Return Fire (Moving Target #2)

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Author(s)

Christina Diaz Gonzalez

Publisher

Scholastic

Genre(s)

Age Range

10+

Release Date

September 27, 2016

ISBN

9780545773225

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Cassie Arroyo has found the long-lost Spear of Destiny--only to have it stolen right out from under her! In Return Fire, Cassie and Asher must regain the spear. This time, however, it's not enough just to find it: Cassie realizes that when she used the spear, she set the world down a path that could eventually lead to serious trouble. Can she find a way to stop the terrible chain of events that she set into motion? As she tries to re-shape her own destiny, Cassie takes off on a breathless adventure across Italy, leading her to a forest outside Rome, a Caravaggio painting full of clues, and a villa by the sea. There, in the ultimate showdown, Cassie has to decide who she can truly trust. And when the chance to use the spear presents itself again, she has to figure out if she can even trust herself. Kids will be clamoring for this sequel after finishing Moving Target, and this has even more thrills, riddles, and page-turning excitement!

Cassie Arroyo has found the long-lost Spear of Destiny--only to have it stolen right out from under her!

In Return Fire, Cassie and Asher must regain the spear. This time, however, it's not enough just to find it: Cassie realizes that when she used the spear, she set the world down a path that could eventually lead to serious trouble. Can she find a way to stop the terrible chain of events that she set into motion?

As she tries to re-shape her own destiny, Cassie takes off on a breathless adventure across Italy, leading her to a forest outside Rome, a Caravaggio painting full of clues, and a villa by the sea. There, in the ultimate showdown, Cassie has to decide who she can truly trust. And when the chance to use the spear presents itself again, she has to figure out if she can even trust herself.

Kids will be clamoring for this sequel after finishing Moving Target, and this has even more thrills, riddles, and page-turning excitement!

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Adventure in Rome

October 30, 2016 (Updated: June 30, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Cassie and Asher are working with her uncle Gregorio, Dame Elisabeth, and her friend Simone to try to save her father's life. Now that she is a member of the Hastati (spear bearers), things are very complicated, and she doesn't know whom to tryst. Is Simone's mother as evil as she suspects? Is Asher really looking out for her best interest, or the best interest of the spear? How will she manage to save her father? The spear is very powerful, and using it is not really in Cassie's best interest. How will she survive and save the world?

Good Points

Like the first book, Moving Target, this paints an interesting picture of many places in Rome, and ties the legend of the spear and the Hastati into Roman culture in fascinating ways. Some of the clues are found in paintings in museums in Rome, and the group even get to take a train ride to Naples. I just wanted to hang out with Dame Elisabeth and have tea in the gardens, but didn't really want anyone chasing me!

There are a lot of chase scenes, and lots of suspense. There are also twists and turns, and it's hard to figure out who is on Cassie's side and who isn't. She also has trouble figuring out exactly what her relationship with Asher is-- does he stick around because he has to, or because he likes her?

The ending of this book makes it very clear that there is at least one book necessary to figure things out, and I'm sure it will be as action packed and adventurous as this one. Return Fire and the Moving Target series is a great choice for readers who like mythology, travel, and plenty of explosions! Hand to readers of Gibbs' Spy School, Carter's Gallagher Girls series, and McMann's Unwanteds.