The Order of the Owls

Gr 2–4—In this charming first book in the series, readers meet the effervescent Minerva, and her two new friends: Thomasina, the impeccable and clever high society young lady, and Ravi, the new guy who has just moved from Mumbai to the sleepy town in Cornwall. The story is centered around the mystery of Minerva's identity; it begins dramatically with a newspaper article which chronicles the discovery of a baby found in a duffel bag on the platform of a London train station—Minerva was that baby, and she is now celebrating her ninth birthday. The only clues she has about her identity are the random assortment of artifacts in the duffel bag in which she was found and the puzzle of the initials, MM, which are embroidered on the bag. Minerva, Thomasina, and Ravi set out on an adventure that leads them all over their small town in hopes of reuniting Minerva with her long-lost parents. The story is fun and the writing is lively. Minerva and the other characters that inhabit the cozy and rustic landscape are also quite charismatic. This is a good choice for a variety of readers, including reluctant ones, as the storyline is straightforward and the characters are relatable. A promising first title in a series that provides themes of friendship, magic, adventure, and mystery.—Melanie Okadigwe, Children's Literature Consultant, NY