Card, Orson Scott. Magic Street.

CARD, Orson Scott. Magic Street. Random House, Ballantine. c2005. 391p. 0-345-41690-2, $14.95. SA

Cecil and Raymo find a naked newborn baby in a grocery bag while riding in the park in their semi-prosperous African American neighborhood in Los Angeles. Cecil takes the infant to his mom, who sends the baby to the nurse next door. She takes him in and names him Mack Street; she and Cecil work together to raise him. Mack roams the entire neighborhood and all the residents play a part in his rearing. Little do any of them realize that they have taken in a Changeling, a baby left by Puck himself, with ties to the King of the Fairies. When Mack is a teen, he is able to see things that others don't and follows Puck (known as the Bag Man in our world) into the realm of the Fairies. Mack eventually realizes that his actions in Fairyland have direct and unexpected consequences on Earth and that an epic battle is about to begin: a battle that only he can avert, with help from all of the neighbors who raised him as a child.

The themes and language limit the audience for this but the plot, by the renowned author of Ender's Game, is classic. This is a gem of a story, with authentic black heroes, male and female; it's also an introspective piece about who has ultimate responsibility. Card's use of language is authentic and his characters are larger than life, while retaining their human foibles. Sherry Hoy, Lib. Media Spec., Tuscarora JHS, Mifflintown, PA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.