Casper Tock and the Everdark Wings (Unmapped Chronicles #1)

The jam-packed plot, conveyed in a third-person-omniscient voice, is steadily paced, with plenty of action and just enough detail. This whimsical, humorous, richly built world sets the stage for more courageous adventures.

A boy is transported to the magical realms responsible for creating the Earth's weather in this heartfelt middle grade fantasy. Casper Tock, 11, eschews the complications of friendship in favor of timetables and lists, which makes him the target of wealthy bullies at his English boarding school. While hiding inside a grandfather clock, he's sucked through to Rumblestar, one of the four Unmapped Kingdoms that conjure "sunlight, rain, snow, and every untold wonder behind the weather." Initially mistaken as a criminal by the perpetually grumpy Utterly Thankless, a girl with a propensity for trouble, Casper eventually teams up with her to free the Unmapped Kingdoms' magic from Morg, a harpy bent on stealing it all for herself. As they wander the regions of Rumblestar, encountering cloud giants, drizzle hags, and more, Casper and Utterly each redefine their understanding of friendship and loyalty while overcoming their individual limitations. Elphinstone (Sky Song) populates this volume with fanciful creatures and concepts, including an overly helpful hot air balloon powered by dragon fire, but she never loses sight of her protagonists' personal stakes or emotional journeys, resulting in a humorous adventure that resonates on multiple levels. Ages 8-12. (Jan.)

Gr 4-7—The ultimate underdog, Casper Tock attends Little Wallops British boarding school where his parents teach. Casper faces torment from external and internal forces—his British and Tanzanian identity is not appreciated by school bullies while his anxious nature prescribes a scheduled, carefully controlled existence. Imagine his panic when he steps through his grandfather clock into the Unmapped Kingdoms, where the world's weather originates. He soon meets a girl named Utterly Thankless whose brusque manner hides her true feelings. They traverse the kingdoms trying to stop Morg the harpy's minions from stealing weather marvels. Memorable characters (including Utterly's miniature dragon Arlo, the hilariously nasty drizzle hags, and Zip, the hot air balloon with pizzazz) speed their quest along. Elphinstone has created a detailed, terminology-laden magical world, which keeps its head above water because of the narrative's whimsy as well as its grounded, sympathetic characters. Casper and Utterly are superb foils; Casper is fearful but willing to be friendly while Utterly is a daredevil but emotionally distant. Arlo acts as the charming intermediary who bridges the gaps and encourages them to collaborate. The episodic nature of the adventures gives structure to the wealth of names, regions, and powers while the individual creatures they meet range from grumpy hags to delicate sprites to taciturn ogres. Readers who wade through the magical backstory and reach Casper's chapters will not be disappointed. VERDICT This jam-packed middle grade fantasy may require a little hand-selling, but the characters' journey is extremely satisfying.—Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT