Pathfinder by Angie Sage - ADVISABLE

Pathfinder by Sage, Angie.  (TodHunter Moon Book One) .  480 pages.  Katherine Tegen Books (Harper Collins), 2014.  $17.99. 

Language: G.  Violence: PG (peril).  Sexual Content: G. 

Alice TodHunter Moon (Tod) is finally twelve-years-old, which means that she gets to be a part of the Circle and learn the mysteries of her people the Pathfinders.  Her father, Dan Moon is the leader and he tells the Circle about how the Pathfinders once traveled among the stars and that some of them may even have gills!  The next day, her dad goes missing.  Soon after evil creatures called garmin try to kidnap Tod.  She escapes to her friend Oskar’s house.  Oskar’s sister Ferdie was kidnapped a month ago and Tod is sure it was the garmin.  Tod and Oskar decide to rescue Ferdie and start off on an adventure.  During which they meet an ExtraOrdinary Wizard named Septimus Heape, a snooty ice princess named Driffa, and visit new lands.  They discover there is an evil plot by a Darke Sorcerer Oraton-Marr to steal a precious egg.  Tod must use her pathfinder skills to help them navigate the Ancient Ways and save not only the egg, but her people. 

Fans of Septimus Heap will be happy to see him again and he plays an important role, but Tod is definitely the main character.  Readers will enjoy Tod’s journey to find her friends and family, but also discover herself and her own special heritage of both Pathfinder and Magyk.  Pathfinder is a promising new series (with old friends) and is sure to find fans. 

EL, MS - ADVISABLE.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.