The Hollow Boy is the third book in the Lockwood & Co. series, an edge-of-the-seat adventure in which ghosts haunt England and can kill with a touch. Aquamarine is a lower middle grade summer story about a mermaid who becomes stranded in a water park’s swimming pool. And The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye is the sixth and final installment in the Enola Holmes series. (Very much my favorite book discovery of 2017 and destined to be reread at regular intervals.)
In Poppy Mayberry, The Monday, we learn that in the city of Nova, every child is born with the potential of developing a weekday power (telepathy, teleportation, telekinesis, etc) depending on what day of the week they’re born. Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters takes a twist on Japanese folklore. And Rowan Hood Returns is the final installment in Nancy Springer’s series. (I didn’t like this one so much, but the first book in the set is amazing.)
30 Days, 30 Books. Challenges are fun, if only because they push us to try. Accomplishing the goal is icing on the proverbial cake. Elza and I set out to read a book a day in May … and I’m happy to report my success.
Truth be told, I even went a bit over (with three additional mysteries), but most of these titles are from the middle grade shelf. I discovered some new favorites in May. What have you been reading lately?
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In Circus Mirandus, Micah’s grown up with his grandfather’s stories about a magical circus, and he believes them all. Especially the ones about the Man Who Bends Light, who once promised Grandpa Ephraim a miracle. The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline is the fifth book in the Enola Holmes series, which introduces us to Mycroft’s and Sherlock’s much younger sister. And in The Last Motley, Roderick the tailor discovers a boy who seems lost and alone, only to recoil at the vivid pattern of diamonds decorating his skin. Roderick grew up hearing terrible tales of these motleys, yet more and more, he sees a frightened boy in desperate need of help … and of a home.
In The Evil Wizard Smallbone, Neil runs away from the uncle who beats him and the cousin who bullies him only to find himself on an evil wizard’s doorstep. Getting away proves impossible, but perhaps that’s not such a bad thing. The Whispering Skull is the second book in the ghost-ridden Lockwood & Co. series. (Jonathan Stroud has been added to my Favorite Authors list.) And Wild Boy is the fourth book in the Rowan Hood set (each member of her outlaw band is getting their moment.)
Alex and the Ironic Gentleman is a quirky adventure of the punny, tongue-in-cheek, intentionally (and intensively) whimsical sort. The Ransomed Crown is the fourth book in the Saga of Roland Innes, which is set very much alongside the legend of Robin Hood. And The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan is fourth installment in the Enola Holmes mystery series (which I wholeheartedly adored and cannot recommend more).
The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets is the third in the Enola Holmes mystery series, in which Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister decides to take private action when Dr. John Watson goes missing. Ghostly Echoes is the third of four books in the Jackaby series, in which the cases always have a paranormal twist. And Tommy Black and the Coat of Invincibility is a magical historical storyline, set during WWII.
30 Days, 30 Books. This is a fun challenge I put to myself last year. Let’s try it again for 2018! My goal is to read a book a day (mostly middle grade, of course) in May. I’ll update this calendar throughout the month. Or watch for daily tweets on @Elymnifoquent …
This is so much fun, Elza and I have planned summer reading fun with Book Bingo. Nab your boards and read along!
Tommy Black and the Staff of Light has a historical setting (WWII) and involves the dwindling strength of mages worldwide. The Case of the Left-Handed Lady is the second Enola Holmes mystery (and is just as good as the first). Outlaw Princess of Sherwood brings a new facet to the story of Rowan Hood’s outlaw band.
Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave is a clever contemporary mystery that will surely appeal to lovers of the Bard. The Broken Realm is the third installment in the Saga of Roland Innes (King Richard, Prince John, and Robin Hood, oh my!) And Lionclaw is the second book in the Rowan Hood series (which includes both a bard and Robin Hood! Go figure).
C. J. Milbrandt 