Publishers Weekly
02/22/2016
In this warmhearted companion to A Tangle of Knots (2013), Graff revisits a world divided by those with magical “Talents” and those without, and the inevitable strain it places on relationships. Camp Atropos plays host to children with a variety of peculiar and impressive Talents, from communicating with frogs to levitating. A typical summer session involves swimming in the lake, a camp-wide sleepover, and a Talent show, but this isn’t a typical summer: someone has the ability to mimic and steal campers’ Talents. Graff reprises several elements from the previous book—narration that rotates among several protagonists, as well as a handful of recipes (summery beverages instead of cakes). Her ensemble cast consists of characters struggling with sibling-related troubles: Jo, a misguided camp director desperate to reunite with her estranged sister; Lily, a telekinetic “Pinnacle” who misses her brother; Renny, a brother hiding a family secret; and Chuck, a twin desperate to discover her own uniqueness. As Talents get stolen and swapped, the story can get a bit muddled, but Graff brings the plot threads to a satisfying resolution. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Inkwell Management. (May)
From the Publisher
Praise for Lisa Graff's novels:
A Clatter of Jars:
"Graff is a master of the magical realism genre, and this offering is worthy of a spot in any middle grade collection."—School Library Journal
This highly satisfying sequel to A Tangle of Knots will not only sate the appetites of readers already familiar with Graff’s fantasy world, but it will also provide a fine entry point for new readers as well . . . Graff’s vivid character development and world building makes for tight plotting and nicely negotiable complexity. A great fit for fans of Louis Sachar’s Holes."—Booklist
"Each character struggles with truth, familial love, and acceptance, as Talents are lost and found, relinquished and stolen,borrowed and returned. And then there’s Fate, who also raises her head when leastexpected, reminding readers that it’s not the talents we’re given but what we makeof them that creates happiness."—The Horn Book
"Readers will love the inventiveness—and the sadness—of every storyline . . . this is a novel that rewards a second—or even a third—reading."—Kirkus Reviews
"[A] warmhearted companion to A Tangle of Knots . . . Graff brings the plot threads to a satisfying resolution."—Publishers Weekly
"Graff’s prose and plot construction is as pleasing as ever, and A Clatter of Jars will appeal to a wide range of readers."—Bookpage
Lost in the Sun
* "Graff writes with stunning insight into boyhood and humanity, allowing Trent to speak for himself in a pained, honest narration. Investing Trent with all the tragic frailty of Holden Caulfield, Graff tackles issues of loss, isolation, and rage without apology. Graff consistently demonstrates why character-driven novels can live from generation to generation, and here she offers a story that can survive for many school years to come."—Kirkus Reviews *STARRED*
* "Graff creates layered, vulnerable characters that are worth getting to know and routing for. Narrated by the moody, sarcastic Trent, the story never buckles beneath his troubles, and it finds wings once he can see beyond them. Pranks, The Sandlot reenactments, sports talk, and donuts are in plentiful supply, adding dashes of levity at the right moments. The book’s real magic is found in simple acts like watering plants and learning when to listen and when to just tip your head back and scream at the sky."—Booklist *STARRED*
* "In an ambitious and gracefully executed story, Graff covers a lot of emotional ground, empathically tracing Trent’s efforts to deal with a horrible, inexplicable accident and to heal the relationships that have become collateral damage along the way."—Publishers Weekly *STARRED*
* "Weighty matters deftly handled with humor and grace will give this book wide appeal."—School Library Journal *STARRED*
* "Characterization is thoughtful: Graff is highly sensitive to a sixth-grade boy’s limited emotional savvy and lack of tools to deal with this kind of pain, and Fallon is believably sympathetic."—BCCB *STARRED REVIEW*
“In Lost in the Sun, Trent decides that he will speak the truth: that pain and anger and loss are not the final words, that goodness can find us after all—even when we hide from it. This is a novel that speaks powerfully, honestly, almost shockingly about our human pain and our human redemption. This book will change you.”—Gary Schmidt, two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The Wednesday Wars and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
“Lisa Graff crafts a compelling story about a boy touched with tragedy and the world of people he cares about. And like all the best stories, it ends at a new beginning.”—Richard Peck, Newbery Award-winning author of A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago
A Tangle of Knots
“Lisa Graff has created a beautiful world of deliciously interconnected stories that draw you in.”—Abby West, Entertainment Weekly, A-
* “Subtle and intricate, rich with humor and insight, this quietly magical adventure delights.”—Kirkus Reviews *STARRED REVIEW*
* “Combining the literary sensibility of E. B. White with the insouciance of Louis Sachar, Graff has written a tangle that should satisfy readers for years to come.”—Booklist *STARRED REVIEW*
“Graff’s story has a warmth and gentle humor that, along with the premise, calls to mind Ingrid Law’s Savvy.”—Publishers Weekly
Lisa Graff's Awards:
Lisa Graff's books have been named to 30 state award lists, and A Tangle of Knots was long-listed for the National Book Award.
