A colorful fantasy with wondrous characters in a strange land.
Wakefield’s middle-grade novel draws readers into a lively world filled with strange creatures.
Alby is a stray cat adopted by Professor Wizoom, a scientist/inventor. Wizoom is building a special portal because he had a dream of himself “opening a triangular door…consumed by light as I walked through.” He’s unsure of where the door will lead but feels compelled to build it. He heads off to bed before running his final test, and Alby follows. The next morning, the feline awakens and finds Professor Wizoom gone. “Where did Wizoom go and where is my breakfast?” Alby wonders. Hours later, the triangular doorsparksand opens. Alby hears a faint voice calling: “Please help them….Find your courage.” Alby passes through the portal and enters the world of Jumbalot, which has “glimmering grass spotted with multicolored flowers… spiral-shaped mountains…like corkscrews.” He encounters amazing creatures, including some that combine elements of two or three animals, such as the evil “Shorkin” with a shark’s head, lizardlike body, and humanlike upper torso; the beast is one of “Rozer’s raiders.” Alby befriends Fremmy, a “froguar,” and together they head to Kingdom of Jowla to find the professor and return home. In Jowla, they meet Queen Lola and see Rozer, a “wolvaraptor rex,” attacking the kingdom in retaliation for Queen Lola’s father destroying Rozer’s home, Wolvoon. Wakefield has created a fantastic fictional world in a story that centers on the “Gem of Jumbalot,” which gives strength and power to Queen Lola, and which Rozer desires. The conflict leads to an epic battle to restore Jumbalot to its glory. Wakefield’s creativity is sure to delight young readers, as he provides vivid, detailed imagery; Jumbalot, for instance, has “an immense pearlescent pyramid” with a gold-plated dome and buildings “painted with gleaming, bright-colored symbols.” His inventiveness continues in his black-and-white chapter illustrations depicting fantastic creatures of his fictional realm.
A colorful fantasy with wondrous characters in a strange land.Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2021
ISBN: 979-8553853532
Page Count: 200
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
With plenty left to be resolved, the next entry will be eagerly sought after.
Drake has been selected by the king to serve as a Dragon Master, quite a change for an 8-year-old farmer boy.
The dragons are a secret, and the reason King Roland has them is a mystery, but what is clear is that the Dragon Stone has identified Drake as one of the rare few children who have a special connection with dragons and the ability to serve as a trainer. Drake’s dragon is a long brown creature with, at first, no particular talents that Drake can identify. He calls the dragon Worm. It isn’t long before Drake begins to realize he has a very strong connection with Worm and can share what seem to be his dragon’s thoughts. After one of the other Dragon Masters decides to illicitly take the dragons outside, disaster strikes. The cave they are passing through collapses, blocking the passageway, and then Worm’s special talent becomes evident. The first of a new series of early chapter books, this entry is sure to attract fans. Brief chapters, large print, lots of action, attractive illustrations in every spread, including a maplike panorama, an enviable protagonist—who wouldn’t want to be a Dragon Master?—all combine to make an entertaining read.
With plenty left to be resolved, the next entry will be eagerly sought after. (Fantasy. 7-10)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-64624-6
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Branches/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An effort as insubstantial as any spirit.
Eleven-year-old Maria Russo helps her charlatan mother hoodwink customers, but Maria has a spirited secret.
Maria’s mother, the psychic Madame Destine, cons widows out of their valuables with the assistance of their apartment building’s super, Mr. Fox. Madame Destine home-schools Maria, and because Destine is afraid of unwanted attention, she forbids Maria from talking to others. Maria is allowed to go to the library, where new librarian Ms. Madigan takes an interest in Maria that may cause her trouble. Meanwhile, Sebastian, Maria’s new upstairs neighbor, would like to be friends. All this interaction makes it hard for Maria to keep her secret: that she is visited by Edward, a spirit who tells her the actual secrets of Madame Destine’s clients via spirit writing. When Edward urges Maria to help Mrs. Fisher, Madame Destine’s most recent mark, Maria must overcome her shyness and her fear of her mother—helping Mrs. Fisher may be the key to the mysterious past Maria uncovers and a brighter future. Alas, picture-book–creator Ford’s middle-grade debut is a muddled, melodramatic mystery with something of an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink feel: In addition to the premise, there’s a tragically dead father, a mysterious family tree, and the Beat poets. Sluggish pacing; stilted, unrealistic dialogue; cartoonishly stock characters; and unattractive, flat illustrations make this one to miss. Maria and Sebastian are both depicted with brown skin, hers lighter than his; the other principals appear to be white.
An effort as insubstantial as any spirit. (author’s note) (Paranormal mystery. 7-10)Pub Date: July 21, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-20567-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020
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