by Laura Burroughs ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
A flawed but whimsical fantasy tale about high school life and self-discovery.
In Burroughs’ debut YA novel, twin siblings are sent to a secret boarding school and confront new realities about themselves, technology and the world at large.
Anya and Harlie Fox know that something is strange when, on a family vacation to Bermuda, their mom puts them on a plane to explore an island without her. Once in flight, the pilot hands them a map and a riddle, and their island explorations quickly lead them to Caminus Academy, a remote, clandestine boarding school where they find out that they are the latest candidates to become students. They also learn that their parents are alumni of the school, which is so secret that graduates aren’t even allowed to reveal their attendance. It turns out that the academy, which teaches students “how to think—and how not to,” uses outlandish technology, including holograms and mind-reading equipment. Caminus’ administrators decide they want the twins to become students, and, after some deliberation, both accept the invitation. As their academic year progresses, Anya and Harlie discover that they both have secret magical talents; Anya can hear other peoples’ thoughts, and Harlie can move objects with his mind. The school year goes smoothly until, suddenly, intruders are detected on the island, and one of the Foxes’ classmates is kidnapped. When Harlie, Anya and their friends take it upon themselves to unravel the mystery and rescue the missing girl, they entangle themselves in a situation that’s far more grave—and personal—than they ever imagined. Burroughs creates a rich, intricate world here, and although some of the magical details and inventions may be hard for readers to keep track of, the school and its lifestyle are alluring and enthralling. Readers may note some similarities to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, and, like Hogwarts, the school and its students seem well-suited as the subject of their own series. One of the novel’s shortcomings, however, is its depiction of Islam; some readers may find the use of Muslim extremists as the novel’s villains to be controversial or possibly offensive. The characters and their relationships are also unfortunately underdeveloped; readers may wish they knew as much about the students’ inner lives as they do about the intriguing world around them.
A flawed but whimsical fantasy tale about high school life and self-discovery.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Dog Ear Publisher
Review Posted Online: Oct. 16, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Share your opinion of this book
by Marti Dumas illustrated by Stephanie Parcus ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 11, 2017
In more ways than one, a tale about young creatures testing their wings; a moving, entertaining winner.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
A fifth-grade New Orleans girl discovers a mysterious chrysalis containing an unexpected creature in this middle-grade novel.
Jacquelyn Marie Johnson, called Jackie, is a 10-year-old African-American girl, the second oldest and the only girl of six siblings. She’s responsible, smart, and enjoys being in charge; she likes “paper dolls and long division and imagining things she had never seen.” Normally, Jackie has no trouble obeying her strict but loving parents. But when her potted snapdragon acquires a peculiar egg or maybe a chrysalis (she dubs it a chrysalegg), Jackie’s strong desire to protect it runs up against her mother’s rule against plants in the house. Jackie doesn’t exactly mean to lie, but she tells her mother she needs to keep the snapdragon in her room for a science project and gets permission. Jackie draws the chrysalegg daily, waiting for something to happen as it gets larger. When the amazing creature inside breaks free, Jackie is more determined than ever to protect it, but this leads her further into secrets and lies. The results when her parents find out are painful, and resolving the problem will take courage, honesty, and trust. Dumas (Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest: Episode 5, 2017, etc.) presents a very likable character in Jackie. At 10, she’s young enough to enjoy playing with paper dolls but has a maturity that even older kids can lack. She’s resourceful, as when she wants to measure a red spot on the chrysalegg; lacking calipers, she fashions one from her hairpin. Jackie’s inward struggle about what to obey—her dearest wishes or the parents she loves—is one many readers will understand. The book complicates this question by making Jackie’s parents, especially her mother, strict (as one might expect to keep order in a large family) but undeniably loving and protective as well—it’s not just a question of outwitting clueless adults. Jackie’s feelings about the creature (tender and responsible but also more than a little obsessive) are similarly shaded rather than black-and-white. The ending suggests that an intriguing sequel is to come.
In more ways than one, a tale about young creatures testing their wings; a moving, entertaining winner.Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943169-32-0
Page Count: 212
Publisher: Plum Street Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Share your opinion of this book
More by Marti Dumas
BOOK REVIEW
by Marti Dumas
BOOK REVIEW
by Marti Dumas
by Paul Langan Ben Alirez ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 1, 2004
A YA novel that treats its subject and its readers with respect while delivering an engaging story.
In the ninth book in the Bluford young-adult series, a young Latino man walks away from violence—but at great personal cost.
In a large Southern California city, 16-year-old Martin Luna hangs out on the fringes of gang life. He’s disaffected, fatherless and increasingly drawn into the orbit of the older, rougher Frankie. When a stray bullet kills Martin’s adored 8-year-old brother, Huero, Martin seems to be heading into a life of crime. But Martin’s mother, determined not to lose another son, moves him to another neighborhood—the fictional town of Bluford, where he attends the racially diverse Bluford High. At his new school, the still-grieving Martin quickly makes enemies and gets into trouble. But he also makes friends with a kind English teacher and catches the eye of Vicky, a smart, pretty and outgoing Bluford student. Martin’s first-person narration supplies much of the book’s power. His dialogue is plain, but realistic and believable, and the authors wisely avoid the temptation to lard his speech with dated and potentially embarrassing slang. The author draws a vivid and affecting picture of Martin’s pain and confusion, bringing a tight-lipped teenager to life. In fact, Martin’s character is so well drawn that when he realizes the truth about his friend Frankie, readers won’t feel as if they are watching an after-school special, but as though they are observing the natural progression of Martin’s personal growth. This short novel appears to be aimed at urban teens who don’t often see their neighborhoods portrayed in young-adult fiction, but its sophisticated characters and affecting story will likely have much wider appeal.
A YA novel that treats its subject and its readers with respect while delivering an engaging story.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2004
ISBN: 978-1591940173
Page Count: 152
Publisher: Townsend Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Share your opinion of this book
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.