The teenage heroes of mythical Meldrith are forced to flee their kingdom once the evil Andreus murders the king and queen and seizes power. Following Wren to the Rescue (1990) and Wren's Quest (1993), this fantasy adventure featuring the spunky Wren, the beautiful Princess Teressa, and the fearless Prince Conner, forces the youths into adulthood, as they rely on one another to raise an army and overcome the evil ruler. But while the trio gallop away on their noble quest, it seems that any true adventure or suspense hides in a distant corner of the forest. Wren casts spells and Teressa strengthens her sword arm, but any bloody skirmishes happen offstage and are further enfeebled via bland exposition. Neither is any excitement conjured by placing each of the characters in black- magic jeopardy, which just seems forced and predictable. The mechanical squeakings of the serial installment broadcast their guaranteed rescue. Similarly, the romance that doesn't ignite between Teressa and Conner, despite gratuitous sparks, is not offset by a closing passage that foreshadows a liaison between him and Wren, presumably in the next book. Though the series seems to be flagging, fans of the first two books will be pleased. Those seeking a more dynamic and frightening fantasy may find this brew too weak to enchant. (Fiction/fantasy. 12+)
Pub Date: March 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-15-200977-9
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1995
Dare-devil mountain-climber Peak Marcello (14), decides to scale the Woolworth Building and lands in jail. To save him, his long-lost Everest-trekking dad appears with a plan for the duo to make a life in Katmandu—a smokescreen to make Peak become the youngest person in history to summit Mount Everest. Peak must learn to navigate the extreme and exotic terrain but negotiate a code of ethics among men. This and other elements such as the return of the long-lost father, bite-size chunks of information about climbing and altitude, an all-male cast, competition and suspense (can Peak be the youngest ever to summit Everest, and can he beat out a 14-year-old Nepalese boy who accompanies him?) creates the tough stuff of a “boys read.” The narrative offers enough of a bumpy ride to satisfy thrill seekers, while Peak’s softer reflective quality lends depth and some—but not too much—emotional resonance. Teachers will want to pair this with Mark Pfetzer’s Within Reach: My Everest Story (1998). (Fiction. 12-15)
Pub Date: May 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-15-202417-8
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2007
Ali, 15 going on 16, lives in Bed-Stuy with his mom, a social worker, and his little sister, Jazz, who has a knack for...
A literary story of growing up in Brooklyn.
Ali, 15 going on 16, lives in Bed-Stuy with his mom, a social worker, and his little sister, Jazz, who has a knack for markers. He hangs out on the stoop with his two BFFs, brothers nicknamed by his sister: Noodles and Needles. Needles, the older, suffers from Tourette’s syndrome, and Noodles and Ali look out for him. In the lead plotline, the three boys crash an illegal party in the basement of a nearby brownstone and then deal with the fallout. Action notwithstanding, the story actually reads more like a character study of Ali and his sister and friends and a tender homage to this seemingly dangerous neighborhood. Even though Reynolds thoughtfully (and most likely truthfully) depicts the neighborhood as one where guns and drug transactions are seen regularly, readers don’t necessarily feel the danger due to the tender and deeply protective relationships of the characters, who are realistically if not exquisitely drawn. The plot, though compelling, takes back seat to them, and what unfolds is a moving and thought-provoking study of the connectivity among a family and friends that plays upon and defies readers’ expectations. An author worth watching. (Fiction. 12 & up) .Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-5947-2
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Oct. 19, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2013
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