Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 16

It’s been a push to piece together a third middle-grade compilation post, but I made it. In this round, you’ll find Never After heroes vs. Never After ogres, Feast vs. Famine and feisty Mayan gods vs. at least one desperate godborn.

The End of the Story (Dec. 3, 2024) by Melissa de la Cruz.

<This is the fifth and final novel in a pentalogy.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

The Never After crew are back together for one more world-saving adventure. Queen Olga isn’t vanquished. They are looking to locate Sabine, the last surviving fairy, before Queen Olga and her minions do. Sabine is also known as ... Tinker Bell! She must be protected. If the last surviving fairy dies, so does all of Never After. Filomena, Gretel, Jack and Alistair join friends new (like Captain Hook, an adventurer, not a pirate, with a flying ship courtesy of the fairies and a good history with crocodiles) and old. Their search will take them to Neverland and the forever boy, Peter Pan, who’s nothing like the fairy tale mortals know in the human world. There’s an impressive blacksmith’s shop “straight down till morning” in a little-known place called Everland, and the nymphs know all the tea. The Dragon Realm refuses to help them, stating that it’s too soon since they last helped them. Filomena knows what battle they’re referring to, but Jack, Alistair and Gretel do not. Filomena has time-jumped and retains her memories, but few others remember Before, and it’s shredding Filomena up keeping that secret to herself. With evil closing in and mischief afoot, the good friends must figure out how to protect the magic of Never After and conquer Olga once and for all. Then, and only then, might it come to the End of the Story.

            What’s a middle-grade fantasy adventure without some world-saving? There is drama and friendship, ogre-slaying and compassion, dragons and swoop holes. There are hellos to be had and big decisions to make, not only leading up to the End of the Story, but what might happen beyond The End. (As of this posting, there’s no rumor of a spinoff series, but I’d love one.) As with the book’s predecessors in the Never After series, the heroic characters are relatable, courageous and diverse, the plot rapidly unfolds, and Jack eventually remembers. This final tale is exhilarating and the conclusion is satisfying. The author’s given a fresh take on twisted fairy tales, and I’ve enjoyed every spellbinding moment.

            Book One: The Thirteenth Fairy

            Book Two: The Stolen Slippers

            Book Three: The Broken Mirror

            Book Four: The Missing Sword

The Fire Keeper (Sept. 3, 2019) by J.C. Cervantes.

<This is the middle novel in a trilogy.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

The Maya gods required him to write a book, but he’s the one who snuck a secret message in it, visible only to other godborns. Zane Obispo currently resides on a secluded tropical prison, er, island. His family (his mom and Uncle Hondo) and closest friend (Brooks) are there, but life feels far from picturesque. His dog-turned-hellhound, Rosie, isn’t the four-legged companion she was pre-hellhound, and that rift hurts. He’s ready to bust out and go save Hurakan (his godly parent), but there’s the matter of getting off an island that keeps other gods out, but also keeps him trapped inside. Before Zane and Brooks set their plan in motion to leave, a godborn arrives in a boat steered by no one with shadows surrounding her. Renata “Ren” Santiago saw his secret note in the book (she checked it out from the library). Unfortunately, he learns that in inserting that note, he unintentionally put other godborn youth at risk. On top of finding Hurakan, he must find the godborns before the gods do, because they will kill them. And, bonus note, Hurakan is scheduled to be executed. The Fire Keeper may be able to change the future if the god can be located. Zane will do whatever it takes to save his dad, even if it means interacting with Ah-Puch. Even if it means sort of dying.

            I love learning about mythology, especially mythology that’s still new to me, but I struggled with Zane. Yes, he’s desperate to save Hurakan and juggling also saving the godborn children, but his thoughtless haste, while youthful, irritated me. The pacing started off slow, but picked up. This Mayan mythology, middle-grade fantasy is fiery, the plot is busy, and the gods are as feisty as ever. As the middle story in a trilogy, it does fall a bit to middle-book syndrome, like there’s more verbiage than helps move the story along. But with secrets and lives to save, it should satisfy the most voracious of mythology fans.

            Worthy of note (to me): Itzamna, a Maya creator god of the moon, bringer of writing and culture, creator of the calendar, and father to the Bakabs: “I’d much rather read great works, write poetry, play the flute, and float across the starry sky.” Me, too, Itzamna. Me, too.

            Book 1: The Storm Runner

The Last Great Heir (Jan. 28, 2025) by Carina Finn.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

With their thirteenth birthdays around the corner, the fated duel between Merriment Feast and Rue Famine is about to commence. Raised as rivals, Feasts are adept at charms, while Famines excel at potions. Fauret has been under Feast rule for generations, and only Feasts benefit from Feast rule. Their feasting is gluttonous, and those beyond Fauret’s walls are starving. Merriment’s life has been like one big party, filled with beautiful attire and no shortage of delectable pastries. Rue’s life has been monotone in comparison, filled with studies and learning how to use her magic to help others. One has grueling studies under a tyrannical aunt, the other studies without the guidance she needs. They’ve never met, but they have more in common than they realize, including a common enemy.

