Readers who have come this far with the series will find themselves giggling over Sesame’s good-natured bossiness and her...
That precocious sleuth on roller skates, Sophie “Sesame” Seade, attempts to track down the source of the bug that is making the Cambridge rowing team sick on the eve of its race with Oxford.
Sesame “works” as her undergraduate friend Jeremy’s investigative reporter for his UniGossip newspaper. Her native intelligence and determination are nicely combined with her penchant for hyperbole, exaggeration, and exasperation with the slow pace of those around her. The result is a wonderfully impertinent first-person voice traveling at speed and pitched directly to the intended audience of bright preteens. The young heroine’s middle school–style wisecracking is relentless and very often hilarious as she and best friends Troy and Gemma search for possible villains. Their discovery of a pirate chest hidden in the reeds along the riverbank, an encounter with a family of merchants who’ve noticed jewelry going missing from their barge, and a Nancy Drew–like kidnapping of the heroine offer plenty of misdirection and opportunities for speculation. Horne’s cartoon illustrations throughout emphasize the slightly looney charm of the young detective and her exploits, depicting Sesame and Troy as white and Gemma with East Asian features. The singular landmarks of the university, its town, and its traditions are scattered through the narrative—obstacles as often as not to Sesame’s successful detective work.
Readers who have come this far with the series will find themselves giggling over Sesame’s good-natured bossiness and her impressive snooping skills. (Fiction. 7-11)Pub Date: April 15, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3630-9
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2016
High-energy high jinks in a multicultural, or at least multispecies, setting.
Young sleuths stumble on a demonic conspiracy to blow the lid off Slick City’s new sports arena. Just for a start.
Goblin Fizz Marlow and troll gearhead Tank Wrenchlin are convinced that slimeball schoolmate Rizzo Rawlins’ supposedly homemade battle bot illegally incorporates professional-grade code and components. Their search for proof leads them and elven trainee wizard Aleetha to several puzzles. Who is the mysterious “Codex,” and why is he (or she) supplying Rizzo as well as hacking Slick City’s computer systems to threaten disaster if the just-finished Slurp Stadium is opened for the upcoming Battle Bot Cup? How did the stadium come to be built over a magic stone that could, as old maps hint, serve as a portal to demon worlds? What can a trio of fourth-graders do, opposed by corrupt officials, a bully with a pair of hulking hench-ogres, and a local business tycoon with—as it turns out—a high-tech hand-held demon controller? Well, plenty, though not without a few missteps, help from a surprising temporary ally, and lots of climactic bot-smashing. In a slick mix of narrative blocks and panels of nonscary monsters delivering punch lines in dialogue balloons, the exploit careens along to a triumphant close.
High-energy high jinks in a multicultural, or at least multispecies, setting. (Graphic/mystery/fantasy hybrid. 9-11)Pub Date: Feb. 23, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4598-0813-3
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A clever mashup of crime drama and magical realism makes for an auspicious series start
When a mysterious explosion closes his boarding school early, 12-year-old Danny Woo accompanies his journalist aunt to Hong Kong.
In spite of Danny’s persistent questions, Aunt Laura refuses to talk about her story. But when Aunt Laura is abducted, all clues point to the Black Dragon, a Chinese organized crime syndicate. Together with his godfather, Major Zamora, a dwarf circus strongman, Danny is determined to rescue his aunt and bring down the people responsible. To succeed, Danny must draw upon the skills he learned from his late parents, circus performers. Mind control, lock picking, magic tricks, and the ability to master the high wire all come into play. But what chance do an inexperienced kid and one strongman have against a ruthless gang? While Danny’s skills at mind reading, palming cards, and hypnotism are exceptional, his success is unpredictable. It is in these moments of failure that he shines. He recognizes that thoughtful problem-solving and dedicated effort are superior to any magical ability. This depth makes him a laudable and likable hero. The unusual location, intriguing characters, and a fast-paced plot further set this series opener apart.
A clever mashup of crime drama and magical realism makes for an auspicious series start . (Adventure. 8-11)Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4677-7567-0
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Carolrhoda
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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