Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In The Declaration, the Sword and the Spy by Jenny L. Cote, in Boston 1774, the Sons of Liberty have sworn an oath of secrecy to overthrow the British occupation. Tensions are already high due to the infamous tyrannical Stamp Act of 1765 by King George III and the massacre of many Boston people by British soldiers. Follow the events of the American Revolution between March 1775 to July 1776 where George Washington is determined to oust the British from Boston and Thomas Jefferson fights for his Declaration of Independence. Meanwhile, King George III fights to hold onto power, not only in Boston but in Britain, where his people are becoming sympathetic to the rebels. As the Founding Fathers prepare to fight for their country's freedom, they discover a spy could be feeding their enemy information. With the battle at Breed Hill between the rebels and the British soldiers looming, the Sons of Liberty must oust the spy. To aid them in their mission is the Order of the Seven, an intelligent and gifted team of animals who specialize in espionage and defeating their enemies.

As I read this magnificent epic of a novel, I wish that the author could have been around when I struggled with history at school. She brings so much life to an important event in history. The characters are many but I felt I knew each one so well; their determination and bravery to fight for their cause was humbling. I loved the use of correspondence, maps and newspaper articles as this brought even more realism to the story. This is not just a well-written account of the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence, but a story that details the personal reasons the Founding Fathers took up arms. There are some very brutal battle scenes and psychological games of cat and mouse, which enhanced the plot perfectly. There are also some very emotional scenes that are quite heartbreaking.

The Order of the Seven was a fantastic addition to the story; even the animals had strong characteristics. Nigel's superb intelligence and my absolute favorite, Liz, whose huge heart and bravery were admirable. The Declaration, the Sword and the Spy by Jenny L. Cote ticks every box for me with tension, strong plots, amazing areas of conflict and heartwarming relationships. This is one line from the book which I feel sums up the whole message of the novel for me: “If you study men, and you know the history of mankind, predicting the future is not that difficult." The bibliography at the end is a testament to the amount of research the author has done to write this superb book.

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Narrated from the first-person perspective, The Archfiend Artifact by Selena IR Drake is a beguiling read. Cybil Starr is stuck with her horrible grandmother ever since her parents were murdered in a bizarre way. Unhappy and feeling like she doesn't belong to this world, Cybil tries to escape when she nears her fifteenth birthday. Plagued by visions, she learns from Duncan, who has stalked her, that she is a high born, her father being a parathrope, a mystical creature with inhuman powers. Brought to a mysterious place, she realizes she has powers that are starting to manifest and it is out of her control. Accused of stealing a hideous mirror, Cybil's life is in danger and she only has three days to solve the case. Will her unique power and vision save the day?

The Archfiend Artifact by Selena IR Drake is an enchanting trip into the world of the unknown. As we accompany Cybil Starr in her escape from her grandmother's home to her incarceration in a most unusual place, we come to know an enchanted world that could actually exist in our midst. A world populated by parathropes, psychics, witches, pure-blooded demons and many more. Selena IR Drake's imagination knows no bounds as she comes up with various characters that are both interesting and unique. And as the narrative continues, the reader has no choice but to completely immerse himself or herself in a new reality that is a product of a very rich and unique mind. This gem of a book is a truly fascinating read!

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

To obtain a fortune, a young boy assumes the identity of an older gentleman in the suspenseful middle-grade novel Someone in the Walls by Teymour Shahabi. Andrew Day never knew his parents, and he was lucky to receive a scholarship to Saint Clemens school. But the most extraordinary thing that ever happened to him was becoming Lucian Baker, the notorious and extremely wealthy benefactor in the City. However, no one knows Andrew's true identity, except Elder. As a disguise for Andrew, Elder created Lucian Baker from thin air and established him in the astonishingly vast mansion. Now Andrew is richer than anyone in the City, but sadly, his prosperity came with a price. Not only must he keep his new circumstances a secret, even from those he cares about, but he also has the job of maintaining the property in the capacity of a ranger. But most of all, although everything in the house is his, Andrew must never venture into the secret passages. However, as he roams the mansion's rooms, taking notes and mapping the inconceivably large property, Andrew is certain that someone is always lurking just out of sight. Does someone know the secret passages and is using them to spy on Lucian Baker and Andrew? If so, is he in danger?

