Geo Librarian

THE UNICORN QUEST The Unicorn Quest #1 by Kamilla Benko Bloomsbury, 2018 ISBN: 9781681192451 Ages 9-12 Middle grade speculative (fantasy) Source: e-ARC from publisher through NetGalley All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Claire Martinson still worries about her older sister Sophie, who battled a mysterious illness last year. But things are back to normal as they move into Windermere Manor... until the sisters climb a strange ladder in a fireplace and enter the magical land of Arden. There, they find a world in turmoil. The four guilds of magic no longer trust each other. The beloved unicorns have gone, and terrible wraiths roam freely. Scared, the girls return home. But when Sophie vanishes, it will take all of Claire's courage to climb back up the ladder, find her sister, and uncover the unicorns' greatest secret. REVIEW Unicorns are pretty popular among my girl readers these days and I have to admit I'm a fan of them to...

GABBY DURAN AND THE UNSITTABLES by Elise Allen & Daryle Conners Disney Hyperion, 2015 ABOUT THE BOOK Subject: A.L.I.E.N Associate Number 4118-25125A, A.K.A: Gabby Duran, Sitter to the Unsittables Case File: The First Unsittable Summary: Gabby Duran, babysitter extraordinaire and modern day Mary Poppins was on her way home from sitting for a famous action's star's rambunctious triplets when she was approached by a mysterious woman (Associate 4118-23432B) with her first mission. A babysitting job with a more lucrative rate than she'd ever received. What child could possibly be so difficult to handle? Gabby was soon trusted with the truth--aliens are living among humans on Earth. They are protected by the top-secret organization, the Association Linking Intergalactics and Earthlings as Neighbors (hereby known as A.L.I.E.N). Even extraterrestrials need a sitter now and then. No one was up for the task except Gabby. After accepting the top-secret position, ...

EDEN'S ESCAPE (Eden of the Lamp #2) By M. Tara Crowl From Disney-Hyperion Release Date: September 6, 2016 Ages 9-12 Eden's new life on earth begins in New York City under the guidance of her new guardian: Pepper, a petite, bubbly genie alum who's also a Broadway actress. Before she has a chance to settle in, though, Eden is whisked away for a granting--only to find herself trapped in a laboratory. David Brightly, owner of the world's leading tech company, cares more about tapping into the lamp's power than making a wish and starts performing tests on Eden. With Brightly's plasma shield around the lamp, Eden has no way home. Left without a choice, she escapes the lab and goes on the run. After her daring exit, Eden finds herself on the streets of Paris--home to Electra's headquarters. Left in a strange city with a price on her head (courtesy of scheming Brightly), Eden has to keep her wits about her. She dons a chic disguise and flits aro...

FUZZY by Tom Angleberger and Paul Dellinger Amulet Books, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-4197-2122-9 Middle Grade Speculative (Science Fiction) Ages 9-12 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK When Max—Maxine Zealster—befriends her new robot classmate Fuzzy, part of Vanguard One Middle School’s new Robot Integration Program, she helps him learn everything he needs to know about surviving middle school—the good, the bad, and the really, really, ugly. Little do they know that surviving sixth grade is going to become a true matter of life and death, because Vanguard has an evil presence at its heart: a digital student evaluation system named BARBARA that might be taking its mission to shape the perfect student to extremes! REVIEW One thing you can always count on from Tom Angleberger is an entertaining story. I had to seriously suspend disbelief for this one, but it was entertaining nonetheless.  Fuzzy is a robot who is supposedly being inte...

SERAFINA AND THE TWISTED STAFF by Robert Beatty Disney Hyperion, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-4847-7503-5 Ages 9-12 Middle grade speculative (historical fantasy) Source: ARC from publisher All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK I n 1899, when an evil threatens all the humans and animals of the Blue Ridge Mountains, twelve-year-old Serafina, rat catcher for the Biltmore estate and the daughter of a shapeshifting mountain lion, must search deep inside herself and embrace the destiny that awaits her. REVIEW Robert Beatty has created a compelling sequel that more than lives up to the first book.  The action takes off in the first chapter and never really lets up (although Serafina has a few quieter moments they are few and far between).  Just as Serafina is coming to terms with her shapeshifting abilities and is trying to figure out where she belongs: Biltmore or the forest.  While wandering the forest one night she observes a strange carriage pul...

THE SHATTERED LENS Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #4 by Brandon Sanderson, illustrations by Hayley Lazo Starscape, 2016 (reprint) ISBN: 978-0-7653-7900-9 Ages 8-12 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK The Shattered Lens is the fourth action-packed fantasy adventure in the Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series for young readers by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson. These fast-paced and funny novels are now available in deluxe hardcover editions illustrated by Hayley Lazo. Alcatraz Smedry is up against a whole army of Evil Librarians with only his friend Bastille, a few pairs of glasses, and an unlimited supply of exploding teddy bears to help him. This time, even Alcatraz's extraordinary talent for breaking things may not be enough to defeat the army of Evil Librarians and their giant librarian robots. REVIEW Alcatraz Smedry once again finds himself at the heart of a Librari...

THE SKELETH Book 2 of the Nethergrim Epic by Matthew Jobin Philomel, 2016 ISBN; 978-0-399-15999-2 Middle Grade Speculative (Fantasy) Ages 9-12 ABOUT THE BOOK In a vast kingdom divided by power-hungry lords, land equals power. With the Nethergrim now awake, her limitless wellspring of evil means opportunity for those willing to do her bidding. One ambitious Lord, eager to overthrow his counterparts and rule the north, succumbs to temptation, helping to let loose the Skeleth, forces of energy that absorb whole anyone who attempts to kill them. In this way the slain end up as slayers, a vicious cycle that never ends. Yet that will not stop young Edmund--an apprentice wizard--and his friends Katherine and Tom, from trying to stop the evil threatening to overtake their kingdom. Together, they team up with the legendary Tristan in a battle of courage, brains, determination, and sacrifice to stop the Skeleth and save the Barony of Elverain from being conquered. THE NETH...

THE FOUNDRY'S EDGE The First Book of Ore by Cam Baity & Benny Zelkowicz Disney Hyperion, 2014 ISBN: 978-142316227-8 Middle Grade Speculative (Science Fiction) Ages 9-14 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Two kids on a rescue mission. A mysterious realm of living metal. One secret that will change the world. For Phoebe Plumm, life in affluent Meridian revolves around trading pranks with irksome servant Micah Tanner and waiting for her world-renowned father, Dr. Jules Plumm, to return home. Chief Surveyor for The Foundry, a global corporation with an absolute monopoly on technology, Phoebe's father is often absent for months at a time. But when a sudden and unexpected reunion leads to father and daughter being abducted, Phoebe and would-be rescuer Micah find themselves stranded in a stunning yet volatile world of living metal, one that has been ruthlessly plundered by The Foundry for centuries an...