This Irish import will please children who want an over-the-top bully book jam-packed with adventure. This novel is wacky, awesome, and terrifying. It hits the right balance of ridiculous and real, but a sibling trying to kill a sibling is still intense and may be a specific fit for prepared readers.
While a Calpurnia Tate–style historical fiction has a particular audience, this boasts a rich setting, an ecological mystery, and enough character development to recommend it.
Intricate worldbuilding and a compelling heroine will appeal to readers who like “Rick Riordan Presents,” as well as the works of Philip Pullman and Garth Nix.