Weaves together science fiction and cultural elements with tremendous appeal.
The question of honor versus family loyalty plays out in a thrilling Korean-inspired space opera.
In this stand-alone companion novel to Dragon Pearl (2019), readers are introduced to a new family of characters, the Juhwang Clan of tiger spirits. Juhwang Sebin, a nonbinary 13-year-old who can shift between their human and orange tiger spirit forms, is accepted into Space Forces Command as a cadet on the same day their uncle, Capt. Hwan, is accused of high treason. The young cadet is called into action and then into question, as clan loyalty and professional duty collide. Their assigned battle cruiser, the Haetae, is sabotaged before Cadet Sebin can even be sworn in. Under the watchful eye of Special Investigator Yi and their assistant, Kim Min, a teenage girl, Sebin and three other cadets who are survivors of the blast must determine who has incapacitated the ship and crew. The tension mounts as Sebin struggles with the accusation that their admired Uncle Hwan is leading the insurrection and they hope to prove them innocent. Throughout, Lee develops an important thread that examines hard decisions when family tradition and personal integrity clash, an emotional dilemma that will resonate with many readers. The Thousand Worlds universe continues to thrill with the lure of Korean mythology, the action of space battle, and the personal struggle to act with honor. Fans will demand more.
Weaves together science fiction and cultural elements with tremendous appeal. (pronunciation guide) (Science fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-368-05554-3
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents/Disney
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
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
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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