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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Complete review at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2011/10/emerald-atlas.html
(An almost 5)
Summary: Kate, Michael and Emma have been alone for 10 years. Kate's last memory of her mother is as the 3 of them were being taken away; her mother told her to take care of her siblings and that has been the center of Kate's existence since then. And she has done the best she could as the three of them have been shuffled from orphanage to orphanage never really finding home and always wondering why their parents abandoned them. But their newest orphanage is different- there are no other kids, it is run by a mysterious man named Dr. Pym, odd things are happening and it's in a town that seems more dead than alive. And the odd becomes odder when they discover a book, place a picture in it, and travel back 15 years in the past to a time where conflict is at the center of the town.
What I Thought: First, I am biased because I listened to the audio book and I love Jim Dale. Anything Jim Dale reads automatically is good. As a friend of mine said on Twitter, I could listen to him read the phone booth. So, back to the book... this book is EPIC! I can't think of much to compare it to, but the adventure is at the same level as Harry Potter, Lightning Thief, Peter & The Starcatchers, Kingdom Keepers, etc. Although a similar adventure-type book, it is a very much unique and stand alone novel.
The character building and development in this novel was phenomenal. I really enjoyed the three siblings, they were all very unique, but complete and likable as well. Kate is the responsible one who follows the rules, tries to keep the peace and overall does what she promised her mother. Michael is the scholar and dreamer. He loves dwarves and constantly is writing in his journal. Emma is our rebel, always picking fights and saying exactly what is on her mind. There were also some supporting characters who really made the book come alive such as Gabriel, a man from a nearby village who Emma befriends, and Robbie the dwarf king, who Michael is in awe of. The only character I never felt connected to was the villain, so that may not be a bad thing.
The plot development was also pretty flawless and in a book that has time travel, magic, changing pasts and three protagonists, it would have been very easy to become lost, but John Stephens mapped out his plot perfectly and it all comes together (including the end which was just enough conclusion to have closure, but just enough cliff hanger that you must read the sequel).
Another plus of this series, is that I believe that it will be loved as a middle grade and a young adult novel. It could easily be classified as both because it is just a pure fantasy adventure that will grip any reader.
Snatch of Text: "The tall man had moved into the glow of a streetlamp and was clearly visible for the first time. To a casual passerby, his appearance would not have inspired much confidence. His overcoat was patched in spots and frayed at the cuffs, he wore an old tweed suit that was missing a button, his white shirt was stained with ink and tobacco, and his tie - this was perhaps the strangest of all - was knotted not once but twice, as if he'd forgotten whether he's tied it and, rather than glancing down to check, had simply tied it again for good measure. His white hair poked out from beneath his hat, and his eyebrows rose from his forehead like great snowy horns, curling over a pair of bent and patched tortoiseshell glasses. All in all, he looked like someone who had gotten dressed int he midst of a whirlwind and, thinking he still looked too presentable, had thrown himself down a flight of stairs." (p. 3-4)
(An almost 5)
Summary: Kate, Michael and Emma have been alone for 10 years. Kate's last memory of her mother is as the 3 of them were being taken away; her mother told her to take care of her siblings and that has been the center of Kate's existence since then. And she has done the best she could as the three of them have been shuffled from orphanage to orphanage never really finding home and always wondering why their parents abandoned them. But their newest orphanage is different- there are no other kids, it is run by a mysterious man named Dr. Pym, odd things are happening and it's in a town that seems more dead than alive. And the odd becomes odder when they discover a book, place a picture in it, and travel back 15 years in the past to a time where conflict is at the center of the town.
What I Thought: First, I am biased because I listened to the audio book and I love Jim Dale. Anything Jim Dale reads automatically is good. As a friend of mine said on Twitter, I could listen to him read the phone booth. So, back to the book... this book is EPIC! I can't think of much to compare it to, but the adventure is at the same level as Harry Potter, Lightning Thief, Peter & The Starcatchers, Kingdom Keepers, etc. Although a similar adventure-type book, it is a very much unique and stand alone novel.
The character building and development in this novel was phenomenal. I really enjoyed the three siblings, they were all very unique, but complete and likable as well. Kate is the responsible one who follows the rules, tries to keep the peace and overall does what she promised her mother. Michael is the scholar and dreamer. He loves dwarves and constantly is writing in his journal. Emma is our rebel, always picking fights and saying exactly what is on her mind. There were also some supporting characters who really made the book come alive such as Gabriel, a man from a nearby village who Emma befriends, and Robbie the dwarf king, who Michael is in awe of. The only character I never felt connected to was the villain, so that may not be a bad thing.
The plot development was also pretty flawless and in a book that has time travel, magic, changing pasts and three protagonists, it would have been very easy to become lost, but John Stephens mapped out his plot perfectly and it all comes together (including the end which was just enough conclusion to have closure, but just enough cliff hanger that you must read the sequel).
Another plus of this series, is that I believe that it will be loved as a middle grade and a young adult novel. It could easily be classified as both because it is just a pure fantasy adventure that will grip any reader.
