Children's Book Review: Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun (Momo Arashima, #2) by Misa Sugiura

Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun by Misa Sugiura
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great adventure to share with the younger readers you know.

Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun is the second book in Misa Sugiura's splendid middle-grade fantasy series. However, don't let the middle-grade assignment fool you; this book (and series) is fun for the entire family.

While the plot is fast-paced and the mythology intriguing, it is the main character, Momo, that really has me championing this entire series. Momo is a seventh-grade middle-schooler and so relatable. Even after her successes in the series debut, she's a little awkward and is still quite insecure about the mean girls and their followers, though things are improving. Momo's internal dialogue is often laugh-out-loud-funny and fresh. She's game to put everything on the line for others. What ensues is a great adventure, and young readers will realize through Momo's growth that it is best just to be themselves. As mentioned, this is the second book in the series, and the books should be read in order of publication for the best enjoyment.

With its highly likable and engaging characters, fun dialogue, the inclusion of current pop cultural references, and a story with non-stop action, I recommend MOMO ARASHIMA BREAKS THE MIRROR OF THE SUN to older elementary or middle-grade readers who enjoy stories with fantasy, magic, and mythical creatures, fans of the Percy Jackson series, and perhaps those who enjoyed the Nickelodeon series, AVATAR: The Last Airbender.

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Children's Book Review: Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind (Momo Arashima, #1) by Misa Sugiura

Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa Sugiura
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Non-stop action with magic and mythical beings and creatures will tempt even reluctant readers to fall into the story.

When twelve-year-old Momo Arashima discovers that all the stories of mythical beings and supernatural spirits that her Japanese mother had told her when she was very young were true, she is shocked and dismayed. She had drawn unwanted attention and ridicule at school early on for believing the fantastical tales and had emotionally demanded that her disappointed mother stop telling her those make-believe stories as if they were real. Now she hears that her mother is actually an Earth goddess from the Island of Mysteries and is responsible for keeping the evil spirits and demons from crossing into the world. But the portal between the land of the dead and this one has been breached. Hundreds of demons and worse have made their way onto the island, and the more that enter, the sicker her mother physically becomes. Finding out she is the only one able to stop the monsters, Momo joins a magical talking fox named Niko and her childhood friend, Danny, on a mission to save her mother and the world.

Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind is the first book in author Misa Sugiura’s new middle-grade fantasy series featuring the twelve-year-old heroine from the title. Hands down, this is one of the top books I’ve read this year, and I feel it is sure to be a hit with middle-grade students, including reluctant readers. As the mother of three boys who all needed coaxing to complete independent reading requirements at that age, I wish this book had been available back then! The story would be a fabulous read-aloud selection.

Momo has had a tough childhood. Not only had she lost her father, but her mother had also been swamped with grief and, eventually, illness. To top off her misery, Momo has been besieged by cool-kid bullies at school because she’s seen as "different." The bullying hurts even more when her childhood friend, Danny, is one of the group. It is extremely important at that age to feel like you belong; most readers will relate to Momo’s experience. Perhaps, even more important, Momo’s plight will strike a chord with young readers that bullying and cruel jokes hurt. Our heroine rises above her mistreatment, but she also stands up for herself.

The story is fantastic, and its fast pace moves things along like a runaway rollercoaster. It captured my attention from the start, and I didn’t want to put the book down until I was finished. With the recent popularity and interest in Asian culture, the story, with its modern take on Japanese mythology, couldn’t come at a better time. The fantastical elements are fresh, unusual, scary, and perfect for igniting young imaginations. The awesome cover art already has me hoping for this to become an animated series.

The trio travels to many magical places while on their quest for the tools to succeed in their ultimate showdown. Real cities, in addition to those of myth and legend, are visited and will please readers familiar with those locations. They may begin to imagine running into some of the magical beings or evil minions, just as Momo, Danny, and Niko did.

With its highly likable and engaging characters, fun dialogue, the inclusion of current pop cultural references, and a story with non-stop action, I recommend MOMO ARASHIMA STEALS THE SWORD OF THE WIND to older elementary or middle-grade readers who enjoy stories with fantasy, magic, and mythical creatures, fans of the Percy Jackson series, and perhaps those who enjoyed the Nickelodeon series, AVATAR: The Last Airbender.


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Children's Book Review: Flight Test 101 (Mischief, #6) by Amanda M. Thrasher

Flight Test 101 by Amanda M. Thrasher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A modern “Our Gang” series, with fairies!

Flight Test 101 is the sixth book in author Amanda M. Thrasher’s Mischief children’s fantasy series, which reminds me of the classic "Our Gang" television show, updated and featuring fairy friends. With its relatable young characters and dilemmas, this chapter book is engaging and entertaining and may keep the interest of the most reluctant readers. The book can be read as a standalone, so readers new to the series will have no trouble jumping right into the fairlings’ current adventure.

