ANTHEM LIGHTNER AND THE REALM OF THE FOUNT

A tween braves a precarious realm to save her little brother in Bond’s middle-grade fantasy novel.

Twelve-year-old Anthem “Ant” Lightner, along with many other kids, is locked in an “ancient fortress” in Florida. The Elder Strain virus, which rapidly ages people, has spread worldwide, and the U.S. government is separating children from the adults. At least Ant is stuck inside with her brother, Berty. While in solitary confinement for a relatively minor offense, she hears that Berty has gone missing. She later gets unexpected help from new arrival Jasper—a boy whom Ant’s teenage friend and former babysitter, Roxy, told her not to trust. Jasper somehow opens a portal to the Realm of the Fount in their search for Berty—it’s in this alternate world that Ant, Jasper, and several friends from the fortress become captives of a vicious king who forces people into servitude. Will Ant finally reunite with Berty? And can she and her friends escape the king’s tyrannical rule? Bond portrays a fantastical realm with ties to a well-known legend. The story boasts an aquatic theme, including encounters with sea serpents, poisonous coral, and a “cross between a giant jellyfish and a shark.” The exposition is hefty but necessary, since the realm and its inhabitants introduced in the novel have been around for centuries. The narrative includes startling revelations along the way, including a doozy that compellingly expands the novel’s accumulating lore. Ant’s courage is admirable; she’s a girl who doesn’t hesitate to jump into a portal if it means rescuing her brother. She leads a substantial cast that feels a bit crowded, with characters popping in and out of scenes, their exits not always fully explained. Still, the story is engaging, and the wrap-up hits all the right notes.

Ample surprises and one young hero’s valor propel this otherworldly adventure.