The Trolls
Posted: June 26, 2009 Filed under: Book of Sand 1 Commentby Polly Horvath
This was another instance where I got my “suggested reading” lists mixed up. I thought this one was from the suggested children’s fantasy – but it is in fact from the 6th grade reading list. Imagine my disappointment when I found the book really had little to do with trolls and nothing to do with fantasy. It’s not a bad book, just kind of…dull, given my expectations.
The Trolls is about three siblings whose aunt comes to babysit them while the parents are on vacation, and the aunt tells stories from her childhood. The dad seldom told the kids anything about growing up, so it was an adventure for them to hear. Not so interesting for me to read. Honestly, I’m recommending you skip this one. If you want to hear childhood stories, read A Long Way From Chicago.
James and the Giant Peach
Posted: June 26, 2009 Filed under: Book of Sand 1 Commentby Roald Dahl
I put off reading this for a long time because I saw the movie (actually, my mom let me play hooky from school when it came out and we went to see it together – sweet!) and all I remembered was something about a rhinoceros. In fact, it turns out to be quite a different rhinoceros than is in the book, and I’m glad for it. The movie made it a much more sinister animal.
At any rate, James and the Giant Peach is a fairly fluffy story, as Dahl’s stories go, but I enjoyed it. And yes: I want peaches now.
The People of Sparks
Posted: June 26, 2009 Filed under: Book of Sand 2 Commentsby Jeanne DuPrau
It’s been almost four years since I read The City of Ember, the first in DuPrau’s series about civilization after a series of wars that destroyed much of the planet’s cities, structures, and resources. In The City of Ember, a group of people has been living underground for over 100 years with their entire city powered by generators. A young girl and boy discover the forgotten instructions from the city founders for leaving the underground dwelling and returning to the surface. I really enjoyed it, and thought the movie version (released in 2008) was actually a great adaptation.
The People of Sparks is about what happens once the people from Ember arrive on the surface. Things are drastically different not only from their home underground but from the world we know – many types of technology have been all but forgotten, and there are legends and stories about the way things used to be. It was an interesting vision. Plus, the plot was well-written, the characters were believable, and I want to read the further books – and see the movies, if they make any more! Recommended for 5th grade and up.
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