Mini Review: Operation Chaos

 

X-Men meets Spy Kids in the fifth installment of The Forgotten Five middle-grade fantasy/adventure series by the New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds.

The Forgotten Five and their friends are reeling in the aftermath of the raid on Magdalia Palacio's campaign rally—an attack masterminded by her corrupt opponent President Fuerte and his henchmen. Birdie is in the hospital with a head injury, and under arrest for stealing a police horse in her attempt to evade capture. Separated from her friends—and not even allowed to see her mother—how can Birdie escape when she is utterly alone? Then the Librarian is taken captive in the heavily guarded palace dungeon after Fuerte discovers she's been acting as a double agent. What will they do without their trusted mentor? Luckily, the five have been honing their supernatural abilities, and it's Brix who takes the lead, forging an unlikely alliance and putting together a plan. Does the group have what it takes to rescue their friends and even the odds in the president's all-out war against Estero's supernaturals? 

- summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I don't want to go into too many details and give away something from the series.

But...

Obviously, there is a lot of action and danger here

Rescue missions

Talking animals

Trust Issues

I can't wait to read the next installment. This is a such a fun series.

Source: My Library

Cover Thoughts: Love it - it's action packed

Library Recommendation: A must have series for school and public library.

Middle Grade Monday: Mystery of the Locked Rooms

Sarah and her two best friends love escape rooms. When Sarah spots a foreclosure notice on her front door, she knows everything will change. Her father has a chronic health condition and her mother's working as much as she can, but it's not enough.

West, Hannah, and Sarah remember hearing about a treasure in an old, abandoned funhouse. They decide to risk the danger and see if the treasure is real. It could be the answer to Sarah's problems. She really doesn't want to have to move and lose her friends.

Together, they find the hidden passageway inside. The first room leads them to another room in such a way that there's no way backwards. They can only move forwards. Their phones don't work and the rooms don't have much light. Can the three friends who love escape room find their way through the funhouse?  

My Thoughts: This was a super run read: lots of puzzles to figure out. I've never been to an escape room, although I've helped build a couple for my library. Reading about these rooms was really neat. I'm impressed with how Sarah, West, and Hannah did. I loved how they worked together to solve the puzzles. I love how they used their strengths and how they dealt with their weaknesses. I liked the story of the triplets and how they came together to create the funhouse. The book takes place mostly in one day. I loved all the action and the danger from the funhouse rooms. 

And even better, there's a sequel! I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

 Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have middle grade book for your school and public library collection

Five Things (1): Map of Flames

There's so much to enjoy about Map of Flames, but here are just a few:

I can't wait to see where the next book takes us!

Review: Forbidden City

 

* Book 3 in the City Spies series *

After their last mission, the team is used to help turn a North Korean nuclear physicist. The man rarely leaves the country, but his son is an excellent chess player involved in a tournament, Luckily Paris is also great at chess. 

The team will use the tournament as a cover to make contact and turn the scientist. Unfortunately, they are not the only team interested in this man's abilities. And the other team isn't as nice - they aren't above kidnapping. 

Can the team complete the mission with all the curve balls thrown at them?

My Thoughts: Another great book in this series. I loved the chess angle and how the tournament split up the team. I liked the socialite angle - and especially her father. I enjoyed the birthday party and Sydney taking a undercover gig as a journalist for the family. I loved how the code needing to be broken was on social media. I loved watching Rio eat his way through the cities of Russia and China. I'm on the fence about Charlotte appearing and I hope that's fleshed out in the next book. Of course I can't wait for the next book to read more from my favorite spy family!

Cover Thoughts: Great

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your school and public libraries.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Read in One Sitting

 This week's topic is books to read in one sitting.

Books I wish I could have read in one sitting because they had so much action, survival, and fun reads. 

Thrillers:

  

 

Survival:

 

Lots of Fun:

 

Middle Grade Review: Distress Signal

 

Just before the class campout, Lavender and her BFF Marisol start having trouble. Lavender's forced to sit with someone else on the bus and share a tent with another girl. She's certain she can get Marisol back - if she could just get her alone. So she during a break from hiking, she lies to get time alone with her best friend. But the plan backfires. In more ways than one.

There's a flash flood warning that catches the class off guard. Lavender's forced to separate from her class to save the classmates she put in jeopardy. In doing so, they, along with another boy, become cut off from the class. They're forced to climb a tree to stay alive.

When the flash flood ends, debris has piled up forcing them to find their own way. In the foursome with two enemies, they can't get along long enough to come up with a solution. Mistakes and accidents happen. 

Something's going to have to change before long if they want to survive.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book about figuring out friendships and being stuck in the wilderness. I loved the action and the danger. And how these four kids handled everything - coming together when it counted. I liked that they all had skills and knowledge to share. 

Cover Thoughts: Awesome

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: A fun thriller for your middle grade's public and school library collections. 

Review: Wildfire

Sam's summer camp is evacuating as a precaution against a wildfire that's spreading across Maine. When he realizes that he left his phone in his bunker, he quickly retrieves it. But in doing so, the fire creeps up between him and the bus. There's no way to make it.

Now he's forced to navigate the forest and run from the wildfire. He remembers a few survival tips from his recently deceased father, which help him stumble through the forest.

He meets a girl from another camp, also lost. The two of them join forces and attempt to survive as the fire rages on all around them.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this action packed book. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to see (if) and how Sam escaped the forest. I enjoyed all the twists and turns. I was happy that Sam made a friend, it would have been terrible going through that all by yourself. Plus the banter between the two of them was refreshing. I liked learning the survival tips and learning about the environment. This would make an interesting book discussion book as lots of topics are brought up: grief, death, drug addiction, helping the environment, stealing, and friendship.

Cover Thoughts: Love it
Source: My library
Library Recommendation: A great middle grade action thriller for your school and public libraries.

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Review: Not if I Save Your First

Maddie thought she and Logan would be best friends forever, until an incident drove them thousands of miles apart. Maddie still wrote to Logan, but he never wrote back. Eventually, she realizes she was almost alone in the world - until one day ten years later when he showed up on her doorstep.

Maddie's spent the last ten years in the Alaskan wilderness. She's  annoyed and angry with her former best friend and she wants answers. What she doesn't expect is for him to follow her when she's doing her chores.

She doesn't expect a man to come out of nowhere and attack her. Sure Logan's the President's son and he's a valuable target, but they shouldn't have found him here. Now she's the only one who can save him. Even if she wants to kill him herself.

My Thoughts: I loved this book and was so glad to read it. I'm a HUGE Ally Carter fan. I loved Maddie's toughness, but also how she was in tough with her girly side (bedazzled hatchet anyone?). I loved the danger and the action - both the wilderness and from the bad guys. I loved the letters from Maddie and how she kept asking him about them, asking him to explain what happened to her. I couldn't put this book down, which isn't unusual for an Ally Carter book. She writes the perfect blend of romance, humor, danger, and action.

Cover Thoughts: Perfect
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your school and public libraries - it's a must have.

Review: Will Wilder

Will Wilder has a terrible time at his brother's birthday party. He inadvertently destroys the party when he hijacks the donkey and rides it. He causes his brother to break his arm and unlocks his own destiny.

The shadows he's spotted his whole life come into sharper focus. Monsters are sneaking around town causing strange things to happen.

When one of them approaches Will for help, Will must decide if he's going to steal the family relic to use it for his own purposes. His actions could change everything.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. 
Lots of action.
Lots of danger.
 Lots of monsters. 
Lots of family secrets.
Great friends. 
Strange family. 
Good against Evil. 
Bad choices. 
Loyalty. 

Cover Thoughts: LOVE it - it reminds me a young Indiana Jones
Source: ARC from a Librarian Preview

Final Thoughts: Full of action and monsters, this will make tween readers very happy!

