August 12, 2025 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Ollie and his best friend Garen live in a scientific complex near Area 51. Their parents both work at Area 53, where magical creatures who have worked their way into our world are captured and taken care of so they are safe. These include benign ones like Henry, a helpful Golem, and Luna, a cute lavender llama corn, but also dangerous ones like Ariel, a Wyvern, who is kept in a state of hibernation so that she doesn't attack anyone. When lightning storms (or perhaps the ball the two are hurling around) wake Ariel, she talks to them, but when Garen's mother arrives, Ariel's medication is increased and she goes back to sleep. Ollie and Garen have never really left the compound; Ollie's dad tells him that the creatures require so much care that there's no way they could even go to a ballgame or back to their hometown of Miami to visit. When a baby manticore is brought to the facility, a mistake causes the Golem as well as two sprites, Tatum and Tory, to escape. Ollie and Garen go after them, locating them at a diner where they are causing problem. Shortly after, however, the kids get sucked into a "darkest shadow" portal to the Shadowland, where most of the magical creatures live. It's a dangerous place, where Henry is taken by gnomes and later crumbles. Yadira, the guardian of the forest, is on hand to help them, but warns that the scientific facility may be destroyed, after revealing secrets about both Ollie and Galen's past. Things settle down by the end of the book, but a cliffhanger lets us know that another book is in the works.
Strengths: This was a pleasant and fast paced fantasy series by the author of The Cursed Moon, as well as realistic fiction titles like Allie, First at Last, Me, Frida, and the Seacret of the Peacock Ring, and Gaby, Lost and Found. Galen and Ollie, who have an endearing friendship, are already living an adventure in the scientific facility, but then get even more of one when they have to deal with wild magical creatures and travel in the Shadowland. This had plenty of classic fantasy elements like a quest, a past secret, and some emerging powers. The connection to Area 51 might draw some science fiction fans into this well developed fantasy world.
Weaknesses: I have countless fantasy series where the first book is falling apart and only one person has ever checked out the fifth book. With budget cuts, I have to think long and hard about committing to a series. If this were a stand alone, I would definitely buy it. If it ends up being longer than a trilogy, I definitely won't, due to both monetary and space concerns.
Ollie and his best friend Garen live in a scientific complex near Area 51. Their parents both work at Area 53, where magical creatures who have worked their way into our world are captured and taken care of so they are safe. These include benign ones like Henry, a helpful Golem, and Luna, a cute lavender llama corn, but also dangerous ones like Ariel, a Wyvern, who is kept in a state of hibernation so that she doesn't attack anyone. When lightning storms (or perhaps the ball the two are hurling around) wake Ariel, she talks to them, but when Garen's mother arrives, Ariel's medication is increased and she goes back to sleep. Ollie and Garen have never really left the compound; Ollie's dad tells him that the creatures require so much care that there's no way they could even go to a ballgame or back to their hometown of Miami to visit. When a baby manticore is brought to the facility, a mistake causes the Golem as well as two sprites, Tatum and Tory, to escape. Ollie and Garen go after them, locating them at a diner where they are causing problem. Shortly after, however, the kids get sucked into a "darkest shadow" portal to the Shadowland, where most of the magical creatures live. It's a dangerous place, where Henry is taken by gnomes and later crumbles. Yadira, the guardian of the forest, is on hand to help them, but warns that the scientific facility may be destroyed, after revealing secrets about both Ollie and Galen's past. Things settle down by the end of the book, but a cliffhanger lets us know that another book is in the works.
Strengths: This was a pleasant and fast paced fantasy series by the author of The Cursed Moon, as well as realistic fiction titles like Allie, First at Last, Me, Frida, and the Seacret of the Peacock Ring, and Gaby, Lost and Found. Galen and Ollie, who have an endearing friendship, are already living an adventure in the scientific facility, but then get even more of one when they have to deal with wild magical creatures and travel in the Shadowland. This had plenty of classic fantasy elements like a quest, a past secret, and some emerging powers. The connection to Area 51 might draw some science fiction fans into this well developed fantasy world.
Weaknesses: I have countless fantasy series where the first book is falling apart and only one person has ever checked out the fifth book. With budget cuts, I have to think long and hard about committing to a series. If this were a stand alone, I would definitely buy it. If it ends up being longer than a trilogy, I definitely won't, due to both monetary and space concerns.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Sutherland's The Menagerie, Mann's The Forgotten Five series, Mull's Fablehaven books, or Durst's Even and Odd.
Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Destiny
August 19, 2025 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by the publisher
After five books of funny adventures, Ben is faced with his worst dilemma yet: his parents are moving him to California. He's clearly not happy about this, and will miss his friends Walter and Darby, but especially Janet. As the family is getting the rental travel trailer ready to pull out, Aunt Nora decides that she will go with them and get a job in California, but Janet is not around to say goodbye. The mother has a very strict schedule of activities and miles to be logged, so isn't thrilled with the addition of Aunt Nora, but eventually, they get on the road. The father has a promise of a better (i.e. more remunerative) job, but Ben doesn't care. He's surly, and having a broken bathroom, and having tasty leftovers disappear from the fridge don't help. Eventually, he finds that Janet has stowed away and has been hiding in the bathroom, wearing a helmet since the toilet doesn't have a seat belt. Aunt Nora knows about her, but thinks it's best to wait until they are a little farther from home so they don't turn around to return her. Janet and Ben try to come up with a plan to insure that Ben doesn't have to move; Janet has a list of ideas that includes becoming a rock star, winning the lottery, finding a rare coin, etc. The group doesn't make good enough time to see the Crater of Diamonds, disappointing Ben's mom, as well as Janet, who hoped to find a diamond. The trailer has all kinds of problems, and when a tire goes flat, it's discovered that the father didn't pay extra to have a spare. After trying to sing for donations in Nashville (Arkansas!), hoping to be discovered, Janet is found out by Ben's parents. They call her folks, and arrange to put her on a plane when they get to California. Ben and Janet buy a lottery ticket that doesn't pay off, think the parents are speaking in flower code, and talk about building a time machine. The father ends up driving the wrong way when the mother is napping, and the trailer leaks horribly in the rain, leading the group to stay in a hotel. Ben and Janet find a dog, Goji, while taking coins from a fountain, and Ben is allowed to keep the puppy. At a restaurant, the ever impulsive Nora meets a waitress with a similar tattoo to her own, and decides to take a job and stay there. It's almost time for Janet's flight, but the group still isn't in California. The parents finally tell Ben more of the reasons that they need to move to California, but when the father gets a communication about his job, it seems like Ben and Janet might not have to be separated after all.
August 19, 2025 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by the publisher
After five books of funny adventures, Ben is faced with his worst dilemma yet: his parents are moving him to California. He's clearly not happy about this, and will miss his friends Walter and Darby, but especially Janet. As the family is getting the rental travel trailer ready to pull out, Aunt Nora decides that she will go with them and get a job in California, but Janet is not around to say goodbye. The mother has a very strict schedule of activities and miles to be logged, so isn't thrilled with the addition of Aunt Nora, but eventually, they get on the road. The father has a promise of a better (i.e. more remunerative) job, but Ben doesn't care. He's surly, and having a broken bathroom, and having tasty leftovers disappear from the fridge don't help. Eventually, he finds that Janet has stowed away and has been hiding in the bathroom, wearing a helmet since the toilet doesn't have a seat belt. Aunt Nora knows about her, but thinks it's best to wait until they are a little farther from home so they don't turn around to return her. Janet and Ben try to come up with a plan to insure that Ben doesn't have to move; Janet has a list of ideas that includes becoming a rock star, winning the lottery, finding a rare coin, etc. The group doesn't make good enough time to see the Crater of Diamonds, disappointing Ben's mom, as well as Janet, who hoped to find a diamond. The trailer has all kinds of problems, and when a tire goes flat, it's discovered that the father didn't pay extra to have a spare. After trying to sing for donations in Nashville (Arkansas!), hoping to be discovered, Janet is found out by Ben's parents. They call her folks, and arrange to put her on a plane when they get to California. Ben and Janet buy a lottery ticket that doesn't pay off, think the parents are speaking in flower code, and talk about building a time machine. The father ends up driving the wrong way when the mother is napping, and the trailer leaks horribly in the rain, leading the group to stay in a hotel. Ben and Janet find a dog, Goji, while taking coins from a fountain, and Ben is allowed to keep the puppy. At a restaurant, the ever impulsive Nora meets a waitress with a similar tattoo to her own, and decides to take a job and stay there. It's almost time for Janet's flight, but the group still isn't in California. The parents finally tell Ben more of the reasons that they need to move to California, but when the father gets a communication about his job, it seems like Ben and Janet might not have to be separated after all.
Strengths: The authors loaded their own four children up and went on a nationwide school book tour in a travel trailer, so they bring a lot of first hand experience to this humorous adventure. There are lots of fun sights and activities along the way. Younger readers will appreciate the schemes that Ben and Janet have to convince Ben's parents that he shouldn't move. There are lots of themes from other books in the series that show up here, although not quite as many cookies. As always, the mix of illustrations and text is quite well done, so we get vivid pictures of how Ben's family is living. The text is large, so this isn't quite as long as most books of 320 pages are.
Weaknesses: I bought the first two books in this series for my 6-8 middle school library, but they haven't circulated particularly well, despite the brilliant formatting. I found it a bit hard to believe that the father was so incompetent... the trailer was a wreck, and he has no back up plan for when things fall through. How are they going home? Didn't they sell their house? If you were able to believe that The Vanderbeekers had no back up plan when their lease was up, this won't bother you. Aunt Nora also seemed like she might need some assistance.
What I really think: This could be the last book in the series, but we could also see more of Ben's adventures back home. Third and fourth grade readers who like notebook novels and are not daunted by the length (320 pages) of this book are the sweet sport for the goofy humor and somewhat magical thinking in which Ben and Janet engage. I would definitely buy this series for an elementary library.
Weaknesses: I bought the first two books in this series for my 6-8 middle school library, but they haven't circulated particularly well, despite the brilliant formatting. I found it a bit hard to believe that the father was so incompetent... the trailer was a wreck, and he has no back up plan for when things fall through. How are they going home? Didn't they sell their house? If you were able to believe that The Vanderbeekers had no back up plan when their lease was up, this won't bother you. Aunt Nora also seemed like she might need some assistance.
What I really think: This could be the last book in the series, but we could also see more of Ben's adventures back home. Third and fourth grade readers who like notebook novels and are not daunted by the length (320 pages) of this book are the sweet sport for the goofy humor and somewhat magical thinking in which Ben and Janet engage. I would definitely buy this series for an elementary library.
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