Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Candlewicke 13 and the Tombstone Forest is a work of fantasy fiction written for young adults by Milan Sergent and forms the second book in the Candlewicke 13 Series. After the events of Curse of the McRavens, our hero Valor is mere minutes from achieving his dream of attending the prestigious school of magic, Mystic Steeples. But just as he and his delightfully morose sister, Doomsy Gloomsy, are about to enroll, they are kidnapped by none other than their own parents. Valor's father, the totally insane Houmas McRaven, is insistent that his family must escape the Grim Warlock's Thirteenth Hour, but his methods set the family on a disastrous adventure into a world of tombstones and monsters.

It was an absolute delight to return to the bizarre, macabre and utterly entertaining world of the McRavens in this latest edition of Candlewicke 13. Valor and Doomsy developed a lot during book one, so it’s wonderful to see their new skills at work as they struggle through the mess their wayward parents have gotten them into now. The mystery of the McRavens continues with fluid prose, immense wit and highly engaging dialogue as author Milan Sergent weaves an intelligent tapestry of ideas. It is masterfully simple for younger readers but has plenty of depth left to explore. In this novel, I particularly enjoyed the role reversal of precocious kids with insane parents, and the amusement park was a truly wild ride. Overall, Candlewicke 13 and the Tombstone Forest is another superb YA fantasy novel, not to be missed.

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

A work-at-home dad is shocked to find an elephant in his bathtub when he goes to take a morning bath. Then he finds a gorilla sitting on the kitchen counter, a camel in the study, a cobra in the bedroom window and so many other animals scattered about the house. It’s a zoo! Each new animal is majestically marched down the hall, “to your bedroom.” When the little boy arrives home from school, and leans his ear against his bedroom door, Dad proudly announces that “Your animal friends are all in there waiting.”

Connie Bowman’s picture book story, There’s an Elephant in My Bathtub, is a charming exploration of the wild animal kingdom. Each animal is introduced with a feeling of surprise. The dad is certainly surprised at what he discovers and to find them where he does. He describes each animal in great detail, making the reader believe in these animals and learn something unique about them. Like the big tusks on the elephant, it’s a wonder he actually fitted in the bathtub. And the bear eating from the box of cereal in the kitchen cupboard. The colorful illustrations help lead the story along and the reader has to chuckle as each new animal is led away, with Dad’s kind words, “Come along, dearie.” This is a great story to introduce young readers to the animal kingdom and to have a little fun along the way.

Reviewed By Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

When someone comes to a children’s book like The Library of Secrets: The Giant Mistake written by Zoe Penn and illustrated by Z. Pahek, it is often uncertain what age group is targeted for readership. Sometimes, this age consideration remains unimportant; other times, it can make a difference in the intensity of interest for the reader. This book has many fine qualities – which shall be mentioned further – with the caveat that its main appeal – at least story-wise - seems most likely designed for pre-teens and younger teens. The only reason for mentioning this is that the interior illustrations used to headline individual chapters are more professional in scope and quality, and they might well draw the interest of someone expecting older, maybe young adult fiction.

Be that as it may, considering The Library of Secrets: The Giant Mistake within its most likely age category, Zoe Penn’s writing is highly creative, well plotted, filled with engaging characters both human and fantastic, and well spiced with many enjoyable twists and turns. Penn begins her tale of adventure with two children – a brother and a sister: Mark and Sophia – accidentally falling into the alternate reality of a strange, enticingly titled, recently discovered old book: Almation – The Book of Secrets. In order to navigate this odd but highly colorful new world, and in hopes of quickly returning home (there is a deadline), these sometimes-at-odds siblings must solve puzzles, answer riddles, and extricate themselves from several dangerous situations. New friends come often to their aid, however, turning their adventure into a humorous and fun romp for the pair. And for the younger reader, too.

Reviewed By Scott Cahan for Readers' Favorite

Leo Gray and the Lunar Eclipse by K.J. Kruk is a fun science fiction adventure for young readers. It’s set in the future in a time when average Earth citizens dream of living in a super hi-tech city on the moon. A school has been established there for all of Earth’s most gifted students to study and learn to use their gifts for the betterment of mankind. The main character, Leo Gray, is fortunate enough to obtain a ticket to go to the Lunar city despite the misgivings of his father. Soon, he begins his studies in the exclusive moon school where he meets lots of interesting characters including a new circle of quirky friends. Leo also finds trouble as he and his friends learn what happens on the dark side of the moon.

Leo Gray and the Lunar Eclipse is written with lots of colorful descriptive language by K.J. Kruk. The author has a way with words, keeping every scene interesting by including quirky details about characters and their setting. Leo and his friends are a fun bunch of characters to root for. The story has its fair share of villainous characters as well that are appropriately dark, but never to the point of being frightening. Harry Potter fans will enjoy following Leo Gray and his friends as they navigate the futuristic school that reminded me of Hogwarts. The unusual school boasts robot teachers and holographic decorations that come alive and transform the campus for every special event. Young readers will find much to love in Leo Gray and the Lunar Eclipse.

