Table Titans Club #2 Sneak Attack by Scott Kurtz

Table Titans Club #2 Sneak Attack by Scott Kurtz 
Publisher:  Holiday House/Walker Books Group
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   224 pages
Publishing:  March 10th, 2026
Source: Edelweiss+

Opening Lines:  "The Summer Tournament! Jousting, sword fighting, archery... I can't wait!"

The Table Titans Club is thrilled to spend their summer at Camp Owl Care, a LARPing camp filled with quests designed to challenge camper's minds, bodies and spirits.  Val, Kate, Alan, Andrew and Darius can't wait to put their live-action roleplaying skills to the test as they solve riddles and tackle the camp's many challenges.  

But their excitement quickly fades when they're randomly sorted into different houses that will be competing against one another.  Could this be a chance to make new friends?  For Kate and Alan, it might be necessary as they've been arguing since the moment they arrived.   Their conflict stems from a previous D&D campaign in which Kate's character died after triggering a trap.  She believes Alan should have used their reward, a powerful scroll, to revive her character, but he refused.  What begins as a personal disagreement soon escalates into a camp-wide feud.  Can the Table Titans overcome their differences, or is their once-tight-knit group on the verge of falling apart?

Sneak Attack is the second volume of the Table Titans Club graphic novel series, which follows a group of middle-school Dungeons & Dragons players.  Val tries hard to make the camp experience fun, but Kate's negativity and her constant bickering with Alan drag down the camps morale.  When Val thinks she has spotted a troll lurking by the trash cans, the camper's band together to hunt for clues and set a trap for the mysterious creature. This is where the story really took off for me.  I especially enjoyed the scenes where the kids teach new campers the rules of the game, craft costumes, and participate in a Battle Royale style foam weapon showdown.

I also enjoyed the emphasis on using non-combative strategies, like spellcasting, which brings a refreshing layer of creativity to the otherwise battle heavy weapons fights.   The appeal of this book is easy to see, especially in the wake of the popular Stranger Things series and its renewed spotlight on role-playing games like D&D.  The illustrations are light and fun, showcasing boys and girls alike taking part in a triathlon, an archery competition, a race and even navigating a hedge maze with a Minotaur waiting at the center of the Labyrinth.  Such fun.   Sneak Attack is a great fit for fans of role-playing games, kids who enjoy summer-camp adventures, or anyone interested in LARPing.  

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

 

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with a review of The Unbreakable Crown by Carina Finn

 

The Unbreakable Crown (Feast and Famine book #2) by Carina Finn
Publisher:  Sourcebooks for Young Readers
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   304 pages
Publishing:  February 3rd, 2026
Source: NetGalley

Opening Lines from prologue:  "Silas Erebos swore he would never walk through the carved marble doors of Forum again."

The first book of the Feast and Famine series, The Last Great Heir, follows Merriment "Merri" Feast and Rue Famine as they prepared for their impending duel to determine who will rule the entire realm of Fauret.   The Unbreakable Crown picks up from that point but shifts the story to a new setting, Demonspace.  The point of view also changes from Merri and Rue to Wort Erebos and Abundance "Bun" Feast, which initially took me a minute to adjust to.  I found it easy to lose track of who the characters were and how they were connected.  Therefore, I recommend starting with the first book in the series. 

In The Unbreakable Crown, five young friends are brought to Demonspace in search of a satchel.  Unfortunately, the bridge or Interstice that once connected their world to this one is now inoperable, leaving them stranded in this new land.  

Within Demonspace, Wort discovers that his family descends from a line of demon royals, a truth his father, Silas hid when he took Wort and his younger sister, Sage to the forests of Famine.  There, Wort and Sage often went hungry, surviving only through the potions the land of Famine provided. Wort is angry and confused by this new revelation.  

Bun Feast has always lived a life of luxury, filled with parties and fashionable outfits. Unlike her sisters, she has never learned to use magic.  Merri, heir to House Feast, along with Bun and Rue, share the special bond of the Eternal Three.  Through this connection, they can communicate with one another, and their united bond drives their determination to return to Fauret.  

This second installment broadens the characters and introduces a magical school, Tenebrun, adding depth to the story's worldbuilding.  Tenebrun is a school for demons, that Wort's Uncle, Nicol insists he attends to gain power.  The school's purpose is to identify and shape future leaders.  The head scholar, Sister Alerune declares that Wort belongs there because he is not human, a claim that infuriates him and goes against what he knows thus far. Sister Alerune decree's that Merri, Wort, Bun and Rue must all attend Tenebrun if they hope to have their wish to return to Fauret granted.  Their only path home lies within the school's library on the eve of Silver Twilight, provided they can survive a series of trials and harness the magic needed to complete their wish.

At Tenebrun, the first trial goes to Wort and is a Trial of Fire.  He meets Howie and Jax, both higher demons, as well as Cyrena, a lesser demon.  His new friends seem more interested in his family's lineage than in Wort himself.  Bun faces a Trial of Deception and meets Avery.  Both Bun and Wort are placed among the Primes, an elite group within the school, while Merri and Rue become Seconds.  Rue undergoes a Trial of Combat, using shadow and potion magic but sustains an injury.  Merri, meanwhile, is faced with a solitary Trial of Fear.  During her second trial, she is unfortunately signaled out by the Sister's and following an emotional outburst is taken to the Monument Garden, cursed with becoming a statue.  At the same time, Sage has gone missing and is believed to be held in the Nyx Sister's Tower. 

