La menace de l'Etoile du Soir

I like the reviews of this that complain about the racism of having a Cowboys and Indians foosball table. Reading them makes me feel smart about history, it makes me feel good that our society is so honesty about history, and it serves as a melancholy reminder that the real message of these children's novels is a complex statement about the pseudo-racist undertones of white American culture and their surreptitious integration into the post-modern philosophies which inebriate children's literature. I'm glad that I have the proper humility to understand these books when I read them, and to be ashamed of how bigoted my people are.

These books are great, and this is where it starts. I want a foosball table like that.

Critiques about this books plot, or characters, or writing are completely legitimate. Looking for things to trigger you in a kids book is a silly pastime. If you must, there's many better places to look. Sorry that a foosball table hurts your feelings.

But not really.

This is an interesting book. It had a couple surprising twists to it.

This was a great book. I'm amazed at the imagination Brandon Mull has. I chose to read this book more slowly than the first and savoring each chapter like a little kid who rarely gets candy.

I have to say I figured out who the traitor was half way but there were many things I didn't see coming. I love how the author ties details together from the beginning of the book and even with things from the first book. He doesn't leave frustrating questions at the end of the story other than those intended to make you want to read the next book in the series.

I would love to see a computer animation/film of this story!

The second installment continues where the first left off, without feeling that there is any major conflict during the story. It introduces a major new antagonist, but only sets the stage for subsequent books.

Age range: 10+
Younger readers may find it a little scary. Older readers may find the tone a little juvenile.

This was another fun and fantastical book. It got down to the point a bit quicker than the first one, and I think it moved a bit quicker. It's obvious there's alot of the story left, but overall it was a good continuation of the series.

In this second book of the Fablehaven series, Kendra and Seth are back at school when strange things start to happen. The magical world, especially the sinister Society of the Evening Star, comes looking for them. Soon they are back at Fablehaven along with some new characters. The Society is desperately trying to get their hands on the magical artifact hidden at Fablehaven. Can Kendra and Seth stop them?

Like the first book, I read this one aloud to the kids. They like it. They want me to read the next one. I'm opting not to. I'm not a big fan of the author's writing style. He hasn't met an alternative for “said” that he doesn't use. I find that very jarring – especially when reading it aloud. He'd do well to follow Elmore Leonard's third rule for writing: Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue.

This book seemed a little tedious to me. If my 10-year-old decides to continue this series on his own, he'll probably be just fine with it. But I've got some other ideas for the next read-aloud book.