All in all, a joyful winner.
Guess which batty historical guest is coming to town?
Fresh from a face-off with the infamous Blackbeard, aspiring chef Javi Santiago; his brainiac best friend, Wiki; and his fierce younger sister, Brady, are looking forward to a new school year free from dangerous adventures. Then Dorothy Gale, their school principal, shows up at Javi’s house in the middle of the night, looking to return to Oz via the magical table. Totally normal. She leaves the boy with one rule: Don’t bring any other historical figures—real or fictional—into the present day. With Ms. Gale gone, Finistere temporarily falls under the leadership of the strict Ms. Vlad. Uh oh. School improves, however, once a new vice principal joins the staff: the cool, smooth Mr. Dragon. But something’s off. Students begin to show up lifeless and colorless, and a strange Transylvanian castle now sits in the middle of the nearby woods, seemingly plucked out of nowhere. Even some of the teachers seem worried. When the truth behind Mr. Dragon’s identity and his nefarious plans comes out, Javi, Wiki, and Brady must once more form an eccentric crew to take down the latest baddie. Book 2 of Piñeiro’s hilarious, delightful series features a few new characters and even more over-the-top shenanigans while still maintaining its undeniable charm. Though not as deliriously surprising as its predecessor, this sequel reconfirms the author’s knack for gut-busting one-liners and solid character-building.
All in all, a joyful winner. (character descriptions) (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: July 5, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72823-052-8
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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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