The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society (Octagon Valley #1)

A series opener that successfully combines emotional intelligence and page-turning adventure.

De la Cruz (the Chronicles of Never After series) marries a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plot with a Nickelodeon adventure vibe in this entertaining series opener. Following a nationwide assessment of American sixth graders, eight are invited to Montana's prestigious Octagon Valley Institute for a three-day summit of lectures and workshops--"It's like winning a golden ticket to the rest of your life." From across the country, the eight students of intersectionally diverse backgrounds gather, ready to discover the top-secret, cutting-edge projects in development. Upon their arrival, though, the Institute's enigmatic multiracial founder, Onasander Octagon, informs them that they must participate in one more assessment. It's a scavenger hunt through the compound's most top-secret areas, and it will require both teamwork and individual aptitude. While solving puzzles and defeating increasingly dangerous challenges, such as a room with slowly closing walls and a piranha-filled river, several of the children discover new angles to their strengths and weaknesses. But when they perceive the true secret behind the weekend's activities, it reframes their perceptions of themselves and the Institute. An energetic omniscient narrator utilizes self-aware humor to keep things moving, while rotating perspectives allow insight into the cast members' personalities and motivations. With its fast pace and imaginative scenarios, this novel has plenty of appeal. Ages 8-12. Agent: Richard Abate, 3Arts Entertainment. (Sept.)