Geo Librarian

THE TWILIGHT CHILD DragonBorn #2 by Struan Murray Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 979-8217113248 Source : eARC for review from publisher Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK Having discovered her true identity as a dragon, Alex Evans must embark on a dangerous quest to stop Drak Midna and his war against humanity. When tragedy strikes the island of Skralla, Alex and her friends journey north to the magical heart of Scotland, where dark plots are in motion, and humans and dragons fight side-by-side against a rising storm of ancient demons. Sinister forces are growing stronger every day, and as friendships fall apart and enemies old and new strike from the shadows, Alex must master her own fearsome power, and unravel a mystery that might just be the key to victory: the legend of the Twilight Child. REVIEW Alex Evans knows she's a dragon now, but the learning curve is steep. She not only needs...

DRAGONBORN Dragonborn #1 written by Struan Murray Dutton Children's Books, 2025 ISBN: 979-8-217-11321-7 Source : purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Become the impossible . . . Life is no fun for Alex Evans. Ever since her dad's death, her overprotective mother has smothered her with unbreakable rules and unspoken fears. When the frustration inside Alex finally gets too big to bear, it rushes to the surface. And flames spill from her mouth. Because Alex is a dragon. One of the many who live among us, unless something awakens their true nature. Led by the mighty Oliphos to the legendary island of Skralla, Alex must now train alongside fierce, frightening dragon children, if she is to unlock the power of her birthright. But other dragons are rising too. Drak Midna, the greatest dragon of all, is preparing a war against the human world, and Alex has to be good enough ...

  CLARICE BEAN - THINK LIKE AN ELF written and illustrated by Lauren Child Candlewick Press, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2365-1 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 9-12 Middle grade realistic fiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Join the one and only Clarice Bean and ‘Think Like an Elf’ in this irresistible and spectacularly sparkling Christmas story from the inimitable Lauren Child. Clarice Bean usually looks forward to Christmas. Except this year it is going to be a quiet-ish Christmas in her house, which doesn’t feel right because Christmas is all about noisiness and being full up and FAMILY. And without those things, she is going to have to try exceptionordinarily hard to stop the Christmas spirit completely floating away…But luckily, there is no one in the world like Clarice Bean – and she is going to THINK LIKE AN ELF, and that means everything will be A-OKAY. Won’t it? The one...

THE LUCKY ONES by Linda Williams Jackson Candlewick Press, 2022 ISBN: 9781536222555 Source: ARC from publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. REVIEW Ellis Earl dreams of one day becoming a teacher and a lawyer.  But in 1967 Wilsonville, Mississippi, those dreams huddle under the realities of poverty and segregation. Ellis Earl lives in a shack with his mother and eight siblings and niece Vera. The addition several other nieces and nephews after their mother's complications giving birth add to the crowding and hunger.  Despite his mother's and brothers best efforts, work and income is hard to come by.  But at school, Ellis Earl learns about Thurgood Marshall and Miss Marian Wright as his teacher, Mr. Foster works to instill not just knowledge but hope in his students. Ellis Earl struggles with shame for his situation, jealousy of his friend Philip, and conflict with his family. While he...

THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb by Candace Fleming Scholastic Focus, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-338-59661-8 Source: purchased Ages 10-14 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK The true story of the search for Tutankhamun's tomb, the Western public's belief that the dig was cursed, and the battle for ownership of the treasures within. During the reign of the New Kingdom of Egypt, the boy pharaoh Tutankhamun ruled and died tragically young. In order to send him on his way into the afterlife, his tomb was filled with every treasure he would need after death. And then, it was lost to time, buried in the sands of the Valley of the Kings. His tomb was also said to be cursed. Centuries later, as Egypt-mania gripped Europe, two Brits -- a rich earl with a habit for gambling and a disreputable, determined archeologist -- worked for years to rediscover and open Tutankhamun's tomb. But once it was uncovered, would ancient powers take their revenge for ...

THE DIE OF DESTINY Champion's Quest #1 by Frank L. Cole Shadow Mountain, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-62972-850-6 Source: ARC from publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Opportunity will always be within reach for those clever enough to claim it. Lucas Silver’s life is about to change. He thinks it’s because he’s made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and some unlikely friends find Hob and Bogie’s Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion’s Quest. When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they’re no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch. They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous ...

