Audiobook Review: City Spies by James Ponti

 

Title: City Spies

Author: James Ponti

Read by: Lisa Flanagan

Genre: Mystery/Spy

About the Book

Sara Martinez is a hacker. She recently broke into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. However, instead of being hailed as a hero, Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time. Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI6 agency.

Operating out of a base in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from various parts of the world. When they’re not attending the local boarding school, they’re honing their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t.

Before she knows what she’s doing, Sarah is heading to Paris for an international youth summit, hacking into a rival school’s computer to prevent them from winning a million euros, dangling thirty feet off the side of a building, and trying to stop a villain…all while navigating the complex dynamics of her new team.

My Thoughts

What a fun book! I loved it from the first few minutes I started listening. It had some action and tension so that kept me listening. I was hooked! And can I say that I really liked Sara (well all the kids). She was smart and funny, and I loved that she cared about others around her. She wasn't selfish even though the circumstances of her life could've led her to be. If I was her age I would want her has a friend! 

The other kids were great too. I liked that it didn't seem to be this huge rivalry between all them.  Yes there was teasing etc, but nothing that was cruel. I needed a book like that! 

About the reader - What a great job Lisa Flannagan did! Wow I could not have done all those accents! I loved it. I would definitely listen to another book read by her.

In the end - read if you like books that involve fun gadgets, tension and seeing a girl gain confidence in who she is and what she is capable of. 

Audiobook Review: Children of Exile by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Title: Children of Exile

Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Narrator: Erin Moon

For the past twelve years, adults called “Freds” have raised Rosi, her younger brother Bobo, and the other children of their town, saying it is too dangerous for them to stay with their parents, but now they are all being sent back. Since Rosi is the oldest, all the younger kids are looking to her with questions she doesn’t have the answers to. She’d always trusted the Freds completely, but now she’s not so sure.

And their home is nothing like she’d expected, like nothing the Freds had prepared them for. Will Rosi and the other kids be able to adjust to their new reality? 

One sentence review: I was very intrigued throughout the whole thing wondering exactly what was going on. 

Longer thoughts: I've been reading books by Haddix for a long time starting with Among the Hidden. I found a copy of the audiobook of this one at Half Price Books, so I thought I'd give it a try as well. I really enjoyed it. Well, most of it. From the start, I was super curious about what was going on with the whole situation. Why were Rosi and all the other kids with the Freds to begin with? What were the Freds? And then when they went back to their families what was going on with the place their parents were??? I really really wanted to know. And then I had no clue who I could really trust. Could I trust her real parents? Could I trust the Freds? Could I trust anyone!?  I love books like that, so this one was really right up my alley. 

Rosi was a great character. She was brave and strong. Yes a bit naive, but she learned fast and grew a lot as a character. I couldn't help but cheer for her!

I will note that the ending deflated me a tiny bit. I do want to read the rest of the series, but I was a little disappointed it went that way. 

Best stick-with-you image: The description of her real parent's house. I could completely see it. 

Thoughts on the audiobook: The narrator did a great job.  Loved how she read the story! 

Audio Review: All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn

Title: All the Lovely Bad Ones

Author: Mary Downing Hahn

Narrator: Jeff Cummings

Travis and his sister, Corey, can t resist a good trick. When they learn that their grandmother s quiet Vermont inn, where they re spending the summer, has a history of ghost sightings, they decide to do a little haunting of their own. Before long, their supernatural pranks have tourists flocking to the inn, and business booms. But Travis and Corey soon find out that they aren't the only ghosts at Fox Hill Inn. Their thoughtless games have awakened something dangerous, something that should have stayed asleep. Restless, spiteful spirits swarm the inn, while a dark and terrifying presence stalks the halls and the old oak grove on the inn s grounds. Only Travis and Corey can lay to rest the ghosts they've stirred. This means discovering the secret of Fox Hill and the horrors visited on its inhabitants years before.

One sentence review: A nicely spooky story that would make my young middle school students sufficiently scared, but also get a good story as well. 

Longer thoughts: Mary Downing Hahn is my go-to writer when a younger middle school comes in and says they want something scary. She's scary for them, but not so much so that they stop sleeping! In this book, the ghosts start out scary because they almost swarm Travis and Corey poking and pinching them and making all kinds of things fly around. The thought of something like that really happening would be super scary! As the story continues the ghosts - well in particular - continue to be a source of fear but the history of the inn becomes a more important source of both fear and sadness. I really liked how almost a history lesson about poor houses was included in the story. I don't think most kids know what a poor house is, so this book was fantastic in explaining it. 

