Book Description

It’s 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma’s reception there is a chilly one. To make things worse, she’s been followed by a mysterious young Indian man, a man sent to watch her. But why? What is her destiny? And what will her entanglement with Spence’s most powerful girls—and their foray into the spiritual world—lead to?


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Its not great, but its not terrible.
This book I had my eye on for quite some time and when i finally bought it it wasnt what i suspected.
Gemma Doyle is sent to a private school for proper girls after her mother dies. While she is there Gemma finds out that she can go into a realm and find dead people and communicate with them. When she brings friends along with her, Kartrik, a boy who is apart of a group trying to stop her stays close to her. She soon finds herself in trouble and has to get out.
As you can see it was hard to explain it. This book did have its great spots that i really got in to but it was slow. I read this book in about a week and a couple of days (thats long for me) and i finished it mainly to see what would happen to a character and also to see if it got better. Also I felt that the author threw in things everyonce in a while to give it a new spin and it didnt go well with this story.
I really wished I didnt buy this book but oh well, maybe I'll forget about it and maybe read it again later.

A new classic
While labeled a Young Adult novel, A Great and Terrible Beauty will resonate with women of all ages. Gemma is everywoman -- with all the dreams and conflicts, flaws and exceptional gifts, righteousness and selfishness that weave the fabric of a living, breathing person. Finally, a period novel that doesn't condescend to the reader, or make dutiful "womanly" choices seem somehow noble or predestined. It also doesn't make the mistake of modernizing the characters in a way that would have been socially impossible during the time. When Gemma and her friends try to be more than future wives of rich men, we feel their struggle. And even as 21st Century women, we can relate.

This is a book about magic -- to be literal, it is about a magical Order and the powers unlocked by a young, headstrong girl. But it is also about the magic we find (or choose to unleash) in our ordinary, mundane lives. Gemma and her friends represent the choices -- bad, good, well-intentioned and even those with malice -- that we all make.

Beyond the themes of this book is the sheer poetry of it. Some passages beg to be read aloud. Bray has a lovely, subtle way with words. She doesn't clutter the story with vocabulary acrobatics -- but she'll knock you over with a spectacular turn of phrase. I was also impressed with the dialogue. It feels authentic without being stilted.

I have given this book to all of my friends, and their daughters and nieces! But my husband loved Gemma's story, too. His comment: "It's like Harry Potter only better written and far more quirky and interesting."

Gemma is a REAL heroine, not a bodice-ripped caricature. I can't wait to read the next in Gemma's series. More, Ms. Bray, MORE!!!

Almost perfect
A Great and Terible Beauty skillfully combines a traditional Victorian setting with modern-style teenage drama. This is Mean Girls as gothic melodrama, and both the rich, repressive finishing school setting and the antics of troubled, bitchy teenage girls are familiar, but uniquely enjoyable combined like this. Teenage struggles against adult hypocricy are the same in all time periods, and the power of [repressed] female sexuality is a theme that arises perfectly from the Victorian-- and adolescent time period.

In these ways it is a perfect book, and the fantasy elements -- menacing secret societies, utopian alternate worlds -- should be the icing on a delicious cake, but this is where the author stumbles. As with so many supernatural plots, the mystery is tantalizing at first, but as more is revealed, it only gets confusing and messy. There will be a sequel, which might tie the mystical strands tighter into the overall structure of the story, but the ending of this novel left me unsatisfied, and not in a good way.

Still, it's a great read for anyone who enjoys period fiction or remembers what it's like to be 16.

still not exactly sure how I feel about it....
This book is about Gemma, a sixteen-year-old girl who lives in India with her mother and father. After her mother is murdered (something that Gemma witnesses in a strange and frightening vision), Gemma is sent to a finishing school in London. The story takes place in 1895. Gemma gradually gets to know the other girls at the school. Most of them are in some way emotionally damaged, and they deal with the hopelessness of their situations by taking everything out on those who happen to be weaker than themselves. What ends up tying Gemma to several of the girls is a diary she discovers, the diary of two girls who attended the school years ago and practiced magic. In a way, this book has the elements of a mystery, as Gemma discovers the link between her mother's murder, the two girls, and her own visions.

I'm still not sure if I like this book. For a great deal of the book, I had the feeling that I didn't really know any of the characters, not even Gemma, even though the book was from her point of view. Maybe this was intentional, but it was disconcerting. If you're looking for a book with nice, pleasant characters, you should look elsewhere, because there aren't really any here. They all do mean things, even Gemma, and the reasons they have for doing these things doesn't seem to detract much from the fact that they did them. Really, though, you'd think that, after reading all 403 pages of this book, that I'd feel like I knew more about the characters and events, but this book feels like it leaves more questions behind than it answers. I've heard that there will be more books about Gemma, which is good, since there needs to be more if the story is to be understood. The book leaves Gemma's powers, and her relationships with the people she calls her friends, in limbo.

Girl Power
Finishing this novel is like having been reminded of the question like Who am I?, Have I found myself yet?

The story itself is about a sixteen-year old girl Gemma Doyle, who had her biggest biggest surprise for her birthday that turned her world upside down.
Being sucked into the magic realms, being left with a horrible vision of the death her mother and hunted down by terrifying shadows are only part of the surprise. Plus the adjustment she has to make among new people and custom in a girl dorm school, where she found her circle of friends.

Set in the end of nineteenth century, Gemma was a girl with some very revolutionaire independence thoughts and some of them clicked something in me and reminded me of the power of female gender (so awesome). There are also a companion character, Miss Moore, her teacher, who gave more sights on choices in life and the balance between light and dark in lessons she had, accompanied with a famous poem by Lord Tennyson, The Lady of Shalott.

And there was also a romantic part in it (which I'm very grateful of) between Gemma and an Indian boy, who followed and watched her whereever she goes. I think this can be developed into an intense relationship.

I do hope there will be sequel to this because the journey of Gemma and her friends has just begun and there is no turning back, as once you make a choice, whether it would turn out to be a good or a bad one, you just have to accept the consequences and live with it. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the author and a full cast
10 hours, 49 minutes
9 CDs

When Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon decide to spy on a presentation her uncle, the commanding Lord Asriel, is making to the elders of Jordan College they have no idea that they will become witnesses to an attempted murder—and even less that they are taking the first steps in a journey that will lead them into danger and adventure unlike anything Lyra's unfettered imagination has conjured up.

Though she has been reised at the college in an atmosphere of benign neglect that has allowed her to become a half-wild child of the streets, Lyra soon finds herself apprenticed to the elegant Mrs. Coulter—and in possession of a strange device called the alethiometer, a "golden compass" that reads not true worth, but truth itself.

But truth is a precious commodity, and before long Lyra and Pan are running for their lives, the object of an obsessive hunt by mysterious forces who have been stealing children for dark purposes that no one understands.Lyra will need all her street-learned wiles if she and Pan are to survive.

An international sensation from the moment it was published, The Golden Compass comes to spectacular new life in this unabridged recording, narrated by Philip Pullman himself, with the support of some of the finest actors of the London stage. ... Read more

Reviews (1079)

One of the best books ever written...
Ok, so one day I was at the book store looking through the fantasy section. I just happened to see The Golden Compass. It looked interesting, so I bought it and brought it home. I began reading it at about 6pm. I had finished it the next day at about 7 pm. I never left the couch. It is by far one of the best books I have ever read. Philip Pullman is a very gifted author with a very complex imagination. I recommend this book for anyone.

