Aleca Zamm Is a Wonder

May 29, 2017
On Aleca’s 10th birthday, her best friend predicts that “today is the day everything changes for Aleca Zamm.” And she’s right: Aleca quickly discovers that, by saying her own name, she can stop time. What does she do with this newfound power? Pull pranks on her classmates, teacher, and principal and cheat on a math test, of course. But before Aleca can move on to dangerously altering the course of human events, her heretofore unknown great-aunt Zephyr shows up to assure her that she’s not a witch but a magically talented “Wonder.” After the funny opening chapters that focus on Aleca’s use (and misuse) of her powers, the novel takes a prolonged detour into the Zamm family’s history of magic. While entertaining, it doesn’t move Aleca’s story along very far, and things seem to end before they ever really begin. Nevertheless, Rue’s (the Tig Ripley novels) heroine is memorably mischievous and strong-willed, which bodes well for her future adventures. Simultaneously available: Aleca Zamm Is Ahead of Her Time. Ages 7–10. Agent: Abigail Samoun, Red Fox Literary.

April 1, 2017
On her 10th birthday, Aleca Zamm discovers she can stop time.After some nasty bullying and a frame job by the class mean girl, a teacher's pet, Aleca's asked by the principal for her name. When she says it, time freezes; saying it again unfreezes time. What's this newfound ability good for? Chaos! Aside from taking a peek at an upcoming math quiz (she has a bit of test anxiety), she has fun setting up a humiliating tableau for her tormenters and then restarting time. Her wish fulfillment continues as she experiments with her ability before her orange-haired great-aunt arrives--because of Aleca. Aleca, like Aunt Zephyr, is a Wonder: one who gains a power upon turning 10. It skips a generation in the Zamm family and has caused lots of misery to some (a mind reader was forced to become a hermit, and her grandfather could talk to animals, but they would never leave him alone). Zephyr can help. Wonders are immune to one another's abilities, and Aunt Zephyr warns that someone could be looking for them....Aleca's ability is likely to provoke both envy and thought on the part of readers, though some flourishes, such as her little dances while time's stopped, feel arbitrary. Aleca's white, and her best friend is a bilingual Spanish speaker, but most characters lack physical descriptions and racial or ethnic markers. A fast, fun origin story with appealing wish fulfillment. (Fantasy. 7-10)

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June 1, 2017

Gr 3-5-On her 10th birthday, Aleca Zamm discovers she can stop time. Her birthday starts out like any other ordinary day, until the class mean girl, Madison, frames Aleca for something she did not do. When the principal asks Aleca her name, she responds and time freezes. It isn't until Aleca says her name again that time resumes. Aleca quickly realizes that she can use her newfound talent to her benefit, taking a quick peek at the math quiz and finding ways to embarrass Madison. Later that day, at home, Aleca's aunt Zephyr informs the Zamm family that Aleca is a fellow wonder, who gains power upon turning 10 years old. Apparently, the magical abilities skip a generation in the Zamm family, and Zephyr can help Aleca control and deal with the challenges she will face in the future. VERDICT This series starter is filled with humor, adventure, and magic. A solid addition to most elementary collections-ideal for younger middle grade readers.-Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

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