Clever and humorously imaginative, with embedded words of wisdom.
In Lynn’s middle-grade novel, a “common pigeon” living in Los Angeles is depressed over the disrespect displayed by humans toward his kind.
A pigeon named Walter, the narrator of this sweetly jocular tale, sits on a wire watching LA traffic slowly wind its way through the city, having some thoughts about the status of pigeons and their relationships with humans. Other birds, such as peacocks and parrots, are lovingly tended to. But pigeons? Humans call them “rats with wings.” Plaintively, Walter laments, “no matter where we come from, all of us have the same fears, the same hopes, desires, and dreams. We all get cold and wet and just want a couple of square meals a day and a spot to dodge the rain.” Days later, he is people-watching with his lady love, Layla. Together they observe human eccentricities, commenting on the dismal state of human relationships, prejudices, and selfish obsessions. They happen upon a news program playing in the window of an appliance repair shop and watch a report about starlings in Rome who are executing beautifully synchronized flight patterns around the city—this is when Walter gets his big idea. Pigeons must organize and create a splendid performance, something that will amaze humans and alter their perception of these worthy birds. Walter is an endearing storyteller; he’s philosophical, sarcastic, a tad poignantly emotional, and very amusing. Through him, Lynn gently conveys lessons on the values of freedom, equality, and civility toward all. Young readers coping with issues of self-image and feelings of isolation will find the messaging encouraging. While many of the cultural references to movies and stars of the past are unlikely to resonate with YA readers, they are sure to produce some chuckles from adults. And the wide variety of birds joining the pigeons’ project (such as Ethan Hawk, who wishes to no longer be a predator) add delightful diversity and entertainment.
Clever and humorously imaginative, with embedded words of wisdom.Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2023
ISBN: 9780990435358
Page Count: -
Publisher: FootePrint Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
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
An absorbing fantasy centered on a resilient female protagonist facing growth, change, and self-empowerment.
In Florence’s middle-grade fantasy novel, a young girl’s heart is tested in the face of an evil, spreading Darkness.
Eleven-year-old Lydia, “freckle-cheeked and round-eyed, with hair the color of pine bark and fair skin,” is struggling with the knowledge that she has reached the age to apprentice as an herbalist. Lydia is reluctant to leave her beloved, magical Mulberry Glen and her cozy Housetree in the woods—she’ll miss Garder, the Glen’s respected philosopher; her fairy guardian Pit; her human friend Livy; and even the mischievous part-elf, part-imp, part-human twins Zale and Zamilla. But the twins go missing after hearing of a soul-sapping Darkness that has swallowed a forest and is creeping into minds and engulfing entire towns. They have secretly left to find a rare fruit that, it is said, will stop the Darkness if thrown into the heart of the mountain that rises out of the lethal forest. Lydia follows, determined to find the twins before they, too, fall victim to the Darkness. During her journey, accompanied by new friends, she gradually realizes that she herself has a dangerous role to play in the quest to stop the Darkness. In this well-crafted fantasy, Florence skillfully equates the physical manifestation of Darkness with the feelings of insecurity and powerlessness that Lydia first struggles with when thinking of leaving the Glen. Such negative thoughts grow more intrusive the closer she and her friends come to the Darkness—and to Lydia’s ultimate, powerfully rendered test of character, which leads to a satisfyingly realistic, not quite happily-ever-after ending. Highlights include a delightfully haunting, reality-shifting library and a deft sprinkling of Latin throughout the text; Pit’s pet name for Lydia is mea flosculus (“my little flower”). Fine-lined ink drawings introducing each chapter add a pleasing visual element to this well-grounded fairy tale.
An absorbing fantasy centered on a resilient female protagonist facing growth, change, and self-empowerment.Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781956393095
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Waxwing Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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