Haven's Secret

The Powers #1

by Melissa Benoist, Jessica Benoist-Young, Mariko Tamaki

Two sisters come to terms with their extraordinary powers in a new middle grade fantasy from Supergirl’s Melissa Benoist; her sister, the writer Jessica Benoist; and New York Times bestselling author, Mariko Tamaki

Ellie McFadden has intuitive gifts. She can sense what other living things are feeling. She can even talk to animals! Too bad she can’t connect with her twin sister, Parker. Parker McFadden has kinetic gifts. She can cause shocks to the earth and produce heat energy that explodes from her body like fire, especially when she is angry. The sisters aren’t aware of the legacy they inherited from their mother until, on their thirteenth birthday, two mysterious relatives on the Power side whisk them off to an isolated farm called Haven. Ellie immediately adapts to their new routine; but Parker has one impulse: to get back to her normal life of friends and sports, fast.

Unbeknownst to Ellie and Parker, the secrets the Power women have kept for generations offer clues to their own simmering magic. Unlocking Haven’s secrets is just the beginning of what Ellie and Parker can do if they choose to work together to harness their gifts. But the sinister force that destroyed their mother has other plans; and if the sisters’ fragile relationship succumbs to The Danger, the world beyond Haven will face terrible risk.

This epic tale of two remarkable girls and the powers they wield is sure to appeal to fans of Chris Colfer, Rick Riordan, and Tui T. Sutherland.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Audiobook, Childrens, Adventure, Magic, Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 2021

About the author

Melissa Benoist is an American actress best known for her roles in Glee, Whiplash, and Supergirl (in which she plays Supergirl).

Reviews

[Lilah]

Don't mind me, adding this middle-grade book to my tbr without even reading its synopsis,
Simply because I have a massive girl crush on Melissa Benoist for being the sweetest, most genuine person ever 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

#notbiasedatall

[gwen stacy wannabe]

yes you go miss supergirl, can’t wait for this one!!

[Lua · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok WOW-
i initially only read this book because it was melissa’s and she’s my favorite person on the world but now that i finished it i’m honestly so surprised, it got over all of my expectations, i’m in love with the character development of the twins and their sisterly relationship and how all that was worked. it’s supposed to be a children’s book but honestly i think everyone should read it, they talked ab super important environment issues and had the diversity we love, plus THE PLOTS WERE JUST?!?!? i always got surprised and it never disappointed.
im 100% obsessed and i will make every person i know read this book. ty jessica and melissa for this masterpiece🤍

edit: MELISSA AND JESSICA NOTICED ME ON THEIR LIVE ON THE 26TH IM SCREAMING HEKDHSKDNSKBDSKNDJSBDKSBSKANDK THEY KNOW I READ IT IN ONE DAY WTF

[Rebecca]

Yes, I am fangirling out over Melissa Benoist writing a book!!!

[Kirin171 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In short, it’s a story about two very different twin sisters on their way to grasp their freshly discovered powers, family secrets, fix their bound and learn about the environment.
In long, obviously I’m not the target of this book aka a teen around 12 years old and I had to remind it to myself while reading a few times.

This book follows some patters we all know: magic powers and abilities, magical artefacts, cute furry sidekicks, lost or mysterious family members, weird and unusual place they can explore, challenges and adventure aka things we loved and dreamt about while being kids.

For sure the strongest part are the sisters. Both are individuals, portrayed in different and compelling way that made them feel real. Both Benoist sisters repeated in the interviews that Melissa is more like Ellie and Jessica more like Parker, what made me wonder if they focused on writing the sister’s POVs separately.

Normally it would be very easy to write Parker and Ellie like clichés. Parker is popular, good in sports, full of energy and longs for freedom. Ellie the bookworm is quiet, doesn’t have friends, prefers animals over people and longs for rebuilding the bond with her sister after their mother’s disappearance.

Sounds cliché? Yes, but both sisters, fortunately, are too weird (in that good way) to fit it. Some of their thoughts, remarks or the way they see the world were simply hilarious and I laughed a few times. Also, it’s not only said in the text that they are very important for each other, but you can feel it. They have issues, disagreements and are not always on the same page, but you know they will have their backs.

