The Curse of the Silvan Oaks by Georgia Channon

The Curse of the Silvan Oaks by Georgia Channon
Publisher:  Pushkin Children's Books
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   272 pages
Publishing:  September 1st, 2026
Source: Edelweiss +

Opening Lines: "Hornet tail, the highest of the Catacomb Mountains rose up above its lesser peaks like a monstrous, pointed gravestone."

The Curse of the Silvan Oaks opens with a golden cat battling a wolf, transforming into a mountain lion to overpower its adversary.  When the fight ends, the cat slips into Onda Castle in the kingdom of Silvanland and leaves a leather-bound book beside a sleeping boy.   As it departs, the cat whispers a cryptic message, "you will feel courage" and "you will go alone, down the tunnel to the hazel grove."

Elsewhere, Oli Gill wakes from a strange dream in a small cottage near Foxley Hall, where her mother has just begun a new job.  While unpacking, she finds her father's belongings and discovers a wooden box.   Inside are a letter and a necklace, a black stone hanging from a leather cord.

Later that day, Oli and her mother visit Dr. Rivers at Foxley Hall.  He introduces her to his vast library, complete with a balustrade and an upper gallery.  In the Moon and Oak section, she learns about an ancient war between Queen Titania and King Oberon.  Still, curious, she continues exploring and discovers a hidden staircase behind a bookcase.  The wooden stairs lead downward into a portal that carries her into Silvanland. 

At the same time, Prince Cory awakens and finds the mysterious book.  Within its pages contain illustrations of a toy castle in his playroom and the plans for an underground tunnel beginning behind the fireplace.   Intrigued, he follows the clues, only to be captured by King Oberon's men.  Oli witnesses the soldiers taking him and tries to intervene.  However both are captured and now must join together to escape the King's forces and confront Queen Hellebore, who has unleashed a dark curse that is spreading a deadly disease across Silvanland.   

The Curse of the Silvan Oaks draws inspiration from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, via its portrayal of the rival courts of Titania and Oberon and the sense of magic that is woven in through the forest and animals that help Oli and Prince Cory.   There are also strong influences from The Lord of the Rings in the marching soldiers and the ancient trees reminiscent of Ents, as well as the portal-based world crossing found in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  

Between the two protagonists, Prince Cory often stood out more to me.  His desire to be fearless gives him a natural momentum, and he repeatedly leaps into action without hesitation.  He saves Oli from drowning, helps them navigate the maze when they're lost, finds a boat at a crucial moment, and even stops a jackal from injuring them.  What makes him compelling is that he doesn't recognize his own bravery.  He reveals his courage through instinct rather than intention. 

Oli does have an important role in the plot.  Her necklace with the black stone designates her as a shield.  Her role consists of returning the black stone to the woodland crown to save the forests from the disease spreading within it.  She is the one who discovers the portal and is drawn in by the lore of the Moon and Oak.  She also played a crucial part in freeing Prince Cory, showing some quick thinking and determination.  There's a sense that her bravery is still emerging and could be expanded on in the next book in the series.  Overall, this was a fun portal fantasy, and I look forward to seeing where the story goes next.   

Mexikid Dreams: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín

Mexikid Dreams:  A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin

Publisher:  Dial Books
Publishing:  September 1st, 2026
Format Read:  E-ARC 
Number of pages:   320 pages
Source: NetGalley ARC request following Penguin Fall Preview

Opening Lines from Prologue:  "Remember the Big Bang, when a new universe began?" 

Pedro Martin’s family ran a Mexican restaurant in California until an earthquake destroyed both their store and their home. The family moved 300 miles north to the town of Watsonville, where they became sharecroppers on a strawberry farm. By the time Pedro was seven, he was already out in the hot sun picking berries alongside his eight siblings. Everyone had to work in the fields, even his Apa.

Still, there were lighter moments, like their playful “strawberry war” fights and line dancing to their favorite songs. But while most kids from school spent their summers at the beach just five miles away or at home watching Sunday cartoons, Pedro and his siblings longed for the chance to be like other kids and enjoy a summer off.

When Pedro's older brother Sal lands a job at the lumber yard, a step toward his dream of becoming an architect, each of Pedro's siblings begins to imagine a future where they can pursue their own ambitions. But first, they all have to prove to their father that they have a real plan, one that includes getting an education or gaining hands-on experience that will lead to a stable profession, just as Sal's job does.

