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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Interesting, a good amount of dark, and a good amount of complexity. My only issue was that I listened to it, and Jim Dale drives me nuts.
The children don't remember much about their parents. All they know is that they were snatched away in the middle of the night. Ten years have since passed and all the children have done is be moved from one children's home to another. When they arrive at Cambridge Falls, they realise that this children's home is extremely different and something strange is definitely going on.
The children discover an old leather book which holds the key to an ancient magical prophecy that takes them on an unpredictable adventure. The lives of the residents of Cambridge Falls are at risk, as well as the town itself. Can the children change the course of history?
This is one of those books that is going to become a rather popular series which I can envisage being made into a series of films. It is an epic fantasy that leads you through a maze of difficulties to reach the end. As you reach the last page, you are left knowing that there is so much more waiting to come. If you enjoy Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, then this series will appeal to you. This is a hefty read with quite a dark atmosphere to it, including some rather gory scenes.
The book reminded me of a ride on a water chute, where you leisurely wind through the valleys, slowly making your way upwards without realising it, taking in the new world that is being set up surrounding you, to reach the top about three quarters of the way through the book and come down in an almighty whoosh, leaving you exhilarated and exhausted by the end and ready to take the journey all over again.
The three main children of the book were very entertaining and I loved to see the typical sibling rivalry and banter occurring between Emma and Michael. I felt like I was watching my own children and wanted to reprimand them and give them time out. Dr Pym is an interesting character, who left me unsure of his true feelings. I couldn't quite work out whether he was good or bad. I am not convinced we haven't read the full story on him yet and we might be surprised to find he isn't as lovely as he comes across.
I found the time travel aspect of this book quite breathtaking and original. John Stephen's made his time travelling methods appear believable to the reader. The book contains quite a lot of flashbacks, which help to bring the story up to day and enlighten us on where the children originally came from. With each flashback, a layer of the story is peeled back to reveal another previously unknown element.
I do have a couple of little gripes about the book. I did feel it could have been shortened a little to make the drama more punchy; I found myself wanting to speed the action up a little. I would have also liked to see a little more depth within some of the secondary characters. However, there is a huge cast of players within the book, so I imagine it would be difficult to make them all in depth.
On the whole, this book is a fantastic read with a breathtaking new world built in it and a whole new method of time travel revealed. A brilliant storyline which has left me looking forward to the continuing journey.
The children discover an old leather book which holds the key to an ancient magical prophecy that takes them on an unpredictable adventure. The lives of the residents of Cambridge Falls are at risk, as well as the town itself. Can the children change the course of history?
This is one of those books that is going to become a rather popular series which I can envisage being made into a series of films. It is an epic fantasy that leads you through a maze of difficulties to reach the end. As you reach the last page, you are left knowing that there is so much more waiting to come. If you enjoy Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, then this series will appeal to you. This is a hefty read with quite a dark atmosphere to it, including some rather gory scenes.
The book reminded me of a ride on a water chute, where you leisurely wind through the valleys, slowly making your way upwards without realising it, taking in the new world that is being set up surrounding you, to reach the top about three quarters of the way through the book and come down in an almighty whoosh, leaving you exhilarated and exhausted by the end and ready to take the journey all over again.
The three main children of the book were very entertaining and I loved to see the typical sibling rivalry and banter occurring between Emma and Michael. I felt like I was watching my own children and wanted to reprimand them and give them time out. Dr Pym is an interesting character, who left me unsure of his true feelings. I couldn't quite work out whether he was good or bad. I am not convinced we haven't read the full story on him yet and we might be surprised to find he isn't as lovely as he comes across.
I found the time travel aspect of this book quite breathtaking and original. John Stephen's made his time travelling methods appear believable to the reader. The book contains quite a lot of flashbacks, which help to bring the story up to day and enlighten us on where the children originally came from. With each flashback, a layer of the story is peeled back to reveal another previously unknown element.
I do have a couple of little gripes about the book. I did feel it could have been shortened a little to make the drama more punchy; I found myself wanting to speed the action up a little. I would have also liked to see a little more depth within some of the secondary characters. However, there is a huge cast of players within the book, so I imagine it would be difficult to make them all in depth.
On the whole, this book is a fantastic read with a breathtaking new world built in it and a whole new method of time travel revealed. A brilliant storyline which has left me looking forward to the continuing journey.
Original, exciting, and fast-paced. I would recommend this to 5th grade and up as it is a bit violent. It's a bit Harry Potter-esque without being a rip off.
I also really appreciate that the parents are not necessarily dead. :)
I also really appreciate that the parents are not necessarily dead. :)
Ihan perushyvää nuorten fantasiaa. Olen lukenut viime aikoina ehkä vähän liikaa samaa genreä, niin tämä ei ollut mitenkään erityinen, mutta jatkan silti sarjan lukemista.
Das schönste Jugend-Fantasy Buch, dass ich seid langem gelesen habe! Ein toller Auftakt freue mich auf die nächsten beiden Bände! Volle Punktzahl und eine absolute Leseempfehlung !
I don't think I read this book at the right time. I feel like I would have liked it a lot more when there wasn't so much going on with my life. It was funny and cute and unique, but I just couldn't get into it. I do feel like it was a bit too long for the intended age group. If it could hold my attention, I can't imagine how it could get a ten-year old to sit still long enough to read it.
Full review on the blog soon: http://irissel.blogspot.com
Full review on the blog soon: http://irissel.blogspot.com
I loved this book!! It was amazing, and the perfect fantasy for me because I love time travel books. This story features twists and turns along with significant themes and at some points I was moved to tears. I will be highly recommending this book to readers who enjoy fantasy and want a delightful and complex middle grade read.
A very enjoyable commuter audio and read by Jim Dale. What more could you ask for?!
Three children, Kate, Michael, and Emma are whisked away from their parents one Christmas Eve. For the next nine years, they are shuffled from one orphanage to another. Finally, nearing the tenth anniversary of their separation from their parents, the children are sent to an orphanage owned by Professor Pim. While exploring the home, an orphanage where they are the only children, they happen upon a strange green book that has empty pages. When the children place a photograph that was given to them upon their arrival in the book, the are mysteriously and magically transported back in time. Soon they find themselves in more danger than they could ever imagine, all because of the book. As they struggle to return "home", they meet a dangerous Countess, a wizard, dwarfs, and find the town's children are being held captive by the Countess.
If you like Harry Potter, you will like The Emerald Atlas. I can't wait for the next book, in what I assume will be a series.
Three children, Kate, Michael, and Emma are whisked away from their parents one Christmas Eve. For the next nine years, they are shuffled from one orphanage to another. Finally, nearing the tenth anniversary of their separation from their parents, the children are sent to an orphanage owned by Professor Pim. While exploring the home, an orphanage where they are the only children, they happen upon a strange green book that has empty pages. When the children place a photograph that was given to them upon their arrival in the book, the are mysteriously and magically transported back in time. Soon they find themselves in more danger than they could ever imagine, all because of the book. As they struggle to return "home", they meet a dangerous Countess, a wizard, dwarfs, and find the town's children are being held captive by the Countess.
If you like Harry Potter, you will like The Emerald Atlas. I can't wait for the next book, in what I assume will be a series.
Harry Potter read-alike? Not so sure. I went from starting the book and being disappointed at a slow beginning to being like omg this book is awesome to thinking when does this thing end. Overall, it was a good read, but I think the pacing of the novel could use some work.