December 1, 2006
Gr 4-6-Eleven-year-old Darius Frobishers life is about to change. His father, a seasoned world traveler and adventurer, recently took off in a hot-air balloon for a weekend trip and never returned. Because Dariuss mother died when he was young, Miss Hastings, their elderly housekeeper, has always cared for him during his fathers absences. Now, three attorneys tell them that Rudy Frobisher is presumed dead, send Miss Hastings away, and take the boy to live with his grouchy Aunt Inga, who makes it clear she doesnt want him around. He is miserable until he encounters Daedalus, a neighborhood eccentric who rebuilds old bicycles, and who, Darius is certain, has constructed one that can fly. Harley often addresses readers directly, working hard to enchant them, offering them villains they can hiss at and teasing them with magic that lies just around the corner. But he tries, not subtly enough, to force his audience to understand his characterstelling them that Aunt Inga is mean, for example, because shes unhappymaking the bad guys lose a lot of their bite, along with the story. Still, this pleasant blend of melodrama and fantasy will make youngsters frown over Dariuss misery and then smile in anticipation of the predictably happy ending."Walter Minkel, New York Public Library"
Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2007
When Darius Frobisher's eccentric father disappears in his hot air balloon, Darius is sent to his awful great-aunt Inga. Life is miserable until Darius encounters another quirky oddball, Daedalus, who may or may not have a flying bicycle. Easy integration of Greek mythology and conversational asides to the reader don't quite make up for the story's two-dimensional characters and predictable outcome.
(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)