Lyra has lived in Jordan College her whole life, unsupervised, free to tear around the streets whenever she wanted. But one day, she sneaks into the Retiring Room and her entire life changes. Before she knows what is happening, her best friend Roger is kidnapped and she is living with Mrs. Coulter, a nice woman who promises to take her north. From there, Lyra is hurtled into a race against time to save hundreds of children from an unspeakable fate. Included in this book are armored bears, demon flies, and a bunch of other cool stuff. READ IT!

Will Goodness and Truth Triumph over Evil and Deception?
Lyra Belacqua's idyllic existence at Jordan College, where she is being raised by the Scholars, is thrown into chaos when the Gobblers kidnap her best friend, Roger, the kitchen boy. Rumor has it that the missing children are being taken north to Bolvangar and subjected to hideous experiments. Lyra and her irrepressible daemon, Pantamalion, vow to rescue Roger and the other children with the help of an eclectic group of mercenaries. Fraught with mystical references to a mysterious substance called "dust", and allusions to an alternate universe, Philip Pullman has woven a tale of terror, triumph, and a young girl's quest for the truth about her past. I was slowly drawn into this book one page at a time, until I became thoroughly captured by its unusual setting, uncommon characters, and unexpected plot twists. An excellent read!

And now for something different
If you're tired of the fantasy novels that don't seem to be able to leave Tolken behind, then brace yourself. This book is the start of something wonderfully different in the fantasy genre. This epic story has it all, magic, evil, goodness, innocence, and action. I was astounded at the intricate plot, wonderful imagery, and completely unique style. Hold on as you race through this one, because once you start you won't be able to put it down until you've read all three.

Truly one of the worst "children's" books ever written...
...unless, that is, you like to read stories in which parents are portrayed as child-torturers and murderers, the "Church" is a mysterious, fascist agency that promotes the child-murdering program (among other wholesome activities), children speak with odd, stilted grammar, and several of the main characters just...disappear in the middle of the story without further explanation. Nice stuff to read to your kids. Oh, did I mention that this book has possibly one of the most inept and unsatisfying endings ever to make it into print?

For the life of me, I can't figure out how this book is getting such rave reviews--perhaps readers like various individual action scenes, some of which are admittedly quite good; but the lousy destination is definitely not worth the occasionally fun ride in the journey. Maybe all the loose ends will be tied up in the second or third book? Possibly. But why waste another 400 or more pages to find out?

Don't squander your kids' precious childhood on this poorly written, disturbing and amoral dross. There's so much other better action-oriented stuff out there. Rosemary Sutcliff, C.S. Lewis and Brian Jacques come most immediately to mind.

Quite pleasant.
This is the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy (before The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass).

Set at the turn of the twentieth century in an alternate Europe where everyone is inseparable from their animal daemons, shape-changers that only settle at puberty, this is the story of Lyra Belacqua (and her daemon Pantalaimon), a teenage orphan girl living in Oxford College in charge of her powerful uncle, Lord Asriel.

Being a curious little girl, Lyra hears lots of gossip in the old halls. Some, about Dust, as well as pictures of a mysterious floating city in the aurora, make her dream of travelling North on one of her uncle's expeditions. But soon she also hears rumours of children, mainly from Gyptian families, who have started to mysteriously disappear, lured and captured by what people call the "Gobblers".

And when her playmate Roger the kitchen boy is kidnapped, she's desperate. But at the same time arrives Mrs. Coulter, an elegant and fascinatingly intelligent woman, who wants to take Lyra to her school in London. Believing that she'll learn more about Dust and maybe travel North with her, she soon becomes Mrs. Coulter's protégée. Until she realizes that the woman is none other than the head of the General Oblation Board of London, in other words the "Gobblers", and runs away.

The rest of the story tells how Lyra finally travels to Lapland, setting out in search of Roger and the other missing children with the help of the Gyptians, with whom she first takes refuge, of Panserborne (armoured bears) and witch-queens, and of the alethiometer, a strange compass-like device that reveals the truth to anyone who can read it, which the Master of Oxford College secretly gave her just before she left. Little by little, she'll become caught up in the adults' intricate powerplay.

I liked Northern Lights (US title: The Golden Compass), and found it quite pleasant to read, but I wasn't overly captivated by it. I was moved by Lyra's friendship with Iorek Byrnison, an exiled Panserborne, and deeply shocked, appalled, when I discovered what the "Gobblers" do to the snatched children, but that's about it. Lyra's a tad too temerarious and quick-witted, and in the end, I found her hardly believable. I'm very fond of Pantalaimon though. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the author and a full cast
Three cassettes / 3 hours 5 mins.

When Redwall was published in 1987 it catipulted author Brian Jacques to international stardom.Ans small wonder!This enthralling tale is jam-packed with the things we long for in a great adventure:danger, laughter, hairbreath excapes, tragedy, mystery, a touch of wonder, a truly despicable villain, and a hero we can take to heart.

That hero is Matthias, a young mouse who must rise above his fears and failures to save his friends at Redwall Abbey.The villain is Cluny the Scourage, one of the most deliciously despicable rats of all time.The unforgettable cast of supporting characters includes the stalwart badger Constance, an irrepressible hare named Basil Stag Hare, and the elderly wisemouse Brother Methuselah.

But most of all there is Matthias, seeking his true destiny in a journey that will lead through danger and despair to true wisdom. ... Read more

Reviews (623)

Redwall is a joy to read at any age

Redwall is one of the finest examples of children's literature I've ever read. The detail that Brian Jacques puts into his books makes them a joy for children to read...and for adults to read aloud, or to themselves.

In Jacques' books, each species of animal speaks with a different dialect, mostly different British dialects. The descriptions of the foods and feasts of Redwall Abbey make one want to go out and try some of the moles "Deeper 'n' ever pie;" and what I wouldn't give to be able to taste one of the Abbott's cakes frosted with buttercup cream!

Brian Jacques has given the world a book that children and adults alike can enjoy. He begins with a wonderful description of the tales' villian...Cluney the Scourge...and holds the reader spellbound through the mysteries, adventures and romances that follow.

I first read this book about four years ago. Then, while I was pregnant with our only child, I then proceeded to read it a second time, aloud, so that my daughter, Madison, would develop a love of literature at a very young age. I even recorded the story so that Madison would be able to listen to it in the future.

Many times we are tempted to "wait for the movie," especially when it comes to children's literature. But this book is made for reading. Jacques unique dialects and "turns of the phrase" are wonderful for the preteen set to read by themselves (at 400 or so pages, they can feel like they are finally reading a real novel) or for an adult to read aloud to a younger group.

Once you have read this first in Jacques' Redwall series, you will find yourself eagerly awaiting the next installment (just like I do).

As I stated before, it has been over four years since I read this book, so please forgive any misspellings of the villian's name.

By the way, for those of you who are interested, Madison, who just turned two, already brings me stacks upon stacks of books every night to read before we go to be. I fear I have created a monster!

A Brilliant and Captivating tale...
"Redwall" is a thrilling piece of storytelling that has captured the hearts of fans around the world with its heart-pounding adventure, lovable characters and "hare"-breadth escapes. The amazing descriptive elements help bring the written word to life.

Fantasy has rarely had the warm, inviting feel of the Redwall series, especially this fabulous first enstallment. Its mystery,intrigue, and conundrums to unravel, as well as its twists of fate, assure that it will go down as a classic.

Matthias is a young novice mouse of the Redwall order, a rather clumsy creature, who has left every mouse in the Abbey wondering what his destiny will be. After the celebration of their Abbot's Golden Jubilee, a large horde of rats is discovered roaming the land in a horse-cart, lead by an usually large rat with one eye...

