Gnome-a-geddon

March 15, 2017
As the title indicates, a novel that attempts to subvert and poke fun at fantasy tropes. A superfan of the series Triumphant Gnome Syndicate, Buck Rogers knows all the trivia. Buck, a white boy, and his friend Lizzie Adams, a multiracial (black/white) girl, eagerly await the midnight release of Gnome-A-Geddon, the series' newest. Compounding the excitement, author Harold Macinaw makes a surprise appearance but then suddenly disappears. The next morning, Buck and Lizzie find replicas of themselves, and none of the adults can be woken. Possibly even more alarmingly, rows of children, including Buck's little sister, Willy, march trancelike into a dumpster behind the bookstore. It turns out Flipside, the world of the books, is real. Using his comprehensive knowledge of the Triumphant Gnome Syndicate, Buck must find Macinaw and rescue Willy, but Flipside is more terrifying than he could have imagined. Like so many other fantasy protagonists, Buck is liberal with the snark, but some of the humor falls flat, as when he postulates that Lizzie might be part Troll because she's multiracial. Lizzie never rises above the role of Buck's sidekick, even though she reprimands Buck for not allowing her to fully participate in the adventure, and other characters do not rise above Buck's preconceived notions of them. In the end, the lampoon falls victim to its own sense of irony, making Buck feel like a secondary character in someone else's story and not quite a protagonist in his own. (Fantasy. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2017
Gr 4-6-Fans of fantasy series will feel the pain of main character Buck and his best friend Lizzie as they impatiently wait on a very long line for the midnight release of the third book in the -Triumphant Gnome Syndicate- series. When the series's author surprises fans by first showing up at the event and then mysteriously disappearing into a cloud of smoke, Buck realizes that something odd is afoot. His little sister Willy is also a huge fan and, like most little siblings, annoys her big brother by wanting to be involved in everything he is doing-including trying to solve the disappearance of author Harold Macinaw. The plot thickens when Lizzie starts to act strangely and Willy also disappears. As Buck and Lizzie struggle to figure out what's going on, they meet an intriguing little man, who explains that Macinaw has been kidnapped and they must help rescue him. So begins this fast and action-packed story that brings the heroes to Gnomeland on a quest to find the Troll Vanquishing Mace and save Willy and Macinaw. Middle grade readers will be eager to learn more about the Troll Vanquishing Mace and solve the mystery. Fans of Angie Sage's -Magyk,- J.R.R. Tolkien's -The Lord of the Rings,- and C.S. Lewis's -The Chronicles of Narnia- should enjoy this and what are sure to be subsequent titles involving the plethora of characters introduced here. VERDICT Likely to prompt lively discussions on the true meaning of heroism. Recommended for libraries where fantasy featuring magical creatures is in demand.-Lisa Kropp, Lindenhurst Memorial Library, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.