Welcome to Day 2 of the Kidz Book Buzz tour for Darkwood by M.E. Breen! If you are a lover of YA fiction, especially YA fantasy, then Darkwood is the book for you!
Darkwood
by: M.E. Breen
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (May 12, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599902591
ISBN-13: 978-1599902593
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
Filled with delightfully wonderful characters, Darkwood starts off with young Annie, who lives with her mean Uncle and Aunt. It doesn't take long for Annie to realize that her Uncle has hideous and cruel plans of selling her to The Drop. The Drop is a slave encampment, of sorts, where adults and children are made to chip away at a huge mountain of stone to collect Ringstone, which is extremely rare and most desired.
Alone the way, Annie discovers that she has a sudden talent and ability of seeing in the dark. This helps, as she makes her escape for freedom. Though freedom from the Drop, may not mean true freedom of her life.
Along the way, Annie encounters likable and wonderful characters such as sisters Beatrice and Serena - who are opposite as can be, but both brimming with kindness. Also along the way, to keep Annie company, are her constant companions, Prue and Izzy. The two cats seem to have a very keen sense and save and comfort Annie countlessly through her journey.
Surprises are abundant throughout Darkwood, as is magic and a search for truth. I found this to be a wonderful and enjoyable story. It is a book with the power that once you begin reading, it is oh so hard to put down, without furtive and wishful thoughts and/or glimpses to get back to it. I really enjoyed the author's style of writing, her characterization and her ability to being the story to life within the pages. I also want to mention the fact that I love the cover. It is almost mesmorizing with it's ability to draw a person in. It seems to beckon and call out to be picked up, opened and absorbed.
I do want to say that I feel the age range of 10-15 is most appropriate. Darkwood does have a bit of a darker side to it, that may not be the best for ages younger than that. There were a few times that I was reminded a bit of The City of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau. Perhaps that was just the idea of magic and children involved that brought that comparison to mind. In any case, both that series and Darkwood are excellent books and ones that I highly recommend - what a better way to toss those "Mom, I'm bored" blues away?!
*overall rating 4.5/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A bit about Darkwood:
Darkness falls so quickly in Howland that the people there have no word for evening. One minute the sky is light, the next minute it is black. But darkness comes in other forms, too, and for thirteen-year-old Annie, the misery she endures in her Uncle’s household makes the black of night seem almost soothing. When Annie escapes, her route takes her first to a dangerous mine where a precious stone is being stolen by an enemy of the king, and later to the king’s own halls, where a figure from Annie’s past makes a startling appearance. All the while, reported sightings of kinderstalk— mysterious, wolf-like creatures that prowl Howland’s dark forests—grow more frequent. Eloquent, suspenseful, and imbued with fairy-tale motifs found in The Brothers Grimm, this is a riveting coming-of-age story of a girl who must learn to trust her instincts if she’s to lead the people she is destined to rule.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A bit about M.E. Breen:
M.E. Breen grew up with dogs, cats, newts, turtles, rabbits and rats in the woolly hills of Berkeley, California. She now lives by the ocean in San Francisco.
Be sure to check out M.E. Breen's website at: http://www.mebreen.com/
Other great blogs on tour are:
A Patchwork of Books, Abby the Librarian, All About Children’s Books, Becky’s Book Reviews, Cafe of Dreams, Dolce Bellezza, Hyperbole, KidzBookBuzz.com, Never Jam Today, My Utopia, Through a Child’s Eyes, Through the Looking Glass Reviews
Darkwood
by: M.E. Breen
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (May 12, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599902591
ISBN-13: 978-1599902593
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
Filled with delightfully wonderful characters, Darkwood starts off with young Annie, who lives with her mean Uncle and Aunt. It doesn't take long for Annie to realize that her Uncle has hideous and cruel plans of selling her to The Drop. The Drop is a slave encampment, of sorts, where adults and children are made to chip away at a huge mountain of stone to collect Ringstone, which is extremely rare and most desired.
Alone the way, Annie discovers that she has a sudden talent and ability of seeing in the dark. This helps, as she makes her escape for freedom. Though freedom from the Drop, may not mean true freedom of her life.