Snatch of Text: "The tall man had moved into the glow of a streetlamp and was clearly visible for the first time. To a casual passerby, his appearance would not have inspired much confidence. His overcoat was patched in spots and frayed at the cuffs, he wore an old tweed suit that was missing a button, his white shirt was stained with ink and tobacco, and his tie - this was perhaps the strangest of all - was knotted not once but twice, as if he'd forgotten whether he's tied it and, rather than glancing down to check, had simply tied it again for good measure. His white hair poked out from beneath his hat, and his eyebrows rose from his forehead like great snowy horns, curling over a pair of bent and patched tortoiseshell glasses. All in all, he looked like someone who had gotten dressed int he midst of a whirlwind and, thinking he still looked too presentable, had thrown himself down a flight of stairs." (p. 3-4)
I really liked this. An adventure story for pre-teens that isn't trite or hokey or filled with amazingly self-assured and independent children and no adults.
The adults and the children worked together to solve the mystery and the problem, although it was mostly the children (it is YA of course) who moved the story along and came up with solutions. They were surrounded by strong adults and there were no 'saviors' or perfectness. I'm eager for the second book
The adults and the children worked together to solve the mystery and the problem, although it was mostly the children (it is YA of course) who moved the story along and came up with solutions. They were surrounded by strong adults and there were no 'saviors' or perfectness. I'm eager for the second book
This book was just largely confusing (too much time travel) and too lengthy for its target audience. The extent of magic in it wasn't all that impressive (but maybe my standards for magic are a tad bit high), and even the characters didn't seem all too relatable. In truth, the only thing I'm thrilled about is that I'm done with it!
If this book gets enough publicity it might be the new harry Potter. It's a good magical world and you follow three kids, siblings actually, all different ages (which I think is a very clever idea - bigger audience) and you get sucked in by all the different characters and by what they're not saying.
Give it a shot, you might like it.
Give it a shot, you might like it.
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Final Verdict: 3.75 out of 4.0
YTD: 24
Plot/Story:
3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.
The Emerald Atlas is Book One in a new and exciting series by John Stephens, called The Books of Beginning. This is where Lord of the Rings meets Harry Potter – a realistic everyday world, where orphaned siblings are suddenly thrust into a coexisting world of magic and magical beings. Kate, Michael, and Emma are the “P” children. They were swept away from their parents by a mysterious man when young and, for ten years, spent their lives being shuffled around from orphanage to orphanage. When the trio is kicked out of the “Edgar Allan Poe Home for Hopeless and Incorrigible Orphans,” they are sent to Cambridge Falls, a village whose sole orphanage is run by the strange and allusive Dr. Stanislaus Pym, his housekeeper Miss Sallow, and the servant-of-sorts, Abraham. Immediately, the children are off exploring the expansive home and their curiosity soon leads to trouble – the kids discover a large green book with mysterious powers, which has them whipping back and forth through time, eventually into the hands of the evil Countess, whom they – with the help of a magician, dwarves, giants, and townsfolk, must defeat, or be doomed forever. Along the way, the kids learn more about each other, themselves, their long lost parents, and their own important, cosmic destinies.
Read the full review at www.roofbeamreader.net
Final Verdict: 3.75 out of 4.0
YTD: 24
Plot/Story:
3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.
The Emerald Atlas is Book One in a new and exciting series by John Stephens, called The Books of Beginning. This is where Lord of the Rings meets Harry Potter – a realistic everyday world, where orphaned siblings are suddenly thrust into a coexisting world of magic and magical beings. Kate, Michael, and Emma are the “P” children. They were swept away from their parents by a mysterious man when young and, for ten years, spent their lives being shuffled around from orphanage to orphanage. When the trio is kicked out of the “Edgar Allan Poe Home for Hopeless and Incorrigible Orphans,” they are sent to Cambridge Falls, a village whose sole orphanage is run by the strange and allusive Dr. Stanislaus Pym, his housekeeper Miss Sallow, and the servant-of-sorts, Abraham. Immediately, the children are off exploring the expansive home and their curiosity soon leads to trouble – the kids discover a large green book with mysterious powers, which has them whipping back and forth through time, eventually into the hands of the evil Countess, whom they – with the help of a magician, dwarves, giants, and townsfolk, must defeat, or be doomed forever. Along the way, the kids learn more about each other, themselves, their long lost parents, and their own important, cosmic destinies.
Read the full review at www.roofbeamreader.net
I think I need to reread this book at a later date! I was too distracted by some other lovely books I had from the library to give it a fair shot. But who knows?
It is an interesting story with nice in laid details for young adult fantasy/fiction but tries to hard sometimes.
I loved this book so much! It did remind me of Harry Potter. I have one problem though: Emma is the most stupid girl I have ever read! She would rather save some guy who she hardly even knows than save a hundred kids... and her brother and sister!
Other than that I thought the book was very good.
Favorite Character: Kate
Other than that I thought the book was very good.
Favorite Character: Kate