Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

The Red Sun: Legends of Orkney by Alane Adams is a book that will take children on a roller coaster ride of adventure and fantasy where whimsical and menacing creatures and witches will enthrall readers. Twelve-year-old Sam Baron meets a dwarf in the garage and he learns that his substitute English teacher, Ms. Endera, who is filling in for Ms. Platz, is a witch. Truths about his past became clearer when he travels to the magical world of Orkney through a stone fire. Sam finds out that his mother is a witch and his father is a descendant of the Norse god, Odin. Sam finds himself followed by the cursed Red Sun which can destroy his friends and all of Orkney. Will Mavery, the young witch girl, be able to save him?

This is the sort of adventure story that will keep children glued to the book. The references to Norse mythology are exciting and the author has woven a great adventure tale with a lot of twists and turns. The story also has a lot of fun, mystery, witchcraft, humor and whimsy. The narration is detailed and the precision with which the characters and the scenes are laid out makes the story very real. The land of Orkney is really fascinating and exciting, with magical creatures and adventures that will enchant young readers. It is a perfect adventure story for kids and I really am looking forward to the sequel, The Moon Pearl, for more action and excitement.

Reviewed by Kristine Hall for Readers' Favorite

Thirteen-year-old Jackson Sheppard would like nothing more than to live under the radar, spending time with his best friend, Andie, and adding to his chewed gum collection. His aspirations seem easy enough, but the truth is he has some powers that he can't very easily control and they can empty a room and end friendships pretty fast. When Jax, Andie, and Jax's little brother Sebastian sneak out for a late night swim at the local pool, disaster strikes when Sebastian dies, and Jax is thrown into the mysterious world of the Kaptropoten -- a mirror that has been broken into seven pieces, each giving an extraordinary power to the possessor. When Jax learns that all seven fragments together can even resurrect the dead, he goes on an epic journey that takes him around the world and beyond, where he learns who he really is, and aims to set things right by bringing back his brother. Along the way, Jax makes new friends and finds he has evil enemies, discovers fantastic creatures and magnificent places, and finds that he must rely not only on the strength he has from his powers, but an inner strength that he isn't sure he has. In Sharon Warchol's Jax Sheppard and the Seven Mirrors, readers will travel to a parallel, mystical world of danger and deception where things are often not what they seem.

When I agreed to read this book, I scheduled myself to read it about ten days after I received it. I downloaded it and decided to take a quick peek at it -- and ended up reading it straight through! That's how Jax Sheppard and the Seven Mirrors rolls. In it, author Sharon Warchol gives readers just enough background and introduction to get a feel for our protagonist and his life, but then she immerses readers right into the story. One endearing quality about Jax is his humor and how it squeaks out of him at even the most inappropriate of times. Sharon Warchol masterfully wrote very real characters, despite some of their fantastic outward appearances, whose unique styles and personalities will resonate with readers. And Warchol has a real gift for writing imaginative scenarios and uses figurative language to make descriptions even richer. For example: “. . . and darn it if a sneaky, nasty guilt didn’t creep up my leg and around my torso. It snaked over my shoulder and into my ear, poisoning my brain with its venom.” Even the titles of the chapter sub-headings are cleverly written.

Jax Sheppard and the Seven Mirrors has twists and turns and a steady stream of hints to create a satisfying ending that also leaves readers begging for more. I highly recommend this book for tweens and teens, and reluctant readers of all ages.

Reviewed by Patricia Day for Readers' Favorite

Barbara Lopuszynski’s book, Angel and Brie, is a sassy, heart-warming yet sad story of two young teen girls from very different backgrounds: each dealing with being in foster care. Each one is experiencing rejection, lack of love and parental care, and dreams of the day when life will be okay again. Whatever okay means. Angel is a rebel – despite her name. She hates feeling unloved and rejected. Hates that her father shows more interest in alcohol, drugs and sex than he does in his daughter: her. She’s lost count of the times he has promised to change. Now she’s an angry teenager doing everything she can to be obnoxious. She dresses to shock and wears her hair short, colored and spiked. She no longer cares. Brie, short for Brianna, is an academic. She loves animals and knows she wants to study them, and work with them when she gets older. With her beloved Nana dead, she relies on the hope of an elderly aunt to take her in. Her parents are long gone. The health of her aunt is poor – hence the need for her to be in foster-care. Despite the losses in her young life, she shows more hope than Angel, convincing herself that she has a home to go to.

When a big wolf-dog comes into their lives, their thinking takes on a new dynamic. They jump into action, as they realize the animal shelter plans to euthanize their dog-friend and it becomes their mission to save their four-legged friend. How they do that and the impact it has on their own lives and thinking makes very interesting reading. I’m far from being a teen, but I’m sure this book would be a very cool addition to any pre-teen or teen library. A beautiful read. Excellent story for teens. The relationship development is awesome.

