The Familiars

The Familiars by Adam J. Epstein

When a witch or wizard turns eleven, it is time for them to choose a “familiar”. In the old days, there was not much choice in magical animals and the young spell caster had to search on his own in the wilds, but now there is a great variety of familiars to be found at the local magic shop. The shopkeeper can show you pocket dragons, chameleon crabs and even riding lizards; however, the magical inclination of a wizard must help determine the appropriate animal companion.

Fortunately, Pharkum’s three T’s of animal companionship will assist a young witch in choosing a familiar. The three T’s represent temperament, toughness and talent. The familiar and its “loyal” should share at least three of them. More importantly, a deep magical bond is required for the two to work in harmony. Without it, it doesn’t matter how high a skill level a familiar displays, the loyal will be unable to harness it.

On young Jack’s eleventh birthday, his Master Wizard accompanies him to the magic shop to pick out a familiar. Jack quickly becomes attached to a cat with green eyes the same shade as his own. The shopkeeper tells Jack that the cat is a telekinetic bicolor from Maidenmere. The cat has the power to move something by thinking about it. The cat is evidently very powerful as it refuses to display its magical talents – it refuses to show off. Jack is smitten from the first. Their connection seems magical. Promising, except…

The cat, whose name is Aldwyn and not Mittens, thank you very much, is an ordinary, orphaned, young alley cat on the run from a bounty hunter. Aldwyn had escaped into the familiar shop to hide among the magical animals on display. It was a life or death decision that worked in his favor. As Jack’s familiar, Aldwyn will now have a home and a bed to sleep on. He will have three meals a day and snacks as well. And he will have a loyal who will love and protect and depend upon him. If Aldwyn can keep up the charade that he has special powers.

The Familiars is on the 2013 Bluestem Nominee list. It is the first of a trilogy. It is also scheduled to be a 3D motion picture to be released sometime after 2015. I am sure that it will be a hit with many 3^rd to 5^th graders. It has many of the characteristics of modern day magic fantasies. Aldwyn the Cat, think Harry Potter, an ordinary orphan without special ability is called upon to save the day and manages to conquer evil while discovering his hidden talents. Skylar the Bluejay is the irritating know-it-all who excels at knowledge – Hermione. And of course, we must have Ron as bumbling comic relief in the form of Gilbert the Tree Frog (chocolate frog anyone?).

The Familiars is unfortunately all too familiar. There is not too much original or unique here beyond putting the focus and heroism in the hands of the animals. I found that it took forever to sludge through the 360 pages. It seemed like an overly long Saturday morning cartoon and less like a work of literature. There were interesting ideas and stories throughout, but they were asides and not truly important to the overarching theme. I was more interested in the asides. Finally, there were many images that I deemed too graphic or morbid for the intended audience. For example, “a human hand dangling by a strand of dirty yarn from a branch. An army of ants poured out from a hole between two fingers carrying their eggs.” I will not be recommending this book… but will be thrilled for any child that discovers a love of reading through it.