A story of modern threats to sea life grounded in Scottish legend.
A lonely boy’s first friends are dolphins, but he can’t save them from deadly pollution alone.
In the tiny, remote Scottish village of Stromhead, 11-year-old Finn McFee lives in a tumbledown cottage with his depressed dad. There are just 11 children in his primary school, and the only ones near his age want nothing to do with him. Finn longs for friends, but even more, he wants to know what happened to his mum, who disappeared when he was 2. His dad forbids him to go near the cove, but Finn finds solace in contemplating the water. After a bully chases him off the harbor wall, he discovers a magical connection to the sea and makes friends with a pod of dolphins. But their lives are soon endangered by the release of 5,000 promotional balloons by a new supermarket. Finn needs the other kids’ assistance—and friendship. Along the way, Finn learns the truth about his mother—and that kids can make a difference, even if adults give up. Finn, who’s cued white, has long been surrounded by rumors about his mother; he ultimately finds camaraderie with peers who also feel isolated, including Pakistani British Amir and Ethiopian and Scottish Jas. The themes of friendship, belonging, and environmental activism are admirable, and the gentle writing, reminiscent of older classics, is lovely. The character development feels somewhat one-dimensional, however. Black-and-white line drawings enhance the text.
A story of modern threats to sea life grounded in Scottish legend. (map, poem) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2024
ISBN: 9781035034710
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A page-turner with striking characters and a satisfying puzzle at its heart.
A boy who visits a little free library gets more than he bargained for when he becomes a sleuth caught up in the middle of his town’s most enduring mystery.
Ever since a tragic fire destroyed the Martinville Library, the town has been left without a place to borrow books. That is, until a little free library suddenly pops up, guarded by a fluffy orange cat named Mortimer. Fifth grader Evan McClelland selects two books from its shelves. Inside them he finds puzzling clues that lead him to chase down the real story behind the library fire. The book is told from multiple perspectives, including those of Evan, Mortimer, and ghost librarian Al, who perished in the blaze and is responsible for the upkeep of the little free library. Evan’s tenacious and curious character is relatable. His relationship with likable best friend Rafe, a brave, kind boy with overprotective parents, is easily one of the most endearing parts of the story. The puzzle over the library fire, a secret involving Evan’s family, a popular writer’s connection to Martinville, and the supernatural elements are presented in ways that are just right for middle-grade readers. The pacing is strong, and the twists and turns are satisfying even if perceptive readers may catch hints of the ultimate truth along the way. Physical descriptions of the human characters are largely absent.
A page-turner with striking characters and a satisfying puzzle at its heart. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2023
ISBN: 9781250838810
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
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