Review of Gypsy Crown

School & Library Marketing Reviews
Library Media Connection
Aug/Sept 08 Issue

2008. 400pp. $16.99 hc. Hyperion Books for Children/Disney Publishing Worldwide. 978-1-4231-0494-0. Grades 7-10.

In this page-turning adventure 13-year-old Emilia and her cousin Luka must find a way to save their family from certain execution in 17th century England. After a series of events leads to the death of a constable, the Finch family is arrested. Both Luka and Emilia manage to escape from jail, and they set out on a quest to seek help from four other families. Luka is looking for practical help, such as manpower, to set his family free, while Emilia has her heart set on reuniting the chain of charms that once was broken. Luka humors her, but soon even he stops being skeptical about the charms' magic as they manage to escape unscrupulous Coldham, the thief-taker (like a modern day bounty hunter) many times over. This adventure is full of nonstop twists and turns and constant action. Luka and Emilia meet up with many exciting historical figures while getting tangled up in Royalist plots to overthrow Oliver Cromwell. The historical setting might make this a more difficult sell, but readers, especially boys looking for a solid adventure and a little mysticism and magic mixed-in, won’t be disappointed. Highly Recommended. Esther Keller, Librarian, I.S. 278 Marine Park, Brooklyn, New York.