What do you think?
Rate this book
Anomalies 53: Into the Shadows
It’s one thing to leave the world behind; it’s another thing when you can never return.
Next door to the notorious Area 51 sits Area 53, the underground lab where the government secretly holds “the anomalies.” These are the Earth-born mythical and magical creatures—fairies, wyverns, manticores, and more—that have been captured and brought in for careful study. It’s also where eleven-year-old Ollie Robles and his best (and only) friend, Garen Jackson, the kids of Area 53’s lead researchers, have grown up. They’ve lived safely within these cement-and-steel halls their whole lives . . . that is, until the day that Ollie and Garen accidentally free six two sprites, a wyvern, a baby manticore, a llamacorn, and a golem named Henry. Now it’s up to Ollie and Garen to chase down the anomalies and bring them back home.
It’s a daring, high-stakes adventure into a world full of magical creatures, dark corners, and surprising revelations as told in the way only Pura Belpré Honor–winning author and master storyteller Angela Cervantes can.
Next door to the notorious Area 51 sits Area 53, the underground lab where the government secretly holds “the anomalies.” These are the Earth-born mythical and magical creatures—fairies, wyverns, manticores, and more—that have been captured and brought in for careful study. It’s also where eleven-year-old Ollie Robles and his best (and only) friend, Garen Jackson, the kids of Area 53’s lead researchers, have grown up. They’ve lived safely within these cement-and-steel halls their whole lives . . . that is, until the day that Ollie and Garen accidentally free six two sprites, a wyvern, a baby manticore, a llamacorn, and a golem named Henry. Now it’s up to Ollie and Garen to chase down the anomalies and bring them back home.
It’s a daring, high-stakes adventure into a world full of magical creatures, dark corners, and surprising revelations as told in the way only Pura Belpré Honor–winning author and master storyteller Angela Cervantes can.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published August 12, 2025
3 people are currently reading
2581 people want to read
About the author
Angela Cervantes
24 books148 followersAngela Cervantes is the award-winning author of several popular children's novels including Lety Out Loud, which won the Pura Belpré Honor Award in 2020.
Her other novels include The Cursed Moon, which won Florida's Sunshine State Young Readers Award. Angela's other middle grade novels include the Frida Kahlo-inspired mystery, Me, Frida and The Secret of the Peacock Ring; Allie, First At Last; and Gaby, Lost and Found.
Her latest children’s novel is Anomalies 53: Into the Shadows which is book 1 of a two-book series published by Harper Collins.
Additionally, Angela authored the junior novelization for Disney/Pixar's animated-film, Coco and Disney's animated film, Encanto. She also collaborated with American Girl Dolls for the novel Maritza: Lead With Your Heart.
Angela’s short stories have been featured in Chicken Soup for The Latino Soul and the Young Adult anthology Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America.
Angela is a daughter of a retired elementary-school teacher who instilled in her a love for reading and storytelling. Angela writes from her home in Kansas City. When she's not writing, Angela enjoys reading, running, gazing up at clouds, and taking advantage of Taco Tuesdays.
To learn more about Angela and her books, visit her website at angelacervantes.com.
Her other novels include The Cursed Moon, which won Florida's Sunshine State Young Readers Award. Angela's other middle grade novels include the Frida Kahlo-inspired mystery, Me, Frida and The Secret of the Peacock Ring; Allie, First At Last; and Gaby, Lost and Found.
Her latest children’s novel is Anomalies 53: Into the Shadows which is book 1 of a two-book series published by Harper Collins.
Additionally, Angela authored the junior novelization for Disney/Pixar's animated-film, Coco and Disney's animated film, Encanto. She also collaborated with American Girl Dolls for the novel Maritza: Lead With Your Heart.
Angela’s short stories have been featured in Chicken Soup for The Latino Soul and the Young Adult anthology Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America.
Angela is a daughter of a retired elementary-school teacher who instilled in her a love for reading and storytelling. Angela writes from her home in Kansas City. When she's not writing, Angela enjoys reading, running, gazing up at clouds, and taking advantage of Taco Tuesdays.
