The last mirror on the left

Review by Booklist Review

Their time-freezing, madcap summer may be behind them (The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, 2019), but that doesn't mean the Legendary Alston Boys' adventures are over. When Missus Nedraw appears in their bathroom mirror, demanding recompense for the damage they caused to her Mirror Emporium, a secret prison, Otto and Sheed are a little worried. But Missus Nedraw promises not throw them into mirror jail if they help her track down the fugitives they accidentally freed: the terrible Nevan and his gang. The catch? Nevan disappeared into a mirror dimension, one sort of like Otto and Sheed's world but, well, also not. And so off the cousins go, quickly discovering that all is not quite what it seems in more ways than one. Giles maintains the momentum and sheer fun from the series kickoff (enhanced by Adeola's sprightly line drawings) as he digs deeper into this world (and its multiverses!), pulling in returning characters like the Epic Ellison Girls, the Alston Boys' rivals/friends. At the same time, he crafts a deeply affecting through-line in Otto, who is struggling with the secret he learned from a time-traveler: that Sheed is destined to die young. With nods to the boys' Blackness and deep family ties woven into the narrative, this is an emotionally resonant and action-packed sequel that manages to be an even greater adventure than its predecessor.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The Alston Boys' first adventure was wildly popular with kids and critics alike, so purchase at least one universe's worth of its sequel.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 3--5--The Legendary Alston Boys of Logan County are back! This time their adventure will take them far from the Fry they know, as they test their wits in the Warped World and beyond. When Missus Nedraw, Warden of the The Rorrim Mirror Emporium, calls on the deductive duo to recapture an escapee from the Multiverse Justice System, Otto and Sheed must travel into a parallel dimension where all they know is turned on its head. But finding their target is only half the battle; the cousins must then use all their skills to determine who is truly the villain in their story. Giles's The Last Last-Day-of-Summer sequel is a complex and exciting fantasy adventure that encourages readers to question what they know about incarceration, justice, laws, and the people who enforce them. While at first Otto and Sheed follow Missus Nedraw's orders, their interactions with the "villains" they're chasing make them realize that they might not have all the necessary information. Otto and Sheed are introspective and clever young Black boys who love, trust, and challenge each other. The town of Fry is filled with marvelous secondary characters who add depth and heart to the story; especially the boys' grandma, who always takes care of her grandkids--even if they are from a strange parallel dimension. Chapters alternate perspective between the two boys, with Otto's views often shared as bullet-pointed entries in his journal. This format helps readers keep track of the ins and outs of the case, and allows the protagonists to reevaluate their assumptions as more information comes to light. VERDICT Thrilling and heartfelt, this is an absolute first purchase.--Laken Hottle, Providence Community Lib.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Horn Book Review

After their supernatural successes in The Last Last-Day-of-Summer (rev. 3/19), Sheed and Otto must now live up to their status as the Legendary Alston Boys of Logan County. The cousins have recently discovered that their town's Rorrim Mirror Emporium is actually a prison (part of the Multiverse Justice System); but mirrors are missing -- and with them the prisoners they held. So off the boys go through the looking glasses into the Warped World, a place much like their home world, but not quite. They recruit allies -- a veterinarian, a posse of giant spiders, and the local Church Ladies -- who, armed with forceful voices, a yo-yo, an Afro pick, and a giant mirror, prove formidable. Continuing a plot point from volume one, Otto also seeks a cure for a mysterious illness threatening Sheed's life. Lively prose, witty wordplay, and likable protagonists make this a fully engaging story. The text is spaciously laid out, with Otto's log entries and Adeola's illustrations (final art not seen) interspersed. An afterword hints at "adventures to come." Dean Schneider November/December 2020 p.99(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

