The Rivers of Zadaa (Pendragon)

by D.J. MacHale

Aladdin, April, 2006.
Paperback, 416 pages.
ISBN: 0689869126
Subgenre: Young Adult

The Rivers of Zadaa (Pendragon) by D.J. MacHale

It is interesting to observe the disconnect between what some literary critics think that children should enjoy reading and what they actually enjoy reading. In opposition to the trend of incredibly depressing teen dramas in which students either commit suicide, consider committing suicide or are irreparably damaged by their parents' love affairs or drug addiction, there is another trend in young adult books which harkens back to an earlier era: the exciting adventure story. D.J. MacHale knows what inspires teens' imaginations and he knows how to tell a great story. That is why the Pendragon adventures are so popular.

In this sixth entry in the series, Bobby Pendragon and the athletic fellow Traveler Loor travel via Plume to Loor's planet to stop the evil Saint Dane from inciting a civil war on the planet over the scarce water supply. Bobby is still coming to term what it means to be a Traveler between worlds: he has a duty to use his powers to protect those who cannot protect themselves. He has also come to realize that he really needs to know how to fight: and Loor is just the teen Amazon warrior to teach him. D.J. MacHale keeps the action moving at a breakneck pace. His teenaged heroes are always believable: they have flaws just like everyone else making their extraordinary adventures all the more compelling.

The Rivers of Zadaa (Pendragon) is available for purchase on Amazon.com

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This review was published in the February, 2006 of The Internet Writing Journal.