Also, adults are portrayed in a realistic way. Hey, I am an adult and the fact I was completely annoyed with some of them, exactly like Parker and Ellie, says a lot.
You can also see how much the authors love and care for the nature, animals, environment and the importance of keeping the balance and harmony.

The animals are just awe and some. I’m not a fan of fish and here I am, stanning one (I have too a shit memory like Ellie’s pet). It’s also nice how some small bits here and there, we have learnt about Ellies powers thanks to the animals. Like in the paragraph with Ellie thinking about how the animals thoughts sometimes crowd her brain and in the night she can’t sleep, because of the fish Walter and his not very interesting thoughts (because well, what could his thoughts be? Food, swimming, food, pooping, more swimming, right?).
I just wish we had more pieces like that. My main problem with this books is that it’s a little rushed.

Some kind of spoilers ahead.
I was expecting a whole summer for the girls learning and controlling their powers and we got like, a week? What means that some plot and arcs are not as much developed as I would wish for, but I guess it’s because this is a book aimed for kids.

In general, the story is not super original but the writings makes it fresh.

We have sisters who learnt they have magical powers on their b-day, not very complicated plot of saving the world (I guess it will be developed in the next volumes), some indefinite enemy that so far, doesn’t seem very… dangerous?, the powers development combined to controlling feelings, the importance of teamwork and family, some coincidences that are a little too good etc. There were some parts I was not a biggest fan, but that’s my personal likings and tastes that are simply weird, so don’t mind me.

But the last chapters shows that it’s just the beginning and a part of a much bigger story and it’s obvious the first volume just presents the universe and settles things for more complex future. And yeah, the cliffhanger at the end is A+ and makes me howl for the second book.
So yeah, 4.5/5 because I'm pretty sure the next volume will be 5.

If it will be ever translated to Polish, I'm going to buy it for all kids in my family.
Great job, ladies :)

[shivani · Rating 4 out of 5]

for a children’s book this was so so good the plot twist i did not see coming at all? moral of the story is i am in love with melissa benoist and i will be reading anything she writes

[Elizabeth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot darker of a book than I remember children's books being, and I absolutely loved it that these two sisters tackled this theme together. It was a really fun read with alternating point of views from the twins. I always love a good book with twins who have opposite personalities. Just because theyre the same physically doesnt mean that everything about them has to be, and I really like the inverse relations between them. The plot moved along really quickly but still gently built the world around them. It was a really good world building for a quick childrens book. I love that the girls live their owns lives full of secrets and slowly start to rebuild that trust with each other. Family is such a hard...concept to build and live with while growing up the but the bond these sisters share as they start to discover their magic feels very genuine. The ending was super quick after all of the build up that kept happening in the middle of the story. I do like the set up for the second book. This is going to be a great series.

[Belu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️
El libro en general me gusto bastante, me costo algunos capítulos para meterme bien en la historia. Tremendo plot twist al final :)

[Joanne MacNevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun book. And what’s better: It is a book I can recommend to my students! I listened to the audiobook, and it was wonderful to have Melissa and Jessica Benoist read to me.

I wouldn’t mind a class set of this, actually.

It’s also the kind of story that leaves room for a sequel. I wonder if there will be one?

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

But like I need book 2 now!

[carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’m not gonna lie when i say i only picked this up because melissa benoist had a part in writing it. i have conflicted feelings on the book itself thought. throughout the entire reading process i kept having to remind myself that this was a middle grade book and therefore the writing would not be what i was used to. but in my mind i kept thinking that it really hasn’t been *that* long since i was a middle grade reader myself and that the writing wasn’t great by even middle grade standards.

the story was cute. i love that it was all essentially about familial love and giving back to nature. both of those themes kind of smack you in the face, but it’s fine because it was done in a nice way. the only complain i have story wise that isn’t writing related is the fact that the first two thirds of the book draaaaaggggg on so badly. the last third or really even the last 50 pages go by so quickly because that’s when the real action of the story finally starts to happen. i think that’s what really redeemed this book and gave it its third star.

i will say that some plot points and twists come out of no where and don’t entirely make sense, but i’m willing to forgive it because it was a mostly fun book and i liked the ending. i don’t think i will be reading any future sequels regardless of if ms. benoist is a contributor.

[kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is AMAZING! I just love how this twin relationship rolls through the story! Even though the two protagonist's are almost the opposite from one another in personalities; animal-lover and sportsperson - it just ties the story in so well! (Especially since I adore the show Supergirl and I got this for my birthday so duhhhh I would read it!🦸)

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

still not exactly sure how i feel about this…

[WendyTheOwl · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5*

FR
Tout d'abord, je tiens à préciser.. J'ai acheté ce livre principalement parce que Melissa Benoist est une des auteures que je l'adore énormément ! Une grande fane haha.
Et ensuite, parce que la couverture me plaisait. Je savais juste que c'était une histoire de soeurs, de magie et ça s'arrête là. Je n'en savais pas plus et je n'avais pas besoin d'en savoir plus. J'aime plonger dans un livre, dans un univers sans trop savoir (bon, parfois c'est à double tranchant mais il faut de temps en temps prendre des risques).
J'ai donc plongé, et je ne regrette rien !!
Ellie et Parker sont des soeurs absolument géniales, avec leurs qualités et leurs défauts bien à elles. J'ai adoré plusieurs autres personnages. J'ai surtout adoré l'endroit où l'histoire nous emmène. Je pouvais tout m'imaginer très facilement de par l'écriture.
Etant donné que c'est un livre écrit par trois auteures, j'avais un peu peur que ça soit peut-être "de trop", mais pas du tout. On sent une belle harmonie dans ce qui est écrit et c'était génial.
C'est un vrai coup de coeur et il me tarde déjà d'avoir la suite. C'est une saga que je vais suivre, et j'ai vraiment vraiment hâte !!
Si je n'ai pas mis 5*, c'est uniquement pour quelques légers petits détails qui m'ont fait froncer le nez (mais qui était en relation avec l'histoire).
Bref, je vous recommande largement ce livre, même pour les plus jeunes (c'est d'ailleurs le public visé de base). Foncez, foncez, foncez !

ENG
First of all, I want to clarify.. I bought this book mainly because Melissa Benoist is one of the authors that I adore her enormously ! A big fan haha.
And then, because I liked the cover. I just knew it was a story of sisters, magic and it stops there. I didn't know more and I didn't need to know more. I like to dive into a book, into a universe without knowing too much (well, sometimes it's a double-edged sword but from time to time you have to take risks).
So I dived in, and I have no regrets !!
Ellie and Parker are absolutely brilliant sisters, with their own qualities and flaws. I loved several other characters. I especially loved where the story takes us. I could imagine everything very easily from the writing.
Since it's a book written by three authors, I was a little afraid that it might be "too much", but not at all. We feel a beautiful harmony in what is written and it was great.
It's a real favorite and I can't wait for the sequel. This is a saga that I will follow, and I really can't wait !!
If I didn't give 5*, it's only for a few small details that made me wrinkle my nose (but which were related to the story).
In short, I highly recommend this book, even for the youngest (this is also the basic target audience). Go, go go !

[Lykos Silvertongue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zwei Supergirls schreiben über zwei Supergirls

Nach langer Zeit hat mich eine Young-Adult-Geschichte wieder gepackt. Es geht um Magie und gegen Umweltzerstörung – zwei meiner Leibthemen. Geschrieben hat es „Supergirl“-Seriendarstellerin Melissa Benoist gemeinsam mit ihrer Schwester Jessica. Wie viel Inhalt tatsächlich aus Melissas Fingern floss oder ob ihr Name primär als Verkaufsbeschleuniger dienen soll, ist dabei unerheblich. Denn die Storyline gefällt mir.

Im kurzen Prolog erfahren wir über eine dunkle Kraft, die The Danger heißt. Dann setzt die Geschichte ein am Morgen des 12. Geburtstags der Zwillinge Parker und Ellie McFadden. Bis auf die brünette Haarfarbe haben die zwei Mädchen wenig gemeinsam. Parker ist realistisch, sportlich, durchorganisiert und ein Zornbinkel. Ihre eher chaotische Schwester hat ein Faible für die Natur und neigt zu Tagträumerei. Die Zwei leben mit dem Vater in Harborville, Südkalifornien. Die Mutter, Ginny Powers, eine Öko-Aktivistin, ist vor fünf Jahren bei einer Walforschungsaktion beim Tauchen verschollen. Ertrunken? Der Vater überreicht Parker und Ellie seither zu jedem Geburtstag Geschenke im Namen der Mutter. Mal waren es zwei alte, scheinbar defekte Kompasse; dann ein Astrolabium, später zwei Wetterhähne; oder eine Pfeife, die für Menschenohren nicht hörbar hohe Töne erzeugt. Zum 12. gibt er den Beiden schließlich zwei silberne Armreifen; einer mit blitzähnlichen Zacken, der andere mit einem Symbol, das Kaninchenohren ähnelt. Unerwartet nimmt er Parker und Ellie von einem Tag auf den anderen aus der Highschool und schickt sie zu Onkel und Tante mütterlicherseits aufs Land – nach Haven.

