The Glass Puzzle

Gr 4–6—Zoé Badger and her cousin Ian find themselves on the adventure of a lifetime during what starts out as a normal vacation with their grandfather in Wales. Their summer begins with the discovery of a mysterious glass puzzle that is the doorway to the lost island of Wythernsea and ends with them saving their entire world from evil Scravens, who had invaded through the puzzle. The story line could hold the interest of fans of modern fantasy; unfortunately, other than Zoé, the characters are only lightly sketched out, and even her development is too weak for readers to form a real connection. The reasons behind her actions are often unclear, and the author tries to compensate with out-of-place statements of her feelings. Motivations that should be shown are instead left out or seem improbable. These flaws affect the plotline as new characters join the cousins on their quest and readers are left wondering why any of the adventurers are willing to risk their lives.—Genevieve Feldman, San Francisco Public Library