“We can’t move again…”

From Rachele Aragno’s Mel the Chosen.

After overheating that her parents are planning another move against her wishes, young Mel follows her cat out the window and onto the roof, which quickly leads to Mel falling in the open window of the neighboring apartment. Once inside, Mel is greeted by the elderly Otto who claims that he is really a young boy that was cursed to be an old man by the evil trickster Malcape. Otto also informs Mel that she is the Chosen One that prophecy claims as the only one who can defeat Malcape and rescue those he’s cursed. Though she’s unsure what to expect, Mel agrees to help Otto and the two travel to the magical world of Here&Now where Malcape rules from the shadows. Strangers in a very odd land, Otto and Mel meet the friendly crow, Benjamino, who joins their quest as a guide. As the trio travels through Here&Now searching for Malcape, they come face to face with dangerous tigers, a beheaded princess, powerful bees, and even Mel’s long-gone grandparents. Despite Otto’s many warnings about Malcape’s wicked twisting of people’s wishes, Mel is desperate to prove her maturity and make her own decisions. As Mel, Otto, and Benjamino draw closer to Malcape, Mel will have to decide once and for all how much she values her childhood before she loses everything.

Aragno’s fantasy adventure is full of unique characters and unexpected, fun developments. Readers will find the title character full of spirit and eager to take on both good and bad repercussions that follow. While a few scenes suffer from too much activity in each pain, as a whole, Mel the Chosen is a captivating story that younger readers will love.