Mystic Forest (Star Friends)

Mia and her friends are off to a camp in this latest adventure. They make sure they get a tent together because they all have magical animal friends that they can bring out when they are alone. Violet is new to camping and the most nervous. There are a series of mysterious and not very nice events that take place making the friends search for dark magic. When none can be found the answer is something new that was unexpected.
This story is good for elementary readers ready for a longer chapter book with less illustrative support. None of the words are too challenging but it will require the ability to focus on a longer text to fully enjoy. I thought the mystery of who is doing the mean pranks would be straightforward but did have a surprising twist that was fun.
One thing that I felt could be better is that the story felt like it was telling more than it was showing. I didn’t feel like I knew the characters very well or the extent of their magical powers, but it is the ninth book in the series so maybe more individual attention to explore their personalities was done in other books.
Some of the activities I found surprising because while fun, they go against the current nature ethics being taught. In scouts and when you go into nature there are signs about taking only pictures and leaving everything else alone. Yet, in this story, the campers build fort structures with found materials and go on a nature scavenger hunt to collect things to bring back. Since that does not reflect current practices, I wish it had included different activities or a better explanation of why it was okay for where they were.
Overall, this was a story about good friends, magical pets, and a mystery that will be a fun read for Elementary-age readers especially girls around Grades 1-3.