Middle Grade Review: Forever Rogue

 

* Book 7 in the Forgotten Five series *

This is the final book in the series, so I do want to highlight it. 

However, I don't want to spoil anything for people.

I will just say:

There's a LOT of action/danger in this book (just like the others)

The fight scene is awesome

The ending took me by surprise - but not in a bad way

I would LOVE a spin-off of The Librarian

The parents

This is a fantastic must have series for your school and/or public library - it's full of action, danger, drama, family issues, friendships, a little romance, and superhero abilities. 

There's something for everyone!

Middle Grade Review: Masters of Disguise

 

* Book 6 in the Forgotten Five series * 

I can't talk about this book too much because of spoilers for the series.

But like all the other books, it's full of action, danger, and drama.

Everything is coming to head before the last book. 

I can't wait to see how everything plays out, but I also don't want this series to end. 

I highly recommend this series. 

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 Review: Dangerous Allies

 

* Book 4 in the Forgotten Five series * 

Things are heating up in the war of the Supers. The Forgotten Five are feeling the pressures of betrayal and attempting to heal from the trauma their parents inflicted. It's not easy sorting through emotions, especially when you feel alone. They're struggling to know who to trust. They're also trying to answer one of life's biggest mysteries: can people change? 

My Thoughts: I love this series - there's lots of action, danger, and secrets shared. This book has lots of feelings - feeling of betrayal and working through trauma. The ending of the last book surprised me, but I enjoyed how that played out.  I can't wait to see what happens next to this group. 

Cover Thoughts: Great

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your library 

Review: Rebel Undercover

 

* Book 3 in the Forgotten Five series * 

The rebel supers are beginning to understand just exactly what they are up against when one of their own goes undercover in the President's house. It's not looking good and they're beginning to lose heart.

They aren't prepared for a fight this big. Doubts creep in. Tensions run high. And people are beginning to wonder who to trust...

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this third installment of the series. Lots of action, danger, and plot twists and turns here. Lots of moments of doubt. Lots of secrets. And a very surprising ending. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Source: My Library

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

5 Things (4): Invisible Spy

The Invisible Spy is the second book in the Forgotten Five series.

And it was my first 5 star read of 2023.

Here are 5 reasons why I love it:

 

Review: Going Wild

 

* First book in a trilogy *

Charlie and her family move from Chicago to Arizona. Charlie's annoyed by the move - she's missing her friends and her soccer team. Of course, she's going to try out for a new team, but it's not the same. While they're unpacking, she finds a package with her name on it with a sports bracelet inside. 

She's excited for the gift as she thinks it will help her focus on her soccer skills. When she puts it on, strange things start to happen. Charlie can run super-fast, and her healing ability is amazing. Add that with super strength and Charlie is confused. Worse, she can't get the bracelet off. Can she figure out the truth behind the bracelet and its powers?

My Thoughts: I heard about this book at an author event. I'm so glad I did because I missed it somehow. And it's super good - there's lots of action and danger. Lots of friendship drama as Charlie navigates friendships at her new school. There's family drama as everyone is adjusting to a new routine. Charlie's involved in soccer and theater at school. I can't wait to read the next books and lucky for me, because this is an older trilogy, I don't have to wait. 

Cover Thoughts: Cool

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: If you don't have this trilogy, it's highly recommended!

Bookish Question

 What are you reading?

@yabooknerdlibrarian #stitch with @Let’s Talk Romance Book Club What are you reading??? I'm reading the first book in the Going Wild trilogy from @lisa_mcmann #booktok #middlegradebooks #trilogy #amreading ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

It's been taking me longer to get through books because life is so busy. But this book is super good!

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!

On Your Radar: Clarice the Brave (50)

 

Title: Clarice the Brave

Author: Lisa McMann

Publisher: G. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: October 2021

Why it should be on your radar:

* Friendship in unexpected places

* Siblings

* Animals

* Danger

* Action

* Survival

* Boats

* Kindness

* Hope

* Courage

* Having someone believe in you

I really enjoyed this book, especially the unexpected friendships and how they changed everything!

* ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: You're going to want this one for your school and library collections - highly recommended! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books from 2008

This week's topic is books you loved the year you started blogging. I started this blog in the fall of 2008. Before that, i was talking about books on MySpace (remember that?). I cringe at my early posts, but I leave them because they show me how far I've come as a blogger (hopefully). So here are books I read and loved that year!

