All bite, no bark.
Hell’s hound comes home to torment a girl and her family in this gruesome, dread-filled slow burner.
On the side of the road sits a German shepherd, blindfolded and muzzle duct-taped shut. For the Tanners—Mom, Dad, sixth grader Amy, and her 6-year-old sister, Katie—such an act is reprehensible. They wonder how anyone could be so cruel. The Tanners rescue the dog, whom Katie immediately names Rover. Soon enough, Rover and Katie grow inseparable, and surrendering him to a shelter becomes unimaginable. Amy, however, notices that odd things happen around Rover. A bully suddenly experiences a nasty bout of sickness, the Tanners’ other dog is deathly afraid of the new arrival, and strange tech disturbances abound. After a disastrous incident at the school science fair, Amy becomes the target of Rover’s ire. She is plagued by nightmares, doors and drawers slam shut on their own, and before she knows it, Amy’s dad falls prey to a kitchen “accident.” Rover’s getting bolder. Can Amy protect her family from one hellish creature? Krovatin piles on the terror, one incident after the other, with seeming ease, slowly unfurling the extent of the trouble the Tanners find themselves in. It makes for an enthralling read, and the author gamely raises the stakes with each chapter. Though a little longer than needed, this tale’s nonetheless sure to entice fans of canine horror. The book follows a White default.
All bite, no bark. (Horror. 8-12)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-338-62909-5
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
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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