A heartfelt and entertaining tale of supernatural chums and family drama.
A youngster befriends a talking tree in a magical California forest in Smith’s debut middle-grade novel.
Ten-year-old Val Martin, an Irish Filipino boy living in the small town of Grass Valley, makes a surprising new friend: Spruce, a tree in Wonder Woods, located near Val’s home. Spruce not only can talk, but also sometimes pulls up his roots to walk around. Val keeps the existence of Spruce a secret from everyone he knows except for his cousins, who visit him regularly. The boys discover other amazing things in the woods, including long-necked dinosaurs they can ride. Spruce protects Val and his cousins from various dangers, including bears, and keeps them from getting lost in the dense forest. But although Wonder Woods is a magical place, it’s not immune to ordinary threats; lumberjacks, for instance, try to clear-cut the area, which Val fights by making a case to the city council. He and his friends also take an active role against deer hunters. Meanwhile, back at home, Val lives with a loving mother but greatly misses his father, who works abroad and sends money home to the family. Much of Smith’s short novel is episodic, featuring Val in a range of adventures and misadventures; at one point, for example, an unpredictable baby donkey wreaks havoc with the Martins’ front-yard holiday manger scene. But for the most part, the stories take place in the woods and involve Spruce, which gives them continuity. This educational, sometimes-profound narrative includes a discussion of the Trail of Tears as well as a rundown of the environmental benefits of trees, which include providing oxygen and reducing the incidence of flash flooding. Some readers, however, may wish that the story had a little more magic in it. For example, it’s revealed that squirrels also talk (at least to Spruce), but there’s only a moderate focus on all the other wonders that the forest may hold. Still, Spruce’s paternal nature further enriches the story of Val’s wish to have his own dad back home.
A heartfelt and entertaining tale of supernatural chums and family drama.Pub Date: June 24, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-64-471249-8
Page Count: 134
Publisher: Covenant Books
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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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