Girl of Lore by Melanie Dale

Girl of Lore by Melanie Dale
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   368 pages
Publishing:  April 21st, 2026
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Opening Lines:  "The driver gripped the steering wheel, shoulders hunched, leaning forward as if she could stretch the sunlight from west to east and buy time."

Tenth grader Mina awakens from a dream, so vivid it feels like it might have been real.  Her hometown of London, Georgia is full of macabre legends and strange, shadowy happenings, though most people dismiss them as nothing more than bait meant to draw tourists for ghost tours with the whispered rumors of vampires.

Mina lives with OCD, marked by intrusive thoughts, compulsions in sets of three, and an urge to list synonyms for nearly every word she hears.  To cope, she keeps a sketchbook where she pours out her stories, drawings and the intrusive "stabby" thoughts she's desperate to release.  The only person who seems to understand and accept her is her best friend, Jackie.   

Her mom wants her to work at the family yoga studio, but Mina has other plans.  She decides to start a History or Cemetery Club to collect and investigate the town's stories.  The group begins with the mysterious sinkhole that recently appeared and the unsettling case of the Carfax family, who vanished without an explanation, only to resurface dead a decade and a half later.    

But things take a darker turn when local historian, Ms. Poole is found drained of blood, and Buddy, who has a crush on Mina also goes missing.  At the same time, Mina finds a mysterious book in her bag, apparently from Isabella Carfax, and she begins hearing a voice whispering over and over, urging her to release them.

Mina is a compelling character.  Her favorite place is the graveyard, where she feels most at ease and can sketch in peace without anyone interrupting her.  She's deeply introspective and gravitates to darker thoughts, which tends to isolate her from people around her.  Jackie is the one who brings Arthur and Quincy into the group, and it's clear how much she respects Mina and her emotions.  Mina's OCD leads her to question the reliability of her own memories, wondering whether they're real or simply stories unfolding in her mind.  Her struggles are portrayed with honesty, giving readers an empathetic understanding of the challenges that she faces.  

Overall, I really enjoyed the story.  It appears to be the first in a new series, and the strong emphasis on vampires gives it plenty of appeal.   It took me about a third of the book to feel fully vested, but once it clicked, I was hooked.  Certain elements in the story reminded me of the movie Underworld, especially the Lore Club's mission to stop an "old one" from rising and I like to think that Mina has the strength of Selene from Underworld.  I also noticed how Girl of Lore shares echoes of Bram Stroker's Dracula, particularly the idea that victims bitten three times are doomed to become vampires themselves.  Read this for its focus on vampires, gothic vibes and a character with complicated feelings and emotions. 

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

Nell O'Dell Hates Quests by Emily B. Martin

Nell O'Dell Hates Quests by Emily B. Martin

Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   336 pages
Publishing:  April 7th, 2026
Source: Edelweiss+

Opening Lines: "All quests start out on one of twelve roads."

Claranelle "Nell" O'Dell is the proud daughter of Iglisenia the Mellifluous Bard and Kettleburn, wielder of Magronc.  Two legendary questers who left behind a life of perilous adventure, trading their cloaks and swords for running the Crossroads Inn.  Naturally, everyone assumes that Nell will follow in her parent's footsteps.  While Nell respects her family's storied past, she dreams of a quieter life.  She hopes they can find someone to help manage the bustling Inn, so she can devote her time to tending her garden and caring for her chickens.  

Then one morning a letter arrives from the government bearing troubling news, the family might owe back taxes, and their beloved inn, campground, stables, garden and grotto could be at risk.  Nell is chosen to make the journey to the capital, Grand Dalian, carrying the deed to the property to settle the matter.  She had already planned to deliver a speech for the Young Auxiliaries Award, so she reluctantly agrees to go.  

Just as Nell sets out on what she insists is merely a business trip and not a quest, she is unexpectedly joined by Midge, a bog goblin and Ghost, the family's specter cat.  With her companions in tow, and the deed tucked safely, they begin their trek.  But trouble suddenly finds them when a thief in the night steals the deed, forcing the trio to veer from their planned route to attempt to reclaim it.

