Gaming Portals, Homophone Mice, and a Fairy Godmother Who Cooks Up Trouble: This Week's Free Kids' Picks (Plus a Few Grown-Up Strays)

by D.K. Holmberg

Rsiran gets banished to the mines for forging blades from forbidden lorcith, and his ability to Slide anywhere is exactly what his family fears. It's really young adult fantasy, so older teens are the audience here. One reader loved it, another joked about the city's chronic cat problem, and the 3.94 average across more than 2,600 ratings says it's solid but divisive.

“The Dark Ability (The Dark Ability #1) by D.K. Holmberg, Vikas Adam (Reading) I really, really loved this book! It's a young adult fantasy about a world where people have certain abilities. Some of these abilities are considered dark by most. Our young hero has one of those abilities, he can jump...”

by Sierra Prynne

Let's be clear, this one is not for kids. Natalie inherits a Scottish estate from her ex-stepfather, along with a riddle and two stepbrothers who want it back, and the blurb promises seduction and supernatural trouble. It's a grown-up romance with a 4.25 from over 200 readers, so adults who like a mystery with their steam should take a look.

by Mary E. McDonald

Another adult pick wearing a children's label. This is historical fiction packed with family secrets, murder, and suspense, set in a small town. It has award badges from the NYC Big Book Awards and BookFest, and a 3.96 from 114 readers is respectable for a debut. Good for readers who like slow-burn family drama.

by Dan Sugralinov

This was my favorite surprise of the week. Kenny moves from the big city to a small town after his parents split, and his gaming console turns out to be a gateway to a magical realm where winning helps him stand up to bullies in real life. Reviewers call it a realistic story about starting over with a hero who tugs at your heartstrings, and a 4.4 rating backs that up. Perfect for reluctant readers who already live in video games.

“imaginative adventure Very much a LitRPG adventure. A young boy moves across country after his parents break up. From big city to small town. From a family life with two parents and double earners, to living with a single mom. Life changed rapidly for Kenny, and just when he thought it was too much...”

by Joseph Licari

Mia, her sister Pia, and three mouse friends named Squeaky, Nibbles, and Speedy explore a farm while learning homophones. The reviewer's "Great/not Grate" headline made me smile. It's a picture-book style read for early elementary kids, and a 4.9 from 30 ratings is hard to argue with. A good one to read aloud and then quiz them on.

“What a fun and clever read! Mia, Pia, and their mischievous mouse friends take readers on a farm adventure full of wordplay and laughter. My kid especially loved the “pairs of pears” part and giggled at the hoarse horse and bare bear. A brilliant way to introduce homophones without making it feel...”

by Laurel Veil

Haley Elizabeth is a miserable middle schooler who gets invited to dinner and discovers she's the main course, which is a great opening. Then she meets the mysterious Juniper Hagglesworth, and a wicked witch shows up. One reader read it aloud to her nine-year-old granddaughter and got several laugh-out-loud moments, and the 4.44 rating fits. Short, funny, and just spooky enough.

“Short, delightful and charming, Fairy Godmothers Are For Wimps by Laurel Veil is an adventure full of magic, fun, mystery, humor, a wicked witch and more. This excitement-packed entertainingly bewitching book will tickle all members of the family though it has been primarily designed for young...”