4 ooh so good tagalongs! (I finally got my Girl Scout cookies!)Cover Love: I was lucky enough to get an arc, but it had a plain cover. This cover is totally cool. This cover is why I will buy a finished version for my personal library.
Why I Wanted to Read This:
When you see blurbs about a book calling it Lord of the Rings for middle schoolers, you just have to read it--don't you? Well, I did, and I was glad I did!
Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:
Kate, Michael, and Emma have been in one orphanage after another for the last ten years, passed along like lost baggage.Yet these unwanted children are more remarkable than they could possibly imagine. Ripped from their parents as babies, they are being protected from a horrible evil of devastating power, an evil they know nothing about.
Until now.
Before long, Kate, Michael, and Emma are on a journey to dangerous and secret corners of the world...a journey of allies and enemies, of magic and mayhem. And—if an ancient prophesy is correct—what they do can change history, and it is up to them to set things right.
The Emerald Atlas brims with humor and action as it charts Kate, Michael, and Emma's extraordinary adventures through an unforgettable, enchanted world.
I Kept Reading Because: I got thoroughly caught up in the story!
Romance?: Nope.
What I Liked (& Didn't):
First of all, orphans. Since when have you read a bad MG book about orphans?
There were a lot of Lord of the Rings elements, but it felt more like a homage than copying. We spent a lot of time in the middle of a mountain with unknown creatures all around. And there was a wizard. And other magical, mythical creatures.
I like the very individual personalities of Emma, Kate and Michael. The author did a great job creating them.
The mythology is awesome, it sets up the future installments really well and gets me excited for the next book.
The emotions! All three kids come into their own and do some growing during the course of the books. They all have epiphanies and some of them made me tear up. Well written scenes.
The book ties it's own loose ends up, and gives up plenty of questions that need answering in the next book. I am excited to be along for the ride!
What I Would Like to See:
You know, this is one where I finished the book satisfied with where it ended up. I didn't have any huge things hanging over my head. I am just looking forward to where the author takes us next!
To Sum Up: I will be buying a couple of copies for my library because I see it being very successful for middle grade readers!
Book requested and received from Random House.
Tween Tuesday hosted by Sarah the GreenBeanTeenQueen. Check her out!
LOL at your comment about orphans! When I was really young I desperately wanted to be an orphan like Pippi and Anne Shirley. Except for the whole my parents having to be dead thing.
ReplyDeleteI love your review for this book! I feel so motivated to run out and read it. Thanks!
I've seen lots of buzz around this book too-and I keep seeing it referred to a LOTR book for MG-glad it stands up to that buzz!
ReplyDeleteOh and do you think it's something that would appeal to older readers or is it more MG and that's it?
ReplyDeleteIt depends on how open minded they were--it's is action-y and gets you quickly involved in the story. If they look at it as a middle school book, then they might not want to read it, but if they just want a good book, then yes.
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