I liked what needed to be done to get the ghosts to leave the inn.  I thought it was perfect (I won't say to avoid spoilers). The first thing was easier, but the second thing I think would be the scariest for the reader. The second thing involved exorcising the meanest ghost. She was scary, so going up against her would be scary! And what she was capable of made of some great tension. Sorry to be so vague - but again: spoilers! And the ending to all that - wow! Very well done! 

Best stick-with-you image: The part where the meanest ghost is trying to get them. She was scary! 

Thoughts on the audiobook: I really wasn't fond of this narrator. He tended to differentiate characters by giving them a lisp of some sort, so it was kind of annoying to have so many characters talk that way. If they were said to have a lisp in the story that would've been one thing, but none of them were described that way. Otherwise, he did a fine job. 

Audio Book Review: People Like Us by Dana Mele - Read by Erin Spencer

Title: People Like Us

Author: Dana Mele

Narrator: Erin Spencer

Kay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet, but the past is past, and she's reinvented herself entirely. Now she's a star soccer player whose group of gorgeous friends run their private school with effortless popularity and acerbic wit. But when a girl's body is found in the lake, Kay's carefully constructed life begins to topple.

The dead girl has left Kay a computer-coded scavenger hunt, which, as it unravels, begins to implicate suspect after suspect, until Kay herself is in the crosshairs of a murder investigation. But if Kay's finally backed into a corner, she'll do what it takes to survive. Because at Bates Academy, the truth is something you make...not something that happened. 

One sentence review: I'm still up in the air about whether I liked it or not. Lots of twists and lots of bird-walks. 

Longer thoughts: So seriously I don't know how I feel about this one. It was one of those books that I didn't know who to trust and who to believe (if anyone!). But also I had things figured out several chapters before the reveal. Ok, I had the big thing figured out not another detail that was yet to come out. I didn't like the main character, Kay. She was not a nice person and how she treated people was horrible. But I also didn't like any of the secondary characters. They were all rude and mean and self-centered. I found this so even for Nola the one girl that kinda befriends Kay as all this stuff is happening. So why did I keep reading then - I did want to find out what happened and who caused it. That part was interesting. And actually really interesting because I found myself wanting to get back to the story. But not at all because of the characters!  I just don't know in the end if finding all that out was enough to make me like the book a ton. And the reveal at the very end (yes like last two pages) didn't help that. I'll guess I'll go with - It had parts that kept me interested when the characters could've driven me away. 

Best stick-with-you image: Kay talking about her brother when he lost his life. 

Thoughts on the audiobook: Very well done.  Lots of voices to differentiate, and she did a great job! 

Audiobook Review: Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Title: Book Scavenger

Author: Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Narrator: Jessica Almasy 

A hidden book. A found cipher. A game begins . . . .

Twelve-year-old Emily is on the move again. Her family is relocating to San Francisco, home of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger, a game where books are hidden all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles. But Emily soon learns that Griswold has been attacked and is in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold and leads to a valuable prize. But there are others on the hunt for this book, and Emily and James must race to solve the puzzles Griswold left behind before Griswold's attackers make them their next target.   

One sentence review: For book lovers, this is a fantastic book, but also a great story about leaning into your circumstances. 

Best stick-with-you image: The bookstore that James and Emily visit.  Wish I had one like it near me! 

Thoughts on the audiobook: Very well done.  Lots of voices to differentiate, and she did a great job! 

Final Thoughts: I've been selling this one to all my huge readers knowing they'd love the concept.  They have! 

My 12-year-old self LOVED this book.  It had everything I would've loved as a 12-year-old.  It had books! Lots and lots of books.  And it had a game where you hide and find books! AND it had a mystery.  All those pieces were fantastically fit together to make a fun story that had laughter, tension, mystery and just plain fun.  I've been reading some super serious books lately and it was so great to listen to this book and just have it for enjoyment.  Not to say there wasn't some seriousness in it.  Emily has a learn how to be a good friend, and she's struggling with accepting her families lifestyle.  Her family moves a ton because her parents are on a mission to live in all 50 states.  This had gotten hard on Emily.  So yes some bigger topics, but it's also just fun and enjoyable.  I loved trying to figure out everything with Emily and James.  It really pulled me into the story even more.  I had a few things figured out before them but not all.  

Can I just say that I loved the story part of the story with Emily's brother Matthew? He's pretty cool.  I really liked how he explained to Emily how he came to accept all their moving.  He talked about leaning into the experience and how he realized he'd miss things staying and moving.  It was a great perspective.  Plus I loved his obsession with a band named Flush. 

