“So here’s your chance to appreciate Ellen Booraem and her funny, heartfelt examinations of life’s Big Questions. You won’t regret it.”
—An appreciation by Vicky Smith, children’s and teen editor, Kirkus Reviews
Recognition
Maine Literary Awards: winner 2022, finalist, 2009
Best of the Year lists: The Washington Post (2011), Kirkus Reviews (2008, 2011, 2013, 2021), Publishers Weekly (2011), Voya (2008)
Scholastic Book Fair selection, 2011, 2013
ALA/YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2010
Southern Maine Library District 2009 Cream of the Crop
Junior Library Guild selection, 2008
The Horn Book, Talented Newcomers of 2008
Indiebound Kids Next, Winter 2008-9
Starred Reviews
★ Kirkus Reviews, RIVER MAGIC, February 15, 2021
The magic builds slowly at first, but the pace quickens with twists and turns galore. Enemies become friends, and new friends are recognized, especially previously despised classmate Hillyard. There is greed, danger, breathtaking adventure, and even humor and joy. Donna narrates her tale, voicing her feelings, reactions, and confusion. Readers will recognize her as a kindred spirit and root for her all the way to a satisfying conclusion.
★ Kirkus Reviews, TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD, May 15, 2013
Booraem applies a light touch to her heavy subject… But she doesn’t avoid staring death in the face, saddling her unlikely hero with an agonizing decision that, though framed in fantasy, is all too gut-punchingly real. Like Conor, readers will emerge from this adventure a little bit better equipped for heroism.
★ School Library Journal, SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS, January 2011
Mellie, matter-of-fact and slightly bad-tempered, narrates this hilarious tale of these enchanting, annoying little beings who sprinkle their speech with Latin and French phrases and are obsessed with appearances and enamored with high drama and style. Every character, human or Parvi, is drawn with singular care and humor, from the disgracefully clumsy Inepta to Mellie’s patient, maybe-new-friend Timmo. Spells turn people into drooling frogs and irascible bonging clocks, the truth-seeing magic of the moonstone turns out to be something of a liability, and Mellie “grows into her grandeur” just in time to save the Parvi as well as her entire family. Readers will share the girl’s irritated fondness for the ridiculous and lovable Parvi. A great choice for all who favor funny and intelligent fantasies with quirky characters and an unpredictable, fast-moving plot. — Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
★ Publishers Weekly, SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS, November 29, 2010
In a fairy story that’s wistful, humorous, and clever, Booraem (The Unnameables) suggests that the real world--with its disappointments and failings—is still better than living with illusions… There are serious threads about bullying and alcoholism, and several flawed characters; as in life, many problems are never fully solved, just exchanged for new ones. The theme of making progress, rather than ignoring problems, is a strong one, gently presented.
★ Kirkus Reviews, SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS, November 24, 2010
Booraem’s debut, The Unnameables (2008), presented readers with an utterly original American fantasy, and this follow-up, though unrelated except in its examination of creativity, is equally fresh and distinctive. Frequently hysterical dialogue, a hugely sympathetic protagonist and a baroque concatenation of magics and counter-magics will keep readers glued to this smart, earthy and thoughtful tale. (Fantasy. 10-14)
★ Kliatt, THE UNNAMEABLES, November 2008
Booraem's rich, intricate narrative is laced with enough humor to leaven the story, but it still takes its theme seriously. This is a fantasy novel that stands above the rest; it is fresh, original, and appealing and the kind of book you want to read again, just to spend more time with the characters.—Donna Scanlon, librarian, Lancaster County, Marietta, PA
★ Kirkus Reviews, THE UNNAMEABLES, September 1, 2008
Booraem’s debut is an ever-surprising, genre-defying page-turner. Realistic characters deal with philosophical problems in vivid, flowing prose that is evocative and often funny. A sort of combination of witch-trial-era Salem and The Giver, this book offers a treat with nearly every page turn. (Fantasy. 10-14)
Selected Reviews
The Portland Press Herald, February 13, 2022
“Booraem writes with a strong sense of humor and whimsey. The humor is dry Maine humor. “I do not need gold. I do not need dragons,” are the mage’s parting words. “I will work at L. L. Bean.” And the whimsey is fresh and never fey. There are pixies, admittedly, and they live in fairy houses; but they are raggedy pixies, covered in tattoos. Their idea of mischief is to turn ordinary chickens into polka dotted or paisley-colored ones.”—Amy MacDonald
Publishers Weekly, April 2021 (RIVER MAGIC)
“A dense emotional core, resonant voice, and themes of grief, shifting friendships, and family enliven Booraem’s contemporary fantasy, reminding readers that ‘hope is everywhere.’”
