Kirkus Reviews QR Code
SECRETS OF THE UNDER-UNDER WORLD by P.S. Whatever

SECRETS OF THE UNDER-UNDER WORLD

Creatures

by P.S. Whatever

Pub Date: Feb. 27th, 2022
ISBN: 979-8408735044
Publisher: Self

Youngsters scour the globe for precious stones to prevent the worst of all dinosaurs from hatching in this middle-grade fantasy sequel.

Eight months after Sam’s adventure in the fascinating subterranean Under-Under World, she happily reunites with its leader, the Great Hildinski. It turns out she’s met and inadvertently revealed secrets to the Great Hildinski’s diabolical twin sister. Sam, certain she’s put Under-Under at risk, gets dangerously close to The Sister and learns this woman has her hands on four giant eggs of the Slashasaurus. As that’s definitely not a benevolent dinosaur species, the only apparent defense is freezing the eggs before they hatch. But to do that, Sam, her friend, her little brother, and Gemini the cat must find six rubies on six different continents, starting on Sam’s North America. Thanks to physics-defying tunnels and a magic compass, the kids can knock this out in a matter of hours. But that still might not be enough time to stop the “spectacularly evil plan” that The Sister has cooking with the soon-to-hatch Slashasauri. Along with the excitement below, absorbing drama unfolds aboveground in Whatever’s second series installment. For example, an accident left Sam’s beloved guardian, Aunt C, in a coma, while a jeweler accuses Sam of stealing Aunt C’s pearls, which the girl tries to sell to feed herself and her brother. Although this novel shows little of the Under-Under World realm, the trade-off is a superb journey around the world; Sam and others trek a vast desert, explore a sunken ship, and bask in the sights and fragrances of a city’s open-air spice market and festive garlands. Gemini once again enchants; she seems an ordinary feline but somehow knows where everyone needs to go. As in the earlier novel, the author’s simple, vibrant artwork enhances this story, from the characters to the places they roam.

This delightful, compact tale mingles the natural world and a hint of magic.