Children's Book Review: Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens (Fanny Fitzpatrick, #3) by Dana Hammer

Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens by Dana Hammer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun, mysterious, and suspenseful tale of gods, goddesses, sirens, and friendships.

Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens is the third book in author Dana Hammer’s middle-grade adventure series featuring Fanny Fitzpatrick and her unusual group of friends. In this adventure, Fanny is invited to a summer music camp run by famous pop star Mara Fry, who heard Fanny sing at her cousin’s funeral. Against the advice of her friends —Athena, Gemma, and Danial —and despite their worry and the revelation that Mara and the women who run the camp are sirens, as in the mythological sirens of old, Fanny decides to attend. However, things at the beautiful tropical island camp aren’t exactly what they appear, and she soon realizes there’s more going on than vocal training.

Fanny is a sweet, helpful girl, and she especially looks forward to being a great big sister to her new baby brother, Damon. While a summer hanging out with her friends would be wonderful, the opportunity to spend time with a superstar and get some professional vocal training proves impossible to pass up. In fairness to Fanny, she considers her decision long and hard, with the deciding factor being her tired mother’s desire for her to be out from underfoot as she adjusts to life with a cranky newborn. Athena and Gemma, in their distress, are a little heavy-handed in their attempts to dissuade Fanny, too, ordering her around and getting angry rather than maintaining a cool head and offering proof of their accusations that the sirens are still up to no good.

The plot is fun and quirky, with Fanny trying to keep Athena’s bed-bound brother, Dion, out of trouble, but the suspense quickly takes center stage when she and the three other girls get to the island. The formerly overly friendly adult leaders have secrets they’re not ready to share with the campers and use questionable tactics to get the girls to do what they want. The story is absolutely absorbing, and I didn’t want to take a break until almost halfway through the book, and then it was hard to find an appropriate stopping point! Fanny and her friends are bright, engaging, and so easy to root for. Although this is the third book in the series, adequate backstory is provided so it can be read as a standalone.

I recommend FANNY FITZPATRICK AND THE SIRENS to readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those who enjoy a mythological theme.

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

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Children's Book Review - Harry: A Service Dog (Service Dog, #1.5) by Jack Heape

Harry: A Service Dog Series Novella by Jack Heape
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Warm and wonderfully inspirational story of the making of a service dog and a service dog trainer.

Harry: A Service Dog is the second book in author Jack Heape’s lovely middle-grade series about service dogs, their selection, development, and training, as well as the variety and range of assistance areas, and their young human volunteer trainers. However, while featuring youthful main characters and their experiences, readers of all ages can enjoy their journey and learn about this absolutely amazing partnership between humans and these special dogs.

Sophie Martin is the young teenage protagonist of the book, who, as a budding writer, attends a two-week intensive summer creative writing camp. There, she meets a deaf teenager named Lucas Walker, with whom she develops a close friendship and discovers the extraordinary ways he interacts with his world, using senses other than hearing. Curiosity piqued, she asks him to teach her about ASL (American Sign Language), and he shares some common signs with her during the waning days of their camp session. However, most of their conversations are conducted through written messages in notebooks they pass back and forth. It is an offhand mention by Lucas about how his sister’s dog alerts him to their doorbell ringing at home that sticks with Sophie and inspires her to research service dogs. Kudos to the author for crafting engaging dialogue and realistic interactions between the two teenage protagonists, which felt both natural and authentic.

The author tells a fun and absorbing story of a platonic friendship between a hearing girl and a deaf boy, who meet because of their shared interest in creative writing. However, their collaboration launches a deep desire in Sophie to help Lucas live a safer, fuller life, with the freedom a service dog of his own would grant him. Heape deftly shows the depth of commitment required to undertake the training of these dogs, as well as the reality of day-to-day life while doing so. I enjoyed Sophie’s determined campaign to convince her parents that she was serious and would be dedicated to following through on her plans. There is also the emotional side of the partnership; the trainer will be completely engaged with this dog, from puppyhood until they are certified, and then will part with them as they are sent to their new owner. The training is rigorous, and the dog could be determined unsuitable to continue in the program at any point along the way: not a bad dog, just not the right dog.

I recommend HARRY to middle-grade readers with an interest in dogs and dog stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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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: The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imaginative merging of modern-day adventure and Chinese folktales for a warm and wonderful children’s story.

In The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon, author Grace Lin uses a fascinating combination of Chinese folktales to create a fresh and exciting children’s adventure story featuring a young stone lion cub named Jin, Lulu, a little lost girl, and an ancient dragon trapped in the body of a worm. Jin must overcome his fear of getting in trouble and his guilt of being in the wrong to save his stone spirit family and the Gonshi community when he causes the Sacred Sphere his father safeguards to roll out of their world and into that of the humans.

The main character, Jin, is much like his human counterparts of the same age: interested in his own pursuits, pleasures, and interests, many times inconveniencing his parents and others due to being thoughtless or irresponsible. He’s disinterested and dismissive of his father’s stories of the past, responsibilities, or parental instructions until he finds himself accidentally shut out of his world and stuck in the human one, where he finds he longs to return to his family once again. When he discovers the damage the loss of the Sacred Sphere puts in motion, he must gather his courage and sacrifice his own desires to make things right again. His gradual growth and understanding of his choices are a poignant tale, one that even young children will recognize and consider.

