Amazon.com

Nan Jeffrey's classic guide to adventure travel is not to be missed by any family interested in--or even curious about--traveling off the beaten path. Jeffrey, who has traveled with twin boys and a baby, covers every possible aspect of adventure travel: hiking, biking, sailing, canoeing, and basic world roaming. You'll get down-and-dirty tips (ways to calculate how many diapers to take to a tropical island--and how to wash them), good preparation advice (learn to live in small places, study another language, take practice hikes, turn off the television), and suggestions for great family destinations.No, Jeffrey doesn't mean Club Med or Disneyland--she suggests instead Nepal, the Alps, Alaska, Guatemala, or Turkey. Adventuring with Children is not only fascinating and informative, as its subtitle promises, it's inspirational as well. Whether you're off to Bali, Chile, or Morocco, you can now be sure to have a bon voyage!--Ericka Lutz ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Inspirational and also very practical
I still haven't had a chance to use the tips from this book, since our trip to Greece with our one-year-old is planned for a few months from now. I can say that reading so many real-life, much more complicated examples of Ms. Jeffrey's family's own travels have made planning a few weeks in Greece seem like no big deal, though.

I was also pleasantly surprised to read so much about the things her children learned through travel at different ages, as well as through the homeschooling done on the road. (Ms. Jeffries also provides very useful homeschooling references.) Our daughter is much too young for a lot of this, but I found it all inspirational. It's amazing how much more children can learn from travel, plus reading, rather than from reading alone.

I started reading just to find the basics of how to travel with a child (what to take, how to keep entertained, etc.), but ended knowing so much about how traveling with a child will actually be more beneficial to the whole family than I ever imagined.

World class book for world class adventures...with children
There are many travel books on the market, and there are many travel books for those who have children. This books stands out because the author actually took her kids on wonderful, real "adventures," not just tame camping trips in the U.S. She and her husband traveled to remote places (Morocco, Spain, Bali, Nepal, New Zealand...), kids in tow, and share the experience with us through text and photos. They sailed, biked, hiked, and drove about, and lived for several weeks in different countries.

While most books of this sort will list things to bring along, the author gives us real explanations for each of the things she brings--and she doesn't bring much--and tells us how to make do with less. Invaluable are her personal stories of medical needs, literary needs (her boys brought a few books and exchanged books with other travelers), laundry and social needs. There is even a terrific discussion of diapering while traveling!

Perhaps my favorite section, as a homeschooling mom, is her chapter on education while on the road. The author truly sees the educational value of travel. No doubt her boys were very well educated by their many adventures. They learned foreign languages and the differences between many cultures. Thinking of adventuring?Buy it, and you'll want to try it! ... Read more

Book Description

When the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie off to Hawaii it’s for more than a vacation–they’re in search of a fourth kind of magic for Morgan! On the way they help an island community survive a tidal wave and, of course, take some time out to surf! Ultimately, they discover that the magic that they have found in this set of four books are everyday magics: the magic of the arts, the magic of the natural world, the magic of community; and the magic of fun. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great fun and educational
My seven year old loves reading these books over and over again. While she is enjoying the books, she is learning about different places and times in history. She's learned about the Amazon, the wild west, hawaii, the civil and revolutionary wars, the middle ages, ocean mammals, and so much more. I highly recommend the whole series.

The Wonderful Adventures of Jack and Annie
This book would be a good choice for people like my friend Lily, who are interested in magic and exploring different times. The Magic Tree House books can go back to times when the dinosaurs ran around and I think there was one when slavery was going on in America. In this book, the characters went to Hawaii and Jack and Annie learned about the huge waves there.
In my favorite part, they were at the beach surfing and Jack was reading a little bit about where they were. He felt a movement and searched up what that was in the book. The wave got bigger and bigger until it was huge, and they had to run away from it. They ran to the top of a giant hill to be safe.
These books are great for 3rd graders reading independently.

High Tide in Hawaii is Great!
Would you ever want to have a magic tree house? In High Tide Hawaii, author Mary Pope Osborne tells us that one summer day two kids named Jack and Annie travel in their Magic Tree House. It can take them anywhere. It took them to an Hawaiin Island of long ago. A tidal wave causes strange things to happen. They go to a luau and eat strange native food. This is a good book! You should read it because it is in Hawaii and I think it's cool. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Just before his 13th birthday, Obi-Wan Kenobi left Yoda and the other teachers at the Jedi Temple. But he wasn't supposed to become a Padawan, a future Jedi Knight, he was assigned to be a farmer! Jedi Apprentice: The Rising Force joins the headstrong Obi-Wan a few weeks before he's to turn 13, when he'll be too old to begin training as a Jedi Knight. Trying too hard to become Qui-Gon Jinn's Padawan, Obi-Wan shows his lack of discipline, and that--in addition to Qui-Gon's mysterious past--keeps them apart. But the Force keeps pulling the two together: Obi-Wan resigns himself to the Jedi Agricultural Corps on barren Bandomeer, only to find that Qui-Gon is on a mission to the same planet. Traveling there on a mining ship, the two must work together to forge a truce between the warring Hutt, Whiphid, and Arconan miners on board. The inexperienced Obi-Wan stirs up trouble but gets plenty of chances to redeem himself later--after the pirates attack and after the ship crash-lands on a hostile planet with the crew still at each other's throats. Experienced Star Wars author Dave Wolverton keeps the blasters firing and the lightsabers swinging in this fun, fast-paced adventure. (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (120)

Wonderful Start to Obi-Wan Kenobi's life as a Jedi Knight!
This story was excellently written, not to mention that it fully explains what happened to Obi-Wan Kenobi when he was young, and why Qui-Gon Jinn became so close. Well, actually, this story only begins their friendship, and it statrs off very rocky. Qui-Gon doesn't want to take Obi-Wan as his Padawan learner, but Obi-Wan has to find a Jedi Knight to take him as his apprentice whithin the next four weeks (before his 13th birthday) or he has to be a farmer! They end up going to the same planet of Bandomeer, and encounter a groupe of very routhless Hutts from a mining company called Offworld mining. They are at war with the Arcona Miniral Harvest Corperation, and a few "accidents" occour on the trip to the Outter Rim plannet. By the end, Obi-Wan has had to pilot a ship, fight off Draigons (creatures on an island they crash land on), and even call Qui-Gon using the Force, which he shouldn't be able to do because he's not his Padawan. Their kindrid destenys show up in the second book, The Dark Rival. Both are wonderfully written, and extreemly enjoyable. If you are not a big Star Wars fan, or you don't know much about Star Wars, then this would be a perfect place to start.

