Plot Summary
Madeline Tully used to be a rich girl, living all over the world, but now she and her mother, Holly, live in a little flat in Cambridge where Madeline is homeschooled with her friends Jack and Belle. Madeline misses her old life and she is concerned that her mother might be seriously ill. One day Madeline finds a note sticking out of a broken parking meter and decides to respond by writing a letter about her troubles. In the Kingdom of Cello Elliot Baranski finds Madeline's note in broken T.V. set. Right away Elliot realizes that Madeline is writing from the World and that he has found a crack between Cello and the World. Curious Elliot responds to Madeline, telling her about Cello, beginning a strange and wonderful friendship between two teen from different worlds.
Critical Review
A Corner of White is a lovely tale of a friendship between two teens. Both Elliot and Madeline face enormous challenges and tragedies in the story and in part persevere because of their shared correspondence. Moriarty's novel is both funny and sad, at once entirely real and completely magical. A charming a fantastical novel, I loved every page!
Moriarty, Jaclyn. The Cracks in the Kingdom. Arthur A. Levine Books, New York: 2014. 480 pages Tr. $18.99 ISBN 9780545397384
Reviewed from electronic galley obtained via Netgalley.com
Plot
The Cracks in the Kingdom is the second in The Colors of Madeline series by Jaclyn Moriarty. The book opens with Elliot having just been made a member of the Royal Youth Alliance, which is actual a front for a group led by the Princess Ko to find the missing members of the Cello royal family. A year earlier all the members of the royal family were kidnapped and taken to the World except for Princess Ko, who has been running the country and simultaneously hiding the disappearance of her family from the country. Elliot's assignment is to convince his friend in the World, Madeline, to help locate the missing monarchs and to find a way to cross over to the world. While he and Madeline work on breaching the crack they continue to growing closer, confiding in and relying on each other's presence.
Critical Review
A fabulous follow-up to A Corner of White! Moriarty has upped the suspend with the kidnapping of the royal family and provided Elliot and Madeline a reason to continue their correspondence, which they were on the brink of ceasing. Moriarty character development is masterful; giving her characters very realistic obstacles and human flaws. Cellos is a remarkable place, full of Colors, magic, and ever changing seasons; if only I could find my own crack! The Cracks in the Kingdom is a charming fantasy and just as touching and beautiful as A Corner of White.
Genre
Fantasy
Reading/Interest Level
Grades 7 and up
Author's Website
http://www.jaclynmoriarty.com/
