Sky Carver

"In Sky Carver, Dean Whitlock gives us a unique world of his own creation – a true world, deeply perceived and fully realized. Magic runs throughout the adventure, along with suspense, terror, and poignancy. And one of fantasy's most marvelous birds (of sorts).
    "As Carver, the young artist, begins his journey upriver, we can only wish for other journeys to come."
                –Lloyd Alexander

"A flowing quest explores industrialization and personal magical talents through three likable characters . . . A nice blend of introspection and action."
  –Kirkus Reviews 

"Mixing technology and magic in an unconventional way, the story is richly inventive...many readers will [be] swept along the broad stream of this fast-paced fantasy adventure."
  –Booklist

"Whitlock has created fully realized characters...Carver's struggle to find his identity will ring true with adolescent readers."
  –School Library Journal

"The vivid characters in this novel bring it to life, giving it great depth and making it hard for the reader to put it down. Raven, with her curses and fighting spirit, and Carver with his gentle determination, carry the story forward to a dramatic climax and a most unexpected conclusion."
  –Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Review

"Whitlock's prose is smooth and lively, and his characters are well defined."
  –Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"SKY CARVER begins slowly and quickly gathers momentum, building up to a speed so fast you don't want to stop reading. Character development, suspense, action, and story line with writing so descriptive you can see what's happening, all meld together to create a riveting tale of budding friendship, nascent and accomplished magic, and good vs evil. I highly recommend it, not only for young adults, but for grownups as well. Fun, entertaining, imaginative, and action packed."
    -A. Simran via Amazon

"This is a fantasty/adventure lover's book. The well-written and unpredictable complex plot make this book hard to put down!"
  –Darla
Best Books for Young Adults Reviewers Circle
Flint Public Library
Flint, MI

"This coming of age fantasy of bird magic, paint, woodcraft and sorcery in a world where one's name prescribes one's life was an intriguing read with unexpected twists and powerful characters. An excellent new book for middle graders."
  –Susan Voake, Librarian 
   Marion Cross School 
  Norwich, VT

[As in his short story "Changeling",] Whitlock shows the same ability to present characters who are simple rather than extravagant, but who possess the quirks and insecurities that make real human beings so compelling. He shows this wisdom and restraint at the same time he gradually elevates the level of the fantastic in this novel for young readers. . . . Thomas is the focus, even if Raven has all the flash. His quest to find himself, and by extension to find his parents, and the complicated feelings surrounding this journey, even more than the world, the magic, and the adventures, make Sky Carver a memorable book that should appeal widely to younger readers.
    -Panguitch, on epinion.com