Twelve-year-old Tad is too busy practicing with his new spear to notice the slow disappearance of the water, but soon the sounds of the creek have stopped and the water is dropping in the pond. His father, Pondleweed, tells him that the land is entering the “Drying Time,” and together with Tad’s younger sister, Birdie, the three set out to determine what might be causing the drought. Like most good members of the Fisher Tribe, the family has not often traveled far from their own pond, but after meeting members of the other tribes, they realize that not everyone does things the same way. Tad’s first visions come to him as hints of memories or the sounds of a distance voice, but they grow in intensity as his mysterious gift strengthens. Soon Tad learns that he is the Sagamore and only he can battle the magical forces that are threatening all the creatures of the forest. Along with the supernatural quest, Tad and Birdie learn some global lessons regarding heartache and the importance of diversity and freedom. The well-crafted tale and careful attention to detail will have young readers forgetting that the characters are only a few inches tall, as they submerge themselves in Tad’s amazing adventure. An amazing journey of surprising proportions. (Fiction. 10-14)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-7636-0726-6
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A poltergeist that specializes in unscrewing bottle-caps...a couple who bring home a strange-looking little dog from Mexico, only to be told that it's a sewer rat...suddenly vanishing friends, relatives, and animals...a Texas girl raised by wolves- -yes, it's a new collection of horribilia: chillers, ghost stories, and urban legends, retold in an appropriately matter-of- fact way and illustrated by a master of the macabre. Schwartz gives most of the tales a modern setting, provides hints for storytellers, discusses variants, and—as in two previous collections—appends careful source notes and a good-sized bibliography. Gammell supplies a characteristic array of leering faces, slimy bones, and scrofulous, unidentifiable creatures. Perfect for reading alone or aloud in a dimly lit room. You first. (Folklore. 10-14)
Pub Date: Sept. 30, 1991
ISBN: 0-06-021794-4
Page Count: 128
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1991
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Once again, young Tony has to hop to stay in the good graces of his vampire friends while keeping his parents blissfully ignorant of their true nature. Rudolph is mooning over coquettish Olga Pigsbubble, just flown in from Transylvania to stay with feared Aunt Dorothy, ``her only—er—living relative''; meanwhile, Anna's new full- size fangs have grown, as has her crush on Tony. He, in turn, evidently having hung around with the undead entirely too long, begins to find her attractive despite her unsavory odor and habits. Thanks to a tart tongue and quick thinking, Tony manages to fend off his parents, survive his closest call yet (a bloody nose in the company of vampires is nothing to, so to speak, sneeze at) and console Rudolph when Olga flies off in a huff. The series (My Friend, the Vampire, 1984, etc.) may be contrived and formulaic, but this features some undeniably funny scenes and a shrewd, plucky main character. (Fiction. 10-13)
Pub Date: Aug. 19, 1991
ISBN: 0-8037-0905-6
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1991
© 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.