            A tale of female heirs dueling to the death reminds me of Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns series, but the comparison ends there. Whereas Blake’s series is YA and quite dark + violent, this story is middle-grade and only mildly gloomy. The Feast and Famine series opener receives much fanfare, but what should be a fantastical, sparkling debut loses some of its luster in its lack of smooth plotting and a later-in-the-story reveal that needs more backstory. There definitely could’ve been more worldbuilding, but I do feel I was able to distinguish between Rue’s and Merri’s voices. There are sincere moments, the setting is charming, and the premise has great promise. My favorite characters just might be the fickle, mercurial demons, with specific shoutout to Jahi.

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 7

Hello! Here I am with my second middle-grade (MG) compilation post of 2025. Do you read MG novels? Why or why not?

Isle of Ever (Mar. 25, 2025) by Jen Calonita.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

They manage to squeak on by, but 12-year-old Everly “Benny” Benedict and her mom are broke most of the time. Imagine their surprise when a lawyer shows up, looking for Benny. He informs her that she’s heir to the vast fortune of Evelyn Terry, a mysterious ancestor from the 1800s! How she knew that Benny would exist in 2025 is anybody’s guess, but this news is amazing and possibly too good to be true. In order to actually obtain the inheritance, she has to play a game following Evelyn’s clues and win it. She must find Evelyn’s Island, which doesn’t exist on any map. It’s been 200 years since Evelyn found it, and she watched it disappear during a Blood Orange Moon. Always having moved so often, Benny’s finally found two friends in Zara Dabney and Ryan Gale. She’s going to need their help. The puzzle may have been waiting two centuries for her to come along, but she’s only got two weeks to solve it! If she doesn’t, a rival family can buy out the Terry estate shares (the Rudd family also exists during Evelyn’s time), and Benny and her mom will go back to scraping by. Benny loves puzzles, so Benny knows she can win. She’s determined to!

            In this genre-bending, middle-grade series starter, red herrings and a major cliffhanger enhance this tale. It’s absorbing from the beginning, a fantasy adventure that’s part mystery that also blends in history and a dash of magic. The magical nature doesn’t get carried away. In fact, the realistic depictions of Benny’s preteen moodiness and sometimes frustration with her mom ground the story. The contemporary timeline is interspersed with Evelyn’s journal entries, newspaper clippings and other notes. The first in the Isle of Ever series features an engaging, puzzle-centric quest in a fast-paced storyline seamlessly bridging the past with the present.

Pahua and the Dragon’s Secret (Sept. 10, 2024) by Lori M. Lee.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

She’s the reincarnation of Shee Yee, known as the greatest warrior of all time and graced with athletic finesse. In the here and now, she’s Pahua Moua, a skinny 11-year-old with about zero athletic grace and no warrior training. Pahua has the chance to attend a shaman school in Minnesota to receive proper training, but she must first fulfill a quest. She has to repair the second seal that imprisons Xov, the god of thunder, destruction and wrath. To do that, she must retrieve metallic dragon scales, find the hidden prison and transmute successfully. That’d be a remarkable challenge for a trained shaman warrior, but for the untrained Pahua? Yikes! She’s got her trusted-but-sarcastic cat spirit, Miv, and tough-but-bratty, shaman-in-training friend Zhong. Pahua encounters a rooster spirit called Rou, and they meet Yulong in the Land of Dragons, which doesn’t go so smoothly at first (Zhong tries to kill him). They find the truth stone, which has significance to their journey, though it isn’t known right away, and Zhong becomes unhealthily fanatic about it. Pahua understands that magic is circular, but that doesn’t make knowing that she’ll have to give an equally powerful sacrifice in return any easier.

            If being a preteen is tricky, then being the preteen reincarnation of a great warrior is dangerously tricky. The danger doesn’t overwhelm the characters’ wit. This second in the contemporary, fantasy adventure, Hmong-mythology-filled, Pahua Moua series is imbued with fast pacing, clever plotting, imaginative world-building and an excellent cast. Her love of her family is visible, and her self-doubt only makes her more relatable. Lee’s Pahua stories are steeped in culture and abundant in meaning, but are also entertaining adventures to read. While I’ve enjoyed every story I’ve read from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint – and I’ve read many of them – Lee’s stories are definite standouts. Go forth, readers, and be the brave, fierce warriors that life needs you to be. Just beware of the phim nyuj vais. That demon wants to feast on your intestines.

            Book One: Pahua and the Soul Stealer

Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares (Aug. 3, 2021) by Tehlor Kay Mejia.

<This is the middle novel in a trilogy.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

Six months have passed since La Llorona, and Paola Santiago would never have guessed that life would be what it is now. She’s barely speaking to her best friends, Dante Mata and Emma Lockwood. Dante seems to resent Paola in a big, big way, and Emma is busy with the Rainbow Rogues, a school group. Her mom is distracted by her blond-haired boyfriend. At least Paola has her loyal chupacabra puppy, Bruto, but Bruto can’t fend off the nightmares that have returned. Paola finds herself in a forest of nightmares – sometimes with multiple pairs of watching eyes – and at its center is her estranged father. He’s more of an enigma, as she hardly remembers him. Dante’s abuela (Señora Mata) has even shown up in her dreams and knows her as Maria (that’s Paola’s mom). When Señora Mata falls mysteriously ill, she barely convinces Dante to go on a search for her father to help Dante’s grandmother. She gains an ally – albeit a sarcastic one – in a lone Niña and a sweet duendecillo called Estrella. She’ll need all the help she can get, because fighting El Autostopisto alone will be impossible, and she has to somehow get from Arizona to Oregon on the funds of a 12-year-old (so, she’s mostly broke). There are new and terrifying monsters to clash with, a devastating betrayal to bear and a nightmare forest to confront. At the end of it all, is the man in her dreams really her father? Or a nightmare wearing his face?

