Polly and Buster: The Mystery of the Magic Stones

Polly and Buster #2

by Sally Rippin

What would you do if everyone thought your best friend was dangerous?   Polly the witch and Buster the monster shouldn’t be friends. And they definitely shouldn’t be on the run from almost everyone in town. But when Polly is called to the Hollow Valley Mines – the forbidden, haunted mines – by her magic stones, these two best friends have a big decision to make. Do they stay hidden and safe, or risk it all to save the day? The magical sequel to The Wayward Witch and the Feelings Monster. Written and illustrated by Sally Rippin.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Magic, Fiction, Friendship, Witches

296 pages, Hardcover

Published May 23, 2018

About the author

Sally Rippin was born in Darwin, but grew up mainly in South-East Asia. As a young adult she lived in China for three years, studying traditional Chinese painting. Sally has over seventy books published, many of them award-winning, including two novels for young adults. Her most recent work includes the highly acclaimed children’s novel Angel Creek and the popular Billie B Brown books, which became the highest selling series for 6-8 year olds in Australia within the first year of their release. Sally is Australia’s highest selling female author and her Billie B Brown books have sold more than 4.5 million copies in 14 languages.
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Sally is a popular presenter in schools and at literary festivals both in Australia and overseas and has a regular program on 3RRR interviewing children’s authors and industry professionals. She is a passionate ambassador for the 100 Story Building creative writing centre for marginalized youth and has mentored many emerging writers and illustrators. Recently, she and her partner co-founded Story Peddlers, a hand-made performance tent that packs away into a custom-built bike, with the aim of bringing back the art of the roving storyteller.

Reviews

[Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute follow-up to book one; it has a lot of action and magic in it, which my son greatly appreciated. He is a big fan of this series and wants to continue!

[L-J Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Polly & Buster literally blew me away. Finding junior middle fiction with such a socially complex plot and character development is rare. Sally had a lot of expectations to live up to in book 2 and I can confidently assure you that she's smashed all of them!

The story of Polly & Buster and their forbidden friendship continues from where it left off in book 1. In book 2, The Mystery of the Magic Stones, there is a lot more action; the plot thickens with Miss Spinnaker's revelation; there is growing unhappiness in the monster community with regards to the way they are mistreated in society; and the mystery of why Polly feels a calling from her magic stones to the dangerous mines. Will Polly be able to overcome her learning difficulties and stand strong in the face of multiple challenges? Will Buster remain by his friend's side even when she is being horrible? All is revealed in book 2. The only remaining question is when can we read book 3? I'm desperate to know what happens next in the lives of these beautiful characters.

This is an exceptional series where Sally has managed the difficult feat of writing about a subject as complex as racism and has made it accessible to young middle fiction readers. Sally also includes hefty subjects such as learning difficulties; being yourself; and standing up for your beliefs. Yet she does it with such a magical touch that it never feels forced or overwhelming. The first Polly & Buster was one of my top five books of 2017. It seems book 2 will be similarly placed in 2018.

L-J
Three Four Knock on the Door
Independent Children's Bookshop

[Polarka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Popravde, nerozumiem tejto sérii. Svet Polly a Bustera je rozdelený na čarodejnice a príšery. Čarodejnice vyzerajú ako ľudia, len vedia čarovať. Príšery sú chlpaté tvory... ehm, rozprávajúce opice? Sú popisované ako jednoduché stvorenia - polodivosi. Samotný Buster je síce rovnako starý ako Polly (9 rokov), ale sám sa chová a ostatní s ním komunikujú ako so škôlkarom.

Pointa príbehu má byť v tom, že nezáleží na výzore, čarodejnice aj príšery si zaslúžia rovnaký prístup, rešpekt, možnosti, život... Problém je, že na príšery nepozerá zvrchu len záporáčka v príbehu, ale aj samotná autorka a teda aj čitatelia. Dom Bustera je ošarpaný, zatiaľ čo Polly má dom ako zo škatuľky. Chatrče uprostred lesa, ktoré si príšery vybudovali, sú opísané ako prekvapivo vynaliezavé a zároveň smiešne amatérske. K nepríjemnému pocitu z knihy mi nepomáhalo ani to, že zatiaľ čo drvivá väčšina čarodejníc sú ženy, tých pár príšer, ktoré sa dostanú v príbehu k slovu sú skôr muži.