This book's a children's reader?
This book opens up a whole new perspective on the apprenticeship between Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi, and once you read the first book in the Jedi Apprentice series, you'll immediately want to read the second. This is the only book in the series written by Dave Wolverton; the rest are written by Jude Watson. This is also the longest book in the series, and it gives a rare glimpse into the life of a young Jedi trainee. It's the only literature I've read that gives a clear look into what exactly happens to a student before he is chosen to be a Padawan (or, if he's unlucky, a farm assistant or healer). You can also see what Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan were like before their adventures in Episode I. This is truly an interesting book to read, but be prepared to shell out cash for the rest of the series, because each book seems to leave you wanting to read the next.

Great Bedtime reading for my little Jedi....sometimes!!!
There is no real Star Wars reading material for young readers (4-7 years) However, this first book in a series for 9-12 year olds is just amazing. It's very readable to a younger child (4-8) at bedtime. As soon as I started reading the book to my son (6 years old) it was an instant hit...with both of us.

It starts BEFORE episode I, when Obi-Wan Kenobi is a boy of 12 years and in Jedi Training hoping to become the Padawan learner of the rebel & loner, Qui-Gon Jinn before he turns 13.

My son got so into the book he would force himself to stay up to listen to more of the story! Obviously, this is not what you want to happen when you want your little Jedi to go to sleep. (However, it does speak volumes about the writing, the story, etc...)

I have a sneaking suspicion that we'll be reading the entire series. This first book, was that good.

Flash back into the past...
In the starwars movies obi-wan is over 70 years old-in this book he is 12. Obi-wan is not even a jedi yet. It is a real prolgue. If I did not read these books and then i saw the phantom menace it would not be as good. I reccomend to any starwars fan if you like the movies you will like the books more.

Excellent must have for the Star Wars Fan!
This book is the start of the life of one of the most famous Jedi Knights, Obiwan Kenobi. Learn how he ALMOST did not become a Jedi Knight and then finally teaming up to become a padawan under Quigon Jinn! Also read about the adventures of them against Xanatos, Quigon's ex padawan who was succumbed to the Dark Side. I guarantee you won't put the book down once you pick it up.
Kindly note: Better have the sequel books of the Jedi Apprentice series ready or you will be sulking until they arrive. ... Read more

Book Description

The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie away to the decks of that ill-fated ship, the Titanic. There they must help two children find their way to a lifeboat--all while they are in danger of becoming victims of that tragic night themselves. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

love it
Did Jack get off the ship in time? You need to read Tonight on the Titanic by Mary Pope Osborne. Jack and Annie have to find a gift to free Teddy. This story takes place on April14, 1912. I like this book because there is a lot of action. Jack and Annie are on the Titanic. Will it sink with them on it? Read this book to find out

This book is an excellent tool to use in the classroom!
I am a fourth grade teacher and I have just completed this book. Tonight on the Titanic not only uses fantasy (treehouse going to another time) but throws a little history in with it (historical fantasy). I can't wait to begin my unit on famous ships and shipwrecks. Mary Pope Osborne also captures an element of suspense that children will love. Even I was worried that Jack and Annie would become trapped on the Titanic and never return home! This book will promote not only reading but encourage history as well. My advice to any primary educator is to become familiar with the Magic Tree House Series and use it in your daily curriculum!

Great fun and educational
My seven year old loves reading these books over and over again. While she is enjoying the books, she is learning about different places and times in history. She's learned about the Amazon, the wild west, hawaii, the civil and revolutionary wars, the middle ages, ocean mammals, and so much more. I highly recommend the whole series.

Well done!
We love all Magic Tree House books, but this book was the most exciting up to this point (reading the series in order). It had some delightfully unexpected plot twists that even had me wondering as my son read it out loud, just how Jack and Annie were going to get back this time! Of course we know they're going to be OK in the end, because we can't wait for the next adventure!
One thing to keep in mind is that the books are written in sets of four that go together (1-4 is a set, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16, 17-20, etc) In each set the Jack and Annie have to find 4 things - one in each adventure. For this reason the books don't stand alone well if you are interested in following the Jack/Annie/Morgan story. If you are only interested in the topic covered, and don't plan to read the entire series, that it is OK to pick and choose, but we decided to read the series in order.

Tactful tale of a tragic historical event....
In this installment of the Magic Treehouse series, Jack and Annie travel back to the fateful night The Titanic sank. A reverant and tactful depiction of the tragedy yet suspenseful and exciting as well. An excellent history lesson for primary school age children. I myself learned things about the Titanic I did not know.

At the end of the book are several facts about the Titanic and changes that were made after its sinking to prevent further tragedy. ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in black-and-white. Jack and Annie travel back in time to medieval England for an adventure inside a storybook castle, from feasting hall to dreadful dungeon.
... Read more

Reviews (11)

The Knight at Dawn
If you like the Magic Treehouse series and adventure and knights, this is the book for you - The Knight at Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne. In the book, Annie and Jack went back in time when there were knights in castles. They went in an Amory Room. Jack found a secret passage, it lead to the storeroom to a precipice over the moat. Jack thought that there must be a window. It was a foot away from the window to the ground. So he put his foot outside the window and dangled it. Read the book to find out more.

a thrilling adventure to medieval times
My son and I picked up this book recently as we were looking for something to read together over the summer. We were thrilled at how amazing this book was.

The book tells the story of a brother and sister who stumble upon a treehouse filled with books. These books transport them on different adventures in various places and times.

This installment has the children going back in time to visit a medieval castle. On the way, they visit a court feast, get thrown into a dungeon, escape from crocodiles and get rescued by a mysterious knight. When they finally return home, they find yet another clue to the identity of the mysterious "M" that they learned about in book one.

Picking up where book one in the series left off, the kids continue their adventures. Bits of knowledge about castles and the Middle Ages are given in the book and are written in such a way that a child can enjoy and understand. The action is fast paced and will have your child wanting to read just one more chapter. Very age appropriate for 1st & 2nd graders.

The Knight at Dawn is so cool
I liked this book because they get away from guards and find a trapdoor in the castle. I liked when the splashes came in the moat. I think this book is the best and everybody should read it.

My Opinion
I give this book an A+.This book enspired me to be a beter person.It tought me a good leson. It taught me that you are supposed to care about your little sister, even when people bug you. This is one of the best books I`ve ever read.This should have every kind of medal there is.I love this book.I wish it was my very own.This story is perfect. Now I want to read every MAGIC TREEHOUSE book.

