Three children discover a map that leads them into magical adventure in this first book of Jane Yolen's thrilling Tartan Magic series #60;BR #62; Copyright #169; Libri GmbH. All rights reserved. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Yolen gathers all the ingredients for a compelling middle grade fantasy novel, but the recipe falls short in this first book of her Tartan Magic series. Reluctantly spending his summer vacation with his family in Scotland, visiting his mother's foster parents, 13-year-old Peter grows scornful when Gran and Da start talking about magic as if it were an everyday occurrence. But after Peter's four-year-old sister, Molly, colors on a strange map in the attic, thereby freeing a power-mad wizard, Peter and his twin sister, Jennifer, must admit that magic not only exists, but is far more menacing than they had ever imagined. The sorcerer kidnaps Molly in order to force the twins to cede the magical map to him, then holds the rest of the family hostage. Aided by a dragon, a unicorn and a dog brought back to life after being entrapped in an iron bench, Jennifer uses her innate but undeveloped magical powers to defeat the malevolent wizard. Eschewing character development, Yolen gives readers little reason to care for the fate of her protagonists. Her unorthodox decision to have the adults "in" on the magic raises the stakes but, because they are passive bystanders who contribute little to the resolution, her fantasy plot is that much more difficult to swallow. Though some readers may find light entertainment here, most will be left wanting a more believable, substantive story than this tale delivers. Ages 8-up. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 4-7-Solidly rational 13-year-old American twins Jennifer and Peter are dragged to Scotland by their parents to spend the summer with elderly relatives. From the moment they arrive, they find themselves enmeshed in the workings of ancient magic. Exploring the cottage's small walled garden on her very first evening, Jennifer becomes lost in an impossibly large woods. Investigating the attic the next day, the twins discover an old Patience game, and Peter is amazed when a hand that he has begun is mysteriously completed. When their four-year-old sister, Molly, finds an antique map, Gran tells them about its owner, an evil wizard named Michael Scot. Before long, the wizard appears and abducts Molly. The adults disappear soon after. Peter is captured and Jennifer is left alone to rescue her family from the evil magic. She succeeds with the help of a dragon, a dog, and a unicorn that she frees from a magic spell. The setting and characters are described cursorily, and loose ends abound. Michael Scot takes possession of Peter from time to time, but his reasons for picking Peter and his goals are never made clear. However, the action moves swiftly and young readers may well be too busy following the story to care.-Kathleen Isaacs, Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 3-6. In the first volume of the Tartan Magic series, Yolen introduces the Dyer children--13-year-old twins Jennifer and Peter and their younger sister, Molly--who have come to Scotland with their parents to visit Mom's elderly cousins, Gran and Da. Strange and magical events begin happening almost as soon as they arrive. Jennifer discovers an old garden and gets caught in a thunderstorm that affects only that place; Peter finds an unusual card game that finishes itself when he steps away; and Molly unearths a map belonging to a thirteenth-century wizard, Michael Scot. After the evil sorcerer imprisons Molly and, later, most of the rest of the family, Jennifer must summon the help of some enchanted creatures and find her own magic to defeat Michael Scot and rescue her clan. Yolen's engaging fantasy is reminiscent of Susan Cooper's The Boggart (1993) in tone and style, though this is written for a slightly younger audience. The action never flags, making this a sure bet for fantasy and adventure fans. (Reviewed May 15, 1999)0152020675Kay Weisman From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.