Man ahnt, dass hier magische Artefakte im Spiel sind und Gefahr naht. Zudem wird bald klar, dass Parker über Kräfte verfügt, die Risse im Untergrund erzeugen können. Ellie hingegen hat einen überaus empathischen Draht zur Tier- und Pflanzenwelt. Die Charakterentwicklung passt. Gespannt blättert man um. So soll ein gutes Buch sein.

Was mir als Potter-Fan auffiel: Die verschollene Mutter heißt Ginny Powers. Ein zufälliger Anklang an Harrys Gemahlin Ginny Potter?

Und bei der Beschreibung des gemeinsamen Zimmers der Zwillinge treten Parallelen zum optisch diametral entgegengesetzten Raum von Wednesday und Enid in der Netflix-Serie „Wednesday“ zutage. “Ellie’s and Parker’s room was perfectly bisected. On one side, Positive Yellow Vibes and covered in picture collages; on the other side, Mousy Mossy Green with a few shelves for succulents and books … Nothing about the two sides was alike.“ Wobei das Buch der Benoist-Schwestern früher erschienen war als die Netflix-Serie.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5

I haven't read any new middle grade books in a long, long time, so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book. I only knew that I've been a huge fan of Melissa Benoist since she was on Glee and that I enjoy her sister's social media presence and have been meaning to read one of her books for awhile. So when this book was announced, I immediately added it to my TBR and pre-ordered it the second I could. I was NOT disappointed.

The first book in what I'm assuming will be a series follows Parker and Ellie Mcfadden, who have just turned twelve and are grieving the loss of their mom. It is revealed to them that they have specific gifts and must travel to Haven House to hone them alongside their great aunt Mabel and great uncle George. Haven House has its own secrets to be uncovered, though.

Right away, I was blown away by how realistic the girls were written. There wasn't a single element of these twins' personalities that didn't feel genuine. Parker's surliness as a result of not properly dealing with the loss of their mother and Ellie's perceived rejection from her sister were so palpably real on every page. Though I'm 27 and these girls are freshly twelve, I felt like I remembered exactly what it's like to feel that angsty, and I felt for them deeply.

I want to talk about the writing here - the descriptions of characters were vivid and detailed, not to mention very often funny. I thought George and Mabel were characters that truly jumped off the page, along with Ellie's animal sidekicks. The description of Haven House itself was so vivid that I felt that I had a very clear picture of what it was meant to look like.

One of the most important things that I noticed, is that though this is a fantasy, it is very much rooted in reality. The idea that if we are going to take from the planet, we need to give back, is so prevalent throughout the story, but also prevalent in real life. Climate change is real, and I think this medium is a good way to introduce kids to that reality and let them know that they can be the change.

Another note on the writing: I appreciated the fact that though this narrative is geared toward children, the writing never talks down to them or dumbs anything down, which as an adult, made it much easier for me to enjoy as well.

