Review: A World Below ✮✮✮✮✮

A World Below by Wesley King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wesley King, the author of the Edgar award-winning OCDaniel (great title!) has written an intriguing story that blends adventure with elements of historical fiction, fantasy and social issues. Mr. Baker is a middle school teacher who plans a field trip with his class to the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Some students are excited, others not so much. But they mostly come prepared with snacks and walking shoes. This class group includes Eric and Silvia, two students who don't exactly stand out, but don't really fit in, either.

The suspense begins when an earthquake hits, and the cavern collapses, separating Mr. Baker, Eric and the rest of the group. Eric begins to search for a way out and things get really interesting when he discovers a colony of humans living in this bizarre underground ecosystem. Meanwhile, anxiety-ridden Silvia is trying to lead the other students as they forage through giant mushroom forests searching for the others. All of the trapped parties need to find out if the cave-dwellers are friends or foes and if they'll help them find a way to escape the caverns. A large variety of readers should enjoy this captivating story. For another "below the earth" adventure story, try the Newbery award-winning Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly.

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Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts ✩✩✩✩

This quirky story is about four loosely related children who live in a car on a beautiful tropical island. You will learn as you read about the Fitzgerald-Trout kids that they have learned early in life to take care of themselves as their oddball parents and caregivers are pretty much a bunch of good-for-nothings.

Kim is in sixth grade and is the leader of the bunch, and she is the one that has learned how to drive. She also makes sure that the children attend school. But Kim is worried that her family is outgrowing the car, and she decides that they need to find a house for them to live in. First, the children attempt to live at one of the children's mother's home when she is arrested and put in jail. This does not work out so well, and Kim decides to try out a new plan.

The text is printed in blue in an appealing font (one of the children has a thing for fonts), and there are whimsical illustrations by Sydney Smith that add to the endearing nature of this book. Esta Spalding's middle grade debut is a unique, funny story that celebrates the resilience, cheerfulness and inventiveness of children. If your reader liked Lois Lowry's humorous The Willougbys, they will enjoy the light humor of this book.

The Nest Will Give You Nightmares

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel, is a spine chilling story about an extreme hive of wasps living just outside a newborn's nursery. Steve is the baby's big brother, and he is also a worrier. Right now he is really worried about two things: the growing wasps' nest, and the baby's sickliness. Of course, Steve's parents are also more than a little preoccupied with the baby's health. Not only are the wasps keeping Steve busy during the hot days of summer vacation, they are also visiting him in his dreams. Steve is at first comforted by the visits and soothing words of the queen; however, he is horrified to later learn the sinister plot she has in mind for Steve's baby brother.

Steve is an unlikely hero and you'll cheer for him as he takes on the wasps single-handedly to help save his little brother. You'll want to have the exterminator's number handy as you fly through the pages of this short novel. The black and white illustrations by Jon Klassen add to the spooky ambiance. The Nest is the book you could get if you combined Jon Klassen's picture book The Dark, and any Steven King novel.  Check out this terrific HarperCollins book trailer for the story. This book is suitable for kids ages  9-up who don't mind a fright in their reading.

Realistic Fiction Fans Will Love Ivy Blake ✩✩✩✩

If you put the historical fiction title The Wonder of Charlie Ann by Kimberly Newton Fusco, and the popular One For the Murphys by Lynda Mulally Hunt nto a book blender, you could very well end up with The Education of Ivy Blake by Ellen Airgood.

Ivy has been living in foster care with her best friend and family, who are a colorful and creative bunch. When Ivy's mom returns to bring her home, Ivy is excited, yet nervous. Has her mom changed her ways? Or will Ivy see more of her mom's reckless and unpredictable behavior? Fortunately, Ivy learns to cope by using her creative skills to sketch in a journal and eventually fulfill her dream by making a movie. Ivy's descriptive coming-of-age journey makes it easy to have the "movie in your mind" of this story. This book is recommended for your fifth or sixth grade fan of realistic fiction.