I received an ARC ebook from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Grubb's back! Same twelve-year-old or thereabouts, whose name is spelled like the worm but with a double b. Our young friend has just recovered from his previous adventure, and now a new threat forces him to travel again. This time Grubb and Alistair, along with a savvy professor, a special watch, an old witch, a banshee, and a few more characters, team up for adventure.

And they GO DOWN.

Literally, they do go down--underwater to be clear. Alistair’s Odditorium goes Aquaticum in a quest for a very special sword--the only weapon capable of beating a very bad man with a spoiled heart and ... I hate giving spoilers, so just read it to be submerged--pun intended--into a different era, different world, and new characters. And lots of danger and magic!

Oh, and that Odditorium? It looks the same with but with new capabilities, still feeling alive in an arachnid kind of way.

Overall, a captivating reading experience for readers eight to one hundred or thereabouts. ( )

Take a little bit of Dickens’ Oliver Twist or David Copperfield, mix in some faeries and Arthurian legend, then throw in some crazy steampunk inventions for good measure, and you get the world of Grubb and Alistair Grim.

I received the second book as an ARC, but soon realized that I would enjoy it more if I had the backstory from the first book which, fortunately, my library had. It definitely made a difference.

The story of Grubb’s life and travels, with the friends and family he makes along the way, is one that late-elementary and middle-graders are sure to enjoy. There’s magic and adventure galore, along with plenty of emotion. The characters are varied, but each is a unique character. (I particularly like Dalach and Nigel.) The mystery will keep readers guessing, and a third book must be coming, because there are plenty of loose ends still to be tied up.

The writing is descriptive and accessible, though the Lexile level is a bit high for the intended age range, possibly because of the somewhat Dickensian style of writing. The story is told in first person, through Grubb’s eyes, and chapters often end with a bit of foreshadowing of the “If I had only known” variety. Grubb gets into dangerous situations frequently, although it’s rarely his fault, but it pushes the edges of belief that he always gets out of them.

I think I enjoyed the second book more than the first, but whether that’s because the characters had a chance to more fully develop or whether it’s because I’m a sucker for Arthurian myth, I’m not sure.

The illustrations add to enjoyment of the story. Of course, this being from Disney, it’s also well-edited.

Possible Objectionable Material:

Ghosts, magic, fairies, traveling to alternate dimensions. Grubb was born out of wedlock. A love triangle of sorts. The bad guy is pretty scary, and there are perilous situations galore.

Who Might Enjoy These Books:

The target age range is appropriate, although those in lower grades will have to be strong or enthusiastic readers, due to the length and the higher Lexile. This will probably be of equal interest to boys or girls, as there are several strong female characters, even though the cast is male-dominated. Anyone who loves steampunk, Dickens, and faerie magic will probably enjoy this. Approximate Lexile: 1060

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. ( )

ALISTAIR GRIM’S ODD AQUATICUM by Gregory Funaro is the second book in this quirky fantasy series for children.

Ruthless villain Prince Nightshade wants to steal the power of the Odditorium. Young Grubb, his newly found father Alistair Grim, and a crew of eccentric characters set out on an underwater quest to find the legendary sword Excalibur and save the Odditorium. They must survive a witch, sea monsters, an assassin, and other magical adversaries to reach their destiny.

Weaving together elements of steampunk, fairy stories, witches, and magic, this series has broad appeal. The combination of whimsical settings, legendary characters, and action-packed adventure will have youth coming back for more.

Librarians will find that fans of the first book will enjoy this new addition to the series. Because both the first and second books have been well-received, interest in the series is growing.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.gregoryfunaro.com/.

Published by Disney-Hyperion on January 5, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher. ( )