Piper Green and the Fairy Tree (Piper Green and the Fairy Tree #1)

With its intriguing setting, sympathetic characters, and hint of magic, this new chapter-book series should charm fledgling readers. (Fiction. 7-9)

Copyright 2015 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with permission

Second-grade is not off to a good start for Piper Green: her new teacher has a no-nonsense streak, and Piper badly misses her older brother, who is attending high school on the mainland (the Greens live on a tiny Maine island). Skillfully blending humor, pathos, and warmth with an atmospheric setting, Potter has created an honest, empathic slice-of-life story, laced with a touch of magic. Piper has a winning combination of stubbornness, loyalty, and independence, which Leng ably portrays in her loosely inked, gently humorous artwork. Simultaneously available: Too Much Good Luck. Ages 7-9. Author's agent: Alice Tasman, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Illustrator's agency: Shannon Associates. (Aug.)

Gr 1-3--Piper Green is a smart-alecky second grader who lives on Peek-a-Boo Island off the coast of Maine. She proudly rides a lobster boat to school each morning and is obsessed with wearing earmuffs that belonged to her older brother, Erik. Her preoccupation with those earmuffs has landed her in trouble. Piper refuses to remove them for her new teacher, who complains to her parents. To avoid going to school, Piper fakes an illness and hides in a neighbor's tree. While this "fairy" tree contains no real magic, it does hold a delightful surprise. Sadly, this contemporary tale is slight and lacks any real humor. Piper's slim adventures will not hold the interest of their target audience. While the writing style is clear with a strong use of vocabulary, Piper herself is two-dimensional. Though a certain level of bratty behavior is amusing in books for younger readers, such as Junie B. Jones's attitude, Piper's cockiness comes off as downright rude. Her demeanor is attributed to her older brother's absence, but the reason for his disappearance is simplistic and unsatisfying. The minimal pen-and-ink illustrations, mostly of a frowning Piper, add little to the story. VERDICT Those seeking an engaging adventure would do much better with Sara Pennypacker's "Clementine" (Disney-Hyperion) or Christine Pakkala's "Last but Not Least Lola" (Boyds Mills).--Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library