Kids to the rescue

The Library of Unruly Treasures Jeanne Birdsall

It’s been seven years since author Jeanne Birdsall published the finale to her beloved Penderwicks series about four sisters experiencing the challenges and joys of growing up. Her latest release, The Library of Unruly Treasures (Knopf, 352 pp.), has echoes of the same charm found in the Penderwicks but offers a new twist by intertwining a fantasy world reminiscent of The Borrowers or The Littles.

When 11-year-old Gwen MacKinnon’s self-absorbed parents ship her off to spend two weeks with a great-uncle she’s never met, Gwen doesn’t have high expectations. She is pleasantly surprised, however, to discover it might be the best two weeks of her life. She quickly connects with lovable Uncle Matthew, who offers the stability and attention Gwen has been craving, and finds easy camaraderie in his quirky dog Pumpkin.

A casual visit to the local library, though, catapults Gwen into the mysterious world of the Lahdukan, tiny-winged creatures who are usually only seen and heard by young children. Gwen is special, however, and the Lahdukan’s prophecies reveal that she is destined to be their next leader. Gwen embraces her new role as Qalba (the leader and protector of the Lahdukan), but she is in a race against time to ­relocate the tribe before a major library renovation begins and her visit ends. Note to parents: The plot includes ­discussion of mystical rituals and ­consulting Lahdukan ancestors for guidance and protection.

The Unlikely Intrusion of Adams Klein John Greco

John Greco’s The Unlikely Intrusion of Adams Klein (Moody Publishers, 288 pp.) opens in the year 2196. Sensory alarm clocks simulate the smell of frying bacon, holographic projections gloss over graffiti and trash, and cranial downloads make learning obsolete. But instead of greater freedom, this “era of injectable education” only enslaves.

And enslavement is precisely what the Marshal, a tyrannical overlord, has in mind. When he determines that 14-year-old Adams Klein might get in the way of his world domination itinerary, the Marshal tries to assassinate the boy. Adams flees to Indigo, Ohio, circa 2015, but he can’t interact with anyone or else he’ll change the course of history. When his conscience compels him to save two other teens, Adams’ intervention triggers strange occurrences, and the three new friends must join forces to stop the Marshal before he can kill Adams.

The story has plenty for serious young readers to chew on: The book warns against totalitarianism and suppression by abundance, introducing young readers to the dystopian genre and offering a taste of George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. But the book is also full of adventure thanks to heist scenes, cyber bots, and a smidgen of chaste romance. Parents should be aware that the book explores ideas like divorce and bullying. Christian themes of self-sacrifice and intercession permeate the story without suffocating it.