A fun, accessibly written concept marred by contrivance.
A human boy attends a ghostly boarding school.
In this translated German import, the parents of Leonard Hohenklaue (named after his grandfather’s beloved dachshund) are leaving for a research expedition in the Amazon. Consequently, Lenny will attend Shadowsnout Castle Academy in the German village of Great Wandelstein. Once at the school, however, Lenny quickly notices oddities, including floating lessons, invisible food and drink, and a distinctly nocturnal schedule. When Lenny meets Polly, another human pupil, she tells him the story of the castle’s past and explains that its future is endangered by a pushy developer. As Lenny tries to navigate both the human and spirit worlds, can he help save the castle before it’s too late? Reifenberg woos readers with hijinks and high spirits, but the thin plot relies heavily upon poop and fart references and pratfalls that some may tire of. Humorous grayscale illustrations depicting light-skinned humans are interspersed throughout the short chapters, helping with comedic timing and contributing sight gags. Conceptually, this work has the potential to be a silly Goosebumps-esque page-turner, but it misses its mark. The ending employs a trope that may satisfy and surprise some less-experienced genre readers but could leave others howling louder than an angry poltergeist.
A fun, accessibly written concept marred by contrivance. (Paranormal. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781662517518
Page Count: 212
Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2024
A deeply imaginative journey that puts the “cat” in cathartic.
A loyal black kitten’s boy is under supernatural attack.
Eleven-month-old Nimbus loves Fletcher, the boy who nursed her back to health following life-threatening injuries. When Fletcher becomes curious about a strange jar and opens it, releasing a terrible goblin, loyal Nim protects Fletcher, taking heavy damage in the process. But Fletcher’s aunt, who’s caring for him over spring break, believes Nim attacked Fletcher and dumps her far from home. Rhett, a stylish rat with star quality, befriends injured Nim and leads her to a witch’s house. While the witch cares for Nim, the witch’s cats (maternal Fern, bookish Rochester, standoffish Bianca, and openly hostile Abraxas) teach Nim important cat skills. She also discovers she has a supernatural ability: In destroying one eye of the nightmare demon in the fight to protect Fletcher, Nim gained its “dream sight.” But she also learns it might come back for Fletcher, who no longer has Nim to protect him, posing a time-sensitive, high-stakes threat. Even though the witch’s home is nice and magic itself seems to be telling her to stay put, Nim wants to find a way back to Fletcher. As a hero, Nimbus is as gritty and determined as she is adorable. Tear-jerker moments explore pet abandonment—readers may want their own pets on hand to hug—all the way through the magical, action-packed finale. Fletcher and the witch read white.
A deeply imaginative journey that puts the “cat” in cathartic. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9780062680372
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Supernatural mystery meets generational drama with hopeful endings for all.
Eleven-year-old Frank must solve a supernatural mystery to save his new home.
As fifth grade comes to an end, Frank Fernández is looking forward to finally staying put in Alabama for a second year, as promised, after a childhood spent following his parents’ home renovation work all across the country. Frequent relocation has made Frank wary of forming friendships or making plans, but his hopes for more stability are temporarily dashed when his parents announce plans to renovate a lighthouse in the Florida Keys, near where his mother grew up and his father’s home country of Cuba. Papi promises this will be their last move, though: The lighthouse will be theirs. But from their first day on Spectacle Key, things seem to go wrong: Tensions rise between his parents, and Frank’s hopes of a forever home are under threat from seemingly supernatural forces. In order to put down roots, Frank and new ghostly friend Connie, a White girl with freckles, must discover what secrets the island is hiding, uncovering Frank’s own family roots along the way. Frank is a fan of horror—he names his new Great Dane puppy Mary Shelley. But though there is some mild peril to be found, rather than a ghostly thriller, this is an appealing, lightly spooky family drama with valuable lessons for those who would hide from a difficult past instead of confronting and healing generational trauma.
Supernatural mystery meets generational drama with hopeful endings for all. (Supernatural. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-06-313481-2
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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