September 3, 2024 by Quill Tree Books (HarperCollins)
E ARC provided by the author
It's winter break at Deephaven, and Nev Tallow is staying at the school, since they have nowhere else to go. Prefect Patience Sleepwell is also there, and the two have settled into an uneasy rhythm. Nev has promised to wait for Danny to get back to school before they delve deeper into Deephaven't secrets, but... it's boring with no one around!. In the underbasement, Ned finds very old documents, including the will of Malachi Haven... and his skull! Haven had been a monk in the chapel that was one of the first buildings at Deephaven, but was a highly disturbing figure in the 1820s, wondering around telling people how they would meet their ends. The skull has small icons and scenes etched on the teeth... scrimshaw. They know they shouldn't have the skull, especially since Patience is determined to get them in trouble. When one of the students has an allergic reaction to food, and later the shelves fall over in the library, Nev knows that it is Haven't work, but Principal Blanchely is sure it is Nev's fault! Danny, who is afraid of small spaces, doesn't want to go back with Nev to return the skull, and also has his fencing to worry about. The two do find that Haven was found dead in 1824 in a manner befitting how vampires were dispatched, giving them even more cause for concern. Later, at a fencing match, Nev has a bad feeling. Haven shows up (not that anyone else can see him), and when Nev yells at Danny to be careful, he slips and is injured. Nev is sure that they are a danger to their best friend and to the school, especially when a horrible blizzard hits Deephaven, stranding everyone at the school. Further research sheds more light on why Haven has a hold over the school, but when the robed, headless figure attacks Nev yet again, Nev stabs it with a screwdriver. A fire starts in the school, and everyone has to be evacuated into the cold. Students, led by Nev, eventually put it out with snow. Blanchley is sure that New started the fire, because one of their tools was found in the gas line. Danny and Nev, who finally talk and discuss why they have been avoiding each other, decide that in order to put Haven to rest, they need to reunite his skull with his body, which is buried in a sarcophagus on the school grounds. Of course, this isn't easy, and the coffin is a puzzle box. Even if they manage to open it, can the two friends manage to put Haven to rest without imperiling themselves?
Strengths: Nev suspected that there was a more harrowing story behind all of Deephaven's mysteries, and there certainly was. The historical look at Malachi Haven and his odd life is made even creepier by an engraved skull that sets Nev dead center of the swirling malevolence unleashed when Haven't remains are disturbed. There's a good balance between Nev's delving into the history and fighting with the hooded figure and having to navigate his friendship with Danny and deal with other members of the school, like Patience and Principal Blanchley. The skull, with it's odd etching and generally frightening mien, was a great choice for the cover. Aldridge's full page illustrations at the end of this cover are fantastic, and definitely add to the appeal of this series. Whille the story wraps up the developments with Haven nicely, and could be the end of the series, there is also room for another book. A great title to add to any middle grade list of academy tales.
Weaknesses: I was vaguely curious about Nev's father, and thought he might resurface, but nothing happened there. To be very nit picky, there is an account of a woman in the 1820s being harangued by Haven's ramblings of Doom at the "grocery store", which seemed anachronistic. Perhaps this will be changed in the final version.
What I really think: Boarding school tales are always popular, and this has a creepy, Steampunk feel to it that will appeal to fans of Alexander's Gallowgate, MacHale's The Curse of the Boggin, or Terry's graphic novel Graveyard Shakes. Who knows? Maybe young readers will even be motivated by one of the teachers, whose name is Bellairs, to pick up the classic The House with a Clock in It's Walls.
Weaknesses: I was vaguely curious about Nev's father, and thought he might resurface, but nothing happened there. To be very nit picky, there is an account of a woman in the 1820s being harangued by Haven's ramblings of Doom at the "grocery store", which seemed anachronistic. Perhaps this will be changed in the final version.
What I really think: Boarding school tales are always popular, and this has a creepy, Steampunk feel to it that will appeal to fans of Alexander's Gallowgate, MacHale's The Curse of the Boggin, or Terry's graphic novel Graveyard Shakes. Who knows? Maybe young readers will even be motivated by one of the teachers, whose name is Bellairs, to pick up the classic The House with a Clock in It's Walls.
August 27, 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
If you haven't read Bite Risk, there are some necessary spoilers for that book.
Life in Tremorglade is very different now that Sel and his friends have uncovered the truth; the corpus pilori virus that turned their parents into werewolves once a month was caused by Sequest, and their friend Harold Poulter was one of the masterminds behind it. Now that there are no sound frequencies driving people to the brink of madness every month, those who have turned run into few problems as they frolic in their lupine form. Some of the kids have recently turned as well. There is some concern from the Immutable Allicance, headed by Sherman Goss, about the turning, but in general Officer Hale has things in hand. When Mr. Costa, the new teacher brought in to get the Tremorglade pupils caught up on world events, is attacked, Sel and his friends start to suspect that all is not right in their world. There is another person who has been attacked, Ms. Dawes, and Mika, a younger girl, has alerted the police that she is not acting quite right. When Sel visits, he finds an arm in her refrigerator, and he and his friends worry that there are zombie werewolves running about, attacking regular werewolves. This is corroborated by Arty, a woman Sel meets, who tells him that this creature is called a Revenant, and was indeed produced by Sequest. She had worked for them for one day before the Rippocalypse, so hadn't had any input into the evil doings that Harold and his ilk had perpetrated. Or had she? When Sel finds that Sherman Goss is harboring someone very close to all of this, he knows that he has to clear matters up before things get out of hand again. There could be another sequel, as the ending is a bit unfinished!
