The 2nd book continues a few months after the conclusion of book 1, The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane. I really enjoyed that book, it set the stage for this series with its many layers, interesting characters, and plot. While being familiar with most of the players there were a few new ones that added interest, intrigue and had me wondering if I could trust any of them.

That being said I didn’t find this one as captivating as the first one, I missed the many layers and a number of plot points reminding me too much of Harry Potter (which is a series I adore).

I’m not sure how many books are in this series, I will continue as I am curious about what will happen to Emmy and her friends.

My thanks to Sourcebooks (via NetGalley) for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emmy is back for her second year of school at Wellsworth, and though the Order’s man who tried kill her last year is no longer on staff, the Order still has a definite presence at the school. And they are still determined to use Emmy to get at the medallions they are pretty sure are still in her dad’s possession. Emmy isn’t going to give in to their bullying to give them access to something so dangerous for the rest of the world. But then they start threatening the people she loves. They start by framing Lola for a crime and getting her expelled from Wellsworth. Emmy and Jack are positive the Order framed her, but getting proof and clearing Lola’s name is going to be tough. And the Order isn’t done with threatening Lola or others dear to Emmy unless she gives them what they want. Is there any hope of Emmy, Jack, and Lola winning this dangerous game? Or should Emmy just hand over the medallions to the Order for the good of her loved ones?

Julia Nobel has done a fantastic job of following up her thrilling first book with a second book that is just as engaging, intense, and exciting to read. There are a couple new kids at the school that add intrigue to the story as Emmy and gang don’t know who is trustworthy or not. I was at first worried that having Lola expelled would mean missing out on her interactions that often add some humor to the story. But I needn’t have worried. She still manages to be a major part of the book through texts, phone calls, and Emmy’s visits to her. The plotting and chess games with the Order take up a bigger portion of this book than the first, probably since we’ve already been introduced to what classes and school life are like. There aren’t as many scenes about classes or soccer or roommates in this book, though they do get occasional page time. I missed it a teensy itty bit, but the plot was so thrilling and the issues so complex that they made up for it. I had no clue how the group was going to get out of the fix they were in and the pages flew by as I pursued answers and solutions with them. The first book in this series is quite popular with our students, and they are absolutely going to LOVE this book too. I can’t wait to see their excited expressions when this hits our library shelves. Hand this series to readers looking for a thrilling contemporary fiction or exciting boarding school book with likable characters caught in one epic chess game of secrets. Highly recommended to anyone.

Notes on content [based on ARC]: Lola occasionally uses some moderate British swearing that won’t register with American readers. It also just states a character sometimes swears without saying what they said. No sexual content. The Order makes some nasty threats and a couple people are endangered (one push down some stairs, another person in a fist fight, another person jumps out of a moving car) but no one is seriously hurt.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret of White Stone Gate was a fun middle grade book about three best friends at an English boarding school banding together to solve a mystery: who stole the charity money they helped raise. I liked all the characters. Emmy was a great main character and her friends, Lola and Jack are also well written. I did guess one of the plot twists but not both. But it was also slightly problematic for me as it had too many plot parallels to Harry Potter. Three best friends solving mysteries in an English boarding school with the help of their teachers. One teacher was the leader of the “bad kids”. But the kicker was, Emmy was to live with her mean aunt while not at school. Had Harry Potter never been written this might have been a little better for me but then maybe the author wouldn’t have had any ideas for her book.

The Secret if the White Stone Gate is a great adventure book. The characters are engaging, especially Emmy ,and the story is interesting enough to keep me hooked and turning the page to know more, Hope to read the next book in the series soon.

In The Secret of White Stone Gate, loyalties and friendships are tested as the Order of the Black Hollow Lane blackmail, threaten, and do whatever else they can think up with the goal of convincing Emmy to give them what they want – her father.

The end of the summer break is finally over and Emmy is excited to be heading back to school, with one exception. Her mother is now requiring her to check in with some family members who live in England – family members whose only concerned that Emmy might hurt their reputation. Thankfully, they aren’t the only new characters and this year we get to meet Jack’s younger brother, Oscar, and a new transfer student, Sam, (Emmy may or may not have a small crush on Sam).

One of my favorite parts of this series is how well you get the overall sense and feeling of being inside of a boarding school. The author uses the different personalities and their varying interests to give the boarding school a more complete, well-rounded feel that to be honest sometimes other boarding school books miss out on.

