A love letter to escapism and writing one’s own destiny.
A lonely tabletop role-playing game fan gets a quest in a real magical world.
Ben is constantly writing in his notebook, daydreaming up new games for his adventuring party to play in Dungeons & Dragons analog Kingdoms of Forever. His divorced mother moved him away from his friends, leaving him bored and alone. After being stood up by his party at the con they’d always attended, he’s discovered by purple-haired, awesomely costumed Niara. She’s on a mission to retrieve the Chosen One for a quest. Ben assumes she’s a con-goer inviting him to a game and follows Niara to Lux, where he’s plopped into the middle of a conflict between the Elders, who are devoted to an ancient prophet’s writings, and the king whose knights riding flying narwhals contribute to the ridonkulous comedic tone. Ben finds a magic of his own—what he writes in his notebook comes true (within reasonable limits). Ben’s sure he’s not the actual Chosen One, but he enjoys living the fantasy until he’s in too deep. The Lux storyline’s stakes are a little slow in coming, but once they do, the revelations come alongside reveals of Ben’s real-world struggles. While the writing could sometimes be tighter, the themes of interpersonal relationships and change give the work emotional heft. The ending teases a sequel. Spotlight art emphasizes game-guide–style profiles and sidebars. On the cover, Ben’s White and Niara has brown skin.
A love letter to escapism and writing one’s own destiny. (Fantasy. 8-14)Pub Date: June 6, 2023
ISBN: 9780593482711
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Labyrinth Road
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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