Fantasy

Enchanting early chapter books

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Eliza and the Flower Fairies (Fairy Door Diaries book 1) by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Lenny Wen (Candlewick, 96 pages, grades 1-3). At the end of the school day, Eliza hurries home and retreats to the space behind her bedroom that she’s set up with as a magical retreat where she can read about fairies. The magic turns out to be real, and she’s transported to a fairy kingdom where she befriends the flower fairies. But when Eliza accidentally enters the realm of two evil witches, she has to call on her own courage and wits to save herself and one of her new fairy friends. Back home again, she discovers that her story has magically appeared in her diary, which she enjoys sharing with her little sister Bee.

New chapter book readers will love this magical tale from the Judy Moody creator, full of enchanting colored illustrations that will spark their imaginations. The story was a little too precious for me (I prefer more of a Princess in Black vibe in my enchanted heroines), but I’m sure it will find a big audience with those who love imagining themselves into fairy tales. I can’t find any evidence of a book 2, but I can’t imagine that this won’t be a series.

Search for the Silver Shell (Coral Keepers book 1) by Robin Yardi, illustrated by Paul Kellam (Scholastic, 96 pages, grades 1-4). Princess Finn is the daughter of Queen Ula, ruler of the queendom of Anjeea. Although Finn is a shark magician with magical power over sharks, she has failed her test to become a Coral Keeper four times. When the evil magician Rozaro (who has allegedly stolen Finn’s father’s magical powers and kept him prisoner) comes to the queendom, Finn has a vision of a silver shell she must find, with the help of her friends, siblings Moon and Light. When Rozaro steals the powers of the Coral Keepers, it’s up to the three kids to go on a quest to save their people. A cliffhanger ending will leave readers eagerly awaiting book 2, due out in June.

Like many of the Scholastic Branches fantasy series, this one is surprisingly complex for an illustrated chapter book under 100 pages and does an excellent job of world building that will draw readers into this new series. I fear the cover will keep some boy readers from going any further, but I hope they will be open-minded it enough to give it a try.

Once upon a time

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

The Princess Swap: Cinderella and the Beast or Beauty and the Glass Slipper by Kim Bussing (Random House Books for Young Readers, 304 pages, grades 3-7). Ella from Cinderella and Belle from Beauty and the Beast unexpectedly switch places in this fairy tale mash-up. The bold and adventurous Belle winds up as a servant in Ella’s stepmother’s basement, while Ella, whose glass leg has always kept her on the sidelines, finds herself sharing a gloomy castle with a fearsome beast. Cinderella’s prince is just a kid named Amir in this telling, and he’s sad that his sister Anisa has mysteriously vanished for the last few years. The two stories come together as Ella learns more about the cursed beast, and each heroine has to take matters into her own hands to create a happily-ever-after ending for both of them. A preview of book two, featuring Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, is featured at the end.

I’m not really much of a fractured fairy tale fan, but this version was so clever and well-told, once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. The stories are told in alternating third-person chapters, and many of the chapters ends on a cliff-hanger that will keep the reader turning the pages. Even the villains are treated with some sympathy in the end, and both girls are strong and brave, with just enough flaws to be believable.

Lily’s Dream: A Fairy Friendship by Bea Jackson (Aladdin, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Although Lily dreams of flying, so far her fairy wings haven’t worked. As a result, she knows more about beauty close to the ground, and one day she stumbles upon a beautiful fairy house. When the human creator reveals herself, Lily runs away, accidentally leaving behind her cherished gold anklet. The next day, she goes back to look for it, and the girl, who introduces herself as Willow, has found it. Willow makes Lily a fairy-sized acorn helmet, pillow, and trampoline to help her practice flying. Soon she’s taken to the air, and although she still can’t fly high, “Lily was over the moon.” Includes an author’s note that gives more of Willow’s backstory.

Those who judge books by their covers will be captivated by the picture of Lily on this one, and will undoubtedly find the rest of the story equally enchanting. I hope that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship and that Willow and Lily will have more stories, maybe told from Willow’s point of view. I enjoyed reading about her in the author’s note and wished that more of it had been incorporated into he main story.

A couple last graphic novels from 2024

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

The Squad by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Joanna Cacao. (Graphix, 288 pages, grades 4-8). Christina continues the memoir she began in The Tryout. Now an eighth grader, she feels like her life is good, with close friends, interesting classes, and a fun group of fellow artists who are working on a group project. But she and her friends Megan and Leanne still watch the cheerleaders longingly, and when they learn that there will be spots available in the ninth grade squad, they decide to try out once again. In the midst of their preparations, Christina gets the devastating news that her parents are divorcing. She’s determined to put on a happy face and continue with her cheering, and she and Megan–but not Leanne–make the squad. Her sadness and anger catch up with her eventually, but heart-to-heart talks with her parents and her friends help her to be more honest about how she’s feeling. “I didn’t need my life to be perfect,” Christina concludes. “I just needed my squad.” Includes a three-page author’s note in which Soontornvat talks more about her eighth grade life and several photographs from her and some of the friends and family members in the book.

