An absorbing historical coming-of-age adventure supported by deeper themes of grief, despair, and determination.
A ship’s cat relates his adventures at sea in this middle-grade novel set in the 1840s.
Jacob, one of six kittens born to Mrs. Tibbs, the well-respected ship’s cat of the packet ship Melissa Rae, starts out life with two strikes against him. Not only is he the runt of the litter, but he has four white paws that colloquial knowledge deems unsuitable for the most important job of a ship’s cat: catching vermin (since it is thought rats can see the white paws in the dark ship’s hold). Jacob’s five brothers and sisters are quickly adopted, but Jacob stays with his mother and the Melissa Rae. At sea, young Jacob’s mettle and courage are tested as he first experiences devastating grief, then a mutiny and life as a castaway on an island, and finally, reunion with his loyal friends. Busby infuses Jacob’s narration with just the right blend of seafaring yarn and 19th-century formality, and readers will relate to Jacob’s anxiety over his responsibilities, his fears, and his gradual perception of his own strengths and gifts. Busby’s details (for the most part accurate) of 19th-century packet-ship life and Kelly’s well-placed black-and-white illustrations, along with a skillfully measured narrative pace, bring the story to life.
An absorbing historical coming-of-age adventure supported by deeper themes of grief, despair, and determination. (Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-553-51123-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2015
This successful sequel offers relatable heroes for a new generation.
Ava and her friends return for another year at their magical school.
After narrowly avoiding expulsion during her first year and discovering her link to the goddess Medusa, eighth grader Ava Baldwin returns to Accademia del Forte, a boarding school in Venice for kids who are descended from mythological monsters. Though she’s eager to reunite with her friends, Ava is committed to her new mission: challenging the lies that the Olympian gods have told to keep themselves in power and conceal their misdeeds. Instead, however, Ava finds herself consumed with jealousy over her friend Layla’s newfound beauty, popularity, and boyfriend. Her efforts are further interrupted by bullies like Cyclops descendant Zale, as well as the new headmaster, demigod Perseus, who infuses the school with toxic hero worship. Disaster strikes when Layla, like many girls and women before her, is punished by the gods for her beauty and confidence. Committed vegan Layla is transformed into a bloodthirsty Empusa and must choose between compromising her morals or starving to death; can Ava and her friends save her before it’s too late? As in the series opener, this second installment skillfully weaves familiar mythology with coming-of-age concerns, all filtered through a feminist lens. Full of humor, adventure, and heart, this story, with its diverse cast of international characters, will delight readers.
This successful sequel offers relatable heroes for a new generation. (map) (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: April 22, 2025
ISBN: 9780063303799
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Storytide/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
An enchanting, magical read.
Eva Evergreen summons her courage and her magic to stop the Culling once and for all in this exciting sequel.
Eva has finally achieved her dream of becoming a Novice Witch by helping protect her assigned town, Auteri, from the Culling, a mysterious, disastrous, magical storm. On top of that, her mother has been accused of using rogue magic, passing it on to Eva, and bringing about the Culling. When the parents of two of Eva’s friends from Auteri go missing, she attempts to locate them, in the process uncovering who might actually be behind the Culling—something she reveals to the queen and Inner Council. In retaliation, the suspect casts a curse, which costs Eva’s mother her magic, and then disappears. With the culprit on the loose and the Culling worsening, Eva is assigned a critical mission. With the help of her friends and her red-gold flamefox, black-haired Eva must find the courage to find the truth behind the Culling before it destroys the whole realm. With curses, rogue magic, and secrets, this sequel is a little darker than its predecessor but still as captivating and charming as before. Abe’s descriptive writing takes readers on a compelling, suspenseful adventure in a spectacular magical realm full of “impossible possibilities.” Japanese names and manga-style spot art add to the atmosphere.
An enchanting, magical read. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-316-49394-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
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