An engaging young hero leads this inventive, intelligently mounted fantasy.
A 10-year-old girl’s belief that magic is real receives a ghostly confirmation in Black’s middle-grade fantasy novel.
After a move to a small California coastal town of Edna for her mother’s new job, fourth-grader Sara says her life is “crummy…with a capital C.” She has no friends at school, and worse, two girl bullies target her for ridicule and torment after they learn of her belief in magic. It doesn’t help that Sara’s mom, stepdad, and older brother have all happily adjusted to their new surroundings. At least Sara has a road trip with Mom to visit to her Gramsy’s farm to look forward to. On the lookout for magic along the way, Sara almost gives up, until they stop for an overnight stay at the old, rustic (and real-life) Deetjen’s Inn in the Big Sur redwood forest. Sara hears sounds in her room’s dark closet and discovers the magic she sought: a collection of ghostly clothing talking about their histories, led by Silas, a Civil War Union Army jacket. In this promising middle-grade novel debut, the author gives a fascinating, original supernatural twist to historical facts, adding real-world substance with coastal travel highlights, a grade-schooler’s relatable issues, and a touch of romance and mystery from the distant past. Framing educational content as conversational stories told by shoes, shirts, jackets, jeans, hats, and dresses—each with a colorful, individual personality—the author brings history to life. The book disappoints only in its treatment of bullying: When Sara finally reveals what her bullies have done (including a inflicting a slight physical injury, the destruction of property, and taunting), her mom unhelpfully asks what she plans to do about it and suggests she try to understand her bullies: “Sometimes it helps everybody involved if you can put yourself in the other person’s shoes.” Following the story’s suspenseful conclusion, Black gives readers some bonus material: a teaser for the next book in the series, more facts about the real places and people in the story, and some hands-on activities, including a recipe for fortune cookies.
An engaging young hero leads this inventive, intelligently mounted fantasy.Pub Date: Jan. 30, 2023
ISBN: 9780989523424
Page Count: 237
Publisher: Coalesce Press
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Plays to Rowling’s fan base; equally suited for gifting and reading aloud or alone.
A 7-year-old descends into the Land of the Lost in search of his beloved comfort object.
Jack has loved Dur Pig long enough to wear the beanbag toy into tattered shapelessness—which is why, when his angry older stepsister chucks it out the car window on Christmas Eve, he not only throws a titanic tantrum and viciously rejects the titular replacement pig, but resolves to sneak out to find DP. To his amazement, the Christmas Pig offers to guide him to the place where all lost Things go. Whiffs of childhood classics, assembled with admirable professionalism into a jolly adventure story that plays all the right chords, hang about this tale of loss and love. Along with family drama, Rowling stirs in fantasy, allegory, and generous measures of social and political commentary. Pursued by the Land’s cruel and monstrous Loser, Jack and the Christmas Pig pass through territories from the Wastes of the Unlamented, where booger-throwing Bad Habits roam, to the luxurious City of the Missed for encounters with Hope, Happiness, and Power (a choleric king who rejects a vote that doesn’t go his way). A joyful reunion on the Island of the Beloved turns poignant, but Christmas Eve being “a night for miracles and lost causes,” perhaps there’s still a chance (with a little help from Santa) for everything to come right? In both the narrative and Field’s accomplished, soft-focus illustrations, the cast presents White.
Plays to Rowling’s fan base; equally suited for gifting and reading aloud or alone. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-338-79023-8
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship.
A young tennis champion becomes the target of revenge.
In this sequel to Legacy and the Queen (2019), Legacy Petrin and her friends Javi and Pippa have returned to Legacy’s home province and the orphanage run by her father. With her friends’ help, she is in training to defend her championship when they discover that another player, operating under the protection of High Consul Silla, is presenting herself as Legacy. She is so convincing that the real Legacy is accused of being an imitation. False Legacy has become a hero to the masses, further strengthening Silla’s hold, and it becomes imperative to uncover and defeat her. If Legacy is to win again, she must play her imposter while disguised as someone else. Winning at tennis is not just about money and fame, but resisting Silla’s plans to send more young people into brutal mines with little hope of better lives. Legacy will have to overcome her fears and find the magic that allowed her to claim victory in the past. This story, with its elements of sports, fantasy, and social consciousness that highlight tensions between the powerful and those they prey upon, successfully continues the series conceived by late basketball superstar Bryant. As before, the tennis matches are depicted with pace and spirit. Legacy and Javi have brown skin; most other characters default to White.
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-949520-19-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Granity Studios
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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