LOVED this smart adventure, part historical fiction, part fantasy. Perfect for the puzzle addict, and tailor-made for fun summer reading.

This is such a wonderful and thrilling book! Perfect for middle school readers who enjoy mystery, thrills and adventure. Strong, captivating characters make the book easy to read and the great plot makes it impossible to put down. It was easy to get lost inside the story for my tween reader and to see the joy in reading through her eyes is magical. Such a well thought and well written book. These days middle schoolers need to read books the keep them engaged and still spark their imagination and this book hits that mark! Cannot wait for the sequel!

This book is fantastic for readers who enjoy puzzle style mysteries. Fans of The Inheritance Games will gravitate to this book because of the characters and plot. I will highly recommend this book for any student that loves mysteries, good friendships, and family drama!

I love everything Jen Calonita writes. Such an amazing author. To change hers and her mom’s future, and stop just getting by, Benny must play a game and win to inherit the vast fortune left to her by an ancestor. To do so she must find a mysterious island that vanished long ago in a very short time and the result is a whimsical, Celebes, witty wild adventure sure to thrill reluctant readers. The journal entries and letters are tantalizing but engaging and keep you sweeping to the next chapter, the next clue. I can’t wait for the next book!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A fun, fast-paced mystery. 12-year-old Benny is offered a huge inheritance from a distant relative if she can solve a series of riddles and find a mysterious island. This would be a huge opportunity even if her mother wasn't down on her luck so she jumps at the opportunity. recruiting two local kids to help. But as she solves riddles, she realizes that she's signed up for more than she realized. The dual POV here between the present day and the letters from the past will be a big hit for fans of historical fiction. The riddles are fun but hard to solve along with the characters due to their nature. And it ends on a pretty brutal and abrupt cliffhanger so watch out for that. But a fun read!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids in exchange for an honest review.

What a delightful little romp this book is. Adventure and curses and friendship and treasure - kids will love this!

I am looking forward to what happens next - can't wait for the next book.

Great cover, great writing style, perfectly appropriate and fun for middle grade audiences! Jen Calonita remains a hit.

When twelve-year-old Benny finds out that she is about to inherit a fortune, she is so excited to finally have some stability in her life. That is, until she is told she has two weeks to solve a mystery or another family will receive the fortune. Although in a community where she knows no one, she befriends two other children who are all too eager to help solve the mystery. Can she trust these strangers to help?

Isle of Ever is a captivating middle-grade adventure. This is clearly the beginning of a series, with a major cliffhanger that leaves me eagerly waiting for book 2 to see where the adventure goes from here. I will definitely be recommending this book.

I received a digital ARC of this book thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

An entertaining adventure mystery for middle grade readers. I enjoyed this story, it has a nice pace and kept my interest, following clues through this adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebook Kids the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #IsleofEver

AH! I need the next book IMMEDIATELY!

I love Jen Calonita and her middle grade fantasy series. She does a great job with her plotlines and the characters are fun, often underdogs that you can really resonate with as a reader.

Things were no different with this series start - I absolutely loved The Isle of Ever! It is a beautifully built middle-grade adventure full of heart, mystery, and just the right touch of magic. The story immediately pulls you in with an island that isn't supposed to be there... and a pirate along with it. From there you are bounced to the modern day and Benny.

Everly “Benny” Benedict is a practical and hardworking twelve-year-old who unexpectedly finds herself at the center of a mystery and possible fortune. Although a fortune is at stake, Benny is deeply engaged with the story her very great grandmother has passed down, and that emotional connection gives the book a wonderful depth beyond just the action and clues.

One of my favorite things was how the past and present wove together through journal entries and letters. It was so satisfying to see Benny decipher her ancestor’s messages, and readers will love following the breadcrumbs alongside her.

The pacing is brisk but never rushed, keeping the story engaging from start to finish. Even as an adult reader who picked up on most of the twists early, I found the reveals satisfying and well-executed. There’s a great balance between action, emotion, and puzzle-solving, and the stakes are high enough to keep the tension alive without ever feeling too dark for a middle-grade audience.
That said, I did find myself wishing for a bit more from the adult characters. Many of them felt overly distant or standoffish, and Benny is clearly left to shoulder more than most kids her age. Her mother, in particular, seemed oddly removed at times, which only highlighted how often Benny has to navigate things alone and act far more grown-up than she should have to. While this adds to Benny’s strength and independence, it also made me ache for her in quieter moments.

