The Rock of Ivanore

April 30, 2012
In her acknowledgments, White tells readers that her debut novel, first in the Celestine Chronicles series, began as a bedtime story for one of her sons, and its speech rhythms and bite-size chapters certainly hearken to the oral storytelling tradition. Marcus, orphan apprentice of the wizard Zyll, has been granted permission beyond his station to take part in the Great Quest that all legitimate sons of his village undergo in the year of their 14th birthdays. The goal of this year’s quest is to find the Rock of Ivanore, though what that “rock” might be, no one knows. Six boys set out, each a familiar fairy tale type, working sometimes together and sometimes apart as they search the Isle of Imaness. Many strange beings cross their path, notably the catlike half-breed Jayson, and they stumble into a political struggle that has been unfolding far beyond their rural ken. This is an old-school quest fantasy, but Marcus is a hero who engages challenges in a way that is both human and admirable, and readers will love the bizarre and sometimes deadly creatures that he must overcome. Ages 8–up.

April 1, 2012
Another paint-by-numbers quest fantasy that (surprise!) kicks off a series. Neglecting to spare any significant roles for females in her unmanageably large cast, Reyes sends an old wizard's young apprentice and five other boys on a ritual quest that all 14-year-old boys on the Isle of Imaness must take. Accompanying them are a "half-breed" man-cat and a tricksy shapechanger who fall in along the way. Their search for the titular "Rock," who turns out to be the exiled husband of long-dead Princess Ivanore, takes them to the Isle's only major town. Along with an army of newly freed cat-people slaves leaping to defend their former captors (a case of Stockholm Syndrome if ever there was one) and one-eyed giants who are inexplicably impervious to attacks from fire-breathing dragons they repel an invading force from the mainland. Even attentive readers will have trouble keeping track of who is where as the characters scramble about amid a blizzard of choppy chapters and shifting points of view. Closing with revelations about hidden siblings and parentage that are not only predictable but telegraphed, this anemic tale is free of both suspense and surprise. An irascible talking wizard's staff is the only memorable element in this otherwise trite outing. (Fantasy. 10-12)

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July 1, 2012

Gr 5-7-This is a story that has it all: magic, heroism, love, friendship, betrayal, dragons, and evil lurking at every turn. Fourteen-year-old Marcus and the other boys of Quendel who are coming of age are about to embark on the annual quest, that marks their passage to adulthood and determines their place in society. This year, the boys are charged by Zyll, the village's wizened wizard, to return with the Rock of Ivanore. They are not told what it is or where it can be found, but their future success rests upon finding it. If they fail they will be relegated to the lowest stations of their society. And so begins an exciting, intriguing adventure as the teens journey in search of the Rock. Throughout their quest, they are tested by natural and supernatural events, and Marcus comes to understand the power he possesses. He also learns of his heritage and the family he never knew. From the very first page, readers are drawn in to Marcus's world and invested in his need to succeed. Reyes deftly develops her plot and characters and firmly holds readers' attention throughout this exciting and surprising tale.-Mary Beth Rassulo, Ridgefield Library, CT

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2012
Grades 4-8 Young readers who have outgrown Kate McMullan's Dragon Slayers' Academy series but lack the robust reading skills for Suzanne Collins' Underland Chronicles books will delight in this opening title in the Celestine Chronicles series, which delivers a fantasy adventure for a reluctant readership. At 14, Marcus, an orphan and servant, is barely old enough to join his village's manhood journey and take on the task of finding the mysterious Rock of Ivanore. He is joined by five other lads, who range from rich and proud to shy and frighteneda mix familiar in most contemporary middle schools. The ensuing quest rolls out rapidly in 68 chapters, most only 4 or 5 pages long. While delivering a basic, introductory map to a world that will surely be more richly developed in future volumes, this title will satisfy the hunger for weaponry and battles, leaving readers anticipating the next installment.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)