Hallelujah Wonder is not just a Mary Sue, she is a condescending know-it-all. The book itself is written in such a way that the reader gets the feeling that the author thinks her readers are idiots. Most of the supporting characters are mere sketches, rather than fully-formed. At a time of more attention being paid to the diversity of characters in books for younger readers, it's a especially unfortunate that the characters of color are all relegated to supporting roles and have little or no agency of their own. All of this is a shame because the adventure of the plot and the characters of Eustace and Nova are compelling enough that I could see the potential for a really good middle-grade novel buried under the shortcomings. I wish the editor of this book had helped Ms. Helget correct some of these flaws, because I would have loved to read the novel this could have been.

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In an author's note she indicates that a few years back she and a friend were talking about the need for a young persons' book with a strong female protagonist. Apparently she is out of touch with what is available today or doesn't remember the two literary Alices, Nancy Drew, etc. That said, this book should be popular with the young audience intended. The plot involves Hallelujah Wonder taking a shrunken head with magical powers that her explorer had obtained in his world travels from her home in Kansas to Antarctica (Don't ask me why). There is the obligatory villain trying to steal it away from her. Although the plot is preposterous the book moves along swiftly and I think the ten to twelve year old girl audience will enjoy it. ( )

Advance copy. ( )