February 15, 2022
Four friends combat climate change in this follow-up to The Time Fetch (2013) that is laden with a history of weather-related lore. Edward, Feenix, Danton, and Brigit were Brooklyn eighth graders preventing the unraveling of time when last readers met them. Their save-the-world challenge this round is a winter that won't end. When a snowstorm marks the first day of spring, science enthusiast Edward finds an odd cocoon that he swipes for research. Much like the Time Fetch stone in Herrick's earlier volume, each of the four friends happens upon a mysterious talisman, all while trying to understand why the slimy new school superintendent is so darn creepy (those tiny feet of his), where the flocks of robins are coming from, and what haze is keeping them all from remembering just what they're supposed to be doing. Vacillating between scientific reasoning and lore from worldwide cultures, the descriptions of beautiful legends of seasons and the sobering study of climate change are so rich they nearly overshadow the central characters. Chapters present the rotating third-person perspectives of the quartet, giving each equal airtime. The structure gives readers the pieces to complete thoughts on their own without spoon-feeding them answers. The rich and creepy fantasy element offsets the familiarity of forgetfulness caused by a thick shroud of archaic magic. The protagonists are cued as White, Black, and Latinx. A chosen-ones fantasy for readers befuddled by climate change. (Fantasy. 11-14)
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February 14, 2022
In this ecologically oriented standalone fantasy set in the same world as The Time Fetch, Herrick transfers her protagonists’ focus from the collapse of time and space to the threat of climate change. When nature gets out of hand around the vernal equinox—winter refuses to give way to spring, a tornado threatens Brooklyn residents—it’s up to four middle schoolers plagued by memory lapses and capricious entities to set things right. Soft-spoken but observant Brigit, who is Black; aspiring baker Danton and science-minded Edward, both white; and artist Feenix, cued by surname as of Latinx descent individually and collectively encounter mysterious green-haired Jack, who enlists them in his search for a missing Lady whom, he claims, is essential for spring’s arrival. While their science teacher is certain that global warming is to blame for the ongoing cold, the arrival of Jack, plus manipulative, tiny-footed school superintendent Tiltersmith, leads the quartet to suspect the cause may be rooted in the supernatural. Herrick combines vivid descriptions of climate events, school-set science lessons, and weather-related stories from various cultures around the globe in a meandering novel that both resonates with current events and fits tonally alongside children’s fantasy classics. Ages 8–12. Agent: Victoria Wells Arms, Wells Arms Literary/HG Literary.
March 1, 2022
Grades 5-8 The four middle-schoolers who saved the world at the winter solstice in The Time Fetch (2013) do it again at the spring equinox as an age-old conflict plays out in a Brooklyn park. Even as winter weather persists through April and sparks intense discussions of climate change, shy Brigit, outgoing Danton, and abrasive Feenix find themselves struggling to keep three magical tokens that they have been given by an enigmatic Green Man out of the clutches of the decidedly creepy, goat-footed Tiltersmith, who has taken up residence in their school. Meanwhile, secretive science geek Edward discovers that a seemingly empty cocoon is really a gateway to a mazelike prison where the Tiltersmith has secreted the charismatic Lady of the Bees until she surrenders to him. Despite the contemporary setting, a diversified cast, and topical themes, events take on ritualistic elements that readers up on their Greek mythology will recognize. American fans of Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising sequence will find themselves on familiar footing, albeit a bit closer to home.
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April 22, 2022
Gr 3-7-Herrick's middle grade novel is set in New York in what is turning out to be a very long winter. The main characters, four friends and their teacher, disagree on what is causing the freakish weather. Is it climate change or magic? If spring is to begin, the friends must use their diverse talents to free the Lady of Spring and keep a mysterious set of tools away from their enemy, the creepy Tiltersmith. It won't be easy, though, as the friends are dealing with instances of forgetfulness and unexplained memories. Details about a developing romance, and the different home lives and backgrounds of the characters add interest to the main story. The descriptions are rich in vocabulary and make readers feel immersed in the weather and outdoor scenes. Tweens interested in ecology, science, weather, or fantasy stories with the same setting as the author's previous book, The Time Fetch, will enjoy this book. The cast includes white, Black, and Latinx characters. VERDICT This thrilling standalone fantasy will appeal to a wide variety of ages.-Tanya Boudreau
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2022
A freak snowstorm, when it should be spring, ushers in a story in which earth science, fantasy adventure, and mythical archetypes collide. Edward, Danton, Feenix, and Brigit are ordinary middle schoolers, albeit with vibrant personalities and extraordinary interests. Scientific Edward finds an unusual cocoon, and while he intends to study it, he can't seem to keep the thing solidly in his memory. Rebellious Feenix meets a strange green fellow in the woods who asks for her help and gives her some juggling balls; these, too, become difficult to remember. When the devilish and sly Superintendent Tiltersmith arrives at their school and turns the principal into a toad, the children embark on a quest to rescue a magical Persephone-like Lady from the Tiltersmith and restore equilibrium to the planet and its seasons. Herrick succeeds in crafting a story that feels solidly of this world, even when the protagonists fall through a wormhole or enter a timeless magical forest. Good and evil characters alike are given scintillating personalities and complex motivations, while the story's villain will send shivers down readers' spines. Sarah Berman
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 1, 2022
A freak snowstorm, when it should be spring, ushers in a story in which earth science, fantasy adventure, and mythical archetypes collide. Edward, Danton, Feenix, and Brigit are ordinary middle schoolers, albeit with vibrant personalities and extraordinary interests. Scientific Edward finds an unusual cocoon, and while he intends to study it, he can't seem to keep the thing solidly in his memory. Rebellious Feenix meets a strange green fellow in the woods who asks for her help and gives her some juggling balls; these, too, become difficult to remember. When the devilish and sly Superintendent Tiltersmith arrives at their school and turns the principal into a toad, the children embark on a quest to rescue a magical Persephone-like Lady from the Tiltersmith and restore equilibrium to the planet and its seasons. Herrick succeeds in crafting a story that feels solidly of this world, even when the protagonists fall through a wormhole or enter a timeless magical forest. Good and evil characters alike are given scintillating personalities and complex motivations, while the story's villain will send shivers down readers spines.
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)