THE CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL (THE BRASS RING)

Small’s sequel continues a children’s fantasy series about a boy, a brass ring, and a carousel ride of teleporting animals.

Eleven-year-old Rusty Boydisn’t too excited about accompanying his mom to the mall the day before Thanksgiving. His attitude quickly changes, however, when he sees a Christmas-themed carousel set up for the holiday season. Rusty wonders if the animals on this ride are magical because his grandfather once gave him a brass ring that, when paired with carousel animals, has the power to teleport him to other times and places. His first adventure took him, along with his grandfather and his uncle Ethan, to a place where he helped save a baby from a burning building. Rusty wants to know more about the brass ring, but his grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s disease, has memory problems, so Rusty must figure things out on his own. What starts out as an ordinary mall trip becomes the beginning of his own solo adventures. After his first ride on the carousel’s polar bear, which leads him to the Arctic Circle,he’s determined to ride the other animals—especially the one that voices in his head urge him to ride: “Ride the donkey. / The donkey.” First, though, he rides a St. Bernard and winds up in the Alps—but his greatest journey’s still to come. Small makes Rusty’s thoughts and dialogue ring true; he’s annoyed by his little sister, determined to earn money for an expensive gift, and drawn to adventure—all of which youngsters will find relatable. He’s also exposed to job loss, financial worries, and illness, among other heavy issues. Small effectively adds lightness to the narrative by focusing on the lessons that Rusty learns along the way, which are reinforced by people he encounters day to day. There’s a clear link between the settings and the lessons, for the most part, although the polar bear and St. Bernard adventures feel less solidly connected to their themes.

A heartfelt time-travel tale with a comforting message for young readers.