The Unbreakable Crown feels similar to the Harry Potter series meets The Iron Trial (Magisterium series) by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare and The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani.  Tenebrun is a magical school which specializes in Chaos, Bibliomancy and Charm's.  It has the feel of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry yet doesn't emphasize the individual classes that the children take as much.  There are also children who are unfamiliar with their ability to wield magic and even floating, talking crowns that are part of a prophecy promising great power. While somethings felt similar, others made the worldbuilding stand out.  Although the ending itself felt abrupt, I really enjoyed the direction the story was taking.  Both Bun and Wort continue to grow in their abilities and confidence.  I'm eager to see whose perspectives the next book will follow and whether the friends will ultimately find their way back home. 
              

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

     

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It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with a review of The Book of Four Journeys by Veronica Del Valle

The Book of Four Journeys by Veronica del Valle
Publisher:  Silverwood Books
Format Read:  Paperback
Number of pages:   240 pages
Published:  May 18th, 2021
Source: Author Marketing Experts

Opening Lines: "I have a story to tell you.  A story about a well-kept secret." 

Alfalfa Spooly is very proud of being a postman, especially on the day when the Milner approaches him about delivering a yellow hat to Phineas in the bluest of blue houses in Blue.  His journey takes him across spiky hills, along a forsaken road through a tornado and across a river.  Once he reaches his destination, Alfalfa is given the opportunity to receive his own yellow hat, a thing of wonder and magic. Yet Alfalfa can't decide whether he should take the gift.   

The second story is about Mumik Opipok, not the most confident person in the world he is always filled with doubt, even over the simplest of things.  But on the day of the story, he makes his first choice, a wish to know something.  Yet, he did not know that his simple wish reveals he has a sibling he didn't know that he had.  A twin who he was separated from at birth.  One who lives in the south while the other is in the northernmost region.  Both chanters for their parts of the world.  Meanwhile, Pimnik, who has never doubted herself for one moment, always confident in her choices has her first instance of indecisiveness.   Pimnik still ventures in a ballon in search of her brother, who unbeknownst to her is traveling at the same moment to her by boat.  The story alternates between the two as they attempt to reunite.  

Neboo McCloudy sits in the white clouds of Floccusville, where he stands out because he is the only stormy grey cloud among the fluffy white ones.  Neboo is a very grumpy individual but luckily, he finds a scroll with a tale promising to lead him to a Great Treasure.  But finding the treasure may pose to be difficult as he must enter a formidable forest. 

The final story is of Lincoln Jax.  A young girl living in an orphanage who is visited by a crane bearing an invitation for her to venture toward a kingdom.  Before reaching it, however, she will have to pass three trials.  Lincoln is curious but impatient can she be truthful and rightful in answering the questions posed to her at each door?   As Lincoln enters each new doorway, she is faced with exploring her feelings and gains a better understanding of herself.  

The Book of Four Journeys takes four travelers on four incredible journeys.  Each story is filled with adventure, whimsy and surprisingly is very introspective.  My favorite tale is Neboo McCloudy's as he learns of kindness, selfishness, generosity and wisdom.  He learns about happiness and it's such an uplifting message.  The stories address friendship, exploration, and self-reflection.    The illustrations of each of the characters added to the reading experience.  An overall fun story with beautiful messaging.  

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

 **A huge thank you to Author Marketing Experts for the review copy in exchange for an honest review**         

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with a review of Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders

Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders
Publisher:  Sourcebooks for Young Readers
Format Read:  Paperback ARC 
Number of pages:   272 pages
Publishing:  January 6th, 2026
Source:  Publisher  

Opening Lines:  "I stopped my bike across the street from the run-down house and answered the question I knew Clemmie was about to ask."

In the small town of Everson, everyone suspects that Miss Geraldine's run-down house is haunted.  Even the old rowboat leaning against the siding has seen better days.   The place is in such bad shape that the mayor has threatened to have it condemned.

Tucker has his eye on the rowboat, hoping to fix it up so he can continue his passion for fishing.  So, when his friend Clemmie is asked to help clean up Miss Geraldine's property and prepare it for an auction, Tucker agrees to help in exchange for the rowboat. 

But when Tucker returns to collect it, he instead finds Miss Geraldine dead at the bottom of the stairs.  As an amateur sleuth, Tucker quickly recognizes that what everyone assumes is an accident might be a murder instead.  Although Miss Geraldine was considered mean by the town, and referred to as Miss fussy gussy, she didn't deserve to be murdered.

After speaking with his father, the chief of police, Tucker gets permission to examine the scene for clues.  With help from Sadie and Clemmie, he begins to interview the townspeople and track down leads, determined to uncover the truth about what really happened.

Everson has that small-town charm I absolutely adore.  Quiet streets, and a coffee shop and beauty salon serving as the town's hub for gossip. With Clemmie and Sadie's parents working in these two locations, it's easy to gather pieces of information listening in on the townspeople as they speculate on motives and reveal secrets.    It's the perfect backdrop for a classic detective mystery, plenty of suspects, quirky townsfolk, and a free-range for curious kids to explore.  I'd love to see more adventures with these kids. Ideal for younger mystery fans.   

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

 **A huge thank you to Sourcebooks for the review copy in exchange for an honest review**