Now Pedro just needs to figure out his own path. Maybe then he can finally carve out the freedom from farm life that he's been longing for. Still, he worries what will his father think about wanting to be a trombone player or becoming a cartoonist and will this count as a real job to him? Mexikid Dreams is a graphic-memoir companion to Mexikid, a Newbery Honor winner. I haven't read Mexikid yet, but it's definitely moving to the top of my TBR. In his latest work, Pedro Martin provides an insight into his family's life in Watsonville. The joyful moments, the difficult ones, and the realities of living as migrant workers under the constant threat of immigration patrols.

What stood out to me most were the family dynamics and the emphasis on traditions, including the scene were the family is making tamales together. I also appreciated the strong focus on gaining an education. How strongly Pedro's father strived to make his kids' lives better, to provide them with opportunities that he never had, while making sure that they knew where they come from.

Once Pedro's father was able to hire extra help and he felt confident they could make ends meet, he gave the kids a choice about whether to continue working in the fields. The kids still had to make cutbacks of their own, to give up some of the small luxuries they were used to, but they were cared for, and their futures mattered.

I loved the updates on what each sibling is doing now in their professional lives, as well as the many pop-culture nods to comics, music and TV shows. Reading Mexikid Dreams also gave me a deeper appreciation for the challenges my own mom faced harvesting and curing tobacco as a young child. Especially all the long hours, the physical strain, and the resilience required to keep going.

**A huge thank you to Dial Books for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review**

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

The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel: Deluxe Edition by Gareth Hinds

The Odyssey:  A Graphic Novel: Deluxe Edition by Gareth Hinds
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published:  May 12th, 2026
Format Read:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   256 pages
Source: Publisher

From Goodreads:  Fresh from his triumphs in the Trojan War, Odysseus, king of Ithaca, wants nothing more than to return home to his family. Instead, he offends the sea god, Poseidon, who dooms him to years of shipwreck and wandering. Battling man-eating monsters, violent storms, and the supernatural seductions of sirens and sorceresses, Odysseus will need all his strength and cunning—and a little help from Mount Olympus—to make his way home and seize his kingdom from the schemers who seek to wed his queen and usurp his throne. Gareth Hinds masterfully reinterprets a story of heroism, adventure, and high action that has been told and retold for more than 2,500 years—though never quite like this.

I will be the first to admit that I don't have much experience with Greek mythology, though I've always enjoyed it.  My previous sources have been limited to reading Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief series and numerous times of rewatching The Clash of the Titans.  This graphic novel made Odysseus's struggles and his determination to return home fascinating to follow.  A recurring theme I noticed was hospitality, the way hosts welcomed guests, celebrated with them, and how they tried to avoid offending the immortals.  

The watercolor illustrations of chariots, mountain ranges, and clothing brought this ancient world to life. I loved the variety of layouts, from full pages with five panels to spreads divided into three sections, each capturing rich details that held my attention. Even though I never read The Odyssey in school, I feel I learned a great deal from this graphic novel, at the very least, it served as an excellent introduction.  I’d recommend it for upper-middle grade readers, as it includes scenes of a cyclops eating people, some blood and gore, like an eye being stabbed, deaths in battle, and a bit of nudity.

**A huge thank you to Candlewick Press for the hardcover review copy in exchange for an honest review.** 

Little Monsters by Máire Roche

Little Monsters by Máire Roche
Publisher: Aladdin/Simon & Schuster
Publishing:  August 18th, 2026
Format Read:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   275 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Lines from prologue: "Beware the seam cities, beware the full moon, and beware, above all else, the girl who can hide what she truly is."

Meg March lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her three younger sisters and their foster mother, Marmee.  As the oldest, Meg has taken on the role of caretaker and current securer of a Halloween costume for all of her siblings.  To earn the money, she's been taking care of their next-door neighbor, Mr. Laurence's chickens.

Then a new boy, John Brooke moves in with Mr. Laurence and Laurie.  He's introduced as a visiting cousin, but his arrival coincides with strange events around town.  Farmers have reported stolen chickens, several coops have scratch marks, and people claim to have seen a monster lurking in the nearby forest.  At the same time, Meg has been waking up in the woods with no memory of how she got there or what she did the night before.  Could she be the creature everyone is whispering about?  After all, Meg and her sisters each possess unusual abilities.  Meg grows sharp teeth and claws when she's nervous or is stressed, Jo develops fur during a full moon, Beth grows wings, and Amy can transform into a mermaid.  If anyone found out, what would they think of the Marsh family?  And would Marmee agree to continue fostering them?