The characters in Redwall are all animals, such as those native to England (rats, mice, badgers, squirrels, foxes, and so on). The distinction between the protagonists and antagonists, and the differences in each creature's "personality" (not to mention their differences in accents and dialects!) add to the enjoyment. "Redwall" is uniquely fullfilling. This is the beginning of a long journey enjoyed by people of all ages. Redwall has grown to be one of my personal favorites, as have all the Redwall books, and will surely become a favorite of any enthusiastic reader.

great book!
I read this book based on an enthusiastic recommendation. And I am so glad I did. I'm now a happy fan of Brian Jacques and the entire Redwall series.

The story moves along very nicely, with good editing and excellent characters. I found myself reading late into the night just to see what happens to them and how it ends. The only warning I have is to be prepared to be hungry! The feasts are described in wonderful detail with great imagery and colorful conversations. It's very reminiscent of holiday gatherings and family dinners from childhood.

This book impressed me. I know it was written for children, but it absolutely does not read like one. I can see why younger readers would enjoy it, but adults will love it too. It would be a great book to read aloud or just keep it to yourself.

Enjoy!

A DELIGHTFULLY ENCHANTING MOUSE TALE!!!
I'ts been a long while since a book has given me such absolute pleasure as this remarkable little adventure (ah-hem) tale about a novice mouse hoping to become a brother of the Redwall Abbey in Mossflower woods. Instead he becomes the Abbey champion when he leads the fight against Cluny The Scourge: a particularly foul, one-eyed rat that threatens the peace and safety of Redwall and the surrounding countryside. This is a classic fantasy novel in the tradition of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis with a host of unforgettable characters (and loads of violent confrontations that could scare younger children). Jacques' prose is delicious to devour and highly recommended to anyone who doesn't enjoy reading: a fact that whets one's appetite for the next entry in the series. HARSH LANGUAGE: about 6 words, VIOLENCE: about 40 scenes, SEXUAL REFERENCES: none.

The Guerilla Union of Shrews! (Read the book to figure out)
Fans of Watership Down and heroic tales of battles and quests will be intrigued with the unique world of personified animals that Brian Jacques has created. Bizarre but equally entrancing, Redwall will captivate readers and keep them prisoner until the very end. The book opens with a description of Redwall Abbey which is owned by an order of monk-like mice and an introduction to Matthias, a clumsy, awkward, "brother-in-training." Matthias, Father Abbot, and the other brothers have lived in relative peace for many long years, providing shelter and care to local woodland residents and all those in need. This humble but satisfying way of life is threatened one summer night when Matthias first lays eyes upon the legendary warlord, Cluny the Scourge, and his horde of rats ready to plunder and pillage. Where these villainous rats have come from is unknown but it is quite clear that Cluny has his one eye set upon claiming Redwall as his stronghold. All that stands between the death and destruction of the entire Mossflower region is the monastery brothers and sisters. Now these practitioners of mercy, healing, and love must become skilled defenders of their home.

Young Matthias experiences a tremendous transformation from an orphaned immature mouse to a natural born leader and developing warrior. To save Redwall from its invaders he embarks on a quest to find the lost sword of Martin the Warrior, a founder of their abbey. During his search he discovers his past and destiny, learning valuable lessons of life, honor, and what truly lies in a warrior's heart along the way. Join the mice and their companions as they encounter new friends and enemies during their struggle with the terrible Cluny the Scourge. Redwall is a strangely imaginative and enchanting story that will change your views on furry rodents forever. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Start of Journey
Reading this kinda me of Harry Potter and LOTR but with its own ethnic quality, Hindi culture. The main character tought and acted with understandable weakness and has his own strength (not a superhero though) but sometimes he got me depressed by his ignorance. Well, I sometimes get depressed by my ignorance too.

What impressed me most is how fast-paced but full story it was without abandoning the feeling of its reader. I cried and smiled with Anand, Nisha and Abhaydatta and I really like the tied up ends though it is very open to be continued in the next sequence(s).

A Delightful Tale of Self Discovery!
The Conch Bearer, much like The Mistress of Spices, takes you on an absolutely delightful journey, with the right mix of supernatural and human elements.If you want a book to "take you to another place" for awhile, this is it!

Excellent for young readers
The Conch Bearer demonstrates very effectively through it's 12-year old hero Anand, the demons and conflicts that most people face in real life when they are learning to trust their instincts, believe in themselves, reach out for assistance and look for the answers within.Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni also demonstrates through the young heroine Nisha (who is critical to Anand's eventual success) that not only are women just as smart, resourceful and capable but that no one achieves success solely through their own efforts.Anand eventually realizes these facts and accords Nisha the trust, love, and gratitude she is due as a loyal friend who would selflessly give her life to ensure his success. My family thoroughly enjoyed this very satisfying and magical book.I also liked that Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni demonstrated the spiritual, mental and physical effects of poverty in a very accessible way bringing to mind the way Charles Dickens handled the themes of poverty in his books.Children younger than 10 years old would most probably not be able to grasp the more subtle underlying themes of spiritual and character development on their own.

Far Beyond "Eragon"
Many of the formulas of a classic fantasy story are present in "The Conch Bearer," by Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni. A young boy discovers he is meant to follow a supernatural destiny. On his troubled journey to meet his fate, he is joined by a wise old mentor and a spunky sidekick. Plagued by his enemy the entire way, they finally engage in a climactic showdown.
However, this story is refreshingly different from most fantasies for children and young adults in its setting, characters and conflict resolutions.

Prolific readers may recognize that these same fantasy plot devices are also used in the bestselling book "Eragon," by Christopher Paolini. While "Eragon" was an enjoyable read, I think that "The Conch Bearer" accomplishes all the same goals, and does so much more...in about 200 fewer pages, no less...

Instead of a young hero whose destiny lies in war and battle, "The Conch Bearer" gives us a compassionate and caring hero who is destined to join the Brotherhood of Healers, a group which is devoted to living in peace. Anand takes the first step of his journey when he shows kindness to a mysterious stranger.

In a further break with tired tradition, the fantasy draws on Indian culture, landscape and the features of everyday life to provide a multicultural perspective. The little details which the author includes will intrigue and delight readers used to adventures based on Northern European and British folklore and history.

The best feature of this book is the glimpses that readers receive into the hero's inner life during his complicated journey. We see Anand grow and mature throughout the book, and it's his moments of inner conflict that provide the most suspense for readers. The reader is really able to engage and empathize with the characters in this adventure.

However, "The Conch Bearer" isn't all warm fuzzies - there are still enough moments of scariness and suspense to satisfy the most demanding readers of adventure tales.

In my opinion, it's interesting to compare this story with "Eragon" to demonstrate what is innovative in storytelling today and what's played out. The best fantasy stories are those which lead the reader on an adventure that is both familiar and completely new.

THE READER IS A STAR
Few who saw the Broadway revival of Cabaret with Alan Cumming can forget his exquisite, touching performance.For this he won a Tony, plus the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards.Deservedly so.He continues to work his wiles in an impeccable reading of this India based adventure.

The popular author of several short story collections and winner of the American Book Award, Chitra Benerjee Divakaruni has crafted an enthralling fantasy which begins in a dirt poor shack in Kolkata (Calcutta), India.Anand is a mere 12 years of age but he has been given an enormous responsibility - his task is to return a conch shell that posses mystical powers to its home in the Himalayas, which is many hundreds of miles away.

