Fantasy

Secret of the Ravens by Joanna Cacao

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  Elliott and Liza are orphaned twins who survive by selling the trash they find at the dump.  When they see a friend trap a raven with magic, they’re intrigued.  They learn that the ravens will give their captors a quest, rewarding them with money if they fulfill it.  The twins start participating, gradually getting bigger and more dangerous quests until Liza gets attacked by a giant serpent during one of them.  A magician’s apprentice, Seb, rescues them, taking them to a mysterious old woman who is rumored to be a healer.  She sends Seb and Elliott on a dangerous mission to gather ingredients for the antidote, taking them to the castle where they learn some unsettling secrets about the kingdom they live in.  Eventually, the old woman reveals her identity, and Elliott must make a huge sacrifice to save his sister, setting the stage for a sequel.  Includes a spell glossary and early versions of some of the illustrations.  272 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  An excellent fantasy adventure graphic novel with interesting characters and world-building, and plenty of plot twists.  

Cons:  I see no sign of a sequel…I hope we will not be left forever wondering what happened to Elliott.

Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Graphix

Summary:  JJ and Althea are both trying to navigate middle school, JJ by trying to fit in even if it means hiding who he really is, and Althea by pretending not to care that she’s lost her closest friends.  To make matters worse, the kids are expected to help out with the family food truck on weekends and school vacations.  Their mother uses Filipino folklore to teach them lessons about hard work and discipline.  But when strange things start happening to both kids, they realize that their family has magical powers and that the folktales are based on truth.  When a monster from the stories threatens the world, it’s up to their family to summon their powers and save the universe.  Along the way, JJ discovers his own worth, Althea learns to value her true friendships, and they both come to appreciate their quirky family and their heritage. Includes an author’s note, a recipe for adobo chicken, and a glossary.  240 pages; grades 4-7. 

Pros:  An excellent blend of middle school angst, Filipino culture, and magical battles against evil forces, with outstanding artwork and a memorable family.

Cons:  While I appreciated the pronunciation guides and definitions footnoted at the bottom of many pages, the font was so tiny that I finally gave up on them.

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Julie Morstad

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  The old sea captain Spelhorst just wanted to buy the girl puppet, who reminded him of a lost love, but the five puppets were a set, so he ended up with the king, the wolf, the boy, and the owl as well.  After his death, they’re sold and wind up in a home with two little girls and their maid.  While the oldest girl is writing a puppet show, the puppets somewhat inadvertently have some amazing adventures.  Finally, it’s time for the show, and they are gathered together again.  They perform a magical story that has repercussions beyond the show, with an unexpected twist at the end paves the way for a sequel.  160 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Kate DiCamillo uses her gifts of storytelling to create fascinating and distinctive human and puppet characters that convey messages that readers will take long after they finish reading the story. Julie Morstad’s illustrations help bring the characters to life.

Cons:  I know I’m in a tiny minority, but I’m not a big Kate DiCamillo fan.  Her language never feels very kid friendly to me.  I would hands-down choose Dogtown as a book recommendation for this age group over this book.

Things In the Basement by Ben Hatke

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by First Second

Summary:  When Milo’s mom sends him to the basement to find baby Lucy’s missing sock, a journey of epic proportions unfolds.  Milo hasn’t been to the basement of his new house, and he is in for an adventure as he discovers different rooms and floors deep underground, populated by all sorts of ghosts and monsters.  Some are helpful while others want to eat him and/or steal the sock, and it’s up to Milo to figure out the difference between friend and foe.  He learns to value those true friends and find ways to help them even when his own life is at stake.  Milo completes his hero’s quest to loving praise from his mother, who then asks him for something from the attic…book 2?  240 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  There aren’t many words in this graphic novel, but Ben Hatke has created an artistic masterpiece that kids (and adults) will want to pore over to make sure they take in all the sumptuous details.

Cons:  I’m afraid to do my laundry.

The Story of Gumluck the Wizard by Adam Rex

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  Helvetica the raven narrates the story of his neighbor Gumluck, a little wizard who likes to help people.  Believing the best about his neighbors, Gumluck fails to notice that they are spreading unkind rumors about him behind his back.  Helvetica notices, though, and in spite of himself, he begins to befriend the wizard and try to help him out.  When the king’s greed precipitates a crisis for the town, it’s up to Gumluck and Helvetica to save everyone.  The crisis causes Gumluck to realize who his real friends are and to become a bit more discerning about how he uses his wizardly powers.  140 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  Adam Rex uses plenty of his trademark humor in both the story and the illustrations of what appears to be book one of a new early chapter book series.

Cons:  I think colored illustrations would have given this more kid appeal.

Ghost Book by Remy Lai

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Henry Holt

Summary: July has “yin-yang eyes”, meaning that she can see ghosts, but she feels as invisible as a ghost most days.  Her mom died when she was born, her dad is too preoccupied with work to pay much attention to her, and teachers and kids at school often overlook her.  Desperate for a friend, she tries to summon a ghost.  William shows up instead–a boy who is in a coma, and whose spirit is wandering around trying to figure out if he is dead or alive.  As the two kids do some investigating, they discover that they have a life-long connection, and that only one of them is meant to be alive.  Their explorations take them into the underworld, where they hope to change fate so that they can both live.  There, they are pursued by a variety of spirits bent on their destruction, but their friendship saves the day and helps them to figure out a way forward for both of them.  320 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  I’m a big fan of Remy Lai’s graphic (and semi-graphic) novels, and her latest one does not disappoint.  Part ghost story, part friendship story, part adventure, this will keep kids turning the pages until the surprising but totally satisfying conclusion.