Reviewed by Patricia Reding for Readers' Favorite

H.Y. Hanna has delivered, in Big Honey Dog Mysteries #1: Curse of the Scarab, an animal story, an otherworldly fantasy, and a mystery (complete with hieroglyphics) all wrapped in one, that is sure to please young readers. When Honey, the Great Dane, is left home with a sitter who brings along Bean, her own Great Dane puppy, Honey learns what it is like not to be the “only dog.” At first reluctant to share her space and affections with the pup, Honey soon discovers the joy that comes in doing so. But, difficulties arise when Bean goes missing while the neighborhood dogs and their humans are gathered at the local park. Indeed, Honey learns that Bean is just another of the many puppies that have gone missing of late. And thus, the sleuthing begins!

Hanna has created interesting and genuine characters with Honey and her dog friends: Ruffster, the supportive mongrel; Suka, the strong Siberian Husky; Tyson, the courageous Jack Russell Terrier; and Biscuit, the ever-hungry Beagle. Together they learn a lesson about prejudice when at first they suspect Max, the Pit Bull, of being behind the mystery of the missing pups. They learn how to work together, using the strengths of each when they finally uncover the whereabouts of the missing pups that need to be rescued. They suffer the reality of bullying when Max is attacked by the dogcatcher, experience the grievous loss of one of their own, and finally, they are able to celebrate a mission accomplished.

Big Honey and her friends will most certainly entertain children. They especially will be delighted by the manner in which the dogs speak to one another, with words and phrases such as “iBone” for the “iPhone,” “missing pawson” for “missing person,“ and “my Dog!” for “my God!” Adults too, will enjoy the story, as who could deny the fun and unique humor of such things as the manner in which the dogs leave messages for one another — through peemail, no less. There is a magic to speaking to children of the age that would be drawn to read Big Honey Dog Mysteries, and H.Y. Hanna has fully and completely captured it.

Reviewed by Lisa Jones for Readers' Favorite

Super Cowboy Rides by Daris Howard tells the tale of a boy named Tommy. Life growing up on a farm was far from boring as Howard portrays. Tommy has many brothers and sisters and he is no stranger to hard work at such a young age. He did not attend school until he was five, missing out on kindergarten as he was needed to work on the farm. From the very first day, he was taunted by the other children because he could not read. Life at school was horrendous for Tommy and he was constantly bullied. It was only when the ringleader shot his dog called Tippy and ran over his lamb with a snow-mobile that he could not take any more and he finally snapped. Taking on five bullies was a challenge by any standard but from that day on, they never bullied him again. There are also other funny chapters that remind me of my own carefree childhood and it was lovely to go back in time and reminisce.

Daris Howard delivers an amazing story in Super Cowboy Rides. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that this is the first book that has ever made me cry. The raw emotion and the mixed feelings that transpired from what one cruel child did to a defenseless dog and a lamb on a snowy day was beyond words. I felt Tommy's pain and anguish and it was extraordinary. There were also many things in the book that made me laugh and remember the innocence of childhood. I especially liked the chapter about the parachute invention and the cat who was the crash test dummy; it was hilarious! I loved everything about this little gem of a book and Daris Howard shows true potential as a writer.

Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

Moore Field School and the Mystery by Liam Moiser is the first book in a new series for middle grade students. It is reminiscent of the Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys series. Moore Field School, a private boarding school in England, run by a Miss Moore, has been forced to shut down and find a new location. Miss Moore serendipitously learned of another school building in a nearby town that was available. Because it was a bit further away from home for many of the students, Miss Moore decided to take all her students, including a number of new students, to a camp for a week. In the meantime, one of the former students disappeared. Police thought she had been kidnapped, possibly along with a teacher who also disappeared at the same time. However, once the police found out that teacher was using fake identification papers, and had a criminal record, he became the primary suspect in the kidnapping of young Laura.

Laura’s best friends, Samantha and Jessica, along with a few of their new friends, learned the kidnappers were actually after an old trophy they believed Miss Moore was hiding somewhere. The girls, and a few boys, decided to find the trophy themselves, so they could use it to ransom Laura. A few other girls had overheard Samantha and Jessica making plans, and decided to do the same. Unfortunately for them, both groups decided to look on the same night, and they ran into each other. Consequently Samantha decided to bring the others into her confidence, and they agreed to help. At the same time they were bumping into each other, the bad guys were sneaking into Miss Moore’s office through an unlocked window. As if that wasn't enough, out of nowhere three ghosts appeared!

