A worthy call to unravel a mystery.
Deep in the Shenandoah forest stands Idlewood Manor, where deep-rooted secrets await.
The newly reopened historical mansion now serves as a weekend getaway for a select number of lucky visitors. Among these guests are the Hendersons, thanks to gifted 12-year-old Charlie’s winning a contest. His exuberant 13-year-old sister, Anna, whose parents continually chastise her, can’t wait to explore the manor’s nooks and crannies. Following in the footsteps of her idol, famous early-20th-century explorer Virginia Maines, Anna uncovers a secret passageway to a hidden third floor and, further along, an abandoned tower. Charlie’s exploits lead him to notice hidden numerical codes among the manor’s walls and rooms. Meanwhile, 12-year-old Emily Shaughnessy plans on helping her historian parents on a critical mission to preserve Idlewood Manor as a historical site. All three explorers begin at odds with each other: Emily’s suspicious of anyone derailing her task while Charlie and Anna struggle over the loss of their once-close bond. Soon though, the trio must rely on one another to untangle the mysteries of Idlewood Manor and its ties to Maines’ disappearance. Full of puzzles and intrigue, this is a delectable treat for readers wanting a brainteaser or two in an intricately paced package. Equally amusing is the three young explorers’ implicit battle with the adult guests, who range from bemused roadblocks to the trio’s progress to stealthy thieves. Main characters follow a White default.
A worthy call to unravel a mystery. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-25885-4
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Imprint
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
Blend epic adventure with gothic good and evil, and add a dash of sly wit for a tale that keeps readers turning the page,...
Light and darkness have never clashed with such fierce majesty and eloquent damnation.
Murdock weaves an engrossing tale set in medieval France, filled with charismatic characters, daring deeds, and more sinister duplicity than a certain serpent in the Garden of Eden. The titular Boy is thought a simpleton, a disfigured child who has lived a life of ridicule. Accepting of his sorry lot in life, the humble servant wants nothing more than to live in the shadows and avoid the ill-tempered attention of the likes of town bully Ox. That is, he accepts it until the arrival of the shadowy pilgrim, Secundus, enlarges Boy’s world beyond the small boundaries of his village and introduces him to a world filled with greed, hunger, joy, deceit, and victory. Along with a story that unravels to reveal that not everything in the world is as it appears, Murdock delivers a wickedly fun-filled quest that twists and turns with lyrical fire. Boy ponders: “Pilgrim he might be but this man has sin stitched into his soul.” The story is, among other things, an exploration of religion, Secundus’ thieving quest for relics a counterpoint to Boy’s stalwart faith.
Blend epic adventure with gothic good and evil, and add a dash of sly wit for a tale that keeps readers turning the page, shaking their heads, and feeling the power of choice. (Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-268620-6
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 29, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2017
Fierce, heartfelt, and determined.
An aspiring knight stands against the injustice at work in their own kingdom even as war with a vengeful witch looms on the horizon.
Twelve-year-old Callie longs to train in the royal capital of Helston, but the rigid laws of the realm forbid it. Only boys may pursue knighthood, and only girls may learn magic, but Callie isn’t either. When the lord chancellor demands that Callie’s father, the former king’s champion, return to Helston to train the crown prince for an upcoming tournament and the rising threat of war, Callie seizes the chance to go with him, determined to prove their worth. With the help of two unexpected new friends—the lord chancellor’s daughter and the crown prince—Callie rallies the courage to fight for change. Passing descriptions of background characters indicate diversity in the wider world; the central characters are White. Callie confronts transphobia and internalized shame. When well-meaning but flawed adults try to press for insubstantial change and unfair compromises, Callie and their friends refuse to give up or stop questioning the discrimination within their society. Gentle and affirming romance blossoms gradually throughout the story. A frank and vivid acknowledgement of menstruation stands out as an important moment of inclusion within the coming-of-age narrative. The resolution balances hope with the lingering suspense of lurking danger awaiting Callie in future adventures.
Fierce, heartfelt, and determined. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-48577-4
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Labyrinth Road
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2022
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