Neat Adventure
"The Knight At Dawn" is my 2nd best so far. It had outstanding action, like Jack almost being caught going over the drawbridge, escaping from castle guards, and the best part was the horse ride. Once again, Mary Pope Osborne has created an unimaginable book and made the learning experience teriffic, especially with all the action. Don't miss this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Move over, Captain Underpants! There's a tiny new superhero in town.Undaunted by Principal Krupp's insistence that their essay assignment on goodcitizenship not be another comic book about the briefs-clad warrior,fourth graders George and Harold decide to invent a new superhero. Super DiaperBaby is born! It's up to our fearless infant hero to save the planet fromdiabolical Deputy Doo-Doo and his reluctantly evil pooch, Danger Dog ("I'm notreally evil. I'm just in it for the kibbles."). Several robotic battles,intergalactic digressions, and "flip-o-ramas" later, Super Diaper Baby has donehis duty, and George and Harold are in trouble yet again with their principal.Still, it was worth it, as any fan of Dav Pilkey's lowbrow, scatologicallyinclined "epic novels" (TheAdventures of Captain Underpants, Captain Underpants and the Wrath of theWicked Wedgie Woman, etc.) will attest. George and Harold's spelling isatrocious, their humor is straight off the grade school playground, and kidslove every page of it. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (36)

This book is hilarous!
I have read this book several times, and I laugh out loud every time I read it. Dav Pilkey has never written a book which didn't make me laugh. I like how the villain was trying to steal super powers, but instead he got turned into poop. When Super Diaper Baby 2 comes out, I'll be sure to read it.

This book is recommended for everyone seeking a laugh.
Once again George Beard and Harold Hutchins, the boys responsible for the hilarious comic-book series involving the adventures of Captain Underpants, are up to their old antics. One day they're happily playing in the school gym, squishing ketchup packets under their skateboard wheels, and who should come by but that mean principal, Mr. Krupp. For punishment, the boys have to clean the gym floor and write a 100-page essay on "Good Citizenship," with strict instructions not to turn in a 100-page "Captain Underpants" comic book. As they mope over this assignment, George is struck by a great idea: Why not create a new super hero and write about him? The boys go home and create the greatest world protector ever known to potty training, Super Diaper Baby.

Fans of the toilet humor seen in the previous "Captain Underpants" books, or anyone who's a fourth-grader at heart, will laugh out loud at the villain that gets turned into a piece of poop and his newborn nemesis, the only one stopping him from world domination. The pages are packed with gross jokes, Flip-O-Rama, and subtle humor especially appreciated by older readers. While this book is recommended for everyone seeking a laugh, it should come with a warning: Read this book in private or only around people who know you --- anyone else might think you're crazy for laughing out loud, seemingly at random.

Super Diaper Baby Rules!
This book is hilarious! This is a great book to read, and you can't put it down. I laugh everytime I read it. It may have some crude humor about human waste but what they show on t.v. these days is MUCH worse. A great book and worth many reads. A+++++

The Funniest Book Ever
The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby is action-packed, funny ,and quirky. The character fight many foes such as the Robo Ant 2000 and Deputy Doo-Doo. The characters weren't that bright and they kept on making mistakes. The characters did nonsense things such as the spanking of life and switching signs. I think that you should read this book it's hilarious and exciting, and a little strange.

Super diaper baby kicks butt!
I suggest this book for kids who like comedy. I think it's by Dav Pilkey but it says George & Harold. It's about a baby who becomes a hero by getting spanked. Also he has a arch enemy, Deputy doo-doo (If you ask me it sounds yucky). I think its awesome because of the story & how it goes. I enjoy it and I hope you do to!
P.s. It also has the world famous,Cheesey animation, Flip o rama! ... Read more

Book Description

Jack and Annie are off in search of another story in jeopardy, this time at

a monastery in ancient Ireland. Trouble arrives when Vikings land, and Jack and

Annie must find a way to escape!




... Read more

Reviews (6)

History and Fun All Rolled Into One Great Book..............
This is only the second Magic Tree House Book we have read but the books in the series are quickly becoming my soon to be second graders favorite books to read.

The story is really about the Irish monks and the contributions they made to civilization during the Dark Ages. The Vikings are raiding Ireland.

I was pleasantly surprised of the authors mention of Christians and use of God in a blessing by one of the monks. When we borrowed this book from the library we thought it was all about the Vikings. The Christian monks were a wonderful bonus.

This book will appeal to your school age childs sense of adventure and they will learn something about history without even realizing it. A wonderful series.

Number 15 in the series.
VIKING SHIPS is a really fun book. I actually lost myself in the story. It's short, but exciting, with a real sense of adventure. This is a great series for kids to read and to own. I could tell from the introduction that it's probably better if you read them in order. The first in the series is "Dinosaurs Before Dark."

Good book about the Vikings
This Magic Tree House book really teaches you about the Vikings. It's a neat setting, and there's some good action, especially when Jack and Annie are in their darkest hour. I highly recommend this book to any Magic Tree House fan, because this is more than one of the best. Enjoy!!!

Accurate and engaging
This was our first Magic Treehouse book and I am pleased. I had just returned from Scandinavia when I bought this for my 6 yo and 4 yo daughters, hoping that they could learn something of what I had garnered from my trip. Happily, I think they did.

I like the format of the series. As a child I would have *loved* to have travelled via a treehouse to distant times and places. What child wouldn't want to meet characters from somewhere else? I like the idea of fetching books- I love books so the task would be appealing to me.

From my reading of Viking raids, it is very likely that raids took place as described here, against the Irish monks. Vikings were in search of stored foods, wealth and whatever else they could grab on a quick morning attack. There would have been many ships and a fast assault as portrayed here. Many aspects of the raids were left out, and that is just fine for the young school-age reader.

These are chapter books that can be easily read by an advanced first grader over several days, or read as bedtime stories by parents over one or two evenings. There are some illustrations to augment the storyline, but the main focus of the book is the text.

Exciting Book
This book is about Annie and Jack. Morgan sends them on a journey to Ireland and they meet the monks and see Vikings. My favorite part was when the sea monster helps them. I think you will like this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The exciting tale begun in Jedi Apprentice: The Rising Force continues in Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival. While thankful for Obi-Wan's life-saving help on the trip to Bandomeer, Qui-Gon must put aside his mixed feelings over the young apprentice and take care of his peace mission. But he soon finds out that he's been tricked--not only did the planet's government not call for him, but the request may have come from his former-apprentice-gone-to-the-dark-side, the sinister Xanatos. Qui-Gon stays on Bandomeer to help rival mining companies there negotiate and to find out more about his fallen Padawan. Obi-Wan, of course, pitches in again, and the bond between the two grows. A few explosions, a couple of lightsaber fights, and a prison break later, the two ... well, you'll have to find out for yourself. (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (70)

Exellent! Even better than the first!
When I first noticed these books in the bookstore I was inclined to dismiss them as 'just another kiddy Star Wars series'. A younger, cheesier version of the explosive and compelling Junior Jedi Knights and Young Jedi Knights. I must admit, I have rarely been more wrong. I actually started reading them, and they are as good, perhaps better than some other Star Wars books I've read. Definitly on an equel par with Young/Junior Jedi Knights. It is so cool to find out what Obi-Wan Kenobi was like at about twelve or thirteen. Anyway, the basic plot of this book is that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon arrive on Bandomeer at last and are about to separate and go on their own missions. Obi-Wan is still a little sad and upset that he has to give up all hope of becoming a jedi because Qui-Gon still refuses to train him. However, Qui-Gon is still facing some inner demons of his own, and they are compounded when his former apprentice gone bad Xanatos returns hungry for revenge... Another good thing is that this book, and the one before it, flesh out Qui-Gon's character much better than even Episode 1 did. When I watched that movie I found myself really wanting to care about him, but the movie simply didn't allow us to know him well enough. These books, however, bring out aspects of his character that were barely touched upon in the movie, and make him a much more beleivable, much more endearing character. It also sheds new light on the relationship between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, and we can see just how heartbreaking it must have been for Obi-Wan when Qui-Gon is killed in Episode 1. I would recommend this series to any Star Wars fan, no matter what their age.

