Young readers will enjoy this character-driven tale’s richly imagined fantasy world.
Upton’s middle-grade series-starter takes place in a complex world of powerful, mysterious creatures.
Wren Goldsmith is a 12-year-old Beast Saver whose mission is to protect Beasts in need with the help of a Companion Beast named Tolstoy—a doglike creature who can change size at will and has fur that functions as armor. Wren is confident, skilled, quick-thinking, and eager to prove his abilities as a new Saver. The plot revolves around Wren and Tolstoy’s mission to the Pomm Islands, where formerly peaceful Beasts are going on rampages. The cause of the unrest seems to be parasites infecting the creatures, which drive them to violence. Wren must subdue a massive Beast called a coral cow, which is ordinarily a caretaker of the coral reefs. Later, the tween encounters twins Maxie and Vega, who are part of a mysterious group known as the Scavengers; they work for a larger, unknown entity that’s likely involved in illegal activity. Wren, Tolstoy, and their ally, Lieutenant Tang, investigate as they aim to restore order to the islands; however, the mystery behind who’s responsible for the chaos remains unsolved, hinting at future adventures. Overall, Upton’s story is marked by energetic pacing and action-driven plot development, and it feels well-suited for its target audience of young readers. The characterization leans heavily on familiar archetypes, with Wren as the brave hero, Tolstoy as the loyal sidekick, and the bickering twin antagonists, who embody their roles with lines such as “It’s so unfair. Just because you were born two minutes early—” The characters’ relationships are central to the narrative, and the author highlights trust and teamwork throughout. Upton’s prose style is simple yet vivid, with imaginative descriptions of Beasts and dynamic action scenes, and the dialogue snappily propels the plot forward.
Young readers will enjoy this character-driven tale’s richly imagined fantasy world.Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9798350981193
Page Count: 112
Publisher: BookBaby
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel.
Sure signs that the creative wells are running dry at last, the Captain’s ninth, overstuffed outing both recycles a villain (see Book 4) and offers trendy anti-bullying wish fulfillment.
Not that there aren’t pranks and envelope-pushing quips aplenty. To start, in an alternate ending to the previous episode, Principal Krupp ends up in prison (“…a lot like being a student at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, except that the prison had better funding”). There, he witnesses fellow inmate Tippy Tinkletrousers (aka Professor Poopypants) escape in a giant Robo-Suit (later reduced to time-traveling trousers). The villain sets off after George and Harold, who are in juvie (“not much different from our old school…except that they have library books here.”). Cut to five years previous, in a prequel to the whole series. George and Harold link up in kindergarten to reduce a quartet of vicious bullies to giggling insanity with a relentless series of pranks involving shaving cream, spiders, effeminate spoof text messages and friendship bracelets. Pilkey tucks both topical jokes and bathroom humor into the cartoon art, and ups the narrative’s lexical ante with terms like “pharmaceuticals” and “theatrical flair.” Unfortunately, the bullies’ sad fates force Krupp to resign, so he’s not around to save the Earth from being destroyed later on by Talking Toilets and other invaders…
Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel. (Fantasy. 10-12)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-17534-0
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 19, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2012
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