I’m back with more middle-grade novels in this third
compilation of 2024. In here, you’ll find Wonderland, Korean mythology and
mischievous magpies.
Beyond the Isle of the Lost (May 7, 2024) by
Melissa de la Cruz.
<This is
the fifth novel in a series.>
You are unwelcome to Wonderland, where the Queen of
Hearts hosts the un-parties of the year, and despite the scrumptious-looking sweets,
no one can ever eat them. Treats are discouraged, especially cupcakes, and
having fun is unacceptable. Birthdays remain illegal. There are so many
ridiculous rules, and Red of Hearts, the Queen’s daughter, loathes the idea of
following in her mom’s red-heeled footsteps. She’s heard that, in faraway Auradon,
they get to do things like sing and laugh and run “around willy-nilly like
little white rabbits.” Red is ready to perform the ultimate rebellion: throw an
actual party! She’s gained two new friends in Chester and Ace, and they’re
on-board with planning this rebellious party. What Red doesn’t know is that
this party will set off a chain of un-events that will have unforeseen
consequences.
Falling
down the rabbit hole to the land of Wonderland is madcap and enchanting in
thrilling, equal measure. It has the fun, adventure, heart and humor that
readers recognize throughout the entire Disney’s Descendants series
with a new protagonist, new friendships and a familiar antagonist (“Off with
their heads!”). It’s been five years since we’ve had a Descendants novel, and
it’s an entertaining treat to read. It’s sweet fuel for my soul, as stylish as
any dessert from Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs, with the tastefully
dark vibes of Gideon’s Bakehouse.
Book
One: Isle of the Lost
Book
Two: Return to the Isle of the Lost
Book
Three: Rise of the Isle of the Lost
Book
Four: Escape from the Isle of the Lost
Fox Snare (Oct. 17, 2023) by Yoon Ha Lee.
<This is
the final novel in a trilogy.>
Being the bearer of the Dragon Pearl carries duty and
weight, which is how Min the fox spirit finds herself involved in a mission to
cement peace between the Thousand Worlds (of which she’s a part of, growing up
on Jinju) and the Sun Clans with her ghost brother, Jun, Sebin the tiger spirit
and Haneul the dragon spirit. Min is surprised to meet Yang Miho, the Thousand
Worlds assistant minister, as she is a fox spirit with a high-ranking title in
a realm that doesn’t think highly of fox spirits. Despite wanting to feel a
natural camaraderie with another fox spirit (and a nine-tailed one, at that!),
she withholds her own fox heritage. After an explosion finds Min, Jun, Sebin
and Haneul in an escape pod, they crash-land on Jasujeong, a planet
claimed by both the Thousand Worlds and the Sun Clans. It’s also said to be the
resting place of the Sejong-Dehwang, a dreadnought with superweapon
capabilities that doesn’t exist on any current or recent battle cruisers,
guarded by its ghosts. The planet is home to plants and creatures unfamiliar to
the group, and Min carries the power to terraform Jasujeong with the Pearl. But
journeying across Jasujeong is tricky, especially when Haneul falls ill.
Someone else has landed on the planet, too, but the character’s goals might not
actually align with Min’s, and that could prove dangerous, not just for her and
the others stranded with her, but for the two nations.
It turns
out that Korean mythology melded with space opera science fiction is a brew
that I never knew I’d enjoy until I read it, and I’ve now read the full
trilogy. Lee’s world-building contains rich detail, dynamic characters and
high-octane adventure that leads to a satisfying conclusion. The story
alternates between Min’s and Sebin’s perspectives. The centuries-long conflict
between the Thousand Worlds and the Sun Clans references the historical
struggle between Korea and Japan in a boldly subtle way. It’s in the smart way
that Lee blends science fiction with Korean culture and folklore that gives
this cohesive trilogy complexity and, I hope, wide appeal amongst teens and
sci-fi-loving adults.
Book
One: Dragon Pearl
Book
Two: Tiger Honor
Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters (Feb. 6,
2024) by Stacey Lee.
<This is
the second novel in a duology.>
Thanks to Winston Chu, his older sister Philippa and his
friends (Mav, Cassa, Bijal and Monroe), San Francisco has been saved from
magpie-turned-human Mr. Pang. They should brush off their hands and enjoy
teenager-hood. Right? Wrong. Now they’ve got to face an even bigger problem and
not only because he’s the front-runner to be San Francisco’s next mayor. He’s
magpie-turned-human Mr. Gu, and he’s Mr. Pang’s brother. Behind Mr. Gu’s sunny
laugh and loudly-colored tropical shirts, he’s hiding something in the
eerily-timed fog around Treasure Island, an island long-abandoned ... or so
everyone thinks. There’s a mysterious flocking of exotic birds to San Fran that
has no obvious explanation. It might have something to do with the CHUs (Community
Hi-tech Units), but could they really be taking humans and turning them into
Birdbrains? There is definitely something fowl going on. The
mischievous mustache is back (when it wants to be), Philippa convinces Sir Huxbury,
the suit of armor, to talk, there are magical Kaleido Beans, a Destiny Racket,
a Mirth Ball and a Banana Mike (yes, that’s correct), and it turns out that
they’re going to need Mr. Pang’s help to best his own brother.
Lee
wraps up her debut middle-grade duology with an action-packed novel that is
part bildungsroman, part chaos-adventure, part magic, and all entertaining,
inspired by Chinese mythology and featuring a racially diverse cast. Winston’s
got a lot of big feelings – pride, anger and jealousy – and he needs to
determine what type of son/brother/friend he wants to be, as the group tries to
save San Francisco again. Those sorcerous magpies sure are troublemakers! This
duology-closer is fun and fantastical, but readers will want to be familiar
with the events of the Whimsies before diving into the Wingmeisters.
Book
One: Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies
No comments:
Post a Comment
You have a book or post-related comment on your mind? Wonderful! Your comments are welcome, but whether you are a regular or guest Rutabaga, I expect you to keep your comments clean and respectable. :-)