[bere · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Me gustó, es un libro ameno y con un mundo increíblemente bien construído, lo cual siempre se aprecia. Se nota que estas autoras de verdad aman su historia e hicieron todo para plasmarla tal y como la imaginaron.
Mientras leía, me encontraba pensando qué habria sentido mi yo de 12 años al leer este libro, ya que esa es la audiencia esperada y pensé que sería justo juzgarlo de esa forma. A parte de lo que ya dije del mundo, me pareció que todos estos personajes son muy entrañables, y vi reflejadas mis experiencias del pasado con las dos protagonistas. Siento que este libro me habría ayudado a sobrellevar mi cotidianidad si lo hubiera leído cuando yo tenía la edad de estas.
Me gustó la escritura, había partes muy creativas y divertidas que ayudaban a constrír el mundo de la historia, y, salvo por unos errores pequeños de redacción, fue una maravillosa base para imaginar.
Otra cosa sobre la escritura que me gustó que que no trata de simplificar las cosas porque está dirigida hacia niños: no limita palabras y no censura temas que otras personas podrían haber pensado "tabú". (Puede ser nuestro entorno, pero una sección en la que se menciona la menstruación nos sorprendió a mis amigas y a mí ya que jamas habíamos visto el tema plasmado en un libro con tanta naturalidad, y más uno dirigido hacia un público jóven. Massive kudos!! Fue genial de leer.) Por esto, el libro se vuelve educacional sin serlo explícitamente, como toda buena historia infantil debe ser. We stan!
En conclusión, mi yo de 12 años habria amado lo natural y abierta de mente que es esta historia, y ésta la habría ayudado a asimilar temas que por esos tiempos de antaño (2017, obvio) nadie tocaba en las historias de ficción dirigidas a un público así de joven. Mi yo actual se divirtió mucho leyendo el libro, y ya quiere saber cómo continúan las aventuras de Ellie y Parker.

[Holly Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly only picked up this book because of Melissa Benoist, I love Supergirl!!
Havens secret was overall a good book but very slow, nothing much  really happens till right at the very end and definitely got rushed to publication as there were quite a few errors (ill get to that soon)
The writing itself and story were messy at times. It seems to get to a major scene where something is gonna happen but before anything major can happen they jump to the next scene which makes things a little confusing and not interesting.
No one telling Parker and Ellie that they have powers until way later on doesn't make any sense, their father should have just outright said it, it would have made the story better, rather than keep us guessing when we already know what's going to happen, even when they got to haven house Mabel and George should have told them the reason why they are there, rather them have them figure it out themselves later on because isn't that the reason they went to haven house in the first place, to practice control of their powers. It doesn't make such sense to me.

It contained quite a few typos and you'd think the editor or the 3 people writing it would pick up on it. They got the characters name mixed up quite a few times, saying Ellie said this when she's not even in this scene, or Sadie said when there is no possible way she'd be in that scene.

Will read the next book

[Casarah Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin sisters, pretty opposite in personalities reach their 12th birthday and the world as they know it changes drastically. They are shuffled off to Haven with family they didn't know existed and learn all sorts of magic. If coming of age with weird abilities like talking to animals and moving earth wasn't enough, they've got to learn who to trust.

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. My ten year old was excited to read it. She made it through a few chapters and had a hard time with the mother being dead. She had a hard time with that, so maybe she will come back to this book in a year or so.
I picked it up to read it just to know what to expect from it. It was written well, had that sibling twin relationship conflict and with the mother presumed dead it had some grief and emotional pull. I think this would be good for a middle school audience, I even felt like the main characters were older than twelve.
It was a really interesting book and I feel like there will be more to make this a series.

[Jazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I dont read middle grade and I'd never even have known, let alone bought, this one if it wasnt for the two amazing authors, AND I LOVED THIS!

Parker and Ellie were both such layered characters with their own clear voices, something that often gets lost when writers use siblings/twins as the MCs. I really enjoyed getting to explore the powers the girls have and I cant wait to see what they will be able to do in the future.

I was so, so happy to see the queer rep in this book too, especially since its targetted at young teens. I don't remember reading a single book as a preteen that had any queer characters, and as a closeted gay kid I cant imagine how affirming it would have been to see a kid have two mothers, or a guy mention his dating history with other men. It really does make such a difference, especially when it is normalised in that book world.

I'm looking forward to the next edition in the series, I feel like there is so much more to explore! 

[It'sMeMiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"if you shoulder too much of other people's pain, you could wind up hurting yourself" 🤍✨

I absolutely loved this book. if you love middle grade fantasy, you will definitely love this, and I think it's appropriate for all ages, kids or adults.

this book will take you on an adventure. it was so good and it got even better towards the ending. AND THE ENDING OMG.

I loved both the main characters, Ellie and Parker, they are twin sisters and although they are really different, I still loved both their personalities so much. and Arlo omg 🥺 he's such an adorable dog. I just loved the whole concept of their powers and this world, and I loved how much they talked about the environment and the importance of protecting it.

