It's MMGM with a review of The Ghosts of Nameless Island by Carly Anne West, illustrated by Teo Skaffa

The Ghosts of Nameless Island by Carly Anne West, illustrations by Teo Skaffa
Publisher:  Andrews McMeel Publishing
Format Read:  Paperback
Number of pages:   302 pages
Published:   July 23rd, 2024
Source:  Purchased

Opening Line: "I don't know the cat's name, but this much I did know:  If she was snuggling up to me, there was a ghost with us."

At seven years old, Gus saw is sixth ghost, a white-haired former ballerina in a house his parents were restoring.  He helped her to move on by listening to her story and returning her lost locket.  Now, at twelve, Gus and his mom are moving again for her latest renovation project on the mysterious and remote Nameless Island.  But this time, Gus is worried because he can't find the protector items that keep ghosts from hurting him, like the lucky penny that his dad gave him before he disappeared.

Once Gus and his mom arrive at the historic Rotham Manor, they discover the eerie Nameless Island cemetery at the edge of the property, filled with unmarked graves.  Gus even catches a glimpse of a ghostly boy at the gate.    Rotham Manor has been abandoned for years, and though his mom knew the project would be an undertaking, she never expected the devastation waiting inside.  The manor is a disaster zone, riddled with holes, busted plumbing, and missing half of the staircase leading to the second floor. Gus's mom poured everything into restoring the manor, even embellishing her skills to secure the job.  What are they to do now?  And what of the mysterious ghost lurking in the cemetery? 

The Ghost of Nameless Island is the first book in a new trilogy from Carly Anne West.  The illustrations by Teo Skaffa add to the creepy vibes of the story and I adore that cover.   I also love stories set in old houses or mansions-they conjure images of ivy creeping up the walls, rooms with hidden closets and endless opportunities for exploration.  Gus is a very responsible young man, and I love how supportive he is of his mom.  He plays a crucial role in helping her regain control of her breath when she suffers a panic attack after seeing the manors interior.  He constantly tries to make her smile and is deeply concerned about keeping her stress level down, or at least not adding to it.  That's why he never tells her about the ghost in the cemetery.  His dad was the one who believed in paranormal encounters, while his mom would likely dismiss his experience and take him back to his therapist.

Nameless Island makes for a wonderfully spooky setting.  With the manor, cemetery, lighthouse, rainstorms, and the need to take a boat to reach it, the island exudes eerie and isolated.  Along the way, Gus gets help from two local children, Miles and Tavi.  They run the Nameless Fameless vlog and are looking for intel on the Manor's previous owner, Karl Rotham- a suspected bootlegger. Together they hunt for answers about the manor's mysterious owners and search for clues to the identity of the broken ghost boy.  I love how these two mysteries provide twists and turns, creating just the right amount of tension in the story-especially when the broken boy ghost is able to injure Gus, something that never happened when he had his dad's penny.  While some answers about the manors past emerge, the story ends on a cliffhanger.  Luckily, The Boy Who Could Fly releases in September!

  

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

For MMGM a review of Lost Evangeline (The Norendy Tales) by Kate DiCamillo , illustrations by Sophie Blackall

Lost Evangeline A Norendy Tale by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie 

Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Format Read:  Ebook
Number of pages:   160 pages
Published:  January 1st, 2025 and hardcover releasing 9/30/25
Source:  Edelweiss +

Opening Lines: "There was once a boy who longed to go to the sea."

One day, a cobbler finds a child as small as a mouse in an old boot.  The shoemaker's wife fears that this is a mistake, a magic gone wrong to take the young girl, but the shoemaker doesn't listen and names the young girl Evangeline, vowing to raise her as their own.  As the years pass, Evangeline grows older, but never taller in size.  The shoemaker's wife begins to become increasingly worried as the two are always side by side, dreaming of one day going to the sea and exploring distant places.   The wife tries various means to separate her husband and Evangeline.  Eventually even doing the unthinkable, selling her to Mrs. Pennith-Smith.  Now far from her adopted father, Evangeline is determined to find her way back to him.  And once the shoemaker finds out what his wife has done, he in turn searches for her too.  

Lost Evangeline is the third book in the Norendy tales, which includes The Puppets of Spellhorst and The Hotel Balzaar. It's a story filled with wonder, love, dreams and determination. Evangeline is a very resourceful and brave young girl.  Not only does she sneak away at night, she's going out into the dark and unknown.  And who does she encounter first but a "huge, marmalade colored cat." Yikes!  Evangeline has many adventures while searching for her father and is put into quite a few precarious situations.  At one point she is even imprisoned in a cage by an unscrupulous man who wants her to perform in his oddities and curiosity show.  Yet, she never seems to get down during these moments.  Instead she begins to tell stories and sings to the people and animals that she encounters, emboldening them to overcome their own fears or misgivings, and to search out their own dreams.  The CODA  finds Evangeline and the shoemaker sailing upon separate ships, which felt incomplete to me.  It made me sad but also hopeful with them both having lit lamps at their side.  As if they'd search for each other forever.  The story includes wonderful black and white illustrations by Sophie Blackall.  Read this if you enjoy Kate DiCamillo's books or if you're looking for a unique fairytale. 

