Fast-paced, imaginative, and refreshing.
In the year 2048, an 11-year-old boy eager to begin a new life at his dream school has a rude awakening.
Ace Wells has long dreamed of attending the Biological Enhancement Systems Technology Program, or B.E.S.T., in which cadets enter tracks to receive augments that enhance their bodies and minds. Regular school was never easy for Ace—his brain doesn’t focus like other kids’—but B.E.S.T. isn’t all he imagined either. He soon makes an enemy; almost gets eaten by Otis, an AI elevator; loses his assigned group of cadets during orientation; and manages to alienate his illustrious boxmates, Grayson (son of the founder of B.E.S.T.), Leo (superstar BESTBall player), and Jayla (top of her cadet pack and recipient of a rare augment). Frustrated that his dream is crumbling, Ace slowly realizes that being himself and playing to his strengths may be more advantageous than he thought. Just as Ace gets assigned to his dream track and is back in good graces with his boxmates, life takes a turn that makes him question everything he thought he knew about B.E.S.T. This futuristic adventure will appeal to readers with its inclusive approach to gender identity, family structure, and neurodiversity. The author pulls readers into a brisk, third-person narrative about a world where people’s characteristics are augmented to achieve great things. White Ace has two moms; Jayla and Grayson are Black; and White, nonbinary Leo uses a wheelchair.
Fast-paced, imaginative, and refreshing. (pick your perfect aug) (Science fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Nov. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-358-26507-8
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2021
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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