Splinters of Scarlet

 Marit Olsen has the gift of thread magic.  She can create beautiful things with her ability, but as with all magic, beauty comes at a cost.  Each time she uses her magic, a crystalline residue called the Firn.  Eventually, she'll reach a point where the Firn will claim her life, like it did her sister's, so she uses her magic sparingly.  

There is only one person left in the world Marit truly loves, a fellow orphan named Eve.  The little girl has become like a younger sister to her, and she both hopes for and dreads the day when Eve might be adopted.  That day comes when famed ballerina and fellow former orphan, Helene Vestergaard, notices Eve's dancing ability.  Marit had planned to let her friend go, but now that the moment is here, she finds it more difficult than she'd thought, so she devises a way to reveal her sewing skills to buy a little more time.  

When Helene Vestergaard realizes Marit has magical skill with her needle, she offers her a job.  Marit is torn.  She has always hated the Vestergaards.  She blames them and their mines for her father's death, but the opportunity to leave her unhappy life behind and stay near Eve in at least some capacity is too good to pass up.  

Working in the Vestergaard home also gives her the opportunity to search for the truth about her father's death.  The circumstances always seemed suspicious, and the more she learns, the more suspicious she becomes.  The mansion is a new world to Marit, not just because of its size and opulence but also because every servant there has magical ability which they are expected to use openly.  The palace is a wonderful place that seems to defy nature, but Marit is nervous about the Firn and wonders how these servants can willingly trade their gifts and inevitable deaths for a position in a fine house.   

Will Marit uncover the truth about her father's death before she succumbs to the Firn herself?

Emily Bain Murphy's stand-alone fantasy novel is an interesting take on the world of magic.  There is always a cost for those who use magic but rarely is it so severe as early death for a natural ability.  Nineteenth century Denmark is also an unusual setting for a fantasy novel, and I enjoyed the setting as well as the mystery of the mines.  Recommended for fantasy fans.

The Malamander

 Herbert Lemon is the Lost-and-Found director at the Grand Nautilus hotel in Eerie-on-Sea.  It's kind of the perfect job for him since he's kind of lost and found, too.  He ended up in Eerie-on-Sea with amnesia, and he's just stayed put.  It's his responsibility to care for all the items left behind by guests of the hotel. 

He's a bit surprised when Violet Parma tumbles into his basement window and demands he help her find her parents.  They went missing twelve years ago, and Violet is convinced Herbie is the one to help her find them.  

Could their disappearance be linked to the Malamander?  The legends say this mysterious creature with scales and multiple rows of needle-sharp teeth comes ashore to lay its beautiful ruby-colored egg, but the egg also grants wishes, and there are plenty of shady characters in Eerie-on-Sea who would like to have that power for themselves.  Like maybe that creepy guy with the boat hook for a hand who is following them around!

Will Herbie and Violet uncover the truth before it's too late?

Thomas Taylor's fantasy adventure was a fun surprise.  There are plenty of quirky characters and little mysteries within mysteries.  Fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Mysterious Benedict Society will appreciate this off-beat adventure.  Plus, there is a talking cat and a book dispensary that magically knows what book you need.  

What Stars Are Made Of

 Libby was born with Turner's Syndrome.  It means she's very familiar with doctor's offices and medications.  It also means life is a little more challenging for her than your average middle schooler.  She's always had a difficult time connecting to her peers, but she has a loving and supportive family and all the famous historical figures she talks to, as well.  When Libby really admires a person from the past, she imagines having conversations with that person.  

Her older sister, Nonny, is one of her favorite real-life people.  Nonny is moving back home because she's pregnant and her husband is taking a difficult job in another state.  It's not ideal, but it's the only job he could find for now, and it gives Libby the opportunity to be part of her sister's pregnancy.  Her excitement over the pregnancy is tinged with a bit of anxiety.  What if something is wrong with the baby?  What if Nonny and her husband can't get enough money to support their family?

