Captivatingly well written and magical.
A conceited 12-year-old in Lahore, Pakistan, agrees to help a jinn princess win a competition to become the heir of her kingdom in exchange for her assistance in searching for his missing mother.
Belying the arrogance that’s a result of a hyperprivileged upbringing, Amir Rafiq suffers from the loss of his beloved mother, who mysteriously disappeared from his family’s brick-making company. When Amir’s domineering grandmother announces that his father will be remarrying, Amir vows to locate his mother in time to stop the wedding. He doesn’t expect his quest to take him into another realm alongside spirited, shape-shifting jinn princess Shamsa. They are kindred spirits in their marginalization by siblings who regard them as competition, but they’re opposites in their desire to take their places at the top—Amir wants nothing of it, while Shamsa is driven to win by a secret promise. They strike a deal: Shamsa will help Amir find his mother, and Amir will use his cunning to help Shamsa ascend the throne. Khan superbly crafts a redemption arc for Amir, developing his character from unlikable to heroic as he navigates a variety of different circumstances from isolation to belonging, in the process growing from callous and entitled to complicated and altruistic. She also deftly and accessibly weaves into the story important social commentary on corporate ethical dilemmas such as exploitative labor practices, greed, greenwashing, and the blurred lines between social responsibility and buying people’s support.
Captivatingly well written and magical. (Fantasy. 8-13)Pub Date: July 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780759557970
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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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