Nell O'Dell Hates Quests has the feel of a Dungeons & Dragons style adventure, but with real-life complications woven in, like owing back taxes, price gouging, and traffic jams caused by an increase of questers chasing glory and rewards.  The beginning felt a little rocky, mostly filled with Nell's repeated denials that she was on a quest.  However, once the trio began facing obstacles like the rushing river and the Kelpies, the story settled into a nice adventure.  The encounter with Tawnya, a faun who offers them directions to where the thief may be hiding, and Bevin, a troll desperate to reclaim his name and his job guarding a bridge added to my enjoyment of the story. 

Although I didn't fall in love with the story, I can certainly see its appeal for younger readers interested in the classic quest structure, stories with dragons and dangerous obstacles to overcome.  There are also several heartwarming moments between Midge and Nell, especially as Nell begins to gather her crew and she uncovers the true purpose behind her journey.  

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

Out and About in 100 Words: A Guess How Much I Love You Book Illustrated by Anita Jeram

 Out and About in 100 Words:  A Guess How Much I Love You Book illustrated by Anita Jeram
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Format Read:  Board Book
Number of pages:   20 pages
Published:  January 6th, 2026
Source: Publisher

Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare cross a river and what do they see?  A fish making a splash and a beaver nibbling on a stick.  From there, they hop to a farm and explore their way through the countryside in this lively board book inspired by the beloved, Guess How Much I Love You.  Each page invites children to flip, peek and discover a brand-new place right alongside Little Nutbrown Hare.  

I love the mixture of baby animals with their mothers and the soft illustrations by Anita Jeram are gorgeous.  Little Nutbrown Hare spy's swans gliding on the water, a mouse nibbling on a blackberry, and piglets playing by the fence.  There's a new surprise waiting on each page.  The seasons even change from a bustling stream in the spring to the snowy adventure of climbing Cloudy Mountain, ending in a beautiful night sky sprinkled with twinkling stars.  It's a joyful reminder that nature is full of wonders, animals, insects and plants waiting to be found when you slow down and look.  With spring around the corner, this would make a lovely book to read aloud together.

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

The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees, illustrated by Vivienne To

The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees, illustrated by Vivienne To
Publisher:  Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   384 pages
Publishing:  March 28th, 2026
Source: NetGalley

Opening Line:  "It began with a crack in the wall."

The prologue introduces the earlier story of Edwid and his twin sister, Elizabella.  Edwid hears a whisper coming from a crack in the wall, and the voice tells him it needs his help to escape captivity.   The speaker claims to be the author of the famous Jamima Cleave detective stories and says he's being held by someone who steals people's ideas and traps them inside the walls.  Determined to help, Edwid plans to travel to Olfred Wickers house to find the key that can unlock their prison. 

Eleven-year-old Benjamin Creek is a logical, science-oriented thinker who doesn't believe in magic.  But when a mysterious doll comes in the mail that changes into a bird, he still follows it to Wreathenwold.  Far from his parent's bookstore, Benjamin has entered an alternate world unlike anything he has ever seen before.  Everyone within Wreathenwold has a poppet, or doll that can transform into a creature companion, like a bird, a monkey and even a bear.  Poppet's aid their owners by performing tasks and help in defense.    The city consists of a labyrinth of streets and there are no maps to help guide you.  If you walk too far away from your home, the labyrinth has a way of making you forget your way back.  At the center there is also a Minotaur and Hanged Men patrol the city to keep the peace and work for the color trader.

Soon after his arrival, Ben meets Hansel and his daughter Elizabella, who tells him about her twin brother Edwid's disappearance.  Intrigued by the mystery, and moved by Elizabella's determination, Ben promises to help her search for him.  Their journey leads them through a trail of clues and memories Edwid left behind in Whisperwick lanterns.  Together they travel through the Whispering Woods, to The Magimmaculum, the Company of Mapmakers, and The Shrouded Palace.  Along the way, they face numerous dangers, must overcome various obstacles and even face the legendary color trader, Viper, who hordes the pigment of people's eye colors for her own evil plans.  And at the very heart of the Labyrinth, they must confront the Minotaur if they hope to rescue Edwid. 

Each chapter begins with a quote from A Brief History of Wreathenwold, offering bits of folklore about the city, the dollmakers and the poppets.  These excerpts work wonderfully, making it feel as though we're discovering this world right alongside Ben as he reads.  Ben is cautious by nature, but it's his curiosity that first draws him to enter this new world.  At first, he tries to rationalize everything he encounters but eventually accepts that not everything can be explained.  Being in this new world provides him with a relief from his parents impending divorce back home.  Elizabella in contrast, is impulsive and chaotic, leaping ahead into danger without hesitation.  Unflinching she's ready to hurtle through the labyrinth, while Ben would prefer to map out their route to avoid getting lost.  Their opposite personalities make their growing friendship even more meaningful as they learn to rely on each other.  