Priznám sa, že nedokážem posúdiť, nakoľko je toto všetko moja potreba príbehov o skutočnej rovnocennosti, a nakoľko len moje nepochopenie zámerov autorky. Tiež som náhodou v poslednej dobe čítala niekoľko kníh, ktoré o tolerancii druhov hovoria (ehm... samé scifičká). Možno preto ma to tak vytáča. Je podľa mňa jasné, že príšery nie sú ľudia. Čarodejnice sú ľudia. Ale čo manželstvo príšery a čarodejnice? Je vôbec takáto mentálna gymnastika na mieste, ak sa jedná o dobrodružnú knihu pre deti? Veď nakoniec, je to o priateľstve, nie?

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the extra depth of this story. As a 9-year-old this made it feel special and connected me more with the characters and the plot. The ending is (edge of your seat) amazing. I couldn't put it down.

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polly is a witch, and Buster is a monster who lives next door. They are best friends. In their last adventure, Polly casts a spell during a school outing to protect Buster from being bullied. She ended up with a hurt hand and frightening consequences.

This book begins with Polly and Buster sitting at Miss Spinnaker's kitchen table. The teacher is helping them get away from the 'Witches against Monsters' group that has started up in Blackmoon Coven. It's led by Mrs Halloway, who is determined to tell everyone how dangerous monsters are, especially Buster.

Polly misses her father who died in a mining accident five years earlier. He left her three magical stones. Miss Spinnaker activated them. Polly knows now she is a Silver witch and she feels the stones are wanting her to travel to the mines, where her father was killed.

Polly and Buster travel together on an old broom, even though Buster gets air sick, to the mines to find out what mystery they will reveal. They both discover that they can be brave. Ghosts are in the mines, they are the ghosts of the miners who died during the accident. Polly finds her father and learns what she must do to save the ghosts and all of the witches and monsters.

Sally Rippin writes lovely stories for kids. I've read many of them. This is another I will treasure.

[whatbooknext · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hiding at Polly’s teacher’s house, Polly and Buster are frightened and confused. They have fled from the witches in town who have been led by Mrs Halloway. She is head of the town’s Witch Committee, mother of Malorie (Polly’s ex-friend), and leader of a group called Witches against Monsters. She is after Polly’s best friend and monster – Buster.

Polly’s teacher (Miss Spinnaker) flies them to a hiding place but Polly quickly realises she is putting more people at risk by staying there. She decides to follow the dreams she has been having as the magic stones her father left her, glow in her hand.

Although frightened and prone to terrible air sickness, Polly’s trusted and beloved monster friend goes with her on a borrowed broomstick. What they find at the Hollow Valley Mines, makes her heart sink, then soar, then pound very fast as she uses her new found skills as a rare and powerful Silver witch.

Just as they believe they have prevented more hate and anger settling on their town, danger swoops in on them and Buster is in terrible danger. Only the truth can save them, and it suddenly comes from someone they’d never expect.

[Jovi Ene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Povestea micuței vrăjitoare Polly și a monstrulețului Buster nu mai surprinde ca în primul volum, așa că accentul se mută în ”Misterul pietrelor magice” de pe relația lor de prietenie (mai puternică, totuși, decât oricând) pe câteva aventuri specifice acelei lumi.
Conduși de pietrele magice, ei trebuie să supraviețuiască discriminării profunde pe care o promovează vrăjitoarele rele împotriva monștrilor, în timp ce se întâlnesc cu câteva fantome ale trecutului, blocate în prezent. Pentru copiii de peste 7 ani ;)

[Judy Wollin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polly is a witch, and her best friend Buster is a monster, but everyone knows witches and monsters can’t be friends. But Polly and Buster are friends. Friends on the run with nasty witches searching for them. Mrs Holloway is determined to destroy Polly and Buster.
Who will help them? Why are the stones in Polly’s pockets glowing warm and pulling her towards the mine where her father was killed?
I enjoyed the adventure the main characters must undertake to find safety.
Recommended for middle grade.

