(2) 4-6 Three Doors series. Rye (The Golden Door) finds himself in the Scour, a wasteland under the thumb of a powerful sorcerer/scientist. Rye faces challenges in learning how to use his powers and overcome deference to his older brothers. With unique threats to survival, family and community bonds as reasons to fight on, and imaginative solutions, the book is enjoyable fantasy fare.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2013

(2) 4-6 Three Doors series. Skimmers, nocturnal flying predators, continue to attack the walled city of Weld (The Golden Door; The Silver Door). Rye, his companion Sophie, and his brothers Dirk and Sholto go through the third door in search of a way to defeat the skimmers and bring peace. In this triumphant trilogy-ender, Rodda plays with the concepts of time, perception, and "the enemy."

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2013

(3) 4-6 The walled city of Weld is plagued by flying beasts. When his older brothers don't return from their mission to defeat the enemy who sent the creatures, Rye lies about his age so he can enter a secret door to the outside world, find his brothers, and save his city. Rodda fleshes out the classic fantasy quest setup with interesting characters and smooth prose.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Cousins Mimi and Leo (The Key to Rondo) return to the fantasy world contained in their music box. This time, they're trying to discover the fate of wizard Bing and exonerate his hapless assistant Simon. The cloud-dwelling Strix, an ancient evil, threaten their investigations. Supporting players are more irritating than amusing, but returning readers will appreciate Mimi and Leo's character development.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 4-6 Overwinding an inherited music box sends Leo Langlander and his cousin Mimi into a world where fairy tales are history and the Blue Queen rules despotically. A band of adventurers helps rescue Mimi's dog from the queen, but are they really who they seem? Rodda overdoes the double-agent schtick, but inventive settings and comical characters keep readers involved in the story.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 1-3 Fairy Realm series. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale. This volume includes the first three books in the series. In The Charm Bracelet (2003), Jessie must outwit an impostor queen. Her challenge in The Flower Fairies (2003) revolves around scary griffins. She must ask the mermaids for rain in The Third Wish (2003). This book's small trim size, short chapters, soft-edged black-and-white illustrations, and fanciful setting are winning.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) 1-3 Fairy Realm series. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale. In her grandmother's Fairy Realm, Jessie uses the Rainbow Wand to locate a missing child from our world who's wandered in--but nosy next-door neighbor Mrs. Tweedie catches them returning from the Realm and threatens to expose the secret. Compact pacing and neat correspondences between Realm and real-world plots suit newly independent readers, as do occasional realistic black-and-white drawings illustrating the action.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 1-3 Fairy Realm series. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale. Wanting to conquer Jessie's grandmother's fairy kingdom wicked fairy Valda threatens to attack Jessie's friends in the human world if Jessie doesn't let her through the magical gate. Jessie must summon the unicorns to fight back. The compact plot ties together conflicts in both worlds, and the fantasy descriptions, aided by soft-edged black-and-white illustrations, will draw in young readers.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 1-3 Fairy Realm series. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale. Jessie, whose grandmother is secretly queen of the fairy realm, meets some pixies on her birthday and has a grand time with them, pixie-size, until a wind blows her away; a parrot and some rainbow fairies help her get home. Although less substantial than other titles in this series, the book's compact plot and realistic, soft-edged black-and-white art will appeal to young readers.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 1-3 Fairy Realm series. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale. Jessie's grandmother's house has a door to the Fairy Realm--Jessie goes to ask the mermaids for rain and to help a gnome save the fairy apple trees from extinction. The compact, well-shaped stories are perfectly sized for early readers, and the strong characterizations (and Vitale's exaggeratedly cute, soft-edged black-and-white art) make them attractive. [Review covers these Fairy Realm titles: The Last Fairy-Apple Tree and The Third Wish.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 In this fifth book about Rowan, he and three friends trek into the mountains to find a way to end an unnaturally long and cold winter. They face the terrifying ice creepers--snakelike monsters--and other seemingly impossible obstacles, guided only by a series of prophesies. The exciting plot ties together events from the previous books and provides further insight into Rowan's character.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) 1-3 Fairy Realm series. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale. Jessie's grandmother's house has a door to the Fairy Realm--Jessie goes to ask the mermaids for rain and to help a gnome save the fairy apple trees from extinction. The compact, well-shaped stories are perfectly sized for early readers, and the strong characterizations (and Vitale's exaggeratedly cute, soft-edged black-and-white art) make them attractive. [Review covers these Fairy Realm titles: The Last Fairy-Apple Tree and The Third Wish.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 1-3 Fairy Realm series. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale. A magical doorway in the garden allows Jessie passage to "the Realm." In Charm, Jessie must find a missing bracelet in order to outwit an impostor queen, and in Flower, her challenge revolves around scary griffins and flighty fairies. The problems Jessie faces in the real world balance her fantasy adventures. The series' small trim size, short chapters, and fanciful setting will quickly win over young girls. [Review covers these Fairy Realm titles: The Charm Bracelet and The Flower Fairies.]

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) 1-3 Fairy Realm series. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale. A magical doorway in the garden allows Jessie passage to "the Realm." In Charm, Jessie must find a missing bracelet in order to outwit an impostor queen, and in Flower, her challenge revolves around scary griffins and flighty fairies. The problems Jessie faces in the real world balance her fantasy adventures. The series' small trim size, short chapters, and fanciful setting will quickly win over young girls. [Review covers these Fairy Realm titles: The Charm Bracelet and The Flower Fairies.]

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(2) 4-6 In his third book, Rowan travels with his mother, Jiller, who is destined to choose the next leader of the neighboring land. Three Candidates compete to be named the next Keeper of the Crystal, and when Jiller is poisoned, Rowan must take her place as the Chooser. Rowan insists that he will first find the antidote to the poison in the hope that it might save his mother's ebbing life. Filled with tension and danger, this short fantasy is a gripping read.

Reviewer: Anne St. John | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2002

(3) 4-6 When his little sister is stolen away by a flying grach, Rowan and his friends set off on a dangerous voyage into Zebak territory, guided only by a series of mysterious rhymes. The fourth book in the series provides as much action and mystery as the first three. The fact that Rowan's courage stems from a staunch heart and open mind rather than physical strength makes him an approachable young hero.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(2) 4-6 When the residents of Rin fall into an enchanted sleep, Rowan escapes and calls upon the nomadic Travelers for help. With his weak constitution and meek disposition, he seems an unlikely hero, but this is where his appeal lies, for readers will identify with his feelings of inadequacy and his fears. A fairly easy vocabulary, a straightforward plot, and the pressing dilemmas that Rowan faces make this sequel accessible and exciting.

Reviewer: Anne St. John | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2001

(2) 4-6 When the mountain stream stops flowing, Rowan's peaceful village is threatened with extinction. Six villagers volunteer to investigate, but a witch gives them a map that reveals itself only when Rowan is holding it, forcing him, small and afraid as he is, to accompany the adventurers. One after another, the travelers confront a secret fear and drop out, leaving Rowan alone at the top--an earned success that emerges naturally from the rising action.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2001