The Maloneys' Magical Weatherbox

Starred review from May 15, 2015
Meteorological catastrophe threatens when an evildoer brings all four Seasons to Ireland at once. On appointed days, Neil and Liz's father, the Weatherman, need only step out to the old-fashioned booth in the road in front of the family's B&B and summon the next season through the ringing phone. It's an ancient bargain-suddenly imperiled when the Maloneys' malign neighbor, Mrs. Fitzgerald, sets in motion a scheme to take the job for herself by having the phone disconnected. Not only is the country stuck with Summer, but the failure draws the other immense, irascible entities down for a stormy enquiry. Furthermore, to counter any defenses, Mrs. Fitzgerald cleverly tricks Neil into freeing a brand new baby Season through which she can control a host of destructive weather elementals. An unusually varied cast ranging from eldritch magical figures to seemingly ordinary mortals with surprising depths and even, shades of Terry Pratchett, a cheery Tourist is sucked into the author's tale as it whirls toward its climatic climax. The premise doesn't bear close examination, but Quinlan throws together such an engaging mix of desperate ploys, frantic conversational hubbubs, embedded yarns, bursts of blarney, wild weather battles, sacrifices, and admirably courageous acts that readers will be less inclined to analyze faults than just go with it all to see where it leads. A boisterous, gusty romp and an exhilarating debut. (Fantasy. 10-12)

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July 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-Neil and Liz Maloney's father is a very important person, even though no one knows it: He is the Weatherman himself, one of the four caretakers of the world, honoring the ancient agreement between humanity and the seasons. This also means that he is the keeper of the Weatherbox, a magical phone booth that rings four times a year when the seasons change. But this year when it is time for summer to end and autumn to arrive, the phone does not ring. Added to the mix are a mysterious tourist, two hags, and a bog beast that looks like a cat. Most mysterious of all is their neighbor Mrs. Fitzgerald, who does not seem the least bit surprised by any of it. When Liz senses something under the water, and Neil and the Tourist go to enlist the Shieldsmen's help, chaos ensues. Although the switching of Neil and Liz's voices can be jarring, and there is a lot of information packed in that will inform and entertain readers. Set in modern-day Ireland, this fantasy is a delightfully rambunctious tale full of unique characters and high energy. The resolution is clever and unexpected. VERDICT A solid general purchase for fans of Patricia C. Wrede's The Thirteenth Child (Scholastic, 2009) and Ingrid Law's "Savvy" series (Penguin).-Deanna McDaniel, Genoa Middle School, OH

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