A Clatter of Jars

February 22, 2016
In this warmhearted companion to A Tangle of Knots (2013), Graff revisits a world divided by those with magical “Talents” and those without, and the inevitable strain it places on relationships. Camp Atropos plays host to children with a variety of peculiar and impressive Talents, from communicating with frogs to levitating. A typical summer session involves swimming in the lake, a camp-wide sleepover, and a Talent show, but this isn’t a typical summer: someone has the ability to mimic and steal campers’ Talents. Graff reprises several elements from the previous book—narration that rotates among several protagonists, as well as a handful of recipes (summery beverages instead of cakes). Her ensemble cast consists of characters struggling with sibling-related troubles: Jo, a misguided camp director desperate to reunite with her estranged sister; Lily, a telekinetic “Pinnacle” who misses her brother; Renny, a brother hiding a family secret; and Chuck, a twin desperate to discover her own uniqueness. As Talents get stolen and swapped, the story can get a bit muddled, but Graff brings the plot threads to a satisfying resolution. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Inkwell Management.

March 1, 2016
Everyone in this sequel to Tangle of Knots (2013) gets a chance to be the main character, at least for a page or two. Almost everybody at Camp Atropos for Singular Talents has a magical ability, and some of them are embarrassing. Ellie and Chuck are black identical twins, and they both share the ability to identify frogs. White Lily has a more impressive Talent; she can whisk objects through the air with her mind, but it's a skill that put her brother in the infirmary when she lost control. Each of the characters is the focus of the story for a little while, but four characters (three campers and the director) get extra attention. Their names alternate as the book's chapter titles--"Lily," "Jo," "Renny," "Chuck"--which serves as a sort of score card. With so many storylines, it would be nearly impossible, otherwise, to remember which character was which. But some stories are memorable just because they're so deeply sad. The camp director writes letters to her sister: "Please come. I want nothing more than to be a family again." This is a more frenetic story than its predecessor, and some readers may lose patience. Other readers will love the inventiveness--and the sadness--of every storyline. Kids may have to read the book a second time to follow the plot, but this is a novel that rewards a second--or even a third--reading. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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April 1, 2016

Gr 4-7-When Liliana Vera arrives at Camp Atropos for Singular Talents, she does so with a heavy heart. Her brother Max should be with her, but three weeks before, she accidentally hurt him. No one knows it was her fault. Now Liliana is stuck dealing with the guilt, her secret about what really happened, and her annoyingly perky stepsister, Hannah. Camp Atropos is for kids with "Talents," abilities that are beyond what a human can normally accomplish. Lily can lift objects with her mind. Hannah makes drinks that evoke memories for people and bring them back to a moment clear as day. Not everyone has a Talent, though, and for many of the Fair, having a Talent is a lifelong dream. There is a black market of sorts, and the director of Camp Atropos is in over her head with dealing and stealing Talent rip-offs. If she's not careful, she may endanger her campers and change the Talented world forever. Readers may remember other Talented characters from A Tangle of Knots, but it's not necessary to have read it to keep up here. Camp director Jo is a complex and sympathetic villain, making an original story even more unique. The tale comes full circle sweetly, with a fun twist that connects lives from both books in an unexpected way. There is, perhaps, an overabundance of characters, each with his or her own special Talent, and a few too many plot lines, making the story a little hard to follow at times. Still, most readers who enjoy magical fantasy set in an otherwise realistic world will likely embrace these new characters. VERDICT Graff is a master of the magical realism genre, and this offering is worthy of a spot in any middle grade collection.-Mandy Laferriere, Fowler Middle School, Frisco, TX

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