MOONLEAPERS

In this duology opener, strange text messages and a mysterious old book lead a preteen to a startling revelation.

When 12-year-old Maisie gets her first phone, she’s initially thrilled, even if it is a hand-me-down from Great-Aunt Hazel. But then her parents share disappointing news: She and her family must move from Ohio to Maryland for the summer so her mother can help Hazel, who’s moved into a nursing home, while Maisie babysits her two obnoxious younger siblings. When mysterious texts begin to arrive from an unknown number containing riddles for Maisie to solve, she’s confused and frustrated. The Guide for Moonleapers, a mysterious book her great-aunt has also left her, contains blank pages, which is just as annoying. But as Maisie slowly starts to piece together the puzzle, she discovers an incredible secret: As a moonleaper, or time traveler, Great-Aunt Hazel helped save the world by changing history—and she’s planned for Maisie to follow in her footsteps. Connecting with both the future and the past, Maisie must help change the world before time runs out for her great-aunt. Disjointed time travel episodes and overly explained plot points drag down this first installment, but Haddix’s unique talent for conveying the middle-grade voice shines through nevertheless. Main characters present white.

A twisty if slightly uneven story celebrating the power of connection.