The Monster in the Lake

December 15, 2021
Kit is a wizard, but even so, it's strange when animals in the park start talking to her. Kit's best friends, Alita and Josh, aren't wizards (yet), but they love all things magical. Taking a break from practicing spells with her mentor, a Black librarian named Faith, Kit wanders over to the park in search of her friends. Oddly enough, all three kids start to hear animals speaking--dogs, crows, and even ants. With a little help from Faith, the kids discover Lizzie, a Lesser Nessie, living in the lake in the park after being evicted from her Scottish loch by some less-than-friendly merfolk. It's Lizzie's presence that is causing magic to go wild. Using a portal book, Faith and the kids travel to Scotland to try and reason with the merfolk, but things are more complicated than they at first seemed. The well-developed contemporary magical world enhanced by genuine humor, plenty of action, and lively illustrations allows readers to believe that magic could really exist around them. This sequel to The Dragon in the Library (2021) ticks all the fantasy boxes that young fans of the genre enjoy and is completely accessible to readers new to the series. Refreshingly, pale-skinned, red-haired, stocky Kit has short hair and is shown wearing gender-neutral clothing. Josh is cued as Black, and Alita has brown skin and black hair. Great fun for those who love a bit of magic and mystery. (character quiz) (Fantasy. 7-10)

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February 25, 2022

Gr 3 Up-Kit has short, red hair, doesn't mind getting dirty, and has recently found out she's a wizard. She also has a little more wild magic than your average wizard. That magic catches the attention of an ancient danger and the trouble begins. Kit's magic begins to go disastrously wrong. Dogon, a friendly half-dog, half-dragon, isn't feeling well. The animals in the park have started talking. Kit and her friends, Josh and Amina, have to solve this mystery and be back before anyone notices, or worse, before they're late for dinner! Stowell's follow up to The Dragon in the Library is both thrilling and enchanting. This fun, fast-paced story is casual and simple enough for younger middle graders but has enough action and mystery for the older set, too. There is excitement, intrigue, a secret, and an ancient power. Kids will love this fast-paced adventure. In the midst of this escapade there is time to explore issues such as friendship and finding one's place. This book includes positive representation of a diverse cast of characters. Engaging illustrations keep pace with the fun of the story. VERDICT Themes of friendship and finding your place ground this thrilling and positive adventure. Highly recommended for elementary school collections.-Christina Salazar

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