Alex Wise vs. the End of the World by Terry J. Benton-Walker
on September 26, 2023
ISBN: 0593564294
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Alex just wants this summer to be like last summer when he and Sky were friends and it felt like their relationship might be growing into something more. That was all ruined on the first day of school when the school bully made fun of Alex and Sky reacted by laughing. Alex’s summer dreams are dashed when his mom announces he and his younger sister Mags will be leaving on a cruise with their estranged dad and his dad’s new family. When a mysterious “shadow man” pulls Mags overboard, Alex doesn’t hesitate to dive in to save her. They end up on a mysterious island after being rescued by a boy named Liam. Liam turns out to be a demigod and explains that the shadow man took Mags for Moritz, aka Death. When Death possesses Mags, the other three horsemen of the Apocalypse – Pestilence, Famine and War – are also awakened. Alex is possessed by Orin, a god of sense (empathy) but something is blocking Alex’s ability to channel and communicate with Orin. To make matters worse, Liam assumed he would be chosen by Orin and takes out his frustration on Alex. To save Mags from the clutches of death, Alex and Liam – with the help of Alex’s best friend Loren – will have to work together to defeat the four horsemen before they destroy the world. This page turner features strong Black heroes and cries out for a sequel!

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham