In her middle grade debut, Jennifer E. Smith (The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight) skillfully pairs magic and science to create a whirlwind adventure, both entertaining and educational.
The drought at the new McDuff family farm in Wisconsin has been brutal this summer, and when 12-year-old Ruby finds a stranger, Otis Gray, in her barn, he lists the symptoms that match her twin brother Simon's fever, which seem to be connected to the shifting storm. Ruby learns that Simon is a Storm Maker, "one of a very small group of people in the world who have the ability to influence the weather." Also, Simon is the youngest Storm Maker in history, which can potentially make him the deadliest if he's not stabilized, and Ruby's charged with the task. When Otis goes missing and Rupert London, the chairman of MOSS (Makers of Storms Society), appears on the scene, the suspense accelerates, with many twists and turns.
Narrator Ruby may be the powerless sister to the prodigy brother, yet the story remains fascinating despite her lack of ability to control storms, because she's the levelheaded of the two and shows that being ordinary can prove to be extraordinary. With more than 10 illustrations by Brett Helquist (A Series of Unfortunate Events; Chasing Vermeer) that are loyal to Smith's prose, there's instant appeal to reluctant readers. Recommended especially for fans of Ingrid Law's Savvy, The Storm Makers is a fun trip for boys and girls. --Adam Silvera, assistant coordinator, Books of Wonder, New York