The familiars

Format:

Book

Title:

The familiars

Author:

Epstein, Adam Jay.

ISBN:

9780061961083

9780061961106

9780329851330

Edition:

First edition.

Publication:

New York : Harper, An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.

Physical Description:

360 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

Series title(s):

Familiars (New York, N.Y.) ;

Number in series:

#1.

Contents:

Catch of the day -- Unfamiliar surroundings -- Stone Runlet --Storm berries and bookworms -- Walkabout -- Midnight visitors -- Into the unknown -- Agdaleen and the Octopot -- The tree frogs of Daku -- Vastia's most wanted -- The Bridge of Betrayal -- A secret history -- The mountain alchemist -- An unwelcome return -- Torentia Falls -- The sunken palace -- The hydra of Mukrete -- Paksahara --The prophesized three.

Summary:

When a scrappy alley cat named Aldwyn passes himself off as a magical animal companion to Jack, a young wizard in training, Aldwyn and his fellow "familiars," a know-it-all blue jay and bumbling tree frog, must save the kingdom after the evil queen of Vastia kidnaps Jack and two other wizards.

Reading Level:

Ages 8-12.

Program Information:

Accelerated Reader 6.3.

Reading Counts! 6.4.

Subject(s):

Cats -- Juvenile fiction.

Magic -- Juvenile fiction.

Wizards -- Juvenile fiction.

Adventure and adventurers -- Fiction.

Genre:

Action and adventure fiction.

Added Author:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Jefferson Public Library	J EPSTEIN, A.	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Newberg Public Library	J FICTION EPSTEIN	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

For fans of Warriors and Wings of Fire comes a magical adventure story about a street cat who's mistaken for a wizard's familiar.

"Whether furry, flippered or feathered you'll be taking a closer look at your family pet." --Michael Buckley, author of The Sisters Grimm and NERDS

When Aldwyn, a young alley cat on the run, ducks into a mysterious pet shop, he doesn't expect his life to change. But that's exactly what happens when Jack, a young wizard in training, picks Aldwyn to be his magical familiar.

Finally off the tough streets, Aldwyn thinks he's got it made. He just has to convince the other familiars--the know-it-all blue jay Skylar and the friendly tree frog Gilbert--that he's the telekinetic cat he claims to be. But when Jack and two other wizards in training are captured by the evil queen, Aldwyn will have to use all of his street smarts, a few good friends, and a nose for adventure to save the day!

This delightful Indie Next pick is beloved by hundreds of thousands of readers and was named to nine state award lists. Don't miss any of the exciting books in the Familiars series: Secrets of the Crown, Circle of Heroes, and Palace of Dreams.

Reviews (5)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-7-This series opener won't disappoint. Escaping from a bounty hunter, a streetwise cat becomes the familiar of a boy magician-in-training. Almost before Aldwyn gets to know his new surroundings, Jack, his sister, and a fellow student are kidnapped and it is up to him; Skylar, a magic-adept bluejay; and Gilbert, a clumsy, red-eyed tree frog, to rescue their "loyals." The consistently suspenseful narrative moves quickly and is full of twists and turns. The characters are genuinely familiar: Aldwyn feels inadequate and works hard to conceal his humble origins; Skylar has secretly studied human magic and can be arrogant about her abilities; bumbling Gilbert thinks mostly about food and fears the father he has disappointed. The history of the queendom of Vastia is smoothly worked into the narrative. This winning combination of action and humor will keep readers turning pages right up to the ending, which successfully concludes this adventure but leaves room for more.-Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

After starving alley cat Aldwyn steals food from a fishmonger once too often, he is chased by a notorious bounty hunter intent on exterminating him. He takes refuge in a pet store that sells animal familiars to local wizards and is purchased by Jack, a young apprentice. Aldwyn likes his cushy new life in Stone Runlet with Jack and two other students, but he struggles to convince his fellow familiars-a blue jay named Skylar and a tree frog named Gilbert-that he's as magical as they are. When a prophecy foretells that three spell-casters from Stone Runlet will save the world, the formerly benevolent Queen Loranella kills the students' mentor and takes the young novices prisoner, leaving it to the familiars to rescue the children. Screenwriters Epstein and Jacobson's children's book debut is a grand adventure with entertaining characters and magic-induced fun, written in an appropriately cinematic style (Sony Pictures Animation has optioned the story). Even adults will appreciate a tale in which street smarts mix with book learning, and resourcefulness and confidence are matched by loyalty and respect. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Horn Book Review

Young wizard Jack chooses Aldwyn the alley cat to be his familiar (animal magic assistant). Aldwyn begins his new life--and adventures--with Skylar, a bird, and Gilbert, a tree frog. Wry humor and energetic writing power the animals' efforts to save the lives of their human "loyals" from an evil witch. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

The calculated invocation of too many tropes makes for a joyless fantasy debut. Aldwyn may be an orphaned alley cat with a mysterious past, but he has street smarts in abundance, so when young wizard-in-training Jack adopts him as his "familiar," Aldwyn knows he's on to a good thing. To secure his position among the other familiars--Skylar, the know-it-all bluejay, and Gilbert, the goofily genial tree frog--he pretends to possess magic as well. But when the three apprentice wizards are kidnapped by an evil sorceress, Aldwyn's lie puts their already-impossible rescue mission in danger. There isn't a fantasy clich left out of this tale nor anything particularly clever or original in their use. The familiars might as well have been named Harry, Hermione and Ron, with only the barest nod to nonhuman traits; the magical system is painfully muddled; the plot is driven by random encounters and ridiculous coincidences; the climactic Big Reveal is telegraphed far in advance; the denouement serves only as a blatant advertisement for a sequel. Pass. (Fantasy. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Aldwyn, a scruffy, quick-witted alley cat on the lam, poses as a magical animal when he ducks into a shop to avoid capture and ends up purchased as a boy wizard's familiar. Despite needing to keep his mundane nature hidden, Aldwyn settles easily into his new role, bonding with his human loyal, Jack, and befriending two other children's familiars: Gilbert, a tree frog, and Skylar, a blue jay. When an evil witch kidnaps the children and kills their mentor, only their familiars can save them. Stock characters the underdog orphaned hero with hidden talents; the bossy, know-it-all girl; the dim, comic-relief friend; the wise old mentor move through a predictable fantasy quest that is nonetheless agreeable. The dual authors, their intentions toward animated movie-dom clear, write competently but perfunctorily. A secret history about the true role of familiars and a world populated with imaginative wildlife adds interest to the clichéd but charming adventure.--Hutley, Krista Copyright 2010 Booklist