            Mejia draws on her Mexican heritage for the second entry in the Paola Santiago series. It’s a story filled with magic and folklore and is layered with realistic concerns that can surround minorities in dealing with police and healthcare and real-life drama within friend groups (though likely without magically transforming Arma del Almas). Paola’s drive to find her father makes this a fast-paced, paranormal fantasy, middle-grade story. She’s got heart, but also sass, and she’s clever, but also makes mistakes. The tale can be mysteriously spooky and fabulously courageous and is incredibly, emotionally honest.

            Book One: Paola Santiago and the River of Tears

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 2

Hello, dear visitor! Welcome to my first middle-grade (MG) compilation post of 2025. I firmly believe that MG stories can be easily enjoyed by adults as well as youth. Don’t knock it because it’s MG. Open your minds and your imaginations. You never know what doors will open for you!

The House at the Edge of Magic (Jan. 7, 2021/UK edition) by Amy Sparkes.

<This is the first book in a series.>

An orphan pickpocket knocks on a tiny door that grows into a sizable higgledy-piggledy house. Nine knows nothing of her origin, and the only possession her baby self came with was a treasured music box, which is in the literal clutches of Pockets, the grimy man who took her in and who, apparently, never gets strawberries. Life’s circumstances have made Nine cynical from a young age, and she has not an altruistic bone in her body. To say the word “sorry” is almost painful for her. The house, cursed by a witch, houses an eccentric group. There’s Flabberghast, a young wizard and champion hopscotch-er, Eric, a troll housekeeper whose most beloved possession is his feather duster, and Dr. Spoon, an alchemist who really is a sword-wielding wooden spoon. Nine will be the one to help end the curse, because she’s the one who knocked. There’s a life-changing reward in it for her, but is she ready for a zapping cabinet, acid dung, a burping sugar bowl and a clever witch? A room with a dark purple door has chosen her, because “the House at the Edge of Magic has manners” (unlike Nine), but the toilet is never in the same spot and has reportedly grown teeth (so “Sit down very carefully”), and there’s a skeleton in the closet. For real. He’d like his ribs dusted.

            An eccentric group, a house that can’t move because it’s missing its toad tongue and magic mix together to craft a delightful, middle-grade adventure. It’s filled with wonder and mayhem, ferocity and hidden vulnerability, with clever world-building and characters that you want to root for, no matter how ridiculous or rough-around-the-edges. It’s an adventure story, but the main character may find herself learning the significance of friendship, teamwork and compassion. If you found the House at the Edge of Magic, would you knock on its door?

The Lost Library (Aug. 29, 2023) by Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass.

<This is a standalone novel.>

A mysterious little free library has popped up overnight in the small town of Martinville. It’s guarded by a large orange cat called dear cat/Goldie/Sunshine, but his name is Mortimer. Seeing it on his way to school, 11-year-old Evan McClelland plucks two books from its shelves and later realizes they’re books from the former Martinville Library, which burned down 20 years ago. As Evan looks through the books, he discusses with his best friend, Rafe, that one book was checked out multiple times by his father. The other had one checkout to H.G. Higgins, a famous mystery writer. Evan thinks this writer had something to do with the mystery fire, a cause for which was never determined. There is an unknown past in his town, and Evan seeks to find the answers as he also navigates his anxiety about entering middle school. At one point, visiting the History House, he’s able to talk to Al (short for Assistant Librarian), a ghost woman, who resides in the House with ghost residents Ms. Scoggin and Mr. Brock. All three perished in the library fire. Al has struggled to remain invisible to others, and Ms. Scoggin reminds her to, “Take your place, my dear!” Ms. Scoggin’s Reminders and Criticisms have been a constant since Al first started at the library as a 17-year-old. It’s a constant that’s about to change. Is Al ready? Is Evan?

            A contemporary, middle-grade novel with light supernatural elements, “The Lost Library” is a timeless ode to libraries, books that take readers to an infinite number of places, making “rooms and rooms up here” in readers’ minds, and the amazing librarians who know the power of reading. The fast pacing, well-rounded characters (even though physical character descriptions are mostly absent) and courage of this crafty, softly mysterious tale make for a dynamic, wholesome, engaging page-turner that’s full of heart and quiet magic. I adored it!

Tristan Strong Keeps Punching (Oct. 5, 2021) by Kwame Mbalia.

<This is the final novel in a trilogy.>

<Possible spoilers ahead.>

Hm, should Tristan Strong be on fire like that? Tristan is angry, and that uncontrolled anger “is chaotic at best.” He’s searching for his Alkean friends, now in this world, including Anansi’s son Junior. Anansi remains trapped in the SBP (Story Box Phone), though he continues to plead for his release. Or he will, once he sees Nyame again. Tristan’s also been pulled into a mystery involving missing children. The haintiest haint of them all, his foe King Cotton, must be behind it, but he has help, and not only from his monsters, but other troublesome haints. They’re snatching children as well as spirits, but for what nefarious purpose? Tristan reunites with Ayanna and manages to find Gum Baby. Old Familiar is around, too, but look sharp, because he isn’t only in his giant shadow crow form. Tristan must learn to overcome his impetuousness and harness his anger to use it as a tool to rid the world of his archenemy once and for all. “STRONGS ON THE MOVE,” and this Strong keeps punching.

