Tag: Middle Grade

5 Reasons to Read the Balance Keepers Trilogy by Lindsay Cummings

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Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you one of my new favorite book series, the Balance Keepers by Lindsay Cummings. I’ve followed Lindsay’s YouTube channel for years now, and when I found the first book in this series at a library book sale, I knew I had to scoop it up. I don’t read a lot of middle grade novels, so I was nervous this wouldn’t be the series for me. I am so happy to say I fell in love with the Balance Keepers, and I hope to encourage more people to pick up these books. Here are five reasons why you should read the Balance Keepers trilogy by Lindsay Cummings!

The Balance Keepers trilogy is a middle grade fantasy series consisting of The Fires of Calderon, The Pillars of Ponderay, and The Traitor of Belltroll. You can read my full, non-spoiler review of the first book in the series by visiting my Goodreads page HERE.

1. Imaginative Magic System

The first reason I love the Balance Keepers trilogy is the unique magic system. This series takes place in the underground world known as the Core, which works to ensure the Earth above is safe from danger. Our protagonist Albert is a Balance Keeper, and he must work to restore any imbalance in one of the three realms to keep Earth safe. Each Balance Keeper gets one magic power by diving underwater to retrieve a tile with a symbol on it. Whenever you wear your tile in the Core, you get to use its magic power! There are tiles that allow you to speak with animals, tiles that give you an incredible memory, tiles that help you swim, and many more. I loved seeing this magic system come to life, as it encouraged the characters in the book to work together to solve problems.

2. Strong Friendship

Speaking of the characters, another reason to read this trilogy is the strong friendships represented in the story. Albert is put onto Team Hydra with a boy named Leroy and a girl named Birdie when he arrives to the Core. These three become fast friends, and it is wonderful to see how much they care for one another. They work as a team to keep the Core safe, but they also support each other and build each other up if one is feeling sad. It’s also wonderful to see Albert, Leroy, and Birdie grow as friends throughout the trilogy!

3. Exciting Adventures

Another reason to read this series is the aspect of adventure. In addition to competitive training simulations, Team Hydra is always on the move around the Core to discover more information and learn all they can about this new place. Each book also ends up with a trip inside a magical realm, where Albert, Leroy, and Birdie must figure out how to deal with the realm’s unique geography and creatures to help restore its balance. I really enjoy adventure-filled stories, and the Balance Keepers trilogy always keeps me turning pages for more!

4. Magical Creatures

If you are an animal lover, you are going to adore this trilogy! In addition to a wide variety of interesting creatures, this series features a special dog named Farnsworth. While he looks like any normal dog, Farnsworth can actually live for many, many years, and he also has flashlights for eyes! Farnsworth is Albert’s companion creature, and goes with him everywhere he possibly can. It’s so sweet that Farnsworth plays such a big role in the series, and I loved reading about him and the other creatures of the Core.

5. Strong Writing

Last but not least, I think this series stands out because Cummings has a great writing style. This trilogy is aimed at middle grade readers, so it does cater to that audience in terms of the tone. However, the writing can definitely appeal to adults as well. I was very impressed with how Cummings weaves her storylines together. While there is one over-arching plot in the Balance Keepers series as a whole, each book also has a smaller plot that concludes nicely. In addition, I found the series to be quite unpredictable. I could never guess what was going to happen next, and that kept me wanting more. I’m also inspired to read more of  Cummings’s books now that I know I enjoy her writing!

  I hope this blog post introduced you to a new series, and that you will give it a try! These are just some of the reasons I adore the Balance Keepers trilogy, but there are many more, including the character of Pap, Albert’s adorable grandpa. Whether you are already a fan of middle grade fantasy, or you are looking for something out of your comfort zone, I think the Balance Keepers will keep you entertained from start to finish. Please be sure to let me know if you read the series!

What is your favorite middle grade fantasy book? Let me know in the comments!

