In the fourth in this fantasy series by Australian Rodda (Rodda and the Keeper of the Crystal, p. 50, etc.), Rowan follows the patterns set forth in previous titles. Rowan has become a hero to the Rin in previous books, but he is very aware that he is not larger than life, and now his renown has made him feel even more of an oddity in the village. Because he ignored an ominous feeling, Rowan feels responsible for the capture of his younger sister by a flying lizard-like creature sent by the Zebaks. Various friends from previous adventures join him in his quest to find her and bring her back, but as always, Rowan must first see Sheba, the witch-like seer for help on his journey. Sheba’s forecasts are told in poems that provide clues suitably vague and threatening, but as events unfold, reveal exactly the information the seekers need. Rowan and his companions are nicely ordinary, yet manage to have just the resources needed in their battle against the evil Zebak. The tale flows smoothly with threatening episodes paced to keep the plot moving. Rowan and his fellow travelers are far more likely to act independently than companions of Rodda’s Deltora Quest series where unity was critical. Although each adventure stands alone, this is much easier to follow when the books are read in order as new characters are introduced and continue to be important in following stories. Lacking depth in terms of exploring grand ideas, it is nonetheless satisfying to see simple determination and kindness rewarded with success. Solid. (Fiction. 8-12)
Pub Date: May 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-06-029778-6
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2002
Unbelievable, improbable, and illogical—but quite delightful.
Joel, Nina, and their mother, Mrs. Popper, are distantly related to the family whose penguins made the town of Stillwater famous years ago.
In nearby Hillport, Mrs. Popper has purchased an abandoned house that had once been a penguin petting zoo. While exploring their new home, the children discover two intact penguin eggs in the basement. They care for the eggs surreptitiously, without telling Mom. Once the eggs hatch, the baby penguins, now named Ernest and Mae, are mischievous and clever, and the secret is soon out. The family decides to bring Ernest and Mae to join the original group of penguins that was relocated to Popper Island in the Arctic—never mind that penguins’ habitat is the Antarctic. They travel by boat, with Yuka, an Inuit doctoral student in zoology, as their guide and leader. Journey highlights include a penguin-caused glitch in the boat’s computer systems, a vicious Arctic storm, and lively interactions with the island-based penguins. Due to a puffin problem they decide to haul all the penguins to Antarctica, their rightful habitat. Schrefer clearly greatly admires the beloved, more-than–80-year-old classic, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, keeping readers informed by referring to its characters and events while adding a modern, eco-friendly viewpoint and lots of fun and laughs. Joel and Nina are sweet, resourceful, and wonderfully kind, as are Mom and Yuka. (Illustrations not seen.)
Unbelievable, improbable, and illogical—but quite delightful. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-316-49542-4
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Inconsistent and messy.
A young Appalachian girl uses magic to try and save her home.
Sybaline Shaw’s family has known for years that their magical valley in the Appalachian foothills would be flooded when the nearby Tennessee Valley Authority dam was complete. Her father is off fighting in World War II, but Momma has already packed up their household. Sybaline alone of her family can’t accept this. Everyone in the Lark bloodline can use magic within the valley to shape the natural world, but they risk transforming themselves into plants or trees—a danger Sybaline and her cousins regularly ignore. After lying to their parents shortly before everyone moves away, Sybaline and her cousin Nettle—each claiming to be going to stay with the other—remain behind and create a bubble around Sybaline’s home, which soon turns into a dark, dank prison on the bottom of the newly formed lake. Now Sybaline and Nettle are becoming trees—how will they escape? Told from Sybaline’s point of view with matter-of-factness, the novel blends fantasy and reality with worldbuilding that leaves unanswered questions. Brief mentions of aluminum plants supporting the war effort, riots by White men over Black construction workers, and the Trail of Tears contrast with the Edenlike imagery of the lush, unspoiled valley and its sheltered occupants living off the land in yet another Appalachian story supporting the trope that technology is predominantly bad. Main characters are assumed to be White.
Inconsistent and messy. (Historical fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-72820-964-7
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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