Once I started this book I had to know what would happen. It reminded me of an escape room, but on steroids. I will recommend it to my students.

This was the book that my six grade self needed! Fun and full of figuring out the part of making friends. I love that this book is a full of adventure to keep the interest but the sub plot is that of connection and making yourself better. I would absolutely love to add this to my classroom library because I know that many students will enjoy it and make connections with the characters.

8 kids find pass the EVOO for a chance to visit the super secret Octagon Valley Institute and talk with its founder, Onassander Octagon’s. The kids don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. When they get there they are put through test to find 8 puzzle pieces. These test are not normal and aren’t pushing the kids to their limits. Things seem to be working out until the pieces are stolen and the kids must work together to save the final piece and Onassander Octagon’s secret and discover a deeper secret about themselves.

This was a fun read and really pulled me into the story. I think kids will absolutely love this book. The characters were fun and the story was even more fun.

This story kept me awake on a long flight home. A fun fantasy. Kind of odd and quirky but a good read! Especially for those upper elementary school readers. 4th-6th. I received a copy from NetGalley. If you like fantasy and escape room type books, you might want to pick this one up to share with your kids.

As an adult, I obviously have a different perspective and maturity when it comes to reading middle grade, but I am not above reading these books from time to time. This one was difficult to get through, as I found the narrator to be overly dramatic and the characters lacking. I do think a younger person/child in targeted audience would appreciate this more than I could, but this one didn't have the appeal I was hoping for from an author I otherwise enjoy.

Melissa de la Cruz never disappoints with their wild, wonderful tales. Within this book is a world that readers will fall into and reluctantly crawl out of by the end. A perfect middle grade read for fans of mysteries.

While I typically love Melissa de la Cruz, I just couldn't get into this one. The story had potential, but the writing style was cringey. Definitely trying too hard to sound like a kid.

I almost DNFed this book about a quarter into it. There is SO MUCH head-hopping, and it absolutely drove me crazy. It was also so slow getting to the actual adventurey part, although I liked the diversity of the cast of characters and how they all ended up needing to work together. Mainly though, I'm just glad to be done with this one.

(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.)

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society by Melissa de la Cruz.
This book reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but without the character development and rich story elements. This is a book that will probably appeal more to kids than adults.

Melissa de la Cruz has written a fun and mysterious adventure that reads a lot like the Lemoncello series of books by Chris Grabenstein. It's fast-paced and entertaining. There are several main characters (one of the few things about the book that I struggled with was keeping them separate), and some of them will be relatable to students who feel like they don't always fit in because of their quirks or their intelligence. Each character has its own foibles, and some are more likable than others. The storyline is entertaining, though sometimes it's definitely a bit far-fetched. Readers will be forgiving of this, though, since this fantasy's brisk pace will keep them engaged, and the element of surprise is definitely a strong pull that will keep readers guessing. There are several twists and turns till the very end. For readers of fantasy and adventure, hopes of a sequel will carry them beyond the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this eGalley!

The review praises the book for its quirky, Willy Wonka-esque feel, its lovely dark humor, and its fast-paced, fun story. The reviewer also likes the fact that the book is clearly the first in a planned series, and that the author sets things up for more adventures to come. Finally, the reviewer suggests that the book would be fun to read aloud in a classroom setting.

Here are some specific things that the reviewer likes about the book:

The quirky, almost Willy Wonka-esque feel
The lovely dark humor
The fast-paced, fun story
The fact that the book is clearly the first in a planned series
The well-developed characters, even though some are more fully realized than others
The author's imagination, which goes wild in this book, offering up new ideas, tech, and problem-solving skills with each new room the kids enter
The author's snappy prose
Overall, the review is very positive and suggests that the book would be a good read for fans of quirky, fun, and mysterious adventures.

Loved the concept and adventure. Would definitely recommend to my students to buy. I enjoyed the diverse characters. They felt very authentic and like I would want to meet them in real life.