The illustrations by Vivienne To are stunning, detailed and bring the special moments in the book to life. I enjoyed all the nods to Greek mythology with mentions of Theseus, the Minotaur and the snake like rope, Ariadne.  This is a delightful story to immerse yourself in and would appeal to readers who are fans of fantastical worlds, adventures and the search for a lost sibling.  Similiar to The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver 

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

The Underwild#2: Relic of Thieves by Shana Targosz

The Underwild#2:  Relic of Thieves by Shana Targosz
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing/Aladdin 
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   464 pages
Publishing:  March 24th, 2026
Source: NetGalley

Opening Lines from prologue:  " Who knew a splotch of raspberry jam could accurately predict my doom?"

The first chapter opens with a timestamp, six days earlier.  Anya has been best friends with Lizzie ever since the second grade, she's the one person who truly gets her and makes school bearable.  But now Lizzie is moving out of state, leaving Anya feeling abandoned and alone.    

For years, Anya and Lizzie have believed that the strange, broken-down house in town belongs to a witch.  One day, while visiting the town park that used to be their special spot, Anya sees, Senka, the odd new girl with freckles who suddenly arrived at school walking with a man who squawks.  Curiosity gets the better of her, and she ends up following and spying on them through a cottage window.  There, she overhears Senka and Hecate, the goddess of ghost's discussing a set of magical keys capable of taking you anywhere you want to go.  Longing for the affection Senka seems to receive from Hecate, and desperately missing her friend, Anya steals the keys and uses them to travel to Lizzie.  

Once reunited, the girls attempt to use the keys again to return to their favorite spot.  Instead, they are transported to the Underwild, a world filled with ancient gods, Mormo's, people who have lost their memories and other unimaginable forms of nightmares.  By taking Hecate's relic Anya has unknowingly broken an ancient law set by Zeus and must pay a terrible price.  Now Anya must stand trial before the judges of the Underworld or risk being hunted down by a monstrous beast whose only mission is to ensure that she is brought to justice. Can Anya, with the help of Senka, complete a series of trials to reunite with Lizzie?  Or are they doomed to be separated and lose their precious memories of the living world?

Relic of Thieves is the second book in the Underwild series by Shana Targosz.  I read and reviewed the first book, River of Spirits, in March 2025.  The story centered on Senka and her duties working with Charon as a Ferryer of the dead.   What drew me in was how immersive the world felt and I was absorbed with Poppy's journey; an immortal girls search for her brother within the Underwild.

Relic of Thieves shifts the point of view to Anya, which takes a moment of refocusing since the first book focused primarily on Senka and Poppy.  Anya is a deeply sad and lonely girl whose home life is complicated by a brother who constantly belittles her and mocks the stories she writes in her notebook.  She aches for the warmth and comfort she sees in Senka and Hecate's relationship.  Opening up to others is difficult for her, she worries that she's somehow damaged and unworthy of friendship, destined to be alone.  

Senka's willingness to trust and share her personal story with Anya comes as a surprise.  Anya's character arc is incredibly relatable, and I love how she takes responsibility for stealing the keys and slowly begins to share pieces of herself with Senka, her sadness, fears and her memories.  Watching her shift from being closed off and self-doubting to someone who finds a supportive, caring found family of friends is one of the most rewarding parts of reading the book.  

I also love how the story of Persephone and Hades is woven into Anya's trials. The myth explains how Persephone spends six months of the year with her mother above and the other six months with her love, Hades in the Underworld.  How Zeus and Hades had a huge rift between them and the origins of the rules surrounding Hecate's keys.  There's even a delightful appearance from Dionysus, who now runs a kombucha business.  As a longtime fan of the 1981 Clash of the Titans film, I especially appreciated all of the Greek mythology references in Relic of Thieves, particularly the portrayal of the Graeae sisters.  Pick this up if you've enjoyed the Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan, love adventurous friendship stories, or are craving an escapist journey into a world shaped by Greek gods.  I would suggest beginning with the first book in the series.  

