Operation Bunny

Starred review from November 25, 2013
Gardner and Roberts are a wickedly fun pairing in this first book in the Wings & Co. series, originally published in the U.K. in 2012. Emily Vole, now age nine, was adopted as a baby by Daisy and Ronald Dashwood; their decision was motivated more by greed than altruism, and after Daisy becomes pregnant with triplets, the Dashwoods demote Emily to servant status. Luckily, kindly neighbor Miss String and her large talking cat, Fidget, are there to educate Emily and introduce her to an exciting and dangerous world of magic. As a witch named Harpella closes in, turning the citizenry into rabbits, Emily embraces newfound abilities and gains unlikely allies. Watching Emily grow from Cinderella-style servant to determined detective-in-training is delightful, and Fidget is always good for a one-liner (of a train conductor–turned-rabbit: “And most probably he has a wife and two carrots at home”). Roberts easily keeps pace with Gardner’s arch humor—with troll-like hair, beak nose, skeletal hands, and stiletto heels, Harpella indeed looks, as Emily observes, “as though she had escaped from a horror film.” Ages 7–10. Author’s agent: Catherine Clarke, Felicity Bryan Associates.

Starred review from December 15, 2013
Emily, an unloved orphan, finds a new family and occupation when she discovers her true calling. Emily Vole might only be 9, but she has lived quite a life. After being abandoned in a hatbox, she is adopted by the Dashwoods, a hedge fund manager and his social-climber wife. After the Dashwoods have triplets of their own, they force Emily into servitude. When she is rescued from her Cinderella life by her neighbor, Miss String, and a man-sized talking cat named Fidget, Emily's life changes: She discovers that she is the new Keeper of the Keys. References to fairy tales add depth to the story and make a clever backdrop to this series kickoff, in which a Circe-like witch turns people into animals and lures fairies to their doom in a magical lamp. Roberts' detailed, humorous black-and-white illustrations are a big step up from the normal chapter-book fare; the train station where Emily is discovered is dramatically drawn with crosshatched lines and a beam of light highlighting the hatbox, while later illustrations show Emily, with her wide, sad eyes, in the full squalor of her life with the Dashwoods. Now that Emily and her buddies have set up their new store and detective agency, readers looking for chapter books on the long side will look forward to more magical cases. (Fantasy. 7-12)

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March 1, 2014

Gr 2-4-Emily Vole, abandoned by her birth parents, is taken in by a horrid pair of yuppies who aren't able to have children. Or so they think, until triplets come along. Once the shallow Dashwoods have children of their own, they treat Emily like a servant. She finds refuge by visiting Miss String, an eccentric neighbor who has more than a few secrets up her sleeve, including a bipedal talking cat. Fidget's existence is Emily's first hint that magic is real. Sure enough, she discovers that she, too, has special powers-a revelation that kicks off a whirlwind journey through the strife-ridden underbelly of London. Emily and her cohorts must keep certain objects out of the hands of the villainous witch Harpella, who wants to use them to steal souls and obliterate fairies. Though this book purports to be the first case of the Wings and Co. Detective agency, it's not really a mystery. Readers know who the villain is all along. The adventure is in seeing how Emily defeats her. But following Emily's journey is somewhat of a challenge. Children will have to read the novel closely in order to pick up on characters' motivations and to keep track of past events that caused the current state of affairs. Even so, it should appeal to readers who enjoy whimsy without a lot of stressful conflict. Highlights are the charming Briticisms as well as the merry, slightly off-kilter black-and-white illustrations-especially the depiction of Harpella, who resembles a pointier, more deranged version of Lady Gaga.-Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2014
Grades 3-5 The Dashwoods think they're getting a cutie-pie baby when they adopt Emily Vole, an infant found abandoned in a ticking box in the airport, but once they have three doe-eyed cutiekins of their own, poor Emily becomes their housekeeper, living in the laundry room and sleeping on an ironing board. Luckily, the old bat next door, Miss String, takes Emily under her wing, and the girl learns about history, math, German, and . . . magic. Soon Emily and Fidget, Miss String's human-sized talking cat, embark on an adventure and undertake to solve the sudden transformation of a bevy of train passengers into fluffy pink bunnies. Discovering fairies, witches, and a secret magical shop along the way, Emily becomes an ace detective specializing in magical crimes. Roberts' stylized cartoony illustrationsmostly of cute bunniesscatter over almost every page, adding a delightful touch to the madcap caper. Emily is a no-nonsense, brave girl detective, and young readers looking for silly magical adventures will find much to love. Want more? You're in luck: this is the first title in the Wings & Co. series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)