Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven series was one of the series that made me truly love middle grade books as an adult. I had read a few others, but this was the first series that I couldn’t stop reading until I finished it. When the series ended, I was sorry to have to let it go, so I was thrilled to learn of the coming sequel series.
Picking up where Fablehaven left off, Kendra and Seth Sorenson are adjusting to a calmer life on the Fablehaven reserve. Kendra is navigating the beginnings of a relationship with the son of the Fairy Queen. Seth finds himself a little bored with the adventure over and finds ways to amuse himself (READ: to get himself in trouble). But trouble is stirring. Their actions taking in Fablehaven have set off a chain reaction. The dragons are restless, tired of being trapped in Wyrmroost, the Dragon Reserve. When the wizard Agad comes to the Sorensons for help, Seth and Kendra find themselves in the midst of a dangerous game of politics in which they must use all their knowledge and experience to survive, with the world in balance.
The strength of this new addition to the Fablehaven world rests in its high stakes, tension, and the strength of its characters. Kendra and Seth have grown up a lot in the time we have known them. They were introduced to us as bickering siblings in the first Fablehaven book. Seth was immature and selfish (not in that he was mean to others but in that he was more concerned with his own amusement and entertainment than with others). He is still a risk taker and has a rebellious streak, but he is also caring and willing to do what it takes–even it means risking himself–to what’s right and save others. Kendra was naive and obedient, not nearly the confident teenager she has become.
One of my favorite things about the original series was the way it made you constantly questioning the nature of trust and friendship. How could you know who to trust? Who could betray you more devastatingly than someone you opened up to? What secrets should be kept? This series touches on those themes as well and I am excited to see what new lessons we can learn.
Finally, the series introduced some new characters: the large-for-a-nipsie Calvin and two new Sorenson family members, Seth and Kendra’s cousins, Tess and Knox. Calvin may be small in size but his contributions to the team are valuable. The cousins have only a small role in this first book, but it is safe to assume that they will grow to be more important as the series continues.
Rick Riordan has done it again. Diving right back into the modern day mythical world featuring the Greek and Roman gods and their demigod children, Riordan gives us a new treat: instead of following a demigod, we get insight into the mind of the god Apollo. What’s brilliant about this series is that until now, we have only ever gotten the perspectives of the demigods who feel abandoned and ignored by their parents, the Greek and Roman gods. Now we get a sense of what it means to be an immortal being–why don’t they spend more time and attention on their children? What does time and history mean for them if they cannot die? Does love mean something different when you have lived thousands of years and loved many people? Riordan jumps right in to all these questions and adds a few more for good measure.
Where time travel is concerned, things are always going to get a little wibbily wobbly timey wimey, as Doctor Who might say. Colfer does not spend a significant amount of time exploring the details and complexities, which is perhaps why I found myself a little confused by what exactly happened. While it was made clear that changes made to the past can impact the future and alter reality, but in what way or how extensively is never really made clear. On the upside, Colfer knows how to have fun with his writing and with talking dogs, ghostly scientists, and a magician’s assistant, this book does not fail to deliver on that count.
Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk is an often overlooked fairytale. It isn’t romantic, there are no princesses or knights in shining armor. But though this seems like a small tale compared to some of the more popular tales, there is nothing small about this story. Jack isn’t looking for action and adventure, but that is what he gets when a “princess” falls out of the sky. May, who is from our world, is searching for her grandmother and Jack gets roped into helping her. James Riley has quickly become one of my favorite middle grade authors.He’s not afraid to be fun and creative and you can feel his love of the craft in every book.
In most fairytales, the hero is the innocent, brave victims, but Fairy Tale Reform School switches things up. Gilly is the daughter of a cobbler (the one who created Cinderella’s glass slipper). As one of six children, she knows what it means to live a life of poverty-she blames the royal princesses for not crediting her father with the glass slipper-and she is not willing to let her siblings suffer. So she steals food for them to eat and trinkets for them to have nice things. But when she is caught, she is sent to reform school, run by the reformed Evil Stepmother and other fairytale villains, in order to learn how to become a productive member of society. There she uncovers a plot to hurt the royal princesses and must decide if she can truly reform and come to their aid. It’s fun to have a character who isn’t perfectly pure of heart, even though she means well. Throughout the series, we are forced to reconsider our assumptions of good and evil, no easy fete when the base-story is so black and white.
Princess Annie has always been something of a social pariah. It isn’t her fault. Most princesses are blessed with beauty, charm, and talent, but Annie’s blessing was of a different nature: magic can’t touch her. When those with magical enhancements come near, the effects of their blessings fade, so everyone stays as far away from her as possible. But when her sister’s wedding day is disrupted by a sleeping curse, it is up to Annie to save the day. This tale is the ultimate triumph of the underdog. The things that has made her an outcast, shunned even by her family, is the one things that can allow her to break the curse. But while out in the world, Annie realizes that she is stronger and braver than she ever imagined.
Twins Alex and Bailey find themselves in the land of stories when their grandmother gives them a book of fairytales. But the stories they grew up on are not quite reality-Little Red Riding Hood is the spoiled head of a kingdom, Goldilocks is a wanted fugitive, and their grandmother is the Fairy Godmother. Colfer’s Land of Stories tale was a pleasant surprise and it stands out from the pack because it delves into a theme common in fairytales but rarely explored: the loss of a parent. Alex and Bailey are dealing with the death of their father and that pain plays a central role in the twins’ journey of self-discovery.
How do good people come to commit great acts of evil? Does that make them evil in turn? These are the questions that Star Wars has always concerned itself with. But where it normally tells the story of the Jedi and how emotions can tip the scales and lead a hero to the Dark Side (“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda), this story, like the newest movie, The Force Awakens, concerns itself with the Imperial forces that so often serve as nameless, faceless troops.
As Earth’s fuel sources are running out, the world must face blackouts and the threat of complete power loss. But there is hope. An extraterrestrial substance, known as “the Source” can provide power for everyone, if only it can be recovered from somewhere deep in space. The catch – only children could survive the trip in the Gamma Speed trip required to get there and back in time. Eight twelve-year-olds are tested to determine which four will be chosen for the mission. But as they compete in tests of intelligence, agility, and strength, it quickly becomes clear that there is a lot more they aren’t being told.
By now most people know the story of Anna and Elsa of Arendelle. As children, the sisters are inseparable. Their favorite games involve playing in the snow generated by Elsa’s ice powers. But when a slip puts Anna’s life in danger, the sisters’ parents separate the girls. Anna’s memories of Elsa’s magic are removed, the gates of the castle are closed to visitors, and the girls grow up in isolation from everyone, including each other. At Elsa’s coronation years later, her magic is revealed, turning Arendelle’s summer into “eternal winter.” Elsa runs away to the mountains and Anna chases after her, determined to repair their relationship and bring back summer.
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