Review by Booklist Review
Eleven-year-old Gwen's parents have let her down so consistently that when she learns that they'll be sending her off to spend two weeks with a great-uncle she has never met, her reaction is not discomfort or dread but joy. Uncle Matthew proves to be everything that she has hoped for: a good-natured, kind, welcoming relative who is supportive of his niece and the choices she makes. When he learns that she has befriended a mysterious clan of tiny winged people called the Lahdukan at the local public library, he takes it as a sign that she is special, because most children her age can no longer see these magical folk. Gwen, who has agreed to help them merge with a nearby clan, risks her life to ensure that all will go well for them. Gwen is highly respected and even revered by the Lahdukan, whose complex society, traditions, and personal backstories are gradually revealed within the narrative. The present-day American settings tend to make the tale's supernatural elements more believable. Phelan's sensitive black-and-white illustrations offer occasional glimpses of the characters. Best known as the author of the Penderwicks series, Birdsall creates a well-paced, original story with intriguing characters and intertwined threads of reality and magic.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When neither of her parents are available to care for her, 11-year-old Gwen MacKinnon is sent to Dalgety, Mass., to stay with her great-uncle Matthew, whom she's never met. Accustomed to her parents' unpleasant attitudes, Gwen is caught off guard by Uncle Matthew's kind nature. His sweet-yet-grumpy dog, Pumpkin, guides Gwen to the nearby library founded by her ancestors. There, Gwen visits the upstairs children's room, in which kids under six claim to communicate with the Lahdukan, small mythical beings with eagle-like wings. Gwen is shocked to discover that she can see and hear them, too. What's more, as a MacKinnon, she has inherited her family's role as the liaison between human- and Lahdukan-kind. As Gwen learns of the Lahdukan's lore, which speaks of ravenous beasts and other perils she might endure to protect her loved ones, she fights despair over her imminent departure from Dalgety. Illustrations by Phelan (Big Changes for Plum!), rendered in smudgy b&w pencil, portray people-focused scenes that complement themes of togetherness and courage throughout this cozy standalone fantasy novel by Birdsall (the Penderwicks series). Gwen's grappling with her ancestral destiny alongside conflicting feelings about her parents and upbringing are compassionately wrought across a tender story whose tone evokes the warmth of a much-needed hug. Ages 8--12. Author's agent: Barbara S. Kouts, Barbara S. Kouts Literary. (Aug.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--6--Two wonderful surprises await 11-year-old Gwen when her neglectful, divorced parents ship her off to Massachusetts to stay with never-before-seen Great-Uncle Matthew for two weeks: one, it will be her first experience of living in a stable home with a loving adult devoted to her happiness. The second is the existence of the Lahdukan, small-winged creatures with blue hair, who only children can see and live in the local public library. Their ancient prophecies name Gwen as their next Qalba, a leader destined to find them a new home in Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and reunite two long-separated Lahdukan clans. Cautiously, Gwen accepts the challenge, and her magical hero's quest begins. Birdsall's writing, stellar as always, captivates with rich vocabulary, memorable characters, and sly humor as it weaves a convincing web between Gwen's real and enchanted worlds. The fantastical spell continues through the back matter that includes a pronunciation guide for Lahdukan terms but not their rituals as, "it would be dangerous for a regular person to say them correctly." An author's note uses the novel's characters to convey facts about the Gardner Museum, its history, and an infamous 1990 robbery. Phelan's illustrations add delicate charm and depict Gwen and Uncle Matthew as white. VERDICT Birdsall is so adept at magical realism that after finishing this book, readers will likely keep an eye out for fairylike creatures the next time they visit a museum or library. An essential purchase for all middle grade collections.--Marybeth Kozikowski
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Neglected and uprooted, an 11-year-old finds a surprising new family. Gwen MacKinnon has been sent to live with Great-Uncle Matthew in Massachusetts while her father sorts out a new apartment in St. Louis after splitting with his third wife and her mother moves to Costa Rica with her boyfriend. Uncertain about her future, Gwen finds solace in knowing that a library in her new town shares her name: the MacKinnon Library. What she doesn't know is that the children's section of this library is populated by the Lahdukan, small, winged people with turquoise hair who can only be seen and heard by children under 7--and, surprisingly, Gwen. Great-Uncle Matthew thinks the Lahdukan are a game of pretend that the children play, but they're real, and they're in trouble. Their library home is undergoing construction, and they must find a new place to live. The Lahdukan thrive on archaic prophesies, one of which has told of the coming of a new Qalba--a human girl from the MacKinnon family who will help their clan. Much to Gwen's shock, the Lahdukan tell her she's the new Qalba. Birdsall gives the coming-of-age theme a fresh spin in her inventive story, one that's filled with endearing, quirky characters and delicious intrigue involving Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Phelan's lively black-and-white illustrations add visual interest. Gwen and Great-Uncle Matthew appear to be white. Enchanting. (author's note, pronunciation guide)(Fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.