The Search for WondLa

August 23, 2010
Spiderwick Chronicles coauthor
DiTerlizzi introduces 12-year-old Eva Nine, who lives centuries in the future and is trying to discover whether she is the last human being on an alien world, in this series launch. After a hunter forces her out of Sanctuary—where she's been raised by a robot, Muthr—she finds a hostile world like nothing she has learned about or trained for. She makes friends, including a wanderer named Rovender and a telepathic "water horse" she calls Otto, but also finds unexpected enemies. While there is less imaginative variety than in the Spiderwick books, and the world does not seem as fully envisioned, there is still wonder aplenty in this tense, chase-filled journey to engage young readers, plus twists for adult fans of Twilight Zone–styled stories. The bond between Eva and her friends is well drawn, and Otto, happily, is more than just a human in alien form. DiTerlizzi's evocative, detailed pen illustrations (not all seen by PW), which have a retro Star Wars vibe, and interactive maps online, unlocked via Augmented Reality, contribute to a sense of adventure as Eva dives into the unknown. Ages 10–up.

Outstanding. When a narrator can evoke empathy for a cast of unlikely characters, there's something special happening. And something remarkable is taking place in DiTerlizzi's story. Eva Nine, who was raised by a robot Muthr underground, suddenly faces a quest to find more of her kind above ground in a hostile world. Teri Hatcher brings to life the myriad of distinctive creatures who journey with Eva. Listeners will relish the ethereal voice of Otto the Water Bear, the warmly protective Rovender, and the flat-voiced Muthr. As narrator, Hatcher is elegant in her elocution, and she paces the story carefully--inviting the listener to assimilate the rich details of character and action. While this production stands alone, the illustrations and interactive opportunities on the book's Web site create a twenty-first-century reading package. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine