A magical tale of timeless friendship and selfless courage.
A lonely girl finds friends—and a noble purpose—visiting a magical realm in Brick’s middle-grade fantasy novel.
Adeline Perle, the 12-year-old daughter of a Navy officer, is distinguished by striking heterochromia and a wildly creative mind. Struggling to find friendship in the course of her family’s frequent moves, Adeline hopes their relocation to Connecticut will finally offer the stability of home. But behind the stately façade of her uncle’s Victorian house, supernatural secrets lie in wait. Happening upon a passageway to an odd octagonal room, Adeline is immersed in a collection of mysterious objects; hidden among them is an otherworldly crystal. She soon discovers that this glowing object, called the Zelmir, has been hidden for a reason: Coveted by dangerous forces that will kill to possess its power, the crystal pulls Adeline into a realm called Nouvaal, where “The Righteous Heli’aa” rules with a vindictive heart. Adeline finds herself at the center of a deadly conflict over power and magic, a civil war in which innocent people vanish. With the guidance of newfound friends, including an attractive boy named Gabriel (“Everyone at school thinks he’s this big heartthrob now, but really he just grew by a foot and started actually doing something to his hair over the summer”), Adeline finds the courage to face down evil forces in the hope of solving the mystery of the vanishing citizens. Fantasy fans of all ages will delight in this highly imaginative work, which steeps readers in rich beauty and supernatural elements. Nouvaal’s residents—a diverse society of humanlike Paeth, playful Niigh, and frightening beasts—are enigmatic and fun. Interweaving themes of duality and hidden identities, the narrative compellingly depicts Adeline’s struggle against self-doubt amidst an ever-shifting landscape. Blending coming-of-age themes with supernatural surprises, this novel will keep readers hooked to the final page.
A magical tale of timeless friendship and selfless courage.Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9798989475414
Page Count: 232
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: April 9, 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
File under “laugh riot.”
A rogue spell-check program’s bid to transform all life-forms into that eminently useful office item, the paper clip, touches off a fresh round of lunar lunacy.
Predicated on the entirely reasonable premise that eliminating all spelling and grammar errors everywhere would logically lead to the necessity of exterminating carbon-based life in the universe, this third series entry combines high stakes with daffy banter and daring exploits. CheckMate—a chipper, jumped-up editing program—has invented the Transmogratron, a giant laser that will fulfill its ultimate goals in both the cyber world and “meatspace.” Facing challenges as random as prankster lunar unicorns and a disarmingly motherly Motherboard, scowling First Cat joins a motley crew of diversely carbon- and silicon-based allies, led by the pearlescent Queen of the Moon. They’re in a race to the finish—diverted occasionally by, for instance, a relentlessly punny comic-book interlude featuring a pair of literal and figurative Pool Sharks. They ultimately triumph thanks to teamwork and moxie. Following a celebratory party and toasts to “new friends…and steadfast comrades” (and, of course, “MEOW”), the story’s energetic, brightly colored panels close with a reveal of the next volume. (“I always hate it when comics end by announcing a sequel. SO CRINGE!” declares an authorial stand-in.) It can’t come too soon.
File under “laugh riot.” (Graphic science fiction. 8-11)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024
ISBN: 9780063315280
Page Count: 272
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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