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Book Review | Soundless by Richelle Mead

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Soundless by Richelle Mead

Published by Razorbill on November 10, 2015

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fantasy

Format: ARC

Pages: 272

Source: BEA

Goodreads: ★★★★

From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever…

REVIEW

I’ve been hearing amazing things about Richelle Mead’s books for years now, but haven’t picked one up until receiving Soundless at Book Expo America (“BEA”) this past May. Soundless is a stand alone fantasy novel following Fei, a young artist who lives in a Chinese village in which everyone is deaf. No one is entirely sure why the people in Fei’s village lost their hearing several generations ago, but now members of her community are losing their vision as well. This poses a danger for them, because they are stuck at the top of a mountain, and their only chance at survival comes by way of a zipline connecting the village with the township at the bottom. So long as Fei’s village sends down the precious metals they mine, they receive food in return, but the more they lose their vision, the less food they receive. Things are looking bleak until one day Fei’s hearing suddenly returns. She decides to use this new ability to make the dangerous trek down the mountain with her childhood friend Li Wei in hopes of saving her community.

What follows is a short but incredibly well-written account of what Fei and Li Wei discover at the bottom of the mountain, and what, if anything, they can do to save their people. I found Soundless a very unique and refreshing story, and I really liked that I never knew what was going to happen next. I was especially fond of all the characters in Soundless, and felt a bond with them throughout the story. Fei, in particular, is an incredible heroine. She is brave, self-sufficient, and always does what is best for her community over what may fulfill her own selfish needs. Richelle Mead does an excellent job creating a heroine who is realistic, yet still surprisingly strong.

My only critique of Soundless is with the ending. In order to keep this review spoiler-free, I will generally explain my disappointments. The ending for me was a bit of a cop out, because it turned an otherwise contemporary-feeling read into a fantasy one. While I still enjoyed the ending overall, I do wish it flowed better from the rest of the novel. Similarly, I found that everything in Soundless wrapped up a bit too easily. I recognize that this is a middle grade novel, though, so that is understandable.

Overall, Soundless is a great read, and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a unique and diverse story. I appreciate that Soundless is a stand-alone fantasy book, as I tend to avoid fantasy due to the long series that are often involved. That being said, I am definitely looking forward to picking up Richelle Mead’s other books now that I know I enjoy her writing.

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Book Review | The Shrunken Head by Lauren Oliver & H.C. Chester (The Curiosity House #1)

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The Shrunken Head (The Curiosity House #1) by Lauren Oliver & H.C. Chester

Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books on September 29, 2015

Genres: Children’s, Middle Grade, Mystery, Urban Fantasy

Format: ARC

Pages: 368

Source: BEA

Goodreads: ★★★★

What you will find in this book:

– A rather attractive bearded lady
– Several scandalous murders
– A deliciously disgusting Amazonian shrunken head
– Four extraordinary children with equally extraordinary abilities
– A quite loquacious talking bird

Blessed with extraordinary abilities, orphans Philippa, Sam, and Thomas have grown up happily in Dumfrey’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders. But when a fourth child, Max, a knife-
thrower, joins the group, it sets off an unforgettable chain of events. When the museum’s Amazonian shrunken head is stolen, the four are determined to get it back. But their search leads them to a series of murders and an explosive secret about their pasts.

This sensational new series combines the unparalleled storytelling gifts of Lauren Oliver with the rich
knowledge of the notorious relics collector H.C. Chester.

What you will NOT find in this book:

– An accountant named Seymour
– A never-ending line at the post office
– Brussel sprouts (shudder)
– A lecture on finishing all your homework on time
– A sweet, gooey story for nice little girls and boys.

REVIEW

I got in a line to meet Lauren Oliver at Book Expo America (“BEA”) this past May and came away with this book, of which I knew nothing. What I got in The Shrunken Head is a fun children’s story that takes place in New York City in the 1930s. The setting is Dumfrey’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders, which just got in a new and exciting oddity – a shrunken head. This head wows audiences and drives crowds to Dumfrey’s until it is stolen. The story follows four children who live and perform at Dumfrey’s as they run around New York trying to find the head and figure out why so many people have mysteriously died since the head’s disappearance.

The Shrunken Head is perfect for fans of Clue and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, as it combines these genres in a new way. Our ‘freaks’ in the story are: Pippa, a mind reader; Thomas, a boy who can fit into any space no matter how small; Max, a knife-throwing girl; and Sam, a scrawny strongman. These four unite to save the museum they call home, and make a great cast of characters. Each child has a well-developed personality individually, but work together really well. In addition, The Shrunken Head has an extended character list that is easy to follow and keep in line.

