An endearing and exhilarating tale of a perilous journey.
A small being and his companions brave vicious creatures to save their world in Mikulski’s middle-grade fantasy debut.
Wilem,a leaf-sized Habilis, grew up on a remote farm. Years ago, one of the caretakers who raised him gave him a rare Aura Seed, which he must plant in a far-off place if the moon ever turns blood-red—the first sign of the land becoming barren and dying. When Wilem is certain this change is occurring, he embarks on a 1,000-mile quest to dip the Aura Seed into a particular river before planting it. Along the way, he meets a fellow Habilis, Remik, as well as the gentle but rock-hard-skinned giant, Teul. They traverse a forest with all sorts of dangers, including a flying, thick-beaked Bennu, which can easily pick up a Habilis, to merciless, wolflike Kangals that travel in packs. Complicating their already harrowing trek is an ancient parasite that’s feeding off the land—the reason that harsh weather is making the terrain even tougher to travel. Wilem, Remik, and Teul don’t have much time to reach their goal and stop the parasite’s devastation. Mikulski’s streamlined tale boasts a colorful cast. Wilem helpfully recognizes most of the creatures they run into, thanks to his oft-cited favorite book, Creatures of The Expanse: A List. Not every one of them is a threat; some are quite helpful, and one, despite its initially frightening appearance, turns out to be sympathetic. There’s also a rewarding dynamic between Wilem, Remik, and Teul; the trio always watches out for one another, though Wilem can’t help but wonder if the others only follow him for his hearty supply of filishberries (which grow astonishingly fast wherever he plants them). Their riveting quest builds to a terrific final act that’s full of surprises. King’s lightly sketched but detailed black-and-white line artwork highlights the fine characters and creatures, including Wilem, Remik, and Teul in action and a list of profiles that precedes the narrative.
An endearing and exhilarating tale of a perilous journey.Pub Date: today
ISBN: 9798218569570
Page Count: 228
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 29, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
BOOK REVIEW
Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel.
Sure signs that the creative wells are running dry at last, the Captain’s ninth, overstuffed outing both recycles a villain (see Book 4) and offers trendy anti-bullying wish fulfillment.
Not that there aren’t pranks and envelope-pushing quips aplenty. To start, in an alternate ending to the previous episode, Principal Krupp ends up in prison (“…a lot like being a student at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, except that the prison had better funding”). There, he witnesses fellow inmate Tippy Tinkletrousers (aka Professor Poopypants) escape in a giant Robo-Suit (later reduced to time-traveling trousers). The villain sets off after George and Harold, who are in juvie (“not much different from our old school…except that they have library books here.”). Cut to five years previous, in a prequel to the whole series. George and Harold link up in kindergarten to reduce a quartet of vicious bullies to giggling insanity with a relentless series of pranks involving shaving cream, spiders, effeminate spoof text messages and friendship bracelets. Pilkey tucks both topical jokes and bathroom humor into the cartoon art, and ups the narrative’s lexical ante with terms like “pharmaceuticals” and “theatrical flair.” Unfortunately, the bullies’ sad fates force Krupp to resign, so he’s not around to save the Earth from being destroyed later on by Talking Toilets and other invaders…
Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel. (Fantasy. 10-12)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-17534-0
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 19, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2012
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