Robin, a sorcerer's apprentice, lives on the Lost Isle--a place where knights and magic co-exist with computers and videos. When an acquaintance is kidnapped by monsters, Robin uses his newfound magical powers to transport himself and several friends to the "Uncertain World" in order to find her. The plot is diffuse and the writing is sometimes prosaic, but the setting is downright fascinating.

Marcus and Mia Robinson, genial elementary-schoolaged twins, are excited about meeting fictional NBA star Jason Carter. Mia is writing an article for her newspaper and Marcus, the budding basketball star, has won the honor of asking the class's questions during a field trip to Giants Practice Day. Sometimes sounding more like motivational speaking than fiction, Richardson encourages her young audience to dream more than one dream. After Carter points out the obvious facts—that most athletes do not become professional athletes, athletes often get injured and athletes need to have other interests—young Marcus thinks more about his mathematical talents. Though it seems unlikely that a top NBA athlete would choose NCAA Division II Morehouse University (where, conveniently, Martin Luther King Jr. matriculated) over the NBA, cynicism should be put on hold for this feel-good lesson for the youngest reader. Engaging cover and black-and-white interior art will draw many fans, especially those elusive boy readers. Not quite a slam-dunk, but the straightforward, accessible story will invite them to stay for the end of the game. (Fiction. 7-10)

Gr 3-5-Slam Dunk tries to encourage kids to diversify their career goals, but instead hits youngsters over the head with a do-well-in-school sermon unrealistically preached by a fictional basketball star. Twins Marcus and Mia join their class on a field trip to a pro game and a visit with the team's star. Marcus's success in the school math contest earns him privileges as the class spokesperson, but his queries about basketball, fame, and money are deflected toward setting realistic educational goals ("chase more than one dream," star Jason Carter espouses) as Jason himself apparently did by excelling in chemistry in college. For career counseling emphasis, he also keeps on hand a stable of college friends whose careers run the gamut from architect to doctor to computer scientist. Palmer's expressive acrylics shine on the glossy paper, showing genuine adulation in the children's eyes of this mythical basketball star, but can't save the unrealistic text. While too many kids want to "be like Mike" to the detriment of their schoolwork, seemingly oblivious to the astronomical odds against their becoming pro athletes (or any other kind of star), this well-intentioned but poorly executed chapter book will likely make few converts to the academic way.-John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.