Ayan's Book Review
People of the Sun

-by Ben Gartner

People of the Sun is the third book in the Eye of Ra series, and it's the best yet.

In People of the Sun, John and Sarah are confronted by an earthquake. During the earthquake, two mysterious figures whisked them away through time. 

With the knowledge of the origins of the Ra device comes responsibility—their hardest mission yet: stopping Toci, who is making changes to the Aztec civilization. But, what makes this mission next to impossible is the fact that time is more elusive than it seems.

The themes in this book include perseverance and courage. (You should see John’s courage as he conducts the prison escape. It was pretty cool.)

Once again, Ben Gartner makes the beginning of this book kick off with a plot twist. I find that this is the thing to kick off another exhilarating time-travel adventure.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 8+ and as a reader for 9+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s sure to whisk you away.

    

Ayan's Book Review
One if by Land, Two if by Submarine

-by Eileen Schnabel

Are you ready for an action, adventure, and time-travel book? One if by Land, Two if by Submarine by Eileen Schnabel is one such middle-grade novel.

For Kep Westguard, the Revolutionary War reenactment camp was torture. But that was nothing compared to when he, Max, Tela, and T.J. were sent back in time to the beginning of the real revolution. 

They have to take place of Paul Revere, who was kidnapped by another time-traveler determined to crush America. They face test after test, facing the British army to freeing a captured teammate. Can they battle the British, get the message to Lexington and Concord, and warn Hancock and Adams…before it’s too late? Read this book to find out!

This book teaches about the American Revolution in such a way that you won’t even know you’re learning in the process! You can use this book in school or at home, as a history supplement while doing reading.

The themes in this book include courage, friendship, and patriotism. 

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 8+ and as a reader for 10+, as the book has war and other topics that might be hard for younger readers.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a captivating time-travel novel.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

    

Ayan's Book Review
Kingdom of Secrets

-by Christyne Morrell

Oren seems to be a normal kingdom. Built on a valley, it had a large wall around it, like a city wall. But on the inside, it had more secrets than you could imagine.

Prismena Reece, the balloonist’s daughter, is tinkering with some odds and ends when Abigail Smeade steals her mother’s scarf. The scarf is the only remnant of Prismena’s mother that she has, so she strikes a deal with Abigail: in return for the scarf, she would send a box to Tulera (another kingdom). Sounds simple, but this trade would not leave them unchanged.

The themes in this book include friendship, trust, and family relations. This book uses these themes to amplify the pacing of the story.

The pacing in this book develops quickly from the inciting incident right in the first chapter all the way to the climax and even in the resolution.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 8+ and as a reader for 10+.

I give this book 4.8/5 stars as the end had a few unexplained questions. Well, that didn't stop me from enjoying this book, and I really hope there will be a sequel. I absolutely love it and would love to read more books by the author.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

         

Amy's Book Review: 

Beyond the Birch

-by Torina Kingsley

Do you like action and adventure books as I do? Then you'll definitely enjoy this book.

Beyond the Birch is about Macy and her friend, Jay. Macy is a farmer’s daughter, and Jay is a shopkeeper’s son. Being a farmer’s daughter, she takes care of her father’s sheep and his horses. But one of the sheep, Slip, keeps escaping, and her mother, Laurel, has to go on after Slip.

A librarian told Macy and Jay about bad guys, Faeries, who took the place of humans and would have to sacrifice anything to a birch tree. The human will turn into some creature or thing or animal. If a Faerie misses giving an item to the birch tree that Faerie will turn back into its original form. If they kill the actual person, that Faerie will become a human. But if you catch a Faerie lying, its eyes will turn ruby red. And if you touch a birch tree, solve a riddle, and sing it aloud, Faeries will be banished from Earth until the spell wears out.

One night, Macy takes a ride on her horse to the woods her mother, Laurel, always found Slip in. She sees a woman burying a necklace in the dirt near a birch tree. When the woman glances up, Macy sees that she is Laurel, her mother. After that encounter, Macy thinks her mother is a Faerie. Is Macy correct? Is her mother actually a Faerie? If not, where is Macy’s real mom? Read this amazing chapter book to find out!

I recommend this book for children 7+ as there are parts young children might not understand.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it is a great read.

Happy reading!

-Amy

 

Ayan's Book Review
Puzzle Island

-by Richard James Edwards

Puzzle Island is the sequel to 'Puzzle Train.' And I'm glad to say that the second book is as good as the first if not better.

When Tom barely survives a helicopter crash on the transfer from the Puzzle Train to Puzzle Island, the pilot reports it as a failure of computer systems. But as Tom and his team from the Puzzle Train take on the new Puzzle Island, there seems to be a mysterious man trying to thwart their quest. 

Can Tom, Isabelle, Harvey, Darren, and Holly take on the mysterious Puzzle Island in time with the ultimate challenge of defeating an intruder set upon ruining Puzzle Island? Read this book to find out!

I loved the puzzles in this book; they were so interesting that I always wanted to solve them before Tom did. And Tom is a brilliant kid!

Actually, all the characters in this book have unique personalities that make this book even more interesting.

