Children's Book Reviews
Page One of TwoEarthquakes by Franklyn M. Branley, Illustrations by Megan Lloyd
HarperTrophy, February, 2005Hardcover, 40 pages
ISBN: 0064451887
Ages 4-8
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
No parent wants his child to experience the
devastation an earthquake can cause, but many families
live in areas where earthquakes are an unfortunate possibility.
Earthquakes helps explain earthquakes to children and shows
them what can happen with realistic illustrations. Some of
the illustrations show frightening scenes like burning
homes, swaying skyscrapers and crushed bridges and cars.
The text can be frightening too: "During a big earthquake,
Many buildings fall down. There are also fires. Pipes that carry
Gas to homes are broken. A spark may set the gas afire. Sometimes
Firefighters can't fight the flames because water pipes have
been broken." The book is factual and it doesn't try to downplay
the risk to homes and families, but it also says most earthquakes
are minor and gives tips for what to do if you are caught in an
earthquake whether you are indoors or outside. No one likes to scare
children, but knowledge can save lives. If you live in California or
any earthquake-prone area,
this one's a must for anyone who has toddlers.
The Light of the Oracle by Victoria Hanley
David Fickling Books, May, 2005Hardcover, 320 pages
ISBN: 0385750862
Ages 12 and up
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
The daughter of a poor stonecutter, 15 year old Bryn is hopeless
at doing normal household tasks. Much to her parents' dismay,
she spends most of her time daydreaming and talking to the
local village priest, who secretly teaches her to read. One day,
Bryn crosses paths with
the Master Priest of the Temple of the Oracle himself. The
Master recognizes her daydreaming for talent and
convinces her parents to allow her to
go to the Temple for training. The Temple is much like
a boarding school, complete with cliques and rivalries.
But Bryn's talents show themselves early and she is marked
by the Wind. Other girls are marked by various birds. With
each mark comes a special gift, in addition to the gift of Prophecy
that all marked handmaidens have. Innocently enough, Bryn
gives true predictions of the future, not realizing that in a
large and complicated kingdom politics -- not truth -- may have more bearing
on what the Master Priest tells the King. Soon, Bryn realizes
that there is something horribly wrong at the Temple and she
and her friends must find out what it is before it destroys the kingdom
for good.
Set in the same world as The Healer's Keep and The Seer and the Sword, The Light of the Oracle is a stand-alone story that works quite well on its own. Essentially a coming of age story, the book features a likeable and smart heroine and well-realized secondary characters. The magic of the Temple and the Oracle is quite interesting, and the introduction of kingdom politics and scheming courtiers adds to the fun. Victoria Hanley has a light hand with prose; her story simply sings with energy and fun.
Children's Book Reviews
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Return to the June 2005 issue of The IWJ.
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