Book Review – Forbidden City by James Ponti

 

Forbidden City by James Ponti is about a group of children spies heading to Moscow and Beijing to recruit a North Korean nuclear physicist before he falls into enemy hands.

The City Spies are ready for their next missions, once again using their unique skills and strong bonds to tackle dangerous assignments. Umbra is a sinister organization driven by greed, and they want to recruit a North Korean nuclear physicist for their own needs by any means necessary. The City Spies are sent in to stop that from happening.

The team travels to Moscow and Beijing to participate in a chess prodigy tournament. Paris is excited to compete since he is a huge chess fan. Sydney also lands her dream job as a junior reporter for a teen lifestyle website. She is tasked with following a British billionaire’s daughter and a pop band with a massive fan following. Together, the team must figure out how the billionaire, the physicist, and the recently missing missiles from a Soviet missile base are connected. Will the team be able to solve the mystery before it’s too late?

This is the third book in the series. While it can technically be read as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve read the other books in this series, along with the author’s other works, and this book follows the same beloved format as the previous installments. It has action, thrills, twists, and feel-good moments mixed with humor. While I did enjoy the book, I felt like something was missing compared to the first two books. Still, I liked learning more about Mother and seeing how the team is becoming more like a family. I’m excited to read the next book in the series.

Book Review – Pranks and Prejudice by Matthew J. Gilbert

 

 

Pranks and Prejudice by Matthew J. Gilbert is about a prank that goes wrong and the unexpected consequences it has for a group of middle school friends.

The Great Prank Challenge begins at Meadowview Middle School when someone covers a teacher's desk in sticky notes. Soon afterward, every student wants to join in, making everyone and everything a potential target. Everyone is on guard because they don't want to become the next victim of a prank or be turned into a meme online.

After Norm is pranked by one of his best friends, Jordan, he decides to get revenge. Unfortunately, his prank is lame and doesn't have the intended effect. His other best friend, Mia, comes up with a prank that she believes will end all pranks. However, Mia's prank works almost too well, causing the school to close for the day and leading to a school-wide ban on pranks. Teachers and students alike are upset and determined to find the person responsible. Will Norm and Mia be able to fix the mess they caused?

This is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. The chapter book is a short, easy read with a few humorous moments that young readers will likely enjoy.

In this installment, we get to see how Norm and his friends handle internet fame while managing their friendship. I thought it was interesting that even though Jordan acted rudely, Norm was able to forgive him and move on. It was nice to see how much he had grown since the previous book. Like the first book, this one teaches young readers about accountability, friendship, and the importance of thinking about the consequences before following trends.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review - The New Norm by Matthew J. Gilbert

 

 

The New Norm by Matthew J. Gilbert is about a middle schooler, Alexander "Norm" Norman, who finds himself viral-famous after being chronically ignored because he isn't popular.

Everyone is on the Meadowview Middle School social media forum. It's where everyone goes to discuss everything from the latest morning announcements to the food in the cafeteria, but the gossip is the best part of the forum.

When Norm goes from being the kid no one notices to becoming a middle school celebrity, it seems exciting at first. Everyone wants to talk to him and hang out with him. However, Norm struggles to balance his newfound fame with his real friends. Will he be able to manage both without losing what matters most to him?

This middle-grade chapter book is a quick read that I was able to finish in one sitting. It was an okay read without any unexpected twists or turns. I thought the characters were fine, but I'm not sure I agree that Norm posting a boring video was the right way to apologize. I think he should have skipped that and simply talked to his friends instead.

The book teaches young readers about friendship, belonging, and the downsides of fame. It is the first book in a series that focuses on middle schoolers navigating their social lives both online and in the real world.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review - Little Monsters by Máire Roche

  

 

Little Monsters by Máire Roche is a retelling of the classic Little Women with a supernatural twist.

The March sisters have a dark secret that they will do anything to protect, even if a beast is hiding in the woods threatening to expose them.

Meg March and her three younger sisters are all monsters with different abilities. Meg has sharp teeth and claws. Jo becomes furry during the full moon and whenever she is stressed or experiencing strong emotions. Beth has wings that she uses to fly, and Amy turns into a mermaid whenever she is near salt water.

Meg is afraid that if their foster mother, Marmee, finds out the truth, the sisters will have to find a new foster home and might be split up. Their next-door neighbor and Jo's best friend, Laurie, would also be terrified if he discovered their secret. So Meg and her sisters do everything they can to hide who they really are before they scare away the people they love.

A new boy, John Brooke, has moved to their small town on the outskirts of Salem. Around the same time, a mysterious monster is spotted in the forest. Farmer Bhaer believes the creature is responsible for his missing chickens and the damage to his property.

Meg has been sleepwalking and waking up in random places covered in mud. She begins to worry that she is the monster causing havoc in the town. As Halloween draws closer, Meg teams up with John Brooke to uncover the real culprit before someone discovers who she really is and she and her sisters lose their home.

I thought the book was a cute and fun read. I liked the supernatural twist, which wasn't too scary for younger readers. The story mostly revolves around Meg learning to trust others, finding where she belongs, and embracing her identity. I haven't read the original book, but I think this middle-grade novel would appeal to younger readers because it tackles important themes that are still relevant today in a modern way.

There were a few inconsistencies in the story that were mildly annoying. Meg mentions that the dress she is wearing doesn't have any pockets, but later, while she's running, she puts her phone into that same nonexistent pocket. Later, when Meg is trying to access a USB drive, she simply plugs it into her phone, and the video immediately starts playing. I feel like most USB drives use a different connector than a phone's charging port, so an adapter would be needed. I also don't think a video would automatically be the first thing to open.

Overall, though, I thought the book was well written, and I think younger readers would enjoy this fun supernatural twist on a classic.

 Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.