Otto and the Bird Charmers

I loved this book! It was a familiar story, but magically written and completely suitable for a young reader. I've had a hard time finding modern books for my 6-year-old that are challenging and interesting enough for her to read without being too scary. The really short chapters are a bonus for her, too. We're looking forward to reading the sequel and hope to find more books like this.

Although the threat of outsiders was settled in the first book, the Karmidee are still imperiled by new menace. The characters continue to enchant, and Otto finds some new friends and a new relative mysteriously appears on the scene (Albert the Librarian, Otto's father and incidentally, the king of the Karmidee, is a little TOO discreet for his families comfort) Outrageous names abound, for places and people, and the eccentrically magical are extremely enjoyable. .. The City of Trees is threatened when the usual good weather turns to an icy chill, and everything begins to freeze. Nobody has any clues and as usual the Normal Citizens blame the Karmidee, leading to unrest and a political coo, as the Mayor is ousted from power and a violent & disreputable figure known as Councillor Bliss steps in. Other things are going wrong in the city as well - Mattie (known as 'Lumpy' by the less charitable) is left alone to manage the family wool shop, and a disreputable and very tiny figure has been seen on the premises, leaving miniscule footprints and small gifts. Have the elves become active? Or is it something else? Sween Softly has his own problems - his family have been kidnapped, & the only ransom note he has receieved has improbable requests! Charlotte Haptie has created a glorious corner of the universe for her Improbable and not at all Respectable friends, and they are always above all, sensible and reasonable reactions and a fair and accurate representation of the problems which plague us when people seek to discrimnate or appropriate. A fine sequel to Otto & the Flying Twins. I highly recommend this delightful book to all young persons, and the young at heart. It will delight, amaze, surprise, touch & tickle. kotori [email protected]

In a private corner of the world the Karmidee have created a haven; The City of Trees. Built to accomodate all Karmidee (the four footed, the horned, the scaled & beclawed) this mystic city is their birthright. However, with humans among them, the magically gifted Karmidee have been usurped from their city and forced into poverty stricken encampments along the mud banks of the swamps. Now run by an increasingly hysterical government, "Normality" is the mantra, the rule and the goal. Things begin to look personally ominous for the Hush family when twins Hepzibah and (the delightfully named) Zeborah manifest their particular 'magico' talent of flying. They fly, they soar, they dribble and swim through the sky. Babysitters beware. The city is in peril, the family are being persecuted and Otto might be the closest thing the Karmidee have to a Prince! In a deft departure from the norm, not all is left in the hands of Otto and his friends. This isn't an instance of only children can save the day - instead, his parents, and friends all have roles to divert destiny. Even the villians have excellent motivations, and the comeuppances are suitable. Imaginative & humorous, what a fantastic addition to the ranks of young adult fiction this book is. Fans of Garth Nix seventh tower series will find a lot to enjoy here. Also recommended for Diana Wynne Jones fans. Kotori [email protected]

This book was great! It's about these magic poeple, some people call them Karmidee, some people call them magicos. It's basically about how they get their freedom back from the "normals". There's one type of magicos called "widges", there're some that are really good with animals, there're the "carpetflyers", and there are the few people that can fly without anything, and there was another kind called "dammerung". I liked how there was a lot of magic. (From the 8 year old). It was really cool. The carpetflyers were my favorite thing. It was too good. My second favorite were "the widges". Thanks Charlotte Haptie for writing it. We are anxiously waiting for the next book! (From the 6 year old). We just finished this book and immediately went to the computer to find out if the next one was out yet! (From the dad).

In Charlotte Haptie's Otto And The Flying Twins, humans have changed the magic world of the City of Trees and taken away its magic: magical folk must hide as a result. Otto has no magic in him and needn't worry; but when his twin sisters begin to fly, their family lives change. Suddenly Otto finds himself fighting the forces who would squelch magic in the world in this unusual story.