Diagnosis: middle-book syndrome, but it’ll satisfy hungry readers who are fans of fast-paced stories
Zane Obispo must die in order to save all the other young godborns of the world after he accidentally reveals their existence to the gods.
Since the events of series openerThe Storm Runner(2018), Mexican American Zane has been holed up on an island off Mexico’s Caribbean coast with his mother, uncle Hondo, best-friend-and-maybe-crush Brooks, and Ms. Cab the seer, kept hidden from the other Maya gods’ eyes by a magical barrier drawn by the goddess Ixtab. When another godborn named Ren shows up, she sets off a chain of events that forces them off the island to save both other godborns, who have been kidnapped, and Zane’s father, the disgraced Maya god Hurakan. That journey will take them to the underworld and back to the U.S. in search of a god named the Fire Keeper. As in the first book, the plot is busy, and the conclusion feels unfinished, even for a series entry. Readers without a detailed memory of the first book may find themselves confused for the lack of backstory. The female characters, though full of personality and with major magical powers, feel underused, alas. What gives the book its charm is the many Maya gods and demons, who do not present like stereotypical old, wise beings but come with all the snark and melodrama of any 21st-century character.
Diagnosis: middle-book syndrome, but it’ll satisfy hungry readers who are fans of fast-paced stories (. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-368-04188-1
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents/Disney
Review Posted Online: May 25, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 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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