I’m a big fan of The Tryout, so I was excited to see this sequel, and it did not disappoint. It does feel a bit heavier than the first book, with its explorations of divorce and the emotions it brings, as well as some scenes in which Christina deals with casual racism from her classmates and the way being biracial can make her feel like she doesn’t belong anywhere. Definitely for fans of Raina Telgemeier’s memoirs who may be ready for something a little meatier, as well as, of course, fans of The Tryout.

Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin by Erin Hunter, adapted and illustrated by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter (HarperAlley, 272 pages, grades 3-7). Anyone who works in a school or children’s library knows that this series about warring cat clans has a devoted fan base, and no doubt the graphic adaptation will add to that. Book 1 tells the story of a young cat who starts life as a domesticated “kittypet” named Rusty but becomes a promising young warrior called Firestar. I only read the first 40 pages, but it’s well done, capturing the spirit of the chapter books with both the storytelling and the art. Book 2 is due out in April.

A couple of courageous kids

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Monster Locker by Jorge Aguirre, illustrated by Andrés Vera Martínez (First Second, 256 pages, grades 4-7). Pablo Ortiz is as about as unlikely a hero as any sixth grader at Garfield Middle School. Basically friendless after an embarrassing incident at his ex-best friend’s house, he winds up with one of the worst lockers, in the school basement. What he doesn’t know is that a dangerous (if slightly goofy) monster named Obie the Evil lurks inside. When Pablo accidentally releases Obie, it sets off a chain events that culminates with Aztec earth goddess Coatlicue setting up her throne on the roof of the school and preparing to destroy humanity, starting with Pablo’s school. Assisted by his fierce abuela, Pablo discovers resources he didn’t know he had, and he and two new friends find a way to not only defeat Coatlicue but befriend her. He and his friends give her a quinceañera, paying their respects by promising to take care of the earth in a variety of ways. Things seem to be getting back to normal, but an appearance by Obie all but guarantees that book 2 is on its way. Includes an introduction to Aztec mythology by Pablo at the end.

With plenty of humor and non-stop adventure, this is sure to be a big hit with upper elementary and middle school readers. Try it out on fans of Rick Riordan and the Last Kids on Earth series. I hope there will be many installments to come, and I could see a Netflix series for Pablo and his friends in the future.

Light and Air by Mindy Nichols Wendell (Holiday House, 208 pages, grades 3-7). Halle has a pretty happy life until Mama is diagnosed with tuberculosis. It’s 1935, when TB means an indefinite stay in a sanatorium. Halle misses her mother terribly, especially when Papa becomes difficult and demanding. One day, Halle decides to walk to the sanatorium to visit her mother, a day’s trip on a route she’s only traveled by car before. As the day goes on, she becomes increasingly exhausted until she finally collapses. After being rescued, she’s diagnosed with pneumonia and sent to the children’s wing of the sanatorium. Although they don’t have symptoms, both Halle and Papa test positive for TB, and it’s decided that it will be easier for both of them to have Halle stay. She’s placed in a room with three other girls, and soon becomes accustomed to the routine of the TB ward: good food, rest, and plenty of fresh air. The death of one of her roommates brings the reality of the disease home, and Halle launches a plan to help her mother get better. Although her good intentions are somewhat misguided, in the end her courage and determination help heal herself and her family, both physically and emotionally. Includes an author’s note with additional information about the J. N. Adam Memorial Hospital in Perrysburg, NY, where the story takes place.

I do enjoy a good hospital story, and it was interesting to learn more about sanatorium life in the 1930’s. The good food, extended periods of rest, and plentiful fresh air honestly sounded a bit like a spa, except for the constant coughing, occasional lung hemorrhages, and possibility of death. Halle’s struggles with family and friends felt genuine, and her perseverance in helping both her parents was inspiring.

