Gr 3--6--There are too many changes impacting Callie's life. Her favorite aunt, tia Annie, passed away; her parents divorced; Dad and his new wife are expecting a baby; and her BFF is suddenly a TV singing sensation. When she is approached by Clio and told she is one of the nine muses, a Greek goddess of sorts, Callie is definitely sure she is dreaming, and fairly sure she doesn't want to accept the responsibility. But then she is magically transported to muse headquarters, in London's Victoria and Albert Museum, and introduced to three fellow tween muses, self-dubbed the Muse Squad. Clio shows Callie that Maya, a brilliant, nerdy student at her middle school, is being targeted by the evil Sirens, and if they succeed in disrupting Maya's life it may change the fate of the world. Callie agrees to join her Muse Squad mates and find a way to protect Maya and save the planet. This riveting, suspenseful book presents a unique blend of Greek mythology and Cuban culture. Readers will relate to Callie and her Muse Squad friends while eagerly rooting for them to succeed. The girls, while trying to complete their mission, make age-appropriate mistakes and become tempted to use their powers for personal reasons. Insecure Callie is also fighting blossoming jealousy of her suddenly famous best friend. Callie's Cuban heritage is highlighted throughout the story, particularly once the Muse Squad relocates to Miami and the diverse group attempts to acclimate. VERDICT Perfect for readers of mythology-based adventures, fantasy fans, and anyone who enjoys a suspenseful action book.--Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor Sch. Dist., Lancaster, PA

Fans of Rick Riordan's Greek mythology--inspired stories with modern kids will love this fresh, inclusive title featuring a squad of goddesses whose job it is to inspire humans. Callie Martinez-Silva, a Cuban American girl from Miami, learns she embodies one of the nine muses after she accidentally turns her best friend into a pop star. She is one of four junior, newly awakened muses, who adopt the name Muse Squad when they receive their first assignment: Maya Rivero, one of Callie's classmates who is fated to change the world (and save Florida from floods). The narrative sticks to its theme of love in all forms brilliantly and isn't just set in Miami; Acevedo, a professor at the University of Miami, depicts the Magic City in rich detail, giving it life and context in the story, which is action-packed, as the squad has to protect Maya's destiny from the chaos-loving Sirens, who plan to unleash a curse that will ruin her future. Clever references to the Odyssey and the muses in media round out this fun take on the ones who inspire, rather than just the heroes.

Life takes an unexpected turn for 11-year-old Miami native Calliope "Callie" Martinez-Silva after a deadly train ride sets in motion a series of strange events: the appearance of a cryptic, time-stopping woman; Callie's shy best friend, Raquel Falcón, auditioning for America's Next Star; and Callie discovering a portal under her bed that transports her to London. It's all because Callie is the newest muse of epic poetry--one of the nine from Greek mythology--after the death of the previous one, her tia Annie. At Muse Headquarters, the Victoria and Albert Museum, she meets three junior muses: British Thalia (comedy), Chicago-born Nia (science), and New Delhi resident Mela (tragedy). Their first assignment as a group is to protect one of the "heroes and artists, scientists and makers" whom the muses inspire from evil sirens determined to sabotage them and doom humankind. Despite occasionally slow pacing, Acevedo successfully deploys a mixture of imagination and sincerity in this magical duology opener with a message of art's importance and awakening the hero within. The book does best in weaving global themes of inclusivity--"inspiration knows no borders"--as well as exploring family and friendship with heart. Ages 8--12. Agent: Stephanie Abou, Massie & McQuilkin. (July)

Callie decides whether to accept the role of one of the nine Muses in this duology opener. Weird things start happening to and around Miami sixth grader Calliope Martinez-Silva, but when she crawls under her bed and then finds herself in London, that takes the cake. Callie discovers she's been chosen to fulfill the role of Muse of Epic Poetry. It's Callie's job to inspire people, especially Fated Ones who have the potential to make a great impact on the world. Using the past tense, Callie chronicles her journey navigating her muse powers, getting to know the other new kid muses, protecting a Fated One at her school, and managing big changes with family and friends. The four 11-year-olds who make up the Muse Squad have distinct personalities and hail from around the world; in addition to Cuban American Callie, there's Mela, an Indian girl from New Delhi, Nia, a black girl from Chicago, and Thalia, a white girl from London. Strangely, the adult muses put great responsibility on the Muse Squad, who receive minimal training before being expected to perform difficult tasks. The messages the narrative sends sometimes seem confused, when not downright contradictory. Readers willing to suspend disbelief and overlook these weaknesses will enjoy rooting for Callie and her new friends. Callie describes herself as "chubby," so it's too bad the cover illustration does not reflect a plus-size protagonist. Flawed but fun. (Fantasy. 9-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.