I did have an issue with the parents moving the kids around so much - especially as they got older.  It seemed selfish.  I will say that was address to my satisfaction.  Thankfully.

Great book that I'll continue to hand sell! 

Audiobook Review: Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Title: Crenshaw

Author: Katherine Applegate

Narrator: Kirby Heyborne

Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.

Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?

What a great little book! I had seen this book around and thought it looked interesting.  When it appeared on the Maud Hart Lovelace list, I knew it was time to read it.  Well in this case - to listen to it.  I'm very glad that I did.  It's the story of a young boy whose family is facing being homeless again.  To help him cope with this his imaginary friend reappears - Crenshaw.  I loved Crenshaw.  He made me laugh, he made me cry a little and he gave hope.  He appears to help Jackson "tell the truth". As the reader and an adult, I pretty much knew the truth he needed to admit to, but watch Jackson learn this himself was so well done.  I can see kids gain the understanding that Jackson gains.  I can also see kids learning about being homeless and what that means.  That is the true heart of this book - helping kids learn about homelessness.  It's not the image they might have.  People who are homeless might look just like students they sit next to in class.  What a strong understanding to gain.  This book handles the fact of being homeless in a perfect way for kids because it shows them how it doesn't happen all of a sudden.  And it doesn't happen because you are a "bad" person.  We talk so much about books needing to be mirrors and windows.  This is strong as both.  For the kids in my school it would be a window into a world they don't know a lot about.  But it would be such a great mirror for kids in the same place as Jackson's family.  Well done.

Thoughts on the audiobook: I really enjoyed the audiobooks.  The narrator did a fantastic job bringing Crenshaw to life! That was the strongest part of the reading for me! 

Final Thoughts: Loved it.  So glad I finally read it. 

Thoughts on the library: Yes! for the reasons I talked about above.  

2018 Audie Award Winners

A bit ago I shared the finalists for the Audie Awards.
Well today I'm sharing the winners!

YOUNG ADULT

THE HATE U GIVE

By Angie Thomas

Read by Bahni Turpin

HarperAudio

MIDDLE GRADE

SEE YOU IN THE COSMOS

By Jack Cheng

Read by Kivlighan de Montebello, Brittany Pressley, Michael Crouch, and a full cast

Listening Library

YOUNG LISTENERS

TROMBONE SHORTY

By Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews

Read by Dion Graham

Live Oak Media

BEST FEMALE NARRATOR

THE HATE U GIVE

By Angie Thomas

Read by Bahni Turpin

HarperAudio

And again - I haven't listened to any of these, and I need to!!!! 

If you want to hear clips of the winners or see other finalists - check them out HERE.

2018 Audie Awards Finalists

I love audiobooks!  I listen to them in the car as much as I can.  They make my car trips bearable.  If I try to listen to the radio I find myself switch stations over and over, but with an audiobook, I hit play and go!  

So because of that, I was super interested to learn what middle grade and young adult books are finalists for the Audie Awards!

Here they are!

MIDDLE GRADE
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, written and narrated by Pablo Cartaya, published by Listening Library

Patina by Jason Reynolds, narrated by Heather Alicia Simms, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Refugee by Alan Gratz, narrated by Michael Goldstrom, Kyla Garcia, and Assaf Cohen, published by Scholastic Audio

See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng, narrated by Kivlighan de Montebello, Brittany Pressley, Michael Crouch, Graham Halstead, Jason Culp, and a Full Cast, published by Listening Library
                                      
Wedgie & Gizmo by Suzanne Selfors, narrated by Johnny Heller and Maxwell Glick, published by HarperAudio

YOUNG ADULT
Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray, narrated by January LaVoy, published by Listening Library

Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork, narrated by Roxana Ortega and Christian Barillas, published by Scholastic Audio

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, narrated by Bahni Turpin, published by HarperAudio

Solo by Kwame Alexander, with Mary Rand Hess, narrated by Kwame Alexander, music by Randy Preston, published by Blink

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins, narrated by Sneha Mathan, Shivali Bhammer, Priya Ayyar, and others, published by Listening Library

Have you listened to any of these??? I haven't, but now they are on my list to listen to!!!!!

Audio Review: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Black Ice

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Narrator: Jenna Lamia

Brit Pheiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn’t prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

Britt is forced to guide the men off the mountain, and knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there…and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

There were parts of this book that I really liked, but there were also parts I really wasn't thrilled with.  

