Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun

Momo Arashima, #2

by

Misa Sugiura

A great adventure to share with the younger readers you know.

Since saving her mom and foiling the plans of a demon king intent on taking over our world, Momo should have been basking in her friendship with Danny. However, Danny has had other plans, spending time with the cool kids from school, including Ryleigh and her posse of mean girls. But when kids start going missing, it’s up to Momo and her friends to thwart the plans of another mythical being, Tamamo-no-mae, a mean girl of myth and legend. 

Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun is the second book in Misa Sugiura's splendid middle-grade fantasy series. However, don't let the middle-grade assignment fool you; this book (and series) is fun for the entire family. 

While the plot is fast-paced and the mythology intriguing, it is the main character, Momo, that really has me championing this entire series. Momo is a seventh-grade middle-schooler and so relatable. Even after her successes in the series debut, she's a little awkward and is still quite insecure about the mean girls and their followers, though things are improving. Momo's internal dialogue is often laugh-out-loud-funny and fresh. She's game to put everything on the line for others. What ensues is a great adventure, and young readers will realize through Momo's growth that it is best just to be themselves. As mentioned, this is the second book in the series, and the books should be read in order of publication for the best enjoyment. 

With its highly likable and engaging characters, fun dialogue, the inclusion of current pop cultural references, and a story with non-stop action, I recommend MOMO ARASHIMA BREAKS THE MIRROR OF THE SUN to older elementary or middle-grade readers who enjoy stories with fantasy, magic, and mythical creatures, fans of the Percy Jackson series, and perhaps those who enjoyed the Nickelodeon series, AVATAR: The Last Airbender.