The Carnival Catastrophe
(Problim Children #2)

Gr 3-6--The Problims are back! In this installment, the perfect seven pick up right where they left off: searching for the pieces of a fabled water witch hidden by their grandfather, which are supposedly the key to something amazing. Mona Problim leads the pack as she and her family try to win an array of contests in the town's Corndog Carnival in order to gain entry to the Pirate Caves, where they suspect their missing mother may be stranded. Mona shines as she figures out (not always gracefully) that everyone has unique value--even her worst enemies. Though new readers may be won over, fans of the first book will most appreciate the backstory revealed in this second volume as they learn of hidden treasure, family feuds, and lost loves. The cast doesn't differ much from in the first installment; the Problims are white, their friend Violet is allergic to air and has severe restrictions on her activities, and most ancillary characters are only briefly described. VERDICT A charming sequel; purchase where the first is popular and where readers enjoy familial magic.--Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR