Reviews
Booklist 9/1/05 \\\\Nimmo, Jenny. Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors. 2005. 432p. Scholastic/Orchard, $9.95 (0-439-54528-5). Gr. 4¿. In the fourth book of the projected five in the Red King series, Charlie Bone and his friends (and enemies) begin a new term at Bloor's Academy, where many of the students and staff are endowed with magical abilities. Hoping to find his father and help a friend, Charlie travels to the ominous Castle of Bone. Nimmo adds several inventive elements to this magical world, including the transformation of Charlie's wand into a silent creature of mysterious power. Explaining the complex background story and introducing the many characters to new readers slows down the action quite a bit at the start, but the pace picks up nicely when Charlie goes to the rescue of his friend Billy. Prediction: this fantasy should do quite well, assuming a continuing demand for stories about a nice lad with magical powers who goes to boarding school, longs to see his father, has adventures, makes a few mistakes, and gets by with a little help from his friends. -Carolyn Phelan SLJ 10/1/05 NIMMO, Jenny. Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors. 411p. (Children of the Red King Series). Scholastic/Orchard. 2005. Tr $9.95. ISBN 0-439-54528-5. LC number unavailable. Gr 5-8-Charlie Bone is starting a new school year and once again there are unpleasant surprises in store for him and his friends at Bloor's Academy. Little Billy Raven has finally been adopted, but the sinister de Greys have other plans for Billy, and it is up to Charlie and his friends to find a way to save him. Nimmo once again delivers an exciting, plot-driven tale that is sure to please fantasy and adventure fans. This new chapter in Charlie's saga is full of plot twists and thrills that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series. While the character development is a bit lacking, fantasy fans will enjoy the story.-Anna M. Nelson, Collier County Public Library, Naples, FL VOYA 10/1/05 Challenges and dangers continue to follow Charlie Bone wherever he goes in this sequel to Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy. Evil Dr. Bloor believes that he has resurrected a despicable ancestor without realizing the B on the casket stood for Berenice, the good queen, rather than the warrior Borlath. The endowed children gain another protector, but three more endowed students arrive at the academy and use their gifts of magnetism and telekinesis to aid the Bloors. The balance literally shifts toward the dark side when it is discovered that Olivia has the ability to create illusions. The terrifying results are enough to cause the Bloors to give up their control over hapless Billy Raven. The children work together to restore the balance and all ends well - for now. Charlie, ever hopeful of being reunited with his missing father, receives a tantalizing clue on the last two pages. As always, Nimmo spins an imaginative, absorbing tale that will not disappoint fans of Charlie and company. Characters continue to develop and grow while the introduction of new bad guys and girls promises future botherations for the ingenious bunch. It is a treat to see the team of endowed children and adults treated with respect by each other. Too often, authors fall back on portraying children as smart-mouthed independents and adults as clueless and useless. The question now is who will complete their quest first- Charlie or Mr. Potter?, Booklist 9/1/05 \\\\Nimmo, Jenny. Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors. 2005. 432p. Scholastic/Orchard, $9.95 (0-439-54528-5). Gr. 4--6. In the fourth book of the projected five in the Red King series, Charlie Bone and his friends (and enemies) begin a new term at Bloor's Academy, where many of the students and staff are endowed with magical abilities. Hoping to find his father and help a friend, Charlie travels to the ominous Castle of Bone. Nimmo adds several inventive elements to this magical world, including the transformation of Charlie's wand into a silent creature of mysterious power. Explaining the complex background story and introducing the many characters to new readers slows down the action quite a bit at the start, but the pace picks up nicely when Charlie goes to the rescue of his friend Billy. Prediction: this fantasy should do quite well, assuming a continuing demand for stories about a nice lad with magical powers who goes to boarding school, longs to see his father, has adventures, makes a few mistakes, and gets by with a little help from his friends. --Carolyn Phelan SLJ 10/1/05 NIMMO, Jenny. Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors. 411p. (Children of the Red King Series). Scholastic/Orchard. 2005. Tr $9.95. ISBN 0-439-54528-5. LC number unavailable. Gr 5-8--Charlie Bone is starting a new school year and once again there are unpleasant surprises in store for him and his friends at Bloor's Academy. Little Billy Raven has finally been adopted, but the sinister de Greys have other plans for Billy, and it is up to Charlie and his friends to find a way to save him. Nimmo once again delivers an exciting, plot-driven tale that is sure to please fantasy and adventure fans. This new chapter in Charlie's saga is full of plot twists and thrills that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series. While the character development is a bit lacking, fantasy fans will enjoy the story.--Anna M. Nelson, Collier County Public Library, Naples, FL VOYA 10/1/05 Challenges and dangers continue to follow Charlie Bone wherever he goes in this sequel to Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy. Evil Dr. Bloor believes that he has resurrected a despicable ancestor without realizing the B on the casket stood for Berenice, the good queen, rather than the warrior Borlath. The endowed children gain another protector, but three more endowed students arrive at the academy and use their gifts of magnetism and telekinesis to aid the Bloors. The balance literally shifts toward the dark side when it is discovered that Olivia has the ability to create illusions. The terrifying results are enough to cause the Bloors to give up their control over hapless Billy Raven. The children work together to restore the balance and all ends well -- for now. Charlie, ever hopeful of being reunited with his missing father, receives a tantalizing clue on the last two pages. As always, Nimmo spins an imaginative, absorbing tale that will not disappoint fans of Charlie and company. Characters continue to develop and grow while the introduction of new bad guys and girls promises future botherations for the ingenious bunch. It is a treat to see the team of endowed children and adults treated with respect by each other. Too often, authors fall back on portraying children as smart-mouthed independents and adults as clueless and useless. The question now is who will complete their quest first- Charlie or Mr. Potter?
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