Accompanying Anand on this challenging trek are young Nisha and a rather mysterious man called Abadhyatta.As one would expect in a fantasy the trio faces numerous otherworldly obstacles.Yet this tale is so rare, so exotic that it compels attention.

- Gail Cooke ... Read more

Book Description

Read by a full cast
Approx. 6 hours
4 cassettes

A diverting and ingenious sequel to Dealing With Dragons.

Those wicked wizards are at it again!This time they are draining power from the Enchanted Forest.And that does not sit well with Mendanbar the King.On the advice of the witch Morwen, Mendanbar decides to consult with Kazul, the King of Dragons.When he arrives at Kazul's cave, he meets Princess Cimorene and learns that Kazul has been captured by those horrible wizards.Mendanbar and Cimorene will have to search for her, traveling over mountains and past man-eating giants, terrifying rock snakes, and an assortment of magic-wielders. ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Off to the Rescue!
After meeting the irrepressible Cimorene, Chief Cook and Librarian to Kazul and formerly Princess of Linderwall, in Book One (Dealing with Dragons) of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, you can't help wanting to get to the rest of the quartet. The second volume begins with two problems. King Mendanbar of the Enchanted Forest notices his kingdom is being scorched away, apparently by a dragon. Going to consult the King of the Dragons, he meets Cimorene preparing to set out on a search for Kazul, who is missing. They decide they must join forces, even though Mendanbar is as phobic of princesses as Cimorene is of princes. On their journey they meet the coolest witch ever, a tech-geek magician, a bucking magic carpet, a leaky sword, a giant with a career crisis, Herman (formerly-known-as-Rumplestiltskin), and of course, wizards.

Patricia Wrede has written another tongue-in-cheek story incorporating familiar fairy tales with a clever twist. Her humor and details are dead-on as usual as expected by this thorough and thoroughly enjoyable author. You want to keep the next two books, Calling on Dragons and Talking to Dragons close at hand. I don't have any more to say because you can only do justice to these wonderful books by reading them - again and again!

The Entire Series Is Phenomenally Brilliant
What? Only five stars?!? I need more to do this series justice! Patricia C. Wrede writes marvelous fantasy. It's like "Mixed-Up Fairy Tales" or something, but funnier, more engaging, and ripe for repeat reading (I just graduated from high school, and I just finished reading the entire series for the third time in a matter of days). These are timeless tales. Even her NAMES are inventive. Cimorene, Mendanbar, Kazul, Morwen, Telemain, Daystar, Shiara...and let us not forget Zemenar and Antorell. The chapter headings induce chuckles immediately, simply by their existence. She writes in a style that incorporates intelligent fantasy with enjoyable humor. The characters are some you would like to know personally. And nowhere else have I seen as unique a discussion of magic in its many forms as in these four books. I did notice a trend of centralization. Dealing was Cimorene's book. Searching was Mendanbar's. Calling was Morwen's. Talking was Daystar's. I wish the series was not concluded, because I'd love to see Telemain's book. And perhaps Kazul's book could be somewhat of a prequel. Oh, and what about a book from Antorell's perspective? That would make for an incredibly funny story. The Enchanted Forest and its surrounding is a world I want to know about. Not many authors can create an entire world that entices the reader so greatly. But Mrs. Wrede has. Unlike the Douglas Adams' Hitchiker's Guide series, which got progressively worse, each book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles compares to the original, as fresh and brilliant as ever. Needless to say, this series is one of the best ever. I have not really sampled a lot of the adult fantasy by Piers Anthony and Anne McCaffrey and such, but I doubt they can compare with the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. This is not mindboggling fantasy like the Lord of the Rings trilogy: this is fun. Oh, and remember: ..."Argelfraster."

Adam from Richview Middle School
The main characters are The King , Mendabar who is the king of
the Enchanted Forest ,Mendabar has a magic sword that is very powerful . Cimorene is another character in the book she is the princess/Chief Cook and Librarian of the King of Dragons. Cimorene is looking for another king which is a she dragon( king of the dragons.)
The book begins with Mendabar in an old castle ,looking very sad .The king has no parties or enteraiment. He seems very depressed for some reason and he has a very bad temper .

Second in the Series Doesn't Disappoint
The King of the Enchanted Forest teams up with Cimorene to find a missing Kazul.

Naturally, you should read "Dealing with Dragons" first (this is the second, and almost the first's equal). Both are fun, lively, clever reads (for adults or kids), and superior to the books which follow. Wrede confounds expectations and provides a well-paced tale of adventure and magic that delights and transports--what more could you want from a book?

Note: a 3 star ranking from me is actually pretty good; I reserve 4 stars for tremendously good works, and 5 only for the rare few that are or ought to be classic; unfortunately most books published are 2 or less.

Great...
This book was the seccond of the series and is, just like the others, great. This book takes you through the life of a girl living with dragons who is constantly visited by a young prince. It is great, and anyone 8 and up would LOVE it. ... Read more

Book Description

2 cassettes, approx. 2 hours

#1: Dinosaurs Before Dark
Jack and Annie discover a magic tree house travel back to the time of the dinosaurs.

#2: The Knight at Dawn
Jack and Annie travel back in time to medieval England for an adventure inside a storybook castle, from feasting hall to dreadful dungeon.

#3: Mummies in the Morning
Jack and Annie find themselves whisked away to ancient Egypt, where they come face to face with a dead queen - and her 1,000-year-old mummy!

#4: Pirates Past Noon
Jack and Annie are in deep trouble when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to the days of desert islands, secret maps, hidden gold - and ruthless pirates!

... Read more

Reviews (7)

Magic Tree House Books 1-4
I bought this set on tape for my son's 6th birthday so we could listen to them in the car while travelling. The stories are well-done and made him use his imagination. We enjoyed trying guessing what dinosaurs were being described and he wondered if the kids could see the moon and stars while they were in the castle. Even my 3-year-old had a good time listening. They can't wait to go on another trip to hear more of the stories.

ALL THE TREE HOUSE BOOKS BUT ESPECIALLY CHRISTMAS IN CAMELOT
I AM A GRANDMOTHER OF A 7 YR OLD BOY. I WISHED THAT I COULD
DEVELOP A LOVE OF BOOKS IN HIM LIKE I HAVE. THE TREE HOUSE SERIES HAVE DONE JUST THAT. MY GRANDSON AND I TAKE TURNS READING EACH CHAPTER. I AM NOT SURE WHO ENJOYS THE STORIES MORE ME OR HIM. WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THE WEEKENDS SO WE CAN READ TOGETHER.

Dinosaures Before Dark
How would you like to ride on a pteranodon? Now you can! You could ride a pteranodon when you read magic tree house dinosaurs before dark. Annie's brother Jack did. Jack and Annie were also chased by a Tea-rex, and Annie tried to make friend with a duckbilled Dinosaur she was trying to talk to the Dinosaur. Jack kept taking notes. Jack and Annie now there is a magical witch or wizard because Jack found something that had an M on it.

Cory's review
Dinosaurs Before Dark

The Knight At Dawn

Mummies In The Morning

Pirates Past Noon

THESE BOOKS ARE THE BOMB BECAUSE I LIKE JACK AND ANNIE. THE ADVENTURES START IN THE TREE HOUSE. THE TREE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH BOOKS. THE BOOKS TAKE THEM ON ADVENTURES.

