Through the Skylight

February 1, 2013
Six kids--three from the modern-day United States, three from Venice in the late Middle Ages--struggle to right ancient wrongs in this engaging fantasy adventure. American siblings Jared and Shireen and their younger sister, Miranda, are two months into their semesterlong stay in Venice. There while their university-professor father does research, the excitement of living abroad has grown old. After they accept presents and an ancient book from an elderly Venetian bookseller, they are compelled by the magic in the gifts and the story in the book to rescue the other three--Rashid, Francesca and Maria--from the clutches of an unbalanced and fanatical monk. Interspersed "translations" from the gift book provide a vague historical setting and keep the plot moving while producing maximum suspense and excitement. Mystery and anticipation build to the very end of the story, much of it caused by wondering if the clueless American parents will discover their children's nightly absences. The occasional false note--some didacticism and weaknesses in the fantasy mechanics--will not bother young readers; the action and exotic creatures will keep them engrossed in the story. Having teen characters as well as younger girls may help attract a broad audience of genre fans. A likable fantasy, the author's first for children. (black-and-white spot art; not seen) (Fantasy. 10-14)

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May 1, 2013

Gr 4-8-Jared, Shireen, and Miranda and their parents are in Venice for a semester. The siblings' days are filled with endless trips to museums and churches, but when they each receive a magical gift from a storekeeper, their days and nights fill with danger and adventure. Miranda's ring allows her to understand and talk to animals, particularly the storekeeper's cat, Maldini, who teaches the children about their magical mission. The shopkeeper also gives them an ancient book that tells of three children who lived in Venice hundreds of years earlier and were kidnapped by an evil monk, Fra Bartolomeo. Jared and his sisters realize that Rashid, Maria, and Francesca are now in present-day Venice and that Maldini's owner has also been kidnapped. The six youngsters come together to save the signore and other kidnapped children from the evil monk, using the book, assistance from magical creatures, and their own skills. Frequent black-and-white illustrations support the narrative. Baucom's familiarity with the setting and use of Italian words heighten the atmosphere. The realistically drawn siblings are faced with internal doubts and conflicts, and Fra Bartolomeo is a truly evil character. The mix of protagonists' genders, historical details, and interesting magic creates a story with broad appeal and a message about the power of words that is reminiscent of Cornelia Funke's Inkheart (Scholastic, 2003).-Beth L. Meister, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, WI

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2013
Grades 4-6 American siblings Jared, Shireen, and Miranda live in Venice with their parents while Dad teaches history at a local university. One day, a bookstore owner gifts them with an old volume, two rings, and a wooden die, triggering their participation in a magical adventure that involves animal helpers, an evil monk, the ability to make objects enter and exit artwork, and three children from the time of the Crusades. Eventually, the sibs piece together their purpose in this mystery: helping the time travelers rescue the bookstore owner and some orphans and enabling everyone to return to their own time. Baucom assembles his debut novel using elements of history (the Children's Crusade), folklore (The Arabian Nights), and contemporary Venice, seasoned with a generous dose of metafiction. And although this seems largely to be Jared's story (his sisters serve as helpers on this quest), the ending hints at further adventures, which may provide the girls their chance to shine. Give this to fantasy buffs, especially fans of Cornelia Funke's Inkheart series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)