Legends of Lotus Island: Into the Shadow Mist by Christina Soontornvat – MMGM

Legends of Lotus Island: Into the Shadow Mist (Book 2)
Christina Soontornvat, Author
Kevin Hong,Illustrator
Scholastic, Fiction, July 2023
Suitable for ages 8-12
Themes : Adventure, Fantasy, Myths, Legends, Nature, Magical Creatures, Friendship
Publisher’s Synopsis :

Plum and her friends are traveling to the misty Bokati Island. There they will study with the mysterious Guardian Master Em, who is the keeper of the island’s ancient forest. The field trip comes just in time for Plum, who still can’t figure out why she’s so different from the other Novices on Lotus Island.
At first, Plum doesn’t know what to make of this quiet and sometimes gloomy place. But it doesn’t take long to discover that Bokati is brimming with an incredible array of fascinating animals and plants.
When an unseen force begins to destroy the trees, putting the entire ecosystem at risk, Plum and her classmates must spring into action. Plum is determined to help, even though she’s hiding secrets about her own Guardian powers from even her closest friends.
My thoughts on Into the Shadow Mist :
Christina Soontornvat has written an enthralling middle grade fantasy series for readers who love animals, nature and a strong desire to protect the environment.  It is enchanting world that is packed with kid- appeal.  Make sure you read the first book before you read Into the Shadow Mist , because each story builds upon the next. And, City of Wishes , Book 3, was released in March.
The story is set in the Santipap Islands (see map at the front), where Plum and her Guardian friends train hard on Lotus Island to embrace their own special inner powers and connect with their own Guardian animal forms. Once they manifest, they become Novices. Plum’s animal form is deer-like with ruby antlers and her power is healing. But something feels off for her and she feels like a “fraud.”  There are other discoveries she make about herself, but keeps them a secret.  
The plot is engaging and will appeal to nature lovers. The Novices are sent off on a field trip to work with a master on another island. Plum and her best friends Cherry, Sam, Hetty, Salan and Mikko travel to Bokati Island to study with Guardian Master Em, who is the keeper of the island’s ancient forests. But something is threatening to destroy the Bokati trees and the entire forest ecosystem. Master Em needs their help to figure out the mystery. It is up to Plum and her friends to use their power to track down the culprits.  Readers will enjoy learning about the science of ecosystems and how dependent.
This series is perfect for readers who are just moving from chapter books into middle grade books. Into the Shadow Mist is 160 pages, and is peppered with lovely pen and ink illustrations by Kevin Hong, which help readers visualize the action.  Soontornvat manages to write shorter chapters, without compromising the depth of her well-developed and fast-paced stories. 

Christina Soontornvat is the bestselling author of two Newbery Honor books, A Wish in the Dar k, and All Thirteen : The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team . She is also the author of The Last Mapmaker , and Scholastic’s beloved fantasy series Diary of an Ice Princess, the graphic novel The Tryout,   as well as the  picture books, The Ramble Shamble Children , and To Change a Planet .  As a child, Christina spent most of her time at her parents’ Thai restaurant with her nose stuck in a book. These days, she loves nothing better than spending a day hiking and swimming in the creeks and swimming holes around Austin, Texas, with her husband and two daughters. You can learn more about her work at her website .
Greg Pattridge  hosts Marvelous Middle Grade Monday posts on his wonderful Always in the Middle website. Check out the link to see all of the wonderful reviews by KidLit bloggers and authors.
*Reviewed from a library copy.