They just get better
This story, as well as all the stories in this series is an enjoyable read for people of all ages. Yes it is simple to read, but I think it is a good little adventure that leaves you well satisfied at the end. This book marks the beginning of character developments, some of which pop up from time to time in future stories of this series. This book takes you into Qui Gons past and also begins to inform the reader of the relationship between Qui Gon and Obi Wan. As with all the books in this series, it continues building on themes and emotions set forth in the previous book. I recommend the whole series to true star wars fans.

Awsome
When I first read this book I was speechless. I never would have guessed that Qui-Gonn had ANY feelings toward his young padawan Obi-Wan! But boy was I wrong! The two Jedi are sent on a mission, and many wrong things happened. Obi-Wan was kidnapped and Qui-Gonn had to rescue him. Everything that happened was all because of Qui-Gonn's other student. Will Obi Wan Kenobi die so that his master can hunt down his dark sided student? Or will Qui-Gonn find anougher way to get out of the mining area. Find out and read The Dark Rival. Trust me, you will love it.

the relationship between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon develops
Considered too old to stay at the Jedi Academy, Obi-Wan Kenobi is travelling to the planet Bandomeer to work for the Agri-Corps; coincidentally, Qui-Gon Jinn, who has decided not to accept the youth as his Padawan, is also going to Bandomeer, and the two are forced to act as a team when Xanatos, a Padawan who left for the Dark Side, also appears on the mining planet and bad things start to happen.

It's fun to see the relationship between the Jedi Knight and his student take shape, though this is not the main focus of the book. A greater weakness is the sometimes lazy writing; for example, we are told on page 1 that Qui-Gon is not affected by nightmares ('Dreams never hung on him') and yet on page 8 we read that he is "still fighting the grip of his nightmare". Still a fun read for young Star Wars fans.

the relationship between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon grows
Considered too old to stay at the Jedi Academy, Obi-Wan Kenobi is travelling to the planet Bandomeer to work for the Agri-Corps; coincidentally, Qui-Gon Jinn, who has decided not to accept the youth as his Padawan, is also going to Bandomeer, and the two are forced to act as a team when Xanatos, a Padawan who left for the Dark Side, also appears on the mining planet and bad things start to happen.

It's fun to see the relationship between the Jedi Knight and his student take shape, though this is not the main focus of the book. A greater weakness is the sometimes lazy writing; for example, we are told on page 1 that Qui-Gon is not affected by nightmares ('Dreams never hung on him') and yet on page 8 we read that he is "still fighting the grip of his nightmare". Still a fun read for young Star Wars fans. ... Read more

Book Description

Mossflower, prequel to Redwall, is widely acknowledged by fans as one of the most memorable volumes of the bestselling Redwall series. It is now available in a special format, with six all-new, full-page illustrations and a brand-new map by David Elliot (illustrator of Triss and The Angel’s Command, and winner of the 2003 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Award). Fans will be eager to add it to their collections, and those new to the Redwall series will want to pick it up to find out how the grand epic got its start. ... Read more

Reviews (257)

A Thrilling Prequel to Redwall!
I really enjoyed this book, because it was a very good science fiction/ fantasy book. It was a very good book that kept me wanting to read it more and more to see what happened next. I couldn?t put the book down once I began reading. It was about talking animals with a problem. Martin a warrior mouse was traveling from his home land, searching for his father when he was captured. He was thrown in the jail of Kotir in mossflower. He later finds out the all the woodland animals in mossflower are being enslaved and attacked by wildcats and there army. After being helped by the woodlanders he decides to stay with the woodlanders and help them defeat the intruders. With his new found friends he sets out to the mountain of Salamandastron to get help from a great warrior badger. On the way they overcome many hardships. While back in Kotir the rest of the woodlanders find out other ways to stop the intruders.
I rate this on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, a 5. I rate this a perfect five because this is just the kind of book I enjoy reading. This book also has a lot of action and fighting in it which kept me wanting to read more.

Bravery, cunning, determination. Mossflower has it all

A masterful story of cunning, treachery, determination, and bravery. Brian Jacques' tale of how the Redwall Abbey came to be is truly a must-read for any fan of the Redwall series, and for anyone who has not read one of the Redwall books, Mossflower is a great place to start!

The story is full of riddles, songs, memorable characters, and one cannot forget the battles of the peace loving woodland creatures versus the evil troops under the command of the the merciless wildcat Tsarmina. The brave Martin, clever Gonff, the strong Skipper of the Otters and a plethora of other colorful characters make this book one not to miss. There's something for everyone in this book, action, humor, love, mystery, and riddles that make the mind boggle!

Truly one of Brian Jacques' best and most beautifully done works, also a fantastic tale for all ages! This was the first of Jacques' books that I ever read, and I've looked forward to any of his new books ever since

Mossflower
Mossflower starts out kind of slow. But after awhile it starts to go faster. And u start to get more interesed in it. along the way Martin has lots of adventures. And has lots of enemies,but he also has lots of friends. this is a book that u can't put down.

Mossflower
This is in my opinion one of the best Redwall books. The story of a band of woodland creatures resisting the tyrannical reign of the evil wildcat queen Tsarmina, this book has lots of fighting and battle scenes. It is also the first book in which Martin the Warrior appears, the heroic mouse from the northern coast destined to free Mossflower from the cat's oppressive rule! This is the first Redwall book I ever read and it is one of my favorite books of all time! I would give it ten stars if I could!

Read it for Tsarina's tantrums
After reading Redwall I was hoping for greater insight into Martin's history. Mossflower though it introduces Martin it doesn't come close to filling in the back story in any coherent fashion. The only really entertaining bit of it is Tsarina's tantrums. She's portrayed wonderfully as a mad cat queen. ... Read more

Book Description

The adventure begins

Narnia ... where Talking Beasts walk ... where a witch waits ... where a new world is about to be born.