Jin is assisted in his journey by Lulu, a young girl trying to reunite with her mother, who is also undergoing her own revelations. Worm, the dragon trapped in this tiny, unassuming form, is probably the most fanciful of all the creatures in the book and has some of the best lines as he reveals his story and joins with the young ones to reset the balance in the world before it is too late.

With its magical setting, mythical creatures, and suspenseful plot, I recommend THE GATE, THE GIRL, AND THE DRAGON to upper-elementary and middle-grade readers and for reading aloud to include younger listeners.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Children's Book Review: The Two Terrors of Tulelake by W.M. Gunn

The Two Terrors of Tulelake by W.M. Gunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eye-opening historical fiction novel for more mature middle-grade readers.

The Two Terrors of Tulelake by Texas author WM Gunn is an eye-opening and suspenseful historical fiction novel about the Japanese-American internment camps set up on the West Coast during World War II. Entire families, rather, entire communities of Americans with Japanese heritage, were forcibly removed to hastily constructed internment camps and detained after the attack on Pearl Harbor as fears of spies and Japanese operatives raced through cities and towns across the West. The horrific events, both before and after the internments occurred, are recounted from the point of view of 16-year-old Ichiro Hisakawa, whose family members were all born in the U.S., yet still eyed with suspicion and subjected to detention in the Tulelake, California, camp along with thousands of others. What makes this story unique is the presence of a modern-day boy whose psyche is thrust back in time to 1942 and co-exists in Ichiro’s mind.

Bobby King was a 16-year-old bully in 2017. The product of a broken home, with an absent mother and alcoholic father, Bobby has been dealt a horrible hand, and his goal is to take out all his rage, hurt, and disillusionment on anyone and everyone else. Knocked unconscious when an act of vandalism and revenge goes wrong, he awakens to find himself the second personality inside Ichiro’s mind.

The story is filled with characters, both fictional and historical, and the perspective sometimes shifts from Ichiro/Bobby to others to provide context to historical events or circumstances that neither boy is privy to. There are good guys, bad guys, and followers, but Bobby eventually sees how he, too, was a bad actor in his time, similar to the evil Sergeant Weston at the camp. Young readers will clearly get the messages the story conveys, as Bobby’s cruel behavior is often demonstrated, and Sgt. Weston voices his vitriol over and over, often with a compassionate adult present in such scenes to point out the obvious hate and wrongdoing. The Hisakawa family is strong in the face of danger in the camp, heroic considering the ample examples of what happens to those who don’t go along with the gangs. The story goes a little long in setting up Bobby’s situation and the years spent in the camp, and while the chapters are nice sized, the length may discourage young readers.

I recommend THE TWO TERRORS OF TULELAKE to readers of middle-grade historical and science fiction.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours.

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Children's Book Review: Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Exciting and immediately absorbing; I loved it!

Six inner-city teens from the East Coast are flown to California to participate in a summer Wilderness Adventure. The main character, Addy, has never been out of the Bronx and, much like the other city kids, is anxious about the whole trip. Addy is an orphan; her parents died years earlier when she was a little girl, and her grandmother, Bibi, came from Nigeria to take care of her. Addy still has nightmares of losing her mother and father, of the fire, and of needing to know how to escape. Bibi had signed her up for this summer Wilderness Adventure; Addy just wanted to stay home.

Arriving at the Wilderness camp, Addy and the others quickly fall into the routine for the summer program. From the very beginning, Addy realizes that the wilderness, the forest, and the outdoors call to her very soul, and Leo, the camp owner, instinctively sees her as a kindred spirit. Along with Ryder, Leo's dog, the three bond as they begin to systematically explore and map their wild surroundings and record the environmental changes they find - changes to land and animals resulting from never-ending climate change. Leo teaches Addy about maps, topography, and other wilderness skills, and they talk about her returning to continue her studies and work there in the summers to come.

But with the end of summer, the Wilderness Adventure comes to a close, and the teens and their two college-age camp counselors head out for one final challenge, a 3-day hike with overnight tent camping. They've prepared well for this all summer long; however, nothing could prepare them for what they encounter on their first night out.

I loved this book! With interesting young leading characters, all with their own issues and fears, the story evolves, and the tension steadily increases until you find yourself smack in the middle of some honest-to-goodness pulse-pounding action. I almost thought I was breathing the fresh air and, later, choking on ash and embers. The characters were so very engaging that I was much affected as things unfolded. The story easily and totally absorbed me from start to finish.

In addition to the exciting story, the very serious themes of climate change, ecological degradation, and the need for environmental protection come through the action. These concepts with consequences are presented simply and straightforwardly so the youngest readers will understand, and older ones will not feel it's too preachy.

PARADISE ON FIRE is an unforgettable adventure story that is perfect for middle grades, high school, and readers who enjoyed Gary Paulsen's Hatchet.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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