THE GOLDEN DREAM OF CARLO CHUCHIO
by Lloyd Alexander
Fourteen-year-old orphan Carlo’s daydreaming wreaks havoc in his uncle’s warehouse in the port of Magenta. Sent off in disgrace, Carlo follows a treasure map he’s discovered in a book. Through a semi-identifiable Middle East of The Arabian Nights, he picks up disreputable companions who together fumble through dangers to discover treasures they never expected. Masterful storytelling tinged with romance and humor makes this an engaging read. Alexander’s characters, as always, are classically heightened stereotypes, and the narrative and emotional arcs will be familiar to readers of his other books. Though not his strongest, and adding little to his body of work, this may nevertheless please fans looking forward to one last adventure from the late author. (Fiction. 9-13)