I’m a huge Katherine Applegate fan. It started with CRENSHAW and I’m delighted to report my, well, delight continues with the ENDLING series.
In the first book, ENDLING THE LAST, readers are introduced to Byx, a young daime (often mistaken for a dog by the less informed). Byx is the runt of her litter with an insatiable curiosity, a trait that inadvertently saves her life – she wanders away on a small adventure narrowly avoiding being slaughtered when soldiers raid her family’s home and kill all her loved ones. Grief stricken, lonely, and terrified that she may be the last of her kind, she embarks on a journey to find more dairne. Along the way, she acquires several unlikely companions: a wobbyk (loveable big-eared rodent), a poacher (human female), and a felivet (fierce and panther-like). Fueled by hope, the small band follow ancient myths and trace rumors on a quest to prove that other dairne still exist and that Byx isn’t the Endling of her race.
In book two, ENDING THE FIRST, Byx and company continue their search for more dairne. But their quest has morphed into something larger. Their world is on the verge of war. Who is friend? Who is foe? Should they fight or flee? Whatever their path, Byx and her new ‘family’ are determined to face the good and the bad together.
This is a “no spoilers” review, so I dare not say more about the storyline. But I absolutely loved traveling with Byx on her quest and was thoroughly enchanted by these characters, their world, and the adventure. My only complaint is that the third book in the series won’t be released until March 2, 2021. So now begins my impatient waiting for ENDLING: book three.
Readers who enjoy books like “Endling” will also enjoy “Petdemonium”, a middle grade sci-fi adventure.
reasons. Reason 1: I used to teach seventh graders. Reason 2: The first lines of the book were perfectly crafted to establish tone and setting:
“Crenshaw” explores how one hard working family deals with the threat of homelessness through the eyes of Jackson, an ‘old soul’ fifth grader.
I was instantly intrigued by Suzanne Nelson’s book, A TAIL MAGNOLIOUS. A girl steals an elephant? An elephant!? Really? How is that possible? I had to find out more. And was delighted to discover a magical story about a 10-year-old orphan, her elephant, and a bag of extraordinary beans.
“Meow,” Sooky said.
In Mina’s world, the weather is perfect. Food is plentiful. Everyone is happy. Alorria is a utopia and it’s all due to the storm beasts, dragons who control the weather. Mina can’t wait for hers to hatch. She has a quiet thoughtful nature and expects to hatch a storm beast to match, maybe a wind beast. Instead she receives Pixit, a lightning beast, whose riders are known for their recklessness and daring. Everyone believes there’s been a mistake – everyone except Mina. She knows in her heart that Pixit is perfect for her.
Patricia MacLachlan, perhaps best know for her Newbery Medal-winning novel “Sarah, Plain and Tall”, has created a beautiful story told through the endearing eyes of a young girl, Louisiana (Louisa). While their parents are traveling for work, Louisa and her younger brother, Theo, stay with their grandparents for the summer on Deer Island.
In book one of the “Eagle Mountain Adventures” series, Josh, Alex, and Mickey desperately want to go to the Montezuma Fair Grounds to see the trained dogs perform. So Doc, Alex’s dad, agrees to fly them down. The flight is great. The fair fantastic. The dog show even better. But bad weather on the trip home forces them off their flight plan. When they unexpectedly run out of fuel, they crash-land in a canyon. With Doc injured, the young adventures, Josh, Alex, and Mickey, have to work together to survive and find a way home.
In “Super Jake & The King of Chaos,” Naomi Millner expertly captures the voice and heart of her young protagonist, Ethan. Mostly he’s a big brother to Freddy and to his special needs littlest brother, Jake. But he’s also a hardworking magician with dreams of his own. When he enters a junior magician competition he finally has a chance to meet his idol, Magnus the Magnificent. But he has to earn the money. Okay. He can do that. And he has to come up with a fantastic magic act. Okay. He can do that. And since his parents can’t leave Jake, he has to find someone to go with him. Done. But then he fights with Ned, a classmate who insults Jake. Apologize? Not happening, even if it means missing the competition.
Do you like chocolate? Magic? Mystery? Adventure? The Amazon? If you answered ‘yes’ to any or all of these (I was hooked at chocolate), then TREE OF DREAMS by Laura Resau is a must read for you. Resau has combined all these ingredients into a delectable treat readers will savor to the last delicious page.
kaygoodnight.com 