Potion Masters: The Transparency Tonic by Frank L. Cole

Life has somewhat calmed down for Gordy and his friends since stopping Esmeralda from overthrowing B.R.E.W. (Board of Ruling Elixirists Worldwide). Because of his potion-mixing skills, Gordy is working on becoming an Elixirist with the help of his two best friends, Max and Adilene. While concocting his potions, Gordy goes into a hypnotic state or “Blind Batching” and unknowingly creates some destructive brews. Because of this, Gordy’s mother loses her job at B.R.E.W. and it’s Chamber President eventually puts a warrant out for Gordy’s arrest.

Cole’s second book in the Potion Master’s series is a thrilling read full of dilemmas and betrayals, but it is also a story about the power of consequences. All Gordy wants to do is hone his natural potion-making skills to become a master Elixirist. While trying to impress the snotty daughter of the new Chamber President by Blind Batching, his actions lead to disastrous consequences. Like many who are naturally gifted, Gordy’s decision to Blind Batch is two fold: to test his limits and gain acceptance from others. Even though Gordy is confident in his skills, it doesn’t mean he’s confident emotionally. Gordy’s closest friendships get sorely tested as he rises too quickly from exploiting his talents. Luckily, Gordy doesn’t fall too far from grace because the consequences of his actions directly affect his family. His unshakeable love for them and his friends’ loyalty help Gordy realign his priorities for using his gifts. This well-written and well-developed book will have readers anxiously anticipating Cole’s next book in his Potion Masters’ series.

Squint by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Flint hates middle school. All he wants to do is draw the comic book adventures of his superhero, Squint. Flint once liked school and was popular, but that changed when he developed an eye disease that made him lose most of his sight and all his friends. Unfortunately, everyone calls him Squint because he constantly squints behind his thick glasses. Luckily, Flint found purpose in creating his comic book. One day at lunch, a girl named McKell sits by Flint and asks him to complete some random challenges with her. Intrigued, Flint helps McKell even though his eye sight is getting steadily worse. However, through accomplishing these challenges with McKell, Flint learns to find his inner superhero and face down the villain of his self-doubt.

There are two unique ways Morris and Brown have set their story apart. First is that throughout the book Flint shares his life’s lessons by listing humorous yet insightful rules for surviving middle school, understanding relationships, and crafting comic books. Finally, chapters jump from Flint’s real-life challenges to the conflicts the superhero, Squint, faces. At the beginning of the book, Flint retreats from his own trials. Instead he tackles them by turning them into super villains and having Squint fight out a resolution. When McKell enters Flint’s life, Squint’s comic book story changes by including a sidekick, Diamond. Diamond watches Squint’s back and gives him a clearer perspective to the people he once viewed as villains. As Flint grows in confidence and strength, so does Squint. Any fans of comic books and contemporary fiction will enjoy this heartfelt and insightful middle-grade read.

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League of Archers: The Stolen Crown by Eva Howard

Ellie and her League of Archers have been fighting against Lord de Lay by providing a haven for destitute villagers affected by his tyranny. Ellie’s goal is to create a self-sustaining farm inside Sherwood Forest, but they lack money. With no other choice, the League begins stealing from the rich to help the forest refugees. One of Ellie’s stealing adventures goes horribly wrong when she witnesses King John’s murder, a plot devised by de Lays to take over the throne. Luckily, de Lays’ son, Stephen, helps Ellie escape and then later begs to join the League. Ellie reluctantly agrees, and Stephen’s presence begins to splinter the League’s tight knit bond.

Just as adventurous and suspenseful as the first book, Ellie and her League of Archers get caught up in another evil plot with Lord de Lays, only this time it has royal consequences and friendship casualties. When Ellie lets Stephen de Lays join the League, the only thing she is sure of is his hatred for his father. But Ellie soon learns that Stephen’s hatred doesn’t mean he agrees with every decision Ellie makes as the League’s leader. Stephen’s influence sparks a harsh division between Ellie and her dearest friends, causing the League to almost fall apart. Only by fighting for what she knows is right and finding common ground with Stephen does Ellie finally gain healing and unity with her beloved League of Archers. Another thrilling ride-of-a-read, League of Archers: The Stolen Crown is a fantastic follow-up from Howard’s first book. Appropriate for ages 12 and up.

The Art of the Swap by Kristine Asselin & Jen Malone

Hannah Jordan is a huge history buff. Luckily, Hannah receives a daily helping of the past because she lives inside a museum with her caretaker father. The Elms, a mansion-turned-museum, was once the home of the prestigious Berwind family during the 1900s. Hannah’s favorite Berwind story concerns the stolen Mary Cassett portrait of the Berwind’s niece, Maggie Dunlap. While walking the hallways of The Elms one night, Hannah looks in a mirror and sees Maggie’s reflection. When both girls touch the mirror, Hannah and Maggie switch bodies and centuries. With no idea how to switch back, the two girls try to play the part of the other person but it’s a difficult adjustment. To ease their transitions, Hannah and Maggie work on solving the art heist from their respective time periods.

The Art of the Swap is a delightful read full of suspense, fun, and friendship. Asselin and Malone do a great job at creating the awkwardness of being placed into a different time period. But there is a real richness to how both Hannah and Maggie are affected by their time-swapping. Hannah can’t act like her usual boisterous, driven self while transplanted into 1905. She must subdue her personality and passions to coincide with the confining social rules of Maggie’s world. Maggie, on the other hand, receives revelations about the freedoms girls have in Hannah’s world. When Maggie returns to the 1900s, she spends her life advocating foundational freedoms for women. Not only is the book about solving an art heist, it is also about appreciating the freedoms women do have today. One item that would have strengthened the story would be to include floorplans of The Elms in the different centuries to better solidify where Hannah and Maggie spend their time in the book.

Monsterland by James Crowley

Charlie Cooper is still grieving for his beloved cousin Billy. On Halloween night, Charlie sees a figure that reminds him of Billy. Charlie follows the figure and he is led along an unfamiliar path deep into a neighboring mountain valley. But when Charlie catches up with the figure, he’s shocked when he sees a hideous vampire. The vampire, known as the Prime Minister, governs a monster sanctuary called Vampyreishtat or Monsterland. The Prime Minister asks Charlie about why he followed him, so Charlie tells him about Billy. In Monsterland there is an island where lost souls reside and the living can see them again. The Prime Minister says that Charlie can go there because one of his trusted associates is journeying that way. That associate is the monster created by Dr. Frankenstein. Charlie joins the monster’s expedition and together they encounter many dangers along the way.

Monsterland is a fantastic coming-of-age story about finding the courage within oneself while overcoming grief. Charlie keenly misses Billy and feels somewhat responsible for his cousin’s death. So when the Prime Minster gives Charlie a chance to see Billy again, Charlie is more than willing to encounter any hardship just so he can find peace with himself. The reason why Charlie prospers in Vampryeishtat is because of his grief. Charlie can look past any monsters’ grotesque facades and see that many are grieving in their own ways. With this special perspective, Charlie is able to sympathize and connect with them. What makes Crowley’s story so rich and helps Charlie’s character to beautifully develop, is the clever, solid world Crowley has created. Crowley takes the monsters of old horror stories and turns them into relatable, flawed characters who just want to live as normal of an existence as they can. Any fans of Brandon Mull or Jennifer Nielsen will thoroughly enjoy this adventure through Monsterland. For ages 12 and up.

Sink or Swim by Steve Watkins

Twelve-year-old Colton Graham admires his older brother, Danny. Danny has worked hard to provide for Colton and their mother ever since their father died. To bring in better income, Danny enlisted in the Navy soon after Pearl Harbor. But before Danny leaves for boot camp, he is seriously injured in a boating accident. With Danny in the hospital and their family desperately needing money, Colton takes Danny’s enlistment papers and his identity.

Sink or Swim is a gripping novel loosely based on the true story of Calvin Graham. Twelve-year-old Calvin ran away to join the Navy and was injured while serving in the South Pacific. Thinking Calvin was living with relatives, his mother saw a newsreel showing Calvin after he rescued several of his shipmates. She contacted the Navy and, at thirteen, Calvin was sent home but not before receiving a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for bravery. It is very apparent that Watkins did extensive research to authentically showcase what many WWII sailors experienced during that time. On this bed of fruitful research, Watkins can spend quality time developing Colton’s character and crafting a meaningful read. A fantastic historical-fiction story for ages 12 and up.

Wizard for Hire by Obert Skye

Seven-year-old Ozzy Toffy and his PhD parents spontaneously move to an off-grid cabin deep in the Oregon woods. But soon after moving in armed men kidnap Ozzy’s parents leaving him on his own. Thankfully a basement full of canned goods, a talking mechanical bird, and Ozzy’s own determination help him to survive. Seven years later, fourteen-year-old Ozzy finally escapes the confines of his forest home to experience the world and search for his parents. A magazine ad catches his eye to hire a wizard to solve any problem. Ozzy employs the wizard, Rin, and their adventures begin. Several hearty breakfasts, road trips, car chases, and snoopings later, Rin and Ozzy discover the corporation behind the Toffy’s disappearance.

What do you get when you mix adventure, heart, and mystery, with magic and humor, plus survival and science-fiction? You get the rich, complex recipe behind Wizard for Hire. Readers follow Ozzy as he creates a happy life in his forest-cloaked cabin. Eventually that type of existence is not enough for him. Ozzy wants his parents and he needs answers. But the more he involves the authorities, the more his secluded way of life is threatened. Having no choice, he turns to an unusual source for help, a so-called “wizard”. Ozzy wants Rin to wave a magic wand and solve it all effortlessly, but no one works that way, not even a wizard. Only hard work, persistence, and faith can solve Ozzy’s problems, but Rin adds just a pinch of magic to the mix. A fun, action-packed read for ages 12 and up.

Dragonwatch: A Fablehaven Adventure by Brandon Mull

The dragons may have helped Kendra, Seth, and the fairies to thwart the demons, but their unstable alliance is cracking under pressure. With a newfound taste for power & freedom, Celebrant, the dragon king, encourages his subjects to defy their sanctuary confines so that they can return the world to the Age of Dragons. However, all dragons are magically bound inside their sanctuaries’ borders by the powers of the Dragonwatch society and by special magical artifacts. But something is making the borders of the Wyrmroost sanctuary weaken, causing Celebrant to challenge any caretaker’s authority. After close scrutiny, it is decided that Kendra and Seth’s combined powers can refortify Wyrmroost against Celebrant. However, once the siblings become the new caretakers, they still detect a magical weakness. Together, Kendra and Seth go on a treacherous mission to find a missing magical artifact that can help swing the balance of power back to their favor and keep the rebelling dragons in line.

Mull returns to the roots of his writing career by revisiting the colorful, fully-fledged world he created in Fablehaven. With Dragonwatch, Mull brings back his loveable, heroic protagonists, Kendra and Seth, as they face another life-threatening power against all magical creature sanctuaries. How would Kendra and Seth react to a new threat after all that they have been through? For Kendra, her extensive experience has made her more mature and ready to face almost any situation with confidence. For Seth, he has matured some but he still fosters an impetuous nature that can either get him into trouble or save lives. When the siblings are called as caretakers to Wyrmroost, Kendra wants to be super cautious while Seth throws caution to the wind. Only by working together do they find a powerful balance. A fun, more mature read great for old and new fans of the Fablehaven series.