The Metropolitans

The diverse tee cast includes a White German Jewish boy, a Japanese American girl, a Mohawk boy, and a White American girl.

Besides knightly combat with monsters and villains, the characters are dealing with plenty of real-world scary stuff. Taking place just after Pearl Harbor, the story involves a Nazi plot to kill most of New York's population. As a child, a character witnesses an old man being shot to death by one group of Nazi soldiers, and the arrest of his friend's parents by others; he's constantly worried about the fate of his own parents, still in danger. Mohawk kids are abused in schools determined to beat their heritage out of them, and one of them strikes back to save his sister. Characters are kidnapped, imprisoned, and threatened with death by villains, and often perform dangerous feats. Vengeful, creepy monsters from ancient tales are very much alive.

The Lancelot/Guenevere/King Arthur love triangle plays a role in the story, but it's pretty innocent; one of the kids is shocked to read a medieval tale in which Guenevere gives Lancelot her garter. Tradition's more lurid origin tales for villainous Mordred are dismissed as having gotten the story wrong, and he's presented as Arthur's nephew. There's a hint of budding romantic interest between two of the teens.

A Japanese-American character's mean schoolmates call her "Jap."

A museum guard who sees something unlikely and reports it is told to lay off the sauce; the guards drink and sleep on duty. One character's father was so unhinged by her mother's death that he started drinking and living unhoused, deserting his kids in the process.

Parents need to know that The Metropolitans, a new book from Blythewood trilogy author Carol Goodman, combines magic, Camelot, and history into an irresistible, exciting tale of four relatable teens on a heroic quest. As the bombing of Pearl Harbor takes place half a world away, four 13-year-olds converge on the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and are quickly swept up in the struggle to decode a secret message and foil a Nazi plot to poison the city's population. There's rich historic detail and situations that bring to light issues of the time, as when a Jewish kid who's escaped the Nazis empathizes with a Japanese American friend who's suddenly getting the same hate treatment he remembers so well. Magic, monsters, and spies keep things lively as the kids and their adult allies battle ancient evil -- and their own personal demons, as well. Lots of positive messages about family, friendship, courage, and using your power for good -- and great evocation of a time and place.