A nontaxing, sometimes-creative exoplanet adventure for young readers.
In Nipun’s middle-grade fantasy, an ordinarystudent is transported via a mystery device to a pirate- and creature-infested planet where a rebellion brews.
Young Jimmy receives an unusual surprise from a classmate: a spherical, pocket-size device left behind at their school by “one of their eccentric professors, who had long been dismissed from service.” The mystery gadget reveals itself to be a teleportation machine that whisks Jimmy from his bedroom to the distant world of Istara, settled by a humanoid civilization that seems to dwell somewhere between the age of sail and steampunk. Exploration of Istara’s major landmasses is still a way to make one’s fortune, and pirates are a common—though apparently not very dangerous—nuisance. A gang of such brigands immediately ambush Jimmy and take his only item of curiosity: the space-time device. Jimmy himself doesn’t interest the freebooters one bit, but left by himself, the Earth visitor rapidly makes friends with Asani, a headstrong girl who’s a fugitive; her imprisoned father is a political rebel against the autocratic ruling council. For a while, the plot is simply a back-and-forth game of recovering and losing Jimmy’s teleportation device, until the third act turns into an operation to rescue Asani’s parent. The short length guarantees a zippy pace that middle-grade readers may appreciate, and there’s no romance whatsoever. The adventure is also relatively bloodless; in fact, it comes as a surprise to read that an off-page character is devoured by some of Istara’s wild beasts. The monsters are the most imaginative element, from bioluminous sea-lights to hulking, land-roving Walkhils—the latter so huge that their mighty shells support mini-ecosystems. Istara itself has other peculiarities, such as a size that’s much greater than Earth’s but with gravity that’s not much stronger; it also has a mini-twilight called a “daypause” that constitutes part of the 26-hour days. But even Jimmy is unsatisfied that his rambles end so soon, and the abrupt denouement, while not a cliffhanger, leaves numerous story threads unraveled.
A nontaxing, sometimes-creative exoplanet adventure for young readers.Pub Date: Oct. 24, 2022
ISBN: 9798355925901
Page Count: 134
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2024
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
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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