Think of all the best books that feature a group of kids who become friends and go on to solve a mystery and save the day. The kids from Chasing Vermeer come to mind. Or what about stories like The 39 Clues? And don't forget about Harry, Ron, and Hermione tracking down the Deathly Hallows, among other things. This book will be joining their ranks soon.

The Metropolitans is a delightful mix of urban fantasy, espionage thriller, and historical fiction. The world of 1941 America comes to life with Indian boarding schools, Japanese internment, Hoovervilles, and the Nazi threat. Cultural references such as Captain America, Captain Marvel, Little Orphan Annie, and King Kong are smoothly worked in to ground the story in the historical timeline. The Arthurian legend transfers into the Met and the lives of the children so that readers learn about Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Morgaine, Mordred, and Merlin along with the protagonists. The action is fast paced. The clues take the knowledge and skills of all the group to solve, forging the bond between them stronger with each task that is completed.

This is a great read for those who have enjoyed any of the other books I mentioned, as well as for those who enjoy mysteries and historical fiction. It is perfect for a read-aloud because each chapter will leave listeners begging to hear more. Highly recommended for middle grades and up.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley

Excellent blending of genre and style. this is a perfect book for middle grade readers looking for a challenge.

This is a great book about friendship and adventure. I haven’t read a book about a group of kids that was this good in a while.

This was a fun novel, mixing a little historical fiction, magic, adventure and plenty of fun. There is something for all readers to enjoy. However, at times I could see it being difficult for some kids to follow along with all the details.

4 kids have come to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1941 and suddenly find themselves in the middle of a plot to destroy NYC. They also take their places as 4 new knights in the tradition of Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevuere, and Morgaine and find their quest mirrors a lost story of those 4 brave legends. Can they solve the clues and save their city while staying true to themselves?

This was a pretty complex piece of writing with mystery, adventure, and history all coming together. I was a bit confused at first but found that I enjoyed it a lot. It appears to be the first in a series. I did like the diversity of it.

Engaging story filled with historical details. Exciting enough for reluctant readers, but definitely able to hold the attention of stronger readers. Likable, relateable characters.

A nice mystical historic fiction read. Four kids from different backgrounds and ethnicities embrace each other's differences and work together to foil an another attack following Pearl Harbor. Focus on stereotypes, death, abandonment, insecurities and the ability to overcome them and grow in a positive way make this an especially good story and worthy of book club discussion.

Think of all the best books that feature a group of kids who become friends and go on to solve a mystery and save the day. The kids from Chasing Vermeer come to mind. Or what about stories like The 39 Clues, or the friends from The Infinity Ring series? And don't forget about Harry, Ron, and Hermione tracking down the Deathly Hallows, among other things. This book will be joining their ranks soon.

Madge, Kiku, Joe, and Walt all meet the the Metropolitan Museum of Art at a time in their own lives where they have suffered losses and feel lonely. It is also a time in our country when things are very rough. The Nazis are surging across Europe, and on the day the kids meet, Pearl Harbor is bombed. Suddenly their chance encounter turns into fate. They find themselves forming a group of modern knights, searching for the pages of a missing book of Arthurian legends. If they can solve all the clues and retrieve the lost chapters of the book, then they may be able to prevent an horrific attack on New York. Can four middle-school students foil the plots of enemy agents?

The Metropolitans is a delightful mix of urban fantasy, espionage thriller, and historical fiction. The world of 1941 America comes to life with Indian boarding schools, Japanese internment, Hoovervilles, and the Nazi threat. Cultural references such as Captain America, Captain Marvel, Little Orphan Annie, and King Kong are smoothly worked in to ground the story in the historical timeline. The Arthurian legend transfers into the Met and the lives of the children so that readers learn about Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Morgaine, Mordred, and Merlin along with the protagonists. The action is fast paced. The clues take the knowledge and skills of all the group to solve, forging the bond between them stronger with each task that is completed.

This is a great read for those who have enjoyed any of the other books I mentioned, as well as for those who enjoy mysteries and historical fiction. It is perfect for a read-aloud because each chapter will leave listeners begging to hear more. Highly recommended for middle grades and up.

The Metropolitans chronicles the adventures of four children who are magically called to solve a mystery that will keep the Nazi's from carrying out a plot to destroy New York City and kill its citizens.

While I enjoyed this story, I did not find it anything like E.L. Konigsburg's "From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" other than part of the adventure took place in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While that book was realistic fiction, this one is solidly in the category of fantasy, and as such, I think it will appeal to a much different audience.

That said, this book has lots of appeal. The four children are very different from one another, and it is likely that readers will be able to identify with some aspect of one or more of them. This will be a good addition to the fantasy offerings in my library.