JUNE 2015 - AudioFile
Thanks to narrator Sarah Coomes’s steadfast characterizations, listeners can distinguish the varied characters in the second journey of young Elodie; the dragon detective, Meenore; and the shape-shifting ogre, Count Jonty Om. Snowbound and faced with the possibility of destruction to her homeland by a volcanic eruption, Elodie finds that her powers of induction, deduction, cleverness, and common sense come to the rescue. Coomes’s vocal switches seem effortless. As Elodie moves between being an inquisitive character in the story and being its confident first-person narrator, Coomes pulls the listener in. A.R. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
Levine’s prose is clear and accessible, and her invented world, with its quirky inhabitants and distinctive vocabulary, is pleasantly unpredictable and nonthreatening-even with a volcanic eruption in the offing.” — Horn Book Magazine
The writing is consistently engaging, and the story’s deliberate pace will encourage kids to observe the characters and solve the mystery before all is revealed. A satisfying mixture of fantasy, mystery, and adventure. — Booklist
here is plenty of adventure and mystery to engage readers, and fans of Levine’s other works will be pleased to see this in the collection. — School Library Journal
Praise for A Tale of Two Castles: “A thoroughly delicious romp from the author of Ella Enchanted. The plot is winningly unpredictable, the characters easy to relate to, the humor subtle and the action well-paced. Newbery Honor-winner Levine has once again breathed new life into old stories.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Praise for A Tale of Two Castles: “Readers are certain to be pulled, like Elodie herself, right into the midst of the rich and swirling life of Two Castles.” — School Library Journal
Praise for A Tale of Two Castles: “Levine’s strength lies in her transparent language and the candid, uncomplicated voice of her narrator, who brings younger readers along with her as she questions assumptions, grows in friendship, works out the mystery, and makes brave escapes.” — The Horn Book
Praise for Ella Enchanted: “This refreshing take on one of the world’s most popular fairy tales preserves the spirit of the original but adds plenty of humorous twists and a spunky, intelligent female lead.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Praise for Ella Enchanted: “A thoroughly enchanting novel that deepens and enriches the original tale.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
Praise for Ella Enchanted: “As finely designed as a tapestry, with a heroine so spirited that she wins readers’ hearts.” — Booklist (starred review)
Praise for Ever: “The power of love and courage to overcome seemingly impossible odds and to bridge ostensibly untraversable differences are at the heart of this compelling, intensely satisfying fantasy.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
Praise for Ever: “Levine’s (Ella Enchanted) original mythological tale works as romance, adventure and exploration of faith. [She] conducts a riveting journey, offering passion and profound pondering along the way.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for Fairest: “Readers will instantly fall in love with the heroine, whose heart proves to be as warm as her voice.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for Fairest: “Readers will enjoy the fairy-tale setting while identifying with the real-life problems of living in an appearance obsessed society. A distinguished addition to any collection.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
Horn Book Magazine
Levine’s prose is clear and accessible, and her invented world, with its quirky inhabitants and distinctive vocabulary, is pleasantly unpredictable and nonthreatening-even with a volcanic eruption in the offing.
Booklist
The writing is consistently engaging, and the story’s deliberate pace will encourage kids to observe the characters and solve the mystery before all is revealed. A satisfying mixture of fantasy, mystery, and adventure.
Booklist (starred review)
Praise for Ella Enchanted: “As finely designed as a tapestry, with a heroine so spirited that she wins readers’ hearts.
The Horn Book
Praise for A Tale of Two Castles: “Levine’s strength lies in her transparent language and the candid, uncomplicated voice of her narrator, who brings younger readers along with her as she questions assumptions, grows in friendship, works out the mystery, and makes brave escapes.
Booklist
The writing is consistently engaging, and the story’s deliberate pace will encourage kids to observe the characters and solve the mystery before all is revealed. A satisfying mixture of fantasy, mystery, and adventure.
School Library Journal
03/01/2015
Gr 4–6—Fans of Levine's A Tale of Two Castles (HarperCollins, 2011) will be pleased to see their favorite dragon detective and her apprentice, Elodie, back for another adventure. Elodie is taking Masteress Meenore and the kind ogre Count Jonty Um to her home island of Lahnt. During the journey, the trio learns that a priceless statue, the Replica, has been stolen. This statue is not just a decoration—when moved from its pedestal, it has the power to unleash a deadly volcano if not returned in three days. With countless characters who could be the culprit, it is up to the duo to decipher the clues and return the Replica before it is too late. Readers may be confused if encountering Elodie for the first time in this novel; it is best to be familar with the previous book. The story is plot driven, and the lack of background information may leave some stumbling through the fantasy world of Lahnt. Meenore, the dragon masteress, is referred to as Meenore's gender. Nonetheless, there are redeeming aspects to this novel. Elodie is a strong-willed but kind girl whose assumptions are clearly made after the facts have been presented. Meenore brings quips and witticisms that lighten the mood of the novel and recall the charm of author's classic Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997). VERDICT There is plenty of adventure and mystery to engage readers, and fans of Levine's other works will be pleased to see this in the collection.—Brittney Kosev, Dave Blair Elementary School, Farmers Branch, TX
JUNE 2015 - AudioFile
Thanks to narrator Sarah Coomes’s steadfast characterizations, listeners can distinguish the varied characters in the second journey of young Elodie; the dragon detective, Meenore; and the shape-shifting ogre, Count Jonty Om. Snowbound and faced with the possibility of destruction to her homeland by a volcanic eruption, Elodie finds that her powers of induction, deduction, cleverness, and common sense come to the rescue. Coomes’s vocal switches seem effortless. As Elodie moves between being an inquisitive character in the story and being its confident first-person narrator, Coomes pulls the listener in. A.R. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Review
2015-01-20
Elodie takes the stage again as a mansioner (actor) and assistant detective when a mystery interrupts her homeward journey and imperils her friends in this sequel to A Tale of Two Castles (2011).Having survived seasickness, robbery, unemployment and accusations of assassination in her first five weeks away from home, Elodie leaves the big city of Two Castles with the gentle, shape-shifting ogre known as Count Jonty Um and the erudite but illiterate dragon Masteress Meenore, intending to reassure her parents of her safety and good fortune. When a snowstorm strands the trio at the mountain hall of Oase, they discover that the Replica that keeps the island together and the volcanoes dormant is gone, and Zertrum will soon explode. Elodie dives into detective work, eager to save the island and prove her powers to Meenore, but the other guests are hostile, the host, High Brunka Marya, is an irritatingly enigmatic magical creature, and her human "bees" are less dronelike than their title of servitude suggests. The narrative shifts among Elodie, Jonty Um and Meenore are distracting, dilute an already thin plot, and in Meenore's case, run counter to previously established characterization. Despite the meager mystery, Levine still offers a detailed magical world, high-stakes action, and arch observations of family tensions and racial divides. The unusual blend of magical medieval mystery and disaster lite offers an effervescent but not explosive read. (Fantasy. 10-14)
