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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
mysterious
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Ate it up when i was a child and think it is still pretty nice. Now I think the foreshadowing is too much but as i already said, as a child I ate it up. As a child i would have given 5 stars. But there are flaws that I can recognize as an adult now. But still nice for kids around age 10.
This book was written for kids probably 10 yrs old, so some of the puzzles or “plot twists” in it are very simple, and the reveals feel a bit obvious for me, an adult. Overall a decent book for elementary kids!
However, my one major critique: if the Red King came from Africa, more of his descendants should have been black or mixed race; most of the kids described are white
However, my one major critique: if the Red King came from Africa, more of his descendants should have been black or mixed race; most of the kids described are white
In my effort to revisit books from my childhood, I picked this up and had a fun handful of hours reading it again. Between the easy-to-understand sentences, simple plot, and huge text, this book is obviously meant for very young children. Taking it for what it is, I enjoyed it a lot. I'm shocked at how many details I remembered (a good sign, since they have stuck with me for over a decade). It's fantastical and charming and is full of unique details that are fun to read. With very little questionable content nor complicated words, I think it's a great choice for an early reader.
Objectively, though, there is very little depth here. While intense things are happening in the plot, the author relieves any tension almost immediately, and things all work out because they do. Most things are told, not shown, so there is no need for the reader to figure out much for themselves. I wish more of the details were not skipped - for example, when three of the students go to save another, what happens? We only see them return in victory and the offending party going away defeated. Again, since it comes across as a very intentional choice, I don't mind it, but I would have loved more character and plot depth. I look forward to finishing the series, which I never did as a kid.
Content warning for brief fatphobia, mind control, kidnapping, death, and bullying.
Objectively, though, there is very little depth here. While intense things are happening in the plot, the author relieves any tension almost immediately, and things all work out because they do. Most things are told, not shown, so there is no need for the reader to figure out much for themselves. I wish more of the details were not skipped - for example, when three of the students go to save another, what happens? We only see them return in victory and the offending party going away defeated. Again, since it comes across as a very intentional choice, I don't mind it, but I would have loved more character and plot depth. I look forward to finishing the series, which I never did as a kid.
Content warning for brief fatphobia, mind control, kidnapping, death, and bullying.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
Re-reading an old favourite!
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No