This is the story of Anne, an orphan who sets out on an unexpected but apparently fated quest to find out what exactly she is the rightful heir to/of. With a girl of color as the main protagonist (woot!), this story also has a surprising mix of fantasy and science fiction elements that all come together to create a dangerous but exciting world. Two of the three main kiddos are girls and most of the adults (and the dragon) are female as well, which was refreshing. This is the first in a new series but it wraps up nicely enough to be a standalone.

http://webereading.com/2017/02/new-ish-releases-kid-power-galore.html ( )

THE ADVENTURER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL ESCAPES by Wade Albert White is a new fantasy series for middle grades.

Three friends go on a magical quest that involves travel to exotic places with riddles along the way. The threesome faces an array of amazing creatures in fascinating settings

Librarians will find this humorous blend of traditional fantasy with memorable steampunk elements to be popular with the middle grade audience. Filled with action and humor, the quirky characters and fast-paced approach will keep children reading.

Published by Little, Brown Books, an imprint of Hachette Book Group on September 13, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher. ( )

Rating: 5 of 5.

Wow, this book was great, hard to believe that this is Mr. White's first and frankly it better not be the last, especially if this is going to be a series. I would think that this book is written for the younger generation of soon to be readers of authors like Douglas Adams or A. Lee Martinez. I love it when the chapters start off with a bit of wit, not too much...just a bit.

Full Review » ( )

The Adventurer's Guide To Successful Escapes is a magical tale interwoven with humor. The author, Wade Albert White, creates a world in which the main character is selected for a magical quest. She gets to pick her best friend to go along, letting them both escape from their miserable orphanage. I found the story exciting, humorous, yet confusing at times. It would take the right middle grade reader to be able to read and comprehend this fully. As an adult, after about page 100, I started to put the pieces together and enjoy the adventure and author's humor. I recommend the book for fifth grade and up for a reader who enjoys riddles, quests, and unusual, magical worlds. ( )