A mostly enjoyable British import that should be better than it is.
Animals—mythical and extinct—abound in George Drake’s hometown, Squermington.
In Cossanteli’s debut novel, 11-year-old George lives with his frazzled mum and two older sisters. Between his dad’s leaving, large electric bills, and their family’s unsuccessful shop, times are tough. So, in an effort to replace his recently stolen bike, George starts a quest for a job that ends when he comes across a sign that reads, “Help Wanted / Interest In Wildlife Necessary / Must Be The Right Person.” The quirky Mrs. Lind, the owner of Wormestall Farm, and Lo, a tall, blue-eyed boy, orient George in his responsibilities. These include tending to an overprotective dodo, feeding 8-foot carnivorous ducks, milking aurochs, and staying alive. Redheaded Prudence, the new girl at school, also finds her way to the farm, which offers an escape from her villainous, taxidermist stepmother, Diamond Pye. When basilisk Mortifier wanders from the farm, leading to the disappearance of both neighborhood pets and chicken vindaloo from Indian restaurants, it’s up to George and Prudence to bring Mortifier back before Diamond can add the large serpent to her collection. Uneven pacing and clunky plot development mar this otherwise appealing and imaginative story, though Muradov’s stylized vignettes successfully add elements of magic, emotion, and movement to George’s narration.
A mostly enjoyable British import that should be better than it is. (glossary) (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 9, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62779-403-9
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
A fantastical adventure full of hope.
Two tweens embark on a journey to fulfill a prophecy and save their kingdom.
Years ago, Lyrica was filled with life, warmth, and hope, protected as it was by the Song and Feather of the Firebird. Until the night when the Spectress and the Demon of Fear filled the sky with darkness, killing the queen and everyone else in the castle—and leaving behind a cold land, devoid of hope. In the present, Prewitt is turning 12, the Age of Hope, and Granny Arila is finally telling him the truth about Lyrica’s dark past, satisfying his curiosity about things no one speaks of openly. Prewitt discovers not only that the Lost Princess survived that terrible night, but that their destinies are tied together through a mysterious prophecy. Prewitt leaves home, searching for the princess, and runs into Calliope, a girl who has been hidden from the world for 12 years. When he realizes she is the Lost Princess, something she had not known herself until recently, they embark on a dangerous quest to find the Firebird’s Feather and Song and save Lyrica. Their journey is a fast-paced adventure full of monsters and magic. Told in the third person, the book focuses on Calliope and Prewitt, but secondary characters’ stories are neatly woven in. Finding hope, true friendship, and bravery lies at the heart of their journey. Prewitt has brown hair and skin; black-haired Calliope has honeyed skin.
A fantastical adventure full of hope. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: June 8, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0512-5
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A charming and earnest sequel that will please series fans.
Barclay Thorne’s mystical journey continues in an oceanic setting.
Several months after the end of The Accidental Apprentice (2021), readers encounter 11-year-old Barclay, a promising Lore Keeper apprentice, in the middle of a class he’s taking with renowned Guardian Keeper Runa Rasgar. Along with shaggy beast Root, close friend Viola Dumont, and frenemy Tadg Murdock, Barclay has traveled to the Sea, one of many Wilderlands that make up this fantasy world. This area is struggling—Beasts are increasingly posing a threat, including Lochmordra, the Legendary Beast of the Sea, who is capable of great destruction. As the Lore Keepers and Masters alike try to understand what’s causing this rise in aggressive Beast behavior, Barclay’s circle of friends deals with a rival group of apprentices who are seeking to prove their superiority. Barclay must come to terms with his identity as a former Elsie, or nonmagical person, while also struggling to tame his wild wind Lore. This outing is certainly engaging, expanding upon many of the same playful elements and worldbuilding of the first book, although it doesn’t quite reach the same heights of joy that came with the initial discovery of the magic of Wilderlore. As before, characters have a range of skin tones in this naturally diverse world.
A charming and earnest sequel that will please series fans. (bestiary) (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5344-7759-9
Page Count: 352
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2021
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