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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Plot
Imagine a book so magical and peculiar, that few people can use it. Cryptic phrases appear and disappear like magic, it can be torn and unfolded into large sheets, or folded into a tiny pocket square. Endymion Spring has discovered this amazing paper, and with just a bite of his blood, the paper has become his book. Based on historical fiction, this book starts out with Johannes Gutenberg and Johann Fust, the inventor and financial backer for the printing press, and their two apprentices. Then the story flashes 600 years into the future to our present time where Blake and his little sister Duck have moved to Oxford with their mother while she works on research. They spend long hours in the library, and it is on one of these days when Blake finds a blank book called Endymion Spring. Someone else knows he's found this book, however, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Even if it means destroying other books... or murder.
Review
Better for upper middle school, as the topics of Faust and Gutenberg may not be something the younger ones have heard of or understand. It was interesting, but probably not something that I would reread.
Imagine a book so magical and peculiar, that few people can use it. Cryptic phrases appear and disappear like magic, it can be torn and unfolded into large sheets, or folded into a tiny pocket square. Endymion Spring has discovered this amazing paper, and with just a bite of his blood, the paper has become his book. Based on historical fiction, this book starts out with Johannes Gutenberg and Johann Fust, the inventor and financial backer for the printing press, and their two apprentices. Then the story flashes 600 years into the future to our present time where Blake and his little sister Duck have moved to Oxford with their mother while she works on research. They spend long hours in the library, and it is on one of these days when Blake finds a blank book called Endymion Spring. Someone else knows he's found this book, however, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Even if it means destroying other books... or murder.
Review
Better for upper middle school, as the topics of Faust and Gutenberg may not be something the younger ones have heard of or understand. It was interesting, but probably not something that I would reread.
I love the descriptions of the Oxford Library and the references to Gutenberg. very creative and fun.
LOVE THIS BOOK. Is about a Giant library and a flesh eating book. What more could you ask for.
I picked this book up, because, as a librarian, it is rather a prerequisite to enjoy metafiction, books about books. This has at times betrayed me (ex. The Grand Complication incident), but often works out in my favor, as with Endymion Spring. The weaving of the sections set in the past (1453 with Endymion Spring) and the present (Blake) is done expertly. The book conveys a true love of libraries and of books themselves. It does a marvelous job also of blending fantasy and historical fiction, weaving magic into a tale with a basis in truth. The characters are a bit one dimensional, but still likable (particularly Duck with her yellow raincoat and curiosity). I recommend this book to lovers of metafiction (people who liked Inkheart, I'm talking, or typing, to you).
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Endymion Spring is a book that I bought cheaply because of the cover. Let’s be honest here, that cover is rather interesting with a dragon on it. But other than that I had no idea about this at all when I started it. And overall I was pleasantly surprised.
‘Some books stayed with you long after you read them; they lingered in the unswept corners of your mind.’
This book is a middle grade book that easily sweeps you up in its world with Blake and his younger sister Duck (and no that is not her real name). They are staying in Oxford with their mother while their father remained back home, far away. It is clear from the start that their parents are having troubles in their marriage and the book shows what an effect this can have on children and their relationships with their parents without this book feeling emotional heavy. It is still there though. The undertone. I enjoyed that. It was realistic and the wrap up to this in the book was also realistic. Not completely wrapped up with a nicely little bow and I think that is important. Things like that aren’t easily fixed but some events can give a little nudge in the right direction. Only the insinuation of there possibly being another man was not necessary.
But moving on to the overall plot of this book. Blake finds a blank book in the library one day and this triggers various events, putting his sister and him in the middle of a dangerous plot. The story is divided in to two parts. We follow Blake in our current time in Oxford and Endymion in the 1500s that is for the most part in Mainz. Endymion and Blake’s link is of course the blank book. Certain things and information appear in both timelines that give recognition. The plot was easily to flow and be taken in with. There was also a clear appreciation for books throughout this book that was so easy to love.
Having said that I feel that there was so much potential in this world that wasn’t taken advantage of. The author could have weaved such a creative world around all of this with the book and the dragons but he decided not to take that step. I was disappointed with that. The possibilities simmered but remained out of reach. For the longest time I felt that this was going to be the start to a series but the end made it clear that this book is a standalone. I am sad because I would love to see more books play with this world. There is still so much left to discover. Still I think for a middle grade it is a very enjoyable standalone. And a small disappointment certainly was that there were only dragons mentioned. No physical dragons here. Too bad.
Blake was easy to like. He was no star in school while his sister is very smart. There was clearly some resentment there at the start but as the story progresses their relationship seems to become stronger. And that gave this book such a warm feeling.
‘Some books stayed with you long after you read them; they lingered in the unswept corners of your mind.’
This book is a middle grade book that easily sweeps you up in its world with Blake and his younger sister Duck (and no that is not her real name). They are staying in Oxford with their mother while their father remained back home, far away. It is clear from the start that their parents are having troubles in their marriage and the book shows what an effect this can have on children and their relationships with their parents without this book feeling emotional heavy. It is still there though. The undertone. I enjoyed that. It was realistic and the wrap up to this in the book was also realistic. Not completely wrapped up with a nicely little bow and I think that is important. Things like that aren’t easily fixed but some events can give a little nudge in the right direction. Only the insinuation of there possibly being another man was not necessary.
But moving on to the overall plot of this book. Blake finds a blank book in the library one day and this triggers various events, putting his sister and him in the middle of a dangerous plot. The story is divided in to two parts. We follow Blake in our current time in Oxford and Endymion in the 1500s that is for the most part in Mainz. Endymion and Blake’s link is of course the blank book. Certain things and information appear in both timelines that give recognition. The plot was easily to flow and be taken in with. There was also a clear appreciation for books throughout this book that was so easy to love.
Having said that I feel that there was so much potential in this world that wasn’t taken advantage of. The author could have weaved such a creative world around all of this with the book and the dragons but he decided not to take that step. I was disappointed with that. The possibilities simmered but remained out of reach. For the longest time I felt that this was going to be the start to a series but the end made it clear that this book is a standalone. I am sad because I would love to see more books play with this world. There is still so much left to discover. Still I think for a middle grade it is a very enjoyable standalone. And a small disappointment certainly was that there were only dragons mentioned. No physical dragons here. Too bad.
Blake was easy to like. He was no star in school while his sister is very smart. There was clearly some resentment there at the start but as the story progresses their relationship seems to become stronger. And that gave this book such a warm feeling.
A book I loved when I was 11/12. The same kind of love didn't stick this time around but the mystery and atmosphere of it did awake the same emotions. Would highly recommend to kids out there