Time Stoppers - Hardcover

Gr 4-7-When Annie Nobody arrives at her new foster home in the town of Mount Desert, ME, she is dismayed to find that it is even worse than the previous 11 that she's had. The Wiegles, a mother and son who have agreed to take her, are clearly interested only in the money they get from the state. Meanwhile, in another house in the same town, a boy named Jamie sees his grandmother turn into a monster. He flees to the local library, where the librarian tells him that his grandmother and father are trolls and that his life is in grave danger. Soon, Annie and Jamie are both fleeing from rampaging trolls and are rescued by a hovercraft snowmobile driven by a girl named Eva, who tells them she is a dwarf. She explains that she lives in Aurora, a community of magical creatures protected by a woman named Miss Cornelia. Eva takes Jamie and Annie there, and Annie is astounded to discover that all of Aurora's magical inhabitants know her name and expect her to save them from a mysterious enemy called the Raiff. Just as Jamie and Annie are beginning to feel safe in Aurora, the town is attacked by a gigantic bird creature, who freezes Miss Cornelia and most of the town. With the help of Eva, an elf named Canin, and some unpredictable flying skis, Annie and Jamie set out on a dangerous journey to retrieve a gnome statue that was stolen by Jamie's grandmother and save Aurora and the magical creatures who live there. The first in what is clearly intended to be a new middle grade series, Jones's novel offers an imaginative blend of fantasy, whimsy, and suspense, with a charming cast of underdog characters. The book ends on a major cliff-hanger and leaves many questions unanswered. Like the "Harry Potter" and "Percy Jackson" books, this title operates on the premise that there are secret magical communities that exist alongside and within the real world, although the characters and tone of this novel may appeal more to slightly younger middle grade readers. VERDICT This new fantasy series will entice younger fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.-Ashley Larsen, Pacifica Libraries, CAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.