In 1849 after the cries of "Gold!" had echoed across the continent to Boston, ships were crammed with fortune-seekers. Twelve-year-old Jack and Praiseworthy, a butler, were among those heading west. The two were attempting to make money for Jack's Aunt Arabella, so she wouldn't have to sell the old house. The picaresque tale becomes monotonous and at last draws to a close when the bygone butler weds his mistress, the aforementioned aunt. Not as original as Mr. Mysterious and Company (1962, p.176, J-54) by this author.
Pub Date: Aug. 13, 1963
ISBN: 0316286125
Page Count: 212
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: April 25, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1963
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
Bright and quirky; offers an affectionate portrayal of adolescent change.
A teenage witch learns and grows in this first English translation of the second entry in the popular Japanese series that inspired the Studio Ghibli movie Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Kiki the witch is now 14, wiser from lessons learned in her first year as a delivery girl but still seeking a fuller sense of her role in the seaside town of Koriko. Jiji, her black cat, continues to perch beside her as she soars high on her broom, making his snarky comments. After a visit home, Kiki returns to her room above Osono’s bakery; the cheerful baker is now the mother of a toddler. The episodic story structure, which is well-suited for read-alouds, loosely follows the arc of a year in Kiki’s life. The distinctive, detailed storytelling contains depth and humor and is punctuated with lyrics of curious songs. A number of Kiki’s errands involve elderly customers seeking to revisit idyllic memories, but she also unwittingly aids someone who has a questionable quest. Kiki experiences gentle struggles—her broom gets damaged, she admires a floral dress and wonders why witches wear black, and she experiments with going beyond the bounds of her daily routine to make witch medicine. Kiki’s character is refreshingly childlike and nuanced: She possesses at once a playful heart, a burgeoning awareness of her personal power, and a mind that can see the complexities of adulthood without entirely comprehending how to parse them.
Bright and quirky; offers an affectionate portrayal of adolescent change. (Fantasy. 7-12)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2026
ISBN: 9798217227105
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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