The setting of this book was my favorite aspect of the story. The different rooms had a wonderful sense of magic while being grounded in history and technology. It was a really interesting way to tie into the larger mystery. The main character Ami was intriguing and seeing her perspective on her fellow team members and the parts they played in solving the mystery was a cool way to move the plot forward. The pacing felt a little off especially at the end where the book had more of a morality tale conclusion that felt clunky after the fast pace through all the other rooms. It's a cool concept for a book but fell a little flat for me.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC! I thought that the plot was interesting and that the characters were engaging.

This is a great adventure for middle grade readers! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of Race for the Escape for me to preview.

A great middle-grade adventure story about five friends who team up to solve puzzles in an escape room. They think they're just solving the riddles to "save the world" but then realize there are real-life consequences to their actions. This was a fast read with some cool twists and lots of action; it would be perfect for advanced elementary and middle school aged readers.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. It's a story about a girl named Ami who gets an Escape Room experience for her birthday. The premise seemed like something I would enjoy, but the story just felt very disconnected for me. Every part of the Escape Room felt like an entirely different story then one cohesive story. The author did try to explain why he did it this way at the end of the book, but it still just left me feeling disappointed. I also didn't like the part when they brought in the idea of the Maya temple and the gods, just felt like it wasn't even part of the story and I didn't like it.

How to explain this book? I really enjoyed the escape rooms that Ami and the Five Hive went through. Oscar was slightly annoying up until the end. Adjoa, Min, & Ibrahim's characters where fun. I enjoyed how the four characters where different personalities of Ami.

I have a tiny little puppy that we actually says looks like a kangaroo - so Tooey was fantastic addition to this story.

I did think the book was a little dark and depending on the child there could be some triggers that could happen; however, the social commentary of this book was amazing and the twist at the end was something that I saw coming (the pollution, etc that they bring up. it was an underlining theme through out the whole book) but didn't (AMI being what Ami was).

I highly suggest this book for fans of Mr Lemoncillo's library books.

Such a cute middle grade! Very reminiscent of Lemoncello's Library! I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Looking forward to reading more by Christopher Edge!

Maybe skip this one if you're claustrophobic, but otherwise this is a very suspenseful thriller! Will they ever find their way out?

I forced myself to read this very short book and it still took almost 2 months to complete it. Nothing about this story was engaging to me and the ending made me wish even more that I had just DNFed it.

A little cheesy and heavy handed but we loved the fast pace (and the character peril/death…).

Ami loves games and challenges, so when her birthday comes and her dad buys a ticket to the newest Escape Room experience, she is ecstatic. She is randomly teamed up with 4 other players (Adjoe, Min, Ibrahim, and Oscar) and they must learn to work together to find the Answer and save the world.

This is super fast paced and an easy to follow read. After the first challenge, Ami and her companions realize that this is not an ordinary game and the dangers they face could mean life or death. They must decode riddles, win chess games, play video games, and use brute strength and cunning to survive. There are also twists and big reveals that give this adventure depth and make it feel fresh even for older readers. The intense action makes me lean towards recommending this for mature 5th graders and up.

Race for the Escape grabs you on page one and doesn't let go until the last page. Filled with adventure, problems to solve, and danger around every corner, this book is sure to be a hit with any reader. Perfect for fans of Mr. Lemoncello's Library, escape rooms, and the Mysterious Benedict Society.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

My word. From the word go, this hooked me in. This is non-stop, full of twists and turns. Whether it was the fancy building, the dusty library, the Maya temple or any of the other rooms, this kept me wanting more. These kids are clever, brave and unstoppable… way more so than I would ever be. The ending made me AUDIBLY gasp. Christopher Edge is a bloody wonder and this is fast-paced brilliance once again. Just incredible.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest, personal review. Ami is given the gift of an escape room by her father. Seems like a simple proposition right? Figure out the rooms and escape in time. Well not this escape room! Ami and her friends are in for a terrifying adventure to find "The Answer". Quick read and has a good theme/message for kids!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Verdict: Fast-paced, middle-grade escape room adventure with an interesting twist at the end.

Ami and her friends (the Five Mind, as they dub themselves) all come to The Escape looking for a fun adventure. However, they soon realize that the stakes are serious, maybe even deadly. The host gives them a task, “Find the Answer, save the world.”

The book will appeal to readers who enjoyed the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series. The puzzles are exciting and get more impossible as the game continues. The characters are constantly in danger and barely escape each section of the game. Middle grade readers will find it hard to put this one down.

This was a fun, fast-paced story, filled with action, puzzles, and age-appropriate messages about individual methods of thinking, teamwork, and the power kids have to change the world. I read it to my nine-year-old for her bedtime story, and every night she begged for just one more chapter (and has officially declared it a five-star read). Most chapters end on cliffhangers, making for an exciting reading experience. Kids who love escape rooms and puzzle solving will love this book, though it may be upsetting for those who struggle with themes of loss, and depictions of the death of people and/or animals.

Really loved the premise for this book and found it to be a quick read. However, the storyline fell flat for me and while I understand the reasoning the lack of character development made this a two star read for me.

Ami is given a trip to an escape room by her dad. While there she makes some friends and they go on the adventure together. I really enjoyed the escape room aspect of this book and the different rooms the kids face. The ending was a little lackluster for me, but fine I think for the middle grade crowd. A solid read, but nothing that will stick with me long term.

3.5 stars, rounded up
Solid middle grade action adventure novel with a nice twist at the end.

This is a story about five tweens who are trying to solve an escape room. Ami received it as a gift for her birthday and she, along with Adoja, Oscar, Min and Ibrahim are tasked to "Find the Answer, Save the World" The things they need to do in order to beat each level become more and more dangerous and challenging. They must use all of their wits and abilities to solve the puzzles and escape.

Readers who enjoyed The Mysterious Benedict Society and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library will definitely like this unique take on an escape room. The characters are interesting and the puzzles are engaging, and he twist at the end will appeal to young mystery lovers everywhere.

At first glance, this book seemed like I would really love it. Escape rooms, action/adventure, near-death experiences? Yes please! And for most of the book, I really did enjoy it! But then I reached about 70% through when things got pretty violent for a middle grade novel. And then the ending happened, and I finished the book really, really confused and also very annoyed. It got really didactic and weird, and I finished it with a sour taste in my mouth. Even though the first part was fantastic, it was not a fun read overall.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Race for the Escape by Christopher Edge, 176 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House Children’s), 2022. $17.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE, MS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Ami likes puzzles, so she’s excited to try this escape room place her dad found and solve puzzles with a team. The theme is to find the Answer and save the world, which sounds like fun, until the first room catches on fire. It doesn’t really feel like a game anymore.
The escape rooms were vague in directions and solutions, and a lot of things didn’t feel right as Ami kept going room to room. Edge built up to the conclusion – and the twist! – well, but the vagueness continued through the last page. The hope is for readers to realize that, like Ami, we can find the Answer and help save the world – like Edge has written Ami’s story more for inspiration and empowerment than for entertainment.
Ami is implied White, though the depiction of her on the cover is not definitive. Adjoa is described as having “dark brown” skin (and the cover backs up the description), Oscar is implied White, and Ibrahim’s and Min’s races are undefined. The violence rating is for blood and death.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen