The Shadow Thieves

Summary: See that girl, the one with the bright red hair, overstuffed backpack, and aura of grumpiness? That's Charlotte Mielswetzski. And something extra-ordinary is about to happen to her.

Oh, it's not the very cute kitten that appears out of nowhere and demands to go home with her. It's not the sudden arrival of her cousin Zee, who believes he's the cause of a mysterious sickness that has struck his friends back in England. It's not her creepy English teacher Mr. Metos, who takes his mythology lessons just a little too seriously. And it's not the white-faced, yellow-eyed men in tuxedoes, who follow Charlotte everywhere.

What's so extraordinary is not any one of these things....It's all of them. And when Charlotte's friends start to get sick one by one, Charlotte and Zee set out to find a cure. Their quest leads them to a not-so-mythical Underworld, where they face rhyme-loving Harpies, gods with personnel problems, and ghosts with a thirst for blood.

Charlotte and Zee learn that in a world overrun by Nightmares, Pain, and Death, the really dangerous character is a guy named Phil. And then they discover that the fate of every person -- living and dead -- is in their young hands.

Thoughts: This was a fun read following in the footsteps of Percy Jackson. Full of mythology and fun this was a good read for most fans of these tropes as well as anyone living in Minnesota where most of the author's books are set as well as where Ants happened to be living when she read it which made it all the more enjoyable!

Content: The mythology side of this book lends itself to some creepy, dark, and magical scenes but it's otherwise clean for all ages.

The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian

Summary: When fourth fiddler Sebastian loses his place in the Baron's orchestra, he has to leave the only home he knows--which turns out to be the least of his troubles. He rescues a stray cat from a group of tormentors, who then smash his precious violin; and the troubled young boy he tries to help turns out to be the Crown Princess, on the run from an arranged marriage. Sebastian, Princess Isabel, and Presto the cat soon find themselves fleeing stuffy officials, hired assassins, furious guardsmen and sentries--and, in their journey, find out what is truly important in life.

Thoughts: I (Ants) am an avid fan of Lloyd Alexander's works. From Prydain to Vesper Holly and everything in between. This book is no exception. Following closely after the end of his most famous work, The Prydain series, this book still has a pretty classical feel to the writing style while, story-wise, falls into the same category as his more lighthearted and humorous works. I really enjoyed this one as it had a bit more meat to it than his usual standalone works while still remaining a neat little story. 

Content: Aside from some mild danger, this is a clean read for all ages!

The Magic Tree House

Summary: When Jack and Annie discover a mysterious tree house filled with books, they never dream that it will take them on exciting adventures around the world and throughout history! The story begins with Dinosaurs Before Dark, when Jack and Annie are whisked back to the prehistoric past. With a total of twenty-eight adventures, kids will never get tired of traveling the world and completing missions with their new friends Jack and Annie.
 
Books in this set include: Dinosaurs Before Dark (#1), The Knight at Dawn (#2), Mummies in the Morning (#3), Pirates Past Noon (#4), Night of the Ninjas (#5), Afternoon on the Amazon (#6), Sunset of the Sabertooth (#7), Midnight on the Moon (#8), Dolphins at Daybreak (#9), Ghost Town at Sundown (#10), Lions at Lunchtime (#11), Polar Bears Past Bedtime (#12), Vacation Under the Volcano (#13), Day of the Dragon King (#14), Viking Ships at Sunrise (#15), Hour of the Olympics (#16), Tonight on the Titanic (#17), Buffalo Before Breakfast (#18), Tigers at Twilight (#19), Dingoes at Dinnertime (#20), Civil War on Sunday (#21), Revolutionary War on Wednesday (#22), Twister on Tuesday (#23), Earthquake in the Early Morning (#24), Stage Fright on a Summer Night (#25), Good Morning, Gorillas (#26), Thanksgiving on Thursday (#27), and High Tide in Hawaii (#28).

Thoughts: Unlike most people reading this review, I did not grow up reading the Magic Tree House stories. I did, however, get to read several of this first series to my students aged 3-10, and they adored them. We enjoyed going through the different ages and eras together as well as hunting down the next book at every store or library we went to. Each book prompted further study into dinosaurs, astronauts, how the body works, and plenty of other things. These are also great for early readers to start on by themselves. They offer fun and adventure while teaching and helping curiosity to grow. A great series for read-a-loud's, especially if you're willing to go the extra mile and help them research answers for all the great questions these books will prompt!

Content: Since they are geared towards little kids, they are perfectly clean. There is some magic seen in the function of the tree house itself and the myths it ties into but is otherwise good for all ages! 

The Kneebone Boy

Summary: Life in a small town can be pretty boring when everyone avoids you like the plague. But after their father unwittingly sends them to stay with an aunt who’s away on holiday, the Hardscrabble children take off on an adventure that begins in the seedy streets of London and ends in a peculiar sea village where legend has it a monstrous creature lives who is half boy and half animal. . . .

Thoughts: Despite the intentionally creepy vibe this book puts off, it follows more closely in the footsteps of E. Nesbit than A Series of Unfortunate Events. This gives it a comfortable sense of mystery and family that is perfect for a rainy day with a hot cup of something good. I really fell in love with the story and the characters. The plot develops well and certainly ends in a surprise I did not see coming. It's one of those books that should be reread after the first reading to better see the clues dropped. All in all, a really great feel-good kinda story!

Content: Some scenes feel a little creepy in the moment but are later revealed to not have been as dangerous or eery as they appeared. Otherwise, a clean read for all ages!

The Empty Grave

Summary: Five months after the events in THE CREEPING SHADOW, we join Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and their associate Quill Kipps on a perilous night mission: they have broken into the booby-trapped Fittes Mausoleum, where the body of the legendary psychic heroine Marissa Fittes lies. Or does it? This is just one of the many questions to be answered in Book 5 of the Lockwood & Co. series. Will Lockwood ever reveal more about his family's past to Lucy? Will their trip to the Other Side leave Lucy and Lockwood forever changed? Will Penelope Fittes succeed in shutting down their agency forever? The young agents must survive attacks from foes both spectral and human before they can take on their greatest enemy in a climactic and chaotic battle. And to prevail they will have to rely on help from some surprising--and shadowy--allies.

Read about the previous books:

Book 1 The Screaming Staircase

Book 2 The Whispering Skull

Book 3 The Hollow Boy

Book 4 The Creeping Shadow

Thoughts: This is the fifth and final book of, as of yet, the only series of ghost books I've not just enjoyed but actually loved. I've ranted about the characters, writing, and world-building in past reviews so check those out for sure. As for this book, all I have to say is that it is a good ending to a spellbinding series that has kept me going for over a year. While the conclusion isn't exactly all I hoped it would be, it fits the series perfectly and cements these books onto my favorites shelf. Absolutely necessary to all readers of the series and a must for lovers of ghost stories and great characters, definitely check these out!

Content: Like the rest of the series, these books are dark and downright scary. They won't bother a seasoned veteran of the horror genre (like Epic) but should be read carefully by younger or more sensitive readers (like Ants). Mild language and a few rude remarks from the Skull in the Jar added to the list and we recommend this series for teens and adults.