Ayan's Book Review
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel

-by Fleur Bradley

Hi,

Do you like mysteries? If yes, then you will definitely enjoy this book!

'Midnight at the Barclay Hotel' is a compelling murder mystery of Mr. Barclay’s death. The suspects are a librarian, a CEO, an actress, and a cowboy, all of which received all-expenses-paid invitations to the Barclay Hotel. A detective was also called in to conduct a questioning. However, the CEO’s son, JJ, is determined to clear his mom’s name. 

Can JJ find proof that she didn’t commit the crime and find the real culprit…all before the detective accuses JJ’s mom? Read this book to find out!

I think JJ is a pretty cool guy—his hobby is ghost hunting. He even has an official ghost hunting kit—an infrared camera, an EMF detector, and a voice recorder. Pretty cool gadgets for a kid to own!

The pacing in this book is great, but you might find the start a little slow. Finish the first chapter, though, and you’ll find yourself caught in a flurry of action!

I recommend this book to any 9+ kid as murder might be a little hard to handle.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s one of the best mysteries I’ve ever read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

P.S. The murder happens before the book even starts, so there's nothing to be afraid of. You can safely read this book.

 

Ayan's Book Review
Journey Beyond the Burrow

-by Rina Heisel

Hi,

Are you ready for an adventurous tale? If yes, read this exciting and cute yet edge-of-the-seat action-packed book by debut middle-grade author, Rina Heisel.

'Journey Beyond the Burrow' is a fascinating adventure of how Tobin, Wiley, and Talia—three very resourceful mice—search for Tobin’s baby brother, who was captured by attacking spiders. 

As they pursue the spiders’ lair, they encounter many other dangers of the forest, like snakes, owls, and foxes. With these (and many more) hurdles in their way, they struggle to even survive. Will they be able to defeat the predators, get past the spiders and free the baby? Or will one have to sacrifice oneself for the mission? Read this book to find out!

The themes in this book include teamwork, perseverance, and friendship. The main characters—Tobin and Talia have a lot of perseverance and like working as a team, while Wiley is quick-witted (and sometimes reckless) but also a great friend.

I find this book a lot like the 'Freddy the Detective' series, in which Freddy goes out on dangerous expeditions with his friends (and once almost got eaten by a crocodile).

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 5+ and as a reader for 8+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it was a fun read.

We received an ARC of this book.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

P.S. We love Tobin's rules, and the best is Rule 1. Want to know what it is? Read the book to find out.

P.P.S. Are we reading or doing Yoga?

  

Ayan's Book Review
The Eye of Ra

-by Ben Gartner

Hi,
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to visit ancient Egypt? Or ever imagined time traveling? If yes, then this book is going to take you on a time-travel adventure that you will never forget.

In 'The Eye of Ra,' Sarah and John are on a hike when they stumble upon a mysterious cave. Sarah instinctively enters, followed by John. 

After exploring the cave, they expect to return to Colorado, but instead, they surprisingly time-travel to ancient Egypt! Join Sarah and John in this time-travel novel as they search for the portal to lead them back home and uncover the clues to unravel a baffling mystery.

The themes in this book include family relationships, friendship, and perseverance. The characters of this book are very realistic, and the pacing is amazing, making the story flow well with no boring or confusing parts.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 6+ and as a reader for 9+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s an engaging and delightful read. 😊

I can't recommend this book enough. I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series, 'Sol Invictus.' Review coming soon!

Happy reading!

-Ayan

 

Ayan's Book Review
Puzzle Train

-by Richard James Edwards

I read this book on Kindle Unlimited, and due to limited screentime, I took a few days to complete this book. If I had a paperback, I would have definitely finished this book in one sitting; that's how engaging this book is.

In The Puzzle Train, Tom is an avid puzzler. He naturally loved The Puzzle Train TV show, in which teams of six puzzleteers try to make it from the first to the sixth carriages, each of which contained a puzzle. 

So when the Puzzle Train opens up to kids, Tom leaps at his chance to get featured, only to find that his stepfather, Phil, is dead set against him. Can Tom outsmart Phil, earn a place on the Puzzle Train, and make it through carriage six all in the ninety-minute limit?