Still, The Isle of Ever is an engaging, smart, and emotionally resonant read. It perfectly balances its whimsical premise with real stakes and a heroine you’ll immediately root for. I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment in the series—there’s so much more to discover, and I’m already eager to dive back into Benny’s world.

Overall, I would highly recommended for fans of puzzles, the magical realism, and bold, brave heroines with big hearts.

Thank you to #NetGalley in the publisher for an advanced reader's copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first Jen Calonita experience and boy, what an experience! This was such a fun read, the blend of history and competition that could be life-changing was well crafted. Although this book is really geared for older children, as an adult, I found it to be a wonderful story.
It was a little magical read. Who doesn't like a great game with a big prize that wraps itself in history and a scavenger hunt. If you're looking for a great read, I highly recommend this book.

At this point anything Jen Calonita writes I will buy! This was amazing. I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this amazing book.

I loved this book! I loved the mystery and the weaving of the storylines. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the advance Kindle copy of this book. It’s out today! All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5, even though I’m super mad about the cliffhanger ending. Everly, who goes by “Benny” (her last name is Benedict), learns just after her twelfth birthday that she is the heir to a fortune. Every generation has had an Everly, and the original Everly named her - BENNY! - the heir to her fortune two hundred years ago. Now, Benny and a couple new friends must solve riddles in time to break a curse in order to win the fortune. It’s like The Inheritance Games for a slightly younger audience.

Every Benedict was fated to find a treasure- her great-great-great-great grandmother made sure of that.

12 year old Everly has finally been tracked down by the estate’s lawyer in Boston. She has 12 days to solve the riddle her 4x great-grandmother left behind for her in New York. If she can- the legacy, estate, and money become hers. She finds herself racing the clock with new friends and against enemies she doesn’t even know- reliving moments of Evelyn Terry in 1825 and finding herself along the way.

Be warned- this is book 1. Jack and I didn’t know until the last couple of pages and we were so bummed because we were soooo ready to know all the things!

This was so much fun. It’s great for any adventure seeker and my 10 year old lover of books would have loved this at 8 years old too. @jencalonita we can not wait for the sequel!!!

Jack- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mom- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley and @sourcebookskids for this #advancedreaderscopy it out now! Go grab it.

#2025bookchallengebook23of100
#jackandmomnighttimechroniclesbook22
#theisleofever
#netgalley

The Inheritance Games for the middle-grade crowd (so much so that I felt like I was reading a knockoff). A fun and compelling read, although the diary entries slowed down the pace a little for me. The ending drove me crazy and felt uneven, but it made me want to read the sequel when before I didn't care, so that's a mark in its favor.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars

Isle of Ever is a new middle grade series full of mystery and adventure. Benny has inherited a fortune, but in order to keep the inheritance she must solve a series of riddles left behind by a distant ancestor.

Disappearing islands, pirates, and one-eyed cats make this a fun and magical read while also having a heavy emphasis on friendships. The reader is left with a cliffhanger at the end of this book so hopefully the next in the series isn't far behind.

I feel like the target audience is spot on, so pick this one up if you enjoy middle grade stories.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Young Readers for this digital Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley! 2.5⭐️ This book is reminiscent of The Inheritance Games. Classified as middle grade this is book #1 in the series with no anticipated release for any other book in the series. Everly Benedict is a 12 years old living in poor circumstances with her mother. Suddenly a man appears and claims she has a vast inheritance coming if she plays the game and wins. I had several issues with this book but the most glaring is the constant contradictions. They have no money but Benny (Everly) has hundreds in her possession. 175 years vs 200 years. Ryan Gale is terrified of everything yet is suddenly fearless in a boat on stormy seas. The idea that no one noticed or questioned how a woman (Benny’s 5X great grandmother) knew Benny’s name and addressed envelopes to her, over 100 years prior, seemed to cause no curiosity. A child, Zara, did notice this finally towards the end of this book. A bit too far fetched and presentation was predictable. Cute idea

What a wonderful book. I make book boxes for my grandchildren and for children who are sick. It is very difficult to find a children's book that is mature and holds your attention. This book did both and I looked forward to reading it every day. Thank you for the advanced copy, I could not recommend more highly and will.