This second book will inspire those unfamiliar with the first to seek it out.
A young Native American girl and her friends, all of whom possess superhuman abilities, must stop an alien plot to take over Earth in the second book by the father-daughter team of Jeff and Erynn Altabef (Wind Catcher, 2015).
Native American teenager Juliet Wildfire Stone was injected as a child with alien DNA, which gave her superhuman abilities, including the power to read minds. With her friend Troy, she travels to New York City to find others like her, known as Chosen. She knows they’re facing a threat from an alien civilization that could destroy the human race. The more Juliet learns how to use her new powers under the tutelage of their teacher, the Host, the more she’s scared that she’ll become completely alien. However, she has little choice, because only by working together to harness the power of all the Chosen can they all defeat this dire threat to humanity. The plot of this second book in the series unspools as swiftly and smoothly as the first. The authors write descriptively: “We unfold ourselves from the small car and follow her as she bounces toward the park entrance, her curly ringlet-infused hair flowing behind her like a cloud.” The book is also full of sly humor, as when one character “waves his smartphone as proof of his awesomeness.” All the characters are distinct and memorable, such as Connor, who uses alcohol as a crutch, and Akari, a quiet but lethal Japanese girl. The book also contains references to Native American beliefs such as the Coyote and Wind Spirits, which were central to the first book’s success. There are numerous similarities to Star Wars here, starting with the hoary “Chosen” theme; the wise teacher, the Host, is reminiscent of Yoda and occasionally even talks like him (“Move you must”). However, the fast-paced story, quirky dialogue, and engaging characters help the book escape the static holding pattern common to many other second installments.
This second book will inspire those unfamiliar with the first to seek it out.Pub Date: Oct. 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-62-253316-9
Page Count: 342
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
An inconsistent but imaginative, clever tale in the spirit of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories.
Schwulst’s picture book portrays an African folktale about the tortoise and his shell.
Thomas the tortoise, soft and wrinkled in body, searches for shelter on a “cold, dark and stormy night.” Finding none, he seeks warmth and a nap in the morning on a rock warmed by the sun. Monkeys wake him by chattering about the lion king’s malady, from which he will surely die. Skeptical, Thomas sets out to see for himself. At the king’s camp, Thomas finds Victor the Vulture. Victor confirms the king’s grave illness and says the only cure is for the lion to consume a pile of nuts, but no one can crack them open. Edward the Elephant could do it, but he stubbornly refuses. Kindhearted Thomas gets an idea and waddles off to bring Edward to the camp. As he goes, the monkeys laugh at the idea that a “small squishy tortoise” like Thomas could make Edward do anything. Thomas says that if he does bring Edward back, they all must kneel and must call him, Thomas, king. The monkeys laugh at this joke but say they will do as Thomas asks. Thomas finds Wilma Warthog, who agrees to dig a hole, deep and wide, and fill it with the nuts. Thomas finds Edward and tells him all the animals want him to be king and that they’ve invited him to a feast. Edward immediately booms agreement and scoops Thomas up on his back for the trek to the king’s camp. The monkeys greet them, kneel and yell, “All hail the King.” Edward sticks out his chest, boasting and strutting, until he falls into the hole, where he stomps and stomps until all the nuts are crushed and made into a stew. The stew heals the king, and Thomas wins his protective shell. The story and characters are delightful, but the illustrations are dark and out of harmony with the optimism of Thomas’ tale. Rhyme and rhythm are used erratically, which makes for awkward reading. Confusing punctuation errors appear throughout the text.
An inconsistent but imaginative, clever tale in the spirit of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories.Pub Date: Nov. 15, 2012
ISBN: 978-1479260904
Page Count: 32
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Roman charms with an imaginative, whimsical picture book that will entertain even the oldest pirates.
Debut author Roman pens a picture book about an imaginative boy who transforms his bed and stuffed animals into props for a marvelous pirate adventure.
Roman draws the reader in from the first page with illustrations that are cheerful and clever. The story showcases a young pirate and his menagerie: cousin Hallie, a first mate who sports a purple bandanna and ruffled pirate shirt; Linus, the loudmouthed but scaredy-cat lion with a braided goatee; Fribbet, the floppy frog with an audacious red pirate hat; and Mongo, the mast-climbing monkey who charms with an eye patch and endearingly oversized lips. Roman deftly creates an appealing visual experience with engaging, bright illustrations that will appeal to young readers. The characters are rich with animated expressions and personalities that showcase the creative and warmhearted ways the characters have fun. Well-drafted secondary characters also include the “mermaid” who appears with a plate of golden doubloons (in the form of cookies) and orders the pirate not to get crumbs on the bed when eating them. The text has a lovely intonation when read aloud, and the simple, understandable story also carries a more complex, clever subtext that will allow for educational discussions. The captain’s constant good-natured lament that “being a captain is hard work”—as he watches his crew do all the actual labor—is hilarious and a pleasant opportunity to teach children about the nuances of words and their layers of meaning. The author’s adept use of genuine pirate terms—“swab the decks,” “pump the bilges” and “me hearties”—adds flavor and authenticity to the story, too. The captain and his crew sit down with a dictionary to figure out what “shiver me timbers” means, and then they take great delight upon using the phrase correctly; children will, too.
Roman charms with an imaginative, whimsical picture book that will entertain even the oldest pirates.Pub Date: April 12, 2012
ISBN: 978-0615534657
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Michael/Okon
Review Posted Online: June 19, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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