Rating: Additional
Hyperion, 2007, $16.99
ISBN: 9781423101758
Age/Grade Level: Grades 6 and up
George is an unhappy 12-year-old, who, on a school trip to a London museum, is blamed for something he did not do. In a fit of temper, George hits out at a stone gargoyle, breaking off its head. This action sends him into an alternative reality where London's statuary comes to life and is divided into 2 camps - the evil 'taints' and the good 'spits'. His action has him pursued by 'taints' but with the aid of a WWI gunner he manages to evade them. The complications arrive thick and fast - Edie, (a time-shifting girl), a minotaur and a mysterious 'Walker'. A Sphinx on the Embankment gives George a riddle to solve, which sends him looking for the 'Stoneheart' of London.
At the beginning of his adventures, George is a stereotypical kid, uncertain of himself and of how he should react in certain circumstances. Through the challenges he faces, both mental and physical, he grows as a character and we become more interested in him & the way he accepts responsibility for his companions. The plot premise - that there are several different parallel universes, is not original, but the idea of living statues adds to the interest of the story.The narrative is rather 'dry' in places which may deter casual readers . This is the first volume of a trilogy - it will take committed readers to stick with it.
Reviewer: Ros Wilkes, Orange County Public Library/Mesa Verde Branch
