A Prince Without a Kingdom

July 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-In de Fombelle's action-packed sequel to Between Sky and Earth (Candlewick 2014), Vango continues to search for the man responsible for the death of his parents when he was a baby. The World War II-era story is an intricately woven tale of a young man whose courage is tested in countless ways as he pursues the truth, seeks to understand his own tangled past, and makes sacrifices to help his friends and allies. Familiar fictional and historical figures return in this volume, including police detective Auguste Boulard; Ethel, the Scottish heiress who is in love with Vango; Emilie Atlas, the "Cat," whose walks across the rooftops of Paris allow her to provide valuable information to Vango; Padre Zefiro, Vango's guide and friend; and Commander Hugo Eckener, the airship commander. There's even an appearance by Joseph Stalin. One of the most important scenes centers on the 1937 Hindenberg disaster, which in this installment is a catalyst for one of many plot twists and cliff-hangers that make reading the book a dazzling and demanding experience. The characters move among Paris, New York, and Moscow and experience acts of great loyalty and the consequences of betrayal. It is Vango's certainty in his mission that propels this novel to a satisfying conclusion. "Deep down, this was the only treasure that Vango was after: the secret of his life." VERDICT A first purchase in collections where there are fans of Vango and students who enjoy reading adventurous and ambitious novels like Gregory Maguire's Egg and Spoon (Candlewick, 2014) and Yann Martel's Life of Pi (HMH, 2002).-Shelley Sommer, Inly School, Scituate, MA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2015
Vango's search for the truth of his identity continues, leading him on dangerous escapades across World War II-era Europe and New York City. Vango experienced devastating losses in Vango (2014): the abduction of his surrogate mother and the horrific discovery of how his birth parents were killed by a man from the small Italian town where he was raised. But he also formed lasting bonds with men and women of great integrity whose lives became dedicated to restoring human morality as the crushing brutality of the war began. In this continuation, Vango alternates between using those connections to further his own quest for truth and justice for his parents and forfeiting his search in favor of aiding his friends' continued attempts at making the world safer. Wartime atrocities provide a dark backdrop for this story, and Vango's own personal sacrifices and examinations of his desire for vengeance make this novel more pensive than the first installment. Few characters are left unscathed, and while traditional adventure readers may find this disappointing, it will also resonate as honest. And though several intriguing figures from the first novel seem a bit overlooked, this sequel is characterized by the same beautiful writing and intricate plotting that made the first so gripping. Mournful at times but also illuminated with moments of humanity and grace: a worthy sequel. (Historical fiction. 12 & up)

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Starred review from July 1, 2015
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Readers, rejoice! Here at last is the masterful sequel to Vango (2014). Our young hero remains on the run, pursued by dark forces and still ignorant of his true identity. Also being pursued are the notorious arms dealer Voloy Viktor and the pirate Cafarello, who may have killed Vango's parents. Their lives are cleverly entwined with Vango's, as are many others in a cast of characters that runs two full pages. From Ethel B. H. (the Scottish heiress whom Vango loves) and Mademoiselle (his nurse, who has been captured by the Russians) to Dr. Basilio (hopelessly in love with the missing Mademoiselle) and Padre Zefiro (Vango's mentor, leader of the invisible monastery of Arkudah), each of them are beautifully realized. The action is brilliantly operatic as it moves from country to country and from continent to continent. The story runs from 1936 through 1942, which means that it is touched by WWII and the German occupation of France, where meaningful portions of the story are set. But whatever the setting, the story is rich in mysteries, enlivened by surprises, and suffused with suspense. It is so beautifully wrought, it reminds us why we love to read, and there can be no higher praise.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2015
This sequel to Vango: Between Sky and Earth (rev. 9/14) is even more fraught with quick scene-changes, wide-ranging travels, and narrowly missed opportunities than its predecessor. Mysterious loner and orphan Vango continues his quest to discover his origins and at the same time collaborates with his mentor, Padre Zefiro, in pursuing the wicked international arms dealer Voloy Viktor. De Fombelle deploys a full panoply of characters in this expansively plotted, largely plot-driven tale, attending to the complications and outcomes of Andrei, the Russian musician-turned-traitor; of Scottish heiress, aviatrix, and love interest Ethel; of Vango's faithful nurse (and gourmet chef) Mademoiselle; and a host of others. Like pieces in a game of Risk, the cast dashes about the United States, Europe, and Russia in the years between 1936 and 1944 (with a final chapter set just at the end of WWII), often missing one another by mere minutessometimes conveniently, and sometimes not. The story's entertaining improbabilities are rooted in historical events, such as the conflagration of the Hindenburg and the Nazi occupation of Paris. A cinematic, quickly paced, and clever page-turner, with an adventurous, romantic aura. deirdre f. baker

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)