Magic Below

Description

When Princess Ozma summons Zerie Greenapple and her friends Vashti and Tabitha, they have no idea what awaits. Tasked with infiltrating Glinda the Good's palace, Zerie travels by water, Vashti by land, and Tabitha by air. Zerie transforms into a mermaid and enters the underwater realm of Aquaria, where she is met with impossible obstacles. Not only is Zerie's concept of time put to the test, but soon her memory, values, and sense of self are also strained. Unsure whom she can trust in Oz, will Zerie's magic ultimately be used for good . . . or evil?

A twist at the end sets up a sequel, and, of course, Oz name recognition will work in this book's favor.-- "Booklist Online" As a fan of THE WIZARD OF OZ I really enjoyed reading Burn's spin off of this magical place. The author cleverly draws parallels of three friends traveling together to fulfill a quest. Like the original characters, each of our new characters has a special talent and a specific request. Unlike the original, they don't have to hunt down the wicked witch. The cliffhanger ending piqued my interest --- when will the next book come out?-- "Kids Reads/The Book Report" Burns' introduction of a pair of sweethearts, one a Flutterbudget and the other a Rigmarole, is a real treat, and her sense of geography is as goofily arbitrary as Baum's.-- "Kirkus Reviews" Familiarity with the first book is not necessary to follow this story, and fans of mermaid stories will be attracted by the underwater backdrop, where most of the action is set.-- "Booklist Online" Fans of Frank L. Baum's Wizard of Oz will take delight in the Winged Monkeys, Glinda the Good, and the Glass Cat, all of whom make appearances throughout the narrative. This story has some interesting twists and turns, and characters are well developed.-- "School Library Journal" If teen readers are turned off by all the heavy and dark reads populating the young adult shelves these days, this book will provide a light and playful antidote to their woes. The book is a pretty breezy read, much shorter than your average fantasy tale, and the cliffhanger ending strongly suggests there will be a sequel.-- "VOYA" Magic Below is a creative take on the Wizard of Oz tale; the author works in such elements as the winged monkeys, who are soldiers, and the Glass Cat, who adds humor as she helps Brink escape. . . .This is recommended for libraries where Bewitched in Oz was popular.-- "VOYA"