Meyer, William. The Search for the Lost Prophecy (The Timekeepers, Book 2.

Meyer, William. The Search for the Lost Prophecy (The Timekeepers, Book 2. Sleeping Bear Press    2018 205p  $16.99   ISBN 978-1-58536-982-9    elem/ms   Adventure  VG-BN         

This is the second title for Horace J. Edwards and the Time Keepers series. While cleaning out his grandparents’ house, Horace finds a journal kept by his grandfather. He also discovers that the portal for time travel, which he used in the first novel, has been destroyed.  Back in town, Horace and his two friends accidentally find a new portal that leads them to Detroit in the 1920’s. They visit the Scarab Club, headquarters of the Time Keepers secret order. Horace is given a clue to the location of the mystic Benben Stone and is tasked with keeping it safe. Horace knows that enemies also want the location of the stone, and he tries to proceed alone. Failing in that, he seeks the help of his two friends. The stone is saved for now, but Horace receives the news that it is up to him to permanently return the stone to its source, which is a set-up for book 3.
 

This book encompasses time travel, adventure, and excitement that also stresses honoring the past and the value of friendship. Boys will love the adventure and suspense.   

Summary: Horace discovers another portal. This time it leads to 1920’s Detroit.  He is tasked to protect the Benben stone but he needs the help of his friends. Mystery and excitement with time travel.  Grades 3-7.       

Time Travel-Fiction, Fantasy                                                             --Joan Theal

Meyer, Carolyn. Girl With A Camera.

Meyer, Carolyn. Girl With A Camera. Boyd's Mills/Calkins Creek    2017  234p  $17.95  Hardback  ISBN 978-1-62979-584-3  ms/hs  Historical fiction  VG-BN   

In this fictionalized biography, Carolyn Meyer makes accessible the life of Margaret Bourke-White. She offers a fascinating look at the life of a woman who knew her own mind and what she wanted to do with her life, as opposed to what was expected of a woman of that era. When she finally realized that her life’s work would be as a photographer, she pursued it with determination. Her lens had widened from landscapes to architectural details to people in difficult situations. Her assignment to photograph the Dust Bowl crisis for Fortune magazine totally changed her outlook about what was truly important. As her fame increased, Bourke-White traveled the world taking photos for the most important news magazines in the country. She became the first woman war correspondent and the first female photographer for Life magazine.

This book offers a thoughtful look at the life of one of the most famous names in photography. The descriptive narrative provides a well-organized and realistic view of Bourke-White in the context of her times. It is sure to encourage readers to seek out and further study her landmark photographs.  Highly recommended for middle- and high-school students. It is sure to encourage readers to further study and discovering her landmark photographs.

Summary: In this fictionalized biography, Carolyn Meyer makes accessible the life of Margaret Bourke-White.  It is sure to encourage readers to seek out and further study her landmark photographs.    

Bourke-White, Margaret-Fiction                                                        --Susan Ogintz

Meyer, Marissa. Stars Above (Lunar Chronicles)

Meyer, Marissa.  Stars Above (Lunar Chronicles)  Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends  2016  369p  $17.99  ISBN 978-1-250-09184-0  jr/sr  Fairytale  VG

Meyer offers nine stories set in the Lunar Chronicles universe, five of which have never been published elsewhere, as well as an exclusive excerpt of Meyer’s upcoming novel, Heartless, about the Queen of Hearts. Fans of the Lunar Chronicles will enjoy the backstory provided by prequels to Scarlet, Cress, and Cinder, as well as an epilogue to Winter.  Several spin-offs introduce new characters and interpretations of fairy tales, such as “The Little Android,” a retelling of Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” set in the Lunar Chronicle universe. 

For fans of the series, Stars Above provides details that will maintain an interest in Meyer’s fantasy series until the next installment (Heartless) is published, even though relatively little new ground is covered. Newcomers to the Lunar Chronicles may find the anthology to be disconnected.  The popularity of the series and its large fan-base make this a must-buy volume for young-adult collections.

Summary: This anthology offers nine stories set in the universe of the Lunar Chronicles.  It provides a variety of details and perspectives to round out the Lunar Chronicles universe.     

Fantasy-Fiction                                 --Hilary Welliver

Meyer, William. The Secret Scarab Beetle.

Meyer, William.   The Secret Scarab Beetle.     Sleeping Bear Press(Cengage)  2016  240p  $16.99  ISBN 978-1-58536-938-6      elem/ms  Fantasy  VG

When Horace J. Edwards’s grandfather unexpectedly dies, his grandmother gives him a cryptic message.  Then a surprise package arrives for Horace and he must determine the relationship between the message and the gift. Once Horace pieces together the conundrum, he finds himself on a time travel mission back to Ancient Egypt in which he must avert an evil deed that could change history forever.

In this fast-paced, adventurous historical novel, William Meyers combines the daily life of a typical eleven-year-old boy with accurate Ancient Egyptian history.  The story brings to life the history of this time period, and it will engage and appeal to young readers.  As the first book in an upcoming series, the ending satisfies the reader but also leave enough questions unanswered to support the arrival of the second book.  Young readers will enjoy this page-turner and find themselves anticipating the next installment.

Summary: When Horace J. Edwards’s grandfather unexpectedly dies, his grandmother gives him a cryptic message, and when a surprise package arrives for Horace, he must decode the message and complete a mission that takes him back to Ancient Egypt.     

Time travel-Fiction, Ancient Egypt-Fiction            --Virginia McGarvey

Meyer, Susan Lynn. New Shoes.

Meyer, Susan Lynn.  New Shoes.  Holiday House  2015  32     $16.95  ISBN 978-0-8234-2528-0  elem  Historical fiction  VG-BNe

In this beautifully illustrated piece of historical fiction, a pair of young African-American girls, dismayed that they are not permitted to try on shoes in a store, take action by opening their own shoe store where customers of any race may try on the shoes before taking them home (after paying a nickel and a pair of outgrown shoes).  It is an interesting and sensitive treatment of a practice that many young people may be unaware ever existed in the United States, since it took place more than five decades ago and is a seemingly minor detail that historians tend to either overlook or deem unworthy of note.  For older readers, particularly those too young to have lived during the age of Jim Crow laws, the idea that African-Americans were not even allowed to try on shoes and clothing may come as a surprise, but for readers of all ages it encourages discussion with older members of the family and the community who may recall similar details not generally included in history texts.   

Summary: An interesting look at one of the mid-twentieth century Jim Crow laws modern youths may be unaware of, accompanied by lovely illustrations.           

African-American History                                    --Bethany Geleskie