I have a stack waiting to read:  Mason Dixon Basketball Disasters, Melonehead and the Vegalicious Disaster, Ghost Buddy – Zero to Hero and The Adventures of a South Pole Pig.  The first three are part of different series that I really think are great for third and fourth grade readers.  I hope you’ll read some or all if them.  I have read parts of these series already (see other Monday posts) and I like how real the characters are.  They are ordinary kids with the same kinds of questions worries and wonderings of kids in our classroom and school have.  They help you know you’re not alone.  I plan to take the time to finish them this week so I can tell you what my favorite is.  The last in that list is another “maybe” for first read aloud.  It looks totally different and that’s what is so appealing.  We’ll see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The book that I finished and hope everyone who is a fantasy fan – and even those who think they are not – will read is, The Golden Door by Emily Rodda.  Her writing is exciting and suspenseful.  She writes so that even though you, as the reader of fantasy,  know some of the things that are bound to happen – the youngest brother is going to be the chosen one, the magic is going to help him at the last minute, some of the ancient ways have been lost or misunderstood – you are not going to know how they will unfold at all.  I love that!

Rye, pure of heart, is the youngest brother living in a land plagued with skimmers.  They come to Weld by night in search of prey – they eat any living thing they can find, human or beast.  Recently the attacks have been more severe and the Warden needs to take action.  He issues a proclamation.  It is a quest. Any man 18 or older who accepts the terms of the quest will leave Dorn by a secret way.  While outside the city they must find and destroy the source of the skimmers.  Upon returning he will become the future leader of Weld.  Rye’s oldest brother, Dirk, is strong, steadfast and a determined leader.  He is 18 and among the first to accept the challenge.  A year later he has not returned.  Sholto, the middle brother, is studious and scientific. Different, but determined as well.    By that time he has turned 18 and is among the second group to go.  Two years later when neither has returned, Rye and his mother move to the Keep because they need the Warden’s protection and support to survive.

Rye can’t bear this life and determines to find his brothers and bring them home.  He also accepts the terms of the quest and is off alone – others no longer believe the quest is possible.  Readers quickly know that though Rye has deceived the Warden by saying he is 18, he has not broken any of the terms of the quest. He has not going to destroy the skimmers and has no desire to become leader.  He has gone to make his family whole again.  Readers also know that Rye is part of something much larger than he realizes.  It seems that he is “the one” who will be able to set things right, but what they are and how that will be done is a mystery.    You’ll be eagerly turning page after page to find out why Rye has been chosen and what he will do to fulfill his destiny.

This is the first in a trilogy.  What is exciting as a reader is knowing I will have to wait to the very last page of the last book in order to find the complete answer to my questions and fully understand the magic and mystery that surrounds Rye.