Cons:  This is a bit darker than Lai’s previous books.

Shakti by SJ Sindu, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by HarperAlley

Summary:  Shakti’s family has moved a lot, but her moms promise that the move to Amherst, MA will be the last one for a while.  Her mother Terri is pregnant and working on a PhD at the university, while her other mother Rita is a programmer with a pretty good knowledge of magic.  Shakti has shown an inclination toward magic, but after accidentally burning down the house as a baby, she’s been forbidden from using her powers until she’s older.  Shakti makes some good friends at her new school but discovers that three of the mean girls are practicing witchcraft to bind the school to them, making all the teachers love them while neglecting the rest of the student body.  Determined to break the spell, which threatens to hurt Shakti’s new baby sibling, Shakti and her friends call on the Hindu goddesses Rita has taught her about, unleashing power that they then struggle to contain.  Shakti learns that she has to let go of her anger and focus her powers to save her family, her friends, and her town.  256 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Witchcraft in western Massachusetts?  I knew I had to read this graphic novel as soon as I heard about it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, from the middle school drama to the concise but detailed introductions to Hindu mythology.  Recommend this to readers looking for something a little more fantasy-oriented than the usual middle school graphic novel.

Cons:  The b-word (represented as b–) is used a few times.

The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow by Elaine Dimopoulos, illustrated by Doug Salati

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Charlesbridge

Summary:  Butternut is part of a large rabbit family that lives in a burrow in Milkweed Meadow.  The rabbits keep pretty much to themselves, learning storytelling and safety skills from their mother and grandmother.  A chance encounter with a young robin named Piper, however, expands Butternut’s horizons, and she finds herself overcoming her many anxieties to go on adventures with Piper and a young deer named Winsome that they befriend when Winsome breaks her leg in the rabbits’ burrow.  The title’s remarkable rescue involves some orphaned coyote pups, an operation that Butternut advocates for even though they will grow up to become predators, and one that ultimately involves all the animals of the meadow.  Butternut’s newfound courage and sense of connection to other species inspire her mother and grandmother to put aside some of their own fears and to open themselves up to the meadow community.  192 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  This beautifully written and illustrated animal story shows the power of storytelling, community, and courage with enough humor to keep the messages light.  It would make an excellent elementary read-aloud or book club selection.

Cons:  I wish there had been more illustrations by Caldecott medalist Doug Salati.

The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Johannes is a wild dog who lives in a park populated by other animal friends: a brave and loyal seagull, a group of bright raccoons who are proud of their opposable thumbs, a squirrel who sees more with one eye than most animals do with two, and three wise bison.  Johannes can run fast–he estimates that he sometimes surpasses the speed of sound, maybe the speed of light–and he becomes the Eyes of the park, keeping the bison informed about what is going on.  A couple of misadventures including a dognapping and the rescue of a human child bring Johannes to the attention of the park staff, and he begins to fear for his freedom.  To take his mind off of that worry, he begins to formulate a seemingly impossible plan: to free the bison, assisted by a herd of goats that has recently been transported to the island.  All the animals get in on the escape, and all goes off with a minimum of hitches until the crucial moment of boarding the escape boat, when the bison decide they don’t want to be free.  Johannes is invited to escape instead, forcing him to decide between his island family and the chance to start a new life of guaranteed freedom.  256 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  I’m not a big animal fantasy reader, but this book has gotten three starred reviews, so I couldn’t ignore it. I forced myself to start reading and was immediately charmed and engaged by Johannes’s voice, which is simultaneously innocent, wise, and funny.  It would be a great choice for an elementary read-aloud or book club, and I certainly hope it will receive some Newbery consideration.  The writing is so, so good, and Shawn Harris’s paintings of Johannes perfectly capture his spirit and island home.

Cons:  I had my fingers crossed that the constantly maligned ducks would have a moment of redemption during the escape, but they remained the butt of all the other animals’ jokes.

Big Tree by Brian Selznick

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Scholastic

Summary:  Melvin and Louise are two seeds nestled cozily in a seedpod, secure in the love and wisdom provided by their mother, a giant sycamore tree.  A natural disaster flings them into the world, where they travel over land and sea, meeting all kinds of wise and wonderful creatures.  While their mother sought to give them both roots and wings, imaginative Louise is filled with wonder and hope, while Melvin is bound by his worries and fears.  When the two are separated, Melvin finds himself trapped for many, many years, never forgetting his sister.  Eventually he learns the lessons of the universe that Louise already instinctively knew, and the two meet again in a wondrous reunion.  Includes an afterword that explains some of the scientific references, a bibliography, and an author’s note that tells how the story came to be.  528 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Brian Selznick has created a masterpiece of prose and art in the style of his previous books.  This book was inspired by a movie idea that Steven Spielberg had, looking at the history of the Earth from the perspective of nature itself.  It is a wildly creative and ambitious story that includes dinosaurs, volcanoes, meteors, dinosaurs, mushroom ambassadors, and so much more.  

Cons:  Readers might need some guidance to understand all that is going on during this long period of Earth’s history.  The back matter is a useful guide for this.