The themes in this book include friendship, teamwork, courage, and perseverance. These themes are used very powerfully and will leave a good impression on the reader.
There are some real puzzles in this book—made for the reader to solve—which is pretty cool!
I recommend this book to any child who loves puzzles and adventure books.

I would like to give this book 6/5 stars (if that's even possible) as it's perfecter than perfect. 😊 

I look forward to reading the next book in this series, which is 'Puzzle Island.'

 

Ayan's Book Review
Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend

-by Cheryl Carpinello

This is the second book of the Guinevere series, and I think this book is as riveting as the first, if not more.

In 'At the Dawn of Legend', King Arthur has been battling incessant rogues who keep plundering and ravaging England. While he is away, Guinevere and Cedwyn go to the Enchanted Stones to learn when the fight will end.

But even the Goddess of the Stones does not know who will come back alive; however, she does know that Guinevere and Cedwyn are in grave danger. And they are. For when they return to the castle, they find that the rogues attacked it! As Guinevere, the outlaws’ target, was absent at the time of the attack, they kidnapped the other children. So Guinevere and Cedwyn embark on a quest to save them. Their lives will never be the same.

Will Guinevere and Cedwyn be able to save the children? Or will they themselves get kidnapped too? Read this compelling Arthurian tale to find out.

The themes in this book include friendship, trust, and courage. These themes make this book unique, as I think the author has done a brilliant job in binding these completely different themes together.

I recommend this book to ages 7+ as it’s very easy to read with no confusing parts. 

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s an engaging book and will keep readers hooked till the last page. 😊

 

Amy's Book Review: 

Trouble with Parsnips

-by Laurel Decher

'Trouble with Parsnips' is about a nameless princess who lives in the Cochem Kingdom. She’s the fifteenth child of her family. She doesn’t have any actual name, but when the king or queen wanted or needed her, they would call ‘Fifteenth’ or ‘Sibyl #8’. 

All the princesses in the Cochem Kingdom got the name Sybil, and all the princes got the name Harold. So the nameless princess ended up being Sybil #8. 

Sybil #8—the unnamed princess—is the youngest, and she feels forgotten by her family. She can’t speak up for herself, and she has only fifteen days to find herself a name, else she would become invisible forever.

Can she save the Kingdom and find a name for herself in time? Or will she become invisible forever? Read this amazing realistic fairytale to find out. But wait! Read the rest of this review first. 😊

I loved Sybil #8 as she was very smart and intelligent. 

In Trouble with Parsnips, there are very funny instances. There is a palace agriculture library (PAL) and a ventriloquist league (VVL), which I liked very much.

The themes in this book include family relationships, believing in oneself, and speaking up for oneself.

I give this book 5/5 stars as there were no confusing or boring parts.

'Trouble with Parsnips' isn’t like any other book I’ve ever read. I would love to read more by the author.

 

Amy's Book Review: 

The Mystery of the Wooden Box

-by Cyrena Shows

‘The Mystery of the Wooden Box’ is a chapter book. This story’s main character is Gracie, whose father sometimes calls her Amazing Gracie. Gracie is at Mimi’s house. When a new neighbor moves in, Gracie goes to the neighbor’s house with her cousin Beckett. They wanted to make a new friend. They meet Cassidy and her pet dog, Hugo.

Hugo finds a box that contains a key. The three friends were curious to know more about the key, so they start looking for clues.

Will they find out where the key would lead them to? Or will it remain a mystery forever? Read this amazing mystery book to find out!

The themes of this book include friendship and family importance.

I liked the illustrations in this book. I loved how the mystery kept me hooked till the end, and I read the whole book in one sitting! 😊

I recommend this book for children five years and above. 

I give ‘The Mystery of the Wooden Box’ 5/5 stars as it is very engaging and interesting. And I would love to read more books by the author, Cyrena Shows.

- Amy

 

Ayan's Book Review
The Go-KartAstrophe

-by Caron Pescatore

Do you know what happens in a courtroom? I didn't know. But I learned a lot about the courtroom and legal proceedings in this fun middle-grade fiction.

