A kids’ book with fine illustrations but overly familiar story trappings.
A boy travels to a magical world in this beautifully illustrated children’s novel by Richardson (Lavender Blue and the Fairies of Galtee Wood, 2013) and artist Sansom (Fairy Blossoms #3: Rose and the Delicious Secret, 2009, etc.).
Young Logan is always competing with his older brother, John, and despite his skill at video games, sports and the slingshot, he always feels second-best. After a mysterious bird lures the boy into eccentric Professor Priddle’s house, he soon launches into an adventure in the microscopic, magical world of Canlandia. He soon discovers that his arrival fulfills part of a prophecy about a hero from the “outer world,” who’s destined to save Canlandia from the evil Baron Von Jawbreaker and his Mad Gobstoppers. Logan doesn’t believe he’s special, but he wants to help, and alongside Canlandia’s greatest warrior, Butterbrickle (who’s Logan’s age), he travels through dangerous wilderness to confront the Baron. Along the way, he earns Butterbrickle’s respect and gains a new level of self-confidence. The world of Canlandia, with its edible environment and candy-colored landscape, is well worth exploring, thanks especially to Sansom’s brightly colored paintings. An author’s note at the end shows photos of the real-world landscapes in Ireland, Utah, Colorado and elsewhere that inspired the Canlandian locations, and these images are sure to spark young readers’ imaginations. The book’s impressive production value could easily make it a coffee-table book. However, the story doesn’t quite live up to the beautiful illustrations that surround it. Logan’s journey is a traditional portal fantasy, in which a young boy finds inner strength to defeat the villain. But although he faces many challenges, he doesn’t develop very much as a character, beyond his growth in confidence. Butterbrickle also never quite becomes a full, well-rounded person; despite her strength and amazing skill, her main function is simply to believe in Logan. And although the Baron voices a diatribe about wanting to be a benevolent dictator that changes Canlandia for the better, he never really moves beyond mustache twirling.
A kids’ book with fine illustrations but overly familiar story trappings.Pub Date: April 16, 2014
ISBN: 978-0978642235
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Impossible Dreams Publishing Co.
Review Posted Online: Aug. 23, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun
It’s been 42 days since the Monster Apocalypse began, and 13-year-old Jack Sullivan, a self-proclaimed “zombie-fighting, monster-slaying tornado of cool” is on a quest to find and rescue his not-so-secret crush, June Del Toro, whether she needs it, wants it, or not.
Jack cobbles together an unlikely but endearing crew, including his scientist best friend, Quint Baker; Dirk Savage, Parker Middle School’s biggest bully; and a pet monster named Rover, to help him save the damsel in distress and complete the “ULTIMATE Feat of Apocalyptic Success.” Middle-grade readers, particularly boys, will find Jack’s pitch-perfect mix of humor, bravado, and self-professed geekiness impossible to resist. His sidekicks are equally entertaining, and it doesn’t hurt that there are also plenty of oozing, drooling, sharp-toothed monsters and zombies and a host of gizmos and gadgets to hook readers and keep them cheering with every turn of the page. Holgate’s illustrations play an integral role in the novel’s success. They not only bring Brallier’s characters to life, but also add depth and detail to the story, making plain just exactly how big Rover is and giving the lie to Jack’s “killer driving.” The marriage of text and illustration serves as a perfect example of what an illustrated novel can and should be.
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun (. (Graphic/horror hybrid. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-670-01661-7
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2015
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