A thrilling and educational tale for young and old alike.
A young plant learns about the natural world in this debut eco-adventure for middle-grade readers.
As soon as Allium, a garlic plant, has sprouted, she’s curious about the world around her: what are those drops falling from the sky? What is that red-and-black-speckled bug coming in for a landing? The insect, it turns out, is a ladybug named Bet who answers all of Allium’s other questions and teaches her all about the natural world. Things are going well until Allium and the other inhabitants of the garden are threatened by the Septoria sisters—a couple of very serious plant diseases that could wipe everything out, as they’ve done many times before. To combat this possibility, Allium and the rest of her friends must come up with a plan in time, or they may be doomed to become tomorrow’s compost for crop rotation. Most works that use anthropomorphic animals and plants for the sake of teaching a lesson about the natural world are lighthearted, frothy works. Lisa G. Gabory’s debut, though, isn’t quite as breezy as others—and this is a good thing. Instead, the author sets the scene for a bit of a thriller, and the tension increases as Allium and her garden get closer to their potential doom. Of course, this drama also relates plenty of important information about natural processes, such as photosynthesis or how sap-sucking insects produce honeydew (which ants love). These scientific breaks keep the suspense at bay while also educating young readers. Also on the docket are lessons in friendship, bravery, and perseverance, which anyone could stand to brush up on. Both adults and kids will enjoy taking a trip through Allium’s world, and that’s a testament to the quality of the author’s prose and her penchant for big ideas. That said, the illustrations by the author and Lisa M. Gabory are unnecessary, and frankly, a little spooky. All in all, though, this work is certainly a welcome addition to the canon of talking-plant stories.
A thrilling and educational tale for young and old alike.Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5089-0253-9
Page Count: 168
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This delightful debut welcomes readers in like a house filled with love.
A 13-year-old biracial girl longs to build the house of her dreams.
For Lou Bulosan-Nelson, normal is her “gigantic extended family squished into Lola’s for every holiday imaginable.” She shares a bedroom with her Filipina mother, Minda—a former interior-design major and current nurse-to-be—in Lola Celina’s San Francisco home. From her deceased white father, Michael, Lou inherited “not-so-Filipino features,” his love for architecture, and some land. Lou’s quietude implies her keen eye for details, but her passion for creating with her hands resonates loudly. Pining for something to claim as her own, she plans to construct a house from the ground up. When her mom considers moving out of state for a potential job and Lou’s land is at risk of being auctioned off, Lou stays resilient, gathering support from both friends and family to make her dream a reality. Respicio authentically depicts the richness of Philippine culture, incorporating Filipino language, insights into Lou’s family history, and well-crafted descriptions of customs, such as the birdlike Tinikling dance and eating kamayan style (with one’s hands), throughout. Lou’s story gives voice to Filipino youth, addressing cultural differences, the importance of bayanihan (community), and the true meaning of home.
This delightful debut welcomes readers in like a house filled with love. (Fiction. 8-13)Pub Date: June 12, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5247-1794-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Wendy Lamb/Random
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
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