I recommend this book to ages 8+ as, even though it’s a middle-grade book, I think it’ll be easy for young readers to understand and appreciate.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a fascinating middle-grade read.

-Ayan

P.S. I would love to read the third book in the series. 

     

Ayan's Book Review
The Last Shadow Warrior

-by Sam Subity

'The Last Shadow Warrior' is a compelling start to a new series.

The author Sam Subity has wonderfully woven the Beowulf legend into this action-packed middle-grade adventure. But one doesn’t have to read Beowulf to enjoy this book. 

Abby is a very strong character, and readers of all ages are sure to fall in love with her right from the first page. Abby is still grieving her mother’s untimely death and she wants to become like her mother. Once at her home, she is attacked by someone, whom she suspects as the Grendel. Abby and her dad leave for Minnesota to hide, but they meet with an accident, making her dad seriously injured. 

Abby is admitted to a school that's definitely strange and mysterious. She suspects that Grendels are hunting her, but no one in the school believes that Grendels are real and are hunting Abby.
Can Abby and her friends convince the council that Grendels are real? Can they save Abby’s dad before it’s too late? Read this incredible story to find out.

I loved every character in this book. They are unique and realistic. Grimsby and Gwynn are terrific friends, and they provide help and support to Abby at the time of need. Abby is smart, hilarious, and quick-witted. 

I give this book 5/5 stars as I loved this book right from the first page and remained hooked till the end. I can’t wait to read the sequel of this book.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

P.S. This is a Percy Jackson type of book with Norse mythology spin to it. 

    

Ayan's Book Review
Mapmaker's Mistake

-by Meilani Schijvens

What a wonderful start to a series.

In Mapmaker’s Mistake, Asha is still struggling against her preordained fate of having an arranged marriage with a prince (to let her kingdom Zanzia use aristocracy to ward off attacking warlords) when she is confronted by King Dokar and his ruthless army. 

But as she wins a duel against King Dokar, his army begins to scour Zanzia for Asha, so she escapes to Pome for shelter. Still, King Dokar’s men ravage Zanzia, leaving Asha to choose between her kingdom or herself.

This book taught me a lot about medieval warfare—sword-fighting, longbows, spears, etc. What’s more, the author neatly weaves this into the main plot, so you’ll drown in the story without knowing that you are taking a history lesson. Cool!

I like how the plot of this book flashes by with incredible plot twists and fast-paced action. Besides, it was very suspenseful and kept me hooked from cover to cover.

I recommend this book to readers 9+ as the plot might be a little too complex for younger readers to understand.

I give this book 4.7/5 stars as it has some violence (but that was needed for the plot.) This is a unique story, and I haven't read anything like this one before. 

    

Ayan's Book Review
Axel Rhodes and the Golden Scarab

-by S.W. Lothian

Axel Rhodes and the Golden Scarab is an edge-of-your-seat thriller in which Axel is exploring the Egyptian exhibit when a statue of Horus comes to life! 

Horus tells Axel that Axel is to go to ancient Egypt to retrieve the golden Scarab, which holds the powers of the evil god Seth, and put it in a safer place where Seth can’t steal it. Axel takes the quest, bringing along only his best friend Linc. Horus sends in a girl named Rani to accompany them on this quest. 

Can they survive the challenges they face, find the Golden Scarab, and restore it to its final resting place…all before they are captured by Seth? Read this gripping adventure to find out!

The pacing in this book is impressive. And in the battles and chase scenes, I wouldn’t put it down for anything in the world.

My favorite part was when they entered the Temple of Bast. It had lots of traps and puzzles that affected their mission.

I recommend this book as a read-aloud for 6+ and as a reader for 8+.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s the best thriller I’ve ever read.

  

Amy's Book Review: 

Lost with Leeks

-by Laurel Decher

'Lost with Leeks' is a middle-grade fantasy about Prince Nero, who lives in the Blackfly Kingdom. 

Nero is out with a bunch of archers when he gets lost because Prince Nero’s godfather gave Nero a magnetic personality that is supposed to make him charming! It works, but it makes Nero a trouble-magnet for compasses, maps, and magical creatures. So when Nero touches a map, gets near a compass, or gets near a magical creature, those things go wonky!

Prince Nero’s mother, Queen Ash, usually does millions of damage in The Seven Kingdoms. That’s why Nero has Damage Control when King Schwartz is in France to bake. Then, Queen Ash puts St. Nicholas in the AirCastle. For Queen Ash, that didn’t work out. Nero was glad it didn’t work out. But because that didn’t work, Queen Ash put St. Nicholas in the water dungeon. That worked out for Queen Ash, but not for Prince Nero. Does Nero save St. Nicholas and his reindeer in time? Read this book to find out!

Prince Nero is pretty smart, and in the time of need, he can think up some pretty good ideas. He is my favorite character. His mother, Queen Ash, is very destructive and might break up The Seven Kingdoms one day. 

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

I give this book 5/5 stars as it is a great book, and I loved every single part of it.

Have fun reading!

-Amy

P.S. This book can be read as a stand-alone.

