Polly and Buster: The Mystery of the Magic Stones by Sally RippinFormat: Paperback
Publisher: First Published in Australia May 23rd, 2018 by Hardie Grant Egmont.
Published in the US: 2019 by Kane Miller, a division of EDC Publishing
Number of Pages: 296
Source: Review copy provided by the Publisher
Opening Lines: "Polly sits at her teacher's kitchen table and thinks about what lies ahead."
Monsters and witches shouldn't be friends, that's what everyone in Blackmoon Coven believes. Yet, Polly and Buster are truly the best of friends, friends who've always protected one another. They've stood by one another even after the huge misunderstanding that occurred between the witches and the monsters. Even now as the witches are after Buster because they believe he's dangerous and a threat. Polly and Buster are more determined than ever to stay together. To escape from the threat of the witches. At the beginning of the second book in the series, Polly and Buster were forced to flee from their home and are now temporarily hiding out with Polly's teacher.
Meanwhile, the tension between the monsters and witches has been escalating. Getting closer and closer to an all-out war. Monsters are taking witches captive and Mrs. Halloway, head of the witches commitee has been trying to get the mayor to have the monsters expelled from the Coven. Feeling they're the cause of all the problems back home, Polly and Buster venture out toward the Hollow Valley mines looking for some answers. Six years ago, Polly's father died following a cave-in within the mines. Since then the mines have been closed, considered too dangerous, rumored to be haunted. But, Polly's convinced that the magical stones her father gave her shortly before his death have been calling to her, leading her to the mines. Once inside, she learns the truth, sees for herself what has been protecting the mines, what's been scaring off intruders. What's been waiting for her. And why she's the only witch who can cast a powerful enough spell to put the Gorvan, a creature living in the deepest part of the cavern back to sleep. Can Polly be strong enough to face her own fears and will her magic be powerful enough to protect her family and friends?
As with the first book in the series, Polly and Buster's friendship is the sweetest part of these stories. Over and over they've demonstrated the importance of standing by your friend, having their back. Although it took Polly a little while to determine that being with the most popular girl in school wasn't as important as her true friend, she does finally come to that realization and is even more determined to not let anything happen to Buster and that it's her turn to let everyone know just how kind and caring he is. Intermingled in the plot there is an emphasis on telling the truth. And when an unexpected ally does come forward telling the truth about how the misunderstanding between monsters and witches took place, everyone finally has a chance to see that their bias about monsters wasn't founded. That although Buster is a monster, they have nothing to fear from monsters. If anything Buster is courageous and actually a hero. I very much enjoyed reading The Mystery of the Magic Stones with its positive and uplifting messaging.
Meanwhile, the tension between the monsters and witches has been escalating. Getting closer and closer to an all-out war. Monsters are taking witches captive and Mrs. Halloway, head of the witches commitee has been trying to get the mayor to have the monsters expelled from the Coven. Feeling they're the cause of all the problems back home, Polly and Buster venture out toward the Hollow Valley mines looking for some answers. Six years ago, Polly's father died following a cave-in within the mines. Since then the mines have been closed, considered too dangerous, rumored to be haunted. But, Polly's convinced that the magical stones her father gave her shortly before his death have been calling to her, leading her to the mines. Once inside, she learns the truth, sees for herself what has been protecting the mines, what's been scaring off intruders. What's been waiting for her. And why she's the only witch who can cast a powerful enough spell to put the Gorvan, a creature living in the deepest part of the cavern back to sleep. Can Polly be strong enough to face her own fears and will her magic be powerful enough to protect her family and friends?
As with the first book in the series, Polly and Buster's friendship is the sweetest part of these stories. Over and over they've demonstrated the importance of standing by your friend, having their back. Although it took Polly a little while to determine that being with the most popular girl in school wasn't as important as her true friend, she does finally come to that realization and is even more determined to not let anything happen to Buster and that it's her turn to let everyone know just how kind and caring he is. Intermingled in the plot there is an emphasis on telling the truth. And when an unexpected ally does come forward telling the truth about how the misunderstanding between monsters and witches took place, everyone finally has a chance to see that their bias about monsters wasn't founded. That although Buster is a monster, they have nothing to fear from monsters. If anything Buster is courageous and actually a hero. I very much enjoyed reading The Mystery of the Magic Stones with its positive and uplifting messaging.
Sounds like a great read. I really like the idea of standing by friends even if it is forbidden. Glad you liked it so much.
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