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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I technically did not finish this book. I read 102 pages and broke up with it. I was hoping it would be good for my Lit. Of the Americas class, but if I wasn’t engaged 100 pages in, my students won’t be for sure! Bummer because I liked the idea of the magical realism in the Amazon. Oh well...
I read this and Song of Achilles in the span of a week during a summer camp, and I have mixed feelings about both of them. The story was complex and fascinating, but it was also incredibly unrealistic. The author seemed to make it out as a realistic world with a sort of fantasy side line and it didn't make much sense to me. It was a very quick read, and took me only a few days to finish, but I felt like it wrapped up rather quickly. I also felt like there was too much action/narration and not enough dialogue.
This is the first book in a YA trilogy featuring young Alex and Nadia, who experience great adventures and end up "saving the world".
Alex is a 15-year old boy, who never went out of his village in California, except once for a family trip to Italy. Now, his mother is sick with cancer and his father is sending him and his sisters to their grandmothers. Alex ends up with his outwardly cold and adventurous grandmother Kate Cold (pun intended?!), a reporter for International Geographic, who takes him on a trip to Amazonas to search for the legendary Beast. On his way through Amazonas, Alex will experience many dangers, make long-lasting friendships and get to know his true self, one he never imagined to be.
Isabel Allende is a great storyteller. Her descriptions of nature make you see everything clearly in your head. I do not know much about the indigenous people of Amazonas, so I do not know how accurate her descriptions of their ways are, but they are, all the same, very interesting. With the part of the story about white "civilised" people trying to get rid of the native tribes for the riches of the land, Allende is trying to convey a message of the importance of protecting the native people and the intact nature in South America.
Alex is a 15-year old boy, who never went out of his village in California, except once for a family trip to Italy. Now, his mother is sick with cancer and his father is sending him and his sisters to their grandmothers. Alex ends up with his outwardly cold and adventurous grandmother Kate Cold (pun intended?!), a reporter for International Geographic, who takes him on a trip to Amazonas to search for the legendary Beast. On his way through Amazonas, Alex will experience many dangers, make long-lasting friendships and get to know his true self, one he never imagined to be.
Isabel Allende is a great storyteller. Her descriptions of nature make you see everything clearly in your head. I do not know much about the indigenous people of Amazonas, so I do not know how accurate her descriptions of their ways are, but they are, all the same, very interesting. With the part of the story about white "civilised" people trying to get rid of the native tribes for the riches of the land, Allende is trying to convey a message of the importance of protecting the native people and the intact nature in South America.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
inspiring
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
Great read! Really enjoyed this adventure through the Amazon!
I read this book for Book Riot's 2017 Read Harder Challenge for the category "Read a book by Central or South American author."
I read this book for Book Riot's 2017 Read Harder Challenge for the category "Read a book by Central or South American author."
It has been a long journey with this book, slowly wading my way through the Spanish, but I finally finished it. Although this is a middle-school level book, the plot simply wasn't interesting enough. After reading 3-4 chapters, I predicted the events of the plot, and I was about 85% correct. That level of predictability made it easier to do well on the quizzes my teacher gave me, but it made the book boring. It didn't impact me at all, except for relief that I had finished.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated