A Flicker of Courage

October 1, 2019
Four kids fight back against an evil tyrant in this fantasy geared for middle graders from a veteran YA author. Anxious, lonely Henry lives with his parents next to the raucous, loving Dante family, and he's long yearned to befriend the family's oldest son, Apollo. However, it's only after Apollo's little brother Rocco is changed into a lizard by Vlad Luxor, their Horrible Ruler with Magic, that Henry gathers his nerve to band together with Apollo and Jo and Pirate Girl, two other kids, to try to find a way to break the spell. Playful names and vocabulary set a fantastical mood, and stylized, vintage-looking drawings and diagrams are peppered throughout. From the start, it's clear that a familiar epic battle is to be fought between the decent young people and the sinister megalomaniac leader. Luxor is described as a science-denying, thick-fingered, image-obsessed oaf with an inability to spell--a setup that feels heavy-handed even with the abundance of quick-paced action that propels the novel along, which seems destined for a sequel. Most of the characters, including Henry, the Dantes, and Pirate Girl, are white, or at least are assumed to be by default. Jo and her family are South American. Too-clever details and cloying messages get in the way of this story. (Fiction. 8-12)

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October 21, 2019
Kind Henry Every lives a life of hunger and fear in a dilapidated house with neglectful parents. The only spots of light are his glimpses into the joyful Dante house next door, where his classmate Apollo lives with his loving family, and secret excursions to visit his beloved grandfather, Captain Every, who lives in a lighthouse that houses a towering library. When Apollo appears wailing in front of Henry’s house, it turns out that the town’s villain, Vlad Luxor, has transformed his little brother Rocco into a lizard. Joined by classmates kind Jo and fearless Pirate Girl, and a loyal terrier named Button, the kids learn that they are what people barely dare to whisper: spell breakers. Together, the friends find the courage to embrace their power, saving Rocco and standing up to the childish, pompous tyrant to stop him from hurting anyone else. Through a broad-strokes portrayal of good vs. evil, this fast-paced middle grade debut from YA author Caletti (A Heart in a Body in the World) offers an allegorical message about activism and cooperation. Images that reinforce descriptions appear throughout alongside faux-serious titles (“A Great, Glistening Walrus”). Ages 8–12.

December 1, 2019

Gr 4-8-Emotionally and physically abused by his parents, Henry relies on his vivid imagination to escape a bleak home life. But when disaster strikes for his popular classmate Apollo and his family, Henry comes out of his shell to help. Evil Vlad Luxor, who rules their town, has turned Apollo's younger brother into a lizard, and Henry recruits kids to break the spell. With the help of Henry's ingenious grandfather and a brilliant librarian, the group realizes how powerful they are, both alone and as a team. This conversational series starter deals with intense and painful emotions. The hopeful tone is encouraging, and the focus on the power of knowledge and books may lead readers back to the stacks. VERDICT This magical adventure is a good fit for fans of Brandon Mull's Fablehaven and Karuna Riazi's The Gauntlet, as well as readers dealing with a home life like Henry's.-Kerry Sutherland, Akron-Summit County Public Library

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2019
Grades 3-6 Henry is lonely, so when he discovers his neighbor Apollo crying, he braves asking him what is wrong and finds that Apollo's younger brother, Rocco, has been turned into a lizard by the town's current HRM (Horrible Ruler with Magic), Vlad Luxor! Deciding that he wants to help, Henry heads with Apollo?and classmates Jo and Pirate Girl?out to the lighthouse where Henry's grandfather, Captain Every, lives. Upon their arrival, the quartet learns that the captain is the keeper of light, while his companion, the Beautiful Librarian, is the keeper of knowledge, and they inform the four preteens that they themselves are descended from spell breakers?rare, magical people who can undo the spells cast by evildoers such as Luxor. Can the group face off against him and bring Rocco back? Caletti, known for her heartbreaking, realistic young adult novels, goes in a completely new direction with this tongue-in-cheek middle-grade fantasy, and fans of the genre will enjoy her sympathetic protagonist who, after years of self-doubt, is thrust into the role of hero.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)