A series that is shaping up to be quite a fun ride.
An autistic genius is in the hands of the enemy, and it's up to Michael Vey and his fellows in the Electroclan to save her.
The Electroclan is regrouping on a top-secret ranch after striking a major blow against the villainous Dr. Hatch and the Elgen. The evil empire's flagship vessel, the Ampere, has been blown out of the sky, but Hatch's plans for world domination are still strong. His next nefarious deed is the abduction of the young Jade Dragon, a girl whose special gifts can make all of Hatch's evil dreams come true. The author mixes this sci-fi nonsense with just the right amount of fun, evoking Saturday-morning-cartoon heroics. It's hard not to see the influence of GI Joe and The Transformers in the Electroclan’s adventures. Dueling factions and two-dimensional characters never get bogged down in the superserious mumbo jumbo that trips up many teen adventure series. This individual episode has a refreshingly intimate feel. The heroes' main objective isn't destroying a secret base or executing an evil potentate but instead a simple rescue mission. The relatively narrow focus allows for a more tangible, and therefore more satisfying, victory. A brisk pace and smart characterization make this an easily digestible adventure, and the requisite cliffhanger promises larger stakes for the next go-round.
A series that is shaping up to be quite a fun ride. (Adventure. 10-14)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2438-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2014
Mackie's nauseated by the scent of blood, is burned by cold iron and would die if he entered a church. None of this helps him avoid notice in his hometown, where close-mouthed neighbors hang horseshoes and leave milk in the garden. No quaint old-world superstitions, these; in the town of Gentry, a child dies mysteriously every seven years. Mackie's been raised to avoid notice, so nobody will recognize him for the changeling his parents and adoring sister know him to be. But with another baby apparently dead and blood and iron all over town, Mackie's having a hard enough time staying upright, let alone under the radar. Soon the sickly boy meets the Morrigan and her court: a mishmash of Celtic mythology with British folklore, elfpunk music and adorable Tim Burton–esque horrors. There's romance and rescue (though mercifully no Edward Cullen types to replace the tale's endearing original couple). Some of the urban-fantasy elements get dropped in the crowd partway through, but enough grotesque goodies remain to keep this a fast-paced, dark delicacy. (Urban fantasy. 12-14)
Pub Date: Sept. 21, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59514-337-2
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2010
After his mother sustains a serious head injury, 14-year-old Travis faces enough challenges to leave a lesser kid in despair. His unsavory father, coping badly after the accident, loses his job, pulls the boy’s older sister out of school to watch the younger children and, in anger, kicks Travis out. He leaves home, deep in the Adirondacks, with a few dollars, an inherited guitar and only enough food for a day or two. When that runs out, he gamely tries to live off edible weeds gathered along the roadside. Although he encounters his share of scoundrels, especially one who steals his guitar, helpful, sympathetic adults, including a talented guitar-maker running a guitar-picking contest, recognize the teen’s plight and intervene in ways both subtle and not to guide him toward workable solutions. Initially a bit stilted, this effort quickly hits its stride, mostly due to well-drawn, believable characters and the strength of Travis’s nearly indomitable spirit. While the satisfying conclusion may seem overly optimistic, it is nothing more than this endearing teen deserves. (Fiction. 10-14)
Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8050-9112-0
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2010
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