A couple of early chapter books

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Emma McKenna, Full Out (The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class book 1) by Kate Messner, illustrated by Kat Fajardo (Algonquin Young Readers, 128 pages, grades 1-4). Emma is excited and nervous about starting third grade at the new Curiosity Academy. Her nerves get the better of her, though, when Lucy, a former best friend turned enemy, walks through the classroom door. Emma does her best to make new friends, but she sometimes feels like her classmates are more interesting than she is. When the school has a competition for a new mascot, Emma chooses a capybara, an animal that is curious and makes friends with all kinds of other animals. By the end of the book, Emma has started to find her groove, giving an almost-winning presentation on the capybara, and making tentative overtures toward mending her differences with Lucy.

Each book in this series focuses on a different kid in Mrs. Z’s class and is written by a different author (librarians, be careful how you catalog this, or the series will end up scattered through your fiction collection). It’s a fun premise for a series, and the first four books are now available, with more coming in 2025. I found Emma’s story perfectly serviceable, although not particularly distinguishable from other spunky girls who are featured in other early chapter book series.

Wrath of the Rain God (Legendarios book 1) by Karla Arenas Valenti, illustrated by Vanessa Morales (Aladdin, 144 pages, grades 2-5). Twins Emma and Martín are not happy to be moving from Cuernavaca, Mexico to Chicago for their father’s new job. Before they leave, their abuela gives them a book of Mexican legends that turns out to be a portal to the places in the stories. They find themselves in an Aztec village that is on the verge of being wiped out by floods. From there, the twins are sent on a quest to help retrieve the lightning bolt belonging to Tlaloc, the rain god, so that he will stop the torrential downpours. The twins are very different from each other, but each has strengths that help them to complete their quest and return home to Chicago, which starts to feel more like home by the end of the book. Includes a glossary.

This has a Percy Jackson vibe, complete with a stolen lightning bolt. Kids who have seen The Lightning Thief movie or TV show but aren’t quite ready for the books may be interested in trying this series instead. They’ll learn a bit about Mexican and Aztec cultures and mythology in a page-turning adventure story with two unique protagonists. Book 2 of the series came out in August, and book 3, a few weeks ago.

The magic of friendship

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

The Best Friend Bracelet by Nicole D. Collier (HarperCollins, 272 pages, grades 3-6). While Zariah has a booming friendship bracelet business, she herself has been without a best friend since entering middle school. When she realizes one of her bracelets is magic and will cause the wearer to instantly become her best friend, she embarks on a series of experiments to try out different friends. Each relationship teaches her something new about friendship and moves her closer to the real thing. As she gets to know a girl named Theo who claims to have no interest in making friends, Zariah begins to realize that best friendship is based on shared experiences, trust, and having each other’s back. By the time she and Theo realize that they have a real best friendship, Zariah has discovered that she no longer needs the magic bracelet.

I could really relate to Zariah’s obsessive overthinking about friendship from my own middle school days, and I loved how she got to experiment with different types of relationships with her magical bracelet. Both Zariah and Theo are interesting characters with lots of quirks and interesting hobbies. I was hoping they would expand their friendship circle to include Willow, a best friend runner-up who was the last bracelet wearer, and her friend Clara.

Split Second by Janae Marks (Quill Tree Books, 256 pages, grades 4-7). After an evening of fun at the fall carnival, Elise happily falls asleep in her sleeping bag at a slumber party with her two best friends, Ivy and Melinda. She wakes up in bed, with Ivy and Melinda gone, and soon realizes that it’s now spring and six months have passed. No one else seems to notice anything’s amiss, and Elise soon realizes that she’s lived through that time period, even though she has no memory of it. Elise learns that she and Ivy and Melinda are no longer friends, but that she’s reconnected with an old friend, Cora, who she drifted apart from during the pandemic lockdown. Cora’s the one person she confides in about the time jump, and as they try to puzzle out what happened with Ivy and Melinda, it soon becomes clear that Cora has some secrets of her own. After revealing one of those secrets to Elise, Cora takes up the narrative to tell her side of what happened that night and what she knows about the time jump and the magic that made it happen.

I was drawn right into this book by the various mysteries involved in the time travel and enjoyed the way the author wove together middle school friendship issues and magic. Splitting the book between two narrators allowed for interesting shifts in perspective. This is the second book this year where the narrator lives through a time that she subsequently forgets, a premise that I find both intriguing and disconcerting.

New Branches books

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Having read two Branches books with book clubs this fall (Pets Rule! and perennial favorite Dragon Masters), I got to wondering the other day if there were any new series and discovered a couple I hadn’t read.