Along the way, Annie encounters likable and wonderful characters such as sisters Beatrice and Serena - who are opposite as can be, but both brimming with kindness. Also along the way, to keep Annie company, are her constant companions, Prue and Izzy. The two cats seem to have a very keen sense and save and comfort Annie countlessly through her journey.
Surprises are abundant throughout Darkwood, as is magic and a search for truth. I found this to be a wonderful and enjoyable story. It is a book with the power that once you begin reading, it is oh so hard to put down, without furtive and wishful thoughts and/or glimpses to get back to it. I really enjoyed the author's style of writing, her characterization and her ability to being the story to life within the pages. I also want to mention the fact that I love the cover. It is almost mesmorizing with it's ability to draw a person in. It seems to beckon and call out to be picked up, opened and absorbed.
I do want to say that I feel the age range of 10-15 is most appropriate. Darkwood does have a bit of a darker side to it, that may not be the best for ages younger than that. There were a few times that I was reminded a bit of The City of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau. Perhaps that was just the idea of magic and children involved that brought that comparison to mind. In any case, both that series and Darkwood are excellent books and ones that I highly recommend - what a better way to toss those "Mom, I'm bored" blues away?!
*overall rating 4.5/5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A bit about Darkwood:
Darkness falls so quickly in Howland that the people there have no word for evening. One minute the sky is light, the next minute it is black. But darkness comes in other forms, too, and for thirteen-year-old Annie, the misery she endures in her Uncle’s household makes the black of night seem almost soothing. When Annie escapes, her route takes her first to a dangerous mine where a precious stone is being stolen by an enemy of the king, and later to the king’s own halls, where a figure from Annie’s past makes a startling appearance. All the while, reported sightings of kinderstalk— mysterious, wolf-like creatures that prowl Howland’s dark forests—grow more frequent. Eloquent, suspenseful, and imbued with fairy-tale motifs found in The Brothers Grimm, this is a riveting coming-of-age story of a girl who must learn to trust her instincts if she’s to lead the people she is destined to rule.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A bit about M.E. Breen:
M.E. Breen grew up with dogs, cats, newts, turtles, rabbits and rats in the woolly hills of Berkeley, California. She now lives by the ocean in San Francisco.
Be sure to check out M.E. Breen's website at: http://www.mebreen.com/
Other great blogs on tour are:
A Patchwork of Books, Abby the Librarian, All About Children’s Books, Becky’s Book Reviews, Cafe of Dreams, Dolce Bellezza, Hyperbole, KidzBookBuzz.com, Never Jam Today, My Utopia, Through a Child’s Eyes, Through the Looking Glass Reviews
2 comments:
We gave our own lovely thomas sabo earring sale Rockoko Mum a black beaded for Christmas and it was a second hit, so what better than a charm to go with it. We’re idea the thomas sabo charm carriers gorgeous little purple flower- clear for Spring and it won’t expire like standard flowers (sweet as they are), but there are cheap thomas sabo charm carriers so many other Thomas Sabo charms that you’re adjoin to be spoilt for pick. Hearts are forever a winners, the delicate little pink thomas sabo charm carriers uk kindness is a particular favourite . Shoes are also discount thomas sabo charm carriers guaranteed to go down well as well as purse charms silver charm carriers but suchlike you determine you’re hurdle to find the precise thomas sabo necklaces charm or bracelet to regard your mum this cheap thomas sabo necklace Mother’s day. What’s more, input rules MUMRCK anytime between now and Mother’s Day and accept limitless giftwrap and the option to be discount thomas sabo necklaces entered a released prize draw to win now. In 1984, Mr. thomas sabo watches himself the pompous idea to institute the rings contract. thomas sabo watches uk He called his company to himself and the 'thomas sabo watches sale Jewels "were natural. Thomas Sabo's breakthrough came with the introduction cheap thomas sabo watches of the Charm Club. Wearing charms to trinkets is a dated tradition. discount thomas sabo watches The charms represent a part of you, a riddle passion or obsession. Life-altering moments, thomas watches shop a new romance, achievement of objectives and achievements .. Sabo watches It's all reflected in your charmbracellet. When I see ample stretch of silver charms at once again I feel 14 time. thomas watches I would not want, I would wish them all.
I loved your blog. Thank you.
Post a Comment