Story’s End Marissa Burt

353 pgs.

Target audience: Middle Reader

Rating: Wizard

 

In this compelling sequel to “Story’s End,” the Talekeepers’ lies are finally exposed – the lies about the Unbinding, the lies about the Muses breaking their oath, the lies about Story never having a King, and the biggest lie of all – how Tale Master Archimago defeated the Muses and saved Story. Una, Peter and their fellow rebels are working hard to educate all the characters about their true Backstory and to motivate them to fight against the Enemy, Fidelos, who has returned. Una, who was written in from the Land of Readers, has a secret of her own, one which could spell the end of all who live in Story. The Enemy is desperate to find the Lost Elements which would allow him to rewrite Story thereby eliminating all who oppose him. Fairy tales become topsy-turvy in this cleverly written fantasy. Since characters live in districts according to their genre like the Dystopians, Horror Hollow or the Romantics, there is something for everyone. The imagination  of the reader is stretched and pulled in thrilling new ways. After all, what child hasn’t dreamt of diving into a book’s story? The twists and turns, fairytale puns, overturned stereotypes will delight readers both young and old. For maximum enjoyment it is best to read “Storybound” first. Recommend to fans of “Inkheart” by Cornelia Funke. (This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com).

 

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Riley Mack stirs up more trouble by Chris Grabenstein

324 pgs.

Target audience: Ages 8-12

Rating: Wizard

Crises abound at Fairview Middle School and Riley and his crew – tech savvy Jake, theatrical genius Brianna, strong and loyal Mongo and boy magician Jamal are there to right injustices wherever they see them. This time they uncover a plot to sabotage the talent show where Brianna plans to sing her way to a college scholarship. The local country club is hosting the event. The gang’s nemesis, Sarah Paxton, whose father runs the club, is also competing. At the same time Riley and friends stumble upon an ecological disaster at their favorite swimming hole where all the fish are found belly up. They trace the source of the toxins to the newly built golf course at the country club. The kids know Mr. Paxton is up to no good and to prove it they need to find out what’s underneath the nineteenth hole. This is a grand mystery caper with something to please everyone – impersonations, chemical lab tests, nighttime digging, disguises, shady corporate deals and more. These clever, resourceful, detention worthy middle schoolers will have readers on the edge of their seats. Don’t miss a grade A blast of the best kind of troublemaking. (Book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com).

 

 

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Fyre by Angie Sage

Illustrated by Mark Zug
Target audience: Ages 8 to 12
Rating: Dragon

Sage wraps up the “Septimus Heap” series with the mastery of a true storyteller. She weaves all the threads of the six previous volumes together into a magnificent tapestry. Nearly all the characters are reunited in the final attempt to vanish the Darke forever. Marcellus Pye is busy deep beneath the castle intent on Awakening the Fyre which can be unpredictable and difficult to control. It is the only known substance powerful enough  to DeNature the Two-Faced Ring which holds the essence of the two most dangerous and powerful Darke Wizards. Over five hundred years ago the first Extraordinary Wizard, Hotep-Ra, trapped them in the ring and it is now Sealed inside the Wizard Tower.  Marcia suspects Marcellus is up to more than rebuilding the Alchemie Tower and Alchemie Way, so she assigns Septimus to him for one month. Septimus is torn between his desire to learn more about Alchemie and his love for his work at the Wizard Tower. Jenna is crowned queen and is determined to save the Dragon Boat, whose heartbeat she can no longer hear. Will the past come back to haunt them and pull them back into the Darke Domaine or will our Magykal troupe save the kingdom once again? Fans of this series will not be disappointed and get exactly what they expect from this gifted writer – swamp snakes, magical bowls, flying dragons, secret chambers, ghostly encounters, Fyre creatures, Djinn transformations, royal coronations, maps, humor, fabulous illustrations and much much more. We can only hope that Sage will continue to entertain us with more fantasy. It would be advisable to read this series in order. (This book provided for review by HarperCollins).

