A basic but enjoyable STEM-centered novel for young readers.
In this middle-grade novel, a service dog and his human learn about algorithms in daily life.
Author Priya (who writes for adults as Priya Ardis) introduces readers to Merlin Raj, a sock-loving golden retriever who goes to class with his 10-year-old owner, Matthew, who misses “Mom Raj,” who’s traveling for work. Miss Babbage teaches Matthew’s class about algorithms and assigns the kids to create their own, and Merlin eagerly joins in—devising algorithms for everything from locating a missing recipe to keeping the local bully from snagging the best Christmas tree. Matthew uses the Christmas tree experience for his algorithm assignment, and Merlin realizes that what the boy wants most is to have his mother home for Christmas. So the dog implements a series of his own algorithms to make it happen, leading to a happy holiday for everyone. The book presents a lighthearted approach to introductory STEM lessons, explaining the fundamental concept of an algorithm outside the context of computer programming. However, the examples presented seem insufficiently granular to present the concept effectively. For instance, Merlin’s algorithm for getting Matthew a forbidden box of sugary cereal at the grocery store involves hiding the box in the cart and making puppy-dog eyes at the checkout. However, the more conceptual discussion of algorithms is well done, and the story is satisfying and emotionally resonant overall. Merlin’s narrative voice is child-friendly and distinctive (“Research sounded like a pile of socks fresh out of the laundry,” he notes approvingly at one point). Merlin is described as being a service animal for Matthew, who has some difficulties with walking, and the dog’s description of his role (“I’d been taking care of my best friend for a whole year now”) includes enough detail to make it easy to picture the two making their way through school. A glossary defines scientific terms in the narrative, and Miss Babbage’s pronouncements on algorithms are in bold text, making them stand out. Hampe’s black-and-white illustrations add depth to the story, giving readers another window into Merlin’s determination and creativity.
A basic but enjoyable STEM-centered novel for young readers.Pub Date: March 16, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-951767-00-6
Page Count: 108
Publisher: Vulcan Ink Media
Review Posted Online: April 3, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Charming, poignant, and thoughtfully woven.
An aspiring scientist and a budding artist become friends and help each other with dream projects.
Unfolding in mid-1980s Sacramento, California, this story stars 12-year-olds Rosalind and Benjamin as first-person narrators in alternating chapters. Ro’s father, a fellow space buff, was killed by a drunk driver; the rocket they were working on together lies unfinished in her closet. As for Benji, not only has his best friend, Amir, moved away, but the comic book holding the clue for locating his dad is also missing. Along with their profound personal losses, the protagonists share a fixation with the universe’s intriguing potential: Ro decides to complete the rocket and hopes to launch mementos of her father into outer space while Benji’s conviction that aliens and UFOs are real compels his imagination and creativity as an artist. An accident in science class triggers a chain of events forcing Benji and Ro, who is new to the school, to interact and unintentionally learn each other’s secrets. They resolve to find Benji’s dad—a famous comic-book artist—and partner to finish Ro’s rocket for the science fair. Together, they overcome technical, scheduling, and geographical challenges. Readers will be drawn in by amusing and fantastical elements in the comic book theme, high emotional stakes that arouse sympathy, and well-drawn character development as the protagonists navigate life lessons around grief, patience, self-advocacy, and standing up for others. Ro is biracial (Chinese/White); Benji is White.
Charming, poignant, and thoughtfully woven. (Fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Jan. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-300888-5
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
Certain to steal hearts.
In this follow-up to 2020’s The One and Only Bob, Ruby the elephant is still living at Wildworld Zoological Park and Sanctuary.
She’s apprehensive about her Tuskday, a rite of passage for young elephants when she’ll give a speech in front of the rest of the herd. Luckily, she can confide in her Uncle Ivan, who is next door in Gorilla World, and Uncle Bob, the dog who lives nearby with human friend Julia. Ruby was born in an unspecified part of Africa, later ending up on display in the mall, where she met Ivan, Bob, and Julia. The unexpected arrival of someone from Ruby’s past life on the savanna revives memories both warmly nostalgic and deeply traumatic. An elephant glossary and Castelao’s charming, illustrated guide to elephant body language help immerse readers in Ruby’s world. Goofy, playful, and mischievous Ruby is fully dimensional, as she has shown her bravery during the many hardships of her young life. Applegate deftly tempers themes of grief and loss with compassion and humor as Ruby finds her place in the herd. The author’s note touches on climate change, the illegal ivory trade, and conservation efforts, but the highly emotive framing of the story through the memories of a bewildered baby elephant emphasizes the impact of lines such as “ ‘in Africa,’ I say softly, ‘there were bad people,’ ” without offering readers a nuanced understanding of the broader context that drives poaching.
Certain to steal hearts. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780063080089
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2023
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