Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Magdalena Gottschalk: The Crooked Trail by M. Gail Grant follows Magdalena upon her thirteenth birthday when she discovers secrets in her quaint town of Lily Brooke. After an exploration through the woods with her friends, Gabriel and Hubert, leads them to a hidden cave, they find lanterns, sacrificial drawings on the walls, and a bizarre and empty tree house. To find answers behind the cave, they turn to their other friends for help. A strange book called Demonic Enchantments, and an even stranger conversation between the preacher and Magdalena's mom, reveal possibly sinister secrets the adults of the town may be keeping. When they realize they may have freed something demonic from the cave, the friends band together to find a way to fix their mistake before it's too late.

M. Gail Grant has a charming style with sweet descriptions, often using old-fashioned phrases and language that perfectly fits the personalities of the children and the quaintness of the town. This is a town that seems idealistic on the surface with a nosy neighbor, hardworking farmers, and a baker that found his calling at a young age. But Grant crafts a darker and sinister underbelly to the town in a secret that the townspeople have banded together to keep hidden. This is the mystery the children strive to solve in an adventure that often reminds me of the classic mysteries of Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys, except with demons and magic. Magdalena Gottschalk is a tale of adventure and friendship, courage and heroism, a coming of age story perfect for young adults. The delightful world and wonder of adventure will appeal to all ages.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Freedom for Me: A Chinese Yankee is an historical fiction novel written by Stacie Haas. The character of Thomas Beck, the young Chinese American who joins the Fourteenth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry with his brother, Robert, is based on the true-life story of Joseph Pierce. Like Pierce, Beck is rescued from a life of involuntary servitude by his uncle, who secretes his young nephew in a crate placed on board a ship. The ship’s captain, Amos Beck, adopts the child as his own, and brings him home to Connecticut where the Becks have a farm. Haas details the struggles a Chinese American would have being accepted by his peers in the Infantry, starting with the difficulties his own adopted brother has in acknowledging their family relationship. In her author’s note, Haas indicates those aspects of Thomas Beck’s story which differ from the real life history of Joseph Pierce. She also shares details of Pierce’s life after his Civil War service.

Freedom for Me: A Chinese Yankee is a meticulously researched and beautifully presented military fiction novel which recreates the life and experiences of a Chinese Yankee volunteer during the Civil War. Her battle scenes are stark and moving, and the prejudicial attitudes Beck is subjected to ring true, sadly enough, even in today’s world. Reading Freedom for Me was a fascinating and illuminating experience for me as each skirmish became real and the bravery of those who endured is revealed. I was especially interested in seeing how Thomas interacted with the soldiers he was attached to, particularly Henry, whose initial viciousness and physical attacks were alarming. The young men, all from very different walks of life, formed a team that was memorable. What was perhaps most moving of all was Beck’s conviction that freeing the slaves was worth sacrificing his own life for; that his own freedom was intricately tied up in the civil rights of others. Freedom for Me: A Chinese Yankee is beautifully written and it’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Donna Gielow McFarland for Readers' Favorite

A Calf Named Brian Higgins: An Adventure in Rural Kenya by Kristen Ball is the story of American teenager Hannah Higgins who accompanies her mom on a three-week trip to Kenya. Their goal is to help Hannah's Uncle Brian with his work in Sauri, a small rural village located on the western edge of Kenya. The story is about evolving family relationships and Hannah's growth as she adapts to a different culture, but the plot really serves to provide a skeleton for the true meat of the novel, which is a richly drawn picture of daily life in rural Kenya. Hannah's reactions are very believable as she experiences a world where tap water might or might not turn on, cell phone apps don't work and there is no corner store. She learns about the fragility of life in a place where tragic accidents happen because of insufficient roads, and whether or not a person dies from malaria depends on whether or not the clinic has medicine that day.

A Calf Named Brian Higgins is a very moving story. It caught my eye because I visited Kenya years ago, and the vivid descriptions brought back many memories. The work is fiction, but the events have a true-to-life feel because many of them are based on the experiences of the author, Kristen Ball, who did a top-notch job of adapting her observations and experiences into a novel. The most meaningful theme for me was the message Hannah hears: people help each other by taking only what they need, nothing more. The word “poverty” doesn't seem adequate to describe the lack of resources here – school lunch is prepared and served by the children, who eat it with their hands, three kids to a bowl. Yet the people enjoy a richness in a community that the more developed world can barely imagine. I wish every American teenager had an opportunity to experience life in a place like Sauri, but if not, I wish they would read this book.

Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite

The Stone of Integrity is the third book in M.J. Evans’ The Centaur Chronicles. After returning from the quest to discover the Stone of Courage, Carling, the future Queen of Crystonia, is summoned by the Minsheen historian. He entrusts Carling with a rare, ancient map. On her way home, she and her companions are pursued once again by the evil Heilodius Centaurs. Safely tucked inside her Duende village, Carling is thankful for the security and comfort of home. But this feeling is short lived. Within days, Vidente the Wizard returns to her. It is time to gather the purple Stone of Integrity for her royal Silver Breastplate. With the map in hand, Carling and her faithful adventurers set out to discover the mysterious island of Hy-Basilia; another quest, another stone, another invaluable lesson. Frightening sea creatures, menacing Centaurs, a handsome young fisherman, a crafty witch, and veiled fairies - who can be trusted? Carling’s search for integrity comes at a great cost; not everyone is trustworthy.

M.J. Evans is a fabulous storyteller. The Stone of Integrity is the continuing tale of fantasy and adventure in the land of Crystonia. Evans pens incredible descriptions of her imaginary land; the reader is transported with ease into the mystical realm. In each of the books in the series, the young heroine learns valuable life lessons. In The Stone of Integrity, she must discern the true motivations of others, while learning to trust in herself. Like Shakespeare’s Hamlet, she must learn "to thine own self be true.” The cast of characters is balanced in personality - witty, wise, girlishly vain, grand or small - each plays a significant part in supporting the growth of the main character. The antagonist remains a constant threat, keeping the adventurers hyper vigilant and often running for their lives. Page upon page, prowess, loyalty and devotion are continually tested, along with internal conflicts of the mind and heart. I thought the veiled emotions of the fairies was a brilliant inclusion to the story! There is never a dull moment for the young adventurers. The plot action continually moves from beginning to end, making it ideal for the young adult reader. The story concludes, but it is not the end for the future Queen of Crystonia. One more stone remains.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

A pirate ship that floats in the air instead of the water, a young warrior who chooses a pen as a weapon (or more accurately, the pen chooses the warrior), the choices we make are not always about winning in a chess game or winning at anything else, for that matter. Deep visions in fantasy, science fiction, history, adventure and just life itself are what stories are made of. The art of storytelling is a gift, one that is not nurtured enough in this day and age. The next generation will have a difficult time being creative if they’re not given the tools to nurture the gift and the joy found in the written word.

Profound visions and thoughts are not only found in adult writers; they’re found in children as well, sometimes as young as nine and ten. Having taught creative writing to students of all ages, I particularly enjoy working with young children. Their creative energies and freedoms of expression are awe inspiring, inspirational. But, their ability to express their ideas, diverse and intense as they are, is something that needs to be nurtured. With the decline of arts education and the sad demise of teaching the basics of spelling and grammar, students today are at a disadvantage when it comes to constructing a good short story. But all is not lost. Lune Spark’s collection of short stories, A Window to Young Minds: Short Stories by Young Writers Volume 1, provides an amazing insight into the creative powers of young writers.

As Pawan Mishra writes in this book’s introduction, “Our future depends on stories. … The support young writers receive is vital to whether they keep writing, and it fuels the stories yet to come.” We need more people, more organizations that value the creative energies of our young people and are willing to help these young people nurture their gifts so that they can tell many more stories in the years to come. This is a wonderful representation of what young writers can achieve, even at the age of ten. If I hadn’t been told these stories were written by young people, I wouldn’t have known. There is such an intensity and fresh imagination that fuels each of these stories. The young writers should be applauded and I hope they write many more stories in their lives.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Dotty and the Chimney Thief is a children’s book written by Emma Warner-Reed. Whilst in Skype chat with her best friend, Sylvia, Dotty Parsons is aggrieved to discover that one of her best friends, Joe, has disappeared. In trying to consult with her Great Uncle Winchester (Winny) and Pip – two people who know the Sweep network better than most – Dotty is constantly watched and followed and scrutinized by Winny’s sleazy assistant, Strake, who seems to try to roadblock every move she makes. After it is discovered that the evil Vagabond King is behind Joe’s kidnapping, Dotty realizes that the only person who can lead Dotty to Joe’s whereabouts is an imprisoned chimney thief, Skitter, and he’s not talking until his sister, Sarah, is by his side. Desperate to save her friend, Dotty embarks on a dangerous, yet exciting adventure, with one aim in mind: Find Sarah and convince her to visit Skitter so that he will disclose the Vagabond King’s location. It might all seem simple, but time is not on Dotty's side, as the Sweep’s Council are about to hand down their decision on Skitter’s fate for his crimes.