Someone in the Walls by Teymour Shahabi is a fantastical middle-grade story that is set in a mysterious mansion. With an extravagant story world, evil villains, and a plucky and brave main character, the story takes the reader on a magical journey. Andrew attempting to keep his identity secret and the hazards with which he is confronted kept me on pins and needles while I waited for the ax to fall. I don't think I took a complete breath until I finished the book. Simplistically written, it is an exciting adventure that will appeal to youngsters who love extraordinary tales drenched in mystery. With the incredible fantasy world and dangers lurking just out of sight, this suspenseful novel will enthrall boys and girls from the ages of eight to twelve years of age.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Scarry Inn by Shirley McCann is a YA mystery story. Heidi Bowman and three friends are forced into spending a night at The Scarry Inn, believing themselves to be the victims of a practical joke. It’s not a nice place but surely all Dick and Thelma Scarry, their unwilling hosts for the night, are doing is drumming up business by terrifying every guest. Things take a sinister, very real turn when Kara is murdered and now they all have to get out before the Inn takes another one. There’s no cell phone service and none of them knows who they can and can’t trust. Time is running out for the three friends as they fight to get out of The Scarry Inn alive.

The Scarry Inn by Shirley McCann was a thrilling, scary, yet fun read. With an action-packed plot, Shirley McCann has written a story that will grip you from page one and keep hold until the very end. I wasn’t expecting such a suspense-filled story but it was a real page-turner and I had to keep reading to find out what happened. The story flows very well, with a unique plot, and there are plenty of twists and turns, some of which you won’t see coming. The characters are likable, relatable, and real, well-developed throughout the book, with their own stories gradually coming out. Although it is billed as a YA book, I believe anyone will enjoy this story – I am way past being a young adult and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

The Case of the Mystery of the Bells is the sixth book in the Davey & Derek Junior Detectives series by Janice Spina, introducing readers to exciting young characters. Davey and Derek are twelve-year-old non-identical twins who are inspired by a book bought for each of them by their parents when they were ten. They live in the quiet town of Lindon, New Hampshire and are always on the lookout for adventure. This time they are out to solve the mystery of the bells. The only problem is that it's more complex than anything they imagined. Can they put the pieces together and solve the riddle?

This is a gorgeous story and while it's the sixth book in the series, it reads well as a standalone novel. Janice Spina has a unique gift for character and it is interesting to watch the two lead characters evolve through the story. I loved how they complement each other. One is a critical thinker who quickly looks for solutions while the other has a photographic memory. The humor builds up in the dynamics of the relationship between Davey and Derek. The writing is crisp, filled with focused and well-crafted scenes, dialogues that add depth to the story and deepen character, and descriptions filled with magical realism. While this is a balanced and beautifully written story for young readers, it has great potential to keep adults glued to every page. The Case of the Mystery of the Bells is a delightful story that is both absorbing and cinematic.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The Atlantis Bloodline by C.A. Gray is an interesting narrative that combines elements of urban fantasy with mythology and romance to create an exciting reading experience. Ada Edwards can’t believe that Kaison Hughes, the attractive lead singer in one of the most adored bands in the world, shows an interest in her. She finds him irresistible even if there are glaring signs that he has a secret. What she doesn’t know is that Kai is not who he seems and that he is a member of a powerful organization and on a mission to bring her to the ranks of descendants of Atlantis. Ada is the only existing link to a lost line and a coveted gem. But Kai is falling in love and there is more at stake, including his sister’s freedom and his fame.

This is a highly imaginative story with deep layers in the plot. When the story starts, readers feel they are encountering normal characters, but as it progresses, new depths are uncovered and deeper dimensions of the characters are explored. It is not an ordinary story, and I enjoyed how C.A. Gray moves from the simplicity of the ordinary lives of the characters to the deeper, magical world into which their roots are planted. The prose is gorgeous, the overall writing enjoyable, and the setting filled with magical elements. The author did a wonderful job in writing about the romance and the twist is what many readers won’t see coming. The Atlantis Bloodline is a fascinating story with strong hints of mythology, a page-turner from a great storyteller.

Reviewed by A. L. Peevey for Readers' Favorite

Kameron Williams has written a novel about the world before the moon shone in the night sky. The Time Before The Moon is the story of Omi, who, at first, seems like any of a dozen other boys. He seeks the best flint for his spear, he dutifully goes to the village Seer to receive enlightenment, he tries to woo the girl of his dreams, and he goes hunting with his friends. Then one day he begins to doubt the leadership and teachings of the Seer and secretly questions the Seer’s supposed connection to the gods. But to question the Seer is to risk being “cleansed”, a fate worse than death. When a cruel rival crushes his most prized hope, Omi flees into the wild, leaving behind everything and everyone dear to him in search of freedom. But will he find it?

Kameron Williams’ The Time Before The Moon has an authenticity to it. This shows in the descriptions of the labor intensive processes the characters use for creating their homes and weapons. The culture of The Time Before The Moon is the Stone Age. The characters possess nothing that they have not crafted themselves. If they are going to eat, they must hunt for their food and plan for the future. The author describes all of this in fascinating detail, but has also written a compelling story with characters that readers care about. We experience Omi’s curiosity, love, hunger, and intensity first hand, and we yearn to find out if he and the others will find what they seek: freedom from rules and traditions that have no real worth. The Time Before The Moon comes highly recommended.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

The Upset: Life (Sports), Death...and the Legacy We Leave in the Middle by Tyler Trent and John Driver is an inspiring story and a powerful testament of faith and love; a young soul's journey towards finding meaning in cancer through selflessness and joyful acceptance. It is the story of Tyler Trent, a young sportswriter and fan who, in 2014, is diagnosed with osteosarcoma. It is the first of his three battles with cancer. The young writer captures the emotion at the time when he got the news. When he knew his days were numbered, he lived his mortality in a spirit of faith, finding a purpose in his illness and selflessly allowing himself to walk a path that would inspire others after his death. In this narrative, one thing clearly stands out: Tyler never wanted his death to be in vain, so he gave up the remaining days of his life to fight for the support of cancer research.

The Upset by Tyler Trent and John Driver is beautifully told, allowing different points of view to come out, including the way the young man's parents saw him. The prose is crisp and the tone is upbeat. There are insightful passages that invite readers to reflect on the mystery of life and the place of faith, love, and family in human growth. Tyler writes: "At every turn, the real grace of Jesus for me—and for you—has only required that I keep showing up with my brokenness. When I do, he has promised that he will already be there waiting. Before I was ever a Christ-follower, Christ was a Tyler-chaser." This book brought both tears of sorrow and love to my eyes and I enjoyed the way the humanity of the protagonist is explored. In fact, there is a powerful light flowing through the cracks of his brokenness, a light that points the reader to the essential truth.

Reviewed by Ankita Shukla for Readers' Favorite

Alex McKenna & The Geranium Deaths by Vicki-Ann Bush is a young adult paranormal story. Alex, a 17-year-old, shared his mom's ability to see the dead. Although his ability caused him grief with the bullies at his school, he learned to ignore the unnecessary noise. This was not the only reason for the bullies to target him, though. Since the day they realized that Alex was transgender, they figured out creative names to torment him. In addition to these problems, a series of ruthless murders in his town perplexed him. If he didn't have his amazing spidey sense, he would have considered these bodies with frozen heads as a case involving a serial killer. However, his gut told him otherwise. The more research he put into the cases with his best friend, Margaret, the firmer his suspicions grew about the involvement of a dark spirit.

The plot beautifully switches from the past to the present. Bishop's family from the past is just as intriguing as the paranormal activities in the present. The audience enjoys the easygoing chemistry of Margaret and Alex, the love of his Italian family, and his interactions with a few souls. But, as the plot takes a dark turn, not only Alex but readers also get goosebumps. The tone of the narration is in perfect sync with the scenes. On the one hand, Margaret and Alex's bantering provide a lightness to the story, but on the other hand, the entrance of the malevolent spirit brings about fear and tension. The exceptional narration of Vicki-Ann Bush ties readers to the story with the promise of an unimaginable twist. And the sensitivity with which the plot presents the concerns of a transgender teenager is praiseworthy. Alex McKenna & The Geranium Deaths by Vicki-Ann Bush has just the right blend of paranormal activities, family love, complicated romance, and realistic characters.

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

The Chest of Visions: New Pathways 'Cross Broken Highways by Tim Ferguson is a young adult Christian science fiction novel that is set in two parallel worlds or universes. The story is told partly through an exchange of letters between personalities from our universe and the universe called Caperston where Mattpaul comes from. He is dead and his death has ignited a fire that keeps on fuelling the developing turmoil in Caperston. As conflicts over its archaic rule lead to Chihaysu speaking out against the ruler Pontos’s decree that Mattpaul's sister should marry against her will, the mountain people rebel against the valley people of Caperston, and things are out of control.

The Chest of Visions: New Pathways 'Cross Broken Highways by Tim Ferguson is an intriguing read as it is set largely in a different universe. Tim Ferguson's imagination unravels in every chapter of the novel and it is indeed very fertile. Based on the premise that 14 billion years ago, a gravity-defying force resulted in the creation of two identical universes, the novel entertains as well as informs. The sequel to The Chest of Visions: Secrets of Caperston, it surprisingly has many twists and turns considering the number of pages. The heady turn of events and the numerous characters are easy to follow though because Ferguson is consistent and does not veer away from the message for young readers. Without sounding preachy, and without too many words, the story's theme comes out loud and clear and this is what makes the novel unforgettable.