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.  

Mia the Magnificent by Srivarshini Thenappan, illustrations by Sunanda G

Mia the Magnificent by Srivarshini Thenappan illustrations by Sunanda G 

Publisher: Independently published Published:  January 13th, 2025
Format Read:  E-book
Number of pages:   33 pages
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review
Opening Line from Prologue: "Mia was turning fifteen." 

On Mia's fifteenth birthday, she is given a golden necklace and discovers that she is descended from a long line of rulers from the Kingdom of the Magic Globe.  When she rubs the necklace, she is transported to the magical realm of Magic Globe.  There, she enters a magical school, begins her training to be a ruler, and works through a series of challenging tasks that require solving clues and riddles.  

Mia is joined on her quests by her distant cousin, Rachael. After each completed task, Mia gains new powers and abilities, such as the power to control ice and snow. Throughout her training, she demonstrates dedication, courage, and perseverance, qualities she will need when she finally confronts the Queen of Dark Realms and Katherine the Terrible.   

At only fourteen, Srivarshini Thenappan has already built an impressive creative path, especially considering she first wrote Mia the Magnificent at just nine years old.  Her early start brings an extra magical spark to the adventure and lets the reader also enjoy the vibrant imagination of the young author behind it.  

Mia the Magnificent has eleven short chapters, each about two pages long, introducing a new setting and a quest.  For instance, you might journey to the Snow Cliff Mountains or the Lair of Crystal to find treasures like a gem or a pair of wings.  The full-page color illustrations by Sunanda G are beautifully done and have a graphic novel quality that I enjoyed.    

This is a very endearing story that really showcases the authors creativity.  I loved all of the magical elements, the challenges Mia faced, her wish to be a kind ruler and how she saved her cousin from danger more than once.  The build up to Mia and Rachael's eventual encounter with the Queen of Dark Realms felt a little rushed, and I wanted to know more about Katherine the Terrible, the pranks that inspired her nickname and of course the Queen's backstory. Overall, I felt the story has great bones but could use some more fleshing out of the characters and smoother transitions between chapters, as some felt abrupt.  Truthful I really wished for more details about Mia's training, more moments of her using her powers, and more time spent with her magical companions.  Still, I'm very impressed with the story and feel younger readers will enjoy the magical adventure. 

** A huge thank you to Srivarshini Thenappan for the e-book in exchange for an honest review.**          

The Invisible Thread by Sue Lamoree

The Invisible Thread by Sue Lamoree 

Publisher: Covenant Books
Published:  July 30th, 2025
Format Read:  E-book
Number of pages:   185 pages
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Opening Lines:  "Marvin sat in the back of the classroom with his nose buried in his textbook."

Marvin was recently paralyzed in an accident and now uses a wheelchair for mobility.  Before the accident, he loved spending time with his friends, playing soccer and hanging out with his dad.  His former friend, Frankie has become a bully, making his life at school unbearable, and his parent's recent separation has left Marvin feeling as though his father no longer wants to spend time with him.   Marvin's only social outlets are Bailey, his service dog, and Murphy, the therapeutic horse he rides at the Reins of Life Riding Stables. 

During one of his riding lessons, Marvin catches a glimpse of a mysterious flicker of light coming from one of the stalls in the barn.  Curious, he investigates and is surprised to find a young girl named Anna.  She explains that she is on a special mission.  One, she must complete in order to return home, though she isn't entirely sure what she must do in order to complete the mission.  All she remembers is that she has fallen from heaven and is eager to return to her family.   Anna also has the remarkable ability to connect with the spirits of animals, and through her connection, Marvin learns that forest animals are being displaced by the construction of new apartment buildings.  Together, Marvin and Anna hope to stop the development, save the wildlife and make Anna's wish to return home possible.

Marvin's character captured me immediately.  I felt his loneliness, his desire to feel "normal," his need to distance himself from the other kids at school, and his anger at feeling abandoned by his dad.  All natural responses given the trauma he has endured. The author wonderful conveys what it is like for Marvin to navigate using his wheelchair for mobility and the challenges he faces when spaces are not accessible to him.  This story is a powerful way to promote empathy and understanding for readers who may not be familiar with the experiences of wheelchair users.   

I especially loved how Anna encourages Marvin to show people what he is capable of, to have faith, and to trust again.  Watching his relationships with Frankie and his dad mend was truly beautiful, and seeing the family finally release their shared guilt was deeply moving.   The focus on preserving the environment is another theme that resonated with me.  Reading The Invisible Thread made me think about what it means to feel part of something bigger.  For me, that feeling comes when I'm at Yellowstone National Park, surrounded by endless trees, I feel connected to nature and something greater than myself.  Anna's feelings of belonging are more spiritual, rooted to her connection to the Heavenly father and his many children, and I think readers seeking divine connections will find the story very meaningful. 

Children who appreciate stories with spiritual themes, care about the environment, or enjoyed Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia will find much to love in the messages woven throughout this heartfelt book.    

About the author:

Sue Lamoree has loved writing since childhood, beginning with poetry and short stories before studying creative writing in college. Although her career ultimately took her into finance, storytelling remained a lifelong passion.

A Pacific Northwest native, Sue eventually returned home after several years in Southern California. Not long afterward, she was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, a spinal cord condition that left her an incomplete quadriplegic. Living with a disability reshaped her perspective, teaching her resilience, humor, and the importance of accepting support from others.

Those experiences inspired Sue to return to writing. Through stories that blend hope, faith, friendship, and compassion, she hopes to encourage readers to face life's challenges with courage while discovering strength in both themselves and the people around them.

Website: https://www.suelamoree.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100039470686275#

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keep__rolling__on/

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4at5Ns8

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239523975-the-invisible-thread

**A huge thank you to Sue Lamoree for the ebook 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