To learn more about Angela and her books, visit her website at angelacervantes.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 28, 2025
2.5 ⭐
April 17, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Ollie and his best friend Garen live in a scientific complex near Area 51. Their parents both work at Area 53, where magical creatures who have worked their way into our world are captured and taken care of so they are safe. These include benign ones like Henry, a helpful Golem, and Luna, a cute lavender llama corn, but also dangerous ones like Ariel, a Wyvern, who is kept in a state of hibernation so that she doesn't attack anyone. When lightning storms (or perhaps the ball the two are hurling around) wake Ariel, she talks to them, but when Garen's mother arrives, Ariel's medication is increased and she goes back to sleep. Ollie and Garen have never really left the compound; Ollie's dad tells him that the creatures require so much care that there's no way they could even go to a ballgame or back to their hometown of Miami to visit. When a baby manticore is brought to the facility, a mistake causes the Golem as well as two sprites, Tatum and Tory, to escape. Ollie and Garen go after them, locating them at a diner where they are causing problem. Shortly after, however, the kids get sucked into a "darkest shadow" portal to the Shadowland, where most of the magical creatures live. It's a dangerous place, where Henry is taken by gnomes and later crumbles. Yadira, the guardian of the forest, is on hand to help them, but warns that the scientific facility may be destroyed, after revealing secrets about both Ollie and Galen's past. Things settle down by the end of the book, but a cliffhanger lets us know that another book is in the works.
Strengths: This was a pleasant and fast paced fantasy series by the author of The Cursed Moon, as well as realistic fiction titles like Allie, First at Last, Me, Frida, and the Seacret of the Peacock Ring, and Gaby, Lost and Found. Galen and Ollie, who have an endearing friendship, are already living an adventure in the scientific facility, but then get even more of one when they have to deal with wild magical creatures and travel in the Shadowland. This had plenty of classic fantasy elements like a quest, a past secret, and some emerging powers. The connection to Area 51 might draw some science fiction fans into this well developed fantasy world.
Weaknesses: I have countless fantasy series where the first book is falling apart and only one person has ever checked out the fifth book. With budget cuts, I have to think long and hard about committing to a series. If this were a stand alone, I would definitely buy it. If it ends up being longer than a trilogy, I definitely won't, due to both monetary and space concerns.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Sutherland's The Menagerie, Mann's The Forgotten Five series, Mull's Fablehaven books, or Durst's Even and Odd.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
Ollie and his best friend Garen live in a scientific complex near Area 51. Their parents both work at Area 53, where magical creatures who have worked their way into our world are captured and taken care of so they are safe. These include benign ones like Henry, a helpful Golem, and Luna, a cute lavender llama corn, but also dangerous ones like Ariel, a Wyvern, who is kept in a state of hibernation so that she doesn't attack anyone. When lightning storms (or perhaps the ball the two are hurling around) wake Ariel, she talks to them, but when Garen's mother arrives, Ariel's medication is increased and she goes back to sleep. Ollie and Garen have never really left the compound; Ollie's dad tells him that the creatures require so much care that there's no way they could even go to a ballgame or back to their hometown of Miami to visit. When a baby manticore is brought to the facility, a mistake causes the Golem as well as two sprites, Tatum and Tory, to escape. Ollie and Garen go after them, locating them at a diner where they are causing problem. Shortly after, however, the kids get sucked into a "darkest shadow" portal to the Shadowland, where most of the magical creatures live. It's a dangerous place, where Henry is taken by gnomes and later crumbles. Yadira, the guardian of the forest, is on hand to help them, but warns that the scientific facility may be destroyed, after revealing secrets about both Ollie and Galen's past. Things settle down by the end of the book, but a cliffhanger lets us know that another book is in the works.
Strengths: This was a pleasant and fast paced fantasy series by the author of The Cursed Moon, as well as realistic fiction titles like Allie, First at Last, Me, Frida, and the Seacret of the Peacock Ring, and Gaby, Lost and Found. Galen and Ollie, who have an endearing friendship, are already living an adventure in the scientific facility, but then get even more of one when they have to deal with wild magical creatures and travel in the Shadowland. This had plenty of classic fantasy elements like a quest, a past secret, and some emerging powers. The connection to Area 51 might draw some science fiction fans into this well developed fantasy world.
Weaknesses: I have countless fantasy series where the first book is falling apart and only one person has ever checked out the fifth book. With budget cuts, I have to think long and hard about committing to a series. If this were a stand alone, I would definitely buy it. If it ends up being longer than a trilogy, I definitely won't, due to both monetary and space concerns.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Sutherland's The Menagerie, Mann's The Forgotten Five series, Mull's Fablehaven books, or Durst's Even and Odd.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
April 18, 2025
I received an electronic ARC from HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley.
