Downer should have left her likable 12-year-old protagonist alone rather than dragging her through this mediocre sequel. Having met wizards and dragons last summer, Theodora has difficulty fitting back into regular life. When her father’s called to a tiny Scottish island to identify a mysterious scale, Theodora goes along. Did the scale fall off a dragon? Who’s the creepy vagabond? Who’s evil? A seephole threatens to open and suck the island into the unpleasant realm of Never-Was. Theodora fulfills her destiny by claiming magical powers inherited from her long-dead mother and riding a dragon into Never-Was. Characters are sparkly and appealing, the plot pleasing. However, wizards’ spells are facile, as are Theodora’s achievements (training a biddable fire; saving the island). Never-Was is too minimally explored, while many things are unnecessarily spelled out. Harmless, but not especially gripping. (Fantasy. 8-11)
