A rousing romp for monster hunters and monster lovers alike.
A young princess would rather hunt monsters than sit on a throne but soon finds that she has a lot to learn if she is going to save her kingdom.
In each generation of Tamerel’s royal clan, the firstborn inherits the throne to become monarch and the secondborn inherits the sword to become royal monster hunter. Twelve-year-old Rowan will be queen, and her twin brother, Rhydd, will wield the sword. There’s only one problem—each of them is far better suited to the other’s role. Despite her natural monster-hunting gifts, Rowan is resigned to be the best queen she can, though that doesn’t stop her from learning all she can about monsters and following her brother on hunts. But when tragedy strikes the family, royal roles are thrown out the window, and with the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance, Rowan must hunt down one of the deadliest monsters of all or lose everything. Longtime master of YA thrills Armstrong (Aftermath, 2018, etc.) now brings her talent for frissons, drama, and dark humor to middle-grade fantasy. The primary plot is driven by equal parts hunt-or-be-hunted action, character motivations, and unexpected emotional depth. And in the background simmers political intrigue, personal ambition, and looming upheaval bound to spill over into the sequel. Rowan and Rhydd are children of color, and the world they inhabit is an inclusive one. An illustrated monster field guide appears in the backmatter.
A rousing romp for monster hunters and monster lovers alike. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6535-6
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Puffin/Penguin Random House Canada
Review Posted Online: May 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
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
BOOK REVIEW
Fast-paced and plot-driven.
In his latest, prolific author Gratz takes on Hitler’s Olympic Games.
When 13-year-old American gymnast Evie Harris arrives in Berlin to compete in the 1936 Olympic Games, she has one goal: stardom. If she can bring home a gold medal like her friend, the famous equestrian-turned-Hollywood-star Mary Brooks, she might be able to lift her family out of their Dust Bowl poverty. But someone slips a strange note under Evie’s door, and soon she’s dodging Heinz Fischer, the Hitler Youth member assigned to host her, and meeting strangers who want to make use of her gymnastic skills—to rob a bank. As the games progress, Evie begins to see the moral issues behind their sparkling facade—the antisemitism and racism inherent in Nazi ideology and the way Hitler is using the competition to support and promote these beliefs. And she also agrees to rob the bank. Gratz goes big on the Mission Impossible–style heist, which takes center stage over the actual competitions, other than Jesse Owens’ famous long jump. A lengthy and detailed author’s note provides valuable historical context, including places where Gratz adapted the facts for storytelling purposes (although there’s no mention of the fact that before 1952, Olympic equestrian sports were limited to male military officers). With an emphasis on the plot, many of the characters feel defined primarily by how they’re suffering under the Nazis, such as the fictional diver Ursula Diop, who was involuntarily sterilized for being biracial.
Fast-paced and plot-driven. (Historical fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781338736106
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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