Tween Tuesday Mini Review: Convergence

The Plot:
On a field trip to a museum in China, Steven hears strange noises. When he goes to investigate, he accidentally gains the zodiac power of the Tiger. Now Steven finds himself in the middle of a war between good and evil. Evil of course wants world domination. Good wants to stop Maxwell and his gang. Not everything is black and white.

The Good:
* Lots of Action
* Diverse Characters
* Superhuman powers (perfect for summer reading)
* Good vs Evil fight
* Illustrations
* Funny - Smart - Strong heroes and heroines
* First in a trilogy

The Bad: (minor issues)
* It's sometimes difficult to the the characters apart
* The beginning sequence of the unleashing of the Zodiac powers required multiple readings for comprehension.

Final Thoughts: Lots of action, lots of danger, and lots of plot twists make this start to a trilogy a must read for fans of action books.

Book sent for Review

Tween Tuesday Review: Hide and Seek

 * sequel to Capture the Flag *

José, Anna, and Henry are now junior members of the secret Silver Jaguar Society. After a special ceremony, the three get a special look an at gold exhibit from Central America - including the famous Jaguar Cup.

Their parents realize that the cup on display is not the real deal and immediately, everyone flies to Costa Rica looking for answers. José, Anna, and Henry are left with friends at a resort while the parents attempt to trace the cup's last steps. 

Unhappy at being left behind, the kids come up with their own theories. They befriend the owner's daughter - Sophie. She shows them trails and bits of wildlife. They're amazed by it all - and a little scared. Soon, José starts feeling left out from secrets. He starts investigating on his own. What he finds could endanger him. Can he solve the mystery of the missing cup?

My Thoughts: I loved hanging out again with these four kids - they're smart, resourceful, and determined. I love how they're kind of nerdy and each have their own love: Harry Potter, video games, and writing for the school newspaper. I felt all the action and danger. I don't' know much about the jungle or Central America, so I loved spending time in the jungle learning - I found myself there with the four friends - and I really liked Kate Messner's author note. A wonderful read that makes me wanting the next book in the series.

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic
Source: My library

* Perfect for fans of the 39 Clues series

Review: No Safety in Numbers

Just a regular day at the mall turns deadly when Marco discovers a bomb in the air ducts. He stumbles across the device by chance, while trying to escape a bunch of bullies.  He doesn't want to be late to work, now that might be the least of his troubles.

People have been told not to leave the mall. They mingle and talk to strangers as the day turns into night. Lexi, a Senator's daughter, meets a popular girl who has a nerdy side. Shay tries to keep her younger sister and her grandmother from worrying. Ryan runs into his brother's jock friends who take him under their wing. Marco takes on extra shifts at the restaurant to make more money.

The longer they're stuck at the mall, the more tempers rise. Authorities are rounding up anyone with a cough. People are getting antsy. They want answers. They want to go home and they're not afraid to get creative about it.

Will they uncover the truth and be allowed to leave in the near future - or do they even have a future?

My Thoughts: The first book in a series sucked me in. I can't imagine being stuck in a mall for days with strangers. I liked the four teens and seeing the situation from the various perspectives. I liked how they started forming relationships with strangers and how they interacted with their friends. I liked how they tried to uncover the truth about their quarantine.  The action, the danger, and the suspense kept me from putting this book down and reminded me of a teenage version of 24.

Cover Thoughts: Simple, but effective. I really like it.
Source: My Library.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Favorite Characters In Action Genre. I'm a huge fan of action/adventure books. In honor of the newest Die Hard release, here are my favorites. - meme from The Broke and the Bookish

Jade and Rich from Sure Fire

Alex Rider 

Dan and Amy from 39 Clues

Luke, Theo, and Callie from Wildfire Run 

Chase and Nicole from Storm Runners

Max from Devil's Breath

Toby from Killer Pizza

Aidan and Meg from On the Run

Danny from Traitor

Jonah from Thieves Like Us