Kalifax

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes novels for pre-teens; her latest books are
Jessa Be Nimble, Rebel Be Quick; Raven’s Revenge; and Tarragon Island.

Rich in its use of language and playful in its grand use of imaginative
imagery, Kalifax is a tall tale that follows the intrepid crew of the
Volantix on a perilous voyage to the Roof of the World.

Young Tom, crew member number 21 (for good luck) becomes the crew’s
Kalifax (named for a magical light once used by elves who also journeyed
north to the Roof of the World). En route, the crew encounters snow
goblins, frightening sea creatures, a great white bear, and unbelievable
cold and hardship when their mighty vessel becomes trapped in a sea of
ice.

Intended to be a fairy-tale retelling of the quest to discover the
Northwest Passage, Kalifax possesses all the great exploits, heroic
battles, and otherworldly interventions one could hope for in a tall
tale. As a fantasy novel, however, the book falls short. Characters are
flat and predictable and even the main character, Tom, comes across more
as an authorial device than a flesh-and-blood character. As a result,
though this adventurous crew may at times entertain us, we are never
emotionally engaged by them. As well, the clever writing, authorial
asides, and shifting points of view get in the way of what could have
been an excellent coming-of-age story of a young boy on a magical quest.
Not a first-choice purchase.