An enjoyable tale for fans of classic fantasy for kids.
A clever 9-year-old and his band of magical sidekicks navigate a fantastical world and encounter dark forces in McLagan’s novel for children.
Kurtis Francis Nickle-Dickle may have a silly name, but that’s the least outlandish part of his story. As the novel opens, he wakes suddenly from a deep sleep and recalls a tale his grandfather told him about a place called Whiskers and a dark entity that summons a terrible creature. In addition to these myths, Kurt’s grandfather passed down an ancient key to his own son; however, Kurt’s father disappeared mysteriously before Kurt’s ninth birthday, before he could explain the key’s meaning. In late August, Kurt takes his dog, Charlie, for a last summer adventure near his favorite lake, ignoring his mother’s warnings about an oncoming storm. As winds rise and ominous figures appear in the black clouds, Charlie seeks shelter in a small hole in a stone wall. Kurt follows, and the pair find themselves in the magical Land of Whiskers, where metal trees play tunes like wind chimes. Animals can not only talk, but also have a predilection for quips and witty banter; they include doglike creatures called “waggle-licks” and skunklike animals called “stinkle-dunks.” However, the whimsical land is haunted by a legend of a terrible troll that lives in the mountains. As Kurt makes friends and looks for a way home, he discovers that his role in this world may be bigger than he imagined. McLagan presents his tale in a tone that echoes that of such well-known works as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Phantom Tollbooth, and its poetic prose will be enjoyed by youth as well as adults. Its sweeping, evocative imagery (“The frigid gust of musty air disappeared in the space of the room, leaving behind a remnant of staleness, a trace of rancidity”) is balanced by silly characters and simple but clever conversation. Poems, songs, and music carry the reader through the young hero’s journey through the Land of Whiskers—a wondrous place in which escape is easy and fun.
An enjoyable tale for fans of classic fantasy for kids.Pub Date: April 25, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64645-521-8
Page Count: 382
Publisher: Redemption Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
© 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.
