Page 62 - Publishers_Weekly

REVIEWS
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feelings of love. Kurjan’s verses sometimes in Thailand with her archeology professor look at the wonders of the sky in this first
read like they’re searching to complete a father, who is excavating a Roman ship, even book in a planned series from British writer
rhyme (“A wave goodbye.../ A hug hello.../ though her annoying older sister, Clymene, Leigh-Brown. Dismissed as “dim” by his
There are many ways our love can show,” is there, too. After Daisy’s mother arrives to stepfather, the unnamed boy magically
she begins), but their reassuring message pick up the girls, a transportation strike assembles a towering structure of objects
comes through. Parker’s blocky digital forces the three of them to join her father and and buildings that lets him ascend into the
illustrations include an array of secondary grad assistant Helen on a steamer ship trans- heavens: “He scrambled up his toy box,
animal characters: an owl hoots at the moon, porting the artifact he’s dug up. Then pirates wardrobe, Dad’s grandfather clock,/ the car,
and a chef pig and beret-wearing hippo pro- hijack the ship, a storm sinks it, and the the shed, the house, the school, his Auntie’s
vide international perspective (“ ‘Amore’ in Tannenbaums wash ashore on a small island. office block.” From there, he hitches a ride
Italy.../ ‘Je t’aime’ in France.../ Love can be Daisy is steadfast and intelligent, and her on a passing dirigible, watching as ever-
expressed through dance”). Aside from a casual first-person narration quickly estab- changing clouds take the shapes of various
potentially offensive reference to “Eskimo lishes a rapport with readers. Daisy’s parents animals and objects, followed by the light
kisses” (performed by a pair of polar bears get little development as characters, though, shows of sunset and a glowing aurora. The
in parkas), it’s a bright, cozy look at verbal and Clymene is portrayed as a typical selfish meter of Leigh-Brown’s verse is solid,
and nonverbal expressions of affection. Up older sibling, one who can get surprisingly though the rhymes have a tendency to
to age 3. (BookLife) violent. Despite the dangers presented by become convoluted or repetitive (“The next
brushes with pirates and survival in the cloud looked enormous like a monstrous
Missing Tyler wild, the story never feels all that tense, but giant whale”). But Chilean artist Lira’s
Tamara Palmer. Santel ePublishing, $14.95 readers should enjoy watching Daisy’s quick dramatic vistas more than compensate,
paper (228p) ISBN 978-1-5428-8470-9 thinking in action during her paradise bringing the boy’s journey to vivid, cine-
A teenage girl grapples with the unex- adventure. A sequel, Daisy in Exile, is also matic life. Is it an imaginary journey or
pected death of her twin brother in Palmer’s available. Ages 8–12. a magical one? Either way, it shows how
first novel. Kit Carlin, 15, is a few days away children can find some solace when their
from completing her freshman year at an Tillie Heart and Soul families fall short. Ages 4–8.
Atlantic City, N.J., high school when her Mary Atkinson. Maine Authors Publishing,
twin brother, Tyler, is killed in a bicycle $14.95 paper (160p) ISBN 978-1-63381-108-9
accident. Kit and her parents are devas- Atkinson introduces a relatable heroine
tated, and they all seek comfort, but rarely in 10-year-old Tillie, who never knew her
with each other. Kit’s father starts spending father and whose volatile mother is away at
more time away from home, her mother a treatment center to get sober. Tillie lives
zones out watching TV and pursues a law- in Massachusetts with her loving gay uncle
suit related to Tyler’s death, and Kit feels in a piano factory converted to lofts and
forgotten and invisible as she grieves. artist studios. An avid roller skater, Tillie is
Grandma Carlin is one of Kit’s few confi- eager to take part in the annual skate-a-thon;
dantes, along with Tyler’s best friend she also hopes that her mother might be able
Brandon and Lex, a girl Kit meets at a to attend. After Tillie and her friend Shanelle
summer job at the Jewish Community meet new student Gloria, Tillie becomes
Center. Palmer traces Kit’s healing path increasingly self-conscious about not having
over the summer, but several characters and a parent around. Atkinson excels at
their relationships are vaguely developed exploring the girls’ shifting friendship
(it’s particularly difficult to get a real sense dynamics and the difficulty of managing
of who Tyler was), and the discussions of expectations when it comes to an unreliable
religion, reincarnation, and alcohol abuse loved one. The conclusion may not surprise
never really dig below the surface, resulting many readers, but Tillie’s honest voice reso-
in an underwhelming coming-of-age story. nates, and secondary characters, notably
Ages 12–up. Uncle Fred and the surrounding community
of artists, are equally genuine. Ages 8–12.
Daisy and the Pirates
J.T. Allen. Sumus, $7.99 paper (216p) I’ll Never See That Cloud Again:
ISBN 978-1-5204-0007-5 The Boy’s First Adventure
Eleven-year-old Daisy Tannenbaum must Daniel Leigh-Brown, illus. by Felipe Luna Lira.
outwit a group of pirates while keeping her CreateSpace, $12.99 paper (22p) ISBN 978-1-
family safe in this enjoyable series opener. 5485-4020-3
Daisy is excited to be spending the summer A contemplative boy gets an up-close

55e BOOKLIFE, JANUARY 22, 2018