Orris and Timble Star Stories by Kate DiCamillo, illustrations by Carmen Mok

Orris and Timble Star Stories by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Carmen Mok
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Format Read:  ARC-e-book
Number of pages:   80 pages
Publishing:  April 7th, 2026
Source:  Edelweiss+

Opening Lines: "The rat had made himself a nest from the pages of discarded books."

Timble shares tales of their adventures beyond the barn, while Orris recounts stories from the books that they've read.  One day, Timble asks why Orris has never ventured outside. Orris explains that everything they need is right there, but Timble persists, offering to carry him and urging him to see the world beyond.  Orris hesitates, feeling content with viewing the stars from his barn.  Plus, Timble and the stories of her adventures are enough. 

Orris is timid and scared to venture out of the comfort of his place.  His sardine can provides him the opportunity to rethink his choices, to reflect on whether it is a good and noble thing to go out.  Should he take Timble's offer to explore?   I like how the friends can sit silently with one another.  They don't have to talk every moment and sometimes it's enough just being side by side.  As with the very first moment that they met, Orris needs to put their trust in Timble.  To take that leap of faith and follow a beautiful dream they had, Orris ultimately decides to trust his friend.  

 I love how Carmen Mok's full-page illustrations beautifully capture the stars in the night sky, creating a soft, gentle story about the importance of friendship and the joy and happiness found in shared moments.  I also love how the small round illustrations, depict what Orris might see from atop Timble.  I'm truly content with the ending of this series.  

Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai 
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Format Read:  E-ARC via NetGalley
Number of pages:   368 pages
Publishing:  April 14th, 2026
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Lines: The high-pitched chime reached the village gate, death's waves ringing toward the shores of the living."

At just ten years old, Kang Siying began helping her father with his necromancy work.  As a ganshi priestess, she possesses the ability to use a reanimation talisman on the deceased to guide them back to their homes.  Now, with her father being gravely ill, Siying is compelled to take on a more active role in continuing his necromantic work.  Driven by not only duty, but also by the urgent need to pay for his mounting medical expenses.

In desperation, she accepts a perilous job to retrieve a corpse from Wen, a region deep within enemy territory, in exchange for 40,000 silver.  Unbeknownst to Siying, the body she is tasked with recovering belongs to none other than Prince Renshu of Sian.  What was meant to be a routine reanimation then takes an unexpected turn.  As Siying places the talisman upon prince Renshu, he begins to show the unmistakable signs of life.  But his life force also appears to be fleeting, and unless Siying can acquire the qi of powerful ghosts or evil spirts and purify their qi for him to absorb, the prince will not survive for long.

Determined to keep his soul anchored to his body, prince Renshu strikes a bargain with Siying.  Renshu will pay her double her original commission in exchange for her help in keeping him alive.  Their journey leads them through abandoned battlegrounds and eerie forests haunted by vengeful ghosts, in the pursuit of the vital qi needed for Renshu to survive.  Meanwhile, enemy patrols are scouring the land, intent upon capturing the prince.   As Renshu and Siying press deeper into hostile territory, unsettling truths begin to surface.  Dark secrets surrounding Renshu’s death, and revelations that can bring devastating consequences to the entire kingdom of Sian.

The Deathly Fates felt like a serious of mini stories within a larger narrative.  As Renshu and Siying confront the vengeful ghosts, we uncover the personal histories behind each spirit.  How they died, why they linger and how their fates intertwine with the broader political tensions across the kingdom.   It reveals fractures in Sian's and Wen's relationship.  How Sian appears to only be interested in what Wen can offer, while neglecting Wen's struggles.  After a long history of not receiving assistance from Sian, Wen's rebellion emerges not as a choice, but as a necessity for their survival.

I really enjoyed the chemistry that was developing between Renshu and Siying.  His playful banter and selfless acts and her growing attachment to his presence.  While Renshu comes off as detached from the political turmoil within his father's kingdom, he is really aloof, insecure and lonely.  Siying views this indifference as a sign of privilege and selfishness.  Why won't he engage, if only to help the people who are suffering within their kingdom?   Renshu admires Siying's strength, sense of responsibility, relentless drive and sharp instincts.  Together they balance each other and form a wonderful pair.

 Overall, this was a well written debut highlighting Chinese necromancy.  I enjoyed the world building, the sense of family, duty, the engaging plot, the characters slow developing relationship and the power struggles that were occurring in the backdrop.  I'm pleased to see that there are also plans for another book in the series. 

 **A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press for the E-ARC via NetGalley** 

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