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

It’s amazing where imagination can take you. Timothy Mean certainly has a very good imagination. With his imagination and his creative ingenuity, he can create a time machine out of cardboard boxes and lots of glue. But is it a time machine for real? Why not join Timothy Mean for an entire week and see where his imagination and his time travel machine will take you. How about to a pirate ship? Or a medieval castle under siege? Or to the moon for the first lunar landing? Timothy Mean even went back in time to when his parents were young and in school and he played some pranks on them, making his Daddy cry. That wasn’t very nice. But, then again, he is Timothy Mean.

William AE Ford’s picture book story, Timothy Mean and the Time Machine, is a clever journey through time and all in rhyme. With colorful illustrations, the author and Timothy take the reader on an exciting adventure, one day at a time. Each day is a new place, a new time, a new adventure. Not only does the reader enjoy these jaunts through time, but they will learn some things about pirates and the first landing on the moon. The rhyming verse will certainly have the reader rhyming his or her way through the rest of the day. The power of imagination is a wonderful gift and Timothy displays his imaginative powers with great panache. This is a fun and educational read, beautifully presented.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

From Frights to Flaws: Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions: Book 1 is a fantasy novel for children and preteens written by Sunayna Prasad. Life had gotten very dreary for Alyssa and her cousin, Hailey. When Alyssa’s parents died in a car crash five years earlier, a life with Hailey and her aunt and uncle seemed a welcome respite after the loss. They formed a close and loving bond. But the tragedy of her aunt’s death two years later did something to her uncle. He had become a harsh and demanding disciplinarian and had taken the two girls out of school to be home-schooled instead. Their babysitter, Mrs. Hutchinson, treated them like her own personal Cinderellas as she supervised the endless chores she assigned them. Mopping floors, washing dishes and vacuuming the rugs took up time they might have spent playing or learning. But something strange and wonderful happened one day as Alyssa stared out the window at the raindrops which had suddenly, unexpectedly, turned black and began to form letters on the window pane. They read: "Your life will never be the same, Alyssa McCarthy, as magic will interfere."

Sunayna Prasad’s fantasy novel for children and preteens, From Frights to Flaws: Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions: Book 1 is a fast-paced and exciting adventure tale that follows the orphaned girl as she tries to understand how her very sheltered life in a New Jersey suburb could change so entirely. I loved seeing the Fiji Islands through Alyssa’s eyes and experiencing with her the challenges of her adventure. Prasad’s plot is well-developed and her characters are finely honed and credible. From Frights to Flaws: Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions: Book 1 is highly recommended.

Reviewed By Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The Crystilleries of Echoland by Dew Pellucid begins as thousands of children disappear with only one child ever having returned. Will Cleary returned with a falcon and a wolf to watch over him, but his twin sister remained behind in Echoland, another world filled with reflections of us called Echoes. All Will's parents have done since he came back is to plot ways to find his sister, often barely acknowledging his existence. When his faithful protectors reveal a shocking truth, Will is pulled back into the world he doesn't remember on a journey to find his sister. Along the way, he turns to new allies for help as he's swept into the discovery of the missing children, into solving a murder, and into helping the rightful heir onto the throne.

Dew Pellucid blends together an exciting fantasy adventure with a murder mystery in a journey of growing up. Echoland is a unique and ghost-like mirror world with transparent trees and people. Everything is described in ghostly detail, but often reflects our own world with a mix of absurd and ominous twists. Every little detail of this world matters in the larger picture of the story. It's a wondrous and yet dangerous place that pulls you along for the journey. The stakes are high with Will's life constantly at risk, but his journey through this world teaches him bravery and true friendship. Will's friendships are the strongest connections he has as both of his parents seem to shrug him off whenever he's around, too occupied with trying to find his sister to really see him. Dea and Damian are more than just his pets, they're his protectors, the ones watching over him since he returned home, and the ones that lead him back to Echoland. His life at the beginning is only briefly touched upon, but it's clear he's alone except for his pets so, when he makes friends in Echoland, it further illustrates how important that bond is for him.

His new friends liven the story up while also giving a sense of heart to the tale and providing him with people he wants to protect. Peter is his first real friend in this world. He's a magician who starts off a bit suspicious, but quickly turns into Will's strongest supporter. He has a mischievous side to him, but he's also loyal and compassionate. Animals play a large role throughout the story as Will's pets are the catalyst for his return to Echoland, but it's the Echo Wolf he bonds with later that fills a certain void. Peter has a strong attachment to his dog Poudini, who has an emotional place in the story. Fun nods to common things in our world maintain a lot of the humor throughout as Echoland has Crystalmas instead of Christmas and Poudini is a fun play on the famous magician. The illustrations are stunning and capture important moments throughout with an array of blue hues that capture the lucent essence of the world. The Crystilleries of Echoland is a hero's journey in a story of strength and courage with a dazzling array of illustrations.

