Vodník

Gr 9 Up—Tomas, a teen with a mysterious scar and an even stranger ability to survive fires, returns to his childhood home in Slovakia after he and his parents are burned out of their apartment in the U.S. He has always been a bit of an outcast and finds that even in his homeland he is discriminated against because of his Roma heritage. While Tomas tries to find his footing back in Slovakia, he learns that he is also connected to another world, in which spirits and characters from Slovakian folktales live and connive. Moore includes several subplots and also packs his book with information about the country. In fact, the novel feels overstuffed and sometimes reads more like a history lesson than an enjoyable fantasy. Too many side plots bog down the pace and leave readers exhausted before Tomas solves the mysteries and saves his cousin. This book has a likable main character with a believable teen voice but the story needed paring to keep readers fully engaged.—Denise Schmidt, San Francisco Public Library