Moreover, The Shrunken Head is very well written. I loved the funny lines thrown in, and how the mystery aspect of the story is well-crafted. There are just enough hints along the way that make the book fun for adults as well as children. That being said, I do think the storyline is a bit dark for its intended audience of 8-12-year-olds. The Shrunken Head is a murder mystery, so there is a bit of violence, and a discussion of murder and suicide. While there is nothing too graphic, if you are a parent of young children I would keep the subject-matter in mind.

One thing I do really love about the story, though, is the overall message. I think it’s great that The Shrunken Head discusses body image and being different, and how what makes a person good is not what he looks like on the outside. I definitely look forward to seeing the children in The Shrunken Head in another book soon, especially considering the ending of this one!

All in all, I really enjoyed The Shrunken Head. It is a cute and fun story, and can be enjoyed by a wide audience. I look forward to seeing the final version of the book upon its release on September 29, 2015, so I can see the beautiful artwork that is to be included (I only got sneak peeks in my advanced copy!). I definitely recommend The Shrunken Head if it sounds like something up your alley!

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Book Review | The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordon (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2)

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The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #2) by Rick Riordon

Published by Disney Hyperion on January 1, 2006

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Adventure

Format: Paperback

Source: Giveaway

Goodreads:★★★★


The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan’s amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a “half blood” whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan’s series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book’s drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

REVIEW

After completing The Lightning Thief, I decided to continue on with the Percy Jackson series right away and picked up The Sea of Monsters. If you’ve read my review of The Lightning Thief (LINK), you’ll know that my main issue with the book was how closely it paralleled my beloved Harry Potter. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the characters and the adventure, so I hoped the series would adopt more of its own voice as the story continued.

Unfortunately, The Sea of Monsters started off on the wrong foot. There was a syntax error in the first few pages, and a scene at the beginning that closely mirrored the Knight Bus in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I couldn’t believe the similarities, but kept powering through, and I’m so glad I did!

The Sea of Monsters introduces readers to a new character named Tyson, who is a young cyclops. In Percy’s world, cyclopes are very dangerous and thus mistreated by half bloods. I absolutely loved the role Tyson plays in the story, and am impressed with Rick Riordon’s decision to include him. Percy’s journey with Tyson is so touching. It teachers readers about acceptance, and how someone who is a bit different is not necessarily bad. I think it’s amazing that children who read this book will get to see how important it is to be kind and understanding of everyone.

Moreover, The Sea of Monsters is a fast-paced and exciting read. This second book jumps right into the action from the start, and readers are along for the ride without hesitation. While I do wish there was a bit more set-up at the beginning, once I adjusted to the new storyline I was fully invested. Percy is such a great narrator, and his voice makes the book so much fun to read.

Finally, I loved the cliffhanger at the end of The Sea of Monsters. It was a bit predictable, but it was still exciting, and made me want to pick up the next book in the series right away. I was surprised at how short The Sea of Monsters was, but I enjoyed it a great deal, and it was a definite improvement over the first book in the series. I’m excited to continue on and see where Percy’s adventures take him and his friends next!

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Book Review | The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordon (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)

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The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan

Published by Disney Hyperion on July 1, 2005

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Adventure

Pages: 375

Format: Paperback

Source: Giveaway

Goodreads: ★★★


Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends — one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena — Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

REVIEW

I was unfamiliar with Percy Jackson until last year, and was excited when I won a full set of the series in a giveaway. I don’t often read middle grade unless it is a reread, but I was interested to give this a try because it has such a huge fanbase. After reading the first book, I can definitely understand why this series is so loved, but I did have some issues with it.

First and foremost, I was beyond annoyed with the Harry Potter parallels in this story. Our protagonist Percy is a 12-year-old boy who has experienced strange occurrences throughout his childhood that he cannot explain. As it turns out, he’s a half-blood, which means he is the son of a human and a Greek god. Percy goes to Camp Half Blood in Long Island, New York (aka Hogwarts), where he learns more about his special powers and is trained to kill monsters.