            This book, along with the entire trilogy, is a triumphant adventure with superb world-building, standout characters and antagonists to make one’s skin crawl, featuring West African and African American mythology. Tristan’s recklessness is grating, especially when his choices tend to affect others outside of him, like children, but he’s still a hero to root for, because readers trust that he’ll remember his strength as an Anansesem (storyteller) and his family, blood-related and not. The story is compelling; its fantasy and action is fast-paced. There isn’t humor without heartbreak, the playful scenes balancing the serious climate and weight of the world. It’s a satisfying conclusion, and I would happily read a spin-off series.

            Book 1: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

            Book 2: Tristan Strong Destroys the World

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 14

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

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 2

I’m next out the compilation gate with a middle-grade post. In this entry, you’ll find mythology and a legendary, magical chocolatier.

Fury of the Dragon Goddess (Aug. 1, 2023) by Sarwat Chadda.

<This is a sequel novel.>

What would life be without Lugal (Mesopotamian word for war leader), the Mesopotamian god of madness, and his dear old mum, Tiamat, the great dragon goddess of chaos and mother of all monsters? Vacation. Definitely a vacation. Instead, Sikander (Sik) Aziz’s first time in London is anything but a vacation with his brother’s blemish-averse best friend, Daoud, his sort-of demon friend Rabisu and fierce, Kasusu-wielding Belet. They retrieve an ancient clay tablet, the mythic tablet of destinies, amidst a castle of chaos and fire. Sik unwittingly uses it to bring his brother, Mo, back, not initially realizing at what terrible cost. Sik’s troubles only increase alarmingly when the tablet is stolen and Belet’s taken, too. He tries to save her once and is alarmed when she doesn’t recognize him as the Sik whom she defeated Nergal alongside. She doesn’t remember Kasusu, either. Sik gets buried alive in concrete with no one but the ghosts of Bethlem Hospital (better known as Bedlam, a real place, and “a word now forever associated with uproar and discord,” p. 212) to keep him in mind-spiraling company, making it a very long two days. While Sik thinks someone else should take on the ancient gods of Mesopotamia, the fate of the world will, once again, rest on 14-year-old Sik’s shoulders.

            This follow-up to “City of the Plague God” packs in tidal waves of action and earth-shattering adventure of the Mesopotamian mythology sort, where readers encounter terms that are Arabic, Islamic and Mesopotamian (Per Chadda: While all Islamic terms are Arabic, not all Arabic terms are Islamic). “Fury” contains emotional range (not only fury, mind you, though there is that) and humanity amidst danger and chaos. Chadda doesn’t hold back, sprinkling in scenes containing xenophobia and Islamophobia and calling out Western theft of cultural artifacts with deftness that doesn’t take away from the action and adventure of the story. He also deftly and delicately explains the Muslim belief in one God (Allah) alongside the Mesopotamian deities: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. Mama calls them djinn, and that works well enough. She sees them as spirits that decided to defy Allah and make mischief among humanity” (p. 135). For fans of mythology, this multitudes-containing epic tale written by a master storyteller is a must!

            Notable lines: “The desire to make the world a better place. That is the ultimate jihad” (p. 237). (A jihad is “a righteous struggle.”)

            Book One: City of the Plague God

The Spirit Glass (Sept. 5, 2023) by Roshani Chokshi.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Age 12 cannot come fast enough for Corazon Lopez, for that is the age that she can finally begin training as a babaylan, a rare mortal who guards the boundaries between the human world and the realm of spirits, under the teaching of Aunt Tina. When her magic awakens, she plans to bring her parents, Emilio and Althea, back to life, no longer needing to rely on the soul key that allows them to visit for a few hours every Saturday evening. A regular visit to the Midnight Bridge – a bridge between the human and spirit realms – brings an encounter with a vengeful ghost, who steals Corazon’s precious soul key. Aunt Tina tells her she must retrieve the key, so they can help the ghost move on, but the ghost refuses to rest. She’s looking for her “light.” With her on this quest is Saso (short for Samson), her companion anito. “They are the spirits of mountain rivers, streams and trees. The more powerful the babaylan, the more powerful and impressive the companion anito.” (Possibly the most impressive thing about Saso is his imagination. He says he’s a crocodile, but he looks like a small, blue gecko.) They also encounter Leo, a spirit guide who wants to write a ghost story. The spirit realm is imbalanced, and it must be restored, so says Librarian Bulosan, a kapre, which is “a tree giant who is often depicted as exceptionally hairy and fond of cigars.” Corazon will have to get two blessings and, at one point, calls on the assistance of a manananggal, depicted as beautiful (as opposed to hideously scary), and looks like a flying torso carrying Legs. Yes, her legs are named Legs. They must overcome insurmountable odds and right what is imbalanced.