 

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Jinx by Sage Blackwood

360 pgs.
Target audience: Middle Reader
Rating: Dragon

Jinx lives up to his name, at least at first. His parents die and leave him their hut in one of the many clearings throughout the ancient Urwald forest. After his hut burns down, Jinx is shuttled off to his less than enthusiastic step-parents, Bergthold and Cottawilda, who after the arrival of their new baby see Jinx as rather unnecessary. The Urwald is a perilous place and those who stray from the path are easy prey for trolls, werewolves and other beasts plus wizards whom everyone knows are up to no good, especially the one named Bonemaster who “sucks out people’s souls with a straw.” Be wary and stick to the path is a rule known to each and every child. But one day Bergthold takes Jinx deep into the forest off the path and leaves him there. The wizard, Simon Magus, mysteriously appears and decides to take Simon in to help out with chores around his house. Even though Simon is a wizard, Jinx, knows it’s a far better fate than being alone in the Urwald. Jinx has a secret -  he can see people’s feelings as colored clouds. The work he performs makes him strong, but it’s the magic in Simon’s lab that draws his interest. Simon finally agrees to teach him to read and let him help out in his lab. As Simon explores the house and it’s immediate surroundings, he discovers that he can listen to the trees talk. Simon says there’s not been a Listener in over a hundred years and insists it’s just a myth anyway. Jinx runs away to find Simon’s witch friend, Dame Glammer, after a spell Simon casts takes Jinx’s power away. His adventures in the forest include making new friends, battling monsters, and sneaking into the dreaded Bonemaster’s lair. Each of the three adventurers has a problem that can only be alleviated by wizard magic. Jinx knows the trees are afraid of what is coming and that he and his companions must save the forest or all is lost, but whom can they trust? Simon who betrayed him, Dame Glammer who gave Simon the ingredients for that horrible spell or the Bonemaster whose motives are unclear. Blackwood has created a thrilling new fantasy filled with the characters you love to root for and deliciously tricky wizards. The reader won’t know what to expect next. Jinx may have an unlucky name, but his ingenuity, magic, and never-ending desire to help others make him the luckiest one of all. Let us hope for a sequel because no doubt Jinx and his companions will have many more adventures kids will love to read about. (Book provided for review by HarperColllins)

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Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz

247 pgs.
Target audience: Middle Reader
Rating: Griffin

Middle school children Marco, Stephen and Sasha have been investigating minor transgressions since they were five – lost dogs, missing socks, stolen lunch money and the like. But ever since Marco came out, the new exchange student from England, Benji, has been the sole focus of the group’s attention. When Marco hears that Benji’s band will be playing the high school prom, he drags Stephen into an impossible scheme to crash the prom and confess his undying love for Benji on stage. The Prom Heist as Marco calls it, becomes so complex that it requires the involvement of four of Stephen’s five siblings, faked permission slips, fixing broken down buses and much more. While the kids are planning and organizing, hate crimes are popping up at schools in the area. For some reason, the hate crimes at their school are focused on gay bashing one person, Marco, who has been receiving threatening notes and found his locker smashed in. Nothing is resolved with this theme other than the school bully getting caught in the end by the kids and nothing definitive done by the school administration. The story is told from Stephen’s perspective revealing him to be a sweet boy and a bit of a pushover. The friendship between Marco and Stephen seems insincere because Stephen will stop at nothing to help his lovesick friend who in turn consistently treats him like his personal doormat. Marco does redeem himself barely, but not until the very end of the story. Looking at this book from a purely adventure and mystery stance, it will appeal to those who love crazy hijinks. Stephen and his siblings are wonderful characters who will touch your heart and make you laugh. (This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

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Day of doom by David Baldacci

272 pgs.

Target audience: Middle Reader

Rating: Wizard

 

The Vesper and Cahill families are at it again and with Baldacci at the helm of the last volume, the pulse pounding pressure may be to much for Dan and Amy Cahill to overcome. Seven Cahill hostages have been taken by Vesper One with the promise of their release in return for retrieving a series of bizarre ransoms. Once the Cahills find the last clue they realize that the Vesper’s plan is more diabolical and heinous than they had originally thought and could destroy millions of people. The race against time splits the group into two directions. One to find the hostages in the Cascade Mountains and Dan and Amy to D.C. to head off Isabella, suspected to be Vesper Two and finally meeting up under the Rocky Mountains for the hair-raising standoff between good and evil .The squabbling for control within the Vesper camp and the strained loyalties among the Cahills creates an emotional frenzy making the book hard to put down. It’s up to the few remaining Cahills to decipher the clues, solve the puzzle, find their missing friends and save the world. The author injects a healthy dose of history, geography and geology into the storyline. The “39 Clues” series is akin to a kid’s version of the classic movie, “It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world,” and will have readers glued to the page right up until the exciting conclusion.  (This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com).

