  | Into the shadows (Anomalies 53) Author: Cervantes, Angela | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Next door to the notorious Area 51 sits Area 53, the underground lab where the government secretly holds what they call "the anomalies." These are the Earth-born mythical and magical creatures--fairies, wyverns, manticores, and more--that have been captured and brought in for study. It's also where eleven-year-old Oliver Robles, the only son of Area 53's lead researcher, has grown up.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (06/01/25)
School Library Journal (08/29/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 06/02/2025 Eleven-year-old Oliver Robles and his best friend, Garen Jackson, are the only kids living at Area 53, a government-run desert location where their scientist parents study anomalies, or mythological creatures, such as goblins and wyverns. When Ollie accidentally sets a bunch of dangerous creatures free one night, he and Garen must find a way to recapture them before they leave the compound. The youths attempt to enlist station golem Henry, who escapes into the Shadowland, a parallel magical world from which the anomalies hail. Forced to give chase, the tweens, now in the Shadowland, learn that their own lives are more full of secrets than they realize. Now they must unravel the truth behind the Shadowland’s history-and the realm’s connection to their own lives-to save both the mortal and mythical worlds. The jam-packed plot and rapid-fire pacing occasionally overwhelm, leaving readers and characters with few opportunities to process the events. Nevertheless, Cervantes (The Cursed Moon) balances quippy dialogue, resourceful protagonists, and pulse-pounding action to establish this series launch with flare. Characters have varying body types and skin tones. Ages 8-12. Agent: Adriana Dominguez, Aevitas Creative Management. (Aug.) - Copyright 2025
School Library Journal - 08/29/2025 Gr 4–6—This first book in a new series introduces readers to a world filled with manticores, wyverns, golems, and a mystery that only two children can solve. Eleven-year-old Ollie Robles grew up in Area 53—a compound in the Nevada desert where mythical creatures are taken for safekeeping. He and his best friend, 13-year-old Garen Jackson, have been protected by the researchers of Area 53 until the day when they accidentally set free several magical creatures, including a golem named Henry. Now they must scramble to find the creatures before the world is torn apart, taking their families with it. Cervantes's latest echoes old fantasy series like "The Chronicles of Narnia" but with fun new touches. Ollie and Garen have Latinx parents. They're partial to a llamacorn and a bright blue hairdo. These details ground the adventure in the book, drawing attention to its most important feature—the friendship between Ollie and Garen. VERDICT Recommended for readers who enjoy fast-paced adventure with elements of magic, mystery, and strong friendship.—Talea Anderson - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
