Tok the raven is a nobody, an outcast. His father disgraced and killed, Tok is left with no name, no claim on territory, only shame and rage. When accused of nest breaking and murder, he must flee, in hopes of performing some deed of valor for the good of the raven community that will restore his rightful place in their world. Tok sets off on a journey to find the legendary Grey Lords, the Singers, said to be ancient partners of the ravens; in a thrilling tale of adventure, he succeeds in his quest and is reunited with his mother and community, restoring an ancient bond between ravens and wolves. It is a credit to Stewart’s storytelling that the ending of a story about ravens and wolves can be as exciting, poignant and tearful as any realistic novel. Fans of Kenneth Oppel’s Silverwing (1997) will soar with Tok. (Fiction. 8-12)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 1-57505-894-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Carolrhoda
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2005
As an agent for the Supernatural Immigration Task Force, it is Frank Gallows’s job to catch ghosts on Earth and send them back to the afterlife. However, during one particularly tricky deportation, he accidentally zaps a young—living—boy. Garth Hale suddenly finds himself surrounded by mummies and goblins in a crumbling, ghastly city, with a skeleton horse and his long-departed grandfather as his only friends. Gallows comes crashing into the afterlife, as well, on a daring rescue mission. As this bumbling team tries to find a way home, they end up face to face with the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, who doesn’t look too kindly upon mortals in his city. With a cast of characters that is sometimes one too many, in a world that includes seven kingdoms of infinite zombies, this ghost-filled graphic novel could easily overwhelm, but TenNapel reins it in by deftly illustrating each essential moment and emotion. Creepy details, quick quips and a wry, deadpan (pun absolutely intended) humor are sure to delight. (Graphic fiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-21027-0
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
Life in the seaside village has been hard for Adrianne and her family, even before the arrival of the mermaid. Since Papa’s death, they’ve been living with horrible Auntie Minnah, the village boys ignore Adrianne in favor of wealthier and prettier girls and the villagers despise the whole family. Adrianne gets the opportunity for her dream job, but as soon as things start looking up, the Windwaithe Mermaid comes, summoning Adrianne and terrifying the superstitious villagers. Now Adrianne needs to make a choice between a magical life of undersea romance and the poverty and degradation she knows on land. It ought to be an easy choice, but perhaps not. Lucky, lucky Adrianne. Her magical adventure will bring out her true potential—as a girl who is “quite attractive” and whose outer beauty is now visible both to herself and to the handsome boys of the island. Readers obsessed with paranormal romance could do worse, but they probably won’t remember this for very long. (Fantasy. 10-12)
Pub Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-09734-5
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
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