Rise of the Green Flame (Kwame’s Magic Quest book 1) by Bernard Mensah, illustrated by Natasha Nayo (Scholastic, 96 pages, grades 1-4). Kwame’s excited to be starting Nkonyaa School, a boarding school where he’ll receive his calabash and learn which of the four types of magic he possesses. But when it’s his turn, the Nkonyaa Tree flashes red and his calabash doesn’t respond the way the other kids’ do. Kwame enjoys his new school and makes friends with his roommate Fifi, but his unresponsive calabash makes him feel like he’s falling behind with his magical training. A bullying incident leads Fifi to steal the evil green Boni calabash, and by the end of the book, Kwame has learned that he has the special powers he will need to rescue Fifi from the dark side.

Wildlife Rescue (Disaster Squad book 1) by Rekha S. Rajan, illustrated by Courtney Lovett (Scholastic, 96 pages, grades 1-4). Siblings Jaden and Leela live in an RV with their parents, traveling to various disasters where their journalist mom reports and their doctor dad takes care of injured people, while the kids enjoy helping animals in trouble. In the first installment, they head to a California wildfire, where the kids learn about what causes wildfires, how to be safe in one, and how firefighters battle them. Encounters with a baby bear and several deer teach Jaden and Leela the right and wrong ways to help wildlife. At the end of the book, the family is off to the Gulf Coast of Texas where a hurricane is brewing.

I’m going to say an enthusiastic thumbs-up on Kwame, a little less excitement on the Disaster Squad. Nikonyaa School has a Hogwarts feel, with the Nkonyaa Tree standing in for the Sorting Hat, and takes place in an interesting Ghanaian setting. If anything, there was a bit too much crammed into the first book, but the cliffhanger ending will leave kids wanting to find out what’s going to happen in book two. They may also enjoy reading how the Disaster Squad deals with various weather events, but I couldn’t get past the fact that these two crazy parents were driving their kids directly into danger, and for what? To do some freelance reporting and medical care, two functions that are already probably being carried out by actual news organizations and hospitals. The story also felt a bit contrived to teach readers about natural disasters. I’ll probably order both series for the library, but Kwame is the only one I want to try out with a book club.

Time travelers

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 272 pages, grades 4-7). James is shocked to learn that his mom is moving out into her own apartment. As he struggles to navigate his new custody arrangements, he recalls “Things That Will Never Happen Now That My Parents Are Not Together”: six happy memories of his family that he wishes he could go back to and never leave. When he meets a slightly mysterious girl named Yan who claims she has a time machine, he’s ready to travel back to the way things were. At first, it seems like she can’t make good on the claim, but one day, she and James travel into an old photo of his dad’s. From there, they make plans for James to visit all six of his happy memories and decide which one he wants to stay in. But when he arrives at each one, he discovers details he had forgotten that reveal how unhappy his parents were before their breakup. Ultimately, James decides that the present moment is the only one where he–and everyone else–truly belongs.

I’m leaving out quite a few fun details in my summary: there’s an intense cake competition/school fundraiser, a class bully whose mother is James’s mom’s best friend, some interesting controversy over the David Bowie song “Space Oddity” and the fate of Major Tom, and the touching friendship between Yan and James, which explores the Chinese immigration experience in Australia. This book is by an Australian author, so there may be a few words or situations that are unfamiliar to American readers.

The Things We Miss by Leah Stecher (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 288 pages, grades 4-7). J.P. heads to her neighbor’s tree house after her first day of seventh grade, looking for a refuge after enduring fat-shaming from some of the other girls and her gym teacher. What she finds there is a portal that allows her to skip over three days of her life. When she walks through the door, she emerges three days later, having been present to others but with no memories of anything that happened. She confides to her best friend Kevin, a fellow sci-fi enthusiast, about her time-travel adventure. At first he’s enthusiastic and works with J.P. to test various theories about the portal, but it doesn’t work for him, and as J.P. starts using it more to get through tough times in her life, Kevin pulls away, telling her that she’s not there for him the way a friend should be. Not only that, but J.P. starts discovering there are good and important parts of her life that she is missing out on. When she misses out on a crucial interaction with her sick grandfather, J.P. realizes that each moment in life is too important to give up, even if that means having to deal with the difficult times.

This story is thought provoking and will resonate with anyone going through difficult times. It raises interesting questions about life and would make a great book discussion read. I do always find myself poking holes in time-travel theories, and I also felt like a little humor would have been nice to mix in with some of the heavier topics. Takeaway for time travelers from both of these books: there’s no time like the present.

Mystery, fantasy…it must be summer

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Mystery and fantasy aren’t my favorite genres, so I usually hold off on reading them until I have a little extra mental energy to devote to reading…which, not surprisingly is during summer vacation.