   

Ayan's Book Review
Sol Invictus

-by Ben Gartner

When I first read 'The Eye of Ra,' I thought this story of Sarah and John couldn’t get any better, but with 'Sol Invictus,' the author, Ben Gartner has outdone himself. The plot is really intriguing and is sure to capture any reader in minutes.

In 'Sol Invictus,' Sarah and John are exploring a history museum when a notorious criminal from ancient Egypt confronts them with the fact that they have to go to ancient Rome to unite two warring kings. They don’t believe him but are forced to take on the mission. Can they survive the dangers they face, complete the assignment, and find the portal back home—all before it’s too late? Read this exciting adventure to find out!

All the characters are very well developed. Crocus is an avid warrior, John is a witty boy, Sarah is an instinctive girl, Constantius is a kind emperor—the relationships between these characters create a lifelike experience.

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

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s definitely a must-read.

Happy reading!

- Ayan

P.S. Even though this can be read as a stand-alone, I highly suggest reading the first book in this series, 'The Eye of Ra,' before this one, to fully appreciate the story.

 

Ayan's Book Review
The Search for the Stone of Excalibur

-by Fiona Ingram

‘The Search for the Stone of Excalibur’ is the thrilling sequel to ‘The Secret of the Sacred Scarab.’ In this book, we again have Adam and Justin, and we join them in their search for the second stone of power.

The two boys had barely returned from their adventurous visit to Egypt when Adam received an urgent letter from his archeologist friend, James, who revealed that the second stone of power had been discovered. The stone was supposedly embedded in the legendary sword of King Arthur. James had also included the air tickets to Scotland. Whether ready for another adventure or not, the two cousins had to travel to Scotland in search of the second stone of power. To make matters worse, their nemesis, Dr. Khalid, also followed them to Scotland in pursuit of the same stone. I loved that we have a girl, Kim Maleka, join them in this quest, and she turned out to be very helpful.

Do Adam and Justin find the stone before it falls into the wrong hands? Read this second installment of this adventure series.

I loved the parts of the book where Adam gets dreams. Especially the one with King Arthur in it. The descriptions of the dreams are very intriguing and suspenseful. I love the use of sensory details that make the entire book even more thrilling and gripping. 

In this book, children will learn a lot about the legendary King Arthur and mythology in a fun and engaging way. 

I recommend this book for children 11 years and older, and I’m sure even adults will enjoy this book.

I give this book 5/5 stars as it’s a sure page-turner, and the mystery will keep readers hooked until the last page. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series.

Happy reading!

-Ayan 😊

P.S. I highly recommend reading this series in order to enjoy this book better.

 

Ayan's Book Review
Rea and the Blood of the Nectar

-by Payal Doshi

I love to read books set in different places in the world, and I was so happy to read a book that was set in Darjeeling, India. This story follows a twelve-year-old girl Rea and the escapades of finding her twin brother Rohan.

The night Rea and her brother Rohan turn twelve, they had a huge fight. And strangely early in the morning, Rohan went missing. 

Their Amma was in shock and acted as if Rohan was missing forever, and their grandmother, too, started acting weirdly. Rea and her friends set off on a quest to find Rohan. They met an old fortune-teller who helped them in the pursuit, and they found a portal to Astranthia. And then started the magical and adventurous quest of “Rea and the Blood of the Nectar.” 

Will Rea ever find her brother? Or will she be lost in the magical world forever?

Join Rea as she solves the clues to find her brother and save the land of Astranthia.

The themes in this book include family values, friendship, and perseverance. Rea’s development as a character is wonderful, as she learns to come out of her comfort zone and make friends along the way. There were no boring or confusing parts, making the entire story was easy to follow.

I recommend this book to children 8 years and above. I give this book 5/5 stars as this is a very engaging read, and I couldn’t wait for our family reading time. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

 

Ayan's Book Review
The Ghost and the Greyhound

-by Bryan Snyder

I’ll start by saying that reading this book is like living inside it with the characters. The scenes, descriptions, the woods, the smell, the sound, everything draws the reader into the book to have a vivid cinematic experience instead of just reading a book. I loved the world-building of this slightly fantastical story and the transition from the real world to the fantasy world.

Piers was an average boy living an average life, and he was also bullied by older and stronger boys. Everything changed for him the day, in the woods, suddenly his dog Nixon started talking. Following Nixon, Piers entered deep into the forest and met a ghost girl. The girl takes Piers to her world. What follows next is the gripping tale of ‘The Ghost and the Greyhound.’ 

I loved this book’s themes, which include friendship, perseverance, and that, big and small, everyone can work together. 

This book’s pacing is fast and engaging and made it hard to put down the book each night. 😊 The character development is great, too. 

To summarize, I absolutely loved this book. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I can assure you that it won’t be the last. I can hardly wait for the sequel of “The Ghost and the Greyhound.”

I would recommend this book for children 11+ as there are some difficult concepts for younger children to handle, but I think even adults will enjoy this book very much.

I give this book 5/5 stars as this is one of the highly engaging tales I’ve read. This book is nothing like I've ever read. It's one of a kind.

Happy reading!

-Ayan

  

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.

  

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
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. 😊