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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Set in a real time period with a touch of magic,that's how I like it.I know most people despise these kind of books,but that book was awesome!But at the end it got weird.But I still love the book.Kenneth Oppel rocks!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My last book of 2014. I had to read this for school. It's quite a nice adventure but historically I would have rather picked up something else maybe.
A train ride across Canada, encountering Sasquatch, joining the circus, being chased by a murderer and his cohorts, what's not to love? This was a fun adventure!
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Classism
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism
Almost like a Harry Potter feel without the wizardry...I love the moments in the book that really work to shine a light on history and Indigenous culture and mistreatment.
The Boundless is the longest train in the world, and it's taking its maiden voyage across Canada with Will's father as the driver. Will and his father weren't always first-class passengers though. Mr Everett was once a breakman, assisting on the railroad and hopping between cars. He and Will lived through a devastating avalanche, one with events that's coming back to haunt Will on The Boundless. To save himself before he or his father gets murdered, Will must join the traveling circus on the train before it's too late.
There's something about train stories I find fascinating and incredible. It's both a stable and moving setting, a character on its own. When you have a train that's 7 miles long like The Boundless, you know suspense is going to be a part of the story. Any time the train is moving, so is the plot. Any time the train stops, an insurmountable build-up of tension occurs, and you can't help but hold your breath in anticipation of what's to come. This book is steeped in Canadian cultural history, so that and the mountains and forests the train zooms past is as much of a character as the train, too.
Will and Maren, a girl in the traveling circus, are caught up in two different plots that have one ultimate goal: to save or kill Will's father. They're busy running from the villains -- disguised breakmen angered by events that happened three years prior in the avalanche -- as well as nabbing a unique, magical canvas for the ringmaster Mr. Dorian (I couldn't help but wonder if there was a bizarre Dorian Gray connection...there isn't). If they can find the canvas, they can save Will's father. If they cannot, the breakmen just might harm all the passengers on The Boundless.
One issue I had with the book is how black-and-white the villains were. They're your standard big bulky bullies with guns and knives and clubs, chasing after children and grunting and refusing to shave or clean up. Gruff, scruffy men. Your typical DANGER, I AM BAD kind of character. I was hoping for something with a bit more depth, so I'm not sure if it's the thriller part of this novel that prevented the full potential, or if it's because this is middle grade. However, there was something about this novel I absolutely adored: Will's love for art. He sketches and paints, he's an artist with ambitions to study art in school and receive an art education. He's a sensitive soul with a curious mind in awe with the world around him. While Mr Everett tries to dampen his son's artistic spirit, saying it's "feminine" and not "masculine" enough of a profession, Will refuses to listen and chases after his dreams. That was absolutely lovely to read.
A good middle grade thriller with a dash of magic and a whole lot of great Canadian history. Definitely pick this up if you need a speedy read in the cooler months. Time will zoom by!
There's something about train stories I find fascinating and incredible. It's both a stable and moving setting, a character on its own. When you have a train that's 7 miles long like The Boundless, you know suspense is going to be a part of the story. Any time the train is moving, so is the plot. Any time the train stops, an insurmountable build-up of tension occurs, and you can't help but hold your breath in anticipation of what's to come. This book is steeped in Canadian cultural history, so that and the mountains and forests the train zooms past is as much of a character as the train, too.
Will and Maren, a girl in the traveling circus, are caught up in two different plots that have one ultimate goal: to save or kill Will's father. They're busy running from the villains -- disguised breakmen angered by events that happened three years prior in the avalanche -- as well as nabbing a unique, magical canvas for the ringmaster Mr. Dorian (I couldn't help but wonder if there was a bizarre Dorian Gray connection...there isn't). If they can find the canvas, they can save Will's father. If they cannot, the breakmen just might harm all the passengers on The Boundless.
One issue I had with the book is how black-and-white the villains were. They're your standard big bulky bullies with guns and knives and clubs, chasing after children and grunting and refusing to shave or clean up. Gruff, scruffy men. Your typical DANGER, I AM BAD kind of character. I was hoping for something with a bit more depth, so I'm not sure if it's the thriller part of this novel that prevented the full potential, or if it's because this is middle grade. However, there was something about this novel I absolutely adored: Will's love for art. He sketches and paints, he's an artist with ambitions to study art in school and receive an art education. He's a sensitive soul with a curious mind in awe with the world around him. While Mr Everett tries to dampen his son's artistic spirit, saying it's "feminine" and not "masculine" enough of a profession, Will refuses to listen and chases after his dreams. That was absolutely lovely to read.
A good middle grade thriller with a dash of magic and a whole lot of great Canadian history. Definitely pick this up if you need a speedy read in the cooler months. Time will zoom by!