DARKISLE

A light fantasy that rests perhaps too heavily on the shoulders of its forebears and makes ample use of their conventions. Ten-year-old Morag lives with her cruel foster parents, who (surprise) mock her about the abandonment of her parents, (surprise, surprise) work her much too hard and (quel surprise!) lock her in a dark, creepy cellar as a punishment. Luckily, down in the cellar Morag meets talking rat Aldiss and the bossy dodo Bertie, who bring her along on their quest to save the magical kingdom of Marnoch Mor, deep in the Scottish Highlands. Accompanied by the recently rescued Dragon Shona, the questers’ journey takes them onto magical trains, introduces them to talking medallions and brings them into combat with a vile-smelling demon named Tanktop. In an unshocking turn of events, Morag wonders if her missing parents have anything to do with Marnoch Mor. Complete with kindly old wizards and mean rich girls, Morag’s quest is derivative but sweet. (Fantasy. 8-10)