The Legendary Alston Boys of Logan County are back in a new multiverse adventure. In the series opener, readers were introduced to the detective team of cousins Sheed and Otto Alston when they went toe-to-toe with the time-stopping Mr. Flux. A mirror "borrowed" from the Rorrim Mirror Emporium in downtown Fry to resolve that showdown sets off the journey of this sequel, as the boys are magically reminded by Missus Nedraw that the Emporium is no ordinary house of mirrors. Yes, behind the mirrors lie whole new worlds where Missus Nedraw and the menacing-looking Judge reign over the Multiverse Justice System. The word is that they need Otto and Sheed to recapture an extraordinarily dangerous criminal who has escaped, but something seems not quite right about this setup--something more insidious than the reality-bending rules of this dimension they've entered, including a gang of spiders who call themselves the ArachnoBRObia. Even more complicated, Otto worries that Sheed is in need of a checkup but knows he will refuse to self-advocate for a doctor's visit. Otto can't just let his detective partner lapse into what might be an even more serious health condition. This heartwarming adventure centers on the caring relationship between two Black boys while driving home a lesson about what justice might truly be. A fantastic second addition to an already-acclaimed series. (Science fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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1 Sheed's Probably Going to Punch Otto In the opinion of Sheed Alston--one half of the duo known as the Legendary Alston Boys of Logan County--his cousin Otto (the other, more annoying half) sometimes needed to be punched.       Sheed had come to the conclusion a few years ago, when Otto got on this whole dinosaur thing. Don't get it twisted--dinosaurs were, and still are, super cool! But even something super cool, like dinosaurs, became less cool when Otto insisted on knowing every single fact in the world about them, then insisted Sheed know that he knew every single fact in the world about them. All day. Every day.       Like, okay, Otto, a lot of movies got it wrong, because some dinosaurs had feathers . . . but did he ever think movies don't show that because then the dinosaurs would look like chickens and that's just dumb?       Around the fourth time Otto mentioned that the heaviest dinosaur was the Argentinosaurus and it weighed ninety tons, Sheed had had enough. He'd slugged Otto in the chest.       Not a hard punch. He didn't want to hurt Otto. It was just enough to make a point. Otto stopped talking about dinosaurs so much after that.       And now that Otto was onto a new topic, one so much less cool than dinosaurs, Sheed knew another punch was coming. For sure.       "Did you know," Otto said, "doctors who play video games are twenty-seven percent faster than doctors who don't?"       It was Saturday in Logan County, Virginia. The sun was shining. The leaves were shifting from green to brown/orange/gold, and they hadn't had any legend-worthy cases lately so Sheed wanted to eat his Frosty Loops with just the right amount of milk--the loops only damp, not soggy--in peace. Then maybe ride bikes to Fry Park and do flips off the swings. He did not want to talk about doctors. Again.       "Faster at what?" Grandma sang. She had choir rehearsal that afternoon, and while she worked the dough for the biscuits she was taking to the church, she also practiced. Low notes, high notes. Their conversation was at least one half song. Sheed didn't like this tune, though.       "Diagnosing illnesses," Otto said. "And surgeries. They make fewer mistakes, too. Do you think Dr. Bell plays video games?"       Grandma cut off a high C note and resorted to her speaking voice, giving her vocal cords a break. "I don't know about that. Dr. Bell likes fly fishing, I heard him speak on that many occasions."       "People can like fly fishing and video games, Grandma. Maybe you should make an appointment for me and Sheed, and we can ask him."       Sheed dropped his spoon into his Frosty Loops bowl, splashing milk on the table. He leaned into Otto and whispered through clenched teeth, "Are you crazy?"       Visiting Dr. Bell usually meant shots . That man was scarier than the dentist and were-bears combined.       "We're overdue for checkups," Otto said, looking at the floor. "They're important."       "Stop. Talking." Sheed flexed his punching hand.       Grandma left her biscuit dough alone and checked the teacup-pig calendar on the wall, humming while she flipped back a few months. "Y'all went at the beginning of summer. We barely into fall, so you don't need a checkup yet." She crossed the kitchen, rubbing dusty flour on her apron before pressing the back of her hand to Otto's forehead. "You feeling all right, sugar?"       Sheed wondered the same thing.       "I'm fine, Grandma." Otto still wouldn't meet Sheed's eyes.       "What about you?" Grandma said, reaching for Sheed.       Sheed tried to execute Maneuver #1 (run), but Otto turned full traitor and grabbed his wrist so he couldn't get away. He was so getting punched when they were alone.       "Hold still," Grandma said sharply, and Sheed knew better than to resist.       When she pressed her hand to his forehead, she said, "Hmm."       Grandma then grazed his cheek. "You do seem a bit warm."       "I'm fine, Grandma. It's just hot in here from the oven." He slipped away, headed upstairs, cranky because he knew his Frosty Loops were too soggy now--the optimal milk absorption window was a narrow one--and he was almost certain his cousin had just bought him a trip to Dr. Bell's. What was wrong with Otto?       "Rasheed Alston! I know you ain't stomping up no stairs in my house!"       Sheed stopped stomping. "No, Grandma."       Otto padded out of the kitchen but skidded to a halt at the base of the stairs when Sheed gave him the we have unfinished business look they saw all the time in kung fu movies. Otto said, "Um? Where you going?"       This! On top of doctors-doctors all the time, Otto acted like he couldn't let Sheed out of his sight for one second these days.       "To brush my teeth!" Sheed said. At the top of the stairs, he entered the bathroom and slammed the door.       "Rasheed Alston! I know you ain't slamming no doors in my house!"       "No, Grandma."       He sat on the edge of the bathtub, cupping his chin in both hands. If there was a way to mess up a Saturday, leave it to Otto to discover it.       A couple of sharp knocks sounded. Sheed yelled at the door, "Leave me alone."       Two more knocks, like he hadn't said a word. Not from the door, and not even close to the sound you get when knuckles hit wood. This sound was a hollow echo. Maybe a pipe? The house was old so that happened sometimes. He leaned into the bathtub, ear angled toward the drain.       Two more knocks, followed by a voice that almost made Sheed run screaming.       It said, "I know you're there, Mr. Alston. I'd prefer not to be rude about this, but you and your cousin have already worn my patience razor thin."       Sheed stood slowly, tracing the sound to a place it should not be coming from: the mirror over the sink.       When he faced it, the usual sight--his own reflection--was not where it should be. Instead, the mirror had become something like a window, looking into an all-too-familiar building. The Rorrim Mirror Emporium in downtown Fry.       Obscuring the view of the massive mirror warehouse was the magically weird proprietor of the emporium.       "Missus Nedraw?" Sheed said.       "Of course it's me. I require you and the annoying one's assistance. Get him now. Chop-chop!"       Sheed had no idea what this was, but he and Missus Nedraw agreed on Otto being annoying, so that was something. Excerpted from The Last Mirror on the Left by Lamar Giles All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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