Schmaltziness and humor, flights of fantastic magic intertwined with some serious soul-searching, not to mention innumerable artichokes, figure in this tale about plumbing the depths of the heart and misinterpreting how one is perceived by others. Though not completely convincing or logical, all comes out well in the end as Arietta, a girl blessed with the ability to see into people’s hearts and to fly with the aid of a magical cloak made from artichoke leaves, becomes involved with a bevy of human and talking-animal characters who effect a daring rescue when she’s kidnapped by a forlorn, self-hating magician whom she ultimately helps to find his true self. How this all happens makes for a fast-paced, though not compelling, read. Fans of fantasy plot lines will find enough to appreciate here, and there’s a happy ending in which a family is reunited. The characters aren’t especially captivating, though, and disparate elements don’t all come together. (Fiction. 9-12)