Imagine my disappointment when I learned that this was a standalone novel and not the start of a new series delving into Filipino mythology! I didn’t think Chokshi could create a character more entertaining than Aru Shah, but she achieves that with this story that contains laugh-out-loud humor, but also imbues sorrow. Saso’s bloodthirsty personality is what had me in stitches. Just as magical transactions are known when they’re fair trades, a system of bargains and balances, so this story is well-balanced with comedy and tragedy. It’s a spellbinding middle-grade novel with an adventurous plot and excellent prose. Standalone though it is, it’s a new fantasy classic!

P.S. I want to live in a sentient house that sneaks pancit defiantly into my lunch bag!

 Wonka (Dec. 19, 2023) by Sibéal Pounder.

   Inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

   Based on the screenplay by Simon Farnaby and Paul King.

   Story by Paul King.

<This is a media tie-in novel.>

Before there was Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka’s giant-yet-mysterious chocolate factory, before there were Scrumdiddlyumptious bars and golden tickets, there was a much younger Willy Wonka. A Willy Wonka full of magical, chocolaty dreams, where a “little orange man with the green hair” (an Oompa-Loompa) is real to Wonka but make-believe to everyone else, and chocolate creations such as the Hoverchoc, which will cause a person to levitate, exist. This Wonka is far from his chocolate factory. His reality is that he doesn’t even own a small kiosk, much less a storefront. He can’t with the Galeries Gourmet a.k.a. the Chocolate Cartel. Slugworth, Fickelgruber and Prodnose keep a record of their dirty deeds in a green ledger. It’s kept in a secured vault, guarded by a corrupt cleric and 500 chocoholic monks. The Chief of Police’s face isn’t clean, either. His face is stuffed with chocolate. To make matters worse, when Wonka neglects to read the fine print (Noodle, an orphan, did try to forewarn him), he winds up as a washhouse worker. It’ll take him 27 years, 4 months and 16 days to make up what the crooked Mrs. Scrubitt and Mr. Bleacher claim he owes in silver sovereigns. Wonka has company with others who failed to read the fine print: Abacus Crunch (Chartered Accountant), Piper Benz (plumber by trade), Larry Chucklesworth (professional clown) and Lottie Bell (switchboard operator). Wonka is full of dreams. How can he turn those dreams into reality?

            Although I’ve yet to watch the film of the same title, Willy Wonka is a classic character. When I spotted this movie tie-in novel at my local library, I jumped at the opportunity to be the first checkout. This origin story, written by Pounder, is a delectably fizzy blend of magic and mayhem, cocoa-filled dreams and hearty emotion with sprinkles of humor and dashes of cunning. The story’s adversaries are as easy to despise as lima beans (I simply don’t like them), while Wonka and his washhouse cohort are easy to root for. The storyline can be followed with ease, and the sugary magic is intoxicating. The worm water, on the other hand, I’d keep a great distance from. In fact, I’d eat lima beans instead. Happy trails as you live in a world of pure imagination!

Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 13

It’s not a competition, but I think middle-grade (MG) is winning. It’s almost year-end, but I’m back with the third MG compilation post of this year!

It’s Showtime, Kavi (July 1, 2023) by Varsha Bajaj.

   Parvati Pillai, illustrator.

Where her eight-year-old brother, Rishi, wants to be an aspiring doctor, diagnosing everything by ending it in –itis, Kavi Sharma has a passion for music and performing. Kavi and her best friends, Pari and Sophie, sign up to perform in their school’s revue. To participate, students must be in good academic standing, so it’s not a good sign when Kavi receives her first tardy ever (the day their mom returns to the workforce) and flunks a pop quiz in science class the following day because she didn’t do her homework (because she forgot her textbook at school). As Rishi would say, Kavi’s got a bad case of Broadwayitis. When Kavi wants to quit, Rishi wonders if she has quitteritis. When it all comes out in the open, and she knows it’s okay to ask for help, things turn around and scholaritis sets in. Kavi isn’t the most organized person, but she’s definitely determined. Her family’s behind her, including Scamper, their dog, and the show must go on!

            This is an illustrated middle-grade novel marketed for what I’d consider younger middle-grade readers. However, Girl of the Year (GOTY) 2023 Kavi is older than most of the characters at 12 years old (they’re typically around nine or ten). She’s American Girl’s first GOTY of South Asian descent, and I love the cultural flair the story has. Pillai’s illustrations are bold and colorful, but the ones featuring Indian dress are what pull me in the most. It also feels real, from the weight of juggling schoolwork with extra-curriculars and/or lessons to feeling so overwhelmed that quitting seems like the best option. The story flowed well and didn’t feel contrived. It has me wanting to eat samosas and Dadima’s cookies (dadima is your dad’s mother in Hindi), learn a Bollywood dance and own a sari.

Never After: The Broken Mirror (Dec. 6, 2022) by Melissa de la Cruz.

