(no subject)
Alright, I realize it's been months since I've updated this, and it's pretty much always going to be that spotty. I've accepted this. However, being the nerd that I am, I just found out about (and visited!) a blog that two of the librarians at my library write for the teens who participate in our teen programs. I am still a little confused as to how I didn't know that this existed before, but this is beside the point. Now I want to publish my own book reviews, although I will never be as quick with them as they are! They must read a book or two a week! Although I am in the middle of multiple books, I don't know that all of them are worth a review, even. I like to read non-fiction books almost as much as I like to read fiction, so I always have an eclectic collection. For example, I am in the middle of a book about homeschooling called, simply, Homeschooling: A Family's Journey. I find this interesting, and as a teacher, I'm always a little curious about why parents pull their kids out of traditional schools. But it's not worth a review, because I don't know anyone else who'd be interested in reading it. I'm also rereading Twilight (Yes, I've read it way too many times already. This is not the point!) but this time I am attempting to read it in Spanish, which is an entirely crazy concept, as I'm not remotely fluent in the language! I know plenty of words, and am working hard to increase my fluency, as many of the kids that I teach speak Spanish, but this is the first novel I've ever tried to read in the language. Luckily, I already know the storyline (nearly memorized the book by the page, it seems!) so that's a plus when reading in a foreign language! I'm in the middle of a few more, most of which I don't even remember at the moment, and one or two that are simply going to take me forever to finish, as I only read them occasionally when I have free time at a certain place. The book that I feel like reviewing, however, I finished yesterday. It is called On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness and is actually written by a little-known Christian musician, Andrew Peterson, whose music I love. Obviously, I went ahead and bought the book, and I'm so glad that I did!
This book is a fantasy/adventure book. Although I think the whole family would enjoy the story, the reading level is at least middle school. It takes place in another land called Skree, and although it used to be a wonderful place where all its people were free, it has recently been conquered by Gnag the Nameless and the evil Fangs of Dang, who now occupy the land. The three main characters, all kids, have never lived in a time when there haven't been Fangs around, and have grown used to seeing them around town.
Janner, the oldest, does admit to worrying about The Carriage, which shows up mysteriously at night and carts off children from the towns, never to be seen again, but isn't too worried about the actual Fangs around town. That is, until his little sister, Leeli, gets intercepted by one, and nearly captured. When Janner and his brother Tink finally locate their little sister and fight to free her, all three children are captured. This is only the beginning of this wonderful story that follows the strange turn of events that leave the poor Igiby family, who live just outside the town of Glipwood,suddenly in the center of their own adventure story and finding the weight of their world on their shoulders!
The book is meant to seem like the history of this world, and cites things stories and has footnotes to other information that exists in the world of the Igibys, but does not exist in our world. I found all of these little footnotes really added to the overall feel of the story, and just created more of this world that I found myself absorbed into. It also contains the lyrics to a few original songs that the author, which I hope he releases on an album at some point!
This book is a fantasy/adventure book. Although I think the whole family would enjoy the story, the reading level is at least middle school. It takes place in another land called Skree, and although it used to be a wonderful place where all its people were free, it has recently been conquered by Gnag the Nameless and the evil Fangs of Dang, who now occupy the land. The three main characters, all kids, have never lived in a time when there haven't been Fangs around, and have grown used to seeing them around town.
Janner, the oldest, does admit to worrying about The Carriage, which shows up mysteriously at night and carts off children from the towns, never to be seen again, but isn't too worried about the actual Fangs around town. That is, until his little sister, Leeli, gets intercepted by one, and nearly captured. When Janner and his brother Tink finally locate their little sister and fight to free her, all three children are captured. This is only the beginning of this wonderful story that follows the strange turn of events that leave the poor Igiby family, who live just outside the town of Glipwood,suddenly in the center of their own adventure story and finding the weight of their world on their shoulders!
The book is meant to seem like the history of this world, and cites things stories and has footnotes to other information that exists in the world of the Igibys, but does not exist in our world. I found all of these little footnotes really added to the overall feel of the story, and just created more of this world that I found myself absorbed into. It also contains the lyrics to a few original songs that the author, which I hope he releases on an album at some point!