On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled into another world, where an evil sorceress seeks to enslave them. But then the lion Aslan's song weaves itself into the fabric of a new land, a land that will be known as Narnia. And in Narnia, all things are possible ...

Reviews (113)

An exciting book for all ages!
The Magician's Nephew takes place in London, a very long ago. During that time lives a girl named Polly Plumber. She lives in row housing, and one day when she is in the garden, a grubby faced boy peers over the fence next door. Polly could tell that the boy had been crying which explains his dirty face. The boy tells her his name is Digory Kirke, and Polly laughed and made a few jokes, and he tells her that he is from a high-class area and he is required to come to this rotten place. He told Polly that his dad is in India, his mother is sick, and his uncle is mad. Digory explains that his Uncle Andrew is very odd, talks of strange things, and hears strange noises coming from his secret room at night. Very soon they begin to build a friendship. From then on, they went on several adventures because his crazy Uncle Andrew and his powerful rings, one including to Narnia. They meet several characters in each place they visit. In Narnia they they meet the Lion, and from him they learn many lessons about life, and they build a very strong relationship with eachother. I would recommend this book for anyone, any age, who likes adventure and fantasy. This book is very detailed, and creative. The characters are very real, especally Polly. Polly is very adventurous, like me. She never backs down on anything. Polly seems like a great person, and like any other child in that time period this book took place. If you like this book, than I deffinitly recommend reading the next book #2 in The Chronicels of Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. You'll love both!!

Excellent Read!!
The first book in the series of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Magician's Nephew is an excellent fantasy that pulls the reader in from the first word! Lewis weaves a fantastic tale that weaves fantasy and reality splendidly. The reader is drawn into Lewis' world of fiction with an amazing ease. Part of the seven book series, The Magician's Nephew is an excellent beginning to what will certainly become a fascinating, enthralling series.

Digory is a young boy who is upset because his mother is dying. When he meets Polly (his next door neighbor), he tells her about his mother and that he is staying next door with his spinster aunt and his bachelor Uncle Andrew so that they can take care of his mother. Polly and Digory soon become good friends and they discover a secret passageway that connects all of the attics in the houses on their row (in London). They stumble into the attic of Digory's Uncle Andrew and he tricks Polly into becoming part of an experiment for him. She puts on a yellow ring and travels to another world. Digory has no choice but to follow her when his Uncle Andrew tells him the secret of how to come back. Digory and Polly end up in the "Wood Between the Worlds," a type of portal to other places and times. Although Polly immediately wants to turn back, Digory convinces her to visit one of the other places first. They choose a pool of water that takes them to the deserted city of Charn, where they awaken Queen Jadis, an evil queen that is bent on leaving her own dead kingdom and conquering London. She attaches herself to Digory while they are trying to escape and they accidentally bring her back to London. Once there, she wreaks havoc on everyone and everything even though her magic powers are not as strong in this new world. Polly and Digory decide that they must return her to her world, so they travel back to the "Woods between the Worlds." Thinking that they have chosen the pool that leads to the city of Charn, they jump in only to find that they are in a new land and they experience the birth of the Land of Narnia. They experience everything to the birth of the sun and stars to the blessing of the first king and queen of Narnia. Digory is sent on a mission to retrieve the fruit of a special tree so that it may be planted in the center of Narnia to protect it from the Witch of Charn, who has hidden herself in the recesses of this new land. After being tempted to eat or [take] the fruit for himself, Digory brings the fruit to Aslan, the creator of Narnia, and he casts out the fruit so that it can grow into a tree. Aslan thanks Digory and tells him to take an apple from the tree and give it to his sick mother so that she might be saved. Polly and Andrew leave Narnia and Digory gives the fruit to his mother, who is healed. ...

O.k at times but goes noware
This book goes noware but down.The begging is good and then in the middle goes down ward.It's o.k. at times but fore die hard fantasy fans like Harry Potter stay away.

What a great book!
This book was great! I thought it would take me a long time to read, but it only took me two days. I loved it so much. The Narnia books are great, all of them. This one was the first book and it's about a boy named Digory who has an uncle. His uncle has these magic rings. Polly, Digory's friend, touched a ring and then she entered the world of Narnia. Digory and Polly go through lots of adventures - good ones and bad ones - in the world that they had just discovered.

The best book in the entire series
This story chronicles the beginning of all the other stories.
The writing style for this book and wording makes this novel enjoyable even to young adults. ... Read more

Book Description

Shortlisted for the Keith Barker Millennium Children’s Books Award.

Aboard the Swallow, John, Susan, Titty and Roger find themselves under attack from the fierce Amazon Pirates, Nancy and Peggy. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Swallows and Amazons forever!
I read this book for the first time when I was 37 and loved it so much I took to the sea and had adventures of my own. It's a wonderful, wonderful book for anyone who has ever dreamed of being on a boat -- or even for anyone who hasn't. Pemmican, bunloaf and chocolate have become staples of my diet; the descriptions of Susan's meals are out-of-this-world. In addition, the book is filled with practical lessons for sailing from how to line up markers to get into a hidden harbor to how to sail at night. I am Titty and my friend is Susan because he keeps careful lists and is always prepared. Our boat is "Summer Song" and we sail on the coast of Maine. We're looking forward to David Godine's publication of the complete series of books.

Exciting book for children [and adults] of all ages!
The first book in the Swallows and Amazons series, this book contains the adventures of the swallows, John, Susan, Titty and Roger, and their amazon pirate friends, Nanci and Peggy. Adventure is the keyword for this book. Battles with the amazons, the taking of Captain Flint and his walking of the plank, fishing for sharks and camping on desert islands. Swallows and Amazons contains all of this and more. An exciting read for all ages, it is a guide to adventure, camping and sailing that can't be beat. A must for any bookshelf

Timeless Delight
I first read this when I was a child, and remember crying buckets when it finished because I thought there was no more - in fact I was wrong, there are eleven more books, all wonderful. These stories are full of joy, inoocence and adventure, and are a tonic in our dark and uncertain times. I visited the scenes of some of them in England, and was surprised at how geographically exact they are. The characters are real, the stories believeable, and, with the various illustrations by the author, they create a truely magic world. They are also books about how to do things. You can, for example. p[ick up quite a good education in sailing and seamanship from reading them, along with how to smelt gold, burn charcoal, survey tidal mudflats, and all manner of other things. Hal GP Colebatch's book, "Return of the Heroes," which I have reviewed in its own page, sets out a good deal about Ransome, and among other things indicates some relationships between him and Tolkien. If you love sailing, and the innocent, sunny golden days of childhood, buy these books and do yourself a favour. If you have hildren, buy these books for them!

A classic deserving of a wider audience
I didn't discover Ransome's series until I was in my 20s, but I picked the first one up out of curiosity and was hooked.