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

It's MMGM with a review of A Sky Full of Dragons (The Wand Keepers #1) by Tiffany McDaniel , illustrations by Ayesha L. Rubio

A Sky Full of Dragons (The Wand Keepers #1) by Tiffany McDaniel, illustrations by Ayesha L. Rubio
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster
Format Read:  Paperback 
Number of pages:   352 pages
Published:  September 24, 2024
Source:  Purchased

Opening Lines: "Aunt Cauldroneyes made pointed hats covered in bright green warts for witches, large floppy hats covered in crystal eyes and moonlight for werewolves, and hats that had an edge of mist and a ribbon for the ancient trees in the forest."

On a stormy night, Aunt Cauldroneyes found a baby at the bottom of a purple cauldron and named her Spella De-Broom.  Since then, Spella has lived in the Hungry Snout Forest with her aunt, her mischievous enchanted hats and their mummified cat, Egypt.   When Spella turns eight, she is to receive an invitation to Dragon's Knob, a school for wand magic.  But on the day she is meant leave, a wizard appears at the door, requesting a repair of a growling hat-only for her Aunt Cauldroneyes to be sucked into the hat and vanish.  Fearing for her aunt, Spella heads to Dragon's Knob in search of answers.  But upon her arrival, she finds protesters gathered at the gates, bullies furious over the school's recent changes, and amid the chaos a new friend, Tolden who vows to help Spella solve the mysterious disappearance of her aunt.  

In the first ninety pages, the reader is introduced to Spella's world- a place of love and comfort.  I love how it established Spella and her aunt's strong bond, and introduced their enchanted home in the forest.  Their home is truly magical with its window glass made of wild grapes and raspberries, doors that smell of chocolate, where thread is spun from sugar and buttons taste like caramel.  It reminds me a little of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, where the little details make it all the more enchanting. I loved that Spella's aunt is a milliner that creates all of these wonderful hats imbued with unique personalities.  They're chaotic and whimsical and staunchly loyal, making them all one big happy family.   Each chapter begins with a gorgeous illustration by Ayesha L. Rubio and there are footnotes for the various magical terms.  

Spella's world is then disrupted when her aunt is taken by an unseen enemy, leading her to a school for wand magic.  There, conflicts arise between two factions: Dragon Knob, which has started to teach only plant-based magic, and a group of witches and wizards determined to continue using animal-based magic.   Woven throughout the story are themes of deforestation, animal endangerment, and activism, highlighted by Spella's aunt's involvement in W.O.L.V.E.S (Witches Oath to Love and Value the Environment for Spellwork).  At first, it might seem like these elements wouldn't fit together, but McDaniel blends them seamlessly into the story.  A Sky Full of Dragons will appeal to readers who love magical schools, dragon-filled stories, or immersive worlds rich with detail and adventure.  Book 2, The Mummy Snatcher Curse releases on 9/30/25, can't wait.    

It's MMGM with a review of Seeker Society by Jana Tropper and Kyle Higgins , illustrated by Zack Giallongo, colorist Whiney Cogar

Seeker Society by Jana Tropper and Kyle Higgins, illustrated by Zack Giallongo, colorist Whiney Cogar
Publisher:  Andrews McMeel Publishing
Format:  E- ARC
Number of pages:   176 pages
Publishing:  June 3rd, 2025
Source:  Edeweiss +

Opening Lines: "Stay calm, children!  Everyone just stay calm."


Seeker Society opens with Dr. Adichie, Fern, Zack and Jordan aboard their schools' boat when it is rammed by The Keepers, leading the students to fall overboard.  Then the story skips back two months with the trio arriving at Shackleton's School for Seekers.  Each of them having been selected for their special gifts.  Fern can hear voices from the past, Jordan can see the past when he touches an item and Zack, the youngest is a polyglot and can read ancient texts.  Their new school is a place for exploration and preservation, where the past is discovered but also honored.  The school's motto is "either find a way or make one." 

Seeker Society shifts between past events in each of the student's life, at school or to their present predicament of being thrown overboard.  The trio soon find themselves on an island where they encounter the Keepers, a group of people who have been at odds with the Seekers and want to take advantage of the student's gifts and the map that they've discovered on the island.  Roy, a former teacher with Dr. Adichie and his daughter Shay lead the Keepers, and they're consumed with deciphering the map to find the treasure of the Lost Island.  Shay has the power of navigation and soon revolts against her father in order to help Fern, Zack and Jordan.  She disagrees with her father on selling the treasure and doesn't believe that everything should be for sale.  The children soon begin canvasing the island to try and find the treasure before the Keepers, while trying to evade Roy and his team.  

The Seeker Society is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel, and I loved the way the illustrator and colorist play with color on their full-page illustrations.  How each illustration is a glimpse of what's to come.  Where one page is for example colored blue and the illustrations almost appear black and white, and then the next page shows the same illustrations but in full color.  With all the different colors on the page you start to pick up on things that maybe didn't catch your eye on the blue colored page.  I found this quite interesting.  I also really enjoyed that the story emphasizes friendship, trust and teamwork.  How each student had an opportunity to use their skills and that their skills were evolving to include new ways that they could be used.  How Jordan learned that he doesn't always pay attention and that he needs to work on thinking before acting.  I also especially liked the school's motto and how each of the student's gifts were powers that help them to locate historical artifacts.  There's a really nice reveal at the end of the book, that I don't want to spoil, but I'm fond with the idea that it's tied to the heart of the island.  Seeker Society has received 3 million + reads on the Epic! platform and I'm glad that it is being published in a graphic novel format.  I can see this appealing to 8–10-year-olds who enjoy magical schools and the idea of outsmarting adults.  

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE