Lovers of adventure stories will enjoy this fast-paced, action-packed novel.
Smith’s adventure begins as 14-year-old Sabira climbs up the dangerous mountain Aderast with her uncle Mihnir and the Frost-Cleric Tserah to bond with the frostsliver, a piece of the mystic glacier that would grant her powers.
Only one in every 100 who come of age in the fictional city of Adranna is chosen to visit the glacier each year, and Sabira is more nervous than excited. Only six months ago Sabira lost her brother, Kyran, to the mountain; although Kyran was originally chosen by the frost clerics to bond with the frostsliver, an attack by some men from the neighboring Ignatian ethnic group injured Kyran’s leg permanently, causing him to attempt the dangerous bonding without any guidance. Driven by the loss of her brother, Sabira completes the final leg of her trek and manages to get some frostsliver. An unexpected avalanche, however, kills Tserah and wounds Mihnir, making their journey back practically impossible. It is up to Sabira to battle her way through the snow and cold, avoid mythical creatures such as the yeti, and find her way back home to save her uncle. Although Smith’s novel has some magical elements, the adventure set in an almost barren, icy, South Asia–like wilderness drives the plot. Readers know little about Sabira’s ethnicity apart from her name, but her quick wit, grit, and quiet determination are instrumental in her very real quest for survival.
Lovers of adventure stories will enjoy this fast-paced, action-packed novel. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-54063-5
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Chicken House/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
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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