Meg feels a deep sense of responsibility for her sisters.  She's constantly trying to keep them and Marmee happy.  She worries that any misstep will anger Marmee and force them to move foster homes yet again.  That pressure manifests physically, with her claws and teeth appearing whenever her anxiety spikes.  While I understood Meg's anxiety, the repeated mentions of her teeth and claws began to feel redundant.  I wanted more moments of showing how these transformations impacted her, more close calls, more tension around almost being discovered, rather than repeated descriptions of her trying to hide her teeth behind her lips.  

I also wished for more interactions between Meg and all of her sisters, not just Joe.  Little Women is a classic coming-of -age story rooted in sisterhood, personal growth and family bonds.  In contrast, Little Monsters centers primarily on Meg and Joe, offering fewer opportunities to explore the dynamics among all four sisters.  Perhaps if Meg had asked for help more often and had more faith in her siblings, those relationships could have been developed further.  Still, having Brooks learn her secret does introduce some light rom-com moments.  

Overall, I enjoyed the ambience of Little Monsters, the crisp autumn setting, the approach of Halloween, the dark moon and drifting clouds, and the twisting forest branches.  The atmosphere sets the tone for a spooky monster mystery with plenty of possibilities of who or what the culprit might be.  And at its heart is Meg's determination to prove her innocence.   

Golden Boy by A.J. Symon

Golden Boy by A. J. Symon
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Format Read:  E- ARC
Number of pages:  288 pages
Publishing:  August 25th, 2026
Source:  NetGalley via publisher

Opening Lines from prologue: "Breathe.  Please, just breathe..."

From debut author A. J. Symon comes Golden Boy, pitched as "Weird Science meets Marley & Me.  A heartfelt, funny crossover perfect for tweens ready to step into YA."

Emma, a science-obsessed high school sophomore, would rather spend time with her best friend, Hudson, her golden retriever.  Hudson was a gift from her mother when she became ill, and she has loved him fiercely ever since.  Numbers, data and scientific facts seem to speak to Emma way more than people.  At home she's the middle child, bookmarked by her brothers Chip and Buckhead, and their father is the high school football coach.  

Since her mother's death, Emma has been the only girl in the house, and the one responsible for all the chores, from cooking to laundry. When she receives an early acceptance to UC Davis, she hopes it will finally be her chance to escape.  But her father insists she's too young, they can't afford it, and family come first.  

Then everything changes.  During a game of keep away gone wrong, Hudson is injured and collapses.  Desperate not to lose him, Emma uses the activator from her fruit fly project to heal Hudson.  Instead, it alters his DNA, transforming him into a real, living teenage boy, with all the instincts of a golden retriever.  

Hudson quickly catches Emma's father's attention and is recruited for the football team.  Emma is tasked with guiding him through their classes at school, teaching him how to be human, the ins and outs of football, and preventing him from causing chaos.  It's a lot harder than she ever imagined.  

This was such a delightful read.  From Emma's STEM experiments on fruit-flies to the nods to Dr. Shinya Yamanaka's stem-cell research, with all the science elements woven in naturally.  I also loved her crush on quarterback Nick, especially the way she's unsure of why she likes Nick, only that it shouldn't be because of his good looks.  Or how she tries to analyze her feelings rationally and logically because of her difficulties with subtext, like expressions, inflections and social cues. Super cute.  

Emma's family dynamics added a seriousness to the story.  They're not great at communicating, so I appreciated the glimpses into her brother's perspectives.  What football means to them, how their father's tough coaching style affects them, and what they wish they could say out loud.    
And Hudson, Bud Golden in human form, is such a standout character.  He senses everyone's discomfort, moves with this hilarious super-speed, and becomes wildly territorial over a football.  His presence shifts the entire family, nudging them closer together and helping them see what truly matters.  He even helps Emma understand football in a new way and opens her father's eyes to her strengths.  Overall, a story not to be missed for tweens or upper middle grade readers.  

**A huge thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

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

The Game of Oaths: by S.C. Bandreddi

The Game of Oaths by S.C. Bandreddi
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published:  June 2nd, 2026
Format Read:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   432 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Lines: "The arena is packed tonight."

From Goodreads:  It’s 1896. Beneath a hotel in the heart of Paris is the famed le Cirque des Ombres, led by ringmaster and Enchanteur Jean-Pierre. But behind the dazzling spectacles, the circus performers are bound by magical contracts, also making them potential players in the annual Game of Oaths, an underground bloodthirsty tournament watched by the wealthy elite. Twelve will compete. Eleven will die.

Seventeen-year-old trapeze artist Falan Sunkara is out for revenge. After her sister ended up as one of the unlucky eleven last year, Falan wants nothing more than to make Jean-Pierre pay for her death. When she’s chosen to compete in this year’s tournament, Falan is not above playing dirty and forging unlikely alliances. But to be the last one standing, she has to determine whom to trust and whose motives to question. Vengeance on top of survival is a dangerous gamble—and in games like this, the house always wins.

