SandRider

August 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-In this second series installment, Kaznim, a child of the singing sands, just wants her tortoise back. She knows that awful Egg Boy, who is watching the Orm egg for dastardly Oraton-Marr, has something to do with Ptolemy's disappearance. When she finally finds Ptolemy in the pit, she knows it is dangerous, but can't help herself from trying to rescue her beloved pet. She tumbles down and would have drowned in the sand had four hands not pulled her out of the sand fall. This chance encounter with Marwick and Sam brings Kaznim into Tod's world of the pathways and the Wizard Tower. Both girls want the same thing-for the Orm egg to hatch safely, but they want it for reasons as different as night and day. Can Kaznim and Tod trust each other? Told in 12 parts in short chapters, this adventurous romp will have readers turning the pages quickly. Zug's signature illustrations give the characters and settings life and add zest to the story. Tod is growing into her role as Apprentice, and Sage is giving her a depth that is fitting a life torn between loyalties. VERDICT A solid series entry for fans of the first book.-Stacy Dillon, LREI, New York City

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2015
Alice TodHunter Moon, Apprentice to the ExtraOrdinary Wizard Septimus Heap, will need both her Magykal and PathFinding abilities to retrieve a lost Orm Egg from the evil sorcerer Oraton-Marr before it hatches. The Orm Egg timer is counting down the hours until the hatching. But other than a vague idea that the Egg must be somewhere warm, the Wizards are at a loss for where to find it. When a young girl stumbles onto one of the Ancient Ways and bursts right into their midst, Tod is the first to recognize that she might hold the information they are all seeking. But the Egg is only one of Tod's concerns. Being the ExtraOrdinary Apprentice carries a great deal of responsibility and expectations. Somehow she needs to find the Egg, win the Apprentice Race, escape from the Wendron Witches, and defeat Oraton-Marr-all while keeping her friends safe. This second installment in the TodHunter Moon trilogy is packed with quirky details, rich settings, and lovable characters. The fast-paced plot filled with surprising twists, dangerous foes, and one wily dragon will enthrall longtime fans. However, the large cast of characters and intricate worldbuilding require that readers start at the beginning of the series or risk losing the path. A fully satisfying-some might say ExtraOrdinary-sequel. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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January 1, 2016
Tod, wizard Septimus Heap's apprentice, needs to find sorcerer Oraton-Marr to stop him from gaining mass magical powers. But when the only clue runs away, Tod must choose between staying safe or risking her and her friends' lives. Once again, the number of cameos bogs down the plot, but Septimus Heap fans will enjoy the escapades and adventure in this second spinoff.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)