The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier is an interesting read. It is about two Irish kids who have left Ireland for a better life. The eldest (a girl) has to take over the part of being a guardian to her younger brother. She weaves stories to make things better. This is a large part of the story. They procure employment at a household that is haunted. But how it is haunted and how they get out keeps the reader going. There are some very important themes such as loyalty, family, friendship, and sacrifice in this book.
Alistair Grim's Odditorium by Gregory Funaro deals with magic and boyhood. It is a cute quick read. Grubb, the main character, is a chimney sweep who ends up working for Alistair Grim who may or may not be a mad sorcerer. The Odditorium is full of surprises and new experiences for Grubb. Funaro takes magical creatures like fairies, sirens, dragons and more and creates a story of adventure with a twist at the end.