Rufus comes from a family of witches, or as they prefer to call themselves, “empowered ones,” who have to spend time studying, memorizing, and meditating, none of which Rufus wants to do. His fervent wish is that he be a normal human being with no special powers. No one wants a wizard as a friend, he thinks, even his best friend, Billy. Of course, that’s not to be. Rufus discovers his power one day when he overcomes the class bully with a trick of his own. Just by concentrating his thoughts he’s able to make Big Douggie do a double somersault on his in-line skates and land on his butt. Rufus continues his magic-making ways, doing some mind-reading, foretelling the future, looking into water and seeing what’s happening elsewhere, and casting spells. His family is concerned that he is using his power without realizing the responsibility that goes with it. After a series of mishaps, Rufus accepts the fact that he is a wizard and determines to learn all that he needs to make himself a good one. Levinson’s characters are believable and fun. Lots of humor and some suspense in this combination school story and fantasy. The class bully is not always so bad, friendship has its ups and downs, teachers and principals have their little ways, and parents sometimes know best. Unfortunately, the author adds a stereotypical fussy school librarian, but even she is redeemed. Despite the rather stiff writing, this is good fun and there are no scary parts, offering a Harry Potter substitute for the younger set. (Fiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-7614-5102-1
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
Trickling, bubbling, swirling, rushing, a river flows down from its mountain beginnings, past peaceful country and bustling city on its way to the sea. Hooper (The Drop in My Drink, 1998, etc.) artfully evokes the water’s changing character as it transforms from “milky-cold / rattling-bold” to a wide, slow “sliding past mudflats / looping through marshes” to the end of its journey. Willey, best known for illustrating Geraldine McCaughrean’s spectacular folk-tale collections, contributes finely detailed scenes crafted in shimmering, intricate blues and greens, capturing mountain’s chill, the bucolic serenity of passing pastures, and a sense of mystery in the water’s shadowy depths. Though Hooper refers to “the cans and cartons / and bits of old wood” being swept along, there’s no direct conservation agenda here (for that, see Debby Atwell’s River, 1999), just appreciation for the river’s beauty and being. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)
Pub Date: June 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-7636-0792-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2000
An uncomplicated opener, with some funny bits and a clear but not heavy agenda.
Hank Zipzer, poster boy for dyslexic middle graders everywhere, stars in a new prequel series highlighting second-grade trials and triumphs.
Hank’s hopes of playing Aqua Fly, a comic-book character, in the upcoming class play founder when, despite plenty of coaching and preparation, he freezes up during tryouts. He is not particularly comforted when his sympathetic teacher adds a nonspeaking role as a bookmark to the play just for him. Following the pattern laid down in his previous appearances as an older child, he gets plenty of help and support from understanding friends (including Ashley Wong, a new apartment-house neighbor). He even manages to turn lemons into lemonade with a quick bit of improv when Nick “the Tick” McKelty, the sneering classmate who took his preferred role, blanks on his lines during the performance. As the aforementioned bully not only chokes in the clutch and gets a demeaning nickname, but is fat, boastful and eats like a pig, the authors’ sensitivity is rather one-sided. Still, Hank has a winning way of bouncing back from adversity, and like the frequent black-and-white line-and-wash drawings, the typeface is designed with easy legibility in mind.
An uncomplicated opener, with some funny bits and a clear but not heavy agenda. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-448-48239-2
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Review Posted Online: Dec. 10, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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