A sweet, uplifting tale that encourages kids to appreciate both the natural world and their own inner strength.
A young girl stumbles upon a world of magic and friendship when she discovers the Guardians of Moon Lake in McLemore’s middle-grade fantasy reader.
Ten-year-old Shannon and her parents had always summered at their cabin on Moon Lake, located in Minnesota’s Superior National Forest. Now they live there permanently, running a 15-cabin retreat that’s busy throughout the year. But Shannon’s whole life changes when she discovers talking creatures who call themselves the Guardians of Moon Lake: Solomon, a Great Gray owl; Kiralynn “Kira” Belle, a gnome; Daysi, a fairy; Sylvie, a tree; and Master Rinji, a bear. Tala, part of a group of wolves “made of white light, with wings that carried them from star to star” decided to give up her wings and stay on Earth after welcoming “the new planet to the universe.” Tala then formed the Guardians by recruiting other magical beings, such as Solomon and Kira, to help keep the area safe. As the summer goes on, Shannon has various adventures with her new pals, all while hoping she’ll make friends at her new school in the fall. Along the way, she learns that each Guardian has a specific gift: Kira cares for the ground’s healing crystals, Solomon has Knowledge, Sylvie has Wisdom, and Master Rinji’s gift is Reiki. Shannon soon studies under Master Rinji, learning how to use Reiki to heal others. She also befriends a troubled young boy named Luke who quickly learns of Moon Lake’s powers too. As Shannon becomes more in tune to both Reiki’s healing properties and her own abilities, she wonders if one day she could become a Guardian—despite Tala’s firm belief that Guardians should hail from the magic realm. Spinner’s black-and-white sketches help bring Shannon’s adventures to visual life.
McLemore crafts a charming tale that introduces readers to the basics of Reiki, including the five “Reiki Ideals” based on Japanese writings (e.g., “Just for today, I will not worry”). One certainly doesn’t need to know (or even believe in) the practice in order to enjoy the book. The storyline flows briskly, with family friendly lessons in almost every chapter—including the idea that Luke’s initial meanness actually comes from deep-seated fear. While some sentiments may prove a bit too saccharine for older readers (“Shannon, you possess the most magical gift of all…The gift of Love”), it’s hard to deny the value of extolling love’s virtues in a middle-grade novel. Throughout, McLemore seamlessly weaves in exercises and habits that the audience can incorporate into their own lives, such as the “Dream Gardening” Shannon does each night: “I would close my eyes and imagine planting seeds of things I wanted. Some seeds would be very small, like a tiny violet seed, and some seeds would be bigger, like a seed for a sunflower or even a large climbing vine.” The lead’s adventures ultimately remind readers to believe in themselves even when things around them seem uncertain. McLemore deftly tackles heavier themes, such as loneliness, environmental protection, and overcoming fears, in an involving story that provides comfort and instruction without sounding preachy.
A sweet, uplifting tale that encourages kids to appreciate both the natural world and their own inner strength. (Juvenile fiction, ages 6-13)Pub Date: April 1, 2024
ISBN: 9798218372217
Page Count: 183
Publisher: Healing Gardens Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship.
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 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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