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Fans of both teen fantasy and Victorian-flavored gothic romance will find a new treat in Magic Under Glass. The story is set in what feels almost like an alternative history reminiscent of the height of the British Empire - with its manners, entertainments and setting. But the presence of fairies and sorcery quickly lend a fantastic bent to the tale of Namira, a young performer plucked from a tawdry music hall by a wealthy widow. She is recruited to sing with his rare piano-playing automaton (a mechanical man) which seems to have frightened away previous singers. Namira finds herself living in luxury as she must suddenly navigate higher society and dangerous intrigue - when the automaton begins to communicate with her. A fresh story among rivals in the teen romance category, this title seems to indicate a sequel but not confirmation as yet (Bloomsbury)
How unlikely a story! A magician striving to impress his audience conjures an elephant that comes crashing from the heights of the theatre to land in audience, the animal crippling a wealthy patron as it lands. A fortuneteller predicts that Peter, an orphaned boy, will find his lost sister when an elephant leads him to her. Working her own magic to suspend disbelief, DiCamillo weaving simple words into a rich fabric of beautiful, poignant interaction among strangers and friends who are all seeking the most unlikely of outcomes. Hauntingly illustrated by Yoko Tanaka, The Magician's Elephant is both a wonderful read-aloud for elementary age kids and a charm-filled title for independent middle-grade and teen readers. Just beautiful. (Candlewick)
Not usually one to turn to the back of a book for anwers, The Eyeball Collector opens quickly with an imbedded riddle that simply begged to be resolved before I could continue reading. The whole book offered such compelling questions that it was hard not to continue flipping to the back. Smart, macabre and mysterious, this title from F. E. Higgins features exceptionally bright, Hector Fitzbaudly, a young man who is raised in affluence and comfort. But Hector is quickly thrust into poverty and danger when his father is ruined (to death) by the scheme of a one-eyed con man. With an abiding thirst for revenge, Hector crafts the means to discover the criminal and upon finding him, follows the con man to his next victim. But the criminal's target is dangerous in her own right and may claim Hector's revenge first. The foreboding backdrop is filled with chilling imagery that will satisfy fans destined for Lovecraft, Poe and Dickens. Sprinkled with riddles, some of which are resolved in the afterword, and peopled with smart characters, I recommend this title for the eyeballs for teens and advanced middle-grade readers. (Feiwel & Friends - Macmillan)