This is Great!
The Magic Treehouse books are good for kids who have missed out on some reading skills. It is also good for 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. Jack and Annie, the stars of the book, get into a lot of adventures and it is fun to read them. Mary Pope Osborne reads the books on the tape. She makes it so you really hear Jack and Annie's voices. I think kids will like this tape and grown-ups would like to hear the stories with their children. -- Munroe Woodward, Age 8 ... Read more

Book Description

"They say Aslan is on the move. Perhaps he has already landed," whispered the Beaver. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delightful strain of music had just floated by. And Lucy got that feeling when you realize it's the beginning of summer. So, deep in the bewitched land of Narnia, the adventure begins."

They opened a door and entered a world--Narnia--the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Lucy is the first to stumble through the back of the enormous wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old country house, discovering the magic world beyond. At first, no one believes her. But soon Edmund, Peter and Susan, too, discover the magic and meet Asland, the Great Lion, for themselves. And in the blink of an eye, they are changed forever.

This superbly adapted radio dramatization from the BBC--world reknowned for their excellence in radio programming--delightfully sweeps listeners into the marvelous heart of their imaginations and into the enchanted world of Narnia.

This exquisite production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe features a stellar cast, authentic sound effects, and wonderfully stirring music to warm and engage the hearts of children and adults whether they're hearing the story for the first or the fiftieth time. ... Read more

Reviews (319)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
A long time ago, four children found a magical world beyond (what they thought was) an ordinary wardrobe. This magical world led them to many adventures in a magical place called Narnia. I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in less than three hours because it was so interesting and captivating. this is now my favorite book. After I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I bought the other books in the series. I recommend that others do too. I enjoyed reading this book and then the Magician's Nephew. My favorite character is Aslan. Aslan is a lion that comes to save Narnia from the White Witch. Aslan is very courageous. My second favorite character is Lucy. Lucy was the first to enter Narnia. At the end, Lucy was named Queen Lucy the Valiant. My least favorite character is the White Witch. She made Narnia always winter but never Christmas. She also turned things to stone. She was truly an evil witch. My second least favorite character is Edmund, at the beginning. He lied and could have gotten his brother and sisters killed.Edmund became a better person in the end. My favorite part was when Aslan's army were battling the White Witch's army. I also liked when Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy were crowned Kings and Queens. Peter was crowned King Peter the Magnificent. Susan was crowned Queen Susan the Gentle. Edmund was crowned King Edmund the Just, and Lucy was crowned Queen Lucy the Valiant. My least favorite part was when Edmund entered the wardrobe. When he entered Narnia he met the White Witch. Edmund decided to betray his brother and sisters and take them to the White Witch. Then when he got out of Narnia he lied and said he had never been there. I enjoyed The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I would recommend it to anyone who has an imagination. I also recommend the other books in this series.

Fairy tale about willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice
Four British children, two sisters and two brothers, are sent away from London during World War II because of air raids. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy now live in the large house of an old professor. While exploring their new home, the youngest, Lucy, steps into a wardrobe, suddenly finding herself in a strange wintry world full of creatures from fairy tales and mythology. At first, her siblings don't believe her, but, after a while, all four of them enter the world of Narnia. An evil witch has the land under her spell, but help is on the way -- a lion named Aslan.

"The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe" is the second book of "The Chronicles Of Narnia." Clive Staples Lewis wrote the novel in 1950, yet its theme of the willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice makes the story timeless. While the story is primarily aimed at a young audience, Lewis himself points out the following to his niece Lucy to whom the book is dedicated: "... [S]ome day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." An extra bonus are the charming illustrations by Pauline Baynes.

I want to go to Narnia
How can you not adore this? You know how food can be labeled "comfort food" - well this is the type of story that's a "comfort story". I felt so protected, secure and safe while reading this. It takes me back to a time in my life when I reguarly daydream adventures like those in Narnia. I think it reminds us of imagination, and freedom, and child-like wonder. Such a beautiful, wonderful story. Allow it to take you away and suspend your disbelief - you won't be sorry.

Hope
I chose to read this classic by C.S. Lewis because every one else I knew had read it when they were younger. I was told that it was an allegorical novel by a friend, which spiked my interest in what I considered just a child's fantasy. Lewis fills his world, Narnia, with a wonderful array of different and interesting characters. Fauns, Nymphs, Dryads, Naiads, and hospitable beavers all contribute to the fantastic nature of this story. Lewis must have been a creative man to imagine such wonders and write them down. A place where perpetually deadened by the cold of winter, with no Christmas and, therefore, no hope would be a terribly bleak setting. The depiction of Aslan as a symbol of Christ was quite interesting. Even the girls, Susan and Lucy, become similar to the two Marys in the gospel in their caretaking of the lion. So as not to give away the story to anyone else I will end saying this unique world provides more than just a fantasy escape. To both children and adults it provides a reminder that there is hope, even in our world, when it too seems cold and dead.

The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe a reveiw by Irene
Have you ever imagined being sent away to someone's house, that has a secret that no one knows but you? The house in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe had a secret , which only Peter, Susan,Edmund, and Lucy knows. Once they went through the wardrobe in the house,their adventures would begin in the land called Narnia, and their lives will change.

I love this book, because it tells about Lucy trying to save her friend Tumnus. It tells about the wonderful adventures she had with her friends, Peter, Susan, and Edmund and the great dangers they faced in Narnia. I also liked the little rhymes that describes Aslan, the great lion.

I wish that this book would be longer and the adventures of Narnia would countinue in this book.

I recommend this book for people who like adventure stories, because this book is filled with adventures.

My favorite part is when the dwarf made Edmond a prisoner and used a whip to threaten him to go faster. If the White Witch ( a terrible witch) that calls herself queen of Narnia wants Edmond to go faster, the dwarf whips him until he goes faster.

My other favorite part is when Edmond got tricked into bringing Peter, Susan and Lucy to her because she wants to turn Edmond and his friends into stone. They are smart and she doesn't want them to break the White Witch's spell. The spell is a spell that will keep Narnia always in a winter season.

On the map, I think it is a little confusing because it doesn't show the place where Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy came through the Wardrobe to Narnia, but the story is exciting. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by Alex Jennings
Approx. 9 hrs. 30 mins.
6 cassettes

The final volume of Susan Cooper's brilliant and absorbing fantasy sequence known as The Dark Is Rising.

The Dark is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world.And Will Stanton--last-born of the immortal Old Ones, dedicated to keeping the world free--must join forces with his ageless master Merriman and Bran, the Welsh boy whose destiny ties him to the Light.Drawn in with them are the three Drew children, who are mortal, but have their own vital part in the story.These six fight fear and death in the darkly brooding Welsh hills, in a quest through time and space that touches the most ancient myths of the British Isles and that brings Susan Cooper's masterful sequence of novels to a satisfying close.

Alex Jennings has a long list of credits in British theatre, television and film.He has also worked with the BBC Radio Repertory Company. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Silver on the Tree was really good, but I expected more
Everything in the Dark is Rising Series was really great, eapecially The Dark is Rising. Everything up to The Grey King built up tremendously. When I finally read Silver on the Tree I was somewhat disappointed. I was really happy the the major characters got together, but they weren't together long enough. I expected all five of the kids to do the journey together, and I also thought that the Drews didn't get to participate enough in the story, and Merriman was bearly in it! But I was really disappointed at the ending. I really didn't see the point of what all of them went through if only they were going to forget it in the end! It would have meant MORE to them and the story if they would have been able to remember. But all in all, the book was good. And I thank Susan Cooper for bringing us this excellent series.

A fabulous ending to a magnificent sequence.
A couple months ago my very dear friend said "You have to read these books by Susan Cooper" Since she usually likes the same books I do, I checked out the first one. I was hooked! Just a few days ago I finally finished the last book, Silver On the Tree. Fantastic. Really, if any adult doesn't read this because they think it's a kid's book, think again. I know many kids my age (13) who wouldn't get the subtle hints that go throughout the series.

