Reviews written by Mark Buxton, Staff Reviewer

What worked: Imagining how the past and present can merge can be daunting, but the author introduces it gradually. At first, a woman is startled to see her older image in the mirror, and her children treat her as if her mind is addled. A famous podcast personality...

What worked: The plot becomes an adventure when Roma encounters a rare golden monkey. She makes it her mission to return it to its home, but there are many complications to her plan. It’s first captured by bandits, sold, stolen again, and Roma eventually ends up in the...

What worked: The story is full of humor, as Minerva’s cousin, Tenacity, asks her to investigate a missing pearl necklace. Much of the humor arises from their lives as shrews, although Minerva lives in the wild and Tenacity lives in a house full of humans. Most of the...

What worked: The author breaks down the Declaration of Independence step by step and explains the meaning behind its different parts. The explanations are highlighted in red for easy identification. It briefly goes into the events leading up to its creation, and the colonists’ rising frustration and anger...

What worked: Deepa’s leukemia is in remission, but she tells everyone she knows that she’s cured. She just wants to get back to having a normal life, so she doesn’t even tell her best friend, Renee. Denying her actual condition causes Deepa to put her health in jeopardy,...

What worked: Paige and Gnat are sisters with contrasting views of Scrap. Gnat is convinced that Scrap is the missing King of the Robots and that he will help them escape Somewhere Five One Three. Paige is certain this dented, broken case of metal and bolts is definitely...

What worked: The synopsis is misleading, since Tassie doesn’t have a problem becoming part of the Chosen One’s prophecy. Saving Peryll from the Shadow fits perfectly into her dream of going on an adventure. The Wisest of the Wise tells her she’s the Chosen One, but she knows...

What worked: Time travel is always an intriguing topic, and the author adds a creative twist. Every New Year’s Eve, Lily is transported back in time, along with everyone she knows. However, Lily is the only character aware that it’s happening. These characters maintain their personalities and relationships...

What worked: The book describes a problem-solving process using the STEM approach. The group of kids must first identify a real problem where they can build something to solve it. They focus on the lunchroom and decide that the process for collecting food trays needs to be changed....

What worked: Auri’s parents died when she was an infant, and she compares her life to a puzzle with missing pieces. Many books save the truth about lost parents until later, but readers learn early that her father rode a fire serpent and protected the Amazon jungle. She...

What worked: This book is reminiscent of the movie, “The Goonies”? This book also has a group of local kids venturing underground, looking for hidden treasure. Thieves race to flee the abandoned mine taking diamonds that could be used to save the dying town. George’s main goal is...

What worked: The plot moves very quickly, so it will keep the attention of young, emerging, and reluctant readers. The characters face many obstacles and dangerous creatures, although this part of the series offers new twists. This story finds Kit, Sandy, and Thorn on the last leg of...

What worked: Divorce is very relevant to the girls’ problems. Katie and Jenny’s father left the family, and they don’t know why. With no explanation, the girls suspect that they are the reason. More specifically, Katie feels certain that her headstrong, rebellious behavior is the cause of her...

What worked: The opening chapter introduces Marlow and leaves readers with a couple of significant questions. She is living with a guardian, so readers will wonder what’s happened to her parents. While delivering messages, she is saved by slayers, and readers are introduced to Oleander. However, later, Marlow’s...

What worked: The book is set in Paris, right before the start of World War II. Alice works her way onto the movie set by baking cakes and pastries for different scenes. Readers will know from the previous books that Alice is an expert chef, so she can...