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.

Reviewed by Nashella Zarek for Readers' Favorite

"The Taste of Snow" by Stephen V. Masse tells the story of Nicole, a young girl in Austria who receives a magical candy cane from a shopkeeper during the Christmas season. Nicole is skeptical at first, but then decides to take the candy cane and begins to think constantly about the idea of magic. After tasting the candy cane, some unusual things begin to happen to Nicole, some of them good and some of them not so good, and Nicole cannot decide whether this is the result of the magical candy cane or nor. Is the candy cane the reason for Nicole’s sudden outbursts? Will the magic that is held in the candy cane be enough to keep Nicole safe through a terrifying night alone in an Austrian blizzard? "The Taste of Snow" follows Nicole through some truly harrowing circumstances, and also celebrates the magic that is Christmas.

"The Taste of Snow" by Stephen V. Masse is a beautiful and well-crafted story. Stephen Masse has a gift for language that is rich but easily understood even by young readers. The reader can easily imagine life in Austria with all its rich holiday traditions. I was drawn to both Nicole, the older and supposedly wiser sister, as well as her younger sister Ashley, who is full of mischief and spirit. Young readers will like Nicole because although she tries hard to do the right thing most of the time, she still makes mistakes and young readers will identify with that. The story is full of vibrant and well-drawn characters, and readers will feel highly compelled to read on to see what awaits Nicole next. "The Taste of Snow" is a wonderful, magical story that introduces readers to a new culture and will leave them rooting for the spunky heroine as she learns about true magic.

Reviewed by Dianne Bylo for Readers' Favorite

“We Are Savages” by Jessie Atkin is a young adult adventure of a 12 year-old girl who would rather play with her dog and toys than accept the responsibility of growing up. When things come to a head at home, Tris decides to run away with her faithful dog Mars and mysteriously ‘falls’ into Nowhere, a world where only children exist, getting along surprisingly well with no rules! Along the way, she meets a variety of other children, each with their own place in this ‘society.’ Tris finds more than she bargained for when the responsibility for the lives of the children falls into her hands and they look to her for leadership! Can Tris step up and accept what she needs to do?

“We Are Savages” is a fast-paced and fun read. It is reminiscent of "Peter Pan", touching on how difficult it is to ‘grow up’ when staying young forever would be so much easier! I was intrigued by the fact that each child seemed to know their place in ‘Nowhere,’ yet I felt an inner sadness beneath their exteriors. Jessie Atkin has written a beautiful coming of age story told through the eyes and heart of a ‘tween,’ making it completely relate-able for younger readers with enough action and fantasy to fuel their minds and pull them into the story alongside Tris, while subtly saying it is ‘okay’ to grow up! I look forward to more creative books from this talented author!

Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite

It's the year 2310 and main character Sherpa, named after the guides who help climbers to the top of Mount Everest is the daughter of Lillian, the Ruler of the Western World. In 2306, a treaty was signed that signified the End of All Wars but some dictators, like General Aveel, do not like this and time travel back to earlier times to encourage young people to make bad decisions; so ultimately the 2306 peace treaty will never be signed. Sherpa wants to be the Chancellor of Positivity in her mother's Cabinet, a position that can only be held by a young person. But Lillian says Sherpa has much to learn and must understand that people cannot be forced into positive thinking, good decisions and happiness. She takes Sherpa to the Technology Lab where scientists like gorgeous Dr. Troy Lichtenstein are working on developing HuBots, lifelike robots that can travel back in time, download information and get back to2310 quickly. Dr. Lichtenstein gives Sherpa an Instascreen which compacts to the size of a business card and an RTD, Reality Tracking Device, which will show people's energy and their intentions as glowingcolors. Sherpa prepares to travel back to the 21st century where she must find and help two young preteens who will start the chain of events that will save the world and end all wars.

Author Lori Costew’s "Sherpa's Adventure: Saving the Future" is a delightfully well-written novel for teenage readers. Main character Sherpa is believable as she goes about meeting Neil Armstrong, Amelia Earhart and others, learning the impact of making good decisions on one's life. 21st century pre-teens Emma Johnson and her neighbor and friend, Jose Ramirez, will entrance the reader as they try to figure out how to stop bullying and defeat General Aveel and his Hubots which are disguised as teenagers. The dialogue is appealing, the plotline flows nicely to the story's conclusion and readers of all ages will appreciate the message in "Sherpa's Adventure: Saving the Future, that good decisions make for good lives.

Reviewed by Fiona Ingram for Readers' Favorite

Not content with saddling their daughter with a mouthful of a name like Millicent Marie (after a grumpy family member), Millicent Marie’s parents insist on calling her by that very same huge mouthful. Known to her school friends as Millie, Millicent Marie is grateful that she did not end up with a cool, arty, celebrity kid name like Organza. However, Millie decides that if she’d had a choice, her name would have been Amanda. Amanda has such a nice ring to it. When Millie begins a diary in which she signs her name as Amanda, little does she realize what a ten-year-old annoying younger brother (Douglas aka Doogle) can do to wreak even more havoc in her life. Doogle finds Millie’s diary on her computer and publishes it as a blog for the entire world to see. Amanda’s soul is suddenly laid bare and, amazingly, people love her. She becomes Springside Elementary’s most sought after sixth-grade mystery gossip and advice columnist. Can Millie keep up the pretense? And for how long can she do it before her cover is blown?

This is a lovely read for tweens (and their parents!). Millie has the usual slightly disparaging attitude towards her prehistoric-age, totally embarrassing parents who (in the nature of all parents) seem to be incapable of treating her as the almost-adult she considers herself. Millie was given the choice of a computer or a cell phone when she turned twelve. Everyone knows that any self-respecting teenager needs both. Author Karen Pokras Toz captures Millie’s life angst—from disillusionment with sixth grade, to decisions about doing soccer or drama, to denying she has a crush on the utterly handsome Jordan Cowell—with humor and inside knowledge. I also enjoyed Millie’s coming of age and gradual maturing. As Amanda, Millie learns huge life lessons about friendship, respect, and the fact that other people have feelings and problems. As Millie, Millie learns about her identity and who she really is, and decides that she is happy being herself. Highly recommended.