Eleanor Estes Reviews

Added August 17, 2007

Miranda the Great

Author: Eleanor Estes
Illustrator: Edward Ardizzone
Publisher: Odyssey Classics, a division of Harcourt Inc.
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: August 2005
Genre: Middle Reader: Historical - Ages 5 through 12
Format: Trade paper
Price: $5.95
ISBN-10: 0-15-205411-1
ISBN-13: 9780152054113
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Did you ever wonder how some ancient historical people got the word "great" after their names? This delightful novel, written in the true spirit of Roman greatness, follows the story of Miranda, a cat, whose nobility as well as ability saved a bunch of kittens during a barbarian invasion.

Miranda lived with a little girl, Claudia, and her family, in a marble house near the Colosseum in ancient Rome. Miranda was a big cat with a beautiful singing voice and the courage to chase all the dogs off her street. So when she realized that Rome was burning and the barbarians were sacking the city, she wisely dashed to a place of safety. Yet, the weak cries of motherless kittens, desperately calling for help, touched Miranda's heart. Her feline fearlessness pounced to the rescue, and she soon had her paws full as the Colosseum filled up with a colossal amount of tiny kitties.

Danger, adventure and a passel of purring cats will endear this story to young readers. The Roman setting is filled with many genuine details, lending a nice touch of authenticity to the novel. Miranda's character is indeed larger than life, making her an extraordinary heroine. As this courageous cat collects the hungry and frightened kittens, her bravery and cleverness is shown by her selfless actions. Feeding her young charges and keeping them safe becomes a full time job, adding many memorable moments to this already great tale.

Miranda the Great is...well...great! The creativity of author Eleanor Estes endures to engage a new generation with excellent and exciting stories.

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Added October 5, 2006

The Curious Adventures of Jimmy McGee

Author: Eleanor Estes
Publisher: Odyssey Classics, a division of Harcourt Inc.
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Middle Reader: Fantasy - Ages 8 and up
Format: Trade Paper
Price: $5.95
ISBN: 0-15-205517-7
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 8 Gargoyles

This classic tale by Eleanor Estes is now available for modern readers. Written with the author's signature style of imagination and adventure, this book offers young people a new kind of hero.

Jimmy McGee is a leprechaun-like man, full of a special magic called the zoomie-zoomies. Although a plumber by trade, his life takes a different leap after reading about himself in Amy's book. Right there, on page 13, under the letter M, was this entry: 'McGee, Jimmy: a little fellow, a plumber, a banger on pipes, a hero'. Jimmy didn't understand the 'hero' part, but he decided to keep his eyes open in case he was needed to do something extraordinary. So, when Little Lydia, a do-nothing doll, gets swallowed by a wave, Jimmy was ready to zoom in and save her. But before he could return her, a jolt of magic turned Lydia into a bebop doll. Now, this little fellow had a really, big problem to solve.

The story is cute, with a good dose of fun and fantasy. The magical elements bring a unique flavor to the tale, and the action really gets hopping when the zoomie-zoomies get loose. There is a quaint, old-fashioned feel to the plot, as Amy and Clarissa play quietly on the beach with their dolls and their vivid imaginations. While the story moves slowly in the beginning, the later parts, featuring a thunderstorm and some talking animals, will have readers paying closer attention. The illustrations add a nice, visual touch to the text, while the ending is sweet enough to bring forth some smiles.

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