Synopses & Reviews
Ten-year-old Nathaniel Fludd is the reluctant hero of
Flight of the Phoenix (2009), the madcap debut of the American author R. L. LaFeversand#8217;s Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series and a Junior Library Guild selection. The year is 1928, the setting England, and Nateand#8217;s wayward parents have just been reported lost at sea. Nate is sent that very day to his Aunt Philand#8217;s house in Batting-at-the-Flies, but not for long . . . The morning after he arrives at the renowned beastologistand#8217;s doorstep, she whisks him away to the Arabian desert to witness a phoenix lay an egg! Kelly Murphyand#8217;s cartoonish black-and-white pen-and-ink illustrations add charm and humor to an already delightful adventure sure to please fans of mythology, maps, camels, and gremlins. Includes a glossary of terms from and#8220;cartographerand#8221; to and#8220;Tidy Sum.and#8221; Donand#8217;t miss the next books in the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series:
The Basiliskand#8217;s Lair (Book 2),
The Wyvernsand#8217; Treasure (Book 3), and
The Unicornand#8217;s Tale (Book 4)!
Review
". . . this American author has crafted an exciting tale. Straightforward sentences, chronological narrative, short chapters and Murphyand#8217;s plentiful black-and-white illustrations make this appropriate for middle-grade readers looking for a series to grow with."--Kirkus Reviews and#160; "LaFevers (the Theodosia books) gets the Nathanial Fludd, Beastologist series off to a sprightly start with this wry story introducing a 10-year-old orphaned when his parents' airship crashes in the North Pole in 1928 . . . this quick-paced adventure . . . should entice kids to return for Nate's next escapade."--Publishers Weekly
Review
A Winter 2013-14 Kidsand#39; Indie Next List pick
andquot;Fast paced and funny, with plenty of alliteration and word definitions provided by Noodles, it carries hints of both Lemony Snicketand#39;s wordplay and the absurdity of M. T. Andersonand#39;s Pals in Peril series. . . . Young, precocious readers and older readers looking for a shorter read will enjoy this first title in the Gadgets and Gears series.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Booklist
andquot;[An] auspicious first book. . . . Hamilton makes the comedic most of her premise. . . . Noodlesand#39;s antics and droll, mannered narration make him the indisputable star of this show.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly
andquot;Steampunk with training wheels for the chapter book set. . . . Sly humor . . . nifty, gear-laden illustrations . . . [an] imaginative, engaging premise.andquot;and#160;
andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
Review
* "Laced with humor, packed with surprises and driven by suspense, the plot grabs readers from the start using the stylistic tactics of the best fantasy writing. . . . Buy this novel for readers of Franny Billingsley and Dia Calhoun as well as fans of urban fantasy."—
Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "Ancient Irish myths and legends mix and mingle with the modern world in this fast-paced fantasy. . . . Hamilton has created characters who are quirky and complex. Their stories are tightly woven together and riveting, and readers will look forward to the next installment in the series".—
School Library Journal, starred review"[A] promising new series. . . . The hints of a tragic fate will keep romance fans reading, while the promise of more magical thrills involving Irish folklore will draw in others."—Booklist "[An] engaging adventure. . . . Even the most myth-savvy readers will revel in the clever twists and surprises."—Publishers Weekly
"Hamilton seamlessly blends magic and realism....The searing chemistry between Tea and Finn will have romance fans swooning"—The Bulletin
"A gentle, mystical story that manages to entwine Irish folklore and first love. An easy read, it is written with an abundance of simple but beautiful descriptive language. . . . The characters are feisty and appealing, and this reviewer looks forward to how the author will develop them throughout the series."—VOYA
Review
"Kate Klise fleshes out the plot with back stories on the house, Seymourand#8217;s catastrophic, absent parents and Oliveand#8217;s haunting of the house. Suspense intrudes when Seymourand#8217;s parents reappear and decide to demolish it. Everywhere they look, readers will find comedy, even in the headers on the letters and character names. Of course itand#8217;s all going to come out magnificently in the end, thereby setting up the next book in the planned series. A quirky, comedic romp."--Kirkus"This epistolary graphic mystery may take genre-bending into the realm of genre-pretzeling, but it still delivers an unlikely story with a great deal of likability."--Booklistand#160;"The fun here is in the narrative equipmentand#151;letters, e-mails, newspaper extracts, floor plan, cast list, etc., and in the embedded jokes, such as Cliff Hanger (the editor of The Ghastly Times) and Frank N. Beans (the private investigator) . . . young mock-gothic fans will nonetheless be eager to revisit 43 Old Cemetery Road in the anticipated sequels."--Horn Bookand#160;"This first title in a new series will appeal to readers, especially reluctant ones, as it moves quickly and leaves its audience eager for book two, which is announced in this ghastly and fun tale."--School Library Journaland#160;"This fresh, funny launch of the 43 Old Cemetery Road series introduces an eccentric cast with pun-tastic names . . . the story is light enough for more tentative readers, with many humorous details to reward those who look closer."--Publishers Weeklyand#160;". . . a frothy little confection, whose enjoyability comes as much, if not more, from the format and side jokes . . . as from the main plot.and#160; The story is a pleasant example of the supernatural sitcom . . . an engaging and easy-going read.and#160; Illustrations, mostly vigorous line portraits drawn by and#145;Seymour,and#8217; add additional invitation to the accessible pages.and#8221;--The Bulletin
Synopsis
The first book in a fast-paced new historical fantasy series narrated by a daring dachshund and brimming with mad science.
Synopsis
Welcome to the Amazing Automated Inn, home of twelve-year-old inventor Wally Kennewickett, his genius scientist parents, and hisand#160;dashing dog, Noodles. From the lightning harvester on the roof to the labs full of experiments in the dungeon, the inn is a wonderful place for a curious boy and his loyal dog to live. That is, until President Theodore Roosevelt himself calls the elder Kennewicketts away, leaving Wally and Noodles to face the evil Mesmers, horrible hypnotists bent on controlling the minds of powerful people. It seems the inn is their first stop on the way to world domination . . . and only an ingenious boy, a staff of automatons,and#160;and a brave dachshund stand in their way!
Synopsis
What would you do if the stories of your childhood suddenly began coming to life? Teagan Wylltsons best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures—goblins, shapeshifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty—are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isnt worried. Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives, with his killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. Either hes crazy or hes been haunting Abbys dreams, because hes talking about goblins, too . . . and about being born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abbys right. The goblins are coming.
Synopsis
The first book in aand#160;fast-paced historical fantasyand#160;series narrated by a daring dachshund and brimming with mad science.
Synopsis
Ignatius B. Grumply moves into the Victorian mansion at 43 Old Cemetery Road hoping to find some peace and quiet so he can crack a wicked case of writer's block. But 43 Old Cemetery Road is already occupied by eleven-year-old Seymour, his cat Shadow, and an irritable ghost named Olive. It's hard to say who is more outraged. But a grumpy old ghost just might inspire this grumpy old man--and the abandoned kid? Well, let's just say his last name's Hope.
Sisters Kate and M. Sarah Klise, the creators of the award-winning Regarding the . . . series, offer up this debut volume in a clever epistolary series told in letters, drawings, newspaper articles, a work-in-progress manuscript, and even an occasional tombstone engraving.
About the Author
Born and raisedandnbsp;among the sprawling cornfields of rural Pennsylvania, Kelly Murphy now writes from her child-sized apartment in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Her articles have appearedandnbsp;in Brokelyn, Brooklyn Based, Chic Today, NCTEand#8217;s The Council Chronicle, and various other publications. Kelly graduated from Penn State with a degree in English and currently works in publishing.