Review by Booklist Review
Gerald, a timid young griffin desperate to prove his worth before a significant birthday, ventures from the Enchanted Realm into the Catskill Mountains. There he befriends Brad, a boy who's spending the summer with his grandmother while dealing with his father's death. Their mission to save a nearby gnome colony turns into a grand adventure. Written as a series of journal entries and other documents, the story offers well-drawn characters as well as action scenes and humor. This companion book to The Diary of a Mad Brownie (2015), which was retitled Cursed in its paperback edition, is the second engaging fantasy in the Enchanted Files series.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Gerald Overflight is a poetry-writing, cowardly griffin whose anxiety and siblings get the best of him. Griffins are supposed to be fierce, regal, and fearless, but Gerald defies typical griffin stereotypes. The first egg laid but the last to hatch, he runs away when even his father states that he is ashamed of his son. With the prodding of Master Abelard, a gnome with ulterior motives, Gerald soon enters the world of humans, where he befriends Brad Ashango. Despite their obvious differences, the two soon discover their similarities, establishing trust and confidence and ultimately saving a secret community of gnomes. Coville brings his signature wit and humor to this fantasy story. The text is composed of diary entries, letters, articles from enchanted books, and more, forcing readers to independently put the pieces together. The inclusion of the personal writings of Gerald, Master Abelard, and Brad allows for strong character development. The only major flaw is the rushed climax and falling action, which feel abrupt and too easily accomplished. However, this second installment adds authentic and engaging, multidimensional characters to a strong series that finds heroes in outcasts. VERDICT Recommended for medium and large middle grade collections looking to add high-interest fantasy.-Mary-Brook J. Townsend, Episcopal Collegiate School, Little Rock, AK © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Gerald isn't sure he's a very good griffin. Anxious, he runs away to the forbidden human world, where he meets boy Bradley. The pals' trials, growth, and true bond are at the heart of this lighthearted modern fantasy. Told in diary entries and letters, the story's humor and dynamic format keep the pace moving at a fast clip. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The same team who introduced the Enchanted Realm in Diary of a Mad Brownie (2015; now retitled Cursed) presents a second go-round for the delectation of middle-grade fantasy readers.Gerald Overflight, a griffin, has run away from home, driven by his siblings constant bullying and, the final blow, his fathers true feelings about him. He flies off, accompanied by his teacher, the tricky Master Abelard, who has his own reasons for breaking a boatload of the Realms rules. Readers will delight in the tribulations endured by this sensitive griffin, his new friend, the human Bradley Ashango, and the assortment of creatures who, willy-nilly, are sucked into the matrix of their activities. The strength of this story is in showing Geralds and Brads parallel growth, a slow process that solidly underpins the hilarious (occasionally slapstick) story. Readers learn whats going on through the dark-skinned Brads journal, Geralds diary, Master Abelards notebook, newspaper articles, and various documents that shed light on both cultures, human and mythic. Most of the satire provides blameless amusement with the exception of a few cheap shots at political correctness in a list of Forbidden Topics at the University Enchantica. Middle-grade readers will be carried along by the buoyancy of the writing, the skillful design, and the humor on almost every page. Egg-ceptionally funny! (Fantasy. 8-11) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