[Julie Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book inside and out. This series is special in every way.
The language that Sally uses, the feelings and emotions between Polly and Buster are just divine. There are some lovely messages within these pages that kids will relate to - 'Friends stand up for friends, no matter what'(p4). The overall theme is that just because we are different doesn't mean that we can't all live together and get along. Monsters and Witches just want to get along.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with the first book in the series, Polly and Buster's friendship is the sweetest part of these stories. Over and over they've demonstrated the importance of standing by your friend, having their back. Although it took Polly a little while to determine that being with the most popular girl in school wasn't as important as her true friend, she does finally come to that realization and is even more determined to not let anything happen to Buster and that it's her turn to let everyone know just how kind and caring he is. Intermingled in the plot there is an emphasis on telling the truth. And when an unexpected ally does come forward telling the truth about how the misunderstanding between monsters and witches took place, everyone finally has a chance to see that their bias about monsters wasn't founded. That although Buster is a monster, they have nothing to fear from monsters. If anything Buster is courageous and actually a hero. I very much enjoyed reading The Mystery of the Magic Stones with its positive and uplifting messaging.
*Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

[Quinn Mis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book because it has a lot of problems and I always laugh, and all the problems have solutions. There are pictures on some pages to show you what the characters look like, and a few pages don't - which is good because it lets you predict what the characters look like and then you can see on the next page what the characters actually look like, and if your prediction was close or correct.

Quinn - 8 years old

[Amy Minner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished reading this book to my kids (6 and 8 years old). My 6 year old boy really hangs on my every word as I'm reading - he eats it right up! It seems a little simple for my 8 year old daughter, but she does enjoy it and always looks forward to when I read "Polly and Buster"!

[Rachel Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first book better, but this was a wonderful sequel. What an emotional ending and we're all invested to see how it ends in the next book! We love the characters Sally Rippin has created for us!

[Kaycie Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this series with my middle child who is 8. He has loved these books and always begs for “one more chapter”! I love how this series teaches about friendship and how to stand up for what’s right…even when it’s hard. 🖤 Definitely recommend!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading Book 2 in this series with my daughter. I love the complex themes of discrimination interwoven into a magical world of witches and monsters. My daughter can’t wait to read book 3!

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story. Creative fonts and artistic delivery.

[Rebecca Oplinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from a 6 year old: I love Polly & Buster and why I gave it 4 stars is because I don't like when Mallory did that spell to smash Polly & Buster. 😍🤩😊

[Ashley Newberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it with my 4 and 8 year olds and they loved it!

[Krystle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this with my daughter. We really enjoyed the first book in the series but this one was quite slow in parts. I'm not sure we will read the 3rd.

[Michelle Deckard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing trilogy of books. Think Harry Potter meets Where the Wild Things Are.

[Beatrice . · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copiii vor adora această serie.❤

[‎ ‎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5

[Madison Srun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate all my books 5 stars because they are all great! This book was as good as the first Polly And Buster book. I can’t wait to read the third book.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable little series about an unlikely friendship. Great conversation starters with my 7 year old!

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este o carte frumoasă. Mie mi-a plăcut. V-o recomand s-o citiți.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

well, i liked this book because it is magical and twisty.

[Allison Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute!! I thought it was better than the first, bit the first laid important groundwork.

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with Ella. First one was better, but this one was good, too. Just ebbed and flowed and didn’t always keep her attention.

[Brittany Whitfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall review -
The saga continues in this one. We really liked book 2 in the trilogy. Lots of adventure and intrigue!

Overall rating - 4⭐️

[Ms Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look, I only half listened to this but the same themes are evident here- being a good friend, being true to yourself, accepting people as they are and not worrying about labels. All good stuff and Polly and Buster are just charming. Great for primary kids navigating friendships.