My Thoughts: 

Within The Game of Oaths, the author builds an elaborate world centered on a circus and a high-stakes competition in which the circus performers become competitors in a brutal, deadly fight.  I definitely felt strong Hunger Games vibes with patrons who sponsor contestants, essential equipment provided to help them to survive, prizes for winning, and the betting on who will come out on top.  There were even hints of Six of Crows in the roof top jumping and the overarching theme of chance.  

Jean Pierre, the ringmaster, is both the creator and orchestrator of the game.  He never plays fair, changing rules on a whim and deciding whether a competitor survives or suffers a "mishap" during the game.  His ruthlessness in unmistakable, and I found myself eagerly waiting for his downfall.   

Falan is blunt, cool, scrawny and initially comes across as sulky.  It took me a bit to warm up to her, but her size and attitude never seemed to limit her, she's far tougher than she appears.  As the game progresses, she's swept up in a bloodlust for revenge, often putting herself in greater danger more times than I would have liked.   Each character has their own goals and strategy to playing the game and their actions and underhanded tactics kept me riveted till the end.     

The story is divided into five parts, each opening with a quote from Guillaume Gallien's Origins of the Arcane, offering a brief background on the history and abilities of enchanteurs.  In every round, participants are pitted against one another while also completing the ringmaster's tasks.  When a player falls, there are moments to pause and reflect, gain new information, make plans for the next game, try to recover from their injuries and losses.  The pacing strikes a nice balance, intense violence during the game followed by a slower, thoughtful rebuild before the next brutal challenge.  It avoids becoming relentlessly heart wrenching, instead creating a nice rhythm and pace toward the final outcome.   

I'm always a sucker for books set in France, and adding a circus, a deadly competition, magic and epic fight scenes had me hooked immediately.  The reader is quickly swept up in the glamour of the ring, with the acrobats and knife throwers, the spectacle, and the thrill and danger of the competition.  Overall, this was an exciting story and despite its similarities to the Hunger Game, it offers enough unique elements that also sets it apart.  If either of the previous books mentioned interest you, I'd eagerly recommend you check this one out.  

**A huge thank you to Candlewick Press for the hardcover in exchange for an honest review.**  

Adventure in the City of Stories by Emma Otheguy, illustrations by Poly Bernatene

Adventure in the City of Stories by Emma Otheguy, illustrations by Poly Bernatene
Publisher:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon and Schuster
Published:  July 21st, 2026
Format Read:  E-book
Number of pages:   224 pages
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Opening Lines:  "Camila was crying."

Camila is saddened when her attempt to bring a Spanish book to school to welcome the new girl, Marisol, is viewed negatively by Principal Santos.  Jorge attempts to make her feel better by showing her the puppets and an old book that he found in Tia Xia's cupboard and suggests they share them with Marisol.  

When they try to bring the items to Marisol's house, Cooper intercepts them and insists that Camila is carrying another "illegal book."  He grabs for it, and after a brief struggle, Jorge manages to pull it away.  Realizing Cooper may try to blame Tia Xia for the book's disappearance, Jorge and Camila run and hide inside Tia Xia's tinajón.  

Meanwhile, Siggy and Tia Xia see a news report announcing that historical artifacts, Pura Belpré's puppets and a first edition of her Perez and Martina book have been stolen from the New York Public Library.  Tia Xia is alarmed because those very items appeared in her supply closet at the Latin History Museum.  To protect her from being accused of any wrongdoing, Jorge, Camila and Siggy must travel back to New York City into the 1930's and return the missing items to the library where they belong.

Adventure in the City of Stories is a companion novel to Cousins in the Time of Magic, and both books center on time-travel missions.  In this installment the trio experiences life during the Great Depression.  They encounter Eva Wilson, a wealthy woman who promotes assimilation, and Antonia, a young girl whose father works in Mr. Wilson's factory and whose job is threatened after Antonia writes about the factory's harsh working conditions.

The story is beautifully illustrated by Poly Bernatene, whose artwork vividly conveys the era, the action, and the characters.  The book has strong kid appeal and is filled with fascinating historical details, the decrease in book printing during the Depression due to paper shortages, the banning of books, information about Latino storytellers, and Puerto Rico, and the essential role of librarians and reading in preserving culture.  There is a helpful section at the end that highlights all the historical figures mentioned in the story along with a glossary of terms.  Overall, I loved how the book encouraged readers to learn and make connections with historical events.