An addictively odd middle-grade novel set in a stylized world of circus folk.
In Howe’s debut middle-grade novel, a bored boy finds adventure in a nighttime circus.
Lewis Bokurtz is not having a good summer. While his parents are at work, he spends his days being looked after by Mr. Butterfield, a retired teacher who forces Lewis to do schoolwork and whose idea of a good time is having a picnic in the basement. Distraught that he can’t go to summer camp like his friends, Lewis convinces Mr. Butterfield to take him fishing at a nearby pond. They don’t catch any fish, but Lewis finds a coin with the phrases “IRON CIRCUS” and “ADMIT ONE” stamped on either side. That night, Lewis awakes to the sound of eerily cheerful music echoing from the fields beyond his house. He sneaks out and follows the sound through a coin-operated gate to the largest tent he’s ever seen—constructed, strangely, of iron. Inside, a group of performers is preparing for the big show: a strongman, a fire breather, a tiger trainer, a slightly sinister ringmaster, and others. They all seem desperate for Lewis’ help, so much so that he comes back the next night. As Lewis becomes enmeshed in the Iron Circus and its mysteries, he’s forced to confront some of his greatest fears. Howe’s prose perfectly captures the magic and menace of a circus performance, particularly when viewed through the eyes of a child: “It went on for some minutes, this dazzling confluence of dancing, color, lights, music, acrobatics and fire….” The story is episodic, with Lewis lurching from one dreamlike adventure to another, with only a spine of narrative to connect them. Even so, there’s something darkly memorable about the Iron Circus and its ringmasters—both the fictional one in the novel and the inventive author at work behind the scenes.
An addictively odd middle-grade novel set in a stylized world of circus folk.Pub Date: April 1, 2023
ISBN: 979-8987506028
Page Count: 316
Publisher: Steal the Moon Books
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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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