As a child, I was a great explorer, going all over the local landscape, giving names to the different topographical features. I loved to camp and ramble. I loved boating, although I never sailed, and a picnic on an island in the river nearby (and a chance to explore said island on my own while everyone else was fishing) was a joy I'll never forget.

This book, and the others in the series, recapture those happy days for me. This one is very innocent, with no real violence or menace, but full of joyful adventure. The children are great role models; they're feisty and independent, yet still respectful of their elders. They're imaginative but know when to set aside their fantasies and deal with realities.

The book also conveys the joy of adventure and the great outdoors, and also shows that everyone has something important to contribute. Sure, one member of the group might be more interested in cooking and provisions, but that's necessary.

The adults take a back seat in these books, generally, but they're there. This one, especially, can be seen as a test by the parents to see how responsible their children are, and it's implicit that the kids are doing their best to prove themselves to their parents. The parents don't neglect them, they're there if they're needed, and check up on them regularly, but they also give them space to ramble and have an adventure.

Today it may seem as if these parents are letting their kids run wild; but I think families today could use books like this. When you have kids who are shuttled back and forth to band practice and swim team and heaven knows what else, they need the time to just relax and let things happen. When kids live in front of the TV and play video and computer games all day, they need to be reminded that there is all sorts of adventure outside. When kids are smothered by overprotective or controlling parents, they need space to be independent and prove themselves.

The only caveat I can give this book is sometimes the language can be confusing. The accumulation of sailing terms can bog a novice down, and there are some Britishisms that may puzzle some American readers, like referring to something called "bunloaf" and calling dessert "pudding." But heck, that's only minor, and ideally will inspire readers to do some research.

I highly recommend this for older readers, for children who enjoy the great outdoors or for children who have the opportunities and need to be inspired to take them. Adults, like me, who have happy memories of exploring will enjoy this as well, and it may inspire more adventures! These books may inspire you to buy more camping equipment, so beware! :)

A wonderful tale of times gone by
Recently I've started going back and re-reading some of the books I loved as a child - something insprired by Francis Spufford's wonderful "The Child That books Built".

One of my favorite series from my childhood was the Swallows & Amazons series. How I loved the idea of sailing off with the Walker and Blackett children; I had the biggest crush on Nancy that I've ever had for a fictional character!

So, here I am re-reading them and they are truly as marvellous as they ever were. If you have any interest in sailing, camping, the lake district or just plain good story telling, read these books.

The first in the series, Swallows & Amazons, is also, arguably, the best of the bunch. This is the tale at it's purest and before more and more characters come in to dilute the stories a little. Don't get me wrong - a number of the other books are also five star candidates but there will always be a special place in my heart for the one that started it all.

For children today, I think these tales will still give something. For their time the girls in the stories were very strong characters - in particular Nancy Blackett holds her own with any of the boys. And where we do find some rather ... examples (the girls cook while the boys mend sails) I think we can easily put it in the context of the time, and use it as a touchpoint for how far equality has come (or perhaps to use examples of families where it really hasn't changed much).

Arthur Ransome is very detailed about the specifics of sailing; for me that was part of the beauty of the books. I never did learn to sail but I always thought I could after reading his novels! But, if that's not your cup of tea, feel free to skip those parts - you won't lose much by doing so. ... Read more

Book Description

Harry es húerfano de padre y madre y vive con sus tíos odiosos y su primo insoportable y malcriado.Por suerte Harry puede ir a un colegio especial de magia.Ágil y divertida, esta novela entretiene a grandes y chicos. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

How can you miss?
I had read the complaints about the translation, and so I didn't buy it, but it is now at our local library in Spanish! Ha! And I wondered, is my Spanish good enough to read this book? And is my Harry Potter quotient high enough to smooth that over? Will I even understand why people don't think the translation is great (since I had not seen any specific criticisms)? After reading through it (and only stumbling over what it is Mr. Dursley sells for a living -- I'll never forget "taladros" now!), I can pinpoint what I think the weaknesses are. Tiny flourishes are left out. The vocabulary used isn't as rich as the English. There are small interpretive errors (Filch is the one who says "Bien, bien, bien ..." when he catches Harry and Hermione out of bed, not Harry). But I think the Spanish language publishers did not understand how wide a target audience was available to them. It's a children's book, right? How complicated does it have to be? As the "Piedra filosofal" stands now, it's ... enchanting! I would recommend it for a classroom where students can see the use of real grammar in sentences they might actually enjoy reading or as a gift for the Pottermaniac in your home who is waiting waiting waiting for the next installment.

harry potter y la pieda philosofal
i am american.. spanish is my third language. i have actually surprisingly never read the book yet in english(i will eventually) but i read it first in german, which is also not my mother language, but i think also with some of the critics that the translator could have done a better job. the gnome thing for example...no clue how they thought that one up..and i dont know if its just me that found this to be odd...but when mcgonagall reads the names off for the sorting hat...even in the narration are the names reversed(not just the dialog)..last and then first name....is that normal in spanish?? and they could have translated some of the names..like fluffy as someone already mentioned. i think the german version overall though was more captivating...the language was more lively...for example..the part when harry and friends let norbert go at the top tower, in the text in spanish it says...se iba..se iba...se había ido....in german..fort..fort...verschwunden..the german version there made me laugh out loud....the spanish version didnt have the same feel at all......otherwise..the translation was still good enough to increase your vocab immensly if spanish is your second language..and the grammar is not near bad enough to make you pick up any bad habits or anything. its good to read harry potter as a foreign language because its not an impossible text, but yet its not really easy either.

Harry Potter y la piedra filosifal
This book was excellent. The high school I attend doesn't have any Spanish classes past Spanish IV, so I am taking and independant study AP Spanish class. I am reading this book over the summer to keep myself thinking about Spanish, and it is increasing my vocabulary greatly. I understand more words the more I read. Since it is Harry Potter, it is fun to read and is not a chore. Everyone who has ever read a Harry Potter book knows they are impossible to put down, and Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal is no exception!

