Maddy West and the Tongue Taker

Gr 3–7—Nine-and-a-half-year-old Maddy West can understand and speak any language she hears. Somebody wants that talent enough to kidnap her. That was how Maddy found herself sitting on rotten steps, in a locked basement in a creepy old house in Bulgaria, wondering how to escape. She had traveled to Bulgaria with Professor Coateloch to help translate some ancient documents. It turns out the documents are evil spells and the professor a witch who wants to take over the world. Maddy and her faithful friend Kazuki, a ninja-in-training, join forces with Mr. Chestnut the monkey and his owner Dimitar, to foil the evil witch's plans. Maddy's travels without her parents require suspension of disbelief, as does the witch's plan for taking over the world, but the story moves quickly. Maddy and Kazuki are authentic enough, and though the magic is stereotyped and a bit heavy handed at the end, it is well placed to cause shivers of fear and delight. This is a better than average fantasy adventure that will appeal to fans of Tony Abbot and Geronimo Stilton.—Gretchen Crowley, Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA