The Emerald Atlas

ifeelbookish - So I rated this book 3.5 stars. Don't get me wrong, this is a REALLY good book but I USED to be in LOVE with fantasy novels. Now I'm kind of a little older and I've been reading less Middle Reader Fantasy (this is the first fantasy novel that I've read in like, a year), and more Young Adult novels. I read this book like a month ago, but I decided not to read the whole series (which I have never done before, I always finish a book series) because I'm kind of growing out of the Fantasy genre. I kind of got bored with the characters, only because the somewhat stereotypical "three abandoned orphans" plot is overused a lot. I really liked how Gabriel and the Empress were described. The Empress was really ruthless, and it definitely showed throughout the book. Gabriel wasn't your typical strong hero that comes out of nowhere, his personality and emotions were really raw a well-plotted. This book kind of reminded me of the Narnia series because it was so full of adventure and magic. The pacing of the book was absolutely on point, which I loved. Anyway, I thought this book was a little bit over average, I know that people younger than me would enjoy it. There's a lot of really awesome elements like dwarves, a mysterious book, giants, and other mythical creatures. I would recommend this to the 9-11 year old range.

January 17, 2011
This promising first volume in debut author Stephens's Books of Beginning trilogy concerns siblings Kate, Michael, and Emma, who, when very young, were taken from their parents to protect them from unspecified forces of darkness. They have since spent 10 years in a series of unpleasant orphanages; the last of these—which, oddly enough, houses no children but themselves—is run by the eccentric Dr. Pym. While exploring their palatial yet decrepit new home tucked away in the Adirondacks, the children discover a magical green book, which transports them into the recent past. There they do battle with a beautiful witch who has terrorized and enslaved the local people in her unsuccessful search for the very book the children possess. Adventures follow, featuring murderous zombielike Screechers, time travel paradoxes, and multiple revelations about Dr. Pym. If Stephens's characterizations sometimes dip into cliché (grumpy, Scottish-ish dwarves; noble/heroic natives; an effete evil assistant), few will mind. This fast-paced, fully imagined fantasy is by turns frightening and funny, and the siblings are well-crafted and empathetic heroes. Highly enjoyable, it should find many readers. Ages 8–12.