Cassie’s new pet, Albert, was there for her when she needed him; now it’s up to her to return the favor.
In Secret of the Storm (2022), 12-year-old Cassie, grappling with the death of her father and her mother’s overwhelming grief, discovered that Albert, the kitten she and best friend Joe found under unusual circumstances, is really a dragon. Trying to protect Albert from Sheldon Slack, who wants to exploit the healing powers of dragon blood, and FBI agents Fox and Dana, they sent Albert back to the dragon dimension—only to learn that he is in grave danger there, too. Now Cassie and Joe embark on a mission to rescue Albert, joined by Cassie’s mother; local librarian Miss Asher; and one highly unexpected companion. A missing diary, enigmatic symbols, and a mysterious bookseller reveal clues to help them in their quest. Cassie’s voice will be relatable to young readers, and as she steps into her powers—both literally and figuratively—she establishes herself as an unlikely hero. Friendship continues to be a driving force in the story, while grief is a less present theme than in the previous volume. While the anticipated adventure takes a while to gain momentum, the story packs some surprises and promises further twists in the next entry. Most characters read White; Joe has brown skin.
A solid second installment in what promises to be a sweeping fantasy series. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: March 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781534482883
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2023
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A young tennis champion becomes the target of revenge.
In this sequel to Legacy and the Queen (2019), Legacy Petrin and her friends Javi and Pippa have returned to Legacy’s home province and the orphanage run by her father. With her friends’ help, she is in training to defend her championship when they discover that another player, operating under the protection of High Consul Silla, is presenting herself as Legacy. She is so convincing that the real Legacy is accused of being an imitation. False Legacy has become a hero to the masses, further strengthening Silla’s hold, and it becomes imperative to uncover and defeat her. If Legacy is to win again, she must play her imposter while disguised as someone else. Winning at tennis is not just about money and fame, but resisting Silla’s plans to send more young people into brutal mines with little hope of better lives. Legacy will have to overcome her fears and find the magic that allowed her to claim victory in the past. This story, with its elements of sports, fantasy, and social consciousness that highlight tensions between the powerful and those they prey upon, successfully continues the series conceived by late basketball superstar Bryant. As before, the tennis matches are depicted with pace and spirit. Legacy and Javi have brown skin; most other characters default to White.
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-949520-19-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Granity Studios
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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BOOK REVIEW
Roz, a robot who learned to adapt to life among wild creatures in her first outing, seeks to return to the island she calls home.
Brown’s sequel to The Wild Robot (2016) continues an intriguing premise: What would happen to a robot after challenges in an unexpected environment cause it to evolve in unusual ways? As this book opens, Roz is delivered to a farm where she helps a widower with two young children run a dairy operation that has been in his family for generations. Roz reveals her backstory to the cows, who are supportive of the robot’s determination to return to the island and to her adopted son, the goose Brightbill. The cows, the children, and finally Brightbill himself come to Roz’s aid. The focus on Roz’s escape from human control results in a somewhat solemn and episodic narrative, with an extended journey and chase after Roz leaves the farm. Dr. Molovo, a literal deus ex machina, appears near the end of the story to provide a means of rescue. She is Roz’s designer/creator, and, intrigued by the robot’s adaptation and evolution but cognizant of the threat that those achievements might represent to humans, she assists Roz and Brightbill in their quest. The satisfactory (if inevitable-feeling) conclusion may prompt discussion about individual agency and determination, whether for robots or people.
If not as effervescent as Roz’s first outing, it is still a provocatively contemplative one. (Fiction. 8-11)Pub Date: March 13, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-38204-5
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2018
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
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