DarkIsle

January 1, 2009
Gr 4-7-When Morag, 10, is locked in the cellar again by her foster parents, she hears voices and follows them. They turn out to be Aldiss, a talking rat, and Bertie, a talking dodo bird, who wandered in by mistake but agree to take her with them on their journey to save their kingdom and keep Devilish from conquering the world. Along the way, they also pick up Shona, a pygmy dragon, and various other compatriots in their quest to steal the Eye of Lornish and defeat the evil warlock. "Dark Isle" is quirky and fun to read. There is suspense, magic, and a small bit of silliness in this adventure that should appeal to fantasy fans looking for a light read."Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2008
Grades 4-6 Locked in the cellar by her odious foster parents Jermy and Moira, 10-year-old Morag meets Bertie (a dodo) and Aldiss (a rat) who have taken a wrong turn in a tunnel. Morag opts to flee with the pair, joining their quest to awaken a dragon that can lead them to the Island of Murst where an evil warlock has hidden the Eye of Lornish, a supernatural stone that protects the enchanted world. Eventually a magical medallion and a fisherman join the group in a fast-paced adventure that takes them underground (via railway), where Morag is kidnapped and sold as a slave to the warlocks daughter. Morags fantastic adventures in this alternative reality feature intriguing creatures and many classic tropes of this genre. A few plot points are left unresolvednotably what has happened to Morags parents and why their mementoes include a ticket from the enchanted underground railwaypaving the way for a possible sequel. Recommend to fans of Harry Potter and Mollie HuntersKelpies Pearls (1976).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)