Reviewed by Corina B. Calsing for Readers' Favorite

Susan McCauley’s Ghost Hunters: Pirates' Curse is an alternate reality/paranormal mystery for middle-grade readers. This is the second installment of Alex’s life as a psychic, battling spirits under the tutelage of his mentor, Frank. Along for the ride are Alex’s friends, Hannah and Jason, as well as a cast of supporting adults and one ghost. In 1900, an event caused by Victorian spiritualists called the Great Unleashing tore a hole in the fabric between this world and the next, allowing spirits to enter. Now there is an industry to fight these ghosts, including government agencies. In this installment, Alex and his friends must solve the mystery of the recurring pool of blood on the floor of Jean Lafitte’s blacksmith shop in New Orleans (now a bar). In doing so, they come across the pirate’s curse and must break it to save their friendship.

This is a fun book that young readers would really enjoy. I found the world-building intriguing, and Susan McCauley has clearly gone to a lot of trouble to bring together many different faiths and lore. I liked the blending of spiritualism, faith, voodoo, and other factors very common in New Orleans to flesh out this alternate reality. I also found some of the touches, like there are computers but no cell phones because of how the spirits might interact with them, interesting. The plot was engaging; I read the last 60 percent of the book in one morning. Were I still teaching, I’d have no problem recommending Ghost Hunters: Pirates' Curse to my fifth graders.

Reviewed by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite

What began as a short spy story for S.P. O'Farrell's niece is now an award-winning series that rivals a modern-day Nancy Drew. Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London find our junior spy, Simone, taking a new case to rescue another junior spy, Claire, who has gone missing. Going to a prestigious school in London allowed her to investigate the kidnapping and attend the opening of her family's new store. She is reluctant when the notorious Red Wolves ask her to join their mission until she discovers Claire was a part of their crusade. Keeping her friendships and family life separate becomes difficult when they are threatened because of the job she must do to find Claire and a dangerous key.

Grade school students will love the suspense, school drama, and cultural differences in Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London. S.P. O'Farrell continues Simone's career as a junior spy after she identifies a criminal. Children will enjoy living through Simone's character as she struggles with confidence and attention from her fellow students. Her fame brings a following of impressionable students as well as bullies. This story is well-written with a plot that moves between school life and dangerous steps to find the missing agent. I found this story captivating as the author blends adventure, humor, and doubt into the mission. Simone is an endearing character that will live on in the hearts of her audience. I am looking forward to her next set of adventures. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy mystery and adventure at a student level.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

A Ghostly Twist by Carla Solomon is a ghost story and treasure hunt adventure that follows four kids as they embark in search of a sunken ship. Sam has always relied on facts, but when he starts hearing voices and seeing ghostly faces, he encounters the possibility that ghosts do exist. But are these voices from an abandoned house connected to hidden treasure? A tour group brings a new friend into Sam's life and draws him on a treasure hunt in search of a sunken ship called the Dragonfly that disappeared years ago. The voices guide Sam and his new friends in an epic adventure that uncovers surprising secrets about the family that once lived in the abandoned house, the truth behind the shipwreck, and the location of the treasure.

The excitement of treasure hunting and exploring local history is infectious in how Sam and his friends become drawn into this adventure and mystery. The treasure hunt draws Sam out of his skepticism and into the exciting role of a treasure hunter, ghost helper, and adventurer. Through Sam, even the most reserved and logical person can see themselves as a treasure hunter. With new friends, Eliza and Libby, they delve into the secrets surrounding the wreck of the Dragonfly and the mysteries of the Humbolt family. Will is an important character that draws the characters into the history behind the ship, the family, and the town. He is a vibrant personality with a high opinion of himself as the prince of poetry and the master storyteller of their town, Safe Harbor. The character adds eccentricity to the story with his bubbly nature and confidence. He immediately captivates Eliza and Libby with his charismatic personality and hooks Rocky with his tale of treasure. The mystery surrounding the Humbolt family and the shipwreck slowly unveils as the children's adventure progresses and explores the true meaning of treasure. A Ghostly Twist by Carla Solomon is a feel-good adventure that balances a mystery, a ghost story, treasure hunting, history, and friendship.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Legend of the Rainbow Eater is a work of fiction in the fantasy and adventure subgenres and serves as the latest installment in the Stormwatch Diaries series. It is aimed at younger readers and was penned by author Kristiana Sfirlea. The book follows Rose and Marek as they search for the Wishing Mist and end up in a heap of trouble in the town of Mapleton. Surrounded by bizarre beings and mystical mishaps, their search for the Wishing Mist and its inhabitants – the Will-O’-The-Wisps – takes on a new urgency as only their magic can undo the chaos that has been unleashed.

This book is a whimsical spin on fantasy that uses the alternative takes on some classic fantasy staples in order to constantly subvert and surprise the reader. Kristiana Sfirlea’s prose is gorgeous and playful and will whisk any reader away into this unusual and highly original world with good-natured humor sprinkled throughout the story and two wonderful leading characters who lean on the reader as if confiding in a friend. It was so refreshing to read a children’s fantasy book that refuses to conform to the ideas and tropes of others in the genre and instead creates a thoroughly unique profile in the market. Legend of the Rainbow Eater is a reminder for children and adults alike that fantasy storytelling is limited only by our imagination, and within its pages is abundant fuel for the imaginations of young readers. A worthy addition to the series, and after finishing it I’m left hoping that this isn’t the last we see of Rose and Marek.

Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite

The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island by Linda Maria Frank with illustrations by Marianne Savage is a wonderful mystery story that is sure to entertain young readers. Set in 1947 at a small Catholic school on a remote island, it follows the adventures of five kids who form a secret club to investigate what happened to the money that disappeared from the church vestry; money that was raised by their class over an entire year to buy toys for orphans in New York City. After a beach shack they use as their clubhouse burns down and other suspicious and threatening events occur around them, can the Buccaneers, their families, their Native American and “beach people” friends find the clues to get the money back, and just how deep does this crime go?

I enjoyed The Buccaneers of St. Frederick Island. Linda Maria Frank gives us an engaging tale told primarily through the eyes of a determined young girl, code-named Sprocket, who is the leader of the Buccaneers. The well-paced narrative takes full advantage of the mysterious pirate-themed history of the island as well as the cultural variety of its current residents and the stereotypical milieu of a Catholic school. The full-color illustrations bring Sprocket, her multi-talented gang, and other characters to life as they move from one surprising clue or plot turn to another. I especially appreciated the Native American context as well as WWII references such as the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), Rosie the Riveter, and others. A fun read.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Legend of the Storm Sneezer is an enigmatic and highly enjoyable work of fantasy fiction for children penned by author Kristiana Sfirlea. The opening part of The Stormwatch Diaries book series, this charming tale for middle grade and young adult readers focuses on Rose Skyler, our thirteen-year-old protagonist. Rose sneezed a storm cloud when she was born, but as she gets older this magical cloud becomes less and less stable, resulting in Rose’s residence at Heartstone Asylum. The facility lies at the heart of a haunted forest, but its ghosts are beginning to wander. So begins a paranormal adventure with time travel, spirits, magic, and mayhem aplenty.

This might be one of the best fantasy books for MG readers and younger teens that I’ve ever encountered. Author Kristiana Sfirlea captivates with a concept that is initially simple but expands with complex beauty and metaphysical elements that adult readers will enjoy just as much as the intended audience. Rose is well developed as a precocious but fallible heroine, and I especially loved her figment friend Marek, who was as fascinating in character concept as in the presentation of dialogue and description. The work is lavish and beautifully imagined with cinematic use of descriptive lexis, as well as a solid and exciting plotline that brings core concepts together without confusion or contradiction. Overall, Legend of the Storm Sneezer is both utterly charming and highly accomplished in its formation: a rare find indeed, and one to be treasured.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Ghost Hunters: Bones in the Wall by Susan McCauley is the first in a series of kids’ mystery stories. Alex is 12 years old and is a popular member of his school's Ghostball team. A car accident leaves him with a badly injured hip, and he can no longer play with his team. But it also left him with a gift – the ability to see and hear ghosts. Now he’s being haunted by a malevolent spirit, and he must turn to his aunt, his cousin, and his best friend to help him work out who the bones in the wall belong to and how to put the ghosts to rest for good. But he also has help from an unexpected source. Alex has no option but to embrace his newfound powers because the alternative – losing his family forever – is too terrible to consider.

Ghost Hunters: Bones in the Wall by Susan McCauley is a strong start to a new series aimed at children, although I’m sure a few adults will enjoy the stories too. This is an exceptionally well-written tale that is just long enough to get immersed in the plot and completely invested in the story. This isn’t just a kid’s tale though, as the author has done a great job of dealing with other real scenarios like loss and grief, not to mention true friendship and a lesson on placing your trust in the right people. The characters are well-developed, growing throughout the story, and I suspect we will see more development in the next book – which I will be reading! The plot is steady, the suspense growing throughout, and the addition of a few different ghosts helps this to be a good all-rounder, rather than your typical paranormal story about one bad spirit. This great book is guaranteed enjoyment for anyone who reads it!

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Most young girls love to shop; they love to go to the mall to hang out and look around. Imagine if you actually lived at the mall! Right in the center, in the heart of it! And, what if your house is like a giant wishing well that people toss coins at and into, usually down the chimney. Other things are tossed down the chimney, too, but the coins are the most useful and least disgusting. Chloe hates her home, hates her neighborhood. I mean, really, who would want to live with storefronts as your neighbors and shoppers as the gawkers? And that’s when things really start to get weird. It all begins with the egging of a storefront and the blame somehow goes back to Chloe and her mom. Can Chloe’s new mystery group at school help solve this mystery? Before someone really gets hurt?

Kimberly Baer’s middle-grade novel, Mall Girl Meets the Shadow Vandal, is a great mystery for young readers, with a very unusual setting, which one could argue is all a part of the mystery. The reader will instantly feel connected to the protagonist, Chloe. The story is told in the first-person narrative and Chloe, the narrator, tells a compelling story. As she describes the wishing-pond scenario of their little house in the middle of the mall, the reader will share a chuckle at the list of things tossed into the chimney and around the yard outside. The yard is another interesting attribute – it’s not real, but fake grass, to prevent the family, which is only Chloe and her mother, from having to cut the grass or dig up weeds or water or any one of those usual yard things one does.

There is a lot of humor in some of the crazy things Chloe describes, but there’s also a lot of angst. The reader will have to agree that even though the stores are all around giving easy access for a shopping spree, there is no privacy. And that’s one thing a teen girl craves the most: privacy. It’s a good thing Chloe’s a reader and she likes reading mysteries because as the plot thickens around a series of unusual nocturnal happenings in the mall, it takes all her Nancy Drew sleuthing skills to solve the mystery. A great read full of fun, adventure, mystery, and the trials of making friends in the very critical teen world.

Reviewed by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite

The Secret of the 14th Room by Rebecca Hemlock is just as intriguing and mysterious as the cover hints. Levi Corbin is called home to Granton, Tennessee after the death of his Grandma Dorothy. She reared him after the deaths of his parents, but he left this small town as soon as he could get away. His cousin, Silas Corbin, was also called to the reading of Grandma Dorothy's will. Levi and Silas never got along as children and now found themselves teamed up to care for this historic house. They must work together or they will lose the house. Silas's trouble followed him back to Tennessee. Levi borders on losing everything that is dear again and giving into bitterness that consumes all.

Rebecca Hemlock has a talent for getting inside the heads and hearts of her characters as The Secret of the 14th Room unfolds into a mesmerizing novel. The author plays on your emotions; you will feel empathy when Silas is sitting in jail, fear of losing Bella, and dread as Levi's stored anger threatens to consume him. Will the spark of romance die out between Abigail and Levi before they even have a chance? You feel as you enter the story and live it through the characters. This novel is the first of the Granton House mysteries and sets the expectations high for the next book. This book is well-written, and there is enchanting historical detail that will grip your attention. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a touch of history.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Granny JJ is always right and in the story The Granny JJ Adventures: Guyana’s Daily Detective (Volume 1) by Joshua Cartwright, readers are introduced to her where she lives in a little house surrounded on three sides by a bush in Soesdyke, Guyana. Granny always marks the story with a special fingerprint after solving the mystery. Granny speaks Creole mixed with words from African, Arawakan, Dutch, and East Indian languages. This collection of stories takes young readers along with Granny, who does not like dogs but ends up having one. They also get to see her solving the mystery of the stolen soup and other interestingadventures. So what are the mysteries Granny solves and what are her adventures? Let us read the book to find out.

The stories are adorable and written in Creole, which is the Guyanese English, it is a fun read. Granny’s character is well sketched and her zest for life and righteousness is infectious. The black and white illustrations are delightful, just like the story, and they can be colored, making it more appealing to young readers. The stories are fun and can be used in classrooms for interactive sessions and bedtime story-telling. I like the way Granny stays active and alert, despite her age, and that is encouraging to readers as it will make them realize that age is not a barrier. All the stories and all the characters in the stories are lovable and memorable and they will make children want more adventures from Granny. I cannot wait for Volume 2 and I am sure readers will echo that thought with me!