by Cameron Chittock ; illustrated by Amanda Castillo ; color by Sara Calhoun ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2024
A refined end to a rousing voyage.
Young Mapmaker Alidade ventures deeper into unknown territories to finally unravel the Night Coats’ power in this trilogy closer.
Following the re-emergence of Peak—the Mountain territory’s Memri (or magical, peace-seeking being)—Alidade and her friends splinter off to free their land from the dreaded Night Coats. Searching for answers behind the Night Coats’ twisted magic, Alidade and Blue, the Memri of the Valley, surrender to Constable Atwater, who takes the pair to Nox City, a Night Coats stronghold. There, an alarming scene awaits. Alidade and Blue partner with Atwater to journey deep into Nox City and through a magical doorway, where a forsaken trail of thorny trees leads to an unexpected answer. Meanwhile, Peak, Mapmaker Cado, and Lewis, Alidade’s best friend, head to the final territory to resurrect the Memri of the Plains. The trio meets Ripley Range, a Mapmaker who resides in a farming town that’s unable to grow crops due to dark magic. Can the Night Coats’ control over the land be vanquished? The final volume of this endearing graphic fantasy series maintains the same level of allure and spirit, reinforcing themes of peace and strength in community and coexistence with the natural world amid a high-stakes battle between good and evil. The bucolic artwork remains a highlight, and the ever-growing cast of racially diverse heroes and villains provides plenty of opportunities to cheer and jeer.
A refined end to a rousing voyage. (additional sketches, drawing lesson, concept art) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: April 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593172957
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
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by Cameron Chittock ; illustrated by Amanda Castillo ; color by Sara Calhoun
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by Cameron Chittock ; illustrated by Amanda Castillo
by Annie Matthew ; developed by Kobe Bryant ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 24, 2021
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship.
A young tennis champion becomes the target of revenge.
In this sequel to Legacy and the Queen (2019), Legacy Petrin and her friends Javi and Pippa have returned to Legacy’s home province and the orphanage run by her father. With her friends’ help, she is in training to defend her championship when they discover that another player, operating under the protection of High Consul Silla, is presenting herself as Legacy. She is so convincing that the real Legacy is accused of being an imitation. False Legacy has become a hero to the masses, further strengthening Silla’s hold, and it becomes imperative to uncover and defeat her. If Legacy is to win again, she must play her imposter while disguised as someone else. Winning at tennis is not just about money and fame, but resisting Silla’s plans to send more young people into brutal mines with little hope of better lives. Legacy will have to overcome her fears and find the magic that allowed her to claim victory in the past. This story, with its elements of sports, fantasy, and social consciousness that highlight tensions between the powerful and those they prey upon, successfully continues the series conceived by late basketball superstar Bryant. As before, the tennis matches are depicted with pace and spirit. Legacy and Javi have brown skin; most other characters default to White.
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-949520-19-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Granity Studios
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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by Annie Matthew ; developed by Kobe Bryant
by Rajani LaRocca ; illustrated by Chloe Dijon ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 15, 2021
A moving tale of baseball, magic, and former rivals who come together to solve a problem.
A middle schooler struggles to adjust after moving to an idyllic Massachusetts town.
Trish Das is at a crossroads. Not only is the 12-year-old unhappy that her family has moved yet again due to her mother’s cardiology career, she also has to try out for a new baseball team. The fact that one of her new teammates is a former archrival further complicates matters. Math prodigy Ben Messina went head-to-head against fellow math whiz Trish at last spring’s Math Puzzlers Championship. When Trish emerged victorious, Ben was stunned. The two get closer when the team’s mysterious pregame snacks start making everyone play better while also causing magical side effects during games. Equally surprising are the cryptic puzzle booklets Trish and Ben receive in the mail that lead them to even more wins. But as the puzzles get harder to solve, the risk of failing to do so increases. Alternating between Trish’s and Ben’s perspectives, LaRocca’s novel—a companion to 2019’s Midsummer’s Mayhem—is a Much Ado About Nothing homage that explores parental expectations, complicated friendships, and teamwork. The protagonists’ love of problem-solving shines through, and the puzzles themselves are clearly explained. As a third-generation Indian American, Trish also has moving conversations about the circumstances that led her grandparents to emigrate and how those decisions still impact their lives. Ben is implied White. Final illustrations not seen.
A moving tale of baseball, magic, and former rivals who come together to solve a problem. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: June 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4998-1101-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Yellow Jacket
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
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by Rajani LaRocca ; illustrated by Kat Fajardo
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by Rajani LaRocca ; illustrated by Neha Rawat
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