Spring 2006 Review:

        The fourth book in The Children of the Red King series is chock-full of action.  The story picks up almost immediately after where book three, Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy, left off.  Mr. Pilgrim, the piano teacher, has mysteriously disappeared and Tantalus Ebony has come to take his place.  Charlie and Olivia discover the secret of the Castle of Mirrors.  Also, Billy has finally been adopted.  His new foster parents are a mysterious couple and they lock him up in an odd place called The Passing House.  He is not able to touch the front door because he is held back by a magical invisible force.  Joshua Tilpin, endowed with the power of magnetism, has entered the scene and seems to be on Manfred’s side.  The odds are stacked against Charlie Bone and his friends, but hope lies in a horse with the heart of the Red King’s wife.  With the help of the reincarnated horse, Charlie might be able to help Billy and protect his friends and family.

        I found this book to be an excellent book.  It was fast-paced and action-packed throughout the story.  Readers from ages 8-13 will enjoy this book because it does not have too many high-level words and the themes it presents are not too complicated.  There are a lot of characters in the story, but the author lists the endowed children in the front, which makes it easier to remember them.  In the uncorrected proof version I reviewed there were no maps, but there were two pages marked “Maps TK”, so I believe that maps will be put there.  The maps will be very helpful to anyone reading this book because the story takes place in many different settings.  All in all, this book was highly enjoyable and I highly anticipate the next book in the series.

 ~ Stelios Theophanous, 10^th grade, Boardman High School

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