The Lost Compass (Fog Diver #2)

Gr 4-6--The adventure continues for Chess and his airship crew in this action-packed sequel to The Fog Diver (HarperCollins, 2015). Having recently escaped from the greedy and powerful Lord Kodoc, ruler of the mountaintop empire known as the Rooftop, the crew are sure they'll be safe on a faraway mountaintop called Port Oro. No sooner have they arrived in the strange new city, however, than they learn that Kodoc isn't even close to done with them. He still seeks a mysterious object known as the "Compass," a device that lies somewhere on the surface of the Earth, deep in the Fog. Legend says that the Compass can control the Fog--even make the Fog go away. With the Compass, Kodoc will have the power to determine the fate of his entire Empire, and he knows that Chess is the key to finding that power. The race is on for Chess, his crew, and their new friends on Port Oro to recover the Compass before it falls into the wrong hands. Chock-full of positive themes about loyalty and teamwork and packed with hilariously misinterpreted pop culture references, Ross's middle grade adventure series about a juvenile airship crew raised in a junkyard continues to shine. In this case, with deeper characterization, even more nonstop action, and much higher stakes, the sequel is even better than the original. Readers will find themselves alternately laughing out loud and biting their nails as they anxiously follow the adventures of Chess and his friends. VERDICT A fast-paced narrative and hilarious dialogue make this series an essential purchase where smart middle grade fantasy/adventure is in demand.--Liz Overberg, Zionsville Community High School, IN