I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

 

Over Thanksgiving Break, I read I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys. This historical thriller is about Cristian Florescu, a seventeen-year-old boy who wants to become a writer in 1989 Romania. One day after school in October, an agent of the Securitate, or secret police, blackmails Cristian to become an informer because it was discovered that he has an American dollar bill. Cristian is initially convinced that his friend, Luca, broke his trust, but as the weeks go on, his confidence wavers when anyone, including those closest to you, can be an informer. While reporting on his target, Dan Van Dorn, the son of an American diplomat, Cristian decides to try to outsmart the agent with whom he meets. As other communist regimes fall in Europe and unrest grows in Romania, Cristian is determined to help bring down the tyrannical dictatorship of Nicolae Ceauşescu by revealing the truth through his notebook. Meanwhile, he pursues a relationship with Liliana Pavel, even as he hides the truth that he's an informer.

This book was absolutely amazing. It was full of suspense and plot twists that had me on the edge of my seat. I wasn't sure how it was going to end, but I was incredibly anxious that something terrible would happen to Cristian because the Securitate knew more about him than he realized according to the reports that were sprinkled throughout the novel. Despite that, I thought Cristian was very courageous for wanting to get his notebook to someone who could share it with the world and enjoyed his relationships with Liliana and Dan. I've long been familiar with Romania as a fan of their gymnastics team, but I thought it was so interesting reading a book that took place during its 1989 revolution. Cristian's story definitely sheds a light on what happened and why. I hadn't realized just how much fear and suffering there was in Romania because of Ceauşescu's dictatorship and it seemed terrifying. Although I had a couple unanswered questions when I finished reading the book, I was satisfied that the ending was hopeful. Overall, I Must Betray You is a must-read for anyone who likes stories about history that isn't as well known.

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

 

This morning, I finished reading Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan. This science fiction adventure is about Ana Dakkar, a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school on the California coast that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world. As Ana's class leaves for their weekend trial at sea by bus, they witness the terrible tragedy of their school collapsing into the Pacific Ocean after an unusually powerful torpedo attack by their rival school, Land Institute. Although they are devastated by the loss of their school community and don't know who betrayed their school and helped LI, they still continue on their journey to a secret base in the Pacific. While traveling and coping with the probable death of her older brother, Dev, who was also a student at HP, Ana learns about the secrets of her heritage and the 150-year cold war between Harding-Pencroft and Land Institute that has now become an actual war. When her professor, Dr. Hewett, becomes sick and goes into a coma, Ana has to lead her friends and classmates in a battle against Land Institute.

Daughter of the Deep was such a gripping book that had many twists and turns. I totally enjoyed how it was inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, even though I've never read it, and I was hooked from the very start. Ana was an amazing character who went from being the spare of her family to a strong, brave leader, earning the respect of her classmates. I also really felt for her because the only family she had left after her parents died during a scientific expedition for Harding-Pencroft two years before the events of the story was Dev and it appeared he died in the attack on Harding-Pencroft. Ana's best friends, Ester and Nelinha were pretty great, too, always having her back especially when she had doubts about leading her classmates. Animals play a huge role in this book, and I especially loved Socrates because dolphins are among my favorite animals and he came through in a pinch. I'd be remiss if I forget to mention the Nautilus, which I thought was the coolest submarine I've ever read about once Ana and her crew got her running. With a personality of her own, she's definitely quite the character. While I was reading, I wished that I could explore the oceans on her because she had so much interesting alternative technology. This book is fast-paced and the reveal of the one who betrayed Harding-Pencroft left me reeling, even if I wasn't quite surprised. Although I'm not sure it's in Rick Riordan's plans currently, the end made me want a sequel. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes action and adventure or Rick Riordan's other books.

A Game of Fox & Squirrels by Jenn Reese

 

On Friday, I finished reading A Game of Fox & Squirrels by Jenn Reese. This fantastical adventure is about Samantha Littlefield, an eleven-year-old girl who is sent from Los Angeles to Oregon with her older sister, Caitlin, to live with an aunt they've never met after Caitlin's arm was broken and Sam spoke up about their father's anger. When Aunt Vicky gives Sam a mysterious card game called "A Game of Fox & Squirrels" as a belated birthday present, the trickster fox from the game, Ashander, shows up in her room and offers her anything she desires if she finds the Golden Acorn in the woods near her aunt's house. Although Sam befriends three squirrels, Maple, Birch, and Cedar, during her quest, Ashander's tests grow increasingly dangerous and make her question her loyalties. All Sam wants is to go back home to her parents, but she risks losing everything in order to win Ashander's game.

After enjoying City Spies so much, I was a little worried about being let down by the next book I read, but I ended up loving A Game of Fox & Squirrels almost as much. It was such a suspenseful book that I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Without giving too many spoilers, I thought it was brilliant how the author used Ashander's game as an allegory for abuse. Although Sam's desire to go back home to her parents was selfish, it was also understandable at the same time because her parents were the only home she had known and she couldn't really help but miss them. I don't really think it crossed her mind to consider what her sister wanted, despite the fact that they had both experienced trauma from their parents' physical and emotional abuse. While Ashander was charming at first, I was increasingly disturbed by the cruel things that he demanded Sam to do just to win his help in finding the Golden Acorn. I especially hated how he tried to turn her against her aunt when she was nothing but kind to Sam and Caitlin. It's quite a dark, heartbreaking story, but there is hope at the end as Sam finds the courage to stand up to Ashander and protect her new home. I would recommend A Game of Fox & Squirrels to anyone who is interested in a haunting, emotional adventure.

