ENERGY WARS

In Dee’s middle-grade novel, a tween tries to thwart a diabolical plan with help from friends and a newfound power.

Myles Tanter has only recently discovered he can see the brightly colored “energy of everything.” Around the same time, he stumbled onto a plot involving a huge company’s soon-to-be-released ZS Phone; Myles discovered that a beta version of the smartphone had been depleting someone’s life force. Now, he and his pals head to the Mantil Corporation’s LA facility, where millions of these devices are being produced, to try to prevent the phone’s release. But even with Myles’ friend Ethan’s family wealth and inside knowledge (his father owns Mantil), the schoolkids can’t do much; it’s hard enough just staying ahead of the corporation’s stellar tracking skills. Myles and Ethan, along with Charlie, Sally, and possible new ally Lucy, face a challenging road ahead. In this sequel to Energy Wars: The Awakening (2025), Dee excels at grounding this supernatural tale: Myles is burdened by his dad’s perpetual negativity, and the fear of energy-zapping devices isn’t so different from concerns about real-life smartphone addiction. It’s a delight to follow these brave kids (even resident worrier Charlie) as they face seemingly impossible circumstances. There are, unfortunately, few opportunities for them to use their wits; they frequently rely instead on Ethan’s resources, a “mystery phone,” and quite a bit of luck. Still, a couple of genuine surprises pop up as this relatively short novel rolls along, especially regarding the Mantil Corporation. In the same vein, Myles, while questioning his power’s merit, eventually develops a new ability that’s more in line with the superhero he wishes to be: “Energy surged from my feet up through my head. It flowed out of my arms and legs. I was ignited in glowing rays like the sun.” The final act ramps up the action, leaving no question that the author has another installment in the works.

Vibrant young characters brighten this entertaining mix of adolescent drama and supernatural thrills.