A well-drawn, young cast trounces adversaries.
Teenage friends and family help a princess save her magical kingdom from nefarious leprechauns in this delightful middle-grade graphic novel.
American siblings Avery and Renee, along with their bestie, Elias, visit Ireland to see their cousin Brian. After a stormy night, the youngsters awaken to a particularly vibrant rainbow. Following it, they, sure enough, discover a pot of gold and take the valuable coins home with them. But that night, something grabs the children while they sleep, and they suddenly find themselves in the Fae Kingdom. An initially cordial leprechaun king asks that they return the gold, which helps maintain the link between this kingdom and the Human Realm. But Avery and the others soon learn that the king has taken the throne from his brother, whose daughter, Princess Sabrina, is now captive. The trio must help to recover a stolen medallion the king wears and return it to the kingdom’s proper ruler—Sabrina; otherwise, this realm will fall into decay. After helping Sabrina’s brother free the princess, the children each retrieve a magical weapon to use in battle against the king’s leprechaun army. Luckily, they have a growing assembly of rebels ready to join them in combat. Though his book moves quickly, Pellico gives his characters distinction. For example, Brian’s singing voice becomes an asset, and Renee faces danger without hesitation. Meanwhile, the Fae Kingdom’s creatures, though simple and relatively few, are memorable, from a water dragon to giant dragonfly-esque insects the children ride like horses. Newman’s artwork is suitably colorful. Contrast between the radiant colors is especially pronounced. Despite a tidy wrap-up, Pellico hints at the possibility of future magical adventures. A White default is assumed.
A well-drawn, young cast trounces adversaries.Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-73391-303-4
Page Count: 68
Publisher: Moonbow Publishing
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship.
A young tennis champion becomes the target of revenge.
In this sequel to Legacy and the Queen (2019), Legacy Petrin and her friends Javi and Pippa have returned to Legacy’s home province and the orphanage run by her father. With her friends’ help, she is in training to defend her championship when they discover that another player, operating under the protection of High Consul Silla, is presenting herself as Legacy. She is so convincing that the real Legacy is accused of being an imitation. False Legacy has become a hero to the masses, further strengthening Silla’s hold, and it becomes imperative to uncover and defeat her. If Legacy is to win again, she must play her imposter while disguised as someone else. Winning at tennis is not just about money and fame, but resisting Silla’s plans to send more young people into brutal mines with little hope of better lives. Legacy will have to overcome her fears and find the magic that allowed her to claim victory in the past. This story, with its elements of sports, fantasy, and social consciousness that highlight tensions between the powerful and those they prey upon, successfully continues the series conceived by late basketball superstar Bryant. As before, the tennis matches are depicted with pace and spirit. Legacy and Javi have brown skin; most other characters default to White.
A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-949520-19-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Granity Studios
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A moving tale of baseball, magic, and former rivals who come together to solve a problem.
A middle schooler struggles to adjust after moving to an idyllic Massachusetts town.
Trish Das is at a crossroads. Not only is the 12-year-old unhappy that her family has moved yet again due to her mother’s cardiology career, she also has to try out for a new baseball team. The fact that one of her new teammates is a former archrival further complicates matters. Math prodigy Ben Messina went head-to-head against fellow math whiz Trish at last spring’s Math Puzzlers Championship. When Trish emerged victorious, Ben was stunned. The two get closer when the team’s mysterious pregame snacks start making everyone play better while also causing magical side effects during games. Equally surprising are the cryptic puzzle booklets Trish and Ben receive in the mail that lead them to even more wins. But as the puzzles get harder to solve, the risk of failing to do so increases. Alternating between Trish’s and Ben’s perspectives, LaRocca’s novel—a companion to 2019’s Midsummer’s Mayhem—is a Much Ado About Nothing homage that explores parental expectations, complicated friendships, and teamwork. The protagonists’ love of problem-solving shines through, and the puzzles themselves are clearly explained. As a third-generation Indian American, Trish also has moving conversations about the circumstances that led her grandparents to emigrate and how those decisions still impact their lives. Ben is implied White. Final illustrations not seen.
A moving tale of baseball, magic, and former rivals who come together to solve a problem. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: June 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4998-1101-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Yellow Jacket
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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