Stirring and unforgettable.
This follow-up to 2018’s Love to Everyone reunites readers with cherished characters, and the circle of beloved friends and family grows.
Spanning 1927 to 1947, this novel follows a well-drawn ensemble cast through the interwar years and the turbulence of World War II before leaving them battered but resolute. The Great War casts a shadow over young people’s lives—a father or uncle lost or seriously wounded; a mother or aunt haunted by memories of nursing the soldiers. Best friends Erik and Hans live in Berlin, dreaming of working at the zoo tending to animals (Erik) and running a pastry stall (Hans). They are disturbed by Hitler but, facing forces beyond their control, eventually become Luftwaffe pilots. In Plymouth, Violet’s daughter, Ruby, is self-conscious about prominent birthmarks on her face that draw unwelcome attention. Kate, daughter of Peter and Vanessa, is the youngest of the Penrose brood in Oxford. Her health is delicate, and she fades into the background, honing her observational skills. Clarry is godmother to Ruby and Kate, and Rupert comes and goes, dispensing treats—the benevolent English counterpart to Hans’ glamorous Uncle Karl. These four young people and their families—plus one abandoned scrapyard dog—find their orbits intersecting due to the vagaries of war on the way to a poignant and utterly satisfying conclusion. Third-person chapters filled (but never to the point of distraction) with historical texture rotate among the charming characters’ distinct voices and perspectives. Characters read as White.
Stirring and unforgettable. (family trees) (Historical fiction. 9-14)Pub Date: Oct. 19, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-66590-091-1
Page Count: 288
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
PERSPECTIVES
Riveting, inspiring, and sometimes hilarious.
If you made a recording to be heard by the aliens who found the iPod, what would you record?
For 11-year-old Alex Petroski, it's easy. He records everything. He records the story of how he travels to New Mexico to a rocket festival with his dog, Carl Sagan, and his rocket. He records finding out that a man with the same name and birthday as his dead father has an address in Las Vegas. He records eating at Johnny Rockets for the first time with his new friends, who are giving him a ride to find his dead father (who might not be dead!), and losing Carl Sagan in the wilds of Las Vegas, and discovering he has a half sister. He even records his own awful accident. Cheng delivers a sweet, soulful debut novel with a brilliant, refreshing structure. His characters manage to come alive through the “transcript” of Alex’s iPod recording, an odd medium that sounds like it would be confusing but really works. Taking inspiration from the Voyager Golden Record released to space in 1977, Alex, who explains he has “light brown skin,” records all the important moments of a journey that takes him from a family of two to a family of plenty.
Riveting, inspiring, and sometimes hilarious. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-399-18637-0
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
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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