by Miss Audrey, Youth Services Dept. Librarian
Alas, summer is drawing to a close. The new school year is nearly upon us. But that’s no reason for the adventures to stop! Whether your child’s reading tastes run to sci-fi or magic, try some of the following series starters to keep the summer expeditionary spirit alive!
The Unicorn Rescue Society: The Creature of the Pines by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly
For Ages 7 – 10
Elliot is starting at a new school – three weeks into the semester! Who does that? And his first day is a field trip to the New Jersey Pine Barrens, led by the decidedly odd Professor Fauna (who may or may not have a torture chamber in the basement of the school). One good thing: on the bus to the Barrens, he meets and befriends Uchenna, a quick-thinking, free spirited girl who balances out his analytical and anxious personality. Their partnership will definitely come in handy, because they will meet something strange in the Pines, and that’s only the beginning!
An excellent series starter for kids who are getting comfortable with chapter books, but who aren’t yet ready for epics like Harry Potter. A fun read, with quick, short chapters, engaging characters, and lively illustrations: it’s a guaranteed good time!
Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire by John August
For Ages 8 – 12
Arlo likes to have emergency plans to follow in case things go wrong, but before moving to his mother’s tiny rural hometown of Pine Mountain, Colorado, nothing could have prepared him for wisps, night mares, and other eldritch creatures who seem to have it in for him. Happily, his new friends in his Ranger troop can help! They’re used to living so close to the otherworldly Long Woods, and they have knowledge and know-how up their sleeves. They’re also used to teamwork. Surely, together they can keep Arlo safe, at least until they figure out why he’s in danger to begin with? Arlo is a likeable main character, and his troop is one I’d love to join. This fun, fast-reading series starter is too good to pass up – give it the old Ranger try!
Chronicle of the Dark Star: The Last Day on Mars and The Oceans Between Stars by Kevin Emerson
For Ages 8 – 12
It’s the year 2213, and humans are evacuating the solar system. The sun is expanding and has already destroyed the Earth. Most humans have left in their colony ships, but a handful of scientists and their families remain on Mars, awaiting the final experimental results that will help the species terraform their new planet. Friends Liam and Phoebe’s parents are the last scientists working, which means they’re the last to leave the planet. On their scheduled day of departure, strange things start happening which the duo can’t resist investigating. What they learn will change everything – but with the sun creeping closer and mysterious forces at work, will they be able to get off of Mars in time?
The Oceans Between Stars picks up where the first book leaves off, and the third book is scheduled to come out in early 2019. This is an excellent series, full of different alien species, action, secrets, intrigue, cool intergalactic settings, divided loyalties, and deep questions about what is right, wrong, and necessary. The focus is mostly on Liam in the first book, but Phoebe starts to get in her point of view in book two. Both are relatable, believable characters trying to figure out the best way through a series of difficult situations. Hand this to any kid who would like to disappear into the cosmos for a while.
Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond Book 1: The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta
For Ages 8 – 12
Kiranmala’s parents are always going on about how she’s a Real Indian Princess, but now that she’s turning 12, she’s getting fed up. She knows that she’s just another 6th grader from New Jersey – she doesn’t need that kind of nonsense. Until she comes home from school on her birthday to find her parents gone, and a hungry, flesh-eating demon breaks into the kitchen. When two (dreamy-looking) princes on flying horses show up, telling her she needs to come with them, she figures she doesn’t have any better options, especially if she wants to get her family back. The adventure just takes off from there, full of riddles, movable maps, and demons, magic, and creatures of various types. Kiran herself is a tough, independent-minded, clever girl who adapts quickly, despite being so thoroughly out of her depth. Basically, this series starter is everything a mythology lover might want.
Max Tilt: Fire the Depths by Peter Lerangis
For Ages 9 – 12
Max Tilt has just been knocked off kilter in a big way. His mom is sick and out of town with his father, getting tests done, and Max has been left in the care of his college-age cousin, Alex (whom Max barely knows), when the utilities cut out and they learn that the house is being foreclosed on. While the cousins scramble to find money and solutions, they discover that 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, the sci-fi epic penned by their ancestor, Jules Verne, wasn’t fiction after all and is actually a treasure map. They set out to retrace Verne’s footsteps, encountering avalanches in the mountains, attacks by giant squid, and deadly whirlpools, none of which are as dangerous as the other humans out to get the treasure first.
This book ticks every adventure box possible: excitement, danger, bad guys, unexpected allies, jokes, grand scenery, a diverse cast (Max and Alex are both mixed-race), and a satisfying resolution. As an added bonus, Max is a smart, fast-thinking kid on the autism spectrum, while Alex is a take-charge heroine with a great sense of humor. Even better? The sequel came out in July, based on Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days. Hand this to your favorite thrill-seeker today!