Susan Cooper is such an excellent writer. She can make totally realistic, everyday, family scenes, and then turn around and write about journeys through fantastic fantasy worlds. She is also really good about writing descriptive scenes that let you picture something so exactly.

I can't decide whether this ties with The Grey King as the best book in the sequence, or if Grey King is a bit better.

The ending wraps things up just right. Except, I don't think the Drews & Bran should have had to forget. That's was probably the only complaint I can think of.

Goes through the motions
This last book in "The Dark is Rising" Sequence goes through the motions of being dark an mysterious, and does so effectively, but the feel is about what you'd expect to get rereading "The Dark is Rising" (book 2 in the sequence). It manages to wrap things up, and could be turned into a movie without some director mutilating the plot to slip in CGI shots. The final battle is pure CGI gold. Overall, I am satisfied, and do not feel cheated in any way by the latter four books of the series (although I hated the first one, and I'm glad I read the second one first, or I would have never continued).

A satisfying ending to a spectacular series
The old one, Will, and his friends are on their final adventure together to save the world from the rising dark. Will start off with his brothers at a picnic and he discovers that the old ones cannot slack off and let the dark take over. Merriman tells Will to pick up the blet of the signs to ward off the dark for the final moment. Meanwhile, Jane, Simon, and Barney are vacationing in Wales near where the mountain of the Grey King was. They meet Will at a cliff and they meet Bran, the mysterious albino boy. Together they solve the last piece to the puzzle of the rhyme, the lost city. They find the lost city and enter it to find the crystal sword, the final weapon of the light. Then it is the race to the midsummer tree. Prophesy has it said that the first one to cut off the silver from the midsummer tree will rule the universe. There are lots of surprises in the book and the plot changes ever so slightly. Everything flows together.
I like the book because of the interesting plot, how each book and each event in each book flows into one another. I also happen to like King Arthur and his Round Table so this makes the book very appealing. I like how Susan Cooper uses real language and real places to explain the story which makes the whole story more believable.
My favorite part was when Will and Bran received the crystal sword from the unhappy king. I've always wondered why did the king decide to torture himself with his own thoughts. The book says the Dark has no power to harm but it can contribute to changing a person. Then can't the king resist the Dark's influence? Why must he suffer because he did something right? Great book overall!

The Dark is Rising Sequence
This series is very unique. Susan Cooper has done a great job of writing an awesome story line with the King Arthur legend mixed in between. She also does a great job of creating a good against evil plot. The characters are unbelievable. If you like fantasy I highly reccomend this series, but hold on. It's one wild ride. ... Read more

Book Description

approx. 5 hours
4 cassettes

An ABA Pick of the Lists
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 1999

Nat Field has been picked by a dazzling international director to perform at Shakespeare's Globe, London's amazing new copy of the theater for which William Shakespeare wrote his plays four hundred years ago.As the boys begin to rehearse strange, eerie echoes of the past begin creeping in.Nat goes to bed mysteriously sick and wakes up healthy.--But he's no longer in the present, he's in 1599, acting at the original Globe.And his costar is Shakespeare himself; no longer a vague historical figure, but a quirky, warm-hearted writer/actor whose friendship changes Nat forever.


... Read more

Reviews (38)

A new world
With this novel, I think that Cooper has created a fun and original work. It is a story of a boys acting company who travel to London to preform at the rebuilt Globe Theater. For one boy, the trip involves not just a voyage across the Atlantic, but a journey in time as well. Nat Field finds himself back in Elizabethian London acting in the role of Puck in Shakespeare's personal production of A Midsummer's Night Dream.

This odd transposition in time allows for some interesting interaction with the setting. For a twentieth century boy, the London of Shakespeare's day is a strange world. Having no modern convieniences (such as toilets) and having the drink at every meal be ale are things that don't fit the everyday life of a young American boy. But Nat gets along and proves himself as an actor in Shakespeare's own production.

Given the general elements of this book, not all young readers would enjoy it. To identify with or even to like the main character, one cannot by a typical American kid. The theatrical world and the ability to understand the historical setting of Shakespeare's time are, unfortunately, completely foreign to most kids these days. So this book is not for the typical nintendo-playing sports-loving kid, but rather for the imaginitive book-lover. (For the book is full of imagination and history.)

The book isn't perfect, but it is still a fun read. As an adult reader, I wished that I could have read more about the purpose behind the time travel, but I realize that what was written is sufficient for a younger audience. So, as a young adult novel, it is a great book, well worth the read.

Outstanding Shakesperean time-travel fantasy
Nat Field, an actor in the American Company of Boys, goes to London with the troupe to play the role of Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the new Globe Theatre. Suddenly, he is transported back in time to 1599 London and finds himself portraying Puck at the original Globe. Not only that, he's performing with Will Shakespeare himself, who is playing Oberon! The author brings the sights, sounds and smells of Elizabethan London to life and takes us behind the scenes of the Bard's own production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." After reading this, you'll probably want to read the play and see a performance yourself. Susan Cooper, who was a student of J.R.R. Tolkien, is an outstanding writer and storyteller. Don't miss her magnum opus, the five-book "The Dark Is Rising" series.

Just a good historical book
King of Shadows was oddly good. It tells of a boy named Nat who is playing Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. One night he falls ill, goes to sleep, and wakes up in 1599 Elizabethan England, right in the middle of Shakespeare's own performance of the Dream. It was very accurate historically and ideal for anyone who likes Shakespeare. I would suggest reading the play, A Midsummer Night's Dream before reading this book. It was meant for grades 7-9.

A GREAT book for children 10 and up!!
The book is about young Nat Field. He is playing Puck in a Midsummer Night's Dream. When he goes to bed ill, he is transported back 400 years. (...) I was very pleased with this book. I highly recommend it for girls or boys.

Great book Cooper
I love books and i thought this book was extremly well written, and easy enough to follow along without any troubles. And my aunt had the pleasure of meeting Susan Cooper and said that she is a very nice woman. I hope one day i will get to meet the woman who wrote such a wonderful book:) ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A fun-filled adventure
Maddie and I read this as a read aloud. Much fun. A great sequel to the City of Ember. Lina and Doon are imperfect and terrific characters that everyone can relate to. Also, the other characters were well developed, too. Wouldn't it be great if there was another book coming...

A Spark of Inspiration!
EMBER was a gripping novel. As soon as I finished it, I emailed the author begging to know what happened next. She wasn't telling, of course. "You'll have to wait for the sequel," she said. Man, was it worth the wait. I rarely tell people that they have to buy a book, that they must not let another week go by without reading a particular title. Literature is very subjective, after all. What I love, another reader may find uninspiring. SPARKS is an exception to this.

Three chapters in, I was literally teary-eyed at the lyricism of Duprau's writing. Six chapters in, I couldn't put it down. I lost SLEEP to finish this book - my ultimate testament to a really good read.

THE PEOPLE OF SPARKS is a post-apocolyptic view of the world, after wars, plague and famine have wiped out most of the human race and the few people left are struggling for survival. In the first book, THE CITY OF EMBER, the City Builders have constructed a small city deep underground and stocked it with supplies in vast storerooms, then sent 100 couples with two children each to live there. The Builders know the wars, etc. are coming, and this is how they will save us all. After 200 years, the city infrastructure is crumbling and the city leaders are corrupt, supplies are running out, and the massive generator that keeps the lights on is failing, about to doom the Emberites to permanent darkness, but two young people find the way out, the way to the surface.