  NIGHTINGALE by Deva Fagan Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5344-8134-3 Source: ARC from author for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A plucky orphan girl stumbles into a conflict centuries in the making in this thrilling middle grade fantasy about unexpected heroes, the power of friendship, and one boisterous enchanted sword. Twelve-year-old Lark is determined to escape her squalid life at Miss Starvenger’s boarding house, but she needs to find the coin to do it. Her grand scheme? To steal her fortune from the Royal Museum. Unfortunately, her heist goes off the rails, and Lark ends up stealing a magical sword right out from under the nose of Prince Jasper, who’s none too happy to have his plans thwarted. Lark soon discovers that the Sword has a mind of its own, and has chosen her to be the next Nightingale, a fabled hero who must vanquish an ancient evil that is waking after centuries of sleep. Working alone has its limita...

  CHAMPION OF THE TITAN GAMES Dragonwatch #4 by Brandon Mull Shadow Mountain, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-62972-788-2 Source: publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK As the war with the dragons intensifies, all eyes are turning to Titan Valley for help. A dragon sanctuary unlike any of the others, this one is home to enslaved dragons ruled by the powerful Giant Queen, one of the five monarchs of the magical world. In addition, it houses the arena for the Titan Games, a series of gladiator-style battles presided over by none other than Humbuggle, the demon who stole Seth’s memories! Seth is seeking for his memories. Kendra is seeking for Seth. And everyone is seeking to stop the dragons from taking over the world—everyone but Ronodin, the dark unicorn, who has his own devious agenda. In the monstrous battle between giants and dragons, who wins? In the race to retrieve a magical talisman that could help win the war, can Kendra trust Set...

  TOO SMALL TOLA by Atinuke, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu Candlewick Press, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5362-1127-6 Source: publisher for review Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   Tolu may be small, but she's very determined. Three delightful stories about Too Small Tola, a young girl who, though small, is very determined. Tola lives in a flat in Lagos with her sister, Moji, who is very clever; her brother, Dapo, who is very fast; and Grandmommy, who is very bossy. Tola proves to be stronger than she seems when she goes to market with Grandmommy and manages to carry home a basket full of yams and vegetables, chilli peppers and fish. When the taps in the flat don't work, it's Tola who brings water from the well, and it's Tola who saves the day when Mr Abdul, the tailor, needs his goods to be delivered quickly. Too Small Tola is a wonderful new character in the world of children's books by multi-award-winning children's writer and...

CLEO PORTER AND THE BODY ELECTRIC by Jake Burt  Feiwel and Friends, 2020 ISBN: 9781250236555 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A woman is dying. Cleo Porter has her medicine. And no way to deliver it. Like everyone else, twelve-year-old Cleo and her parents are sealed in an apartment without windows or doors. They never leave. They never get visitors. Their food is dropped off by drones. So they're safe. Safe from the disease that nearly wiped humans from the earth. Safe from everything. The trade-off? They're alone. Thus, when they receive a package clearly meant for someone else--a package containing a substance critical for a stranger's survival--Cleo is stuck. As a surgeon-in-training, she knows the clock is ticking. But people don't leave their units. Not ever. Until now.   REVIEW   Cleo Porter plans to be a surgeon like her mother. She's working hard to prepare for the test she must pass to continue ...

  CURSE OF THE NIGHT WITCH Emblem Island #1 by Alex Aster Sourcebooks Young Readers, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-4926-9720-6 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   On Emblem Island all are born knowing their fate. Their lifelines show the course of their life and an emblem dictates how they will spend it. Twelve-year-old Tor Luna was born with a leadership emblem, just like his mother. But he hates his mark and is determined to choose a different path for himself. So, on the annual New Year's Eve celebration, where Emblemites throw their wishes into a bonfire in the hopes of having them granted, Tor wishes for a different power. The next morning Tor wakes up to discover a new marking on his skin...the symbol of a curse that has shortened his lifeline, giving him only a week before an untimely death. There is only one way to break the curse, and it requires a trip to the notorious Night Witch. With only his village's terrif...

  RIVAL MAGIC by Deva Fagan Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020 ISBN: 9781534439054 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   A young wizard's apprentice discovers that the best magic is not the biggest or the brightest, but the magic unique to you, in this cinematic middle grade fantasy in the tradition of Kiki's Delivery Service and The School for Good and Evil. Antonia may not be the most powerful wizard the world has ever seen, but she's worked hard to win her place as apprentice to renowned sorcerer Master Betrys. Unfortunately, even her best dancing turnip charm might not be enough when Moppe the scullery maid turns out to be a magical prodigy. Now that Betrys has taken Moppe on as a second apprentice, Antonia's path to wizarding just got a bit more complicated. But when Betrys is accused of treason, Antonia and Moppe are forced to go on the run. To prove their master's innocence--and their own--the...

