Operation Bunny

Gr 2–4—Emily Vole, abandoned by her birth parents, is taken in by a horrid pair of yuppies who aren't able to have children. Or so they think, until triplets come along. Once the shallow Dashwoods have children of their own, they treat Emily like a servant. She finds refuge by visiting Miss String, an eccentric neighbor who has more than a few secrets up her sleeve, including a bipedal talking cat. Fidget's existence is Emily's first hint that magic is real. Sure enough, she discovers that she, too, has special powers-a revelation that kicks off a whirlwind journey through the strife-ridden underbelly of London. Emily and her cohorts must keep certain objects out of the hands of the villainous witch Harpella, who wants to use them to steal souls and obliterate fairies. Though this book purports to be the first case of the Wings and Co. Detective agency, it's not really a mystery. Readers know who the villain is all along. The adventure is in seeing how Emily defeats her. But following Emily's journey is somewhat of a challenge. Children will have to read the novel closely in order to pick up on characters' motivations and to keep track of past events that caused the current state of affairs. Even so, it should appeal to readers who enjoy whimsy without a lot of stressful conflict. Highlights are the charming Briticisms as well as the merry, slightly off-kilter black-and-white illustrations-especially the depiction of Harpella, who resembles a pointier, more deranged version of Lady Gaga.—Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY