Reviews written by Mark Buxton

What worked: The author effectively develops expectations and tension as the plot slowly unfolds. The setting is in the remote, wintry woods of Vermont where Mario accompanies Todd and Jewel as they vacation with their grandparents. The grandfather is famous for his books about mystical creatures but he...

What worked: This book has a light-hearted air to it as the characters encounter another humorous adventure. This is exemplified by Ferkle as he was learning to be a village idiot before joining Princess Grace, Tim (an apprentice knight), and his cousin Bull (actually a girl named Belinda)....

What worked: Woodwalkers can transform from humans into different kinds of animals which creates unusual interactions between characters. Carag, a puma, is best friends with Holly, a mischievous squirrel who exudes plenty of attitude. A skunk woodwalker shoots his stink when nervous which is utilized as a distraction...

What worked: Olive lacks confidence and wonders if she should be part of the top-secret NOCK team (No One Can Know). Her teammates each have unique talents like technology, knowledge, and combat but Olive wonders what ability she has to offer. Olive’s parents have dumped her into RASCH,...

What worked: Maddie is mentoring as a Ranger and she accompanies Will on a mission to investigate reports of a mythical creature. She also happens to be the daughter of royalty but that information is kept secret. Girls have never been allowed into the Rangers so it’s interesting...

What worked: Jerry’s legs aren’t strong enough to walk for long so she’s forced to navigate using a wheelchair. Her disability is due to a hereditary problem so her legs become weaker as she grows older. Jerry is homeschooled and has gotten used to frequently moving around with...

What worked: The story is presented from two distinctly different points of view. The narrative comes through the eyes of Weatherby and Jack as Weatherby tries to adapt to an exclusive, private school in Boston. She earns a scholarship for winning a sailing regatta which really irritates and...

What worked: The most intriguing aspect of the book is the setting. Mal and his friends are angels but they live in Hell. Heaven, Hell, and Faerie are three different dimensions and the citizens are learning to get along after interdimensional travel is allowed. A controversial issue arises...

What worked: This novella fits right into the Talisman world and focuses on the leading dragon/knight pair of Rome and Julian. Young readers will like that the book can be completed in just a couple of days and the short chapters keep the action moving. The whole novella...

What worked: Mika is one of the older kids at the orphanage and she helps to oversee the younger boys and girls. This orphanage is a bit different from those in other books as the headmistress doesn’t force kids to stay if they’d rather live on the streets....

What worked: The book will appeal to readers who love the absurd. The two-headed chicken has an Astrocap that allows it/them to travel back and forth through time. That’s exactly what happens throughout the whole book. Illustrations of the timestream happen to look like a giant broccoli but...

What worked: The whole world accepts the existence of ghosts and other supernatural creatures and Marius has become a reluctant celebrity. He was able to dispose of a particularly nasty creature and rescue his mother from the devil. Darius and Kelly, his mom, are monster hunters and the...

What worked: Ari and his little brother Joni are tight as they live alone, waiting for their mother to return. They’re fearful that the government will discover they’re living alone and take them into custody. The phrase “Children have to be allowed to be children” is repeated throughout...

What worked: The underlying conflict throughout the series is an ongoing clash between witches and non-magical people. The previous king persecuted and killed witches so some of the survivors are bent on revenge. These feelings of prejudice drive the conflict and this book begins to introduce compassion and...

What worked: This book is the sequel to The Clackity, a finalist for a 2022 Cybils Award, so readers will already know to expect ghosts and supernatural occurrences. Evie is the only human ever to enter the Dark Sun Side and escape back to Blight Harbor. In this...