This has strong reader appeal, but an equestrian expert reader could have improved it fourfold.
Follows a seventh grader’s quest to move from novice rider to being one of the #HorseGirls.
Despite being entirely horse crazy, Wills (short for Willa) was only allowed to start lessons at a riding stable in her Nebraska town when her mom, an Air Force pilot, was deployed overseas for a year. Wills doesn’t tend to make friends easily, but when she falls off on her first attempt at jumping a fence, someone at Oakwood Riding Academy sends her an encouraging note, and she’s determined to find out who it is. Hijinks ensue, some of them more realistic than others. Eventually Wills triumphs in a jumper competition; saves her favorite horse, Clyde, from being sent to auction; and befriends everyone, including top mean girl Amara. Melodrama, angst, over-the-top writing, and clever footnotes make this a quick, breezy read for tweens. Some horse-related elements do not ring true—for example, the handling of both lameness and recruiting for the U.S. national equestrian team is unrealistic—which may keep knowledgeable #HorseGirls from completely buying into the action. Riding is presented as being primarily for rich kids, which feels like a missed opportunity to show a more inclusive side of the sport. The novel adheres to a White default although the author cues some characters as people of color. (This updated review reflects edits made to the book after the original review was published.)
This has strong reader appeal, but an equestrian expert reader could have improved it fourfold. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: March 30, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-09548-5
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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