Percy becomes part of a trio that goes out on an epic quest in order to prevent a war between the gods of Olympus. He is joined by Annabeth, a very bright young girl, and Grover, a satyr who is a bit of a doofus, but a great friend to Percy. Oh, and did I mention there is a security guard at Camp Half Blood named Argus? I mean, come on, this is truly inspired by Harry Potter, and with every detail that paralleled Harry’s story I wanted to throw the book across the room. I’m sure author Rick Riordon was influenced by Rowling’s work, but whether he intended the similarities or not, I couldn’t believe how replete they were throughout The Lightening Thief.

Moreover, another huge drawback in the story for me was the predictability. I understand this is a middle grade novel that I am reading as an adult, but I was easily able to figure out most of the action by the plethora of hints Riordon drops throughout the novel. With that being said, I was quite frustrated with the ending of the book because it did not flow logically from the story’s set-up. Instead, it felt like Riordon wanted to shock the readers, and he did so with an unexpected twist that was a bit disjointed. That definitely took away some credibility from the book.

Putting those issues aside, however, I really did enjoy The Lightning Thief. The writing style was very well done, and I really liked Percy as a first-person narrator. Percy was a very relatable character, as he was quite imperfect but still incredible at the same time. If I was reading this as a middle schooler, I’d definitely want to be friends with Percy and his gang.

In addition, I loved the road-trip adventure that Percy goes on in this book, and how he needs to fight a variety of monsters along the way. It was really fun how Riordon included Greek mythology in an American setting, and adapted the gods and monsters for the 21st Century. While it took me about 130 pages to really become invested in the world, once I was hooked I couldn’t put the book down and finished the remainder in one day. I’m really looking forward to continuing on in the series and seeing where Percy ends up next!

Thus, if you are looking for a fun, middle grade fantasy, I think Percy Jackson is a great place to start. I know that kids will really enjoy it, but adults who grew up with Harry Potter as I did will need to read this with a grain of salt. I’m hopeful that as the series continues the books will divulge from Harry Potter and take on its own unique identity.

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Book Review | Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Published by Aladdin on September 1, 2000

Genres: Middle Grade, Historial Fiction, Survival

Pages: 272

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Goodreads: ★★★★★

It’s late summer 1793, and the streets of Philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting. Now they include Polly, the serving girl at the Cook Coffeehouse. But fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook doesn’t get a moment to mourn the passing of her childhood playmate. New customers have overrun her family’s coffee shop, located far from the mosquito-infested river, and Mattie’s concerns of fever are all but overshadowed by dreams of growing her family’s small business into a thriving enterprise. But when the fever begins to strike closer to home, Mattie’s struggle to build a new life must give way to a new fight-the fight to stay alive.

REVIEW

Growing up I was a regular at my local library, and one book that I specifically remember checking out on more than one occasion is Fever 1793. It wasn’t until recent years that I discovered it is written by the same author of the acclaimed young adult contemporary Speak – a book I didn’t love despite the hype surrounding it. I’ve been wanting to reread Fever 1793 ever since that discovery, and when I found a used copy at the Strand for $1 I just had to pick it up.

Fever 1793 is the story of young Mattie Cook, a teenager growing up in Philadelphia and helping her widowed mother run a coffeehouse. The story opens with one of Mattie’s childhood friends suddenly dying from the yellow fever, which erupts into a full epidemic throughout her city. Readers follow Mattie as she attempts to escape the disease by leaving Philadelphia for the countryside with her beloved grandfather. Of course, things do not go as planned.

I am very impressed with how deep and emotional Fever 1793 is, especially for a middle grade novel. I grew to love each and every character, and found myself reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion. Mattie is an excellent first-person narrator, and while some of the dialogue in the book can be considered corny by today’s standards, the language stays true to the time period.

In the same way, it is clear the author did substantial research on yellow fever in order to write a historical fiction novel quite focused on the history.  I really liked how each chapter opened with a quotation from primary source material, whether it be a book from the 18th century or a letter from a politician of the time. It added a lot of credibility to the story, and also made the fictional characters seem more real. I also thought it was smart that the novel concluded with a few pages describing the history of the yellow fever. It’s always nice to know precisely what parts of historical fiction are true to history versus created by the author.

All in all, I have nothing but praise for Fever 1793. While my opinion may be biased due to me loving this book as a child, I’m so happy I still enjoyed it as an adult. If you’re looking for a great historical fiction novel, I highly recommend this one. Whether you’re at the middle grade reading level or not, Fever 1793 is bound to be a great read for you.

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