Reviewed By Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

Koolura and the Mayans by Michael Thal is the third book in the Koolura series, an exciting story that will take readers on a historic ride back into the old Maya civilization. Koolura and her friend, Leila, are just two young teens visiting Mexico. They stumble on a device that allows them to travel back in time. They are thrust into an early Maya civilization, whose people are enslaved by the Aquari. The people hope for a goddess who could set them free. Could Koolura be this goddess?

Although Koolura and the Mayans is written for a pre-teen audience, it was fun to read as an adult. Michael Thal’s characters are awesome and I enjoyed Koolura and Leila, two girls who are smart and very ingenious. They make a great team. Readers will enjoy watching them evolve through the story. The author seems to create a whole new culture around the Maya and the story feels so real, reading about the people and the challenges they face. At the level of style, this book is beautifully accomplished. First off, the reader will notice the gorgeous accessible writing, composed of short and easy-to-understand sentences. The writing also features great descriptions of characters and setting. The descriptive prose creates powerful images in the minds of readers. I enjoyed the well-crafted dialogues which make the characters come to life. Readers will love the adventure, the drama, the conflict, and the entertaining nature of this story. I enjoyed it!

Reviewed By Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Thirteen-year-old Ayrion spent his entire life training to become an Upakan warrior, the youngest ever to claim the title. With determination, hard work and his secret gift of magic, he excelled in his tests and proved himself worthy when he joined his father in a mission and returned successfully. However, Brim, the head of the clan, and his 17-year-old son, Flon, often treated Ayrion and his family unfairly. When Ayrion accidentally caused a death that he didn’t see coming, his banishment to the outside world will test all his years of training and wise guidance from his father, as he heads to the city of Aramoor.

Banished (Street Rats of Aramoor, Book One) by Michael Wisehart starts in the Lost City. The world building is fascinating and well structured. The Upaka is an interesting community. As they spent so much time underground, they can see in lower light but have to cover their eyes with shaders, their version of sunglasses, when they do go above. They are mercenaries－their fighting ability is their greatest asset. Overall, the plot pace is moderate but well thought out with plenty of action. The story is both plot and character-driven, giving it a good depth. The characters are a diverse and interesting bunch of individuals with their own eccentricities, particularly the infamous Captain Treygan and his crew. His time as one of the Wind Binder’s crew is the highlight of the story for me. Ayrion’s character development is deftly done, and the narrative is vivid and brings the story to life nicely.

There are enough great messages here for teen boys in term of ethics and principles, good traits and strength of character that they can emulate. Banished is not just a YA fantasy adventure, it’s also a good coming-of-age story for its intended readers, a great start for the series from Wisehart. I truly enjoyed it and the sneak peek of Book Two will definitely make readers look forward to joining Ayrion on his journey once more.

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Mona Lisa's Ghost: Lucy Nightingale, Book 2 is a science fiction and fantasy novel for children and preteens written by Nancy Kunhardt Lodge. Who stole the Mona Lisa from its secure location in the Louvre, leaving no traces of the theft? Lucy Nightingale and her science-geek best friend, Sam Winter, formed the SLARP, otherwise known as Sam and Lucy’s Anomalies Research Project, to solve exactly this kind of mystery. Lucy had a particular fondness for this picture, as well as its brilliant creator, as a result of her adventures in the first book in this series, The Crystal Navigator. So when her teacher showed her class the video about the Mona Lisa being restored to its place in the Louvre, after having been studied with a Spectrographic Scanner, Lucy was stunned to see the changes that had occurred to the picture. The golden-toned backdrop had been replaced with an angry purple sky that bristled with lightning bolts. Lisa, herself, was in tears, and when Lucy looked even more closely at her eyes, she could swear there were letters in Lisa’s eyes. What had happened? Lucy was determined to find out and try to reverse the damage which seemed to be worsening before her very eyes.

Nancy Kunhardt Lodge’s science fiction and fantasy novel for children, Mona Lisa's Ghost: Lucy Nightingale, Book 2, is a beautifully written, imaginative and action-packed adventure story that just happens to have one of the most intriguing young heroes I’ve come across -- and I’m thrilled to see that she’s a girl. The relationship between Sam and Lucy is marvelous, and it comes quite close to that between Q and agent 007 in Ian Fleming’s iconic James Bond series. I love seeing what new device Sam dreams up, and then getting to see Lucy use it in the field is grand fun. This time-traveling series educates as it entertains, and while it’s geared toward a younger audience, I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys thought-provoking and mind-expanding science fiction adventure tales. Mona Lisa's Ghost: Lucy Nightingale, Book 2 is most highly recommended.