I do still read all of the fiction books before I buy them for my school library, and some of the nonfiction as well. I read a lot of books, and last year wrote reviews of about 60% of them. It takes a lot of effort. Sometimes, fantasy poses a challenge to me, but I try valiantly to solider through. Writing this right after Valentine's Day, and between world events, having to cover a class during my fictional lunch time, and a lot of children who needed comforting chats when I was not actively working with one of five language arts classes, I couldn't muster the brain power.
Definitely take a look at these if you've read the first books in the series, which have circulated well in my library.
May 30, 2023 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
From the Publisher:
Onyeka and her superhero friends are on the run. Having exposed head teacher Dr. Dòyìnbó’s hidden agenda behind the Academy of the Sun, they’re living as fugitives, laying low as they try to figure out their next move. Despite their best efforts, Onyeka’s parents are still missing, and students at the Academy are still in danger.
But when their safe house is discovered, Onyeka must turn to the only allies they have left: a group of rebels called the rogues. Joining forces, will the groups defeat their shared nemesis, or is there a new danger on the horizon?
But when their safe house is discovered, Onyeka must turn to the only allies they have left: a group of rebels called the rogues. Joining forces, will the groups defeat their shared nemesis, or is there a new danger on the horizon?
My thoughts: There's at least one more book left before we get Onyeka's situation figured out.
Dumas, Marti. Charmed Life (Wildseed Witch #2)
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Reintgen, Scott. The Drama with Doomsdays (Celia Cleary #2)
Yoon, Jenna. Lia Park and the Heavenly Heirloom
May 2, 2023 by Amulet Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
From the publisher:
After a summer of being the worst witch at a fancy witch school, Hasani can’t wait to get back to the peace and normalcy of Riverbend Middle where she knows all the rules and is destined to be captain of the Mathletes. There are a few little hiccups to work out—like how she’s going to tell her best friend that she’s a witch—but even though the other two members of Hasani’s coven have joined her friend group and her school, there’s no reason to think that eighth grade won’t be smooth sailing . . . That is until her former friend (and fellow witch) LaToya shows up.
LaToya starts trying to take her friends and make Hasani seem like the bad guy. To make matters worse, strange things begin happening around the school—including a termite infestation—and Hasani is so sure that LaToya is to blame. However, when Miss Lafleur comes to visit to help deal with the termites and investigate the magic, she helps Hasani to channel her powers more and realize just how strong her magic has become. But Miss Lafleur also isn’t convinced that LaToya could have caused all this chaos on her own—so Hasani sets out to prove it, and heads to a magical market, 3Thirteen, to find the ingredients she needs to do so. But in all her focus on proving she’s right and learning more about her magic, is Hasani losing sight of the people and things that are most important to her?
LaToya starts trying to take her friends and make Hasani seem like the bad guy. To make matters worse, strange things begin happening around the school—including a termite infestation—and Hasani is so sure that LaToya is to blame. However, when Miss Lafleur comes to visit to help deal with the termites and investigate the magic, she helps Hasani to channel her powers more and realize just how strong her magic has become. But Miss Lafleur also isn’t convinced that LaToya could have caused all this chaos on her own—so Hasani sets out to prove it, and heads to a magical market, 3Thirteen, to find the ingredients she needs to do so. But in all her focus on proving she’s right and learning more about her magic, is Hasani losing sight of the people and things that are most important to her?
My thoughts: A lot of YouTube details, and a lot of girl drama. I would have liked a little more magic other than the termite infestation, which creeped me out. Again, never ever moving south of Ohio.
May 2, 2023 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr).jpg)
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
From the publisher:
The popular fantasy video game War of Gods and Men is being adapted for reality television, and Team Chu and company are competing for the title of child hero: the young person destined to unite the forces of Pantaera to save it from a sinister fate. Over the next week, they'll be challenged by sirens, vampires, elves, and more in Tests of Courage, Determination, Humility, Intelligence, and Strength.
Popular athlete Clip is confident he'll take the prize, if it weren't for that test of humility. And despite claiming not to care about the game, Sadie finds herself pulled into the immersive world of Pantaera and rising to meet the challenges thrown her way. And her best friend, Jeremy, proud nerd and last pick for P.E. teams, wants more than anything to save the world of the game he loves, no matter the cost.
