A rapidly expanding quest with a seemingly endless supply of mischief and surprises.
Zhong presents a middle-grade fantasy novel starring a rebellious youngster.
The trouble begins in ancient times in the fantasy realm of Auyasku, where a stone marten (a weasel-like animal) decides she is going to catch the sun. The marten winds up in the Heavenly Realm, where she unwittingly releases evil spirits (“Demons called their brethren from the farthest corners of the world, and soon the Heavens were teeming with demons of all stripes and shades”). When the demons make their way to the Earthly Realm, havoc ensues. Many years later, a blacksmith’s son named Hatsukoi proves to be quite the trickster in his home village of Koto. Hatsukoi is mischievous and clever, always managing to think up an exit strategy in a tight spot. When he runs afoul of a greedy local governor named Tu Fang, however, it would seem his goose is finally cooked. Hatsukoi’s father sends him to a monastery to hide him. At the monastery, Hatsukoi takes on the name Takuan and gets up to his old pranks, though he also manages to learn some useful things. Takuan goes back to his home village only to learn that his father has been killed and his sister and mother have moved on; he sets back out on the road. The tale of Takuan unfolds in a breezy, fairytale-like fashion. Rather than overburdening the reader with too many details or backstories, the narrative keeps moving forward. Even the somewhat complex tale of the stone marten moves rapidly, helped along by the comedic effect of a marten, of all creatures, causing so much trouble. There is a lot of ground to cover in the 600-some pages of this volume; the narrative often strays from Takuan for several pages, leaving the reader curious about, say, what role a fearful monk named Soliang might play. Yet even with such detours, the pace is sprightly—there is no telling what angry honey badger or sassy demon lies just around the bend.
A rapidly expanding quest with a seemingly endless supply of mischief and surprises.Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2023
ISBN: 9789083346007
Page Count: 549
Publisher: Anno Ruini Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 30, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
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
File under “laugh riot.”
A rogue spell-check program’s bid to transform all life-forms into that eminently useful office item, the paper clip, touches off a fresh round of lunar lunacy.
Predicated on the entirely reasonable premise that eliminating all spelling and grammar errors everywhere would logically lead to the necessity of exterminating carbon-based life in the universe, this third series entry combines high stakes with daffy banter and daring exploits. CheckMate—a chipper, jumped-up editing program—has invented the Transmogratron, a giant laser that will fulfill its ultimate goals in both the cyber world and “meatspace.” Facing challenges as random as prankster lunar unicorns and a disarmingly motherly Motherboard, scowling First Cat joins a motley crew of diversely carbon- and silicon-based allies, led by the pearlescent Queen of the Moon. They’re in a race to the finish—diverted occasionally by, for instance, a relentlessly punny comic-book interlude featuring a pair of literal and figurative Pool Sharks. They ultimately triumph thanks to teamwork and moxie. Following a celebratory party and toasts to “new friends…and steadfast comrades” (and, of course, “MEOW”), the story’s energetic, brightly colored panels close with a reveal of the next volume. (“I always hate it when comics end by announcing a sequel. SO CRINGE!” declares an authorial stand-in.) It can’t come too soon.
File under “laugh riot.” (Graphic science fiction. 8-11)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024
ISBN: 9780063315280
Page Count: 272
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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