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)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-8234-1995-1
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2007
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
As an agent for the Supernatural Immigration Task Force, it is Frank Gallows’s job to catch ghosts on Earth and send them back to the afterlife. However, during one particularly tricky deportation, he accidentally zaps a young—living—boy. Garth Hale suddenly finds himself surrounded by mummies and goblins in a crumbling, ghastly city, with a skeleton horse and his long-departed grandfather as his only friends. Gallows comes crashing into the afterlife, as well, on a daring rescue mission. As this bumbling team tries to find a way home, they end up face to face with the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, who doesn’t look too kindly upon mortals in his city. With a cast of characters that is sometimes one too many, in a world that includes seven kingdoms of infinite zombies, this ghost-filled graphic novel could easily overwhelm, but TenNapel reins it in by deftly illustrating each essential moment and emotion. Creepy details, quick quips and a wry, deadpan (pun absolutely intended) humor are sure to delight. (Graphic fiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-21027-0
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
Life in the seaside village has been hard for Adrianne and her family, even before the arrival of the mermaid. Since Papa’s death, they’ve been living with horrible Auntie Minnah, the village boys ignore Adrianne in favor of wealthier and prettier girls and the villagers despise the whole family. Adrianne gets the opportunity for her dream job, but as soon as things start looking up, the Windwaithe Mermaid comes, summoning Adrianne and terrifying the superstitious villagers. Now Adrianne needs to make a choice between a magical life of undersea romance and the poverty and degradation she knows on land. It ought to be an easy choice, but perhaps not. Lucky, lucky Adrianne. Her magical adventure will bring out her true potential—as a girl who is “quite attractive” and whose outer beauty is now visible both to herself and to the handsome boys of the island. Readers obsessed with paranormal romance could do worse, but they probably won’t remember this for very long. (Fantasy. 10-12)
Pub Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-09734-5
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
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