School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--7--Plucky 12-year-old Mallie Ramble is determined to restore some hope to her struggling family. The dreaded Guardians are trying to force her younger brother to work in the deadly mines unless the family pays them an impossible amount of money. Mallie, who has one arm, finds a mysterious advertisement is seeking fearless boys for dangerous adventures and amazing rewards. Disguised as a boy, Mallie traverses the Dust-covered mountains where stars have been unseen for decades to find out what this mission is all about. It turns out the Guardians know that flying horses still exist, but they will only respond to children. The children are sent on dangerous journeys to gather gold dust from neighboring mountains only to find that the Dust is not everywhere after all. Mallie is a brave character, wholly undefined by her limb difference. With courageous friends, she figures out some pretty important things about her community and how to change life for the better, not just for her family but for everyone. Cassandra Morris is the perfect narrator for this audiobook; her voice, inflections, and intonation are all that of a young girl. She speaks with a very convincing Southern accent, and her pacing is flawless, building whenever the story demands it and slowing to a crawl when Mallie questions her ability to successfully complete her goals. VERDICT Fans of A Snicker of Magic will love this production.--B. Allison Gray, Goleta Valley Library, CA
Publisher's Weekly Review
A 12-year-old struggles as her family's sole breadwinner until a dangerous opportunity offers financial freedom. Mallie Ramble manages her work as a maid in the valley just fine, though her employer condescends to her about her artificial arm, an orange "Popsnap" in "a universal color that fits everybody." Above the valley, Mallie's dust-covered home on Coal Top is ruled by malevolent authorities who threaten to force Mallie's beloved seven-year-old brother into the mines. When a flyer calls for "fellers" ("orphans preferred") "unafraid to ride and race and fly in the fear of certain death," Mallie bravely volunteers to fly Starbirds-airborne horses-and collect gold dust from distant mountaintops. The bond between Mallie and her Starbird, Leo, proves strong as an evil plot comes to light, as does her chemistry with her best friend Adam and the horse trainer Iggy. Though characterization can feel flimsy, Lloyd (The Key to Extraordinary) deftly sketches oppressive social and economic circumstances and firmly establishes Mallie's bravery. Ages 8-12. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.