An entertaining and informative journey of discovery, both inner and outer.
In this debut middle-grade novel, a boy discovers history and adventure along the Camino de Santiago.
Walk 500 miles in Spain? On a 1,200-year-old pilgrimage route? For 11-year-old Jamie Bacon, the prospect means an end to his favorite activities. But his parents are enthusiastic about traveling to Santiago de Compostela as part of their home-schooling plans for Jamie and his sister, Lily, 13. When Jamie’s father can’t come, the boy’s already sour attitude worsens. Nevertheless, his interest is sparked by several fellow travelers, such as Marley, a New Zealand teacher who tells fascinating historical stories and, forging ahead, leaves notes along the way for the siblings to find. Also intriguing is a large, mysterious taped envelope that two pilgrims have entrusted to Jamie, who’s promised to deliver it in Santiago de Compostela—and to keep his mission secret. Jantzen, in her book, gives readers, along with Jamie and Lily, a chance to learn some “geography, history, art, architecture” connected with the Camino. The author will keep readers’ attention with adventures, surprises, and lively descriptions, as with Marley’s telling of La Chanson de Roland and its “characters galore, plus battles and wicked tricks.” Jamie’s petulance and anger sometimes get him into trouble, but he also gains maturity and receives several chances to play hero (a few too many times). Some plot details are questionable; Jamie’s emotional attachment to Marley seems overstated, as when his skin tingles at the thought of seeing her. Jamie’s mother is suspicious of “two anonymous guys who use an innocent kid to be their messenger,” but the book undercuts her extremely reasonable doubt by emphasizing the importance of promise-keeping and giving Jamie’s errand a positive outcome.
An entertaining and informative journey of discovery, both inner and outer. (map, glossary)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73354-391-0
Page Count: 350
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Aug. 21, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun
It’s been 42 days since the Monster Apocalypse began, and 13-year-old Jack Sullivan, a self-proclaimed “zombie-fighting, monster-slaying tornado of cool” is on a quest to find and rescue his not-so-secret crush, June Del Toro, whether she needs it, wants it, or not.
Jack cobbles together an unlikely but endearing crew, including his scientist best friend, Quint Baker; Dirk Savage, Parker Middle School’s biggest bully; and a pet monster named Rover, to help him save the damsel in distress and complete the “ULTIMATE Feat of Apocalyptic Success.” Middle-grade readers, particularly boys, will find Jack’s pitch-perfect mix of humor, bravado, and self-professed geekiness impossible to resist. His sidekicks are equally entertaining, and it doesn’t hurt that there are also plenty of oozing, drooling, sharp-toothed monsters and zombies and a host of gizmos and gadgets to hook readers and keep them cheering with every turn of the page. Holgate’s illustrations play an integral role in the novel’s success. They not only bring Brallier’s characters to life, but also add depth and detail to the story, making plain just exactly how big Rover is and giving the lie to Jack’s “killer driving.” The marriage of text and illustration serves as a perfect example of what an illustrated novel can and should be.
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun (. (Graphic/horror hybrid. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-670-01661-7
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2015
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