First what I liked: I did like the mystery in the story. Who is Mason? Can he be trusted?  Is he really bad or is there more to his story?  That part was interesting to me.  It really was what kept me reading.  And for once I also liked that I thought I had parts of the story figured out.  Usually, I hate that! But it kept me reading because I really wanted to know if I was right!  I also liked the change in Britt.  At first, I did not like her very much at all!  But I did like seeing her grow and change as the story went along.  I wouldn't say she became a character I really loved by the end, but I did like her a whole lot better! 

What I wasn't thrilled with: I pretty much hated Britt's friend!  She was so mean to Britt (but I was also mad at Britt for being ok with it!).  She was just a brat! I didn't like that they were friends when the relationship seemed toxic to me.  I also didn't like Britt's relationship with Calvin.  She was so hung up on him, and I wanted to shake her and say he wasn't worth it!  Actually what I didn't like about the book basically boiled down to the type of person Britt was at the start.  She was shallow and let people walk all over her AND she made very immature decisions.  Now she did change from that quite a bit but it was a long time coming!  I also didn't like that she was in a very dangerous situation and yet was thinking about her capture as good looking etc.  It didn't seem realistic to me! 

Did I end up liking the book?  Pretty much.  It was ok but I didn't love it at all.  

Thoughts on the library: I don't think I'd put this in my middle school media center.  It was bit mature and since I didn't love it I think I could find something else to spend the money on.

Thoughts on the audiobook: The narrator did a good job.  Her voice was easy to listen to and she did a good job differentiating the characters' voices.  

Final Thoughts: Ended up liking it better than I thought I would, but still not fantastic. 

Audo Book Review: Tiara on the Terrace by Kristen Kittscher

Title: Tiara on the Terrace

Author: Kristen Kittscher

Narrator: Amanda Philipson

Sophie Young and Grace Yang have been taking it easy ever since they solved the biggest crime Luna Vista had ever seen. But things might get interesting again now that everyone is gearing up for the 125th annual Winter Sun Festival—a town tradition that involves floats, a parade, and a Royal Court made up of local high school girls.

When Festival president Jim Steptoe turns up dead on the first day of parade preparations, the police blame a malfunctioning giant s'more feature on the campfire-themed float. But the two sleuths are convinced the mysterious death wasn't an accident.

Young and Yang must trade their high tops for high heels and infiltrate the Royal Court to solve the case. But if they fail, they might just be the next victims. 

Growing up I loved a good solid mystery.  Ones like Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden or the Bobbsey Twins.  I'm sure there were more, but those are the ones I always remember.  Tiara on the Terrace fell solidly into that category.  It was a great little mystery that had me guessing the whole time! Yes I figure out a few small things BUT so many things I thought I knew just turned out to be wrong!  I loved that.  A few times I caught myself thinking "No way! I didn't see that coming!". I can't ask for much more in a book.  The book did offer more though.  I loved the friendship between the two girls and the growing pains it is facing.  I found it very realistic.  At that age kids do start liking different things that might not be the same as the best friend they've always had.  And it was handled so well.  Watching girls of this age go through similar things I complete bought into their friendship and what it goes through in the book.

Oh can I also say the book made me giggle a few times!  One of the other girls that is a Page in the royal court just made me giggle.  She's a tomboy but jumped right into all the girly things with gusto and humor.  LOVED HER!  

Thoughts for the library:  A resounding yes! It's a book I can recommend to so many kids, and it's my go-to book for those that love mysteries.

Thoughts on the audio book: As usual I had to get use to the female narrator, but once accustom to her voice she did a great job! 

Final Thought: Solid mystery. Great characters.  Fun read.  Now I need to read the first book! 

Audio Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Title: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

Narrator: Wil Wheaton

It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. 

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them. 

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved--that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday's icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes's oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig. 

And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle. 

Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt--among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life--and love--in the real world he's always been so desperate to escape. 

A world at stake. 
A quest for the ultimate prize. 
Are you ready?

My 16 year old son read this book awhile ago, and he kept telling me I needed to read it - especially because of all the 1980's references.  I grew up in the 80's you see.  Well when I saw the movie trailer I knew it was time to read the book so I could see the movie after.  I decided to get the audio book and listen to it.  I was NOT disapointed in any way!  The story is fantastic.  I loved Wade and seeing the world (both real and virtual) through his eyes.  I loved all the 80's references (seriously he watches Family Ties!!! - and War Games! and LadyHawk!).  Those references just put icing on the cake for a book I really enjoyed.  The battle to find the Easter Egg hidden in the OASIS was so well done.  It had tension and some mystery, and it wasn't easy to figure out.  I would've been very disappointed if I could figure things out before him.  Ok I admit I did figure one thing out before him, but it more just made me proud to figure it out first instead of annoyed.  See - it got into the hunt for the egg as well.  