As the fairy friends approach their first flight test, confident Jack, the fairling who has been living for this day, is accidentally injured and now won’t heal in time to participate. The delay will put him behind all his friends for freedom in flight, so as a group, the others loyally decide to wait and test when he’s rescheduled. Unfortunately, with the delay comes a twenty-five-point penalty on each late participant’s score, points that some of the fairlings will desperately need to pass.

This latest Mischief adventure features all the fairling friends from the previous books and is full of giggles, slimy moss bomb fights, and fabulous treats baked by their resident spider friend, Broderick. Each small fairy is a distinct personality, some outgoing, some reserved, all with their particular likes and attitudes, including Pearle in her special chariot. They face a big decision and their fears when Jack, the best flier, is suddenly sidelined, feeling the need to choose to hang back with him rather than progress as scheduled without him. There are realistic discussions as a group about their feelings and how the alternative could impact everyone, especially Boris and Lilly, the two fairlings already struggling to achieve the needed scores to pass. Their gamble makes for an exciting and suspense-filled story.

I recommend FLIGHT TEST 101 for chapter-book-ready elementary age readers and older.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.

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Children's Book Review: Skyriders (Skyriders, #1) by Polly Holyoke

Skyriders by Polly Holyoke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An epic middle-grade fantasy adventure that will capture the hearts and imaginations of boys and girls alike.

Skyriders is the first book in a new middle-grade fantasy series of the same name by author Polly Holyoke. In 13-year-old Kiesandra’s world, humans coexist and depend on their bond with the beautiful and powerful winged horses known as skysteeds to keep them safe. When terrible monsters that haven’t been seen in years return to threaten their people, it is up to Kie and her beloved skysteed, N’Rah, to alert the palace and convince their leaders that they know how these creatures of legend can be defeated.

The story pulls out all the stops for adventure, world-building, and overcoming impossible, overwhelming odds. This epic fantasy adventure will appeal to both boys and girls, reluctant readers, and would be perfect for reading aloud and tempting eager young imaginations.

The book’s action begins immediately with minimal exposition; there’s no waiting around! Kie is the kind of young heroine who everyone can get behind. At 13 years of age, she is humble, loving, brave, and loyal. I loved that she (and the others) could communicate telepathically with their skysteeds, and early on, readers know that her ability is not limited to N’Rah. Their foe, the chimerae, are horrific three-headed monsters and are a returning menace from her country’s past, one foretold by her beloved Uncle Dug. He was right all along! The aerial battles against the chimerae are exciting and easy to follow.

The plot is an extraordinary underdog story, as Kie faces frustration after frustration trying to get those in a position to act to believe her. Her warnings repeatedly fall on deaf ears. However, it’s always a satisfying moment for young readers when young characters prove to be right and the adults wrong.

The author’s world-building is so impressive in this first volume of the series. The descriptions of the various settings are so vivid you can practically feel the mountain storms or the grit and heat of the desert. But best of all are the Pegusus-like skysteeds, sentient and wise and a welcome addition to a genre filled with dragons. You can almost feel the experience of flying on the back of one of these winged horses (but don’t call them horses!) Kudos for the fabulous cover that features Kie, N’Rah, and the monstrous chimerae and establishes a perfect visual right from the start.

With its highly relatable heroine, great underdog story, and fantastic creatures of myth and legend, I recommend SKYRIDERS to readers of middle-grade fantasy and adventure.

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Children's Book Review: The Owls of Wickenden Wood by Shauna Kramer Barnes, illustrated by Leonid Rozenberg

The Owls of Wickenden Wood by Shauna Kramer Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A beautifully illustrated and wonderous tale of woodland magic.

The Owls of Wickenden Wood by Shauna Kramer Barnes is a beautifully illustrated children’s picture book of a magical woodland adventure. The cool crispness of the pictures brings to life the mysterious tale of a young visitor suddenly transported to a secret woodland setting where owls talk and rule over the comings and goings in their presence. The suspense builds as the child traveler is asked to tell a story to the owls in exchange for returning to the woods from which he came.

In the drawings, the owls quickly multiply in number, eager to hear a new story, and the young visitor must gather his courage to meet their challenge. As his confidence builds, he is able to please the gathering with his tale and successfully gains permission to return to his home woods. The omission of color from the increasing crowd of owls lends an uneasy edge to the story, and I know that if I had been confronted with the burgeoning mass, I would have been fearful of the situation. The story provides plenty of opportunities for side discussions with young listeners about how they would feel, what they would do, and what they thought would happen next, making this a nice choice for reading aloud to small, intimate groups. For the most part, the illustrations present images of close-up action, with only glimpses of a foot here or there of the young visitor. This may make the visuals less effective when reading aloud to larger groups who may be unable to discern the half-seen evidence of the child’s presence.

Rosenberg’s illustrations match the emotions and vibe of the author’s woods and complement the energy of the story. Very young readers may be a little alarmed by the sudden and growing crowd of owls initially, but once the simple and happy resolution is revealed, all should be satisfied and reassured.

I recommend THE OWLS OF WICKENDEN WOOD for sharing with young listeners in the classroom, in after-school programs, and as a bedtime story.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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