Book Summary:
From School Library Journal
Grade 6–9—Bran Hambric is a foundling, left in a bank vault and taken in by Sewey and Mabel Wilomas, who live in the town of Dunce. In an effort to preserve the decency of the community, the town has banned even the mere mention of magic. During a harrowing accident involving a truck at the Duncelander Fair, Bran discovers that he is a mage. He also has to face the difficult truth that his mother was a mage as well as a criminal, in league with an underground group with a rather gruesome plan to overthrow the Mages Council. Bran discovers that people are trying to find him so that they can use him to help finish the job she started. This book is a clear reflection of the influence of the “Harry Potter” books on a new generation of writers. Sadly, the author’s attempts at creative language and original ideas come across as silly. Nation creates a contemporary world that is a tool for social satire, but that feels flat and uninteresting. Beyond quirks of dialogue, he gives no real sense of who the characters really are, so it is difficult to have any empathy when they are injured or appear to have died.
—Tim Wadham, St. Louis County Library, MO END –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Michelle’s Review:
Coming Soon
- Reading level: Ages 9-12
- Paperback: 464 pages
- Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; Reprint edition (August 1, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1402243979
- ASIN: B0058M6WQQ
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I read both of these books with my boys and we really enjoyed them. We had hoped that Kaleb would write a third book in the series.