The Magician's Elephant Book Review

I recently finished reading The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo. Kate DiCamillo has written some of my favorite books, Because of Winn-Dixie, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and The Tale of Despereaux. However, as I read The Magician’s Elephant I didn’t know how such an acclaimed author could commit the simple mistake of keeping her characters undeveloped. When the characters feel strong emotions (or should be anyway) it seems that all they do is shrug their shoulders and say, “Well that’s life. Whatcha gonna do about it?” She also continually switches between a dozen characters’ points of view which gives you plenty of characters but all of them are 2-D. Remember, quality not quantity. The whole book seems to build up to one super-climax, but when you reach it you will find that it is a bump in the road, not a mountain to climb.

~ Dr. Seuss

The Thief Lord

                                                  The Thief Lord
The Thief Lord, by Cornelia Funke, is a short but charming book about two brothers, Prosper and Bo, who flee their hated Aunt Ester and escape to Venice. They then find themselves swept up into a small group of children living in a movie theater. The so-called "Thief Lord" is the leader of the group, and they all admire him very much until Prosper and Bo unknowingly reveal a dark secret.

The Thief Lord if full of multi-dimensional characters, a strong plot, lyrical writing, and an unusual twist on fantasy literature. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone seeking a fast and fun read.

~Skyler Mae

Triss

Triss by Brian Jacques is an imaginative, well-written, and funny book. The reason is this: Brian Jacques develops his characters very quickly; maybe too quickly for some readers. The story takes place in a land of talking animals and mystical fire mountains. Readers of non-fiction or readers who frequently make connections will probably stay away from the Redwall series, of which Triss is one. However, for fantasy readers, Triss is great. Jaques is descriptive in all of his books, while at the same time able to keep the reader interested with his twisting plot. All in all, a very good read.

-King Kong

Zoobreak

Zoobreak is a fantastic book written by Gordan Korman. It has a great plot and will keep you reading it. You won't want to put this book down. I definitely recommend it to people who like action. I loved it.

~Fishy

When You Reach Me

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When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead

As Miranda helps her mother prepare for her appearance on the game show, ‘The $20,000 Pyramid,’ mysteries abound. He best friend, Sal, is no longer her best friend. People may not be as they appear. Mysterious notes are left suggesting that Miranda has the clue to help her friend, though she may not realize it until it is too late. This book holds all of the things childhood is made of: weird folks, friends, enemies, stern adults (who maybe aren’t as mean as they seemed after all), misunderstandings, and intrigue. If you’ve read or even heard of A Wrinkle in Time, this book is for you. Does time move in a straight line or are there ‘wrinkles’ that allow some of us to see what is going to unfold before it actually occurs? Join Miranda and her friends on this adventure. You’ll be glad you did.

The Unfinished Angel

This book, set in Switzerland, is a wonderful combination of eccentric characters who learn about themselves throughout the story. Zola, a unique little girl who moves into Casa Rosa, and the angel become acquainted; they help the people of the village become friends and care for each other. For a word lover, this story is pure delight. The angel speaks an English-Italian mix of unusual words such as specialful, smule (smile), childrens, fabbagrating (lying), sadful, and extramarkable (remarkable). Sometimes it is easy to know what the angel means, other times the reader has to try and figure it out. As usual, Sharon Creech engages her readers and leaves them wanting more.

Looking Back

Looking Back: A Book of Memories, Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry has a gift, writing. In each book she writes she shares a part of her story. This book, billed as a book of memories shares her life from childhood through her own children’s lives. It is a pleasant read with lots of pictures of her family members, which also makes it a quick read. Don’t be fooled by the breeziness of the format. Once again she shares words that make us think, feel, and grow as a result of having read them.

I have come to believe that all of us, as we write, or read, or draw….

as we hold the pages of a book tilted so that a little one can see…

as we choose and wrap a book as a gift for a child…

as we provide privacy and a comfortable chair, or a favorite book on a table beside a guest room bed…

as we sift through memories, sort them out, and see their meaning…

and as we look back, and say to a child, ‘I remember---‘

we do, in fact, hold the knowledge of centuries.

And we all become Givers.

This book is recommended for children and the adults who care about them. Enjoy~