![]() ![]() The plot moves along at a brisk pace with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Malamander is populated with colorful, quirky characters led by the clever and intrepid duo of 12-year-olds, Herbie and Violet. This delightfully spooky fantasy series opener for big kids and tweens drips with charm and chills, thanks to sprinklings of magic, humor, and mystery along with a dash of steampunk. Strong language includes one instance each of "damned" and "hell," and some potty talk involving fossilized dinosaur "turd" and "poo." Both heroes are good role models, and dark-skinned girls with curly hair will especially enjoy seeing a strong heroine who looks like them. ![]() Herbie is a foundling so has never had a family, and Violet's parents are missing and presumed dead. The story explores themes of loss, of both people and things. A few illustrations show scary fantasy creatures, and one shows a man being held by giant tentacles. Blood is mentioned a few times but not described in detail, the villain punches a child in the face, shoots harpoons at a child and a fantasy creature, and throws a cat into a shelf and knocks it out. There's lots of suspense and scariness from heroes in danger from both real-world and fantasy creatures. ![]() ![]() Parents need to know that Thomas Taylor's Malamander: Legends of Eerie-on-Sea, Book 1 is the first book in a planned fantasy series aimed at middle-grade readers. ![]()
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