Strengths: Werewolf stories are always good, and the first book Bite Risk, has been very popular in my library. I bought two copies! While Elena has moved away, we have a new, younger character, Mika, who contrasts nicely against the older, more experienced characters. Plus, I really liked her horse, Jelly Bean! It was interesting to see how Tremorglade reacted to the new situation and the freedom that they had. I didn't remember Sherman from the previous book, but he was used to good effect. The covers are definitely a selling point!
Weaknesses: This bogged down a tiny bit in the middle, with a lot of philosophy and explanations, but rallied toward the end of the book.
What I really think: I didn't love this quite as much as the first book; second books frequently are a bit slower paced. It's good that some of the characters are more developed, and there is still a bit of a mystery to solve with Sequest and Harold Poulter. Hand this to fans of Parker's The Devouring Wolf , Moore's Red Moon Rising (2010), or LaFever's Werewolf Rising (2006). Clearly, we need some fresh, new werewolf books!
Weaknesses: This bogged down a tiny bit in the middle, with a lot of philosophy and explanations, but rallied toward the end of the book.
What I really think: I didn't love this quite as much as the first book; second books frequently are a bit slower paced. It's good that some of the characters are more developed, and there is still a bit of a mystery to solve with Sequest and Harold Poulter. Hand this to fans of Parker's The Devouring Wolf , Moore's Red Moon Rising (2010), or LaFever's Werewolf Rising (2006). Clearly, we need some fresh, new werewolf books!
September 3, 2024 by Shadow Moutain
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Landon and his friends have finished the school year, and are at the wedding of Landon's mom and Jade's dad. His mother faints, and then the rest of the assembled crowd starts to go down. Landon smells the telltale aroma of Stink Spores, and has to fight a massive Thingamajunk. Here he thought he would get a summer off from school and studies, but finds himself pitted against General Clean, who is trying to turn the Servites (he has Squeak, while Jade has Muse) into Toxites with his Restorer. When there's an epic battle of Thingamajunks in the park, Landon comes across an unexpected nemesis in the restroom. In order to make things right again, Landon and Jade, need to find Spencer Zumbo, so there's definitely a book three on the way!
September 10, 2024 by Rick Riordan Presents
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Pahua and the Soul Stealer reminded me that if your sibling gets kidnapped by supernatural forces, you should seek adult help! Including dragons in this new volume ups the adventure and middle grade appeal. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a trilogy, like this author's Young Adult Shamanborn series.
From the Publisher:
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Lori M. Lee's second Southeast Asian fantasy adventure about a girl who is the reincarnation of the greatest warrior of all time.
A snarky cat spirit, a rivalry between two shamans-in-training, a dangerous dragon encounter, and a stand-off with a thunder god are just a few of the delights and thrills in this sequel to Pahua and the Soul Stealer, winner of the 2022 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature.
Eleven-year-old Hmong girl Pahua Moua recently discovered that she's the reincarnation of Shee Yee, a renowned warrior. With the help of her friends Miv, a talking cat; and Zhong, a shaman-in-training, Pahua defeated Xov, the god of wrath, destruction, and thunder. Now she has to retrieve some metallic dragon scales to reinforce his weakened prison cell.
Pahua, Zhong, and Miv travel to the Land of Dragons, where they come upon the truth stone, an object that reveals the world as it is. The stone will help them locate the second seal that will bind Xov. However, magic is circular, and if Pahua wants to create something as powerful as a cage for a god, she will have to make an equally powerful sacrifice. . . .
A snarky cat spirit, a rivalry between two shamans-in-training, a dangerous dragon encounter, and a stand-off with a thunder god are just a few of the delights and thrills in this sequel to Pahua and the Soul Stealer, winner of the 2022 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature.
Eleven-year-old Hmong girl Pahua Moua recently discovered that she's the reincarnation of Shee Yee, a renowned warrior. With the help of her friends Miv, a talking cat; and Zhong, a shaman-in-training, Pahua defeated Xov, the god of wrath, destruction, and thunder. Now she has to retrieve some metallic dragon scales to reinforce his weakened prison cell.
Pahua, Zhong, and Miv travel to the Land of Dragons, where they come upon the truth stone, an object that reveals the world as it is. The stone will help them locate the second seal that will bind Xov. However, magic is circular, and if Pahua wants to create something as powerful as a cage for a god, she will have to make an equally powerful sacrifice. . . .
And a number three...
September 10, 2024 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
The Battle of Blackwood Arena had laser tag, The Epic Hero Quest had a fantasy video game, and this newest installment has an amusement park! Dao knows her way around a fun setting, and I liked that she herself has said that these can be read in any order, since they are all separate adventures. This had more of the fantasy elements of the second book, but plenty of action and adventure like the first. Fun characters, an enticing cover, and the added appeal of both ghosts AND cats!
From the Publisher:
In this Team Chu adventure, Vietnamese-American siblings Clip and Sadie Chu—and friends—must unearth the mystery behind a haunted Halloween carnival! When Iggy Morales's stylish cat, Tuba, becomes famous on social media, he scores an invite to a star-studded pet fashion show at Spooky World. The family-friendly, Halloween-themed indoor carnival is the place to be on the last weekend in October, so of course Iggy brings all of his friends, including Clip and Sadie.
The kids expect to ride thrilling rollercoasters, play games in the midway, and eat fried dough and candy apples, but they encounter a different kind of excitement instead: a ghost called the Weeping Lady, who has haunted Spooky World for decades, appears and asks for their help!
The Weeping Lady sends Iggy and his friends on a mysterious, action-packed scavenger hunt all over the sprawling theme park, giving them cryptic clues and communicating with Iggy’s seemingly clairvoyant cat, Tuba.
If the kids can piece the story together and complete this wild ghost chase, they might just uncover the truth behind what really happened to Spooky World’s most infamous spirit!