 

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A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff

Target audience: Middle Reader
Rating: Dragon
 

Cady lives in a magical land where most people have a special talent, those without talents are called Fair. Cady’s talent is baking cakes, in fact, her skill is so formidable she need only look at someone to be able to bake that person’s perfect cake. Miss Mallory’s talent is matching orphans with the perfect family. Cady is the last remaining orphan at the House for Lost Girls in Poughkeepsie, NY. Her adoption sets into motion a destiny that leads her to the Lost  Luggage Emporium, multiple powder blue suitcases, and an apartment building where young Marigold desperately searches for her special talent. The Owner is a Talent Thief putting everyone within his reach at terrible risk. This delightful tale is told from multiple viewpoints with Cady’s cake recipes sprinkled throughout. Katie Honaker easily conveys the warmth and charm with a well paced narrative. She uses pitch and tone to indicate slow and fast changes in the dialogue making the listener feel as if he or she is part of the story. Each recipe is accompanied by cheerful, jaunty music and the addition of baking sounds like beating eggs, clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen during the instruction part is pure genius. The author  has created a puzzle of seemingly random events and people and with slow precision has untangled these knots to reveal a large interconnected circle of family, friends, destinies and a place of belonging. Recommend to fans of “Savvy” by Ingrid Law. (This audio was provided by Penguin Audio)

Audiobook details:

Read by Katie Honaker
Publisher/Date: Penguin Audio 2/15/13
Unabridged
Listening length: 4 hrs., 9 mins.

 

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Darwen  Arkwright and the Insidious Bleck by A. J. Hartley

441 pgs.

Target Audience: Middle Reader

Rating: Griffin

 

To Darwen Arkwright it seems like forever since he and his friends, Rich and Alexandra, formed the Peregrine Pact to protect their school from monsters. Darwen is a mirroculist, someone who can travel through mirrors into the strange world of Silbrica. Mr. Peregrine, a local shopkeeper, introduced Darwen to his powers and is one of the gatekeepers of Silbrica. When Mr. Peregrine shows up at their school as the new world studies teacher, the children know something’s up. Darwen ventures alone into Silbrica one night and sees a young boy pulled through a mysterious portal by an enormous tentacled beast. The next thing he knows their world studies class is taking a field trip to Costa Rica. Of course this is just a ruse to cover up their new mission to find and close the breaches in the barrier between Earth and Silbrica which the octopus-like Insidious Bleck is using to take children. Once in Costa Rica the kids uncover a much more sinister plot to destroy the rainforest and the world. Although the constant bickering between the three friends does become tiresome, it is still a great adventure story told in a fast pace narrative. There is enough backstory provided for those who haven’t read the first book, “Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact.” The author touches on many subjects including environment, land development, archaeology, history, Costa Rican life, betrayal, loyalty, and friendship. Each chapter is headed by clever black and white illustrations. Recommend to fans of “The Mysterious Benedict Society” by Trenton Lee Stewart. (Book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com).

 

 

 

 

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The ice gate of Spyre by Allan Jones

150 pgs.
Target audience: Middle Reader
Rating: Wizard

Trundle, a valiant hedgehog, teams up again with his friend, Esmerelda, Jack the minstrel, and a dopey ex-pirate named Ishmael to find the fourth legendary crown of power. According to legend they must head to the Ice Gate of Spyre. So they set off in their sky boat to the floating island of Spyre where they crash land into a tree full of vampire bats. After they narrowly escape exsanguination, the group discovers one of the legendary galleons assigned to deliver the crowns long ago. However the ship and crew was turned to stone before delivery was made. In order to get to the icy peak of Spyre for the crown, they must fight mobs of monastic llamas and enormous, ravenous, snow snakes. Snappy pirate dialogue, inane proclamations from Ishmael pepper this fantastic animal adventure. Kids will enjoy finding and following the many clues in the prophecies that guides the quest. Readers do not need to read the books in order, the author provides a short summary in the form of a prologue. (This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)

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River odyssey (Submarine Outlaw series v. 3) by Phillip Roy