I will admit the lines between the real world and the virtual world in the book blurred a lot.  I had to keep reminding myself when Wade (or Parzival in the OASIS) was in the real world and when he was in the virtual world.  It was easy to get them confused.  And honestly I think that was true for the characters in the book as well.  They lived so much in the OASIS that they often forgot the real living breathing world.  At first that bothered me, but in the end I felt it was addressed - the need for real human contact - so I was satisfied. 

The ending was great.  Loved how it played out.  Now I hear he is writing a sequel.  I'm curious about it, but in the same breath I don't need it! 

Thoughts on the audio book: Wil Wheaton did a fantastic job narrating this book.  I loved how he read it.  The voices were clearly defined.  He added the right amount of dramatics.  And honeslty when he read a line about Wil Wheaton being part of the OASIS I giggled.  I would listen to other books read by Wil Wheaton for sure! 

Audio Book Review: Son by Lois Lowry

Title: Son

Author: Lois Lowry

Narrator: Bernadette Dunne

“They called her Water Claire.”

When the young girl washed up on their shore, no one knew she had been a Vessel. That she had carried a Product. That it had been carved from her belly. Stolen. 
Claire had had a son. She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. When he was taken from their community, she knew she had to follow. And so her journey began.

But here in this wind-battered village Claire is welcomed as one of their own. In the security of her new home, she is free and loved. She grows stronger. As tempted as she is by the warmth of more human kindness than she has ever known, she cannot stay. Her son is out there; a young boy by now. Claire will stop at nothing to find her child . . . even if it means trading her own life. 

In the last year I've finished the complete The Giver series.  I listened to both Gathering Blue and Messenger.  Both of those I thought were good.  They added to my understanding of the world of The Giver, but yet had their own story.  So I decided it was time to finish the series and listen to Son.  I'm going to be completely honest.  I was not impressed.  I liked the beginning when Claire is in the community after have Gabe.  I found that interesting, but after that the story went downhill for me.  I found the second part very very slow and there were parts I felt odd about.  There was so much focus on women having babies (I get it! Claire is a mother who is missing her son!), but I seemed very old fashioned and stereotypical.  Plus ther wer some things said by Inor (I don't know if I'm spelling that right since I listened to the story), that I found odd and out of place for the age group the book is for.  And I think that's what I felt about a chunk of the book - it just wasn't necessary.  The ending was over-done for me.  I knew what was going to happen, so have it explained in so much detail was way more than I needed.  I found myself fast-forwarding!

Ok sorry I don't ususally give negative reviews, but I really struggled with this book.  I'm kinda sorry I read it because it took away some of the love for The Giver because now I have way more story than I needed or wanted.  I know I'm in the minority for this feeling, but it's where I stand. 

Thoughts on the audio book: I actually liked the narrator.  She did a good job with all the difference characters and was easy to listen to.  

Review: Wild Born (Spirit Animals #1) by Brandon Mull

Title: Wild Born (Spirit Animals #1) 

Author: Brandon Mull

Four children separated by vast distances all undergo the same ritual, watched by cloaked strangers. Four flashes of light erupt, and from them emerge the unmistakable shapes of incredible beasts - a wolf, a leopard, a panda, a falcon. Suddenly the paths of these children - and the world - have been changed for ever. Enter the world of Erdas, where every child who comes of age must discover if they have a spirit animal, a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both. A dark force has risen from distant and long-forgotten lands, and has begun an onslaught that will ravage the world. Now the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers ...and on you.

I've read and listened to several of the 39 Clues books, and I knew these books would be similar to a degree, so I wanted a taste of the series in order to be able to book talk it better.  From the start I could see why kids like these books.  They move along at a good pace which is always important for keeping kids reading.  Plus there are a variety of characters, so if you don't like one main character you may like another (My personal favorite was Abeke).  I also loved the animal aspect!  Any kid who loves animals will really like that part of the story.  I think my favorite animal was the panda just because Meilin wasn't real thrilled to have it as her spirit animal!) 

As for the rest of the story - it was good.  Lots of action and suspense so it kept me listening.  I know kids will enjoy that and want to keep with the series to see how it all works out.  

Final Thought: Well done and perfect for the middle school kid.  Action and suspense enough to keep a reader awake but not enough to scare them! 

Of course I would have this book/series in the media center.  It's a great series to hook the 39 Clue readers into.  But will also appeal to kids who liked Gregor the Overlander, The False Prince or maybe even Percy Jackson!