In 'The Go-KartAstrophe,' Greg Foster has been arguing with his friend Declan Mathias for days over who made Greg’s go-kart crash. Greg points out that Declan was at the wheel during the accident. However, Declan insists that the steering mechanism was defective. But then, their friend Phoebe suggests that they send the case to the Kids’ Court—a court made and run by kids. Greg and Declan accept the offer—and so this engaging book begins. And you, too, can join the Kids’ Court as they reveal clues and unravel the mystery.

I especially like this book because it taught me many legal terminologies like a bailiff, court reporter, plaintiff, defendant, and attorney. These are cleverly woven into the story instead of stuck in like a teacher making a lesson about the law. Besides, it even showed me how a judge conducts a case. Pretty good for a children’s book!

I recommend this book as a read-aloud to children 3+ years and as a reader for 5+ years.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a great book with many twists and turns, and it’ll keep you engaged till the end. I read this entire book in one sitting. Well, that says something. 😊

-Ayan

P.S. I found the court system a lot like chess—both have two opponents using strategy to defeat each other (and there are many other similarities I don’t want to go into detail right now😊).

 

Ayan's Book Review
Tales of a Sixth-Grade Werecat

-by A.M. Deese

'Tales of a Sixth-Grade Werecat' is the story of Felix and his battle against his archenemy Ethan. When Ethan dares Felix to enter the house of the town witch, Felix takes the dare, hoping to defeat Ethan once and for all. But an unexpected move from Ethan tosses Felix into a series of challenging escapades. But will he be able to take them all? Join Felix as he finds his talisman, gains control of his powers, and takes his last chance to take down Ethan.

The themes in this book are friendship, perseverance, and sympathy.

The illustrations in this book are pretty detailed—great for younger readers to understand the context.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 4+ and as a reader for 5+.
I give this book 4.7/5 stars as there is some name-calling. (Even though I don’t like name-calling, it’s needed in the story.) I enjoyed reading this book and would love to read more by the author, A. M. Deese.

Keep reading!!

-Ayan 

  

Amy's Book Review: 

The Last Fairy Door

-by N. A. Davenport

Do you think all fairies are girls? I thought that too. But can a boy be a good fairy? Oh yes absolutely, I found that in this middle-grade fantasy book.

The main character in 'The Last Fairy Door' was Amy. Her real name was Amaryllis, but she made herself a nickname—Amy.  Amy’s father was sick, and her mother was no-one-knows-where, so Amy had to move to her grandmother’s house. 

While going there, she saw some flickering movement in her grandma’s barn. In her grandmother’s house, she found a box labeled Amaryllis in which she found a pendant, which her grandma said seemed to be the one that Amy’s mom owned. She goes to her grandma’s barn to find out if the flickering was real, and she finds a boy fairy, Flax. (I was so happy to learn about a boy fairy.) 😊

Amy wants to find her mom, but she doesn’t know the continent, country, state, city, or neighborhood. Does she find her mom? Could she return to her grandma’s house? Read this exciting fantasy adventure book to find out!

A few themes in this book include friendship, family love, and perseverance.

I give this book 5/5 stars as 'The Last Fairy Door' is an exciting book and kept me hooked till the end. Even at night, when I’m not supposed to read from a tablet(for we have no screen time at night), I wanted to read The Last Fairy Door! 

I would love to read more books by the author, N. A. Davenport.  

  

Ayan's Book Review 

Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend

-by Cheryl Carpinello

I've read a few Arthurian legends before, but this book has a magical touch that takes it to the next level.

'On the Eve of Legend' is an Arthurian middle-grade book about Lady Guinevere. A few days before her thirteenth birthday, there came a visit from King Leodegrance’s (Guinevere’s father’s) neighboring kings. But before leaving, King Arthur made the life-changing decision to marry Guinevere. However, as King Leodegrance agreed to the betrothal without her having a say in it, Guinevere made up her mind to leave that world of Arthur. 
But will she ever come back? And what will happen to the engagement? You must read the book to find out!

