Torrie and the Firebird

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Harvard,
Massachusetts.

Kokako works as a sweeper at the Oyon Shrine during the day, and because
he is an orphan he sleeps there too, spending the evenings reading books
about travel and adventure and dreaming of becoming a scientist and
explorer. One night Kokako awakens to find that a sorcerer with the help
of some goblins and a rock-man are stealing the Oyon, the precious
symbol of peace for all of the people of their continent. When an angry
mob accuses Kokako of stealing the Oyon, Torrie and Anna help him
escape, and together they begin a quest to find the precious symbol.
Their adventure takes them through a forest, over mountains and across a
desert to a salt lake. They encounter many unusual and sometimes
threatening creatures and also meet up with Kokako’s hero, who turns
out to be Anna’s mother. In finding the Oyon they discover its true
purpose and bring real peace to people of their land.

In this sequel to Torrie and the Pirate-Queen (2005), there is
something to please every reader. There are charming, unusual, and
exuberant characters who have exciting adventures full of suspenseful
action in exotic and fantastic settings. There are interesting
descriptions of the natural world as well as elements of fantasy, magic,
and humour. The themes of war and peace and family relationships are
universal and have a broad appeal. This is a wonderful book that should
be a part of every preteen’s collection. Highly recommended.