Medusa (Myth of Monsters, book 1) by Katherine Marsh (Clarion Books, 288 pages, grades 4-7). Ava tries to control her anger using the techniques that her mother has taught her, but when class bully Owen goes too far, she loses her temper, and Owen mysteriously freezes. The next day, Ava and her older brother Jax are suddenly told they’ll be starting immediately at their mother’s alma mater, the Accademia del Forte in Venice. It’s a startling enough change, but things really get weird when Ava learns on the first day that the Greek myths she loves are all true, gods and goddesses still exist, and that the students are all descended from monsters, sent to the school to be taught to control their powers. With her curly hair and freezing power, Ava soon discovers, to her dismay, that her ancestor is Medusa. But a group of faithful friends help her to discover the misogyny of Greek mythology and that many monsters and other mythological beings–especially the female ones–have been misrepresented. When Ava and her friends stand up to the gods, chaos ensues, and they find themselves one step ahead of angry deities, looking to discover the truth about Medusa and Ava’s family.

Fans of Rick Riordan will love this Greek mythology-inspired fantasy, which features engaging kid characters, each with an emerging superpower, and plenty of white-knuckle adventures. I loved the feminist message and the reimagining of many of the myths, although it occasionally felt a little heavy-handed. Nevertheless, it’s a fast-paced and inspiring story, and it appears that readers can look forward to at least one sequel.

The Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow (Quill Tree Books, 320 pages, grades 4-7). Best friends Lucy and Laila dream of attending high school at Sunderland, a private school where Lucy hopes to hone her journalistic skills while Laila gets to explore her passion for baking. When Laila’s given the chance to compete in the Golden Cookie Competition with a grand prize of a free ride at Sunderland, Lucy goes along to write about the contest with the hope of improving her scholarship chances. Five competitors, two chefs, and the one of the chef’s assistants are the only occupants of Sunderland as the contest begins. Laila’s in the lead when Chef Remi takes a bite of her cookie and collapses. He ends up in a coma in a nearby hospital, with Laila the prime suspect in his attempted murder. As Lucy and Laila investigate, they learn that everyone had a reason for wanting to get rid of Chef Remi. When a storm strands them at the school, it soon becomes obvious that unless they can identify the would-be killer, the two of them may be in danger as well.

This is a classic mystery setup: a group of strangers is brought together in an unfamiliar location, a crime is committed, and the detective(s) must figure out who that criminal is before it’s too late. Laila and Lucy’s alternate-chapter narrations keep things moving along, and the reality show-style baking competition adds to the fun.

Marching to the beat of your own drum

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Frankie D., Vegan Vampire by Sally and Brian Dutra (Kids Can Press, 192 pages, grades 2-5). Frankie and his family have moved from Transylvania to the U.S., hoping, like so many immigrants before them, for a better life. In their case, that life is eternal, since they’re a family of vampires. Being immortal is just the beginning, as Frankie and his family struggle to hide their fangs, their ability to turn into bats, and the fact that they’re used to sleeping during the day (and in coffins). Switching to a healthy vegan diet has fortunately dampened their taste for blood, and Frankie enjoys starting fourth grade and making new friends. He suspects that one classmate, Eddie, might be a troll, but as he learns more about Eddie, he comes to realize why he’s such a bully. The family successfully negotiates having one of Frankie’s new friends and his family to dinner, and Frankie has fun at a human birthday party, but the grand finale comes with the school concert, when Frankie and Eddie save the fourth-grade performance. Pumped after this success, Frankie decides to fly home and burn off some of his excess energy, only to realize that Eddie has seen him transform into a bat.

There’s plenty of humor in this de-fanged vampire story, and the last page makes me hopeful that there will be a sequel. It’s an illustrated chapter book, but at close to 200 pages, I wouldn’t exactly call it an early chapter book. Still, I think it could find an audience with fluent readers in the earlier years of elementary school, and maybe older kids who are reading a bit below grade level.

Band Camp #1: All Together Now! by Brian “Smitty” Smith (little bee books, 80 pages, grades 1-4). This early graphic novel gives summer camp a new twist: all the campers are musical instruments. Bunk J, a.k.a. Junk Bunk, the cabin that always loses all the competitions, has four unique residents this summer: Trey the triangle, Kaylee the ukelele, Zook the kazoo, and Cordelia the accordion. Each instrument has a unique personality and well-defined likes and dislikes, but they’re united in their determination to put an end to the Bunk J legacy. In a relay race at the end of this book, they combine their talents for an unexpected victory. Camp’s not over yet, though, and book 2 is due out in September.

As a veteran of eight–yes, eight!–band camps, I love this premise and was amazed at how Smith was able to create instruments with real personalities. Early readers will get a kick out of the story and illustrations. The ending seemed abrupt, and I kind of wish the whole camp session had been included in a single volume.