This leads us to book two in the series. The kids have dropped a message back down to the people of Ember telling them the way out, but will anyone come? They do. And they inundate a small settlement, falling on the mercy of the people who live there, a bedraggled lot, starving, exhausted, unable to move on, and without the skills to be useful members of the new community, the tiny village of Sparks. The Emberites have never seen trees, you see, or birds, or large fields of cabbages, or adobe houses, and fire is a terrifying thing.

What ensues is a fantastic story of generosity, deprivation, jealousy, and violence that may lead to the destruction of both communities. The lesson: there are no winners in war, and making peace means taking giant risks. This book has been haunting me for the two days since I finished reading it. If there were a world-wide cataclysmic event, who would survive? Would anyone? Will we ever learn that war only leads to war, violence only to more violence? Can we do something that will take us off the course of self-destruction? Is there hope for the human race?

Buy this book. Buy a copy for your local library. Buy a class set and donate it to your kids' school. It's that good.(...)

An Amazing Sequel
There is no doubt that Jeanne Duprau's first book, The City of Ember, was my favorite of last year. The wait for the sequel seemed like an eternity, but it was worth it! I loved the characters Lina and Doon, the tension brought about by little provisions, and of course, the twist at the end. I'm looking forward to more books by Jeanne Duprau. I hope the wait isn't too long.

Kind of a let down.
I finished reading the first book, The City of Ember, feeling like I needed more information. So when this book was released, I quickly got it. WOW. Could a sequel be more...tiresome? The idea was nice, and like a lot of futuristic books, based in a "President-and-Friends-had-a-bomb-party-and-the-world-blew-up-setting."
I've actually read many books like this. It wasn't a horrible book, but its not a favorite. But Jean Duprau illusrated the human nature well in the conflicts between the emberites and the people of sparks. The characters were well developed, which is a rare quality in books I dont like. I also was a little dissapointed because there wasn't a solid plot and I expected Lina and Doon to fall for each other. But then again, maybe Lina doesn't go for the pipe worker types.

a wonderful sequel !
Sparks is an amazing and wonderful sequel to The City of Ember, with a fascinating and fast paced story line and truly interesting and memorable characters. I was worried that Sparks would not be as great as Ember, but I loved it just as much (if not more) and was so sorry to come to the end. This brilliant and imaginative book will appeal to children and adults alike, and I'm sure will be read for many years to come. Please, Ms. DuPrau, write more! ... Read more

Book Description

2 hours, 23 min.
2 cassettes
Performance by Robert Sevra

1949 Newbery Honor Book
1999 Platinum Audio Award - Oppenheim Toy Portfolio

Hear all three magnificent dragon stories in this two-cassette set that begins with Elmer Elevator's trip to rescue an overworked dragon from a jungle island of wild beasts in My Father's Dragon.In Elmer and the Dragon, the friends are forced down in another land as they fly back from Wild Island and meet all the escaped canaries of the world.The final book, The Dragons of Blueland, tells of plans to outwit hunters who are trying to capture the dragon's family.
... Read more

Reviews (25)

A favorite read aloud book!
These three adventurous tales by Ruth Gannett kept my 5 year old son spellbound night after night--he continually begged me to read "just one more chapter!" and we are almost finished with our second time reading it. The trilogy begins with the main character, Elmer Elevator, venturing away from home to save a baby dragon from being abused by the animals of Wild Island. What follows are a series of Elmer's and the baby dragon's exciting adventures. This is a great read aloud book for ages 5-9!

Outstanding read-aloud book, very clever story
Much like Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm, the My Father's Dragon trilogy is a fun read, and has a mixture of absurdity and humor that appeals on multiple levels. It's an easy read to a toddler, with several pictures throughout, and journey maps on the inner covers.

Since the chapters are short, you can do two or three a night without losing continuity. At the same time, the story has enough depth and cleverness that the parent can remain engaged. Thus, it's a catalyst for bonding.

One of the things that makes it special is the main character. Elmer Elevator, on the advice of a stray cat, starts out on a noble odyssey to free a baby dragon from its animal tormentors. In his preparation, Elmer packs dozens of seemingly useless items, including a magnifying glass, brush, sandwiches, and lollipops. While he travels across Wild Island, all these items become essential, and you wonder if the story was being told by MacGyver :-)

We've read the trilogy to completion five times and it's still a hit with everyone.

Delightful Surprise
I was browsing the list of audiocassettes and happened across "Three Tales of My Father's Dragon." I read the other reviews and decided to buy it for my son (who is 4). We absolutely fell in love with all three stories! We listen to it ALL the time! We leave one cassette in the house to listen to at night and one in the car. We have had the tapes for two months and have not tired of listening to them. My son just laughs and loves all the aspects of these stories. The acting of all the characters is so vibrant and you quickly realize that each character has his own distinct personality and voice! I would HIGHLY reccomend these stories! They are fantastic!

My Fathers Dragon
My Fathers dragon written by R.S.G, may be the best book ever! Elmer is a boy who lives in Evergreen city. One day he meets a cat who tells him about a Dragon .The was trapped on Wild Island and Elmer goes to save him, On the way he tricks a lot of animals. One of them was when he gives lollipops to crocodiles to make a bridge. Does he save the dragon? Read this book to find out!

I love this book and recommend it to anyone who likes to imagine, loves excitement, adventure and danger! It's celebrating 50 years in print, I think it is perfect the way it is! With this book you can experience the magic!

Dragons and Adventure - What Kid Wouldn't Love it?
This volume is the complete set of tales about Elmer and his friend the dragon, including the fun illustrations. The complete set includes "My Father's Dragon," "Elmer and the Dragon," and "The Dragons of Blueland."

These stories are perfect first chapter books for kids. The vocabulary is simple and the chapters are short. I'd forgotten just how short until I started rereading them. Yet the stories are packed full of adventure. Elmer is especially resourceful, and I still get a kick out of how he takes the simplest things and makes them work in whatever situation he finds himself.

Whether kids read these stories themselves or listen to them being read, they're sure to become favorites. And adults will enjoy the clever story lines as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Summerland, his first novel for young readers, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon attempts an American Narnia. Inspired by Lewis and Tolkien, he's created his own magical landscape on which to paint a sweeping fantasy quest, but mixes the same ingredients--folklore and new inventions--in a distinctively American way.

The plot is simple and pure, but takes a long time to tell. The setting is Clam Island, Washington, specifically the area on the western tip of the island known as the Summerlands, which enjoys zero rainfall and yearlong fine weather. Ethan Feld, a self-described really bad ball player, is recruited by a 100-year-old scout called Mr. Chiron "Ringfinger" Brown. Ethan is needed to help the ferishers, essentially fairies, to save their world from eradication. On the great infinite tree of worlds, Summerland is on the boundary between two such worlds, and a particularly destructive fairy called Coyote and his band of warriors are nearby and threatening to destroy everything.

Heroes are desperately needed to counter this threat, and their journey involves a lot of baseball, but also encounters with giants, bat-winged goblins, sea monsters, and assorted cunning magic. The novel features an ensemble cast of equal parts that shine and fade in turn, and yet the undoubtedly fine writing fails to mask the enormity and complexities of the world in which they travel, and the bad guys getting their comeuppance always seems so far away. Readers need to savor every word in Summerland to extract the best flavors from it. (Ages 10 and older.) --John McLay, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (109)

Gives new meaning to "fantasy league baseball"!
You know, now I can't remember what prompted me to purchase this book, but I'm glad I did. It isn't perfect, but it was quite enjoyable. I doubt, however, that someone who doesn't like or doesn't know anything about baseball, would enjoy it much. I grew up in New York, and then lived in Boston for 10 years, and lived for a time two blocks from Fenway Park; we'd go up to the roof with a cooler and lawn chairs, and be able to see a lot of the game. So, while I'm not a baseball fanatic, yes, I like baseball. As I read this, I kept thinking that my late mother, who was far more of a baseball fan, would have enjoyed it even more.

