Shards (Book II)

Having been cast into a spell to live as spirits in the river Kai, the twelve children continue their quest to find a way to break the spell in accordance with the rules as set out in the witch's manual. But just as they become familiar with the rules and the consequences of disobeying them, the witch introduces a few subtle changes, which leaves the spirits anxious about what is to come.

Although the two sets of spirits, the wood spirits and the river spirits, worked together

to stop the life-threatening development on the riverbank in Book I (The Glass Table), the alliance is once again in tatters after Ming Zhi Chen makes her escape. As a consequence, seven-year-old Jasper Gifford, a wood spirit, turns into a mass of bubbles and floats away on the river Kai, just as Faith Prattle had done after Toby Witherspoon's escape. With just four of them left at the glass table, and with the brains of their outfit gone (Ming), the river spirits start to wonder if  they will ever return home as children. Thoughts again turn towards an escape, albeit, more wood spirits would die.

Pre-publication Review

In her first novel, The Glass Table, Leigh Cunningham swept young readers into a magical world in the river Kai, where twelve children were transformed into spirits to live in the river Kai. Despite their dire circumstances, the children came together to stop a life-threatening development on the banks of the river. All the while, the witch's threat hung over them: if any of the river spirits escaped, a wood spirit would perish. Worried about her mother returning to China without her, Ming makes a daring escape that costs seven-year-old Jasper his life. In this engaging sequel, the children continue their efforts to break the witch's spell and return home to their families, all before a determined alliance of developers destroy the fragile ecosystem to which they are bound.   

Shards opens to find Ming safe at home in Rumpole, yet unable to ignore the fate of those she left behind. She turns to Sarah Gibson, a journalist at the local newspaper, for help. Through Sarah, Ming is able to share the truth about the witch's spell and the tragic fate of the lost children. Yet the police and other townsfolk refuse to believe Ming's magical tale, thanks to the meddling of greedy land developer Mr. Fabergast. For if the community knows the children are living as spirits in and around the river, they will never allow Mr. Fabergast to build on its shores. 

As Ming grapples with these challenges in the real world, those she left behind band together to find a solution to the witch's spell. There's Jack, the leader of the river spirits; fatalistic Isaac, who helped his twin brother Toby escape; determined Jordan, obsessed with overcoming his nemesis, a giant carp; and spirited Lucy, who just may hold the key to freeing them all. This follow-up to The Glass Table is entertaining and insightful, a worthy sequel to Cunningham's inaugural adventure. Shards continues to emphasize the importance of protecting freshwater lakes and rivers, all within a captivating story that will leave young readers anxiously anticipating the next installment of this exciting series.