by Vivi Barnes Christina Farley ; Amy Christine Parker ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2024
While not entirely original, a captivating and enjoyable start to what promises to be an engaging series.
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Barnes, Farley and Parker begin a bibliophilic magical adventure series for middle-grade readers.
Tweens Ben, Maya, and Bridgette are in the library for different reasons on a Friday evening when they are interrupted by the sound of “hundreds of birds...trying to claw their way through the door” of the library. The librarian, Mr. Lozano, quickly shields them in his office as the windows shatter and “large black birds with creepy red eyes” invade the space. In an attempt to fend off these ominous attackers, Ben throws an ancient book at the birds, surprisingly unleashing a dragon from its pages. The dragon aids their escape while Mr. Lozano guides the kids to a mysterious “portal” that leads to the Library of Alexandria. Though it resembles a mechanic’s garage, this modern library houses the contents of the original, is managed by the Muses, and is concealed from the world. Hidden within the library is Helicon Academy, a training ground for future librarians who are entrusted with defending the institution against the Pierides, mortal enemies who are intent on infiltrating and destroying the library. Although the trio are not descendants of the original librarians (and thus typically ineligible), they are given the opportunity to undergo the “Trials” and potentially gain admittance. After being accepted into the academy as future librarians, the three must navigate their schoolwork while unraveling the hidden secrets within Helicon Academy. What follows will be familiar to readers of similar fare: The protagonists’ journey is not dissimilar to the experiences of characters in popular series like Harry Potter and The School for Good and Evil. But despite the familiar setting and structure, the story is written with a light comic touch, and the unique voices and perspectives of the three central characters distinguish the novel from recent titles in the same genre.
While not entirely original, a captivating and enjoyable start to what promises to be an engaging series.Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9798989015016
Page Count: 402
Publisher: Infinity House Creative
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by Peter Brown ; illustrated by Peter Brown ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 26, 2023
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
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by Aaron Reynolds ; illustrated by Peter Brown
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by Peter Brown ; illustrated by Peter Brown
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by Dav Pilkey & illustrated by Dav Pilkey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 28, 2012
Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel.
Sure signs that the creative wells are running dry at last, the Captain’s ninth, overstuffed outing both recycles a villain (see Book 4) and offers trendy anti-bullying wish fulfillment.
Not that there aren’t pranks and envelope-pushing quips aplenty. To start, in an alternate ending to the previous episode, Principal Krupp ends up in prison (“…a lot like being a student at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, except that the prison had better funding”). There, he witnesses fellow inmate Tippy Tinkletrousers (aka Professor Poopypants) escape in a giant Robo-Suit (later reduced to time-traveling trousers). The villain sets off after George and Harold, who are in juvie (“not much different from our old school…except that they have library books here.”). Cut to five years previous, in a prequel to the whole series. George and Harold link up in kindergarten to reduce a quartet of vicious bullies to giggling insanity with a relentless series of pranks involving shaving cream, spiders, effeminate spoof text messages and friendship bracelets. Pilkey tucks both topical jokes and bathroom humor into the cartoon art, and ups the narrative’s lexical ante with terms like “pharmaceuticals” and “theatrical flair.” Unfortunately, the bullies’ sad fates force Krupp to resign, so he’s not around to save the Earth from being destroyed later on by Talking Toilets and other invaders…
Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel. (Fantasy. 10-12)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-17534-0
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 19, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2012
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by Dav Pilkey ; illustrated by Dav Pilkey
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