The Last Phoenix

August 1, 2010

Stepsiblings Michael, Milly, Jason and Jess, from Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps (2009), embark on another magical encounter, this time to help a sassy phoenix named Fenella who is nearing the end of her life cycle. The children must travel through time and space to collect the four magical ingredients she needs to hatch her egg. They gladly take on the challenge, encountering and too easily overcoming an assortment of obstacles on each mission. Predictably, when the children try to use some of the magic for their own gains, they discover that this only causes more trouble and that they're better off relying on their wits and each other. When a kindly old neighbor is not what he seems, the children also learn just how far apart appearance and reality can sometimes be. Not especially deep or literary and more than a little didactic, but this one might satisfy some fantasy-lovers looking for some quick, light summer fare. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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December 1, 2010

Gr 3-5-In this sequel to Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps (HarperCollins, 2009) stepsiblings Milly, Michael, Jason, and Jess meet up with Fenella, a phoenix with a problem. She needs help to gather the sacred ingredients that will help her hatch her baby, an event that has never before been possible. The children are given magical feathers to travel through time and are tempted to use the powers of the sacred ingredients to solve their own personal problems. They soon find out that there are no shortcuts to overcoming troubles and that it takes courage and determination to face the obstacles that get in the way of success. Children who grew up loving Mary Pope Osborne's "Magic Tree House" series (Random) will enjoy this lively romp into the world of the mystical and magical. The story moves quickly, and the characters come with their own peculiarities, strengths, and weaknesses that endear them to readers. Though the book contains undisguised lessons in making good choices, the negative toll of lies, and the consequences of self-promotion, they do not detract from the adventure. The happily-ever-after ending is a satisfying conclusion to the trials and tribulations suffered by the children in their efforts to do the right thing and help a friend in need.-Debra Banna, Sharon Public Library, MA

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2010
Grades 3-5 The four stepsiblings from Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps (2009) return for another adventure in the unexpectedly magical British town of Moreways Meet. This time, they have to travel through time and space to retrieve four ingredients vital to successfully hatch the single egg laid by the only phoenix known to exist. While the authors have oversimplified in trying to pitch the language to the level of their intended middle-grade audience, the time-travel aspects of the plot are engaging, and the journey to obtain the four rare ingredients is reminiscent of the impossible quests often found in fairy tales.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)