<This is the third novel in a series.>

Their loads are light as they trek to Snow Country, but only because Robin Hood and his band of thieves have stolen their possessions. Robin Hood robs from the poor to give to the rich. Yes, that’s correct. Filomena Jefferson-Cho, Jack the Giant Stalker, Alistair Bartholemew Barnaby (Ali Baba), Gretel the Cobbler’s Daughter, Byron Bessley (formerly Beast) and [Princess] Beatrice are off to Snow Country after a detour to aid Princess Jeanne of Northphalia by rescuing Lord Sharif (Riff) of Nottingham. They must also find her crown before King Richard (not a real king) can take her head and her crown. New lines of the prophecy state that “Only the League of Seven can save the lands” from the ogres. Who’s the League of Seven? Are they seven DWARVES (actually giants; it’s an acronym for Dwayne’s Army of Really Very Extra-Large Soldiers)? Are they seven swan brothers? Whoever they are, they must be fearless, and they are needed. Hortense’s Prince Charlie has been turned into a frog, the fairy Colette’s whereabouts are unknown, and word comes that the fairy, Zera (Scheherazade), has been captured by one conspiring with Olga (the ogre queen) and Cinderella (her evil ogre daughter). Filomena is also wrought with worry over her adoptive mom back home in North Pasadena, California, as she’s fallen sick, and the doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong with her. They make new friends along the way, namely, Rose Red (Rosie), daughter of Snow White/Colette. With the ogres and their evilness spread far and wide, perhaps even into the mortal world, how can Filomena and her friends save Never After?

            de la Cruz’s third fractured fairy tale in The Chronicles of Never After is another win. The story is engaging and delightful with high-spirited adventure and young heroes navigating feelings of helplessness and fear as they’re also trying to save a land they love. There’s magical enjoyment and emotional depth in this absorbing middle-grade fantasy. Real world and the fantasy world don’t collide so much as segue from one to the other, and the author has a knack for making it read seamlessly. It contains racially diverse characters with casual mentions of food and drink which may not be familiar to all readers, like when Hortense wants to drink dohwa-cha or peach blossom tea (a traditional Korean tea). Entertainment value is high, but it isn’t without intense scenes, as death does happen in Never After. It’s a land I’d love to visit, perhaps live in part-time, thus becoming biportal, but I’ll wait to visit until after Filomena and her friends defeat the ogres.

            P.S. This is a small thing, but the part that niggles at me are her poems. I didn’t like their flow. Like, I’m reading it in my head and get into a rhythm, a tempo, but the lines (verses) don’t match up. The poems are like puzzle pieces that should fit together but don’t quite.

            Book One: The Thirteenth Fairy

            Book Two: The Stolen Slippers

Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies (Feb. 7, 2023) by Stacey Lee.

<This is the first novel in a duology.>

Shenanigans arise for 12-year-old Winston Chu when he inadvertently halts a robbery and winds up with a broom and dustpan as a reward from Mr. Pang’s Whimsies, an oddities shop in San Francisco’s Chinatown that smells like popcorn. He might’ve first touched the KICK-ME BOOTS, FAR-SEEING EYEBALLS or the EGGS OF TRUTH. Even the HOVERING PIZZA SWAT (CAUTION: HOT) would’ve been far more significant than a broom. And dustpan. Feeling defeated, Winston takes his two-for-one “reward” to the home he shares with his crotchety older sister, Philippa, his “threenager” little sister, Coco, and their hard-working mom, Willa, single since their military-translator dad, Philip, was killed in a friendly fire incident in Iraq. It’s after the broom and dustpan return home with him that beloved possessions go missing, from Philippa’s Babar the Elephant to Lucky (Winston’s goldfish) and even his only soccer jersey. Coco’s different, too; she’s now Not-Coco. Winston only has five days to find the changeling Chang-Ah-Ling and switch them back. Winston won’t be alone. He has his soccer mates and friends: Maverick (Mav) McFee, Cassa Kowalski and Bijal (last name unmentioned). He might even have Dani Kim, the cute and talented niece of his cooking instructor, who wears a seemingly magical cocktail umbrella behind her ear. Answers may come from the cloud weaver and her husband, the cowherd, if they’re willing to work as a team. Warning: a dance-off seems imminent. Prepare to avoid the object’s sharp and poisonous needles. No pressure.

            East and west collide in this contemporary middle-grade novel that re-imagines a Chinese folktale full of magic, mayhem, a go-to boba shop and friendship. The tale has middle-school smart-mouthing, but it’s also heartfelt. Themes of family and friendship and working through grief help bind the cleverly-written, fast-paced, action-filled story. I appreciate that Lee has created a racially diverse cast (Bijal cues as South Asian, Mav has some Senegalese ancestry, Dani’s name hints as Korean and Cassa interprets as Caucasian). This adventure from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint is a win, and I look forward to more magical mischief and mirthful hijinks in the next installment. Look out for the Fire-Weiler and the Were-Bear. The mustache is up to mischief, but may come in handy, too. For anyone who ventures into this story, keep a weather eye open for all of those whimsically wicked objects!

            P.S. I could use a Brain Strainer. It will “seep stress away.”

            Also by Stacey Lee: Luck of the Titanic (YA)

"Last Canto of the Dead" by Daniel José Older

Last Canto of the Dead (May 16, 2023) by Daniel José Older.

