January 14, 2013
This entertaining English fantasy from Saunders (Magicalamity) reads as though conjured up by a clever child’s imagination, creating a world where, behind ordinary police and government forces, a Secret Ministry of the Unexplained (SMU) exists to handle goblins, ghosts, and “anything... unexplained that might be a threat to national security.” Eleven-year-old twins Lily and Oz Spoffard are introduced to the SMU by a talking cat when their family inherits, and moves into, their great-great-uncles’ house, which includes the remains of their once-famous chocolate shop. Learning that the chocolate their great-great-uncles made was no ordinary confection, and that one of them—wicked, immortal Isadore—is still alive and trying to supply a dangerous terrorist gang with immortality chocolate, the twins, along with an adventurous new friend, are pulled into the SMU’s quest to find and stop Isadore. A quick pace and intricate plot twists keep excitement high, while the warm family dynamics, unexpected relationships, and thoughtful character development add just the right amount of depth to this enjoyable and moving romp through a magical London underworld. Ages 10–up.
February 15, 2013
What do you get when you mix chocolate, magic, dyslexia and immortality? Plenty of zany intrigue, that's what. When the Spoffard family inherits 18 Skittle Street, London, twins Lily and Oz are pleased to discover it includes a now-defunct old-fashioned chocolate shop. At first it's just a lark, but soon the kids are drawn into a vortex of historical tensions involving their mysterious triplet relatives--great-great-uncles Pierre and Isadore and great-grandfather Marcel. Ongoing challenges range from fighting off the demands of the Schmertz Gang for magical chocolate and dealing with the Secret Ministry of the Unexplained to assuaging the immortal and evil Isadore's pain over unrequited love for his sister-in-law, Daisy. Helpful cohorts include a skateboarding neighborhood boy named Caydon, with talking-animal assistance provided by a plump cat named Demerara and a rat named Spike. A Time-Glass that shows events from the past and magical postcards add to the fun. Light and fluffy when not bogged down in explanations, the narrative gives occasional overt or implied nods to Harry Potter, James Bond, Narnia and Alice in Wonderland. Infused with cheerful flecks of British humor, the characters eventually endear themselves to readers, especially as Isadore proves to be an incompetent villain tired of immortality. Readers may appreciate references to dyslexia as another kind of magic. A whizz-pop chocolate romp. (Fantasy. 9-12)
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April 1, 2013
Gr 4-7-Eleven-year-old twins Oz and Lily move into a haunted house inherited from their great-great-uncles, who were triplets. The wallpaper in Lily's room gossips and taunts her, while the mysterious chocolate shop downstairs holds its own charms. The uncles were sorcerers of a sort and developed a magic recipe for chocolate. When one of them defected to the evil side and created a chocolate potion for immortality, he killed his brothers, hoping to retrieve their two golden molds. The only way to achieve the magic combination is by using all three molds as one. Unfortunately, an evil gang has gotten wind of the recipe and has even more dastardly plans. Oz, Lily, and a friend are thrust headlong into an exciting secret mission to stop the evil before it is too late. With the aid of a glamorous talking cat, a feisty cigar-smoking rat, a ghost of an elephant, and even the equivalent of James Bond secret agents, the good versus evil battle begins. This story has adventure, excitement, humor, and magic, and will appeal to boys and girls alike.-D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 1, 2013
Grades 4-6 Mix chocolate, magic, villains, one immortal uncle, a few invisible and immortal animals, and a couple 11-year-olds, and viola!a tasty morsel that, in some ways, is reminiscent of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Unexpectedly, the Spoffards inherit a house from Mr. Spoffard's great-uncles, who tragically died young in a tram accident in 1938. Twins Lily and Oz are captivated by the house, especially after meeting the resident invisible and immortal (and talking) animals: Demerara the cat and Spike the rat. Demerara and Spike tell the children that their deceased uncles were famous London chocolatiers and that they suspect one brother, Isadore, didn't really die. The twins soon learn their summer will be quite an adventuresome one. By using magic to foil the children's unsuspecting parents, the Secret Ministry of the Unexplained enlists the kids to help solve a plot to steal their uncles' secret chocolate recipe and use it to destroy the world. From one unpredictable plot turn to another, Saunders' lively characters will endear themselves to readers from start to finish. A great read-aloud, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2013
Twins Oz and Lily move into a house above a former chocolate shop. A talking cat who works for the SMU (Secret Ministry of the Unexplained) enlists the twins in helping capture their evil (and immortal) ancestor who's on the lam. Brimming with magical chocolate spells, underground adventures, goblins, and dangerous twists, this is a treat for light adventure lovers.
(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)