Audiobook Review: Living at the Edge of the World - Spring (Papala Island Adventure, #2) by S.J. Barratt

Living at the Edge of the World - Spring by S.J. Barratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Viking history and modern-day treasure hunters clash on a small, isolated island.

Living at the Edge of the World – Spring is the second book in author S.J. Barratt's Papala Island Adventure series and, once again, excitement visits the tiny, remote island in the Scottish Shetlands. When tween twins Timothy and Tabitha Brown and their friends uncover what may be the most perfectly preserved Viking helmet ever found, their excitement draws unscrupulous thieves to their remote community, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on the valuable ancient artifact!

Readers are returned to Papala Island, a small island on the far reaches of Scotland's Shetland Islands, where Tim and Tabitha are nearing the end of their stay with their Great-uncle Tamhas. With only a few weeks left before their departure and return to their London home, mother, and father, the twins are sad to leave their newfound friends and the close-knit community that made them so welcome. While Tim will miss all the opportunities still available to expand his knowledge of life and the island, Tabitha has really grown up during her sojourn, and the place and its people have become her new life. Her innocent announcement of their discovery of the Viking helmet on her social media accounts, though, has unexpected consequences.

The plot is exciting and full of local lore and nature. Readers who enjoy stories with a lot of interaction with animals will find themselves right at home among the pages. I was glad their leave-taking was gentle, with a proper plan for returning during their upcoming summer break from school. No tearful scenes or traumatic incidents to delay their departure.

Gill Mills narrates the audiobook, and her performance really brings the twins, their friends, and their family to life. While it took me a little while to connect with Mills's accent (so very different from the voices in my part of the world), once I did, I clearly imagined all the characters and the story's excitement and emotions.

I recommend LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD – SPRING to middle-grade readers and listeners, and for reading aloud at home, in the classroom, or at after-school programs.

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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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