Engaging, pensive, quirky: A portal that shows the transformative powers of creative thinking and life experiences.
A boy, a dog, and a mouse embark on the journey of a lifetime—and well beyond.
First introduced as Nothing the Younger, this story’s protagonist is a boy called Nothing—Ing for short—whose existence evokes the familiar question: What’s in a name? It also compels him to find his life’s purpose in a world where folks’ names “were their calling” and “everyone had good work to do.” From the outset, this book offers an original reading experience through its spare, vivid prose that’s enhanced by the playful arrangement and imaginative layout of the printed text, adding a distinct, interactive visual aspect to the narrative. Following Ing’s trajectory, that of a hapless orphan whose quest accidentally transports him from the Land of the Living to the Land of the Dead and back again, the plot unfolds over 12 chapters comprising the classic hero’s journey and imparts life lessons in unconventional ways. The fairy-tale setting “in the city on the mountaintop of a far-off and long-lost country” feels comfortingly familiar, as do the archetypal characters: the self-absorbed and materialistic king and queen, the Wander Prince who evolves into the Wonder Prince, the wimmelworm (a serpentine monster that must be subdued), the nurturing and wise mentor Nana, intuitive besties Pöppy the dog and mOmO the mouse, haunting spirits, and more. An author’s note detailing the work’s structure and format provides a mini-lesson on craft.
Engaging, pensive, quirky: A portal that shows the transformative powers of creative thinking and life experiences. (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2026
ISBN: 9781464246029
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Stonefruit Studio/Sourcebooks
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
Another zippy charmer—no Quibbles here.
The mad scientist Porch sisters finally face off against the abominable (and newly reanimated) Talon Sharktūth.
Following their escapades at the titular hotel in Secrets of the Purple Pearl (2025), sisters Dee-Dee, Eugenia, and Gertrude, who are adopted, find themselves swept up in another adventure with the Lavinias, Aunt Desdemona, and their 98-year-old Grantie Lettuce in ParisToo, which is “like Paris but smaller, and it’s in upstate New York.” Of course, the girls’ beloved mentor and teacher, Millicent Quibb, pops in and out, both warning and helping the trio. The Porches are Apocryphs, and each one has a unique power. Their sightseeing trip around ParisToo feels a bit too convenient, and as suspicious coincidences mount (along with sightings of members of the KRA, the shadowy cabal that revived Sharktūth), the girls suspect that something sinister is afoot. They eventually learn the truth of Sharktūth’s scheme, but can they stop him and the KRA before it’s too late? This third series entry satisfyingly answers many of the lingering questions of its predecessors. With all the zest and zeal of a caffeinated squirrel, this installment delivers the series’ patented quirkiness and giggle-generating plotlines, footnotes, and illustrations. Millicent Quibb wisely opines that “it takes much bravery, to be different…but really, if no one dared to do it, who would save the day?” This is an endearing tale of found family and believing in oneself, with an ending that hints at further adventures.
Another zippy charmer—no Quibbles here. (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
ISBN: 9780316555814
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
SEEN & HEARD
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
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