A spine-tingling tale of a youngster coming into her own.
Twelve-year-old Dubliner Gwen has no idea of the changes awaiting her when she reluctantly agrees to attend a boarding school situated on ancient monastic ruins.
The year is 1986. Gwen’s mother has grown increasingly emotionally unstable while homeschooling her only child, so Gwen’s dad sends her to Loughmoe Abbey. School proves a tough adjustment; lonely, teased because of her weight, and struggling scholastically, Gwen rebuffs the overtures of kindly Hanuni and instead attempts to befriend another dormmate, the chilly Jess, with little success. By midterm break, her sole friend is the cook, who encourages Gwen to tell the principal, Ms. Friedman, about the strange things she’s been noticing: swirling leaves (on a day with no wind), rustling reeds, and a mysterious voice. Ms. Friedman calmly informs Gwen that a spirit is attempting to reach out and sets up an appointment for further communication. As Gwen engages with a spirit named Molly, the initially leisurely pace picks up considerably, and the supernatural elements gain in intensity. Though Gwen’s awkward, occasionally selfish behavior may put off some readers, the eerie atmosphere and intriguing plot will engage them, propelling the story toward happy endings on many fronts. Gwen’s bond with Molly results in an ultimately satisfying arc as she grows in confidence. Gwen and Jess present white; Hanuni is Black and Kenyan.
A spine-tingling tale of a youngster coming into her own. (Paranormal. 8-11)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781803419176
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Our Street Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2025
Certain to elicit both gales of giggles and winces of sympathy (not to mention recognition) from young readers.
First volume of a planned three, this edited version of an ongoing online serial records a middle-school everykid’s triumphs and (more often) tribulations through the course of a school year.
Largely through his own fault, mishaps seem to plague Greg at every turn, from the minor freak-outs of finding himself permanently seated in class between two pierced stoners and then being saddled with his mom for a substitute teacher, to being forced to wrestle in gym with a weird classmate who has invited him to view his “secret freckle.” Presented in a mix of legible “hand-lettered” text and lots of simple cartoon illustrations with the punch lines often in dialogue balloons, Greg’s escapades, unwavering self-interest and sardonic commentary are a hoot and a half.
Certain to elicit both gales of giggles and winces of sympathy (not to mention recognition) from young readers. (Fiction. 9-11)Pub Date: April 1, 2007
ISBN: 0-8109-9313-9
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2007
SEEN & HEARD
PERSPECTIVES
Move over Ramona Quimby, Portland has another neighbor you have to meet!
Ryan Hart is navigating the fourth grade and all its challenges with determination.
Her mom named her Ryan because it means “king,” and she wanted Ryan to feel powerful every time she heard her name; Ryan knows it means she is a leader. So when changes occur or disaster strikes, budding chef Ryan does her best to find the positive and “make sunshine.” When her dad is laid off from the post office, the family must make adjustments that include moving into a smaller house, selling their car, and changing how they shop for groceries. But Ryan gets to stay at Vernon Elementary, and her mom still finds a way to get her the ingredients she needs to practice new recipes. Her older brother, Ray, can be bossy, but he finds little ways to support her, especially when she is down—as does the whole family. Each episodic chapter confronts Ryan with a situation; intermittently funny, frustrating, and touching, they should be familiar and accessible to readers, as when Ryan fumbles her Easter speech despite careful practice. Ryan, her family, and friends are Black, and Watson continues to bring visibility to both Portland, Oregon, generally and its Black community specifically, making another wonderful contribution that allows Black readers to see themselves and all readers to find a character they can love.
Move over Ramona Quimby, Portland has another neighbor you have to meet! (Fiction. 8-10)Pub Date: April 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0056-4
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020
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