Heartwarming magic with just the right touch of talking toads and tortoises. (Fantasy. 8-12)
How can anyone resist a talking tortoise and a good-hearted young witch?
For the first time in many years, American readers can read more adventures of Mildred Hubble, the lovable, accident-prone young witch. Returning for her second term at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches, Mildred is uncharacteristically optimistic about a fresh start. Her big idea for creating a spell that makes animals talk (at least for a little while) is unique, creative and impressive. Her notes are in order, and she is excited to present her project to the demanding Miss Hardbloom. But innocent Mildred shares her idea with her enemy, the slippery and conniving Ethel Hallow, and things go bad quickly. Her optimism disappears with her notes when evil Ethel presents Mildred’s idea as her own. Readers will cheer for the bighearted Mildred when she takes huge risks to save Einstein, her tortoise friend, and he in turn saves her. An old-fashioned tone combines with Briticisms and sophisticated vocabulary to make this a fine step up from early chapter books. Distinctively detailed black-and-white illustrations grace each spread, adding humor and information to the narrative. Mildred’s innocent expressions juxtaposed with Miss Hardbloom’s harsh eyebrows will keep young readers engaged and amused.
Heartwarming magic with just the right touch of talking toads and tortoises. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6999-7
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A page-turner with striking characters and a satisfying puzzle at its heart.
A boy who visits a little free library gets more than he bargained for when he becomes a sleuth caught up in the middle of his town’s most enduring mystery.
Ever since a tragic fire destroyed the Martinville Library, the town has been left without a place to borrow books. That is, until a little free library suddenly pops up, guarded by a fluffy orange cat named Mortimer. Fifth grader Evan McClelland selects two books from its shelves. Inside them he finds puzzling clues that lead him to chase down the real story behind the library fire. The book is told from multiple perspectives, including those of Evan, Mortimer, and ghost librarian Al, who perished in the blaze and is responsible for the upkeep of the little free library. Evan’s tenacious and curious character is relatable. His relationship with likable best friend Rafe, a brave, kind boy with overprotective parents, is easily one of the most endearing parts of the story. The puzzle over the library fire, a secret involving Evan’s family, a popular writer’s connection to Martinville, and the supernatural elements are presented in ways that are just right for middle-grade readers. The pacing is strong, and the twists and turns are satisfying even if perceptive readers may catch hints of the ultimate truth along the way. Physical descriptions of the human characters are largely absent.
A page-turner with striking characters and a satisfying puzzle at its heart. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2023
ISBN: 9781250838810
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
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