Good Reads

We asked TFK Kid Reporters to review some great books that readers might enjoy this season. Here’s what they had to say.

Atana and the Firebird

Atana is a mermaid who lives alone on an island. She has never swum far from its shores. One night, she meets a curious and energetic firebird named Ren. They venture out to other islands. This attracts the attention of the Witch Queen, who invites the adventurers to her palace. A vast library there could help Atana solve the mystery of her past. But is the Witch Queen the protector she seems to be? Atana and the Firebird, by Vivian Zhou, is a book filled with wonder. —By TFK Kid Reporter Ninis Twumasi

Balto and Togo

Balto and Togo, by Helen Moss, is a delicate blend of fiction and history that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is an amazing piece of art. The story is set in Nome, a small community in Alaska. A diphtheria pandemic breaks out, and it’s up to Balto and Togo, along with the rest of the dogsledding team, to deliver the life-saving serum. Will they make it in time? This book is great for action readers and adventure seekers! —By TFK Kid Reporter Dylan Patel

Characters & Quests

If you’re a fan of Dungeons & Dragons, you’ll love Characters & Quests: A Young Adventurer’s Workbook, by Sarra Scherb. It’s an interactive book. Readers design their character, complete with a clan, weapon, and magical powers. By making a series of choices, readers also shape their own story. Creating a title for your adventure, drawing your character, and deciding who the villain will be—it’s all part of the fun. If you enjoy action, fantasy, and role-playing games, you’ll definitely love this book! —By TFK Kid Reporter Audrey Owolo

Gossamer

In her novel Gossamer, Lois Lowry explores how dreams and nightmares come to be. The book follows several storylines involving tiny dream-giving creatures and the humans they affect. Littlest One is a new dream-giver. From her teacher Thin Elderly, she learns how to collect fragments of memories and turn them into dreams. These are bestowed on an elderly woman, a troubled boy, and a young mother. Anyone who loves imaginative tales will love Gossamer. A new edition of this beloved book is coming out in January. —By TFK Kid Reporter Ben Stern

The Last Mapmaker

The Last Mapmaker, by Christina Soontornvat, is full of adventure, action, and mystery. Sai, a resourceful 12-year-old girl, works for a prominent mapmaker. But she has a secret: She’s the daughter of a con man. When she gets an opportunity to earn more money than she’s ever had, she jumps at the chance for a new life. Sai joins an expedition to map the Sunderlands, a continent fabled to be home to dragons. This book, now in paperback, is for adventure lovers who seek a captivating story that’s full of surprises. —By TFK Kid Reporter Alexa Oh

Opie Jones Talks to Animals

This novel by Nat Luurtsema tells the story of 10-year-old Opie, who can read animals’ minds. Opie is recruited to a top-secret organization of mind readers called the Resistance. When the villain Varling captures the mind readers and tries to turn their school into a factory, Opie puts her mind-reading skills to work to save the day. You’ll love this book if you enjoy fantasy and adventure.  —By TFK Kid Reporter Abhijay Potluri

Ready, Set, Dough!

Zoe’s dream computer is the Horizon WordPro. She has wanted one forever. When her teacher announces that a Horizon WordPro will be one of the prizes at a cookie-dough-selling contest, Zoe is super excited. But selling becomes her obsession. Nothing else matters. Will she risk losing her best friend and family just to win a computer? Or will she say goodbye to her prize and yield to her meanest competitor? Kelly J. Baptist’s Ready, Set, Dough! is full of surprises, and will get your competitive juices flowing. Just don’t get carried away. —By TFK Kid Reporter Harper Carroll

The Shape of Time

In this novel by Ryan Calejo, Antares de la Vega is kidnapped by mysterious creatures and taken to the Bermuda Triangle. He meets Magdavellía, who teaches him that the world is filled with more sinister doings than Antares ever could have imagined. The two set out to stop a group of mystics who want to seize control of time. They travel to the edges of the map to find a fabled artifact that could help them foil the evil plan. This book is for science fiction and mystery fans, and for readers who enjoy Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. —By TFK Kid Reporter Sophia Zhang