A thrilling but thoughtful adventure that older children and tweens are likely to enjoy.
In Dee’s middle-grade series starter, a young teen discovers a war fought with balls of energy that only he can see.
When 13-year-old Myles Tanter’sclassmate, Sally Munson, comes to school wearing unusual purple-silk pants, it draws ridicule from her peers, including Tommy Milfoil. As Sally and Tommy interact, Myles notices that their emotions manifest visually as flaming balls of fire, but only Myles seems to perceive them. He concludes he must do what he can to better understand his strange new ability; he soon observes that positive feelings also create energy, suggesting that any intention can be transmitted in this way. Myles tells his best friend, Charlie, and Sally about what he’s seeing, and they soon join him in his investigations. During lunch, Myles notices that a girl named Lucy, who’s new to the school, is being targeted by older students, so he decides to test the effects of positive energy; he finds that it can counteract negative intentions and spread good feelings. Later, Myles finds a letter from his grandmother that provides insights into the phenomena; his grandfather reveals that she was involved in secret activities, and he gives Myles a key to a safe deposit box. This, in turn, leads to the discovery that changes Myles’ perspective on the world forever. Overall, Dee focuses less on the superheroic elements of her story than she does on themes of empathy and friendship, and her book has a strong anti-bullying message throughout. Still, readers who enjoy superhero origin stories will enjoy this tale, even though there’s no clear inciting incident that activates Myles’ powers; there is, however, an amusing allusion to a spider bite as the possible trigger. The story also includes some standout scenes that young readers will find relatable, as when Myles begins a journey of self-acceptance: “Where do those thoughts come from? I would never say hurtful things like I think about myself to Charlie or Sally….Sometimes, it feels like my thoughts are my worst enemy.”
A thrilling but thoughtful adventure that older children and tweens are likely to enjoy.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Aug. 8, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel.
Sure signs that the creative wells are running dry at last, the Captain’s ninth, overstuffed outing both recycles a villain (see Book 4) and offers trendy anti-bullying wish fulfillment.
Not that there aren’t pranks and envelope-pushing quips aplenty. To start, in an alternate ending to the previous episode, Principal Krupp ends up in prison (“…a lot like being a student at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, except that the prison had better funding”). There, he witnesses fellow inmate Tippy Tinkletrousers (aka Professor Poopypants) escape in a giant Robo-Suit (later reduced to time-traveling trousers). The villain sets off after George and Harold, who are in juvie (“not much different from our old school…except that they have library books here.”). Cut to five years previous, in a prequel to the whole series. George and Harold link up in kindergarten to reduce a quartet of vicious bullies to giggling insanity with a relentless series of pranks involving shaving cream, spiders, effeminate spoof text messages and friendship bracelets. Pilkey tucks both topical jokes and bathroom humor into the cartoon art, and ups the narrative’s lexical ante with terms like “pharmaceuticals” and “theatrical flair.” Unfortunately, the bullies’ sad fates force Krupp to resign, so he’s not around to save the Earth from being destroyed later on by Talking Toilets and other invaders…
Is this the end? Well, no…the series will stagger on through at least one more scheduled sequel. (Fantasy. 10-12)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-17534-0
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 19, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2012
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