Cervantes introduces some interesting characters in the start to her new series. Readers learn about Area 53 located near Area 51 but with a different focus. At Area 53, Garen and Ollie's parents are scientists who study mythological creatures who are kept there. We meet the two friends when they are playing in a restricted area and discover one of the creatures has woken from their induced sleep. The wyvern had previously connected with Ollie when she was captured and even after two years, it is strong. In the background, readers also see how lightning storms are destroying entire portions of the world and may make connections to the cause from the hints Cervantes offers throughout.
After setting this tone, the author reveals more about the creatures, the humans and the separate worlds they should be living in. When some of the creatures escape, Ollie and Garen follow them to this different world, the Shadowlands, and learn about the creatures home and about themselves.
As is typical in a first book, readers learn background information and slowly learn about the characters. It's a fairly fast read for middle school ages and will connect with those who enjoy fantasy reads. The Epilogue wraps up what happened to those who remained in this world and ends with a clear hint to begin the next book in this series.
Cervantes introduces some interesting characters in the start to her new series. Readers learn about Area 53 located near Area 51 but with a different focus. At Area 53, Garen and Ollie's parents are scientists who study mythological creatures who are kept there. We meet the two friends when they are playing in a restricted area and discover one of the creatures has woken from their induced sleep. The wyvern had previously connected with Ollie when she was captured and even after two years, it is strong. In the background, readers also see how lightning storms are destroying entire portions of the world and may make connections to the cause from the hints Cervantes offers throughout.
After setting this tone, the author reveals more about the creatures, the humans and the separate worlds they should be living in. When some of the creatures escape, Ollie and Garen follow them to this different world, the Shadowlands, and learn about the creatures home and about themselves.
As is typical in a first book, readers learn background information and slowly learn about the characters. It's a fairly fast read for middle school ages and will connect with those who enjoy fantasy reads. The Epilogue wraps up what happened to those who remained in this world and ends with a clear hint to begin the next book in this series.
October 13, 2025
This book was really fun!
It takes place in Area 53 (sister site to Area 51, but they keep mythical creatures there instead of aliens). Our 2 main characters are the only kids in Area 53 - the kids of 2 of the scientists. One day while playing in an off limits section, Ollie and Garen accidentally set free some of the creatures (anomalies). They know they have to get them back into their pods, but end up going on a magical adventure.
Ollie and Garen had such a cute friendship. Since they were the only 2 kids, they were basically forced to become best friends. They are almost like siblings. They always had each other's back, but also fought like siblings. The anomalies also could talk and all had unique and great personalities.
The plot was really fun. At the beginning we really feel for these kids being stuck underground in this facility while their parents are working on top secret projects. Ollie just wants to go to a baseball game with his dad. Then when they get out to try to recapture the anomalies, it's just such a whirlwind. I don't want to give anything away, but that second part as they are trying to recapture the anomalies is really so much fun! The ending/twist was actually surprising to me. I feel like it's something I should have figured out beforehand, but I didn't and it was a really great plot twist.
I can't wait to read more books in this world. The very last line left us on SUCH a cliffhanger!
It takes place in Area 53 (sister site to Area 51, but they keep mythical creatures there instead of aliens). Our 2 main characters are the only kids in Area 53 - the kids of 2 of the scientists. One day while playing in an off limits section, Ollie and Garen accidentally set free some of the creatures (anomalies). They know they have to get them back into their pods, but end up going on a magical adventure.
Ollie and Garen had such a cute friendship. Since they were the only 2 kids, they were basically forced to become best friends. They are almost like siblings. They always had each other's back, but also fought like siblings. The anomalies also could talk and all had unique and great personalities.
The plot was really fun. At the beginning we really feel for these kids being stuck underground in this facility while their parents are working on top secret projects. Ollie just wants to go to a baseball game with his dad. Then when they get out to try to recapture the anomalies, it's just such a whirlwind. I don't want to give anything away, but that second part as they are trying to recapture the anomalies is really so much fun! The ending/twist was actually surprising to me. I feel like it's something I should have figured out beforehand, but I didn't and it was a really great plot twist.
I can't wait to read more books in this world. The very last line left us on SUCH a cliffhanger!
August 23, 2025
A quick fun read full of mythical creatures, twist and turns. Some of the mysteries in this story kept my guess. I had a lot of fun reading this one, I could see this book being turned into a great movie. The book does end with a set up for a sequel and I do hope it gets the sequel. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC copy.
December 2, 2025
Nice take on a portal fantasy with lots of excellent mythical animals and powers. It took a while for the plot points to come together and characters are kind of flat, but I think a middle grade audience will enjoy it.
November 26, 2025
A solid beginning to a new beginning chapter book series with mythical animals and adventure appropriate for ages 6-9, this was a fun, quick read!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews