Reviewed by Oscar

Rating: High Five

Who I'd Recommend to: Fans of the Lunar Chronicles and Legends of Zero

Synopsis: It's been years since the earth blew up and humans were forced to move throughout the universe. But an army has been taking over planets and enslaving all in their path. But on one planet, they stopped, for there's thousands of resources ripe for the taking. And thousands of alien vehicles...but no colonists. This planet may hold the key to survival of the human race... 

Reviewed by Olivia

Rating: High Five!

Who I'd Recommend to: Fans of Ida B., anything by Katherine Applegate, Kira-Kira, Be Light Like a Bird, Wonder, and other inspiring stories.

Synopsis (from Amazon): 
Heidi’s brother, Donald, is 16 and Autistic. She has always loved playing with him, but now she's 11 and her life is changing. She’s embarrassed to have her brother around and doesn’t want her friends to know about him. High school boys bully him. When the kids at her school find out about him, she gets bullied too. It’s not fair. No one seems to understand. But Heidi needs to understand too. She can't change her brother, but she can change how she feels about him, and she can get people to see why her brother is special.

Reviewed by Olivia (with the help of Oscar)

Rating: High Five

Who We'd Recommend to: We typically don't read comic books, but it seems like anyone who likes comics would love this fantastic series!

About Cartozia Tales (from the website):
Each issue of Cartozia Tales  will feature stories by nine indy cartoonists. Each of us will be bringing his or her separate ideas, imagination, and drawing style to the world that we're sharing. Every issue will be full of surprises, and no one knows where the stories will wind up. 

Cartozia is not quite like any other fantasy world. We might have griffins and goblins, but we've also got vicuñicorns, phibbits, and the Loutra-Merre. And we've planned some secrets that will only be hinted at for the first few issues. 

Reviewed by Olivia

Rating: High Five

Who I'd Recommend to: Fans of Ida B., Pinky Pye, A Mango-Shaped Space, Be Light Like a Bird, Odin's Promise, and Mayday.

​Synopsis: Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.
Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?

Reviewed by Olivia

Rating: High Five!

Who I'd Recommend to: Fans of The Blackthorn Key, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Peter and the Starcatchers.

Synopsis (partly from Amazon):
After the death of his dad, Martin and his mum move into an enormous stately home where they encounter a mysterious being called the Keeper of Portals, who claims to control every portal on the planet, except for the door at the end of Martin's bedroom, which has been sealed for 400 years. One morning, Martin wakes to discover the Keeper of Portals is missing and the door at the end of his bedroom has been opened. Martin steps through the door to find himself in the 17th century where he meets Isabel, the house's maid. Martin and Isabel quickly learn that everything on earth, from time and causality, to pleasantries and buttons, is controlled by its own keeper, but they soon become entangled in a battle against the Keeper of Questions. Their adventures takes them on a journey through time, ending up in London. But when they arrive there they find the town deserted - the Keeper of Questions has control of everyone in London and it won't be long until Martin and Isabel are next.

Reviewed by Olivia

Rating: High Five!

Who I'd Recommend to: Fans of the Land of Stories, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and the Pegasus series.

Synopsis (from Amazon):
Fourteen-year-old Hannah Bradbury loved her father so much that she worried about him constantly. After all, he was a photographer who traveled to the most dangerous places in the world. To allay her fears, each time he came home he brought her silly gifts, each one with supposed magical powers: the Seal of Solomon, the Ring of Gyges, even Aladdin’s Lamp. It was that lamp that Hannah found most unbelievable, for it looked like an ugly teapot. Nevertheless, her father assured her it was real, and made her promise to save her three wishes for something very special. Then . . . six months later . . . the unthinkable happened. Her father was killed while on assignment to Baghdad. And so on the day of his funeral Hannah did something she never thought she would ever do. She took out that teapot and gave it a rub . . . 

Reviewed by Olivia

Rating: High Five

Who We'd Recommend to: Parents looking for a quick, thorough guide on raising a successful child. 

Synopsis (from Amazon):
33 Traits of Successful children is a short, sweet, and practical no-nonsense guide that gives parents ideas on how to help their children focus on life goals and objectives. Discover what is in a successful child's clothing arsenal, learn what to include in your child's Bucket List, learn what is a successful child's G.O.A.L., learn the importance of a Mastermind Group for children, and so much more!

Reviewed by Oscar


Rating: High Five!

Who I'd Recommend To: Fans of Survivor the TV show and survival books.

Synopsis (from Amazon):
Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single-engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a tattered Windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present—and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parent’s divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self pity, or despair—it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than he knew he possessed, to survive.

Reviewed by Olivia

Rating: High Four

Who I'd Recommend to: Fans of Echo, The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and anything by Cornelia Funke. 

Synopsis (from Amazon):
Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Reviewed by Olivia

Rating: High Three

Who I'd Recommend to: Fans of 13 Treasures, Percy Jackson, the Inheritance Cycle, Wings of Fire, and Magyk.

Synopsis (from Amazon): 
For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken -- Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good -- powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.