Isle of Ever

Starred review from January 6, 2025
In a prologue that occurs in 1825 Long Island, Evelyn Terry, having witnessed a strange
man board a ship that she’s certain belongs to pirates, determines to record the event—and everything
she observes thereafter—in her journal. The primary narrative then shifts to the present day, during which 12-year-old Benny, grieving the death of her grandmother, adjusts to another move—this time from Vermont to Boston—due to her mother’s difficulties securing permanent work. Then a lawyer enters the diner where her mother works and announces that he’s been searching for her and Benny for two years. He reveals that Benny is likely to inherit millions from her ancestor Evelyn Terry, but only if Benny can solve a mystery using clues left by Evelyn. If Benny fails to crack the case in the allotted time, however, a rival family stands to snag the prize instead. Realistic depictions of Benny’s moody relationship with her mother ground the overarching magical nature of this atmospheric fantasy ride
by Calonita (Flunked). Excerpts of Benny’s research materials—including 19th-century books, newspaper clippings, and Evelyn’s weathered journals—add visual interest throughout. Characters read as white. Ages 10–13. Agent: Dan Mandel, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc.

January 15, 2025
A tween enters into a high-stakes and high-rewards hunt for a life-changing treasure. After years of financial instability, and moving from place to place with her mother, Everly "Benny" Benedict, 12, is poised to come into a large inheritance from her great-great-great-great-great-grandmother, Evelyn "Sparrow" Terry of Greenport, Long Island--but only if Benny can solve Evelyn's riddles and find a mysterious island within the deadline, less than two weeks away. If she fails, Benny will lose the entire estate. As the pressure mounts, Benny and her newly acquired Greenport friends, Zara and Ryan, unravel clues tied to a rare Blood Orange Moon, a deadly 1825 Yellow Fever epidemic, and family connections spanning generations; in addition, events from Evelyn's timeline shed light on the present day. Incorporating text messages, the young detectives' notes, and 19th-century newspaper articles, journal entries, and letters, Calonita deftly transitions between the past and the present. Greenport is rich in magical elements that gradually play a larger and larger role in the plot, setting this book apart from other inheritance treasure-hunt stories and creating an added layer of interest. Severe weather phenomena and other challenges contribute to the building tension. The worldbuilding contains several unexplained developments, and the book ends on a frustratingly major cliffhanger, but this series opener is clearly setting up for a sequel in which more answers will hopefully be forthcoming. Main characters are cued white. An engaging, puzzle-centered page-turner.(Fantasy adventure. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2025
Grades 4-7 Everly and her mother have always lived on the move and low on funds. Then Everly receives unexpected news of an incredible inheritance that could change their lives, but there's a catch: she'll inherit the family fortune only if she successfully locates a hidden island that's missing from every map. To make matters more mysterious, the documents guiding Everly in her quest were clearly written with her in mind, but they were composed more than a century earlier. Now Everly has two weeks to crack the case, claim the prize, and change her family's fortune forever. The suspenseful series opener immediately enthralls, and though there are plot points aplenty (pirate treasure! a pandemic! an immortal cat!), it all carefully connects in a dramatic cliff-hanger ending that will leave readers scrambling for a sequel. Clever clues embedded in journal entries, letters, and newspaper clippings fill in the backstory, making it particularly appealing to anyone with a penchant for puzzles. A nail-biter of a novel for readers who like their mysteries with a touch of magic.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from March 1, 2025

Gr 5-7-The game is afoot! Can Benny, 12, solve the riddles left by her great-great-great-great-great grandmother before it's too late? Everly "Benny" Benedict, who is white, has always dreamed of a place to call home, and when a lawyer from Long Island explains her surprise inheritance from her successful ancestor Evelyn Terry, she jumps at the chance to claim it. But there's a catch: Benny must complete a series of riddles left by Evelyn and find a mysterious and seemingly magical island off the coast of Greenport before the Blood Orange Moon. Can she finish the game before the two-week deadline? Calonita's latest offers a page-turning mystery that will have readers on the edges of their seats. Throughout the game, Benny must reckon with Evelyn's past mistakes while trying to navigate newfound friendships, financial responsibility, and the road map to the utterly fantastical "Evelyn's Island." The fast-paced and satisfying collection of riddles through clues and diary entries are a feast for avid puzzle lovers. The stakes just get higher, and by the end, readers will be anxiously awaiting the sequel. The pacing is excellent, the character development enticing, and the finale positively nail-biting. VERDICT This thrilling adventure mystery will capture the spirit of play in every reader, making it a perfect addition to any library's middle grade collection.-Ashton Conley

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