THE LAST PHOENIX

Stepsiblings Michael, Milly, Jason and Jess, from Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps (2009), embark on another magical encounter, this time to help a sassy phoenix named Fenella who is nearing the end of her life cycle. The children must travel through time and space to collect the four magical ingredients she needs to hatch her egg. They gladly take on the challenge, encountering and too easily overcoming an assortment of obstacles on each mission. Predictably, when the children try to use some of the magic for their own gains, they discover that this only causes more trouble and that they’re better off relying on their wits and each other. When a kindly old neighbor is not what he seems, the children also learn just how far apart appearance and reality can sometimes be. Not especially deep or literary and more than a little didactic, but this one might satisfy some fantasy-lovers looking for some quick, light summer fare. (Fantasy. 8-12)