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

I wrote about it twice (my favorite books I read in 2008 - not necessarily books from 2008 and most entertaining books read in 2008) I'm not sure why I made two different posts. But one seems more genre oriented than the other. 

I will add:

Review: Dead to You

Ethan doesn't have many memories of his previous life. He was abducted from the front yard at the age of 7. Now after 9 years away, he's coming home.

His family can't believe it. Everyone's so thrilled. At first Ethan's touched, but soon all the attention is overwhelming. He doesn't remember the house. He doesn't remember his brother Blake. He's never met his younger sister Gracie.  Most of all, he doesn't remember getting into the car.

While the family tries to move on and cope with his return, it's clear that things are very different.  Eathan's not used to rules after living on the street. He's not used to calling to say he's at a friend's house. He's not used to people worrying about him.

Ethan's trying to make himself part of the family. Not everyone's happy that he's back. Blake can't forgive him for getting in that car. Ethan must deal with fitting back into family, the community, and his brother's heart.

My Thoughts: While sometimes hard to read due to the high tension and emotions running through this novel, I devoured it. But it ended too soon for me. I wanted more out of it - which made me wonder if there is a sequel planned. I wanted to uncover more about his past. I liked the moments between Ethan and Gracie, which were very sweet. I liked the romance between Ethan and Cami. A highly emotion read that teens in my library will devour.


Cover  Thoughts: I love it 

Source: my Library

Similar Read: The Face on the Milk Carton

Spotted: New Lisa McMann book

What do you think? I'm digging the cover

Learn more about it here!

Review: Gone

Janie's finally taking a vacation to rest primarily, but also she's trying to figure out her future. A phone call from her BFF brings her rushing back home as she discovers her mother's in the hospital visiting a man who turns out to be her father. Janie's never met her father. She had no idea he lived near them. Right now, he's in coma, just waiting to leave this world. Janie doesn't want to know him, but she can't help her curiosity once she realizes that he too is a dream catcher. Right now, he's having terrible dreams and needs her help to escape. With the stress of her vacation cut short, finding about her father, and struggling to make the most important decision of her life, Janie's exhausted. What will the future bring her?


My Thoughts: While this book was different from the rest of the trilogy with not a central mystery to uncover, I enjoyed seeing the inner struggle of Janie. Overall this trilogy was outstanding, intriguing, and scary. I'm interested to see what come next from this amazing author.

The Cover: I like this cover, it flows nicely with the others in the trilogy and adds a little mystery to the book.

Source: My library

Lisa McMann

Cabel dreams horrifying dreams from his past, but he also cares about Janie. She knows this - not because she talks with him as Cabel is a loner - but because she falls into his dreams. Janie's not normal. Somehow, she stumbles into other people's dreams. At first it scares her. She doesn't sleep much a her first slumber party and she tries to get her mother not to fall asleep on the couch. But lately, it's been worse. People are around her are falling asleep and dreaming at school and at her work. She's trying to figure how what's going on, but she doesn't have anyone she can trust. One night at work, a patient dies, but not before Janie discovers her true powers - she's a dream catcher. She has the ability to help people in their dreams - find calmness and uncover hidden truths. Using her dreams, Janie teams up with Cabel and the police dept. to help solve crimes.

It's a romantic thrilled chocked full of danger and tension. A teen at the library recommended this book to me. I took it home and once I opened it, I was hooked. It's so good if should come with a warning: Don't open it if you don't have time to finish it.


Janie and Cabel are trying to find a way for their relationship to work. It's hard keeping it a secret at school, especially when the dreams are getting worse. By now, Janie's learning to control them. She can pull herself out of most dreams, unless their too intense. She can pause and rewind them. All of the dreaming is leaving her exhausted. But there's work to do. An anonymous call to the police dept. leaves them curious about a potential student/teacher relationship. Once again, Janie goes uncover flirting with teachers trying to get a better read on what's lurking beneath the surface. While she knows she's doing something right, hanging out with these teachers makes her skin crawl. Is there something sinister happened here and if so, can Janie find it before she gets in too deep?

The sequel left me breathless. All I can think about it the next book and what it will bring. And mostly how far away Spring 2010 seems (which is when Gone appears). You know it's an addicting series when readers clamor for the next book immediately following the latest. Still...waiting is hard. I finished this book in day, almost late to work because I didn't want to put it down. It's very similar in style to the first book - but the danger is greater and the secrets revealed are much bigger.

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