Indelible characters steer this otherworldly and enthusiastically absurd quest.
A tween boy joins his kooky grandfather hunting a legendary gargantuan fish in Mazzucato’s middle-grade fantasy.
AJ, who lives in Maui, knows his maternal grandpa isn’t “all there.” The testy 11-year-old grumbles when his flight attendant mother drops him off for the weekend at her father’s docked boat. Things get weird in no time; Grandpa suddenly sets sail that night, determined to find Old Gussie, the “dragon of the deep” he sought decades ago. (Back then, he lost both his ship and shipmates Riley and Marlin.) Before AJ and Grandpa leave the dock, the reputedly crazy Livvy (who, unlike the same-aged AJ, doesn’t go to school) hops onboard. Their first stop is at a bewildering coastal town in which AJ spots a mermaid and an elf, among other things. Grandpa is looking for Riley and Marlin, convinced he needs them; however, bringing them along entails busting at least one of them out of prison. If this makeshift crew even manages to glimpse the “great fish,” how exactly do they plan to catch it? Mazzucato layers this tale with abundant humor, as when AJ and his schoolmates use teamwork to prank their teacher. Grandpa is endearingly eccentric, deeming anything he disagrees with as “nonsense” and constantly introducing AJ as a “young scallywag.” AJ, Grandpa, and Livvy fall into various misadventures, from retrieving the well-hidden Riley and Marlin to confrontations with a band of pirates and storms at sea. All the while, the author skillfully blends outlandish imagery and unexpected details—a handful of characters breaking out into song, complete with lyrics. Readers hoping for scenes of intense searching for a monstrous fish may be disappointed, though the story does feature myriad creatures (many of which appear harmless). The black-and-white illustrations, which combine stock images and AI generation, resemble collages, lending the pictures an oddness that befits a delightfully bizarre narrative.
Indelible characters steer this otherworldly and enthusiastically absurd quest.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Sept. 4, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship.
A young tennis champion becomes the target of revenge.
In this sequel to Legacy and the Queen (2019), Legacy Petrin and her friends Javi and Pippa have returned to Legacy’s home province and the orphanage run by her father. With her friends’ help, she is in training to defend her championship when they discover that another player, operating under the protection of High Consul Silla, is presenting herself as Legacy. She is so convincing that the real Legacy is accused of being an imitation. False Legacy has become a hero to the masses, further strengthening Silla’s hold, and it becomes imperative to uncover and defeat her. If Legacy is to win again, she must play her imposter while disguised as someone else. Winning at tennis is not just about money and fame, but resisting Silla’s plans to send more young people into brutal mines with little hope of better lives. Legacy will have to overcome her fears and find the magic that allowed her to claim victory in the past. This story, with its elements of sports, fantasy, and social consciousness that highlight tensions between the powerful and those they prey upon, successfully continues the series conceived by late basketball superstar Bryant. As before, the tennis matches are depicted with pace and spirit. Legacy and Javi have brown skin; most other characters default to White.
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-949520-19-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Granity Studios
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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