An exciting, exotic tale that occasionally overwhelms with its intricacy.
In this middle-grade historical-adventure novel, set in 1912 Morocco, a group of misfit children are kidnapped and sold as slaves to the vicious lord of a casbah.
Tariq is a street-wise orphan from Tangier who has spent his life just trying to survive. Just as he has finally found happiness in the care of the kind Zijuan, slave traders kidnap him and sell him as a camel jockey to the ruthless Caid Ali Tamzali. Also in his company are Margaret, the daughter of a British naval captain, who was kidnapped from her hotel; Fez, a brainiac from the mountains whose entire tribe was murdered; and Aseem, who was sold by his own father when he could no longer care for him. The four become fast friends, united in their desire to escape the evil Caid before they die in his service. Plotlines involve Margaret’s father tangling with pirates, Zijuan negotiating with Moroccan crime lords and a group of rebel fighters plotting to overthrow Caid’s casbah. The complex story, like its main characters, rarely stops to take a breath, hopping around in time to reveal the various back stories of its diverse ensemble. This provides tremendous insight into everyone’s motivations, but it can also grow dizzying. Some of the dialogue falls flat, but the action is so intense that many readers will hardly notice the words being said. Debut author O’Neill incorporates a great deal of cultural and historical context into his story; detailed descriptions of clothes, meals, weather and more will make readers feel as though they have traveled back in time and fallen into that world. The cliffhanger ending all but demands that readers jump to the next installment in the series.
An exciting, exotic tale that occasionally overwhelms with its intricacy.Pub Date: April 2, 2012
ISBN: 978-0985196943
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Black Ship Publishing
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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BOOK REVIEW
An action-packed sequel that’s sure to please series fans.
The magically gifted students at Fern’s School for Wayward Fae attempt to head off destruction of their realm.
This second series installment picks up right where the first left off: with Rosemary Thorpe alone and in danger in the Seelie court. She escapes via the Grim Reaper’s home after “borrowing” a hoodie that renders her invisible, then returns to Fern’s School a few hours later—only to learn that she’s been gone for a month, and everyone’s been worrying about her. Rosemary’s gift for foreseeing people’s deaths has made her aware that something terrible is coming to the school, and her teacher Dante’s prophetic abilities have pinpointed her upcoming 13th birthday as the pivotal date. Rosemary and her roommate, Trym, are convinced the Seelie Keeper is behind everything, but the adults—other than Dante—laugh at and dismiss their concerns, leaving the students to investigate on their own and putting them in terrible danger. Fast-paced action sequences will keep readers on the edges of their seats. Those familiar with the events of the first book will experience the most enjoyment while following human-raised Rosemary as she continues to adapt to the magical world in which she finds herself and learns more about her own family. Rosemary and Trym read white.
An action-packed sequel that’s sure to please series fans. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780593810507
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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BOOK REVIEW
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