Monster Realm, by Nara Duffie

For as long as she can remember, Lillian has loved mythology stories, and the "monsters" that appear in them. When her sister, Bluebell, goes missing, Lillian realizes that those stories may be more fact than fiction, and life as she knows it may change forever.

I cannot even begin to express how impressed I was with this book. The author, Nara Duffie, completed this book 11 days before her 11th birthday. Yes, you read that correctly! She was 10 when she wrote this. Actually, she started writing it much earlier than that, and took her time polishing and perfecting it. You can tell that this book was written with a tremendous amount of dedication and precision. The characters are very well developed, and the back story unfolds brilliantly in the middle of the present action. I thought the book was full of rich imagery, and I admire the author's imagination.

This book will really appeal to fans of books like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. I think it is a wonderful book for both young adult and adult readers. Do not let the author's young age deter you; this is better writing than I have seen from may seasoned, adult authors. Bravo Nara!

Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove, by Audrey Penn

A group of the children who live in Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, love to hear the tales of Mrs. McNemmish, especially those about Blackbeard.  When Mrs. McNemmish dies, the children try to respect her final wishes, while uncovering her secrets.

I really thought this was an excellent children's book, one that was still able to hold my attention.  The characters are developed well enough for the targeted age group, and I like that there is a mix of male and female characters, making it appealing to a wide reading audience.  The book is full of action and mystery that really drives the story.  Were the characters just a tad more developed and a tinge more likable, the book could possibly appeal to some older readers.  As it stands now, it is probably most appropriate for middle grades readers.

The thing I loved best was the setting.  Having visited Ocracoke Island just last summer, I felt like the book did a good job setting the scene from a factual standpoint, while still allowing for fictionalization of certain key locations in the story.  There was a lot of great historical research behind the book, and the fact and fiction blend seamlessly. 

I thought this was a solid book, a little room for improvement, but widely appealing to young readers.

I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.