Silver City

September 1, 2006
Gr 5 Up -McNish continues his clever blend of science fiction and fantasy. "The Silver Child" (Carolrhoda, 2005) saw six children drawn by some unknown force to Coldharbour, where they each discovered extraordinary abilities that would help protect them from an approaching danger known as the -Roar. - Now, children from every corner of the planet are descending on Coldharbour. With Milo -the silver child and one of the original six -protecting the others from the sky in his massive, angel-like form, the remaining five must keep the newcomers from new threats hidden deep in the Earth -s core. It is through the voices of Thomas, the healer, and Helen, the psychic, that McNish -s story truly takes shape. Though the other characters can be a little flat at times, these two continue to move the action forward. For readers looking for something imaginative and distinctive, "Silver City" will not disappoint." -Lisa Marie Williams, Fairfax County Public Library System, Reston, VA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2006
Gr. 5-8. The second title in the Silver Sequence begins with Milo, the winged silver boy who is the size of a city, providing shelter for others as the mysterious, evil Roar draws near. Meanwhile, Thomas the healer; Helen the mind-reader; the insect twins, Freda and Emily; and Walter the giant test their courage, spirit, and abilities against the Unearthers, a group of steel-bodied, hard-hearted beings who want to hamper efforts to free the Protector, the Roar's nemesis. McNish's suspenseful, fast-paced novel immerses readers in an inventive world featuring distinctly drawn characters and a graceful blending of realism and occasionally spooky fantasy. Alternating narratives, mainly Thomas' and Helen's, add depth and suspense to this satisfying follow-up to " The Silver Child" (2205), which will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next episode.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)