229 pgs.
Target audience: Middle reader
Rating: Wizard

All Alfred wants to do is explore and after building a one-man submarine with the help of junkyard owner Ziegfried, he does just that. He lives with his grandparents off the coast of Newfoundland and spends most of  his time exploring with his submarine crew, Hollie, a stray dog, and an uncannily intelligent seagull, Seaweed. His adventures have earned him the title, Submarine Outlaw because he doesn’t have a permit for a submarine. In this third outing, at the advice of his grandmother, Sheba, he sets out on a trip to Montreal to find his dad who left right after his mom died giving birth to him. He follows the St. Lawrence river south past Anticosti island and Quebec. The dangers of river travelling include getting tangled with shipwrecks, rescuing cats in the fog, losing the sub in the fog and running up against the police. But Alfred wouldn’t have it any other way – he is resourceful, smart and remarkably calm and logical under pressure. He uses his wits and ingenuity. Included in the storyis a fair amount of Canadian seafarer’s history and geography. This will appeal to young readers especially boys with a keen interest in exploring and technical aspects of sea travel.
(Book provided for review by Children's Lit. - www.childrenslit.com)
 

 

 

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The Maelstrom by Henry H. Neff (Books of Tapestry, Book 4)

468 pgs.
Target audience: Middle Reader
Rating: Wizard

Astaroth is weakened and the demon Prusias seizes this golden opportunity to build his empire by attacking everyone else with his workshop powered war machines of course. Max returns to a hero’s welcome at Rowan. The celebration is cut short due to the threat of Prusias and the discovery that Max’s name is at the top of an assassin guild’s list. Max and his sorcerer friend, David, must once again work together to fight the famed workshop and stop Prusias’ invasion, while simultaneously dodging assassination attempts. Cooper, an old comrad, now possessed by a demon is sent as an assassin. Scathach returns to Rowan as Max’s bodyguard. This series is a marvelous blend of fantasy, mythology, science fiction, and mystery. The characters are endearing and well developed. Fantastic battles, cool spy-like inventions, fierce friendships and great illustrations await the eager reader. It is necessary however to read them in order to fully enjoy the experience because the overall plot of the series is intricate and complex. There is also a glossary at the end of this volume.

 

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The secret prophecy by Herbie Brennan

364 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 8-12
Rating: Wizard

Edward Michael “Em” Goverton wakes up one morning to find his dad, a university professor, dead. Since his father was recovering from a bout with the flu, this came as total surprise. Things get even weirder when strange men in black suits carrying guns show up at the funeral and then start to follow Em. So he starts digging into his dad’s research on a new biography of Nostradamus. It seems his dad discovered a secret prophecy, one which a mysterious group called the Knights of Themis want their hands on at any cost. Soon Em finds himself enmeshed in a dangerous web of predictions, mystery, and betrayal. He must race against the clock to prevent a catastrophic plot, but whom can he trust? This is sure to please readers hungry for fast paced thriller mysteries. There are codes to break, prophecies to interpret and plenty of twists and turns. Think “Da Vinci Code” for kids. Brennan, author of the popular “Faerie Wars” books, brings us the first installmnt in an exciting new conspiracy series. (This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)
 

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Revenge of the scorpion king by Tony Abbott

103 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 7 to 10
Rating: Wizard

 Owen, Dana, Jon and Sydney know that in order to save the elementary school and their beloved hometown of Pinewood Bluffs, they must do whatever it takes to stop the Norse trickster god, Loki, from bringing the battlefield aboveground. Stowing away on Loki’s sledge seemed like a good idea until they arrive somewhere they’ve never been, the dark and mysterious Babylonian branch of the Underworld. The powers of Orpheus’ magical lyre, one of Loki’s armored gloves and a copy of Bulfinch’sMythology may not be enough to fight the trickster god. Loki is recruiting heavily from the Underworld. Among his new soldiers are the Fire serpent, Scorpion King, Birdman, the Mammoth, and the seriously creepy Thornviper. This volume continues the non-stop adventure and action of its predecessors. Mythology was never so much fun as this. For kids chomping at the bit for Percy Jackson, the Underworld series of books is the perfect teaser. A glossary at the end completes the mythological picture.
(This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)
 

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The secret zoo by Bryan Chick

