Monstrous Middle Grade Adventures | Book Spotlight

The Children’s Book Review | January 9, 2017

Two fresh voices with monstrous adventures ready to be devoured!

Age Range: 9-12

The Voyage To Magical North

Written by Claire Fayers

Twelve-year-old Brine Seaborne is a girl with a past–if only she could remember what it is. Found alone in a rowboat as a child, clutching a shard of the rare starshell needed for spell-casting, she’s spent the past years keeping house for an irritable magician and his obnoxious apprentice, Peter.

When Brine and Peter get themselves into a load of trouble and flee, they blunder into the path of the legendary pirate ship the Onion. Before you can say “pieces of eight,” they’re up to their necks in the pirates’ quest to find Magical North, a place so shrouded in secrets and myth that most people don’t even think it exists. If Brine is lucky, she’ll find her place in the world. And if she’s unlucky, everyone on the ship will be eaten by sea monsters. It could really go either way.

9-12 | Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. | 2016 | ISBN-13: 978-1627794206

Available Here: 

Monsterville: A Lissa Black Production

Written by Sarah S. Reida

Thirteen-year-old aspiring screenwriter/director Lissa Black isn’t thrilled when her parents move the family from NYC to the sticks of Freeburg, PA. At first, it seems like her only entertainment will be playing the twisted version of Candyland called Monsterville found in her basement, and learning Boy Scout knots from her new neighbor Adam. But when a walk in the woods lands Lissa face-to-face with a swamp monster hungry for brains, and then a Sasquatch that moos, she realizes that Freeburg isn’t so boring.

With Adam’s help, Lissa catches the culprit behind the drama: a shape-shifting goblin who’s escaped from the monster world of Down Below. At first, Lissa has big plans to use Blue as the star in her first real movie, but then monsters snatch her little sister on Halloween. Now Lissa and her new friends must venture Down Below to stage a rescue – and face the real Monsterville, which is anything but a game. 

Ages 9-12 | Publisher:Sky Pony Press | 2016 | ISBN-13:978-1510707337

Available Here: 

About the Authors

Claire Fayers and Sarah S. Reida are both committed to encouraging young writers/readers! As such, each is available for school Skype visits, or personal visits (when feasible). For more information, please visit their respective websites.

Sarah S. Reida received her B.A. in English from St. Louis University and always wanted to be a writer, but took a detour to attend law school and start a practice that helps veteran small businesses. She and her husband Scott are proud to own a roomy house in the Atlanta area, as this means they can fill it with rescue animals. Their daughter – born November 2016! – will be raised to love reading, animals, and Costco (which is magical).

LissaBlackProductions.com | Twitter

Claire Fayers lives in South Wales with her husband and as many cats as she can get away with. She used to work in a science library but now writes full-time. She loves to hang about aquariums looking at all the fascinating sea creatures, especially the ones with tentacles.

ClaireFayers.com | Twitter