An eventful chapter book that will expertly provide young readers with adventure and social guidance.
A boy struggling with school and family issues discovers a magic ring that can transport him back in time in Small’s middle-grade fantasy series-starter.
Fifth-grader Russell Michael Boyd lives with his mom, his frequently drunk father, and his grandfather who recently moved in with them. Russ is tasked with taking Grandpa to the local carousel every day, but he doesn’t understand the ride’s appeal to the old man—until one day when Grandpa takes his hand while riding a wooden horse. The pair are instantly transported to the Rocky Mountains in the year 1827, where his grandfather has often had adventures as “Mountain Man Mike”; also, both he and Russ can telepathically communicate with the carousel’s horses, which have become real horses. However, Grandpa suffers a stroke after disembarking the ride back in modern times; before he’s taken to the hospital, he hands Russ the magic brass ring that makes the time travel possible. Russ secretly embarks on magical journeys by himself, traveling in different time periods, depending on which carousel horse he rides. His adventures include one as a squire during a jousting tournament and another as a firefighter in the early 20th century, and each brings new opportunities for the boy to realize his own bravery and explore his talents and capacity for kindness. He also deals with his father’s verbal and physical abuse back home, which is depicted sensitively throughout. Throughout the book, Small often clearly and explicitly makes parallels between the past and present, as when Russ confronts a junk seller abusing a horse during one time-travel jaunt: “I’d seen that look on my dad’s face when he was angry. My insides quivered, and my hands tightened into fists. I told myself to be brave.” The novel also tackles several other weighty issues, such as bullying and school-related anxieties, in a consistently age-appropriate way. Dorman’s grayscale, cartoonlike horse illustration appears at the top of each chapter, providing a somewhat whimsical contrast to some of the heavier themes.
An eventful chapter book that will expertly provide young readers with adventure and social guidance.Pub Date: July 25, 2023
ISBN: 979-8987444054
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Carousel Acres Publishing
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
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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