Visions

Gr 4–7—A fast-paced supernatural adventure. When their scientist mother travels to an Arctic island to study musk oxen, 12-year-old twins Rob and Mark go along for the ride. Things get strange in a hurry: the boys find a human femur in the ground, the musk oxen disappear, and soon they meet Anarteq, a mysterious Inuit man who may hold the key to solving everything. Rob's informal voice makes this dialogue-heavy, plot-driven narrative a quick, engaging read. The recent death of the brothers' father-and Mark's difficulty in adjusting-casts a slightly somber mood on the book. Though the boys' discussions on this subject border on cliché at times, readers will relate to Rob's frustration with his brother and with his mother's new boyfriend. Also, there's also plenty of comic relief from the interactions between Crash, their pilot, and Sammy, their Inuit guide. Adventure lovers will enjoy vicarious thrills, as when Rob gets the chance to help fly an airplane, while supernatural fans will appreciate the eerie, dreamlike tone of scenes in which Anarteq tells the boys several Inuit folktales. The author deftly draws reluctant readers in by providing both informative elements ideal for youngsters more accustomed to nonfiction (details about the sun not setting during Arctic summers or Inuit words) and frequent references to modern technology like video games and iPods.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal