Wild fantasy, sly satire, and sharply observed family dynamics are the hallmarks of this tasty, effervescent series (along...
Nora was thrilled to find Mabel in a flowerpot on her doorstep, even if the baby’s unconventional arrival displeased their neighbors in 1881 Yorkshire.
When Mabel’s proven to have strong magical abilities, Nora sends her to Ruthersfield, a highly regarded academy for witches in Potts Bottom. Moving the whole household to Potts Bottom allows Nora to keep Mabel’s adoption secret—even from Mabel: only kind Daisy and sour Nanny Grimshaw know. At Ruthersfield, Mabel makes friends and enjoys learning magic but chafes at the strict limits and senseless rules the academy places on its use by young ladies. Why must witches ride broomsticks sidesaddle when riding astride would be easier and safer? Learning to dance the “waft and glide,” mastering sparkling conversation spells for dinner parties, and enhancing her complexion with unicorn-milk soap don’t interest Mabel. Curious and daring, she experiments, creating new spells (with surprising results). Witchcraft runs in families, so Mabel’s family tree must include witches, but Nora won’t discuss them. Then a jealous classmate learns the truth about her flowerpot origins and reveals it to the entire school, devastating Mabel. She’ll need courage and love to get through this—magic can’t solve everything. Adoption is treated with sensitivity and in an age-appropriate way.
Wild fantasy, sly satire, and sharply observed family dynamics are the hallmarks of this tasty, effervescent series (along with mouthwatering recipes); this volume’s the most delectable yet. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-6533-5
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A perfectly acceptable and predictable trifle. (Science fiction. 9-12)
Sammy is less than thrilled when his genius inventor mother creates a robot brother for him.
Sammy Hayes-Rodriguez's life has always been filled with robots. His mother has invented automatons that clean the floors, mow the lawn, give traffic reports and even plant fantastic gardens. Sammy's school has until now been a robot-free zone, but when Mom invents E (for Egghead, or maybe Einstein Jr.—his parents can’t decide) and insists Sammy take the new robot to school, things get out of hand. Chronicling the ups and downs of an entire school year with a robot brother, the authors put cute sci-fi twists on first-time crushes, school bullies and best-friend troubles. There's nothing here that breaks new ground or illuminates the psyche of young boys in any new or interesting ways, but there are plenty of amusing jokes. Young readers with an interest in science will certainly be engaged. A subplot featuring Sammy's younger sister, a brilliant girl who is homebound by severe combined immunodeficiency disorder, is as by-the-numbers as the rest of the book, but it doesn't tie in to the robot plot until the very end. It's hard to tell if this development is a clumsy climax or an awkward setup for a sequel. Either way, it doesn't work well with everything that came beforehand.
A perfectly acceptable and predictable trifle. (Science fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Nov. 24, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-316-40591-1
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 6, 2015
A high-stakes story that provides historical facts and intriguing magic wrapped up in one exciting quest.
Three cousins from Miami are magically transported back in time.
Siggy, Camila, and Jorge couldn’t be more different—Siggy is an aspiring influencer, Camila is a daydreaming bookworm, and Jorge is a bold adventurer. But they share Tía Xía, their history-loving aunt. When Jorge spots Tía Xía with a “diamond-encrusted sword,” he wants answers, but he, Siggy, and Camila just have more questions when they stumble through a portal in Tía Xía’s front yard. They’re transported back to 1862 Virginia, just before the Battle of Puebla, the reason Cinco de Mayo is celebrated today. To find their way home, the kids and their aunt must travel south to Mexico to deliver the magical sword to General Ignacio Zaragoza before May fifth. Heading south, they traverse their way through the ongoing U.S. Civil War and encounter Alfonso, a Cuban American drummer boy in the Union Army, Oscar, an enslaved boy, and Pascuala, an Indigenous girl who speaks Nahuatl and is supporting the Mexican Army. The original plot, historical setting, and fantasy elements are compelling, and the themes about understanding your heritage and taking pride in who you are will resonate with Latine readers especially. Otheguy also thoughtfully explores politics, ethics, family, and morality. Bernatene’s accomplished illustrations scattered throughout provide readers with visuals that will help guide their imaginations.
A high-stakes story that provides historical facts and intriguing magic wrapped up in one exciting quest. (historical notes, glossary, further reading, bibliography) (Adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9781665915182
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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