School Library Journal
04/01/2016
Gr 4–7—When Liliana Vera arrives at Camp Atropos for Singular Talents, she does so with a heavy heart. Her brother Max should be with her, but three weeks before, she accidentally hurt him. No one knows it was her fault. Now Liliana is stuck dealing with the guilt, her secret about what really happened, and her annoyingly perky stepsister, Hannah. Camp Atropos is for kids with "Talents," abilities that are beyond what a human can normally accomplish. Lily can lift objects with her mind. Hannah makes drinks that evoke memories for people and bring them back to a moment clear as day. Not everyone has a Talent, though, and for many of the Fair, having a Talent is a lifelong dream. There is a black market of sorts, and the director of Camp Atropos is in over her head with dealing and stealing Talent rip-offs. If she's not careful, she may endanger her campers and change the Talented world forever. Readers may remember other Talented characters from A Tangle of Knots, but it's not necessary to have read it to keep up here. Camp director Jo is a complex and sympathetic villain, making an original story even more unique. The tale comes full circle sweetly, with a fun twist that connects lives from both books in an unexpected way. There is, perhaps, an overabundance of characters, each with his or her own special Talent, and a few too many plot lines, making the story a little hard to follow at times. Still, most readers who enjoy magical fantasy set in an otherwise realistic world will likely embrace these new characters. VERDICT Graff is a master of the magical realism genre, and this offering is worthy of a spot in any middle grade collection.—Mandy Laferriere, Fowler Middle School, Frisco, TX
MAY 2016 - AudioFile
A singularly talented narrator, Ellen Archer, presents this deftly woven magical story set in a world in which people possess special talents. These range from the mundane, such as the ability to understand frogs, to the powerful, such as telekinesis. At Camp Atropos for Singular Talents, Cabin Eight’s inhabitants grapple with family secrets, heartache, and the devious intent of a crooked camp director. Archer portrays the shifting perspectives of Lily, Chuck, Remy, and other young campers, as well as recurring singularities such as the language of frogs, the beautiful tones of a magical harmonica, the rich notes of a melancholy Spanish lullaby, and the stilted speech of a unique boy. Keep a pen handy to jot down the magical drink recipes! L.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2016-02-17
Everyone in this sequel to Tangle of Knots (2013) gets a chance to be the main character, at least for a page or two. Almost everybody at Camp Atropos for Singular Talents has a magical ability, and some of them are embarrassing. Ellie and Chuck are black identical twins, and they both share the ability to identify frogs. White Lily has a more impressive Talent; she can whisk objects through the air with her mind, but it's a skill that put her brother in the infirmary when she lost control. Each of the characters is the focus of the story for a little while, but four characters (three campers and the director) get extra attention. Their names alternate as the book's chapter titles—"Lily," "Jo," "Renny," "Chuck"—which serves as a sort of score card. With so many storylines, it would be nearly impossible, otherwise, to remember which character was which. But some stories are memorable just because they're so deeply sad. The camp director writes letters to her sister: "Please come. I want nothing more than to be a family again." This is a more frenetic story than its predecessor, and some readers may lose patience. Other readers will love the inventiveness—and the sadness—of every storyline. Kids may have to read the book a second time to follow the plot, but this is a novel that rewards a second—or even a third—reading. (Fantasy. 8-12)
