Suitcase of Stars

January 15, 2014
Teeming fantasy trappings largely substitute for internal logic in this meandering tale of a pop-up shop extraordinaire. Finley McPhee narrates his temporary transformation from a lazy lad in the sleepy Scottish village of Applecross to a modern incarnation of the Irish hero Cuchalainn. Finley's world begins morphing with the arrival of lovely Aiby Lily and her father. Finley, atoning for truancy by delivering mail for Applecross' injured postman, discovers the Lilys while carrying a mysterious letter to their not-there-before red house. It's the magical father and daughter's turn to open the Enchanted Emporium, which trades in magical objects, powders, potions and spells. (Finley's witnessing plenty of examples: Aiby uses a Fix-It Spider to repair his broken bike; Aiby's father travels through the village via Self-Propelling Pants.) Old rivalries unleash evildoers bent on destroying the Emporium, including a mysteriously macabre "Dutchman" and a giant literally unearthed from the ruins of the Lilys' ancestral castle. Besides Finley, the mythic battle's unlikely heroes include his annoying brother, Doug, and Meb the dressmaker. A triumphant grand opening draws a thousand international visitors. When the festivities, fireworks and commerce conclude, Meb and Finley each receive a key to the Emporium, their roles in future adventures all but ensured. Bruno's elegant, steampunk-ish illustrations elevate the story, but its slow start and overreliance on dei ex machina flaw it. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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April 1, 2014
Gr 4-6-This delightful story stars Finley, a 13-year-old boy who lives in a small, quiet village by the ocean with his faithful dog, Patches. Finley describes himself as "the last person who would flee from scary stuff," which is a good thing since something pretty scary is coming. School is almost over and he has begun summer break early by skipping school and going fishing instead. When he is eventually caught, his punishment is to work at the local post office where he is responsible for delivering the mail. He soon meets Aiby Lily and her strange father, who have just moved to the small community. They are part of an ancient legacy involving seven families who care for, trade, and sell magical items to collectors. Finley now encounters magical items daily, such as self-propelling pants, a cloak of invisibility, flying carpets, and rock giants. Even though Finley is technically a teen, his voice and development make this book appropriate for a slightly younger audience. Overall, this is a fast-paced, clever book bogged down occasionally with a story line spread across too many pages. Readers will appreciate the short chapters; the plentiful white space; and the intricate, detailed pencil drawings at the end of each chapter showing the different magical items that the Lily family have in their shop. Although not quite as sophisticated in the characterization or plotting, this first book in a new series will appeal to fans of Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black's"The Spiderwick Chronicles" (S. & S.).-"Lisa Nabel, Dayton Metro Library, OH"

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