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Feb 03, 2011
Kathryn
added it
Moving this to the "stalled" shelf, I'm afraid. I listened to it after my husband did and so we're out of renewals at the library and I doubt I'll muster the enthusiasm to check it out again. I loved the beginning but somehow it just didn't develop for me and I found the time travel bits confusing. Maybe because I only listened to fifteen minutes at a time during my commute...? Also, I found a few of the characters a bit annoying; one would hope that there is growth as the story progresses, and
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Kate’s mother’s last words to her were “I need you to keep your brother and sister safe…Remember your father and I love you very much. And we will all be together again. I promise.” Then she and Kate’s father were gone. Now ten years and twelve orphanages later, Kate, her sister Emma and her brother Michael are on their way to their last stop - Cambridge Falls, a town no one knows. Upon arriving they notice things at this orphanage are different: 1) they are the only children in the place; 2) th
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Sometimes popularity leads me to terrible books (like Twilight and The Da Vinci Code), but other times it leads me to books that are actually very good. I didn't think I was going to like The Emerald Atlas very much, but it's popular with the kiddos, so I felt I should read it. I started out skeptical, but by the end I couldn't put it down! I was riveted.
Sure, there's a lot of TELLING instead of SHOWING. And the number of times Kate has to retell her whole story is a little ridiculous. But the ...more
Sure, there's a lot of TELLING instead of SHOWING. And the number of times Kate has to retell her whole story is a little ridiculous. But the ...more
I once tried to listen to Jim Dale read the first Harry Potter book, and stopped less than an hour in. I won't say I've been completely won over to his voice, but it did feel well-suited to this fantasy/time travel adventure, particularly the voices of the dwarves!
While the story itself didn't feel completely original, it did have a few elements that made it feel fresh. I enjoyed the combination of traditional children's fantasy (the evil Countess and her frightening creatures, the dwarves, the ...more
While the story itself didn't feel completely original, it did have a few elements that made it feel fresh. I enjoyed the combination of traditional children's fantasy (the evil Countess and her frightening creatures, the dwarves, the ...more
So far it's really good - but A LOT like Harry Potter... And to make matters worse, Jim Dale is the reader, so I'm even more reminded of the HP books!
Despite the HP similarities, I enjoyed this one. Three children, abandoned by their parents when they were very young, have grown up in orphanages. At their latest home, they discover a mysterious book that sends them back into time. It turns out that they have magical powers and are part of a prophecy that has put them in grave danger. A quick, fu ...more
Despite the HP similarities, I enjoyed this one. Three children, abandoned by their parents when they were very young, have grown up in orphanages. At their latest home, they discover a mysterious book that sends them back into time. It turns out that they have magical powers and are part of a prophecy that has put them in grave danger. A quick, fu ...more
This is between a four qnd a five.
Well told with dwarves, wizards, bravery and love, three children stumble towards their destiny and we get to go along.
This is one of the strongest books I've read this year and it is definitely one I will recommend. ...more
Well told with dwarves, wizards, bravery and love, three children stumble towards their destiny and we get to go along.
This is one of the strongest books I've read this year and it is definitely one I will recommend. ...more
I have to admit that fantasy is my least favorite genre. However, I felt that this book sort of lied on the edge of fantasy in a way that I truly enjoyed. There was enough realism to keep me interested, and it somehow made me feel like the fantastical parts could really happen. Maybe it was listening to it read by Jim Dale, who is incredible, or maybe it was the adventure of it all. Also, I was super excited when I realized, after I started listening to it, that John Stephens was a writer for Gi
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Dec 26, 2011
Karen
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
series,
bookaday,
middle-grade,
fantasy,
read-aloud-possibility,
theme,
reading-is-thinking
Great book! I'm not usually a fan of fiction and I really loved this one! Really hoping one of my classes chooses this as a read aloud.
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Very entertaining & exciting. Some knuckle-biting moments & good time travel elements. Good sympathetic protagonists, and each one of the siblings is different and pretty well-developed. Glad there are going to be 2 more--I'm looking forward to seeing how Stephens plots the remaining 2 books and shows the strengths of the other 2 books of beginning. Glad I read it, and I'll definitely recommend this book & the series to young fantasy readers.
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Chose this as our latest audio book because it is a Maud Hart Lovelace Nominee for 2014.
The audio version is fabulous. We found ourselves bringing the discs in from the the car to continue listening in the house.
The Bud (2nd grader) loved it! He was very excited we found The Fire Chronicle (book 2) on audio at the library just as we were finishing up.
5 Stars for audio selection
The audio version is fabulous. We found ourselves bringing the discs in from the the car to continue listening in the house.
The Bud (2nd grader) loved it! He was very excited we found The Fire Chronicle (book 2) on audio at the library just as we were finishing up.
5 Stars for audio selection
A superb book that readers of all ages will enjoy. There's adventure, time travel, magic, wizards, dwarves and plenty of monsters that will keep fans of fantasy and adventure glued to the pages.
You can read my 5 star review here
http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2011/0... ...more
You can read my 5 star review here
http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2011/0... ...more
This book has it all, but its sum total is less than its parts. I didn't love any of the characters, except maybe Michael, and I have absolutely no desire to read the next two books in this trilogy.
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A slightly spooky adventure as experienced by three children who grow up as orphans. Good characters and story, if a slightly hard to follow timeline.
May 21, 2011
Jessica
marked it as to-read
Jun 24, 2011
Beth Knight
marked it as to-read
Sep 19, 2011
Emily
marked it as to-read