City Spies by James Ponti

 

Yesterday, I finished reading City Spies by James Ponti. This thriller is about Sara Martinez, a twelve-year-old girl who faces years in a juvenile detention facility with no computer privileges for hacking into the New York City foster care system to expose her parents as frauds. Just when things are looking bad, a mysterious British spy, named Mother, shows up to replace her public defender and offers her a home in Scotland as part of a team of young spies from all over the world within MI6, a secret agency. Although some of Sara's new teammates have doubts about her, over the next few weeks they help her prepare for their upcoming mission to an international youth summit in Paris where they will have to stop a nefarious organization from carrying out its plans.

So far, this book is my favorite of the Rebecca Caudill nominated books this school year and I was hooked from the very first chapter because of its light humor and Sara's emotional backstory. It was so easy to root for Sara and I thought it was really cool that she was already a skilled computer hacker at the young age of twelve. Although many skills of a great spy come easy to her, she is afraid of heights because of what happened in her last foster home, making it very difficult for her to learn how to climb up a building's wall. I also liked how her teammates each had a different specialty. Sydney was my favorite of the four because of her fast friendship with Sara, but I was also intrigued by her skill of blowing things up. Additionally, Mother was an interesting character and, like Sara's, his backstory really moved me. Most of all, the action in this book was amazingly cinematic. I could definitely see this book and the rest of the series being adapted as a movie or TV show. All in all, City Spies is fantastic for those who like action, adventure, and spy thrillers.

The Unforgettable Logan Foster by Shawn Peters

 

Last night, I finished reading The Unforgettable Logan Foster by Shawn Peters. This adventure is about Logan Foster, a twelve-year-old orphan with an eidetic memory and diagnosed autism who has given up on being adopted. During an outing with his orphanage's supervisor, Ms. Kondrat, and his new prospective parents, Gil and Margie, there is a sudden earthquake and the ground splits, exploding with lava. Logan and Ms. Kondrat get separated from Gil and Margie and somehow manage to save themselves. Logan thinks he has lost his chance with Gil and Margie, but they come back the next day to bring him to their home. Over the next couple weeks, Logan notices some odd things about them: their house is protected by some unusually elaborate security, Gil works long hours, and Margie disappears during one of his school's evacuations. When he learns that Gil and Margie are actually superheroes and they don't come home after school one day, he and his new friend, Elena, have to find a way to save them.

This was such a fun, action-packed story. I really enjoyed everything about it from beginning to end. Logan was such an interesting character with how much information he has packed into his brain and I liked his friendship with Elena. Gil and Margie were also really awesome, and despite the challenges of being superheroes, it was obvious that they grew to really care about Logan. There were definitely times when I was really nervous that they would have to give up Logan and that would have absolutely sucked. Additionally, the villains were extremely diabolical and I was rooting against them the whole time. Anyone who loves action, adventure, and superheroes should read this book.

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

 

Yesterday evening, I finished reading Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca. This historical novel-in-verse is about Reha, a thirteen-year-old Indian American girl who feels torn between her life at school and her life at home in 1983. Although she loves her family and spending time with her family's Indian friends on the weekends, sometimes she just wants to be like other girls at her school, wearing trendy clothes, listening to pop music, and going to school dances. Soon after her parents allow her to go to the fall school dance, she finds out that her mother, or Amma, is sick with leukemia. Over the next few months, she tries be the daughter her parents want her to be in order to save Amma's life because she doesn't know how to go on without her.

Reading this novel-in-verse was absolutely devastating and it really pulled at my heartstrings throughout. I definitely found Reha very relatable because she was at an age where she wanted to fit in with her friends, but at the same time she didn't want to disappoint her parents. Her life became even more difficult to balance when Amma was diagnosed with leukemia and she withdrew from her friends at school because she thought it would help if she focused all her attention on family and schoolwork. It's a little misguided, but I understood why Reha felt that way after her dad convinced her mom it would be okay for Reha to go to the school dance despite her reservations. I don't want spoil too much of the story, but there was a moment towards the end of Amma's treatment when I felt a great deal of hope before being crushed. Red, White, and Whole is a tearjerker, so I recommend it to those who enjoy sad stories or have faced loss in their lives and want a relatable story.

Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland

 

Last week, I read Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland. Taking place from 1922 to 1923, this historical mystery is about Ophelia "Ophie" Harrison, a twelve-year-old Black girl who discovers her ability to see ghosts the same night a group of cruel white men murder her father and burn her home down. After she and her mother move from Georgia to live with relatives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ophie befriends Clara, a spirit who was a maid at Daffodil Manor where she begins working with her mother. Although Aunt Rose, who can also see spirits, warns her that they can't be trusted, Ophie ignores the advice and tries to help the ghosts she meets. As Ophie continues to get to know Clara better, she learns that her life was ended suddenly and unjustly and tries to solve the mystery of her friend's murder so that she can pass on.

I've always enjoyed a good historical mystery and this one was excellent. It was filled with suspense and the identify of Clara's murderer kept me guessing until the very end even though there were clues sprinkled throughout. I especially enjoyed the friendship between Ophie and Clara because they had a lot in common and it was obvious that they were both very lonely before they met each other. My heart really broke for them, Ophie because her father was murdered and Clara because her life was cut short. The major themes in this book are memories and prejudices of the past, creating a story that is quite haunting. Although the story is fairly dark, it's written in a way that is appropriate for middle grade readers. Overall, anyone who likes mysteries or ghost stories should read this book.