I’d love to say that the members of the Order of the Black Hollow Lane have seen the light and mended their evil ways, but sadly this is not the case. At least our trio of heroes are a little wiser in who to watch out for and in knowing what is going on. On the other hand, it doesn’t feel quite as cloak-and-dagger as the previous book, but there is a still enough going on to keep readers interest.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited when I got this book because I loved the first one so much. This book was soo good!! I read the entire book in one day and I loved it! These characters are all so compelling and fun; I was easily able to jump right back into the story. I loved the mystery in this book—such a great series! The pacing, plot, and characters were all great and I completely adored this book!

This was a strong second book in this middle grade series and I am excited for the next installment!

This review will be posted immediately on GoodReads and a shortened review can be found on my Instagram on 18 Feb 2020.

I am really enjoying this series! The characters are great and the mystery keeps you wanting to know more. I look forward to the next book to see what happens to the Emmy and the others.

In this sequel to The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane, Emmy flies back to England and her new friends at the Wellsworth boarding school for another semester of intrigue and mystery. Details needed from the first book are seamlessly woven into the early chapters, so the reader is smoothly launched into this new adventure.

The plot jumps into high gear as the secretive Order pressures Emmy to reveal her father’s location. Other than a cryptic note to “Trust no one”, Emmy’s had no recent communication from her dad and is clueless as to his whereabouts. Thirteen-year-old Emmy realizes she barely knows her father; she hasn't spent time with him since age three, and questions whether even he is trustworthy. So as the Order’s threats against Emmy’s friends and family escalate, she scrambles to decide who to trust with her secrets.

Trust plays a central role in the story in many forms. Whether it’s cautiously given or firmly denied, rock solid or broken apart, the question of trust drives the plot’s twists and turns. The climax is tense and fast paced and the ending is marvelous. Author Julia Nobel’s solidly-written, feisty, very believable characters of Emmy, Lola, Jack and new character Sam are ones a middle grade reader will enjoy.

Overall, The Secret of White Stone Gate is a fun read and the kind of novel a mystery-loving middle grade reader would gladly curl up with.

I received an advance e-arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, THE MYSTERY OF BLACK HOLLOW LANE, and I've been looking forward to reading the sequel.

Emmy returns to Wellsworth for her second year, desperately hoping the drama from last year is over, but she learns very quickly that is not the case. Louisa is expelled from school for a crime that she did not commit, and the Emmy and Jack are determined to figure out who set her up and how to get her back. But it's difficult to know who to trust, and some friends are true, while others are not. Emmy quickly discovers that she is a pawn in a game she never agreed to play, but the stakes are high as the lives of her friends and family are at risk.

This is a good sequel for kids who enjoyed the first book, and leaves room for another book (books?) in the series to follow. I enjoyed the character development, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

This is the sequel to The Mystery at Black Hollow Lane. It’s been several months since I read the first one and I easily picked up the storyline without missing a beat. I’m not sure if it was the story or just enjoying being deeper into this series, but I actually enjoyed reading this one even more than the first! I’m anxiously awaiting the next installment!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this advanced copy!

I read this immediately after reading the first in the Series, MYSTERY OF BLACK HOLLOW LANE. I adored this mystery equally. Author Julia Nobel certainly comprehends the minds of her young adolescent subjects (12 in the first book, 13 in this) and makes me recall some of my thoughts and feelings from back in the day. I even more than once found myself responding and mentally speaking out on protagonist Emmy's behalf (especially in regard to certain authority figures and busybodies wannabe authority). I also appreciate the weaving in of English history in both books. These are like Fantasy, but not quite; like Magical Realism but not quite. Just thoroughly enjoyable and wildly entertaining reading.

Two books in, this remains a solid middle reader series.

Nobel’s characters and their adventures continue to be appealing for both young readers and adults, and though the setting wasn’t as prominent in this installment, it remains a good one.

It’s a little disappointing that the story doesn’t really make any progress in this book. Plot points occur, action ensues, but in the end, the reader knows very little more about the Order or the greater plot than they did at the end of book one. I’m not sure how long this series is planned to be, but it seems a waste to have an entire book where things don’t really move forward, even if it was entertaining to read.

The protagonists are well drawn for a middle reader book, and though the villains remain a tad too cartoonish for adult readers, I can’t really take issue with this because they feel age appropriate (as in not too nightmare-inducing) for the intended audience.

I’ll gladly read another of these, though I hope the story makes more progress than it did in this particular book.