Ironhand (The Stoneheart Trilogy Book Two)

Grade 5–9—In this sequel to Stoneheart (Hyperion, 2007), George, 13, Edie, 12, and the Gunner continue to flee from the Walker, a man cursed to walk the Earth forever, and from "taints," evil, soulless statues. George has accidentally upset the balance in this alternate London, a place where statues can get up and roam. Edie is kidnapped by the Walker, who wants to use her talents as a "glint," someone who can touch stone or metal and see into history, and to lure George into his malignant grasp. Meanwhile, the Walker has also dumped the Gunner, a World War I statue and self-appointed protector of the children, into the depths beneath the city. If the Gunner cannot return to his statue base by midnight, then he will never walk off his plinth again. George, alone and confused by his new status as a potential "maker," someone with the ability to create statues, sets out to rescue Edie and keep the Gunner from losing his "life." Ironhand is a well-written, fast-paced, and suspenseful fantasy. Fletcher successfully draws readers in with action and a continuously developing backstory for each of the characters. However, though the author includes a brief overview of the first book, this one does not stand on its own.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT


In his reading of this sequel to Stoneheart (2007), Dale displays his mastery of vocal characterizations ranging from a blustery, sputtering friar to an imperiously proud Roman-era queen. Intrepid heroes George and Edie, caught in a world of warring Spits (statues representing humans) and Taints (statues of monsters and mythical creatures), attempt to rescue their friend, who is in the clutches of a supernatural figure. Dale’s voice is appropriately creepy and evil when depicting this supernatural character. George is further challenged by his need to fight three duels in an attempt to keep three veins on his arm from eventually piercing his heart. Dale sometimes overdoes the narration and hams up the action, but his dramatic reading fits well with this tale, which barrels headlong until the end, setting up listeners for the final title in the trilogy. Grades 5-8. --Karen Cruze