MIDDLE GRADE
Mirror Tree: Drifters Realm, Book 2 AnneMarie Mazotti Gouveia | Atmosphere Press 188p, trade paper, $17.99, ISBN 979-8-891-32139-7
Gouveia delivers a fanciful fantasy for young readers, the second in her Drifters Realm series (after Drifters Realm). In the realm, Roe is a Life Giver from Paradise Farm, working with other gifted teens to thwart the evil Zane’s determination to destroy their peaceful way of life—something her father went to his death to protect. Determined to preserve their valued way of life, triplets Roe (who is a Life Giver), Ori (a Sorcerer), Tora (a Storm Catcher), and their older brother, Theo (who spends most of the book as the Lion) join with others to defeat their evil uncle, Zane, who is determined to consolidate power for his nefarious purposes. To make matters even worse, Zane used one of the menacing Guardians years earlier to raise Tora as his own daughter rather than his late brother— before Tora truly knew her own identity.
The series blends surprising magic with emotional resonance and an emphasis on “the collective strengths ... of friends and family” to accomplish great things. Magical backpacks, a clever and appealing invention, provide power to the valiant teens, who each have different
but complementary powers—or so they believe, until one teen attempts to steal someone else’s special gift, something that the evil Zane is determined to acquire for himself. Secrets, mysteries, and surprises abound, some seeded in the earlier entry, though Gouveia does a fine job of succinctly summarizing the relevant plot points from book one.
In some instances, paragraphs are so long as to be visually intimidating, especially for a middle-grade audience. However, the skillful world-building, bursts of inventive magic, well-drawn characters, and touchingly realized relationships will make readers forgive that, even as she ends on a tantalizing cliffhanger. Lovely paintings by Branislav Sosic punctuate the chapters, bringing the author’s world-building to breathtaking life. A host of compelling supporting characters, especially Emma (formerly known as the Ghost of Ruin) and brave Hao, add depth. Those who enjoy inventive school-age fantasy will devour Gouveia’s engaging tale.
Cover: A- | Design & typography: A | Illustrations: A Editing: A | Marketing copy: A