Emma Warner-Reed’s adventurous tale of young Dotty Parsons is extremely well written, but with so much information to take in, I believe that it is imperative for readers to read the first book in the series, titled Dotty and the Calendar House Key, in order to fully appreciate the story behind all of the characters in the book. Dotty and the Chimney Thief is a story of bravery and strength, with Dotty having to overcome all of her fears and any obstacles which come in the way so that she can save her friend, Joe. With the forces of good working with her, one can easily mistake Dotty’s task as simple. The evil inside the Calendar House, in the form of Strake, however, as well as that within the chimney sweep network, creates obstacles which at times seem insurmountable. I enjoyed the strong message of love and friendship, as Dotty does what she can to bring her friend safely home, and recommend Dotty and the Chimney Thief to readers who love action, humor, dedication and fun in this suspenseful and dramatic adventure.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Vampire Boy: The Adventures of Alex Vambarey by Aric Cushing is a stellar fantasy that will thrill the hearts of many young readers, a story that begins in the midst of action. Like many other kids in the Carpathian Academy, Alex Vambarey is working hard to figure out what the Magus riddle signifies, and this will lead him to great adventures and stunning discoveries. Can Alex, barely in his first year, figure it out? Readers are introduced to intriguing characters, vampires and weird creatures, and it is more exciting to discover these creatures together with the protagonist.

There is a lot to enjoy in this book. I read it through the night and my heart was captured by the beautiful prose. Aric Cushing has a gift for descriptions and conveys humor in a very poignant way. Here is one such powerful description: “The explosion was immediate, intimidating, and quite colorful. Professor David Whitlock, the magus of the Carpathian Academy, stepped out of the vapors, and into the tall grass below. He brushed off his cape calmly, and looked up. 'I hate it when that happens,' he said, for he was clearly covered in glitter, 'I never get that spell right.'”

Vampire Boy: The Adventures of Alex Vambarey is a masterpiece, a story written for young readers, but with the power to enthrall adult readers too. Things of beauty are hard to describe, and this story is one of those things. They are better experienced. The fast-paced plot, the well-developed characters, the suspense, and the humor, are just a few of the powerful signatures of the author. This is the best children’s book I have read in years after Rick Riordan.

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 Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

Doc Christmas and the Magic of Trains by Neil Enock is a wonderful story about how a doctor saved Christmas! An epidemic has invaded the North Pole; all of the elves are sick and are not responding to any known medical cures. Christmas is right around the corner and there is no one to help make and distribute the Christmas presents. Nick and DJ are desperately trying to figure out the cause of the outbreak, but are completely nonplussed. There is only one man that they know of who can save them, but he has lost the magic of Christmas. Dr. Archibald Stevens had been a train enthusiast and with the help of his wife, Marilee, and daughter, Vicki, had built a magnificent train world. After Marilee died, he closed himself off from his family, friends, and the magic of the trains. Nick and DJ have to convince him to remember the magic and help save the elves. Will they be able to do it in time?

Doc Christmas and the Magic of Trains by Neil Enock is an enchanting story about one man's journey and how it affected the world. Doc had an amazing friend and family support system that he couldn't even acknowledge through his own pain. Vicki, Jeanette and Helga were warm-hearted and caring characters and I loved how they lovingly and subtly coerced Doc back into believing in magic and living again. With their belief and love behind him, Doc was able to break through the unbelief and try to help Nick with the crisis. I was so caught up in the story that it never occurred to me that not everybody believes in magic. Neil Enock has created a story that extends beyond Christmas and brings magic to every single day. This book will be a much-loved part of my Christmas library from now on. I recommend it to all those who love a good Christmas North Pole story and to those who love trains.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Evil Speaks by S. Woffington is Volume 1 of the Warriors and Watchers Saga. Benny is fifteen years old and has moved to a new place often. Each move is a new life and, on his seventh life, he decides that he is going to run away. His mother is paranoid and has been moving herself and Benny around for years, ever since his father disappeared when he was just three years old. Benny can’t remember it though; all he remembers is strange dreams of a dragon and a firestorm. He packs his bags after a fight with his mother and, all of a sudden, the house explodes. Benny finds himself in a strange world, uniting him with six teenagers that he thinks he remembers. On the day Benny’s father disappeared, all six lost their mothers and this unites them to find out what happened, following the one and only clue they have – Domenico H. Adez, Benny’s dangerous grandfather.

Evil Speaks: Warriors and Watchers Saga Volume 1 by S. Woffington is an incredibly different kind of story. It is a very involved plot, but in a way that young adults will find easy to follow. This is a fast moving story with plenty of action that is more than just a mythological tale. It teaches young adults of the importance of working together, of being a part of a team to achieve results. The first books in a series are always the hardest in my opinion because they have to set the scene for the following books. This has been achieved admirably here with plenty of character background that will make the next book easier to grasp. I highly recommend this to any young adult with an interest in mythology.