The Wizard es Magico.
Since I had already read this book in English, I was bascially looking for something easy in Spanish to keep my skills up. The book follows the English version word for word. Some of the words they choose for translation I found a little odd, but all in all, es un libro que es fácil leer y usted va a gustarlo mucho. Lo recomiendo.
Oz
WizardIsland.NET

Great for non-native Spanish speakers!
I studied Spanish in high school and university. I am far from a fluent speaker, though I don't think I'd get myself killed wandering around in Mexico or Spain. Having read all of the Harry Potter books in English many times, I decided to give this a try to brush up on my Spanish skills. I am only about 50 pages into it (reading Spanish takes me a lot longer than English!) but so far I am enjoying it immensely. Of course, it helps that I know what is happening, but that has also helped me with my understanding of the Spanish. I've really enjoyed this experience. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Morgan Le Fey, a magical librarian from the time of King Arthur, has charged a brave young pair of children with the task of freeing an enchanted dog from a spell by collecting four gifts. In the 18th easy-to-read chapter book in Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series, eight-year-old Jack and seven-year-old Annie travel back almost 200 years to the Great Plains to find a "gift from the prairie blue." Along the way, Annie and Jack make friends with young Black Hawk, narrowly miss a buffalo stampede, and learn about how the Lakotas view the earth and their place in it. (Ages 8 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Indian History
This book is exciting and cool because you could learn more about Indians. The main characters are Jack, Annie and Teddy. Teddy is their dog. They start out in a treehouse. Then Jack says, "I wish I was there." The wind blew! The treehouse spun. It spun faster and faster. Then everything was still, absolutely still. Then they are at the Lakota camp. It is an Indian tribe and they are trying to free Teddy from a spell.

buffalo before breakfast review
Buffalo Before Breakfast by Mary Pope Usborne.
Would you ever want to go into the time of Indians?
Jack and Annie go into the time of Lakota Indians and meet a Lakota boy. The Lakota boy shows them how to hunt buffalo. Jack and Annie learn to ride ponies. Jack and Annie meet the Lakota boy's
Grandmother. One of the lessons in this story is to not show off. The picture on the cover is colorful. The
Buffalo had stopped stampeding. Find out who stops them.

Fantastic As Buffalo Themselves!
This is one of my favorites, probably my 3rd. I like buffalo and Indians, especially because of what fun they cause on good western movies, like "How The West Was Won", and the Indians got of to a good start in "Stagecoach", "The War Wagon", and especially "The Pony Express. Another reason why this book exceeds 5,000 stars is because of all the fun there is, it seems like a Hardy Boys book rather than a learning book. But for some reason I'm starting to think that the more action there is in a Magic Tree House book, the more learning topics the book has. Definitely one of the Top Five, too good to say Top Ten.

My students begged for more!
In the course of this easy chapter-book adventure, two young explorers magically travel to the Great Plains of the U.S., to a Lakota village. There they learn of Lakota customs and beliefs, gain an appreciation for the Lakota ways, learn about a part of U.S. history not always taught to elementary students, and model respect for a culture different from their own. Readers will enjoy exciting elements of an impending buffalo stampede, a wild rescue on horseback, and a sighting of the legendary White Buffalo Woman. Although the children are needing to complete a task to help free a dog as a part of a larger story (books #17-#20), this book stands on its own pretty well too. My first grade students were fascinated when I read this book aloud, and begged for more. I'm planning to increase the number of Magic Tree House books in my classroom this coming year.

I like the Magic Tree House books.
It was really cool when Blackhawk took Annie and Jack to the Buffalos. I can't wait to read Lions at Twilight! ... Read more

Book Description

Welcome to James Gurney's fantastic lost world of Dinotopia, where humans and intelligent dinosaurs have lived together in harmony for centuries, undiscovered by the rest of the world. Now these New York Times bestselling books are available from HarperCollins. The Dinotopia books are a celebration of the imagination for readers of all ages.In 1862, biologist Arthur Denison and his young son Will are washed up on the shore of an uncharted island, where they discover humans and an ancient race of dinosaurs sharing a civilization of wonder and adventure.

... Read more

Reviews (46)

Absolutely Breathtaking
This book is one of the most incredible books ever written. I thoroughly recommend it to everyone. Of all the books which deserve cult status, this book is the most breathtaking.

The artwork is amazing! The paintings simply take your breath away. Whenever I want to escape, I read this book. Whenever I want to immerse myself again in the land of Dinotopia, I just look at one of the fabulous paintings and i'm there.

The book is accessible to everyone - there are characters which connect with every person on this earth. The story is magical and deserves greater praise than I could ever give it.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! PLEASE BUY IT!!!!!

PLEASE!

GREAT ILLUSTRATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!A SOON TO-BE CLASSIC!!!!!!!
A phenomenal book about dinosaurs living in peace and harmony on an island with generations of shipwrecked travelers. Not only does this book have a extrordinary plot, the illustrations couldn't be better! If you enjoy fantasy as much as much as just atensy-weensy bit, you'll fall in LOVE with this book. You'll read it to EVERYBODY! I've never heard of a book as extrordanary as this. A must read for all. Some other great books based on this are The World Beneath;Dinotopia Lost;and the series of short novels. READ THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

By far the best of the books
Dinotopia is the first of the Dinotopia series. Although it has a loose plot, it's mostly a mock-National Geographic style travelogue account of an island populated by both humans and dinosaurs. Buy the book for the beautifully detailed illustrations.

Great Memories
I first read this book when I was maybe eight years old; I read it over the course of a few days I was off from school, due to being sick. It was probably one of the best reads of my life (rivalling the first time I read Lord of the Rings). The illustrations were absolutely beautiful, and the story was truly engrossing. The way it was written was interesting as well; written in the form of a journal, but in a very human manner, as though it *was* a journal, rather than just a *story* written as a journal (does that make any sense).
Anyway, quite a few months ago I was home from school again, and out of boredom I picked it up off of my bookshelf. The illustrations are still absolutely beautiful, and the story is still truly engrossing. I read through it in maybe an hour, and was completely blown away. None of the magic which I had felt when I was but a young child had gone away; it was just as wonderful as ever.
If you have a child who is into dinosaurs, or anything fanciful, buy this for them to read or to read with them. It will stick with them (and you) forever...

BUY THIS BOOK
Anyone with an imagination, a love of art, or an interest in dinosaurs will love this book. The illustrations are the best I've ever seen in a book and the story is great. It reminds me of something H.G.Wells would write. I will take good care of this book and pass it down from generation to generation like a family treasure. ... Read more

Amazon.com

To the great joy of her many fans, Tamora Pierce with this book begins a new saga of Tortall to add to The Song of the Lioness Quartet, the Immortals Quartet, and The Protector of the Small tetralogy. At the center of each of these books is always a strong and resourceful young woman who masters the arts of swordplay and knightly warfare in the magical medieval country of Tortall. Alianne, or Aly, daughter of the warrior queen Alanna the Lioness, has all these skills, but also a delicious sense of humor, which serves her well when she is chosen by the trickster god Kyprioth to serve as his secret agent and a slave for a year in the embattled Copper Isles. There the dark-skinned natives, or raka, have been conquered and crushed by the laurin, light-skinned people from the mainland. The burning raka resentment is fueled by prophecies of a twice royal queen who will free them, aided by the "wise one, the cunning one, the strong one, the warrior, and the crows." Just how each of the colorful characters and Aly herself fit into this prophecy and Kyprioth’s tricky plan keeps readers guessing. Aly plots to show her skill at spying as she flirts with the god and is courted by Nawat, a crow transformed into a handsome young man, who is puzzled when she rejects his attempts to mate-feed her with grubs and ants.

