Reviews written by Mark Buxton, Staff Reviewer

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...

What worked: What an imaginative story! The prologue sets the stage, warning readers of the overlooked dangers of genies. Evil genies are imprisoned in lamps, and rules must be followed when they're summoned. Wishes have consequences. The book relies on the familiarity of three genie wishes, but adds...

What worked: Emmeline has developed a pessimistic attitude toward the world, as others often seem to take advantage of her ability. An abusive man purchased her, and he only cared about making money from her ability to see into the future. During her escape, she learns that a...

What worked: The opening sounds like a normal, realistic fiction book, with Meghan wishing she could fly. It quickly changes when Meghan learns her ancestors used to be born with wings. Her mother ran away to join a circus six years ago, and Meghan doesn’t understand how she...

What worked: Young readers are curious about things they’re not supposed to do, so a book about thieves should pique their interest. Tom is recruited to join the school, but his motivation is to rescue his friends from a workhouse. He was born in one, so he knows...

What worked: The author isn’t just a fine writer, but he’s also an outstanding storyteller. The plot takes its time developing, as the backstories for the main characters emerge. The gloomy setting of a small, coastal town and the surrounding moors is the perfect backdrop for an eerie...

What worked: Marvin is the main character, and he lost his best friend, Frankie, after becoming confined to a wheelchair. Surprisingly, Frankie incessantly bullies Marvin now, and Marvin doesn’t understand why. Marvin wants to feel like a “normal” kid again, and his parents’ split-up doesn’t help his emotions....

What worked: Many books feature main characters that change into creatures, but this book has four sisters suffering through the transformations. Meg is the main character, and stress causes her teeth to become long and pointy and her nails to grow into long claws. With anxiety being her...

What worked: The book opens where the previous book ended. Alex is dying, and Lin makes a drastic decision. She gives him some of her life energy to survive, even though it will shorten her own. Lin becomes weak and less focused, and the effects continue as the...

What worked: Readers will immediately recognize that this is no ordinary book. The foreword reflects on the author’s thought process, including why the book has two titles. Or why the story begins with chapter 13. After a bit of plot, the story goes back to chapter two. Chapter...