I can't wait for the sequel to come out, I will surely get it as soon as it comes out.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this book with my niece Lyla. She LOVED it. She relates to Parker more. I think Ellie and Parker are relatable to both kiddos and adults. I definitely identify with Ellie moreso than her twin. Who doesn't love matcha, chocolate, and the ability to talk to their pets? The world building can be too description heavy for children on occasion. However, it's also vivid and fantastical at the same time. It doesn't talk down to kiddos. It's very reminiscent of A Wrinkle in Time. And we both loved this magical sister adventure. Just a fantastical, amazing first entry into this world.

And for grown ups, I highly recommend you check out other books by Jessica Benoist-Young. Her writing is consistently sassy, quick witted, and hilarious.

[Insha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!!!! 4/4.5 stars

Started it for Melissa Benoist and ended up loving the story, the idea of giving back to the Earth, character development, the growing bond between sisters (Parker and Ellie), and their relationship with their dad and George. The ploct twists were great. I loved Parker and Ellie's journeys of discovering their powers and using them for good. Parker and Ellie's twin telepathy and complementing opposite personalities was the cherry on top.

Highly recommend listening to the audiobook along with reading! Really elevated the reading experience.

The writing style was a little too simplistic for me as an adult, but I'm sure younger me would have found it just right.

Overall, a fun and heartwarming read. Looking forward to the sequel!

[Mary Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

The editing for this book was HORRIBLE! There were errors in grammar (follow is a verb, follower is not… ugh!) There we’re multiple errors related to the characters. Great-aunt Mabel & great-uncle George were referred to as “the aunts”. I wasn’t sure if George was an aunt or an uncle because of multiple errors and had to search through the book to confirm that he is a “great uncle”. There was at least one major error with switching the names of the main characters (end of chapter 19) but perhaps it occurred more often….
The story premise is okay but the terrible editing & continuity issues make this book a chore rather than a fun read.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took several chapters to really get the plot rolling, but I enjoyed the premise and the environmental take on magical powers. I would've liked a little more content about the powers, how they're used, and how the girls trained to use them. Without that, it did seem a little out of left field for the twins to suddenly have enough control to pull the moves they did at the end of the book. I really liked the plot twist towards the end though. I can honestly say I didn't see it coming, which is unusual for me. Also, sign me up for an Arlo! 🐶

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i wasn’t exactly sure what to expect reading this book but it really blew me away. everything about this book, from the story to the writing style, *chef’s kiss*. i was immediately hooked and intrigued after the first couple of chapters and it was soooo amazing to read!! the only downside is that now i have to wait for the next book to release to find out what happens next3 i cannot wait to be able to read the next book and im so so so proud of melissa and jessica benoist for writing this absolutely amazing book!!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

With mystery, family secrets, hidden agendas, deception, adventure, and the need to save the world, The Powers takes you into the lives of Ellie and Parker. Twins with a special power that emerges on their birthday. Twins that don’t always see eye to eye or even want to be in the same room must learn to harness their powers together before it’s too late. While being sent to Haven in order to develop their secret abilities, Ellie and Parker discover that Haven has more secrets than they ever knew.

[Melissa Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. An amazing story of two sisters brought together by finding the truth of their past. This book brings together fantasy and parts of reality (environmental issues). The read was great and the story progressed nicely with nice character growth and some surprises.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Great job Melissa and Jessica, this is truly one of the next YA greats!

[Nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read quite a bit of fantasy but nothing quite like this. This storytelling is unique and well paced. Keeps the reader engaged and curious for more. Also shares an environmental reminder to be good to our planet which I really appreciated. Reflections of Captain Planet and the Planteers. I look forward to more from this writing duo. They found their niche with this title. Thank you both for sharing your creativity with the world.

[Megan Hawley Steinfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Great great great! I loved the cliffhanger … NOT! Great book, great for read alouds” - Cora

“I really like the book and they made some mistakes (typos, wrong name or pronoun) but I still really like it” - Mae

And she’s not wrong, there were a bizarre number of mistakes of names and pronouns in this book, and I felt that there wasn’t enough resolution at the end, too much saved to resolve in the next one, but it was a great read aloud, lots of fodder for prediction discussions.