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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I was very impressed with this book and I'm so excited I enjoyed it since I won it through the Giveaways.
Matt and Em are twins with the ability to animate their drawings and jump into paintings. Matt and Em later on discover that there are more people with their abilities called Animare. Their mother, Sandie brings them to an island in Scotland to escape dangerous people who are after the twins for their unique abilities. There were a few twists I didn't see coming and the authors keep the book going at a steady pace. I loved the idea of the book and I could tell that they were building it up for the next book. One of my only complaints was that in the beginning the authors focused more on the adult characters and the Council of Guardians more than Matt and Em. Since the book is geared more towards independent reader and teen fiction ages, I found that frustrating. Since I'm a twin I'm very picky about how authors chose to portray twins, but I was very impressed these two authors just about got it right. Em and Matt are very close but are also individuals and sometimes fought, which is very realistic. They weren't creepy and practically the same character with exact same personalities and interests. So I really appreciated it. Overall it was pretty good book and I would recommend it.
Matt and Em are twins with the ability to animate their drawings and jump into paintings. Matt and Em later on discover that there are more people with their abilities called Animare. Their mother, Sandie brings them to an island in Scotland to escape dangerous people who are after the twins for their unique abilities. There were a few twists I didn't see coming and the authors keep the book going at a steady pace. I loved the idea of the book and I could tell that they were building it up for the next book. One of my only complaints was that in the beginning the authors focused more on the adult characters and the Council of Guardians more than Matt and Em. Since the book is geared more towards independent reader and teen fiction ages, I found that frustrating. Since I'm a twin I'm very picky about how authors chose to portray twins, but I was very impressed these two authors just about got it right. Em and Matt are very close but are also individuals and sometimes fought, which is very realistic. They weren't creepy and practically the same character with exact same personalities and interests. So I really appreciated it. Overall it was pretty good book and I would recommend it.
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Yes
Though this is a kid's book, it was intriguing and gripping enough to keep me hooked and entertained. I like that it didn't shy away from more difficult topics or descriptive scenes, trusting that the younger audience can handle it, without either pandering or being too graphic. Definitely recommend for any ages, including adult readers!
I loved this book. 4.5/5 stars really.
This is suitable for younger and older readers alike. I am a fan of John Barrowman - well more a geek for Capt. Jack Harkness really - and having watched a few interviews with him, I love how Matt's character has a hint of John in him. Really subtle, but there.
Interesting story, awesome premise and great plot that kept me turning the pages not wanting to stop reading. I'm not sure I completely buy that 12yr olds could pull off some of the stunts these kids did, hence the 4.5 stars. Maybe I underestimate today's 12yr olds though.
Still, great book. I look forward to the next in the series!
This is suitable for younger and older readers alike. I am a fan of John Barrowman - well more a geek for Capt. Jack Harkness really - and having watched a few interviews with him, I love how Matt's character has a hint of John in him. Really subtle, but there.
Interesting story, awesome premise and great plot that kept me turning the pages not wanting to stop reading. I'm not sure I completely buy that 12yr olds could pull off some of the stunts these kids did, hence the 4.5 stars. Maybe I underestimate today's 12yr olds though.
Still, great book. I look forward to the next in the series!
I thoroughly enjoyed this! Not just because it is written by the amazing John Barrowman and his sister Carole! I know I can be a bit biased there since I am mega super obsessively fanatical about John Barrowman, and I read his book with an open mind. Meaning, if it sucked I would say it sucked. But it didn't! I am holding on to this one so I can get him to sign it when I meet him someday!
This book so strongly reminds me of Cornelia Funke's Inkheart series, the way Matt and Em can manipulate art similar to Meggie and Mo can manipulate text. I wish I could say this book is as good as that book, but alas I cannot. I had high hopes for this book and looked forward towards reading it, and while it was a fascinating and wonderful story it could not live up to my hopes.
I feel like the writing could have been tighter, often flicking through perspectives without so much as a notice, or reference at times. I felt overall that excluding the last chapter which was thrown in to give a feeling of an end that this book ended at what should be the mid or three-quarter point of the book.
It still gets a 3-star rating for being a decent story and making me want to finish the rest of the series, and hope they fare better on the technical aspect.
I feel like the writing could have been tighter, often flicking through perspectives without so much as a notice, or reference at times. I felt overall that excluding the last chapter which was thrown in to give a feeling of an end that this book ended at what should be the mid or three-quarter point of the book.
It still gets a 3-star rating for being a decent story and making me want to finish the rest of the series, and hope they fare better on the technical aspect.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Well, I will be honest, I picked this up because it was written by John Barrowman and his sister (who teaches in WI!) But within about the first 25 pages I was hooked! This series is geared to the pre-teen crowd, those ready for more indepth chapter books, but not ready for the true "Young Adult" where there be more violence or sexual content. (Think Rick Riordan, Susan B Cooper, Michael Scott)
Matt and Em live with their mom in London. As twins they have a strong connection/bond, but they also have a unique artistic talents. When we first meet them, they are able to draw themselves into a piece of artwork, while waiting for their mom. This realization sets off a series off events, as the powers of Matt and Em are more than even they know, yet.
Their mom, Sandie, must now quickly get them out of London and back to the protection of their grandfather, a Guardian. Matt and Em soon learn that what they can do, animating their art, is a unique talent. And Guardians are assigned to Animare to help guide and protect. Their mom is also an Animare and their father was her Guardian. It is against their practices to have Animare and Guardian's reproduce, as the powers of the children would be greater then each alone.
They also learn that there is a sect that believes in the Hallow Earth, a place where demons and creatures of nightmares live and that it can be opened. Those who could open it would have considerable power.
And of course...why did their dad run off when they were 3? And where is he?
This book kept me going! I could not put it down. The characters are well developed, there are enough supporting characters, but not so many you can't keep it all straight. There is enough story and mystery that you are kept engaged, but not so much that you feel like you have no idea what is going, or how to keep it all straight. And I want to know more, what happens next, where do these powers come from, what can they do, and what will happen when Hallow Earth is finally opened?
Matt and Em live with their mom in London. As twins they have a strong connection/bond, but they also have a unique artistic talents. When we first meet them, they are able to draw themselves into a piece of artwork, while waiting for their mom. This realization sets off a series off events, as the powers of Matt and Em are more than even they know, yet.
Their mom, Sandie, must now quickly get them out of London and back to the protection of their grandfather, a Guardian. Matt and Em soon learn that what they can do, animating their art, is a unique talent. And Guardians are assigned to Animare to help guide and protect. Their mom is also an Animare and their father was her Guardian. It is against their practices to have Animare and Guardian's reproduce, as the powers of the children would be greater then each alone.
They also learn that there is a sect that believes in the Hallow Earth, a place where demons and creatures of nightmares live and that it can be opened. Those who could open it would have considerable power.
And of course...why did their dad run off when they were 3? And where is he?
This book kept me going! I could not put it down. The characters are well developed, there are enough supporting characters, but not so many you can't keep it all straight. There is enough story and mystery that you are kept engaged, but not so much that you feel like you have no idea what is going, or how to keep it all straight. And I want to know more, what happens next, where do these powers come from, what can they do, and what will happen when Hallow Earth is finally opened?
adventurous
An interesting concept, but flat characters you never really get to know makes this an often plodding and disappointing read.