98. Magical Map #1: Pirates of the Caribbean. Ridley Pearson. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, children's fantasy, j fantasy]
First sentence: Down an alley that was easily missed, there hung a wooden sign.
Premise/plot: Ridley Pearson's newest series is for young readers; it's an early chapter book. Gemma and Torin are brother and sister. Gemma discovers a mysterious, supernatural journal that is tied to...the Magic Kingdom. It has notes, drawings, maps, etc., for many of the rides and attractions. She doesn't know it when she starts reading it and making her own notes, however, so she is unaware of how her notes are effecting the attractions. In this first one, Gemma and Torin must 'save' their mom's job by fixing the Pirates of the Caribbean. The story has been changed!
My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. Could a different story had been told if it was for older readers? Yes. Is this story good for younger readers? Yes. Gemma and Torin work together to brainstorm solutions for fixing the magic that has gone wrong. I liked this one well enough. I did.
99. Magical Map #2: Jungle Cruise. Ridley Pearson. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, children's fantasy, j fantasy]
First sentence: Uh-oh, trouble was brewing! Friday afternoon, the week follwoing spring break, kids at school were buzzing about the Jungle Cruise attraction at Disney's Magic Kingdom park having suddenly been close.
Premise/plot: Ridley Pearson's newest series is for young readers; it's an early
chapter book. Gemma and Torin are brother and sister. Gemma discovers a
mysterious, supernatural journal that is tied to...the Magic Kingdom. It
has notes, drawings, maps, etc., for many of the rides and attractions.
She doesn't know it when she starts reading it and making her own
notes, however, so she is unaware of how her notes are effecting the
attractions. In this second one, Gemma and Torin try to puzzle out WHY there are real animals--monkeys--causing a great deal of trouble on the Jungle Cruise attraction. Can they fix Jungle Cruise?
My thoughts: I liked this one less than the Pirates of the Caribbean. Though if you like mischievous monkeys this one might still be appealing. I like the idea of liking this series. But there's just not much substance.
© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers
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