A nifty addition to the series.
The search for the Ember Stone continues in the second installment of this animal fantasy series.
Owl of Valor–in-training Tag and his friends Skyla the squirrel and Blaze, the series’ titular last firehawk, must locate the second piece of the powerful Ember Stone. Guided by their magical map and Blaze’s connection to the Stone, they make their way north, over the Jagged Mountains to the mysterious Crystal Caverns. Along the way, they brave a raging snowstorm, rescue a lost seal, fight off Thorn’s vicious ice-leopard spies, and get trapped in an ice cave. Blaze is their best weapon, as she uses her burgeoning power over fire—she can burst into flame at will—to free the gang from the ice and to defeat the deadly leopards. The evil Thorn, who has yet to make an on-page appearance, wants control of the Ember Stone so he can destroy the land of Perodia. The three pals are Perodia’s only hope, and over the course of the story, they discover that friendship and teamwork go a long way. As in the previous book, the pace is fast and primarily dialogue-driven, with loads of exclamations. The myriad black-and-white images and easy-to-read text make this an apt read for those making the transition from early readers to longer books. The book includes reading comprehension questions and activities to help readers immerse themselves in Tag’s world.
A nifty addition to the series. (Animal fantasy. 6-9)Pub Date: Nov. 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-338-12252-7
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Branches/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2017
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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