• Beneath the Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou. Illustrated by Vivienne To.
• Between Flowers and Bones by Carolyn Leiloglou. Illustrated by Vivienne To.

I read Beneath the Swirling Sky last year when it came out—and failed to write a review. Now, I just finished the second book in what is slated to be a trilogy, and I must say that that this series, already pretty good in the first installment, just got better in the sequel. Reading Between Flowers and Bones was an immersion experience, just like stepping into a book (or a painting).

That’s a not-so-subtle nod to what happens in these stories. In Beneath the Swirling Sky, Vincent is visiting his great uncle Leo in Texas. Vincent’s parents believe that if Vincent gets a taste of all of the art that Uncle Leo, an art restorer, has in his home, Vincent will start making art again. But Vincent never wants to look at a paintbrush again.

However, Vincent’s homeschooled cousin, Georgia, and his little sister Lili, are also staying with Leo, and when Vincent actually falls into a painting and Lili gets kidnapped . . . well, Vincent’s gift for art and artistry along with Georgia’s navigational skills are the only way to save Lili. And so Vincent becomes a Restorationist.

Between Flowers and Bones focuses on Georgia and her envy of the gifts of others to the detriment of her own gift as a Restorationist Navigator. Can Georgia and Vincent become a team, or will Georgia’s jealousy and Vincent’s headaches keep them from saving and restoring and even making great art? Just as the first book featured the work of Vincent Van Gogh, but also a lot of other artworks by a multitude of artists, this second one features Georgia O’Keefe along with many other artists in an exciting art adventure.

It looks if the third book in the trilogy will feature yet another child, and probably another artist, as the central characters in the book. The ending in Between Flowers and Bones is somewhat satisfying, but also a bit of a cliffhanger, which is always not my favorite kind of ending. But I can deal with it. At least the story does have a good arc, and it was all engaging enough for me to want to come back for more.

Ms. Leiloglou is a homeschool mom, the granddaughter of art collectors, and the daughter of an art teacher. So all of the art and the inclusion of a homeschooled character in the boos is no accident. Indeed, it’s obvious that writing these books required a lot of research and a lot time spent in art museums and artists’ studios. All of the artists and paintings that are mentioned in the books are an invitation to view their work, and I was intrigued enough to look up some of them online. Surely art-inclined readers will be drawn to do the same.

The Restorationists series embodies middle grade fantasy quest fiction at its best, and I recommend it–if you don’t mind that the story is somewhat incomplete. Or you could wait for the third book–maybe, next year?