Fascinating, intense, and gripping.
Ava is Jewish, her cousin Nadeem is Muslim, and they both love their wise, possibly magical, Jewish Granny Buena.
The children are being bullied because of their religions and seek comfort from Granny. She selects a silver button covered in rubies from a gilded box. As she begins the tale of how their Jewish ancestor Ester acquired this button from the Muslim prince Abdur Rahman and his servant Bedir, the action shifts to North Africa 1,000 years ago. When Granny stops midtale, Ava takes the button and sews it onto her sweatshirt—which magically transports the children and Granny’s cat Sheba to the marketplace at Sabtah at the moment Granny stopped the story. They are recognized as visiting cousins but retain their modern perspective. Ava, Nadeem, and Sheba are involved in all the ensuing activities and adventures. But Ester is the real hero, aiding the endangered prince’s escape by sailing him across to Spain (where her family will follow) to fulfill his destiny, ruling over Jews and Muslims working together pursuing knowledge. The authors describe sights, sounds, and daily life in beautiful, meticulous detail, seamlessly weaving in historical and cultural information and emphasizing the similarities in Jewish and Muslim philosophies. Both the modern and medieval characters are presented in emotionally charged language as unique individuals with strong personalities. Are there more stories in Granny’s magical button box? Granny’s wink indicates a possible sequel. Though religion plays a major role, the characters’ races aren’t made explicit.
Fascinating, intense, and gripping. (photos, glossary, authors’ note) (Historical fiction/fantasy. 9-14)Pub Date: April 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72842-396-8
Page Count: 152
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
An endearing protagonist runs the first, fast leg of Reynolds' promising relay.
Castle “Ghost” Cranshaw feels like he’s been running ever since his dad pulled that gun on him and his mom—and used it.
His dad’s been in jail three years now, but Ghost still feels the trauma, which is probably at the root of the many “altercations” he gets into at middle school. When he inserts himself into a practice for a local elite track team, the Defenders, he’s fast enough that the hard-as-nails coach decides to put him on the team. Ghost is surprised to find himself caring enough about being on the team that he curbs his behavior to avoid “altercations.” But Ma doesn’t have money to spare on things like fancy running shoes, so Ghost shoplifts a pair that make his feet feel impossibly light—and his conscience correspondingly heavy. Ghost’s narration is candid and colloquial, reminiscent of such original voices as Bud Caldwell and Joey Pigza; his level of self-understanding is both believably childlike and disarming in its perception. He is self-focused enough that secondary characters initially feel one-dimensional, Coach in particular, but as he gets to know them better, so do readers, in a way that unfolds naturally and pleasingly. His three fellow “newbies” on the Defenders await their turns to star in subsequent series outings. Characters are black by default; those few white people in Ghost’s world are described as such.
An endearing protagonist runs the first, fast leg of Reynolds' promising relay. (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-5015-7
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
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PROFILES
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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