Join Clip, Sadie, Jeremy, and their friends on a thrilling adventure through an extraordinary fantasy world to learn who among them has what it takes to become Pantaera's child hero!
Popular athlete Clip is confident he'll take the prize, if it weren't for that test of humility. And despite claiming not to care about the game, Sadie finds herself pulled into the immersive world of Pantaera and rising to meet the challenges thrown her way. And her best friend, Jeremy, proud nerd and last pick for P.E. teams, wants more than anything to save the world of the game he loves, no matter the cost.
Join Clip, Sadie, Jeremy, and their friends on a thrilling adventure through an extraordinary fantasy world to learn who among them has what it takes to become Pantaera's child hero!
My thoughts: I bought two copies of the first book because it had a lot of action, as well as a video game feel. This veered more into the fantasy world, and there were many characters to keep straight. I liked that parents and grandparents were still involved, but it added to the number of people I needed to remember. I think there was even a map. The War of Gods and Men game had a medievalish/Dungeons and Dragons feel to it.
May 16, 2023 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
From the publisher:
Ever since the fateful visions about Jeffrey Johnson, Celia Cleary’s prophecies have focused on smaller things like minor mishaps and everyday inconveniences. It’s finally starting to feel like she has a handle on her powers…until things take a turn for the weird.
One day at school, Celia’s notebook magically fills in with a single name written over and over: . She uses the family guidebook to investigate and learns that the mysterious Patrick is connected to a Doomsday Prophecy—a vision that involves a large group of people, a point of no return, and a terrible future. The target for this particular reckoning? The entire eighth grade.
Celia soon finds herself in a race against the clock to figure out which Patrick at their school is at the heart of the coming disaster. As the shifting sands of luck turn against her, she’ll need Grammy’s voice and the help of friends more than ever. But even with their efforts combined, can they prevent the doomsday?
One day at school, Celia’s notebook magically fills in with a single name written over and over: . She uses the family guidebook to investigate and learns that the mysterious Patrick is connected to a Doomsday Prophecy—a vision that involves a large group of people, a point of no return, and a terrible future. The target for this particular reckoning? The entire eighth grade.
Celia soon finds herself in a race against the clock to figure out which Patrick at their school is at the heart of the coming disaster. As the shifting sands of luck turn against her, she’ll need Grammy’s voice and the help of friends more than ever. But even with their efforts combined, can they prevent the doomsday?
My thoughts: The first book dealt more with Celia's emerging magical abilities, and this one went off into the Tweens Save the World realm. I worry about the world and impending disasters, because the tweens I know can't even put on jeans and tennis shoes to come to school. Can you save the world in pajama pants and Crocs? Have concerns, but Celia seems on top of things.
May 30, 2023 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
From the Publisher:
Twelve-year-old Lia Park and her best friend, Joon, are now full-time students at International Magic Academy after defeating corrupt diviner Gaya, and their first assignment is an ambitious one. The evil nine-headed monster and King of Darkness, Jihaedaegukjeok, wants to destroy the three Heavenly Heirlooms that create fire and light to plunge the world into darkness and destroy humanity.
The heirlooms can only be destroyed if they are all together, so over time, they have been hidden carefully with magic. Except now, one of them is missing. Lia, Joon, and their classmates have been tasked with recovering the lost heirloom and bringing it to IMA for safekeeping. They expected the task to be difficult, but the number of obstacles the magic trainees run into makes Lia start to wonder if the sabotage could be coming from someone inside the school.
The heirlooms can only be destroyed if they are all together, so over time, they have been hidden carefully with magic. Except now, one of them is missing. Lia, Joon, and their classmates have been tasked with recovering the lost heirloom and bringing it to IMA for safekeeping. They expected the task to be difficult, but the number of obstacles the magic trainees run into makes Lia start to wonder if the sabotage could be coming from someone inside the school.
My thoughts: This reminded me of several other books where they had to collect items, but was also an academy tale, which a lot of students like. Academies are a great way to get parents out of the way without killing them.
I've been wondering about LIA PARK AND THE HEAVENLY HEIRLOOM. Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for sharing thoughts on all these. :)
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