When Libby's teacher tells her about a letter-writing contest with a project component about important women in STEM who have been overlooked, Libby she's her opportunity.  She's been really interested in Cecelia Payne, the woman who discovered what stars are made of.  She knows Cecilia would make the perfect candidate.  Her plan is to convince the textbook company to include Cecilia in the next edition.  She knows if she can do that and write a great letter, she could win the contest and give the $25,000 prize money to Nonny.

So, she makes a deal with Cecilia Payne in her mind.  She asks Cecilia to watch over Nonny and the baby and in return Libby will get Cecilia the recognition she deserves.  But will her efforts be enough?  Libby feels the weight of all these things on her shoulders.  Everyone has always had to help her, and this is her chance to be the one helping instead.  

Sarah Allen's book is a sweet and gentle surprise about love, friendship, compassion, and living with a disorder.  Allen has Turner's Syndrome herself, and this adds authenticity to the story.  Libby does read a little younger than her stated age so I think this will appeal to upper elementary through 6th grade more.  Highly recommended.

Red Fox Road

 Francie is excited about her family's spring adventure.  They are going to drive from Canada to the Grand Canyon and then hike through the canyon on their own.  It's the perfect adventure for Francie to test out her survival skills.  They planned to take the scenic route down, but when their GPS leads them down an abandoned road, their truck breaks down leaving them stranded on what looks much more like a trail than a road.

The GPS shows the main road about 12 miles ahead, and Francie's dad sets out using the GPS and his greatest talent, walking from all his years delivering mail on foot.  He promises to return by the end of the day, but he doesn't.  Francie and her mom start to get anxious.  They have no means of communication and very little food since they had planned to stop for supplies closer to their destination.  Francie knows which plants are edible, but spring in Oregon is still close to winter and their options are limited.  

Then her mother's behavior begins to change.  Francie has seen this before.  It's happened twice since her twin sister died, but it just makes things worse.  How can she keep calm when her mother's paranoia begins to creep in?

When Francie awakes to find her mother gone one morning, she is terrified.  Her mom left a note telling her to wait, but Francie knows her mother was not thinking clearly before she left.  Can her mother survive alone in the wilderness?  Can Francie?  This will be the ultimate test of her survival skills and of her will to live.  

Frances Greenslade's story of survival is perfect for fans of Hatchet and other survival stories.  Greenslade really knows how to create tension and anxiety as Francie struggles to manage the wintery environment and her unpredictable mother.  Flashbacks reveal the backstory of Francie's twin Phoebe and her difficult relationship with her mother.  The author never says the mom is smoking marijuana (she refers to it as mom's special cigarettes), but it's pretty obvious.  I don't know if this would be terrifying for kids like it for adults.  But reading about a girl stranded alone with her mentally unstable mother who is self-medicating with marijuana is pretty terrifying!  This one definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.  I do wish there had been some kind of resolution about the dad's fate.  The author definitely leaves you hanging there.  Will there be a sequel to explain the aftermath of all this?  I hope so!  Recommended.

Ghost Squad

 Lucely's life is all about ghosts, and not just because her dad runs a local ghost tour in their Florida hometown.  The spirits of her relatives literally live in the back yard, and Lucely talks to them every day, especially at family breakfast.  If you thought ghosts can't eat, you've never seen Lucely's family chowing down on pancakes and syrup!  

When an invisible force attacks her abuela's spirit, Lucely is determined to help.  She can't let her abuela just disappear.  She and her best friend Syd go looking for a spellbook to bring her abuela back, but they may have accidentally unleashed an angry mob of ghosts on St. Augustine!  

With the help of Syd's grandmother, Babette, an actual witch and the coolest person Lucely knows, and Babette's fat cat Chunk, they devise a plan to save St. Augustine and Lucely's family of spirits.  

Claribel Ortega's debut novel is a fun ghost hunting adventure.  It's Coco meets Ghostbusters with its warm sense of family and support plus the humor and adventure of the ghost hunt.  This book has just the right amount of spooky to keep horror fans engaged, and I laughed out loud a couple of times while reading.  Highly recommended.