’s reminiscent of a folktale. The book’s opening describes the formation of the world, as the shells of two turtles form the continents. An Egg is laid, and it becomes the center of the conflict. Endellion and his tribe of Tenemusuh...

What worked: This plot answers the question, “What if there were more hours in a day?” The characters not only don’t need sleep; they never get tired. It’s interesting to consider their five different viewpoints, as they’re presented in alternating chapters. Mickey is tired of being bullied at...

What worked: The book does a decent job of recapping previous events, so new readers won’t feel totally lost. The story alternates between Jack and Weatherby’s points of view, as they’re thrown into the middle of family and Liars Society drama. Jack’s father is one of the leaders...

What worked: This series offers an innovative twist on time travel books. Characters don’t move to different time periods, but kids living in 2023 can communicate with characters living in 1944. Westfallen is the name used instead of the United States after the Nazis win World War II...

What worked: All middle-grade readers have heard of Pi, but the only thing they probably know is that it equals 3.14. This book takes readers back to the creation of the concept and describes its evolution over the years. Why is it called Pi and not something else?...

What worked: The alliance between Valory and Rook is unlikely due to their diverse family situations. Rook’s family is wealthy, and everyone in it has musical talent. Rook is a piano prodigy, but he doesn’t like how it makes his mother overly protective. Valory’s mother cleans the home...

What worked: The book’s opening pages foretell the creative adventure awaiting the characters. Penelope and her twin brother, Paris, head to Anaximander’s to develop their powers, but they must first eat a doughnut hole before crossing the bridge that leads to the school. Penelope is attacked by snakes...

What worked: The book offers young readers a glimpse into the country’s conditions as it struggles for independence from England. Many people don’t support the rebellion, as they’re Loyalists, loyal to the King of England. The story opens with the British controlling Boston and the colonists firing their...

What worked: The author creates a dynamic relationship between Zuzu and Snap. Zuzu hates robots, especially when her teacher tells the class they’ll eventually take over the world. Her father brings one home after losing his job and says it will become Zuzu’s guardian. That means it will...