THE LOST STAFF OF WONDERS

When the water in Perilous Falls turns to blood, it is up to Will Wilder and his friends to find the culprit and retrieve a stolen relic—preferably before the town is inundated with frogs.

In this sequel to The Relic of Perilous Falls (2016), white 12-year-old Will is learning that training as the new seer seems to involve a lot less demon-fighting and a lot more custodial work than he imagined. But when his carelessness results in the theft of the Staff of Moses, it falls to him to return the relic to its rightful place in the family-run museum that is also the headquarters of the demon-fighting Brethren before another plague hits. And while having a sister with the power to heal and a brother able to glow brightly enough to chase off demons is helpful, the Wilder kids will need more than their supernatural gifts to expose the true goal of the new faith healer in town. Will is undisciplined, impatient, and erratic, but he is also loyal to his friends and family and ultimately determined to do the right thing. In essence he is the perfectly flawed hero. The large and diverse cast of characters becomes unwieldy at times, but the multilayered plot, unusual supernatural elements, and intriguing mystery make up for any temporary confusion.

Surprising spiritual depth with a hearty helping of monsters and miracles.