Gothy novice gamer and manga reader Maddy Starr has just moved from Boston to a small New Hampshire town following her parents’ divorce. Constantly bullied by the popular “Haters” at her new school, her only respite is playing the online game Fields of Fantasy. She even begins writing her own manga based on her adventures with fellow gamer “Sir Leo.” Buoyed by the strength of her online persona, she soon confronts her neglectful dad, stands up to the Haters and starts her own manga club. By this point, it is no surprise when “Sir Leo” turns out to be Chad, the cutest and most sympathetic member of the Haters. Cue happy ending. This lightweight chick-lit tale is distinguishable only because of its inclusion of manga and gaming culture, although both topics are treated in a more superficial manner than the appealing anime-inspired cover and title suggest. Predictable and littered with pop-culture references that will soon date, this one’s for undiscerning tween fans of formulaic romance who want more of the same. (Fiction. 12-14)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-525-47995-6
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2008
When the Nazi’s invade Austria in 1939, 12-year-old Ilse Shpann and her family flee to Japanese-occupied Shanghai with nothing more than her father’s violin. Though living as stateless refugees, the news about the war in Europe reaches them, and Ilse’s self-centered voice quickly gives way to a realization that people are willing to die for freedom. She joins the resistance movement and goes on several potentially dangerous escapades. Additional adventures include her friendship with street urchin and pickpocket Liu, her growing romance with Dovid, a Polish refugee, and her mother’s revelation that she’s never been legally married to Ilse’s father, all adding to the uncertainty and confusion of her life. As she prepares for life in America after the war, Ilse knows she will look back on her days in Shanghai with a mixture of anger and fondness. Though the romantic ending is ultimately unsatisfying, Ilse’s story offers another culture’s perspective on the effects of war. (Fiction. 12-14)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-8234-1960-6
Page Count: 282
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2006
J.J. Liddy sometimes wishes he could go clubbing like the other boys instead of playing fiddle at his family’s dances every weekend. Still, he loves the music. If only there were more time—for it seems everyone is running around these days, late for breakfast, late for school, late for dancing. Hoping to buy a bit of time for his mother’s birthday, he finds himself in to Tír na n’Óg, land of the ever young. There he meets the fairy folk, pleasure-loving musicians who explain that time’s been leaking from his world into theirs. Not only is this responsible for the terrible rush that plagues J.J.’s life, but it is bringing aging and death to the usually unchanging world of the fairies. Extremely short chapters interspersed with musical scores of appropriate traditional tunes create a choppy start, but the novel, rich with Irish flavor, quickly warms up as time passes too quickly in both worlds. A wholly satisfying resolution returns all characters to their homes—with a bit of crossing-over fun. Charming. (Fantasy. 12-14)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2007
ISBN: 0-06-117427-0
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2006
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
