The first book in the Camelot Code series, The Once and Future Geek , mixed time travel between the medieval world of King Arthur and our own, and it is a very entertaining book. The second book in the series, Geeks and Holy Grail (Hyperion, October 2019), is also entertaining (though not quite as funny; King Arthur as a modern day high school student is hard to beat....). When Morgana, sworn enemy of King Arthur, attacks the druids of Avalon, Nimue, the youngest of them, takes the Holy Grail and runs with it. King Arthur is dying, and only the Grail can save him. Desperate to keep it from falling into Morgana's hands, she stumbles into Merlin's Crystal Cave. But instead of Merlin there to help her (he's on vacation in Los Vegas, in our time), there's only his very inexperienced apprentice, Emrys. His attempt to hide the grail works, in a sense--as a small, flatulent dragon, it sure doesn't look much like a grail. But it isn't much use to Arthur as a...
When Leo wakes up to find her abuela, dead for years, visiting her in very corporal form, she's sure that this time it isn't her fault. Other spirits are popping up around town as well, and if it isn't Leo's magic at work, whose is it, and how can it be reversed? The answer is unexpected, and a lovely surprise!
The six spirits all have their own agendas and unfinished business, and thought it becomes clear that they need to be sent back before they fade into nothingness, they aren't easily corralled. Leo gets her family's permission to call on her friends to help, and a wild ghost chase ensues. And finally, in the end, peace returns for both the living and the dead, and Leo finds out what her own particular magical gift is.
A Dash of Trouble is primarily about things going awfully wrong, so it was fun, but not desperately relaxing. Things go wrong here too, but the point of the book is not magical mistakes, but family, communication, trust, and obligations, so it was a much warmer read! I loved the spirits, each with their own concerns (they were sweetly mundane concerns--checking on family, garden, piano, and town...), and loved how Leo and Caroline's friendship survives its test to become stronger. Leo becomes more empathetic, as well as more magical; she's much more likeable in this one!
And there are still all the warm, delicious treats being baked in the family business, sweeting the story even further.
For more Anna Meriano goodness, including giveaways, visit the other blog tour stops!
February 5 Nerdy Book Club
February 7 Las Musas Reads
February 9 Charlotte's Library
February 10 A Library Mama
February 11 Boricua Reads
February 12 YAYOMG
February 13 Pragmaticmom
February 14 Latinos in Kidlit
February 14. 24hr.yabookblog
And finally, Anna Meriano will be here in Rhode Island in March for Kidlitcon Providence, talking about magic in the real world and signing books!
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