Saturday, April 20, 2013

The Holders by Julianna Scott - ADVISABLE


Scott, Julianna The Holders, 368 p. Strange Chemistry, 2013.  $10.  Language: PG-13 (35+ swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (battles with magic and such).  

Becca knows that her younger brother Ryland is special, but she has never believed that the voices in his head means that he is crazy.  When representatives of a special school come to offer Ryland a place, Becca finds out that the headmaster is none other than her absentee father.  She insists that if Ryland goes, she goes too.  To her surprise, she finds a school where some kids are normals, but others like Ryland have magic powers.  And the leaders of the school think that Ryland has a destiny as the bearer of a special artifact that is the only things saving humankind from being taken over by a great evil.

I kind of thought I knew where this book was going – and I was right, but I didn’t mind at all.  Becca has a great sense of honor, but also humor and this is a classic piece of modern fantasy.  Perfect for fans of Harry Potter, Alfred Kropp, or any of the other dozens of fun “kids save the world” fantasy books out there.  Too bad it is so sweary, because otherwise it would fit fine in an elementary school also.  

MS, HS – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

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