Think of all the best books that feature a group of kids who become friends and go on to solve a mystery and save the day. The kids from Chasing Vermeer come to mind. Or what about stories like The 39 Clues, or the friends from The Infinity Ring series? And don't forget about Harry, Ron, and Hermione tracking down the Deathly Hallows, among other things. This book will be joining their ranks soon.
Madge, Kiku, Joe, and Walt all meet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at a time in their own lives where they have suffered losses and feel lonely. It is also a time in our country when things are very rough. The Nazis are surging across Europe, and on the day the kids meet, Pearl Harbor is bombed. Suddenly their chance encounter turns into fate. They find themselves forming a group of modern knights, searching for the pages of a missing book of Arthurian legends. If they can solve all the clues and retrieve the lost chapters of the book, then they may be able to prevent an horrific attack on New York. Can four middle-school students foil the plots of enemy agents?
The Metropolitans is a delightful mix of urban fantasy, espionage thriller, and historical fiction. The world of 1941 America comes to life with Indian boarding schools, Japanese internment, Hoovervilles, and the Nazi threat. Cultural references such as Captain America, Captain Marvel, Little Orphan Annie, and King Kong are smoothly worked in to ground the story in the historical timeline. The Arthurian legend transfers into the Met and the lives of the children so that readers learn about Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Morgaine, Mordred, and Merlin along with the protagonists. The action is fast paced. The clues take the knowledge and skills of all the group to solve, forging the bond between them stronger with each task that is completed.
This is a great read for those who have enjoyed any of the other books I mentioned, as well as for those who enjoy mysteries and historical fiction. It is perfect for a read-aloud because each chapter will leave listeners begging to hear more. Highly recommended for middle grades and up.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Madge, Kiku, Joe, and Walt all meet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at a time in their own lives where they have suffered losses and feel lonely. It is also a time in our country when things are very rough. The Nazis are surging across Europe, and on the day the kids meet, Pearl Harbor is bombed. Suddenly their chance encounter turns into fate. They find themselves forming a group of modern knights, searching for the pages of a missing book of Arthurian legends. If they can solve all the clues and retrieve the lost chapters of the book, then they may be able to prevent an horrific attack on New York. Can four middle-school students foil the plots of enemy agents?
The Metropolitans is a delightful mix of urban fantasy, espionage thriller, and historical fiction. The world of 1941 America comes to life with Indian boarding schools, Japanese internment, Hoovervilles, and the Nazi threat. Cultural references such as Captain America, Captain Marvel, Little Orphan Annie, and King Kong are smoothly worked in to ground the story in the historical timeline. The Arthurian legend transfers into the Met and the lives of the children so that readers learn about Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Morgaine, Mordred, and Merlin along with the protagonists. The action is fast paced. The clues take the knowledge and skills of all the group to solve, forging the bond between them stronger with each task that is completed.
This is a great read for those who have enjoyed any of the other books I mentioned, as well as for those who enjoy mysteries and historical fiction. It is perfect for a read-aloud because each chapter will leave listeners begging to hear more. Highly recommended for middle grades and up.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
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