If you look at the cover of this book, you’ll find a unicorn. This unicorn teaches Guinevere that the path of life might be ragged, but doing the right thing will always lead to victory. That’s the theme of this story—doing the right thing no matter what.
I particularly liked the illustrations in this book, especially the ones that included Merlyn. Merlyn always had a huge beard, which I found quite hilarious.

I recommend this book to anybody aged 7+ as the plot might be a little complex for younger children to understand.
I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a great read and will keep anyone engaged.
P.S. I'm reading the next book in this series, and the review of that is coming soon!
Keep reading!!

 

Ayan's Book Review
The King's Decree

-by Torina Kingsley

'The King’s Decree' is about Devina’s family’s search for something to make Devina happy. Being a princess, Devina had naturally been happy…up till her fifteenth birthday. 

Her sadness lasted a year, and on her sixteenth birthday, her father (the king) decreed that whoever could make her happy would get her hand in marriage and become the heir of the throne. As you can guess, many people came and tried their luck. But did the princess become happy after all? Read this wonderful retelling of a fable to find out.

This book’s themes include family bonding, friendship, perseverance, and, most importantly, the importance of happiness.

'The King’s Decree' is a fractured fable, which means that it’s a modified version of a fable (in this case, The Princess Who Never Laughed). I've read many fractured fables, but this book is one of the best so far.
I recommend this book as a read-aloud to ages 4+ and as a reader for 5+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s very enjoyable and highly engaging.

Ayan's Book Review
Ben Archer and the Toreq Son

-by Rae Knightly

I would like to start this review with one word. WOW!

Do you like sci-fi? And what about Alien abduction? If yes, then you must read The Alien Skill series by Rae Knightly.

'Ben Archer and the Toreq Son' is the final leg of this intergalactic sci-fi adventure. 

The story starts when an alien spacecraft lands in front of the United Nations headquarters. The police officers, snipers, and helicopters are ready to attack the craft. The head of the UN, Adhira Prabhakar, is a powerful woman. The secretary-general and superintendent request Adhira to evacuate the building, but she decides to find out who has come in the alien craft. 

And to her surprise, she finds a boy in front of the craft. She immediately walks over to talk to him, only to find Benjamin Archer, the missing boy, or may I say the boy abducted by the aliens. Ben tells her to find Mesmo and come to ‘The Great Gathering’ before he was whisked away by the aliens.

Do the UN attack the spaceship in which Ben was kept hostage? Does Adhira find Mesmo? Could they save the world? Read this edge-of-seat sci-fi to find out. 

Every character in this book is very well developed and has a distinct personality. And my favorite character is Ben (of course, what did you think? 😊). The end of this book (and the series) is very satisfying too.

I loved how the author has woven the story to keep it highly engaging right from the start until the last page. I couldn’t put it down since I wanted to know what would happen next. 

There are some references to the previous books in many instances, but I think this book can still be read as a stand-alone. At the same time, I would highly suggest reading this entire series to enjoy this great adventure.

Needless to say, I give this book 5/5 stars because this the best sci-fi series I’ve ever read.

I received an ARC copy of this book.

Ayan's Book Review
Super Problems

-by Jason R. Lady

Have you ever imagined what would happen if you got a magic pen? A pen with which if you drew something, it would become real?

Super Problems is a highly engaging superhero book.

Scott, Barry, Joel, and Prudence very unprecedently turn from four very typical sixth-graders into four very normal superheroes complete with unique superpowers…all because Scott had drawn them as comic book superheroes, not knowing that he was using a magic pen. But it turns out that a super-villain also comes real as Scott had drawn the Stinky Sock as well!

Join Zapster, Hi-Tech, Snack-Man, and Blue Hood as they defend their demanding but magical alpaca Bruce and crusade against the Stinky Sock.

This book’s themes are friendship and never giving up. These are, coincidentally, my favorite themes in any book.

There aren’t any illustrations in this book. Pretty cool; the narrator of the story herself likes writing stories without drawings!

I haven't read many superhero books, so I can't compare this to any other books. 

I recommend this as a read-aloud or personal reader to superhero-loving kids aged 7+ as the plot might be a little complex for younger children.

I give this book 4.7/5 stars, and I would love to read more by the author, Jason R. Lady. 😊