Star-studded stories

Over the past six weeks, many young bookworms have started ticking titles off the Summer Reading Challenge book lists and working on ruminative reviews to help other readers decide what page-turners to explore this summer.

Below you’ll find a selection of reviews written by kids of all ages. The only guidance they receive is a maximum word count and some tips on providing star ratings out of five; the rest is entirely up to them.

A second batch of reviews will run in print and online at the end of August, so there’s still lots of time to participate before the final deadline.

To register for free, visit the Summer Reading Challenge website, where readers will find the three reading lists (for reading levels 7 to 9 years, 10 to 12 years and 13 to 15 years) created by McNally Robinson Booksellers as well as links to review-writing guidelines and past collections of kids’ reviews.

Once registered, you’ll receive reading guides and activities for each book, as well as information on upcoming deadlines for review submissions. Any questions can be sent to bookclub@winnipegfreepress.com.

Legendary Allies: The Healer and the Phoenix

By Linda Trinh, illustrated by Quynh Anh Nguyen
Annick Press, 172 pages, $14

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This book is about girl named May. On her birthday she went to a special place to get allies, and for a legendary ally — the phoenix.

She went on the legendary allies team and went on a quest to save a bunch of people including her mom. I like when she got the phoenix.

★★★★ out of five stars

— Kinley Alexander, age 9

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Super Villains in Training: The Fantastic Freeze Ray

By Kailei Pew, illustrated by Estrela Lourenço
Scholastic Canada, 80 pages, $11

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Vicky wants to be a villain because some of her family are villains.

But she is bad at being bad. My favourite part is when she stays at the villain school.

Also, I would want to read it again.

★★★★1/2 out of five stars

— Maks Krahn, age 8

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If you like adventures, then The Fantastic Freeze Ray is for you! I really like how Vicky passed the test to stay at the villain academy.

I enjoyed this book so much that I plan on reading the other two in the series. I would recommend this book to people who like spy stuff.

★★★★★ out of five stars

— Dylan Willow, age 7

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Free Piano (Not Haunted)

By Whitney Gardner
Simon & Schuster, 256 pages, $19

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Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner was a really good graphic novel. I loved the illustrations and the style of the art. The characters were very well drawn which is extremely hard, especially to draw them repeatedly (that is something I am always fascinated by when it comes to graphic novels!).

Graphic novels aren’t my favourite type of book because I can read it in 20 minutes, so that was a personal issue with the book. However, I loved the message of the book, and the lessons Margot learned.

Margot’s reactions to her troubles were very realistic and understandable. I like that she didn’t react insanely and unrealistically, which made the book so much better.

I enjoy the friendship Margot made with Vision and Vision’s supportiveness, but also how realistic Margot’s dreams were. Overall, it was a really good graphic novel.

★★★★1/2 out of five stars

— Lianne Beirnes, age 13

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Kindred Dragons

By Sarah Mensinga
Abrams Fanfare, 208 pages, $20

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Kindred Dragons is a great book by Sarah Mensinga. There is a lot of depth in the story. It is sad, but happy at the same time. I think it is about being grateful for what you have, even if it’s not what you thought you wanted.

Alice, the main character, has to be grateful for what she has, even if she can’t have exactly what she hoped for. Alice wants a dragon, but so far the magical fairies that bring dragon eggs haven’t picked her.

The dragons are kindred to the people who get them. This means they can only speak to each other. And they are kindred for life — if one dies, the other dies too.

I like the style of the illustrations. They feel hand-drawn and add to the story without taking it over. I give Kindred Dragons 5 stars — partly because I love dragons, and partly because it is a very good story.

★★★★★ out of five stars

— Stephanie Boon, age 11

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I thought it was really cool how Alice got to ride the dragon. I didn’t like how Alice’s grandmother was being kind of mean and I also didn’t like that Alice’s friends wouldn’t talk to her because she did something that wasn’t her fault.

This book inspired me to speak your mind when it’s needed and be kind to everybody. This book made me feel happy. I would recommend this book to kids who like magic and fantasy books.

★★★★ stars out of five

—Natalie Neufeld, age 9

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Kindred Dragons is a graphic novel. It is interesting.

Things that make it unique is having things that younger readers can understand in a different way than older readers. Like that fact that everyone can’t have what they want, that is shown in the sense that Alice’s friends and family are kindred and they can have dragon eggs. She wants to have a dragon of her own but she can’t.

The story has a heart-warming ending that I just love. I also think that it has mythical things like dragons, but it also has real things that could happen like jealousy, loved ones passing on and happiness.

So I think if you were looking for a book to read this summer then I definitely recommend it. This is definitely a book for all ages.

★★★★★ out of five stars

—Dominic Boyce, age 10

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The Hockey Team: The New Player

By Alain M Bergeron, illustrated by Caroline Soucy

Auzou Publishing, 160 pages, $13

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This book is perfect for people who love hockey and stories about supportive friends.

There was a funny part where all the players stood up for their new teammate and confused the referee.

I didn’t enjoy the start of the book because it didn’t interest me, and I almost stopped reading it, but then it got better.

★★★ out of five stars

— Dylan Willow, age 7

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The Blind Date Agreement

By Jessica Cunsolo
Wattpad Webtoon Book Group, 352 pages, $16

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The book The Blind Date Agreement by Jessica Cunsolo was a really good book! I loved the main lesson Carina learned throughout the book. It is such an important lesson, and it left Carina feeling at peace with herself and others after all the exciting drama that happened in the novel.

I really liked the unpredictable twist at the end, but I felt like the main point of the book was very predictable.

I loved each of the characters that Carina went on the blind dates with. They were all very different and that made it interesting (and fun!) to read about so many of her dates.

I also enjoyed that Carina was a very realistic-feeling character with true feelings. Overall, I really recommend this wonderful book!

★★★★ stars out of five

— Lianne Beirnes, age 13

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The Case of the Movie Mayhem: A Mighty Muskrats Mystery

By Michael Hutchinson
Second Story Press, 152 pages, $13

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This book was off to a slower start and it took me a bit to get into it. The part I liked best was how the four cousins named Otter, Sam, Chickadee and Atim work together and look out for one another.

They work together, hang out, solve mysteries and are just good friends. Being caring cousins and being a close family is important to me too, and I like their names.

It was cool to see how they solved the mystery of the stolen truck for their uncle by working together. In the end their grandpa and auntie were so proud of them!

★★★ stars out of five

—Tannen J., age 10