Lovers of adventure stories will enjoy this fast-paced, action-packed novel.
Smith’s adventure begins as 14-year-old Sabira climbs up the dangerous mountain Aderast with her uncle Mihnir and the Frost-Cleric Tserah to bond with the frostsliver, a piece of the mystic glacier that would grant her powers.
Only one in every 100 who come of age in the fictional city of Adranna is chosen to visit the glacier each year, and Sabira is more nervous than excited. Only six months ago Sabira lost her brother, Kyran, to the mountain; although Kyran was originally chosen by the frost clerics to bond with the frostsliver, an attack by some men from the neighboring Ignatian ethnic group injured Kyran’s leg permanently, causing him to attempt the dangerous bonding without any guidance. Driven by the loss of her brother, Sabira completes the final leg of her trek and manages to get some frostsliver. An unexpected avalanche, however, kills Tserah and wounds Mihnir, making their journey back practically impossible. It is up to Sabira to battle her way through the snow and cold, avoid mythical creatures such as the yeti, and find her way back home to save her uncle. Although Smith’s novel has some magical elements, the adventure set in an almost barren, icy, South Asia–like wilderness drives the plot. Readers know little about Sabira’s ethnicity apart from her name, but her quick wit, grit, and quiet determination are instrumental in her very real quest for survival.
Lovers of adventure stories will enjoy this fast-paced, action-packed novel. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-54063-5
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Chicken House/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
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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