<This is the sequel novel in a duology.>

One’s a brilliant pianist who sees a world made of music (Mateo Matisse Medina), the other a fierce force of nature who’s a terrific dancer but a terrible singer (Chela Hidalgo). Both are just kids, chaotic teenagers. But both are also ancient spirits in human form. Galanika the Healer (Mateo). Okanla the Destroyer and San Madrigal the Creator (Chela). They have raised the once-sunken native island of San Madrigal from the Caribbean Sea, but the problems aren’t over. Two creature armies battle for control and survival on San Madrigal (bambarúto are bad enough, but now there are zambarúto?! why?) and in Brooklyn, New York, a tight-knit community is riddled with division. People are being arrested by their own people for made-up reasons and usually for no reason at all. Cops never patrolled the streets of Little Madrigal, but they’re there now. Chela lets her tether to the risen island keep her there. She’s got Odé Kan, an antlered hunter spirit who’s fearless and ferocious. (She’s the hunter of hearts or the first hunter: “Depends on who you ask, or how I’m feeling, really.”) Meanwhile, Mateo returns to Brooklyn, dodging cops while trying to find answers for Chela. His science-minded doctor-parents have returned, too, and that relationship is tense. He avoids his dad, especially, until he can’t. Until his dad calls him, frantic, because his mom’s been arrested. Mateo and Chela may house immortal spirits, but they’re still teens. They’re trying to figure things out even as others around them look to them for leadership and a plan. Will the prophecy keep them apart for good? What will happen to their people, their newly-raised island?

            Musician. Healer. Creator. Destroyer. Older has magic of his own, for he’s able to make writing this complex story look effortless. There’s musicality, racial and ethnic diversity, community division, standout main and supporting characters, a plot continually on the move and great world-building. Older writes Mateo and Chela with authentic teen voices, making it easy for readers to become invested in the characters’ reality and want them to find the solution to save their island and their people and just be a real couple. The sequel book in the thrilling Outlaw Saints duology is a magical bildungsroman with a satisfying conclusion and is a book as strong as its predecessor.

            Book One: Ballad & Dagger

"The Last Fallen Realm" by Graci Kim

The Last Fallen Realm (June 6, 2023) by Graci Kim.

*This is the final novel in a trilogy.*

*Casual spoilers included for those who haven’t read the previous books.*

The last fallen star (Riley Oh) and the last fallen moon (her soul-twin and newly adopted brother, Dahl Oh) are expected to lead the Gifted Clans into the Age of the Final Eclipse. Riley doesn’t have Dahl’s swagger or Hattie’s (her older sister by one month) conviction. They are both born leaders. But Riley’s a 13-year-old with no gifted powers, despite technically being a divine celestial being, and zero leadership qualities. And now the fabric amongst the realms is tearing, allowing divine creatures to visit other worlds. There’s a bulgae (fire dog) from the Godrealm in the Mortalrealm and a certain imugi (a creature that’s part snake and part yong) of the Spiritrealm also pops up in the Mortalrealm. The remaining goddesses, the daughters of Mago Halmi, are acquiring an army to prepare for one MegaRealm. Two of the goddesses are deceased, but the Three-Legged Crow, Nine-Tailed Fox, Mountain Tiger and Moon Rabbit Goddesses are stirring up trouble for Riley and company. She needs to retrieve Mago’s Fire (disguised as a fidget spinner) and the key of all keys. She knows that those two items will unlock her and Dahl’s true potential and then they can save the realms from the goddesses.

            Prepare yourself for a Korean mythology-filled adventure involving talking moon bunnies, a mini-golf competition that might involve death and magical gummy candies. It’s a world of wondrous world-building (picture “folded space”), fast pacing, realms-wide technology, Korean magic and the awkwardness of new, young love. Readers see Riley grow from the wallflower she’s comfortable being into the heroine she’s always had the potential to be. The cast of characters is innovative but also sympathetic. Themes of family and friendship prevail. The final middle-grade novel in the Gifted Clans trilogy is high-stakes and completely satisfying. The story has a lot of heart, but humor, too. It is a triumph.

            Book One: The Last Fallen Star

            Book Two: The Last Fallen Moon

Rutabaga's Reads 2023: Part 4

In this compilation, you’ll find two familiar and one new-to-me author. This isn’t on purpose, but all stories are part of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears (Aug. 4, 2020) by Tehlor Kay Mejia.

*This is the first novel in a trilogy.*

            Stay away from the Gila River, as it is a place where children mysteriously disappear, a place where monsters of myth lurk. 12-year-old Paolo Santiago prefers science and logic, would rather obsess over outer space or ponder the wonders of algae as a fuel, than heed her mother’s stories of La Llorona, the wailing ghost mother who drowned her own children and now seeks others to drag into the river, or any other stories of legend. Major. Eye. Roll. She blames her mom for why no one takes people like them seriously, like the local police when her best friend, Emma Lockwood, goes missing. Together with her other best friend, Dante Mata, they will take refuge with Los Niños de la Luz, an army of child warriors who don’t age as long as they help guard the world’s liminal spaces. The third quarter is approaching as well as the solstice, which is a double whammy. It turns out Pao’s mom was right. Things like chupacabras and manos pachonas (i.e. disembodied hands) exist, but so do fantastical weapons like the Arma del Alma. Pao and Dante will help the niños, but her priority is saving Emma. Into the rift she’ll go to confront relentless spirits (ahogados) and other monsters like lechuzas (shape-shifting witches). But who is the biggest bad of all? Who is Ondina, because she’s no typical ahogado? As if being 12 doesn’t have its own growing pains and the emergence of “boy-girl weirdness” between her and Dante, logic has sailed out the window while the stuff of myth has moved right in.

