This month, middle grade and YA novel sequels offer fantasy realms, super (and not so super) heroes, middle grade adventures, reformed bullies, and theater kids.
A Crystal of Time
Chainani is continuing his The School for Good and Evil series, which is set at a school where children are trained to become fairy tale heroes and villains. In the fifth book, the students must face off against tyrannical King Rhian to protect the Endless Woods.
Deathcaster
Chima’s fourth Shattered Realms novel concludes the fantasy series. In this final installment, Warrior Alyssa ana’Raisa is imprisoned by Empress Celestine and is forced to turn against her homeland, while rival armies threaten to tear apart the Seven Realms.
The Most Marvelous International Spelling Bee
India Wimple, a champion speller, conquered her stage fright in her first book, The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee. Now, India is on her way to London to compete in an international spelling bee, and solves a mystery along the way.
Ben Braver and the Incredible Exploding Kid
In Emerson’s second book of the Ben Braver series, the title character continues to feel out of place at his middle school for super kids. Emerson’s underdog story explores what it really means to be a superhero and how sometimes being “ordinary” can be a secret strength.
Chrysalis
In a follow-up to Nemesis and Genesis, Reichs continues his sci-fi thriller series. The Project Nemesis test subjects have survived and now struggle to rebuild their lives on a dangerous new planet.
DC Icons Superman: Dawnbreaker
Peña takes the helm for this installment of the DC Icons series of novels about heroes from the DC universe written by prominent authors. In Smallville, young Clark Kent is still learning to hone his powers while continuing to conceal his identity. When Kent uncovers a Smallville secret, remaining on the sidelines is no longer an option.
The Everlasting Rose
In book two of the Belles series, set in the beauty-obsessed island society of Orléans, heroine and Belle, Camellia Beaureguard, joins forces with the Iron Ladies, a resistance movement that decries the rigid standards of beauty that govern Orléans.
The Hunt for the Mad Wolf’s Daughter
In this companion title to The Mad Wolf’s Daughter, heroine Drest has proven her ability to protect herself and those she loves. When Sir Oswyn concocts a story accusing Drest of murder, enemies are in pursuit.
The Shadow Glass
In Chupeco’s The Bone Witch series, heroine Tea possesses a rare form of magic—the ability to raise the dead. In the conclusion to the series, Tea is on a dangerous quest to find immortality—one that threatens to lure her into a world of overpowering darkness.
Ivy and the Goblins
In her first two adventures, Ivy welcomed a dragon, griffon, and pixies into her home. When Ivy and her grandmother receive a mysterious egg, they soon have their hands full with a new, misunderstood creature—a baby goblin.
Masters of Silence
In the second middle grade novel in the Heroes Quartet, which unfolds in WWII-era Europe, Kacer tells the story of siblings Helen and Henry, who flee 1940s Germany for France, where they meet famed mime Marcel Marceau.
Samantha Spinner and the Spectacular Specs
In Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans, Samantha’s missing Uncle Paul left her an umbrella that holds the key to far-flung adventures across time. A new gift from Uncle Paul—purple sunglasses—leads Samantha on another globetrotting adventure.
The Backstagers and the Theater of Ancients
This second middle grade story, based on the Backstagers comics created by James Tynion IV and Rian Sygh, reintroduces the drama club members from St. Genesius Prep. The students are at work on a new production: a rock opera called “Tammy,” starring a deaf character (and actor). Mientus sprinkles in a pinch of magic into a story that explores representation and celebrates the joy of theater.
Explorer Academy: The Falcon’s Feather
The second book in National Geographic’s seven-book fiction series, Explorer Academy, picks up where The Nebula Secret ended. Characters Cruz, Sailor, and Emmett, and newcomer Bryndis board the ship Orion for an adventure.
The Great Jeff
Abbott’s story is told from the perspective of the bully first met by readers in his 2006 novel Firegirl. When the title character’s mother loses her job, his home circumstances began to unravel. Abbott explores homelessness and the conflicted emotions that can lead good kids to push others away.
Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Sharks
In his first two episodes, Sam Wu showed his fearlessness in the face of ghosts and the dark. Now, it’s sharks Sam is contending with—and he’s not afraid at all. The Tsangs’ tongue-in-cheek narrative, paired with Reed’s cartoons, explores the perils of growing up and conquering fears.
Squirrel in the Museum
Twitch the schoolyard Squirrel returns for a third illustrated chapter book adventure. This time, Twitch is in search of answers to his scientific inquiries, so he hitches a ride on the school bus for a class fieldtrip to the Galileo Museum and Science Center.
Winter War Awakening
The third and final book in Eves’s Blood Rose Rebellion historical fantasy trilogy picks up where Lost Crow Conspiracy left off. Protagonist Anna Arden, an outcast within her society of magicians, has incited a rebellion and broken the spell known as “the Binding,” resulting in unexpected consequences. Eves infuses romance into her story of magic and revolution.
Transformed: The Perils of the Frog Prince
Morrison returns to the fantasy realm of Tyme for another twist on a classic fairy tale. Syrah Huanui was once a prince of the Olive Isles, but following an accident, he is transformed into a frog—aka, the Frog Prince. In the third of her Tyme series, Morrison again combines familiar story elements with generous sprinklings of modern details.
