A pleasing sequel.
Readers return to the kingdom of Epoca, which Claire and her collaborator, Bryant, began with The Tree of Ecrof (2019).
Eleven-year-old Pretia, the irrepressible princess, accompanied by her now-best-friend, Rovi, reach the end of the ceremonial tour that anoints her as the Child of Hope, the royal offspring of the two dominant ethno-states, the Dreamers and the Realists. Pretia, who has finally divined her grana, or talent granted by the gods, will eventually rule the kingdom. Her particular gift is that she is able to split herself in two, with her shadow displaying impressive athletic prowess and allowing her to win competitions. However, Pretia’s parents, Queen Helena from the Realists and King Airos from the Dreamers, hear rumors that Rovi’s people, the street-urchin caste called the Star Stealers, have been rebelling and fear they will use the upcoming Junior Epic Games to mount a larger political protest. The royal couple forbids the princess from participating in the event in order to protect her and, ultimately, their rule. Rovi, whose own talent led to his recruitment to represent the king’s people at the games, vows to show that he deserves his spot on the team and to represent the Star Stealers' humanity. This sports-centered fantasy homage to ancient Greece entertainingly conveys an earthbound moral: Athletics can elevate individuals as they represent their cultures.
A pleasing sequel. (Fantasy. 10-12)Pub Date: Dec. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-949520-18-7
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Granity Studios
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
Wholesome shading to bland, but well-stocked with exotic creatures and locales, plus an agreeable cast headed by a child...
A San Diego preteen learns that she’s an elf, with a place in magic school if she moves to the elves’ hidden realm.
Having felt like an outsider since a knock on the head at age 5 left her able to read minds, Sophie is thrilled when hunky teen stranger Fitz convinces her that she’s not human at all and transports her to the land of Lumenaria, where the ageless elves live. Taken in by a loving couple who run a sanctuary for extinct and mythical animals, Sophie quickly gathers friends and rivals at Foxfire, a distinctly Hogwarts-style school. She also uncovers both clues to her mysterious origins and hints that a rash of strangely hard-to-quench wildfires back on Earth are signs of some dark scheme at work. Though Messenger introduces several characters with inner conflicts and ambiguous agendas, Sophie herself is more simply drawn as a smart, radiant newcomer who unwillingly becomes the center of attention while developing what turn out to be uncommonly powerful magical abilities—reminiscent of the younger Harry Potter, though lacking that streak of mischievousness that rescues Harry from seeming a little too perfect. The author puts her through a kidnapping and several close brushes with death before leaving her poised, amid hints of a higher destiny and still-anonymous enemies, for sequels.
Wholesome shading to bland, but well-stocked with exotic creatures and locales, plus an agreeable cast headed by a child who, while overly fond of screaming, rises to every challenge. (Fantasy. 10-12)Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-4593-2
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: July 17, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2012
An eminently satisfying story of family, recovery, and growing into manhood.
In this prequel to Newbery Award–winning The Crossover (2014), Alexander revisits previous themes and formats while exploring new ones.
For Charlie Bell, the future father of The Crossover’s Jordan and Josh, his father’s death alters his relationship with his mother and causes him to avoid what reminds him of his dad. At first, he’s just withdrawn, but after he steals from a neighbor, his mother packs a reluctant Charlie off to his grandparents near Washington, D.C., for the summer. His grandfather works part-time at a Boys and Girls Club where his cousin Roxie is a star basketball player. Despite his protests, she draws him into the game. His time with his grandparents deepens Charlie’s understanding of his father, and he begins to heal. “I feel / a little more normal, / like maybe he’s still here, / … in a / as long as I remember him / he’s still right here / in my heart / kind of way.” Once again, Alexander has given readers an African-American protagonist to cheer. He is surrounded by a strong supporting cast, especially two brilliant female characters, his friend CJ and his cousin Roxie, as well as his feisty and wise granddaddy. Music and cultural references from the late 1980s add authenticity. The novel in verse is enhanced by Anyabwile’s art, which reinforces Charlie’s love for comics.
An eminently satisfying story of family, recovery, and growing into manhood. (Historical verse fiction. 10-12)Pub Date: April 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-544-86813-7
Page Count: 416
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
SEEN & HEARD
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