            Although I initially struggled with Pao’s brattiness, I was still swept up in Mejia’s Mexican legend and how the author draws on her Latinx heritage to conjure creatures of lore and meld them with the contemporary world. Despite the fantasy element, there are realistic plot points: socioeconomic differences and immigration status and the stereotypes associated with both. Probably all of Pao’s bratty behavior and bad attitude stem from anger issues and her inability to forgive others. The mother-daughter strife is real and deep; Pao’s been trying to push away her Mexican ancestry too long. The imagery of the story is colorful, the prose engaging, and the mindset of an angry, insecure preteen tumultuous and therefore believable. Action is plentiful, the southwestern setting is full of cacti, and there is good character development. Many should be able to understand the scattered Spanish phrases by context if they do not outright know them. I plan to continue the series. After all, how can I resist a world full of sinister magical forces?

            Clever line: “Her anger was the perfect breeding ground for this supernatural bacteria.” (p. 294, paperback ed.)

Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe (May 5, 2020) by Carlos Hernandez.

*This is the second novel in a series.*

Three weeks have passed since Sal & Gabi saved Iggy, but life is anything but calm. Culeco Academy is in the midst of tech week. They’re preparing for Rompenoche, and they will break the night with their performance of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for parent-teacher conference night. Sal’s encountered “FixGabi,” who’s popped in from another universe, and has told Sal that Papi Vidón, a calamity physicist, will create a remembranation machine that will close all the holes (tears) in the multiverse, but instead of fixing it, will break the world that Sal lives in. FixGabi lost her own Sal, but says there’s nothing to worry about until the remembranation machine becomes sentient, and, well, it asked Sal this morning if it was alive, and Sal said yes, so ... whoops? Maybe? I mean, FixGabi isn’t exactly like his own Gabi, but he can still trust her. Right? What Sal does know is that, when the machine is on, he feels “as empty as a grave without a ghost. Just a soulless corpse.” On top of that, he wants Yasmany to find a new home and winds up co-directing Culeco’s performance after he’s too truthful (the biggest sandwich of them all). Sal’s a showman, but that’s a lot for even him to juggle. He isn’t on his own, what with the Gabi from his own universe, and Yasmany, who’s now his friend (quite a difference from mere weeks ago when Yasmany wanted to beat him up), though Yasmany knows nothing of multiverses. There’s also his AI friends: Sweeps, the entropy sweeper, Brana, the remembranation machine, and Vorágine, the talking toilet. Yes, you read that correctly. A talking toilet. Whether breaking or destroying or fixing, just this one universe has enough going on!

            The sophomore installment in the Sal & Gabi Series is the best kind of calamitous, for it’s a “wonderboom” of high-octane entertainment, madcap adventure and tickle-your-funny-bone moments. Hernandez seamlessly weaves science fiction with middle school mayhem while focusing on family (biological and found), friendship, self-awareness and the impact love can have on someone who readers intuit is abused and feels unloved. It is simultaneously hilarious and heartwarming with an ever-moving plot and Cuban influence. Sal appears to identify as aromantic. New readers to this series from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint should definitely begin with the first novel. This series is the opposite of a “stupid-and-mayonnaise sandwich” and is as tasty as a homemade empanada.

            Book 1: Sal & Gabi Break the Universe

Tristan Strong Destroys the World (Oct. 6, 2020) by Kwame Mbalia.

*This is the second novel in a trilogy.*

*Spoilers included if one hasn’t read the first novel.*

Three weeks have passed since Tristan Strong’s return to his grandparents’ farm from Alke, the land of West African gods and African American folk heroes. His time there was harrowing and exhausting, but victorious. He’s still missing his best friend; there is trauma surrounding him, but there will be no rest when his nana is abducted by a masked villain covered in iron monsters (fetterlings, brand flies, a hullbeast and a bossling) called the Shamble Man. With Anansi trapped in the SBP (Story Box Phone), he and Tristan find themselves back in Alke. He reunites with familiar faces like Ayanna and the loud-mouthed and sticky Gum Baby. He meets new allies in Keelboat Annie, Lady Night (a boo hag) and Junior, though his start with Junior is rocky, and who is Junior, really? Since Nana’s abduction, Tristan’s Anansesem ability seems to have left him. How can he be a storyteller if he can’t tell stories? The Shamble Man, possibly a MidPass god, blames Tristan for everything and wants to exact revenge. Something is terribly wrong with John Henry after he’s attacked. Missing like his nana is Mami Wata, goddess of Nyanza, source of the City of Lakes. Along this new quest, Tristan will find that he isn’t the only one dealing with trauma. Trauma is a deeply distressing event, and sometimes others handle trauma very badly. Tristan is a hero, but he has major fails, too. He must overcome the brutal truth of failure and knit the brokenness back together, because if he and his allies can’t save Alke, it and his world will fall.

            The second in the Tristan Strong Series packs a punch. With its focus on what it means to be part of a diaspora and the effects of trauma, this sequel story is heavily weighted in tough stuff that’s not easy to discuss. There’s heartbreak, but humor, too. The humans are all Black and have varying shades of brown skin. The action is nonstop, the world-building is magnificent, and concluding this story reminds me that I haven’t bought the next story and need to. The way Mbalia takes folktales and mythology and threads them like any master weaver is impressive. Tristan is the series’ Anansesem, yes, but Mbalia is the real storyteller, and his story showcases that stories are communal. One person may weave a tale, but stories don’t come from only one. They come from all over the world or Alke or the multiverse!

            Book 1: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky