Unfortunately, the story itself lays an egg. For a really magical book about mythical animals, readers should try The...
Numerous books have successfully built on a premise of human interaction with mythical creatures, but this one is overstuffed and convoluted.
When Logan and his father move to the small town of Xanadu, Wyo., he becomes involved in the search for six missing griffin cubs from the Menagerie. The action is as wild and wooly as a mammoth, with those prehistoric beasts, unicorns, mermaids and hellhounds and other creatures appearing around every corner. In the space of one day, Logan complains, “my clothes have been set on fire by a phoenix, drowned by a kelpie, rolled on by a mammoth, clawed and nibbled by griffin cubs, and drenched in kraken ink.” Can he help classmate Zoe and her family save the Menagerie from being shut down by SNAPA (SuperNatural Animal Protection Agency)? Driven by the plot, the characters lack depth; the creatures provide heft, but there are too many, too conveniently introduced. Pop-culture references—The Hunger Games, the Pirates of the Caribbean films, Wheel of Fortune—feel like pandering and will date the book. One clever touch is Logan’s ability to communicate with the opinionated griffin cubs. Book 2 will pick up from the last sentence of the abrupt ending: “Someone had murdered the goose who laid the golden eggs.”
Unfortunately, the story itself lays an egg. For a really magical book about mythical animals, readers should try The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, by Patricia McKillip (1974). (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: March 12, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-06-078064-7
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 15, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2013
Bruno’s elegant, steampunk-ish illustrations elevate the story, but its slow start and overreliance on dei ex machina flaw...
Teeming fantasy trappings largely substitute for internal logic in this meandering tale of a pop-up shop extraordinaire.
Finley McPhee narrates his temporary transformation from a lazy lad in the sleepy Scottish village of Applecross to a modern incarnation of the Irish hero Cuchalainn. Finley’s world begins morphing with the arrival of lovely Aiby Lily and her father. Finley, atoning for truancy by delivering mail for Applecross’ injured postman, discovers the Lilys while carrying a mysterious letter to their not-there-before red house. It’s the magical father and daughter’s turn to open the Enchanted Emporium, which trades in magical objects, powders, potions and spells. (Finley’s witnessing plenty of examples: Aiby uses a Fix-It Spider to repair his broken bike; Aiby’s father travels through the village via Self-Propelling Pants.) Old rivalries unleash evildoers bent on destroying the Emporium, including a mysteriously macabre “Dutchman” and a giant literally unearthed from the ruins of the Lilys’ ancestral castle. Besides Finley, the mythic battle’s unlikely heroes include his annoying brother, Doug, and Meb the dressmaker. A triumphant grand opening draws a thousand international visitors. When the festivities, fireworks and commerce conclude, Meb and Finley each receive a key to the Emporium, their roles in future adventures all but ensured.
Bruno’s elegant, steampunk-ish illustrations elevate the story, but its slow start and overreliance on dei ex machina flaw it. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: March 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-62370-039-3
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Dec. 17, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
Historical photos and Indiana Jones–style adventure enrich this tale of an unusual meeting between the Qin Dynasty and the...
Ancient China literally comes alive to expose buried treasures in this novel co-written by Ying Chang Compestine (Crouching Tiger, 2011, etc.) and her son, Vinson.
Under Maoist rule, Ming lives in a village with b? ba, his father, an archaeologist who works for the museum in Xi’an and who is on the verge of losing his job. When reward-seeking farmers bring Ming newly unearthed head and limb fragments fashioned from clay, Ming discovers the artifacts have much to reveal. The clay head begins to speak, claiming to be Shí, one of thousands of terra-cotta soldiers created to protect the tomb of Emperor Qin, the ruthless leader who built the Great Wall of China. As Shí tells Ming stories of his life in battle, they become fast friends. They embark on a mission to save the tomb from corrupt government officials and to save Ming’s father from being sent to harsh labor camps. Shí’s brutal war stories tend to overshadow aspects of Ming’s personal story, like Ming’s relationship with his father, but they are compelling nonetheless. Although Ming’s acceptance of a talking statue feels swift, their friendship is believable. They hail from different eras, but they share a common desire: to keep their parents safe.
Historical photos and Indiana Jones–style adventure enrich this tale of an unusual meeting between the Qin Dynasty and the 20th century. (glossary, authors’ note, recipe, authors Q&A) (Fantasy. 10-12)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0540-3
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Dec. 17, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
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