Middle Grade Fantasy

WINTERFROST by Michelle Houts

WINTERFROST written by Michelle Houts
(Candlewick, $16.99, Ages 8-12 )

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Michelle Hout’s WINTERFROST brings readers to the forests of Denmark for a sweet fantasy adventure that is perfect for the holiday season.

The Larsen family Christmas celebration takes an unexpected turn when the parents are called away, leaving 12-year-old Bettina in charge of the farm and her 1-year-old sister, Pia, for a few days. Bettina, a mature and responsible girl, is undaunted by the challenge. She’s confident that she can manage alone, especially since nothing ever happens on the sleepy island of Lolland in mid-winter.

But in the hustle and bustle of preparations, the family forgets to leave a bowl of warm, bubbling rice pudding in the barn on Christmas. Just as many families leave cookies for Santa, the Danes leave rice pudding for the nisse, tiny kind and clever elves who tend the livestock and stoke the fires. Klakke, the Larsen’s young and curious nisse, is hurt and resentful of the family’s forgetfulness, so he steals baby Pia from her carriage as she naps in the sunshine.

Bettina begins a frantic hunt for the baby until darkness falls. Unable to sleep, she finds a long-forgotten book belonging to her grandfather entitled How to Care for and Keep Your Nisse. From the book, Bettina learns that a disgruntled nisse might resort to mischief. Suddenly, she realizes that the forgotten bowl of rice pudding may have been the indirect cause of Pia’s disappearance.

Bettina’s belief in the nisse tenuously restored, she heads into the forest to look for Pia and enters a fantastic world of mythology and Danish folklore. Fans of tiny people stories like The Borrowers or The Littles will delight in the details that Houts incorporates, such as walnut shell chairs, firefly lanterns, and thistledown socks. The creative and unusual setting is a charming springboard for Bettina’s nisse adventures, following her as she flies on the neck of a goose, then a seagull, seeking a way to free her sister from a long-standing nisse family feud.

Hout’s unique, imaginative tale is a whimsical read for those just stepping into chapter books. The Nordic setting adds a fun twist to the fantasy adventure, and the brave, clever Bettina is an engaging heroine who thinks on her feet. Wrap up WINTERFROST as a perfect gift for young readers to enjoy during a snowy winter school vacation!

– Reviewed by Cathy Ballou Mealey 

Where Obtained:  I reviewed a promotional copy of WINTERFROST from the publisher and received no compensation. The opinions expressed here are my own.

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The Worst Witch to the Rescue by Jill Murphy

The Worst Witch to the Rescue by Jill Murphy is reviewed by Rita Zobayan.

The-Worst-Witch-Rescue-cvr.jpgJill Murphy’s The Worst Witch was one of my favorite books as a child in London, so I was very excited when the sixth book in the series, The Worst Witch to the Rescue (Candlewick Press, 2014; $14.99 for hardback, Ages 8-12) was released.

Mildred Hubble, an earnest yet disaster-prone student at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches, must contend with tricky spells, an even trickier classmate, and a very stern teacher. Despite her (well-earned) reputation for being awful at magic, Mildred has had a wonderful summer and returns to the Academy full of hope. Her summer project has turned out splendidly, and she is a natural at the new ceramics class. Even Ethel Hallow, Mildred’s long-time tormentor, is being friendly. Could this be the year when things finally go right for Mildred?! Alas, no. Mildred quickly learns that her luck hasn’t changed, as her good beginning unravels at rapid speed. Miss Hardbroom won’t listen when Mildred’s project goes missing, and even her friends Enid and Maud have trouble believing her theories. With her cat Tabby and tortoise Einstein, Mildred will have to work even harder than usual to set the record straight.

The Worst Witch series is a wonderful entry into fantasy. Mildred is a relatable and sweet character, who tries so hard, but gets things so wrong. However, her plucky attitude and perseverance make her admirable. Jill Murphy has created a fantastical world that is charming, but includes (somewhat) frightening elements that children will understand. Often times the frights are more people than magic based. Unfortunately, just about every story written about a witch or wizard attending a school of magic will be compared to the Harry Potter series. However, Mildred Hubble was the worst witch at Miss Cackle’s Academy a good 23 years before Harry stepped foot in Hogwarts, and she’s been accidentally wreaking havoc ever since.

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An Iron Hearted Princess Tale

Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill with afeff3b06140c73eb5ee46dc26371503Illustrations by Iacopo Bruno (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, $16.99, Ages 8 and up) is reviewed today by Hilary Taber.

Violet is not your average princess. She has a wild mane of red hair, eyes that don’t match in color, and a lopsided face. Also, she manages to get herself into a fair amount of trouble in her quest for adventure. However, she is goodhearted, and extremely brave! While the castle she lives in holds many secrets, there is no secret that comes so close to real danger as the story of a god named Nybbas. Nybbas is determined to be set free of his magical prison inside the castle in order to unleash his cruelty upon Violet’s kingdom. After finding a miniature library inside the castle in a small and mysterious room, Violet unknowingly becomes increasingly controlled by Nybbas. She must call upon all of her courage, storytelling skills, her family, friends, and one dragon to wage a war upon Nybbas. Yet, how can Violet defeat an immortal god?

Additionally, Nybbas knows Violet’s secret weakness. She longs to be a “real princess.” From all the stories that Violet has heard, real princesses are beautiful, not brave. When a magical offer is made by Nybbas to transform Violet into a version of the perfectly beautiful princesses in the stories she has heard all her life, she finds herself more than tempted to accept. The ever-changing castle that holds so many secrets, and the release of the evil god Nymbbas that Violet must lead the battle to fight kept me gripped until the very end. Iron Hearted Violet presents a world of so-called stories that are discovered to be full of truth, and an exploration of what it really means to be a princess. Fans of Gail Carson Levine’s novels such as Ella Enchanted, and especially J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series will find much to be pleased with within the pages of this middle grade novel. Additionally, Iron Hearted Violet is a 2012 Andre Norton Award Finalist (an award given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for the best young adult or middle grade fantasy book published in the United States), and a Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner.  Visit the Little, Brown Books for Young Readers website to read an excerpt by clicking here.

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For Rick Riordan Fans

Today’s review comes courtesy of Julia, a 10-year-old 5th grader who loves polar bears, designing clothes and books, books, books. Her father queried her about the latest novel she read from best-selling author Rick Riordan.

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The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus, Book 3) by Rick Riordan ($19.99, Hyperion Books for Children, ages 9-11).

How would you describe the story to someone?

This story is about Percy, Hazel and Frank meeting Annabeth, Leo, Piper in New Rome and their journey to Rome.

What did you like the best in the story?

I liked that it is from each character’s point-of-view but not narrated by them, like the Red Pyramid books, and it’s filled with adventures, like when they met Narcissus, Echo and all of the love-sick nymphs.

Was there anything you disliked about the book?

The cliffhanger ending because I don’t like being left hanging.

Who was your favorite character in the book?   

Annabeth – because I love how she is smart, crafty and fierce, and she stays strong in the worst situations.  And Hazel because I love her back story.

Would you recommend Heroes of Olympus to people if they liked earlier Rick Riordan books?

Yes, they would like this one, too.

 

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