This was a fun read and really pulled me into the story. I think kids will absolutely love this book. The characters were fun and the story was even more fun. The mystery was told in an intriguing way and makes me want to read it again to see if I can pick up on things sooner. Definitely want more!

Delightful!

Tongue-in-cheek, snarky humor.

Imaginative, competitive, magical realism, tech-savvy tweens.

Think Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket with Westing Game and Inheritance Games.

The narrator, who frequently breaks to speak to the children (yes, you, Harold) absolutely makes this story! (Ahem, did you see this question?)

And the narrator name drops the Scholastic Book Fair! Win!

Must read.

This book took me on an adventure that I did not want it to end. I loved this book and I can see my younger patrons loving it too! I will definitely recommend this to my patrons!

The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society is an action-packed fantasy story that grips the reader right from the beginning and holds their attention through to the end. Eight exceptional middle school students have passed a nationwide exam indicating that they are truly extra ordinary. These eight kids from around the US gather together to meet Onasander Octagon (mad scientist or brilliant innovator?) at his Octagon Valley Institute for the Extra-Ordinary for a weekend summit to include lectures, workshops, and the possibility of a job after college graduation. Through the omniscient narrator we learn more about these students, their talents, and their challenges as we follow them through a weekend that turns out to be much more than they could have anticipated. Instead of workshops and lectures, our eight Octos are thrust into a scavenger hunt for puzzle pieces that forces them to work together and use their strengths in order to escape deadly situations. But will all eight of these middle schoolers show a willingness to cooperate, or will some decide to go their own way and leave their fellow Octos behind? And what, really, is the reason for the the scavenger hunt in the first place? What are the puzzle pieces for? Read The (Super Secret) Octogon Valley Society to find out.

Cute story featuring 8 kids (can we count Harold??) who pass an extraordinary test and are thrown into an adventure of a lifetime featuring green goo and tin foil!! Love the fantasy addition once the puzzle tests begin. The story feels like a combo of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and A Series of Unfortunate Events.

I had a hard time getting through the first few pages because I wasn't used to the writing. Eventually I was giggling and trying to read at every chance I could get! I can't wait for the second one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney Hyperion for the eARC!

Willy Wonka meets SciFi Magical Fantasy! 8 students are fortunate enough to pass a test which enable them an adventure to the Super Secret Octagon Valley ...plant? Warehouse? Adventure Park? Testing Facility? All of the above, it seems. All of the children come from vastly different backgrounds and wind up together on a series of fortunate - or unfortunate - events. They learn that team work does indeed matter, and nothing is truly as it seems.

This will be fun for readers of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Mysterious Benedict Society and a Series of Unfortunate Events. Action filled, fantasy filled, Science Fiction and a little bit of brilliance all combined into one fast paced story.

The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society has a quirky, almost Willy Wonka-esque feel to it. With Onasander playing the part of an elusive genius who speaks in riddles. Of course, the stories are vastly different, but The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society has that sort of lovely dark humor laced throughout.

The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society unfolds through the voice of a slightly sarcastic narrator whose dry wit and wry observations push the story quickly forward. Though some are more fully realized than others, each of the kids has their own quirk, which adds to broad appeal.

Author Melissa de la Cruz has let her imagination go wild here, offering up new ideas, tech and problem-solving skills with each new room the kids enter. Her snappy prose is inviting and adds interest throughout.

This is clearly the first book in a planned series, with the author answering some lingering questions but setting things up for more adventures to come.

The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society is a fast, fun read that feels shorter than its 320 pages (though the physical size may scare some kids off). This is a book that would be fun to read aloud, especially in a classroom setting.

This book is unlike anything else I've read. Yes, there are similarities to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (and maybe even The Mysterious Benedict Society), but the narrator is what "makes" this book work (or not, for some people).

It's always fun when you get to the end of a book and think, "Wow, I need to re-read that to see all the clues I missed along the way." I think this could be a fun series for one of my kids to dig into.