To his glee and joy, Matt the robber chief has a child: "a robber's daughter," and the next robber chieftain. It would be Lindgren who'd put it into Matt's wild head to have wanted a girl all along, and who'd make Ronia a fit, free-spirited, dauntless robber's daughter—just a little skeptical when she learns what robbers do. But worse is to come: Matt's archrival Borka has moved with his band into the unused half of Matt's Fort, on the other side of Hell's Gap, and Borka has also got himself a child: a son, Birk. Once Birk and Ronia have made contact—first, leaping back and forth across the gap; then, saving each other's life—it will of course be Romeo and Juliet. The rivalry between the two robber bands heats up, Matt all the more enraged because he can't figure out how to eject Borka from the fort. And when he captures Birk by chance, intending to imprison him until Borka leaves, Ronia vaults the Sap. . . and, in defecting, breaks Matt's heart. Ronia and Birk flee to Bear's Cave for the summer—an idyllic, laughing summer. But, come autumn, Ronia's all-knowing mother Lovis seeks her out, and then Matt himself invites her back—with Birk, if must be. The two unregenerate old robbers, Matt and Borka, will fight hand-to-hand and join up. But their offspring and heirs, without peaching, have another trade in mind. Ronia as the darling of the robber's band is a delight, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs crossed with The Beggar's Opera; and her relationship with Birk, if lyrical/pastoral, is also realistically touchy (and never mawkish). You can see exactly where this is headed, but you do want it to get there.
Pub Date: April 1, 1983
ISBN: 0140317201
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1983
BOOK REVIEW
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
Guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and enmagick.
An elderly witch, a magical girl, a brave carpenter, a wise monster, a tiny dragon, paper birds, and a madwoman converge to thwart a magician who feeds on sorrow.
Every year Elders of the Protectorate leave a baby in the forest, warning everyone an evil Witch demands this sacrifice. In reality, every year, a kind witch named Xan rescues the babies and find families for them. One year Xan saves a baby girl with a crescent birthmark who accidentally feeds on moonlight and becomes “enmagicked.” Magic babies can be tricky, so Xan adopts little Luna herself and lovingly raises her, with help from an ancient swamp monster and a chatty, wee dragon. Luna’s magical powers emerge as her 13th birthday approaches. Meanwhile, Luna’s deranged real mother enters the forest to find her daughter. Simultaneously, a young carpenter from the Protectorate enters the forest to kill the Witch and end the sacrifices. Xan also enters the forest to rescue the next sacrificed child, and Luna, the monster, and the dragon enter the forest to protect Xan. In the dramatic denouement, a volcano erupts, the real villain attempts to destroy all, and love prevails. Replete with traditional motifs, this nontraditional fairy tale boasts sinister and endearing characters, magical elements, strong storytelling, and unleashed forces. Luna has black eyes, curly, black hair, and “amber” skin.
Guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and enmagick. (Fantasy. 10-14)Pub Date: Aug. 9, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-61620-567-6
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Algonquin
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
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