I have long been a fan of Andrew Peterson’s music and have always enjoyed reading his blogs and journals.

I was really excited to learn he was writing a book.

But I was also a little worried. Fantasy is really hit or miss with me. Sometimes I love it beyond all compare (Harry Potter) and sometimes I can’t get past the first few pages (The Hobbit).

I am so pleased to tell you that this book is fantastic.

First, here’s a little about the book from the publisher: In the quiet land of Skree, the Igiby children—Janner, his younger brother Tink, and their crippled sister Leeli—stumble upon the lost jewels of Anniera and determine to return them. Unfortunately, the scary-bad Gnag the Nameless seeks the jewels for his own evil ends… and so our band of friends, accompanied by their trust dog Nugget, must escape with the help of their mom and grandfather (who happens to be an ex-pirate).

Their journey takes them through an inventively fantastical world of wonders, complete with memorable characters (like Gnag’s evil minions the Fangs and Peet the Sock Man), fanciful creatures (like sea dragons, snickbuzzards, toothy cows, flabbits, and bomnubbles), and captivating places (like the Books & Crannies bookstore, Shaggy Tavern, the Dark Sea of Darkness that divides the land of Skree from Anniera, the Glipwood Forest, Ice Prairies, and the Stony Mountains).

Through fast-paced storytelling, little ditties, songs, and poems, side-splitting asides, sensory descriptions of time and place, and characters rich in heart, courage, and smarts, Andrew Peterson has created a wondrous tale you’ll enjoy and treasure—just like those lost jewels.

My Review: This book is so funny and delightful! The many different names don’t give me a headache but are quick to catch on to. It really reminds me of fantasy more in the vein of JK Rowling or Roald Dahl than anything else. It’s exciting, the cast of characters are charming, and the mysteries are fun. And it’s full of the same sorts of themes Andrew has in his music, which is a treat for a fan like me. I think this would be an excellent book for reading out loud with the family. Boys and girls will both enjoy this book. (as well as their parents!)

This entry was posted on Monday, March 17th, 2008 at 12:00 am

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