307 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 9-12
Rating: Wizard

The Clarksville zoo is not your normal everyday zoo, hidden in its bowels is a secret zoo protected by a secret society. During the day Noah, Megan, Richie and Ella attend the nearby Clarksville Elementary School while under the guise of volunteering at the zoo, they serve as Scouts for the secret society. The return of the shadowist, DeGraff, someone intent on a path of destruction with the help of his sasquatch army, has everyone high alert. DeGraff uses the shadows and fog to elude capture until Halloween night when he leads the Scouts and their new allies, the four teen Descenders, on a spine tingling chase through the secret zoo right into the middle of Clarksville Elementary. Here the children make their last stand  using their costume accessories to battle the sasquatches – a fake sword, an ink squirt pen and a special key. Their beloved animal friends, Blizzard the polar bear and Little Bighorn the rhino add their talent to the mix. DeGraff uses his shadow skills to escape leaving the school looking like a war zone.  The fourth installment in the Secret  Zoo series builds on the close friendship of the scouts and their bond with the wonderful animals of the secret  zoo. There’s plenty of mystery and clues to be followed. This is an action packed animal fantasy series sure to appeal to young readers. Recommend to fans of the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. (This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)
 

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 The Golden door by Emily Rodda
264 ps.
Target audience: Ages 8 to 12
Rating: Wizard

The city of Weld is surrounded by an enormous wall that protects its citizens from the dangers outside. It is here that Rye lives with his mother and two older brothers, Dirk and Sholto. Now their safety is endangered when the flying creatures known as Skimmers begin their nightly attacks. The Warden of Weld issues a summons for volunteers over the age of seventeen to leave Weld on a quest to find and destroy whoever is responsible for the Skimmer invasion. The reward is marriage to the Warden’s spoiled daughter. Rye is not old enough but Dirk and Sholto sign up and never return. When Rye’s mistake brings a Skimmer attack on his home and crops, he and his mother move to the castle for protection. Convinced his brothers are still alive, Rye lies his way into the Chamber of magical Doors, picks the Golden door and leaves the city walls. Accompanied by an escaped orphan, Sonia, Rye ventures into the perilous unknown.  Will Rye ever find his brothers again? What if he went through the wrong door? And if he does find them, what will they have to do to stop the Skimmers? From the author of the Deltora series, comes a fantastic new trilogy full of magic, monsters and mayhem. Rye and his brothers are drawn with unique personality traits endowing the cast of characters with a more complex and realistic tone. Rye, unlike a more traditional hero, is motivated by finding his brothers and reuniting his beloved family rather than winning the prize at the end. The adventures are well-plotted and set the stage for the next exciting installment.

(Book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

 

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Keeper of the lost cities by Shannon Messenger

488 pgs.
Target audience: 8 to 12
Rating: Wizard

Sophie’s secret telepathic ability sets her apart from everyone. To keep the constant nagging voices away, she becomes a loner. On a school field trip to a museum, she meets a young boy who claims he can also hear thoughts. To prove his authenticity, Fitz transports Sophie to the Eternalia in the Land of Lumenaria where the elves live. Sophie learns that she is in fact an elf and must leave her human family forever. She’d always been an outsider, so finding out she’s not human makes a small bit of sense even though it pains her to say goodbye to that life. She is taken in by a couple who run a sanctuary for mythical creatures. Although she does make friends at her new school, there are those who oppose her return. Reading thoughts are not Sophie’s only powers, she is able to send thoughts as well. The gaps in her memory hold valuable secrets, information that others would kill for. Sophie is a simple yet likeable character, whose eagerness to harness her new powers and unveil the secrets in her mind make her a target. Dex, her best friend, is loyal and true, but there are many whom she shouldn’t trust. This a fast paced, well plotted fantasy debut with hints of a sequel.

