The Ring of Five

April 26, 2010
McNamee (the Navigator trilogy) leaves few clichés unturned in this solidly crafted if unoriginal launch to a new trilogy. Danny Caulfield is a lonely boy who was often teased in school for his unusual looks. When his parents send him to boarding school, he’s surprised to end up at Wilsons, a magical spy academy preparing students for a war between dimensions. Even more surprising, his unusual features make him look like the evil Cherbs, which doesn’t endear him to some of his classmates. Not surprising—for readers, at least—is that he seems destined for greatness, and that a mysterious person is attempting to kill him. Danny’s few friends include talented thief Les, the ditzy and occasionally vanishing Dixie, and Vandra, a vampiric “physick” who heals using her teeth. The dozens of adults include the usual slate of experienced teachers as well as a police officer named McGuinness and Master Devoy, who has great plans for Danny. McNamee writes comfortable prose that will satisfy those looking for accessible fantasy. Ages 10–up.

June 1, 2010
Grades 5-7 If you need a simple way to think of this book, its Harry Potter, boy spy. Its hard not to make that comparison when Danny Caulfield is whisked from his home with an uncaring family to Wilsons, a magical boarding school dedicated to using spy craft in the fight between good and evil. Danny has no idea why he is there, but he is shocked to learn he is not who he thought he was. His resemblance to the wicked Cherbs, who have decided to take over all of the Lower World, makes him a valuable commodity. If the Wilsons crowd is not successful in holding off the bad guys, the Upper World, where humans live, could be destroyed as well. Like the Harry Potter books, the secondary characters add immensely to the richness of the narrative, and theres plenty of action, although the big final battle, surprisingly, drags. The book finishes with a cliff-hanger that will leave kids eager for the next title in this trilogy pitting one boy against a heavenly host.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)