Moore Field School and the Mystery is shaping up to be a captivating new series for middle grade students and older. Liam Moiser has virtually promised a sequel to this story, and I personally hope there will be many more sequels. Moore Field School seems like just the kind of place where a lot of “mysteries” could occur. Moiser’s talent for eschewing obfuscation while writing to that age group is ideally suited to capturing a faithful audience of young readers. This is a must read story!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

High-powered action, mythical monsters and a strong paternal bond make up the central themes for Gideon’s Spear by Darby Karchut. Protagonist Finn MacCullen is the thirteen-year-old apprentice to Gideon Lir, an ancient knight. Finn is struggling to hide his monster-slaying training from the humans around him in Colorado. Finn also has another secret that even fellow knights and apprentices can’t be made aware of: he is The Spear, the physical embodiment of a legendary weapon. His magical blood is both a force for great strength and weakness; it can destroy his enemies, but leaves young Finn very vulnerable to attack. And of course that means there are plenty of evil beings all-too-eager to hunt him down.

As a Welsh person who was brought up on Celtic tales, I feel that Darby Karchut does an excellent job of mixing the humour, magic and gravitas of old Irish traditions with the modern day life of an American teen. Gideon’s Spear is a good lengthy read for its intended preteen audience, but also an enjoyable short read for adults who still enjoy the traditional sword and shield fantasy genre. The characters are likeable and masterfully formed through high-quality storytelling and an appropriate mix of action and exposition. The only drawback for me was that I wanted more from the novel’s main villain, though I suspect as the series progresses this element will progress too. Overall, I feel that Gideon’s Spear was an excellent light read that will entertain all readers aged 10 and up.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Supernatural Hero (Action & Adventure) (Comics & Graphic Novels) by Eran Gadot is a story that children can relate to easily. Andy is the typical nerd you will come across in your class. He is in grade six, skinny, wears glasses, and then falls in love with Zoe, the prettiest girl in his class. The twist in the story happens when Andy's grandfather dies and turns into a ghost. Now Andy has the power of seeing ghosts and communicating with them. He decides to use that power to the fullest. The paranormal activities make Andy a supernatural hero and the book is about the transformation of nerd Andy into a supernatural hero.

It is a very entertaining theme where one can relate to Andy and his nerdy behavior, which sees him being the butt of many jokes in class. The transformation of this nerdy boy is done very well and the change is fluid. It is the type of story that kids will find fascinating. The black and white sketches are beautiful and they give an individuality to the characters and the scenes. The manner in which Andy handles the situations in his life is noteworthy.

The theme covers everything that is part of a child's life: parents, school, friends, bullies, pretty girl, and much more. It is an entertaining read with a relatable character and exciting adventures that make it a fast paced story. Now from the nerd that he was, will this supernatural hero get the girl?

Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

"Shaking Palace: Magical Riddles Book One" by Raju Vashishta is an action packed adventure. King Blain of Galdur's regime has just collapsed and it brings about a crisis with peaks in illiteracy and dishonesty. King Blain's brother King Cedric of Medias is a talented magician who offers to help his brother open fifty new schools that are different from the normal schools that are currently run in King Blain's Kingdom. There is an exception to this offer, however, with King Blain being appointed as a chairman of the schools and the promise that he will get his Kingdom back in seven years. In order to get his kingdom back four students from the schools will have to answer a set of magical riddles set forth by Cedric. These are not your normal test questions; they involve Black magic and a lot of serious threats making each task a life-threatening adventure.

Raju Vashishta has created a world that will draw the young readers for whom it is aimed and adults alike. The story has some deep turns and a great deal of magic. I love the way the magic is portrayed in this book; it is similar to Harry Potter and yet it has its own life and breath as well. The writing is clean and gives you all the details you need for the story without being “too much”. I have often read magical styled books that have too much to describe each magical piece and you end up getting bored with it. Not the case with 'Magical Riddles', I found my attention well held from the start to the ending. I am looking forward to the next book in the series! He may not be the most popular character but I rather like King Cedric for me he held my focus the best. Read the book and find out which character you are going to like the best!

Reviewed by Katelyn Hensel for Readers' Favorite

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Born into the world as half-human, half-fae, has really made growing up hard for Finnegan MacCullen. One world won't accept him for his mixed blood, the other doesn't even know that the fae exist and this leaves Finn feeling like an outsider even in his own family. We meet Finn as he is forced into the apprenticeship of his guardian, Gideon, who will be training him in the ways of the Tuatha De Danann. In order to fulfill his place within the fae, Finn has to prove that he isn't just a "halfer" and that he can hold his own against the fae's mortal enemies, the Amandan.

Great characters and an awesome plot really made "Finn Finnegan" a fun read for me. Finn's voice was believable for his age group. He didn't sound too young or too old, and the same goes for Gideon. These individual and unique voices made the characters really come to life and make you feel super invested in their journey. There were explosions of mythology and world building that just blows you away and it is easy to believe in the mystical world that Karchut creates. As you follow the characters around, you can't help but fall more and more in love with the book. Finn Finnegan is a great coming of age tale that blends fantasy and reality perfectly. Though marketed for a pre-teen audience, "Finn Finnegan" will resonate with readers of all ages and promises entertainment, adventure, and a wonderful story.