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Ancient, strange, and lovely by Susan Fletcher

315 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 8-12
Rating: Dragon

As long as Bryn can remember the members of her family have possessed the unique talent of kenning or communicating with birds. Each child receives a bird at the age of five, Bryn’s is a cockatiel named Stella. After Bryn’s biologist mother disappears while on a research mission in Alaska, her father leaves Bryn and her younger sister with their Aunt Penn while he goes off to find out what happened. Late one night a mysterious thumping noise coming from the basement sends Bryn and Stella exploring through boxes of research material sent from Alaska. Amongst them she finds an egg, a very large egg which produces a faint thrumming noise. This egg is connected to her mom and is perhaps why she suddenly vanished and must be kept secret from Aunt Penn, so Bryn confides in the only person she can trust, her mom’s lab assistant, Taj. When word gets out to the wrong people about this egg and what the creature might be, things spiral quickly out of control putting Bryn and her critter in terrible danger. She must get to Alaska and find her mom or someone who will help to protect the critter. Her schoolmate, Sasha, agrees to drive her up to a ferry in Washington. Because of her ability to ken with birds, Bryn and her baby dragon form a strong bond. This stand alone title in the “Dragon Chronicles” series written more than ten years after “The sign of the dove,” proves that the author is a true master of the dragon tale. Bryn is a brave, genuine, modern heroine, one whom young readers will love. The baby dragon is a character as real as any person and will tug at the heart strings. It is a wild ride which will have readers on the edge of their seats. (Book provided for review by Children's Lit  - www.childrenslit.com)

 

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Summer of the wolves by Polly Carlson-Voiles

340 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 10-13
Rating: Wizard

Nika and her brother have been subjected to the foster home shuffle for almost two years straight when a phone call gets them sent to stay with their long lost uncle, Ian McNeil, who lives and studies wolves in the remote wilderness of Minnesota. Surrounded by lakes, thick forests, and wild, raw nature, Nika wonders what her new life will be like. While her younger brother, Randall, stays with a family on a neighboring island, Nika joins her uncle on a mission to find a tracked wolf. What they find instead is a lone wolf pup whom they bring back to the cabin to raise. Nika forms a close bond with the  pup who fills the hole in her heart left by the death of her mother. She names him Khan and through their relationship Nika learns all about wolf behavior and habitat. She knows he’ll never be able to survive in the wild again and that he belongs in a protected habitat with other wolves. This poignant and heartwarming story is about finding family in unexpected places and understanding the fragile balance between loving wild animals and leaving them be. It will tug at the heartstrings of all animal lovers. For those like me who stress over the fate of animals in books, Khan survives. This book would serve well as a source for environmental projects and reports.

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Fallen star: troll hunters, book four. – Michael Dahl.

104 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 9-13
Rating: Wizard

Dr. Hoo and the four children return to Zion Falls after defeating the troll army in the underground gathool kingdom only to find their beloved city under attack from their friends, family and neighbors. The citizens of Zion Falls are under the trolls’ hypnotic control. The doctor and the young light bearers are the town’s only hope. The threat lurking deep beneath the surface of the quarry lake is far more sinister than any foe they’ve faced so far. It is the Mooloom, the father of the gathool race. The final battle against the evil trolls is packed full of rip roaring action with sword fighting, tangling with a many tentacled beast, and amazing underwater feats. Victory is achieved at a terrible cost. Now that the light bearers have triumphed releasing the townspeople from the thrall of the enemy, life in Zion Falls returns to normal. Update notes and gathool vocabulary are provided at the end. The final book in this series promises hair raising moments and great battle sequences for young adventure seekers.
(This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)
 

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Lava crown: Troll hunters, book three by Michael Dahl.

105 pgs.
Target audience: Ages 9-13
Rating: Wizard

Pablo and his friends are becoming more adept at using their new found light bearer powers and are working with Mara on a plan to rescue Dr. Hoo, Bryce and all the other residents of Zion Falls who have been taken prisoner by the troll general and kept in the underground lava chamber of the gathool kingdom. Uzhk, their troll ally, is heading underneath to create a diversion with a direct attack. Since Dr. Hoo’s tower can double as a moving vessel when activated by the combined powers of Pablo, Thora, Zack and Louise, they decide to use it to descend into the enemy’s lair. Meanwhile Dr. Hoo sets a trap for Ooloom, the troll general, by convincing him he’s betrayed the children. The battle to save the prisoners is treacherous and the young warriors  battle against overwhelming odds. The victory is bittersweet and reveals Dr. Hoo’s dark secret. Lots of heated fighting, lots of hot lava, plenty of evil troll warriors and a sinister general with hypnotic powers fill the pages of the third book in this series. Readers will be chomping at the bit to find out what happens. Just as in the previous volumes, the author includes a glossary and notes at the end. (This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

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