The pages of this long but fast-paced adventure zip by, enlivened by intrigue, skirmishes, comedy, romance, and lots of dramatic clothes. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (107)

A wonderful addition!
I've loved Tamora Pierce's books about Alanna, the Lady Knight of Tortall for nearly fifteen years, ever since I picked up her first book, "Alanna: The First Adventure" as a sixth grader. Featuring Aly, Alanna's daughter, "Trickster's Choice" is a wonderful addition to the world that first captured my imagination, full of the delightful details and careful plotting that Tamora Pierce is so skilled at. I loved getting to know Aly and her careful, crafty character as she makes her through the dangerous and unfamiliar land of the Copper Isles, Tortall's unstable neighbor. Aly's adventures introduce a host of interesting new characters, as well as catch the reader up with many beloved characters from Tamora Pierce's other books. I enjoyed "Trickster's Choice," and I can hardly wait for its sequel.

Tamora Pierce, at her best
I have been reading Tamora Pierce for years now. I first picked up the Alanna series when I was about eleven or twelve and I absolutely loved them, I have enjoyed all of her books, Totallan or not.

This is the newest installment in her Tortallan books. The other characters from Tortall include: Daine, Alanna, and Kel. I have read about and loved each of these characters. The newest heroine in Trickster's Choice is Aly, Alanna and George's daughter. Unlike the other heriones Aly as a very noticeable sense of humor, she is more real than the other characters. She makes mistakes, she acts cocky, she loves her mother but gets easily annoyed by her. All of these things make Aly endearing to me. She isn't really good at the physical part of things like the other three heroines were, she uses her mind, her wit, and skill. I really liked the god, Kyprioth, he provides a lot of the humor in the book. I loved catching up on our old friends, Alanna and George, Daine and Numair, and Jonathan and Thayet, it's fun knowing what they're doing now.

I didn't really find this book fitting for the nine to twelve catagory that it's placed in. No there is nothing in it that wouldn't be suitable for that age group but I don't know if kids that young could follow the plot. This is a different kind of book than the rest of Ms. Pierce's collection. It is filled with an intricate plot and a lot of political intruige, I find this book more suitable for 12 and up, they would appreciate the plot more than anyone younger than that.

All in all, this is a wonderful book and a fantastic installment to the rest of the Tortallan series. Now... When does Trickster's Queen come out?

Different, but better!
After I read all the other Tortall books, I wanted to read another great book by Tamora Pierce. When Alianne (Aly) of Pirate's Swoop is forbidden by her father, George Copper, and mother, Alanna the Lioness, to become a spy, she goes on a visit. Befor she gets to her target, she is captured and made a slave (you can see the collar on the cover) in the Copper Isles. After she is sold, a god visits her and makes a deal. If she can keep her master's children alive for the summer, the god will transport her home. Aly works hard to meet her end of the deal. Different from the other Tortall books, I think this one is the best.

Same old, same old
At the risk of perpetuating a very old cliche, I have to say that Pierce's early works were much better. When Pierce first came on the scene, her fiesty heroines and more realistic style were a breath of fresh air, but now she seems to have settled in a rut and content to perpetuate a 'winning' formula, but one that has been overused since she first began writing. That being said, this is certainly a light, well-written book, but one that pales in comparison to the Alanna series.

Be careful what you say, or you'll give yourself away...
First of all, I'd like to offer my congratulations to Ms. Pierce. After years and years of simply awful covers that publishers have slapped onto her books, she has finally been given a decent one. I mean, have you see some of her other covers? I'm not talking about these incredibly cool ones like the one for "Trickster's Choice". I'm talking about the ones created for such classic tales as "Wild Magic" or "Alanna: The First Adventure". Ms. Pierce has paid her bad-cover dues. Now she has truly earned a couple beautiful ones. I admit that much of my attraction to this tale was due to its alluring cover illustration. It was just my own good luck that the story inside was wonderfully gripping and well written as well.

This book follows Pierce's "Lioness Quartet", a series of books that centered on the lady knight Alanna. In "Trickster's Choice", Aly (Alanna's daughter) is now the center and focus. Aly is the daughter of a famous knight and a famous spy. Both her parents are fighters by nature, but somehow they just can't get it through their heads that all their sixteen-year-old daughter wants to do is become spy like her dad. When Alanna decides that her daughter has become too bull-headed about the matter, Aly takes off on a small adventure of her own. She gets more than she bargained for, however, when her boat is captured by pirates and she is sold as a slave to a foreign noble family. The fact that she has winded up with this particular group of nobles is no accident, however. The trickster god Kyprioth is determined to use Aly's spy skills to protect the family's children, whatever the cost. Before she knows it, Aly is caught up in court intrigues and a political battle between the dark skinned raka and their white skinned luarin oppressors.

I wanted to read my first Tamora Pierce book without having to read through all her previous novels. So I picked up "Trickster's Choice" and hoped for the best. As it happens, you don't necessarily need to have read its predecessors, though it certainly couldn't hurt. Pierce is fond of explaining all past activities and events in such a way that even a person beginning with this book (like myself) catches up easily. Admittedly, I was disappointed with her decision to continually comment on characters and events that had little to no bearing on the current plot. Still, these moments mostly came at the beginning of the book. If you can get through three chapters of this story you'll be successfully hooked and ready to read on.

As for the book itself, it's excellent. I was amazed to find it a wonderful spy novel. Forget Modesty Blaise and Emma Peal; Aly is the best female spy I've encountered in a long time. Pierce has a way of making her quick on her feet without rendering her perfect or flawless. She is mature for her sixteen years but very much the teenager. She's smart as a whip but incredibly funny and endowed with an excellent sense of humor. Maybe it was this humor that made me greatly prefer her to her well meaning but laughless mother. Tamora Pierce has a website dedicated to, what she calls, "sheroes". Aly is a worthy addition to this particular feminist genre. I even liked her choice of mate. Rarely do I ever understand the male heartthrobs in teen girl novels. But Aly's fella is not only adorable but danged sexy to boot. And I loved that though Aly was a fighter, she was by no means invincible. When Aly fights she does so to the best of her abilities. She's Buffy without the super powers, this one.

I was pleased to see that the sequel to this book, "Trickster's Queen", is available and promises to be just as good. If you've any interest in reading about a gal who outwits nobles and gods and is the companion of crows, this might be just the book for you. It's a great tale and one worth reading again and again. If you're tired of books in which the girls gossip and giggle, cleanse your palate with a little "Trickster's Choice". You're hardly gonna find action, humor, and great writing as easily anywhere else. ...