A highly inventive, magic-filled fantasy.
Rea Chettri is tired of living in her twin brother Rohan’s shadow.
He gets better grades, has more friends, and gets off easy on his chores. Her feelings of insecurity and questions about their absent father have driven the twins apart. When Rohan goes missing on their 12th birthday, the strange way her family reacts prompts Rea to investigate. She embarks on an otherworldly quest to rescue her brother and save the Kingdom of Astranthia. During this journey, Rea is challenged both by the dangers of this magical land and by her own selfishness. Through new friendships with neighbor Leela, who accompanies her, and Xeranther, an Astranthian they encounter, Rea develops empathy and becomes more altruistic. Her personal growth unlocks a powerful family secret that is the key to saving both Rohan and Astranthia. This original fantasy features an Indian heroine alongside mythical creatures with origins from various cultures. Reflecting the Darjeeling setting, Hindi and Nepali terms are naturally woven throughout the text. Though the pacing is uneven and Rea’s feelings and motivations are sometimes too explicitly spelled out for readers, her adventure is full of action and humor, and her development from selfish to selfless is an admirable one.
A highly inventive, magic-filled fantasy. (glossary) (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: June 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-64543-763-5
Page Count: 350
Publisher: Mango and Marigold Press
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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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