The same delightful type of genre deconstruction that animates Grossman's young adult Magicians trilogy is at work in The Silver Arrow…an eco-fable that addresses a serious global crisis (climate change, though the term is never used) with whimsy: It's easier to get kids interested in theoretical scientific concepts if you charm them with talking animals…While in The Magicians magic provides unhappy people with a way out, in The Silver Arrow it shows Kate she need not escape into a fantasy world when there's more rewarding work to be done in this one than she'd ever imagined.

07/20/2020

Blending elements of conservation and magic, Grossman (The Magicians, for adults) crafts a timeless-feeling, Travers-tinged adventure in his middle grade debut. On her 11th birthday, Kate’s uncle Herbert, “very rich and totally irresponsible,” gives her an unexpected present: a life-size steam locomotive named the Silver Arrow. Kate and her younger brother Tom, finding the train fueled, are soon swept away by the sentient locomotive—which communicates with them via printed messages—first to acquire a selection of train cars (including delightfully stuffed candy and library compartments), and then to serve as conductors on an international rail system that transports talking animals, large and small, to new habitats. While learning to run the train and solve problems on their own, the siblings bond with myriad passengers and begin to understand global issues surrounding endangered and invasive species, habitat loss, and environmental stewardship. Though it’s unclear why the magic train burns coal—a nonrenewable resource—in service of otherwise strong ecological messaging, whimsical details and well-wrought moments of adventure are neverthless certain to draw young readers. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–up. (Sept.)

Praise for The Silver Arrow:


"I loved it. Completely unpredictable and completely charming. A perfect book to cuddle up with and savor—and even better to read aloud with someone you love." —Adam Gidwitz, bestselling and Newbery honor-winning author of A Tale Dark and Grimm and The Inquisitor's Tale

*"Both cozy and inspiring, this eco-fable conveys both grim truths and a defiant call to action."—Kirkus, starred review

*"Grossman's gorgeous middle-grade debut is vivid and amusing... it's a world all its own."—Booklist, starred review

"...whimsical details and well-wrought moments of adventure are nevertheless certain to draw young readers."—Publishers Weekly

"...one that's sure to become a classic all its own."—Barnes & Noble Reads

"[A] scrumptious fantasy confection."—Horn Book

"Fans of classic talking-animal tales such as the Chronicles of Narnia will want to pick up a copy."—BCCB

"I loved every page. This is middle grade fiction at its best."—Ann Patchett

12/01/2020

Gr 5–8—Kate is about to turn 11, and she doesn't expect anything interesting to happen. Longing for adventure, she sends a note to her Uncle Herbert, whom she's never met, asking him to send her a birthday present. He shows up with one of the more interesting gifts anyone could imagine: a full-size steam train with talking animals as passengers. Against their parents' wishes, Kate and her younger brother Tom set off on extraordinary journey around the world, ferrying their extraordinary passengers to their destinations. Information about climate change, invasive species, and other human effects on animal life are woven throughout. Though veteran reader Simon Vance may seem a strange choice to voice a book whose point-of-view character is a young girl, his narrative skills carry listeners along, immersing them in Kate's world. VERDICT Fans of adventure stories and magic will enjoy the Silver Arrow's journey and getting to know its quirky passengers.—Stephanie Klose, Library Journal

09/25/2020

Gr 3–7—Kate's 11th birthday is approaching, and she's bored. She longs to live the kind of adventures she reads about. Figuring she has nothing to lose, she emails a wealthy, mysterious uncle she's never met, Herbert, and asks him for a birthday present. He delivers in grand style, showing up in person and presenting Kate with a train, an actual full-size steam locomotive—the titular Silver Arrow—that takes her and her brother, Tom, on a magical journey. Traveling on enchanted rail lines, Kate and Tom transport a bevy of talking animals around the globe and must use their imaginations and problem-solving skills to get themselves home again eventually. Environmental messages are woven throughout in entertaining and age-appropriate ways (invasive species attempt a minor coup, a baby pangolin requires such stringent protection from traffickers that it has to be removed from the space-time continuum altogether). VERDICT Readers of all ages who share the protagonist's fondness for "books about ordinary people who find out that magic is real" will devour this charming adventure story.—Stephanie Klose, Library Journal

Acclaimed narrator Simon Vance brings his special blend of magic and cheek to Lev Grossman's middle-grade debut. In a moment of ennui, Kate requests an 11th birthday present from her estranged uncle and, surprisingly, is given a fully functioning life-size steam train. Her younger brother, Thomas, joins her on a fantastic adventure in which they pick up all manner of chatty animal passengers all over the world. Vance's character voices are perfect for the young train conductors, and his choices for the animals are exceptional. They include a burly porcupine, a kindly, wise heron, and many others—all of whom have deft accents that indicate their national habitats. This story of wonder serves up a gently delivered message about conservation and the effect of humans on the animal world. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

★ 2020-06-30
The best birthday present is a magical train full of talking animals—and a new job.

On Kate’s 11th birthday, she’s surprised by the arrival of rich Uncle Herbert. Uncle Herbert bears a gift: a train. Not a toy train, a 102.36-ton steam engine, with cars that come later. When Kate and her brother, Tom, both white, play in the cab of the Silver Arrow, the train starts up, zooming to a platform packed with animals holding tickets. Thus begins Kate and Tom’s hard work: They learn to conduct the train and feed the fire box, instructed by the Silver Arrow, which speaks via printed paper tape. The Silver Arrow is a glorious playground: The library car is chockablock with books while the candy car is brimful of gobstoppers and gummy bears. But amid the excitement of whistle-blowing and train conducting, Kate and Tom learn quiet messages from their animal friends. Some species, like gray squirrels and starlings, are “invaders.” The too-thin polar bear’s train platform has melted, leaving it almost drowned. Their new calling is more than just feeding the coal box—they need to find a new balance in a damaged world. “Feeling guilty doesn’t help anything,” the mamba tells them. Humans have survived so effectively they’ve taken over the world; now, he says, “you just have to take care of it.” (Illustrations not seen.)

Both cozy and inspiring, this eco-fable conveys both grim truths and a defiant call to action. (Fantasy. 8-10)