  EVA EVERGREEN, SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH by Julie Abe Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2020 ISBN:  9780316493888 Source: publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Sometimes all you need is a pinch of magic... Eva Evergreen is determined to earn the rank of Novice Witch before she turns thirteen years old. If she doesn't, she'll lose her magic forever. For most young witches and wizards, it's a simple enough test: ONE: Help your town, do good all around. TWO: Live there for one moon, don't leave too soon. THREE: Fly home by broomstick, the easiest of tricks. The only problem? Eva only has a pinch of magic. She summons heads of cabbage instead of flowers and gets a sunburn instead of calling down rain. And to add insult to injury, whenever she overuses her magic, she falls asleep. When she lands on the tranquil coastal town of Auteri, the residents expect a powerful witch, not a semi-magical girl. So Eva comes up wit...

  MULAN : BEFORE THE SWORD An Original Tale by Grace Lin Disney Press, 2020 ISBN: 9781368020336 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   Family is important to Hua Mulan-even if her parents don't understand why she would rather ride her horse, Black Wind, than weave, or how her notorious clumsiness can be so different from the graceful demeanor of her younger sister, Xiu. But despite their differences, Mulan has a deep love for her family, especially Xiu. So when her sister is bitten by a poisonous spider, Mulan does everything she can to help, including seeking out a renowned healer. However, it quickly becomes apparent that there is more to both the mysterious spider bite and the healer than meets the eye. On a quest with the Jade Rabbit of legend, Mulan visits extraordinary places, meets Immortals, and faces incredible obstacles while searching for an antidote for her sister. And the danger only rises when Mula...

THE CAPTIVE KINGDOM The Ascendence Series #4 by Jennifer A. Nielsen Scholastic Press, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-338-55108-2 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   In a peaceful Carthya, Jaron leads as the Ascendant King with Imogen beside him -- but the peace he fought so long for is not destined to last. On a routine sea voyage, Jaron's ship is brutally attacked, and he is taken hostage. The mysterious captors and their leader, Jane Strick, accuse Jaron of unthinkable acts. They are also in possession of some shocking items -- including the crown and sword that belonged to Jaron's older brother, Darius. The items unearth a past Jaron thought he had put behind him. Though it seems impossible, Jaron must consider: Could Darius be alive? And what does Strick want from Jaron? Against his will, Jaron will be pulled back into a fight for the throne -- and a battle to save his kingdom. REVIEW   The Captive Kingdom demonstrat...

DAN UNMASKED by Chris Negron Harper, 2020 ISBN: 9780062943064 Source: ARC from Blue Slip Media Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Whether they’re on the baseball field or in Nate’s basement, devouring the newest issue of their favorite comic book, Dan and Nate are always talking. Until they’re not. After an accident at baseball practice—an accident that Dan is certain he caused—Nate’s stuck in a coma. Usually, Dan can rely on his and Nate’s superpower—the secret language that only they know, a language of raised eyebrows and subtle nose taps. Now, if Dan ever wants to see Nate tap his nose again, he’s got to figure out a way to wake him up. But for all the time he’s spent reading about the adventures of Captain Nexus, Dan knows he’s no superhero. Heroes have powers—and without Nate, all Dan has is a closet stuffed with comics and a best-friend shaped hole in his heart. There’s no way a regular kid can save the day all on his own. Right? REVI...

PREMEDITATED MYRTLE A Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery #1 by Elizabeth C. Bunce Algonquin Young Readers, 2020 To be released in October 2020 Source: ARC from publisher for review (Thank you!) Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Twelve-year-old Myrtle Hardcastle has a passion for justice and a Highly Unconventional obsession with criminal science. Armed with her father’s law books and her mum’s microscope, Myrtle studies toxicology, keeps abreast of the latest developments in crime scene analysis, and Observes her neighbors in the quiet village of Swinburne, England. When her next-door neighbor, a wealthy spinster and eccentric breeder of rare flowers, dies under Mysterious Circumstances, Myrtle seizes her chance. With her unflappable governess, Miss Ada Judson, by her side, Myrtle takes it upon herself to prove Miss Wodehouse was murdered and find the killer, even if nobody else believes her — not even her father, the town prosecutor. REVIEW Myrtle Hardcastle...