I have picky tastes about fantasy, too, juvenile or adult. A story has to have some subtlety to it, and some rules. And I like a touch of humor. This novel has all three, to a degree adequate for an adult novel, not just a Young Adult. It's also got vocabulary that will certainly send Young Adults, and possibly some older ones, to their dictionaries. One reviewer compared the book to Narnia with a list of similarities; I would say that the differences are that this book has a sense of humor, and it's subtle enough not to hit you over the head with a sledgehammer about its point. Frankly, I never found the Narnia books worth rereading; I've found them simplistic, and the Christian allegory a little too over-riding for my tastes, though I enjoyed them when I was 10. Summerland is not a Christian allegory at all; it combines some aspects of many religions, and some of no religion at all. So those hoping to find "another Narnia" because they want a good "Christian story" will be disappointed. The rest of us, however, appreciate the work that went into picking ideas out of many traditions - Norse, Native American, Celtic, and secular legends.

In particular, the Tall Men seem to represent legendary large figures from every area - there's a recognizable John Bunyan equivalent, but others are clearly from non-Anglo-Western traditions.

Some of my favorite things about the book:
*The Saab named Skidbladnir, Skid for short, and all its dials in Swedish. Hey, now I know the Swedish for gasoline and volume!
*Grim the Giant, who is not quite 5 feet tall.
*The size changes required for Fair Folk to play baseball with Tall Men or even humans, and the comments on how the perception of size affects one's play.
*The wererat; the only other wererat I've read in fantasy is in Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake series, and it's interesting to compare the ideas of what a human-rat were would turn out like. (Note: the Hamilton series is emphatically NOT young adult!!)

Stuff I didn't like: the ending, unlike the rest of the book, was a little too simple. I think I would have liked the victory to be a teensy bit less obvious, and our heroes' trip back home to be more difficult, as, for example, in The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings, where going home again takes some effort, and the characters' experiences have changed them enough that home is no longer as comfortable as it once was. In Summerland, the characters have grown up some, but they slide right back into the limited society of Clam Island as if nobody else noticed anything different.

All in all, worth the read, and then pass it along to someone else who loves both books and baseball!

Summer-dud by Michael Chabon
I usually don't write reviews, but after reading Summerland by Michael Chabon, I have to let one go.This is probably one of the worst books I have ever read.And I've read alot of 'em.This Harry Potter wanna' be reads more like a cross between a poorly written Steven King and a Douglas Adams novel that doesn't make any sense at all.Although, the plot is quite simple, Chabon complicates our journey through Summerland by confusing us with character, objects and places that are given names so complicated, or the reverse, so simplistic, that they become ridiculous and confusing.As Chabon got caught up more and more into the creation of this ridiculously confusing world the reader becomes less and less interested in finishing the novel.I forced myself to finish it, just to see if it got any better; it didn't!

good, but...
Don't get me wrong. This really as a very good book; the writing waspretty !@#$% - ing incredible (it's not overly descriptive and the metaphors/similes are amazing). It somewhat proved that us Americans can also flourish in the world of fantasy novels, a world which has been kown to immediately bring the term "Britain to mind" (Potter, Peter Pan, Matilda, etc.). For that I respect Mr. Chabon to a certain extent; yet another good side to the novel is that Chabon managed to recycle the slightly cliche plot (an outcast kid is chosen against all apparent reason to travel with a bandof magical creatures to save the world from the magical overlord), yet still makeit his own and make the narration sound very "American." HOWEVER, the book is still quite far from what one might want to consider "perfect." There arecertain times duringwhich it is very apparent that Chabon is trying just a little too hard to match up to all of the fantasy hype and write up the "next big thing," so he goes way overboard and does WAY too much. The book has just about frigging everything from willed teleportation to Paul Bunyan. But the more apparent, dissapointing downside, is the fact that he seems to have "borrowed quite a bit of things from other literary works:
A wrinkle in time:
- Both have magical glasses thatsee things that aren't right in front of you, involve a father who has been kidnapped , have a unaturally smart sidekicks (Charles Wallace and Thor), and both have a protagonist who is unsure of themselves.
Narnia:
- Professor Kirke/Trufflehunter the Badger = Cutbelly the Werefox
- Seasepant = Bottom cat
- Wild wastelands of the North = Far territories
- Puddleglum the Marsh wiggle = Taffy the gloomy sasquatch
- Trumpkin the dwarf = Cinquefoil the "Ferisher"
- Icy winterlands = Spell by white witch
- Both have concept of immense time differences
- Talking animals = "Werebeasts"
- Reepicheep the mouse = Pettipaw the wererat (also a has a little bit oftempleton in him)
- Bottom of the world = "Bottomest bottom of everything"
- End of world where sky meets the ground = Glass wall of sky that shields "gleaming"
- BOTH use the term "giantland"
- both told by narrator referring to audience directly
- BOTH villainshave army of strange demonic ceatures
- Wood between the worlds = "the briar patch"
- Both spoken by narrator who refers to magical land as if it were a real place
- Both menton in passing a sun larger than ours
- White witch's sledge = Coyote's "steam Sleges."
Though the list is quite a lot I'll admit, Summerland was NOT a bad book, it's just that certain parts just seemed to be an Americanized Narnia, lol. It still had some unique qualities, particularlly, the whole "Basball is life and governs the universe, etc.," and all of the native American derivations; I especially liked how Chabon turned Coyote into this really suave, demonic guy with all of these armies of creatures and weird machines. Another thing II found enjoyable, was how Chabon very cleverlyy intetwined quantum mechanics witht eh Nordic view of the universe. So overall, not perfect, but good.

This book was a great book
It is a great book for baseball fans it was about Ethan a horrible baseball player who has to save his gunis father by useing his baseball skills he plays catcher. But he also is saving the world. The world this book is like a tree you can leap from one bratch to another close branch but you can leap to far. It never rains it his hometown and it is always sunny. He goes on a adenture when his friend Jennifer T. And the almost robitic like Thor go one a jounery to save Ethan's father and on the way they pick up a friend. Ethan thinks he hates baseball but he'll find out later in the book if he really hates baseball or not. They battle all storts of monters and go though all differnt world from the ice world and the summer worlds. I think this book shows good courage and friendships. I recommand this to people of all ages. It is awsome for people who love baseball and like to read.

Fantasy adventure AND baseball?Now you're talking!
I thought the book was wonderful.It was certainly a change of pace for Michael Chabon, and while I wouldn't say it rates up there with Tolkein or C.S. Lewis, it was a fantasy adventure that certainly rates higher than the Potter novels (which I really enjoyed!)There is one potential problem with the book.My 10 year old son read the book and liked it, but after hearing me read chapters aloud to my 7 year old son before bed, he said that he thought he missed a lot of detail."Too many characters for a kid to keep track of", he was his comment.But, he had the same comment reading Tolkein, so it's no indictment of the book, obviously.Maybe the best bet is to read it to your kids, or discuss the book with your kid as he reads it.The beauty of the book is in the richness of the folklore and the development of the characters, so it is worth discussion. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more