The Horn Book, March/April 2021 (RIVER MAGIC)
“The mix of the fantastical and the practical gives this light, quickly paced fantasy its vitality; dragon flights and magical gold coexist with tips from ‘Annabelle’s Guide to Everyday Household Mechanics.’ On the serious side is a family on the verge of collapse and a girl who feels she’s lost her best friend; on the playful, the colorful magic of pixies and the suspenseful action of a hand-to-hand fight with a baleful thunder mage.”—Deirdre F. Baker
School Library Journal, April 1, 2021 (RIVER MAGIC)
“Another engaging fantasy set in the real world from Booraem. . . . Recommended for fans of Katherine Applegate’s Crenshaw who don’t mind a bit of off-the-wall chicken magic.”–Hillary Perelyubskiy
The Maine Edge, April 27, 2021 (RIVER MAGIC)
“RIVER MAGIC is a lovely read, a work that takes advantage of its fantastical trappings to tell a very real story about what it means to be a kid. Problems big and small alike loom so much larger when we’re younger; this story shows kids that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and that their feelings are valid, all whileoffering up the highs and lows that come with magical encounters.”—Allen Adams
Publishers Weekly, July 1, 2013 (TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD)
"As Booraem did in Small Persons with Wings, she uses mythological creatures (in this case, banshees) to tell a story that packs an emotional wallop. . . . In an affecting, funny, and provocative story, Booraem balances the seriousness of a novel about death spirits and finding courage with Ashling's comical interactions with the modern world."
The Washington Post, “A Round-up of Five Novels for Children,” March 18, 2011 (SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS)
“Familiar tropes get fresh, funny play in this sprightly tale.”—Mary Quattlebaum
School Library Journal, A Fuse #8 Production, February 22, 2011 (SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS)
“Booraem …gives us a kind of original fairy novel. It’s a coming of age story set against a backdrop of irritable relatives, giant drooling frogs, creepy mannequins, and bratty older sisters. Best of all, it’s a fun story with a large heroine who doesn’t need to slip into a size 2 to prove her worth. Think of it as a Judy Blume novel for the fantasy-loving set.”—Betsy Bird
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, January 2009 (THE UNNAMEABLES)
“Island, a creepy and restrictive world masquerading as a utopia, is as memorable as the intricately developed inhabitants. The pace is languorous and measured, mirroring the easy tranquility of life on Island before the satyr and the ways in which changes ripple slowly into permanence with folks as set in their ways as these. Two maps offer additional insight into the layout of Island, though the descriptions of the setting are so evocative that the maps are decorative enhancements rather than necessary guides.”
The Horn Book, July/August 2013 (TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD)
Complex characters, a moving story line centered on family and courage, and plenty of exciting moments make this an appealing read for those fans of tales mixing traditional folklore with contemporary life.— Monica Edinger
Booklist, October 1, 2013 (TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD)
"Booraem manages to pack a lot of energy into this very modern story about ancient traditions surrounding death. Conor faces challenges by drawing on the strength of his family ties and a little help from his best friend Javier, who helps him solve ancient riddles using twenty-first-century techniques. As Conor learns what he is made of, readers will relish the quirky cast of supporting characters from the underworld, and they may well realize that there's more to life after death than they might have first imagined." —Erin Downey Howerton
Common Sense Media, July 13, 2017 (TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD)
“Booraem borrows elements from several ancient religions to stitch together a unique view of death and reincarnation. It's fascinating to contemplate and an interesting jumping-off point for further exploration of how different cultures view the end -- and beginning -- of life.”—Darienne Stewart
School Library Journal, December 2013 (TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD)
"At times wildly funny, and at times creepily spooky, TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD merges a realistic setting with fantasy, seamlessly creating a touching story full of suspense, action, and excitement." —Sharon McKellar
YA Books Central, August 8, 2013 (TEXTING THE UNDERWORLD)
“I highly recommend Texting the Underworld and it will definitely be finding a spotlighted section in my classroom library. Fans of the Percy Jackson Series and The Night Tourist will really enjoy this new fresh look at the Underworld.”
Bangor Daily News, February 20, 2011 (SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS)
“In ‘Small Persons with Wings,’ Booraem plays reality against artificiality, and makes readers decide which is truly more important. The novel manages to be enjoyable and thought-provoking at the same time. That’s a difficult balancing act, and Booraem pulls it off adroitly.”—Dale McGarrigle
Booklist, January 2011 (SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS)
”Together with her parents and Timmo, the nosy neighbor kid, Mellie’s odd predicament is to return to the world of the fanciful by facing what is real. This clever tale also wraps a story of acceptance, both of self and family, in the fairy dressing.” — Heather Booth
The Horn Book, March/April 2011 (SMALL PERSONS WITH WINGS)
”Booraem here shifts from dystopian (The Unnameables, rev. 1/09) to more lighthearted fantasy, reminiscent of Diana Wynne Jones in the inventiveness of the author’s imagination and her ability to sustain an increasingly wilder succession of events. …Social outcast Mellie (overweight and hyper-intelligent) has a wry, snarky voice that will draw readers in and keep them invested in the frenetically escalating events. …Readers will pull for Mellie to prevail—not only in her efforts to help the Parvi but also in her maturing relationships with herself (as she “grows into her grandeur”), her family, her new friend Timmo, and her peers.” — Martha V. Parravano
The Horn Book, January/February 2009 (THE UNNAMEABLES)
.... Booraem’s Goatman is an endearing, anarchic figure, a gust of creative wildness in a controlled, Puritan-esque community that distances itself from the modern, gas- and electric-powered Mainland. An optimistic story about the importance of art (and its marketability), this also plays lightly with questions of language and naming; friendship and integrity, too, are notable themes. The novel’s humor and amiable tone make it a highly accessible but thought-provoking read.—Deirdre F. Baker