Book Review: The Aquanaut by Dan Santat

The Aquanaut

by Dan Santat (jPB Santat)

 

Sophia’s dad has been lost at sea for years, and her uncle is working hard to preserve his legacy at Aqualand — the marine life theme park they started. Sophie is having a hard time because her uncle is so focused on work that he’s missing all the important things in her life. Suddenly, an old diving suit shows up, seemingly walking around on its own, since whomever’s inside never speaks. Sophie discovers the secret inside the suit, but tries her best to keep it secret. Eventually, Uncle Paul finds out, too, and even more is revealed.

 

A little bit mystery solving, a little bit daring rescue, a little bit dark secrets, but more about friendship and love, this was a quick well-illustrated read.

 

( official Dan Santat Instagram feed )

 

Recommended by Kolette S.
Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries

 

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

The Hidden Oracle
by Rick Riordan

 The Hidden Oracle is the first book in the new Trials of Apollo series from author Rick Riordan. Readers who are fans of the Percy Jackson series will definitely enjoy this book! There are several interactions with characters we know and love from that series, as well as several new characters that promise lots of interest and excitement.

Apollo has angered his father Zeus, and has been cast out of Olympus. He must learn to survive in our world as a mortal teenager until he can figure out a way to get back into Zeus’s good graces. He is not in a body he would have chosen, he is no longer immortal, he doesn’t know who to trust, and his memory is faulty because a mortal human mind doesn’t have the space for all his godly immortal knowledge. He is as full of himself as you’d expect the God of music, truth, prophecy, healing, plague, poetry, the sun and light to be, despite being cast into a gawky, acne-covered sixteen-year-old mortal named Lester. This book has the action, drama, and humor Rick Riordan fans are used to, along with appearances by Percy Jackson!
One of my favorite parts of this book was the chapter headings. Since Apollo is the god of poetyr, the chapter headings are haikus that offer the reader a small bit of insight into what’s coming without really reveling anything!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Sword of Summer, by Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan (first Percy Jackson book), Artemis Fowl, by Eion Colfer, and Gregor the Overlander, by Suzanne Collins] [ official Hidden Oracle page on the official Rick Riordan web site ]

Recommended by Kolette S.
Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries

Have you read this? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!