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Paradiesvoll & Geheimnisgrün (2013)

by Helen Phillips(Favorite Author)

3.91 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

3551520445 (ISBN13: 9783551520449)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Chicken House by Carlsen

review 1: I started out not loving the writing - VERY pre-teen in the voice and maybe I am getting too old for that??? But I ended up loving Mad & Roo and I think the author is great at making it seem like a 9- and 12-year-old are speaking. Actually I loved all of the characters and the plot! And the setting, and the fact that it is a realistic story with a sneaky hint of fantasy and magic. I appreciated the sisters' relationship.
review 2: A cross of The Penderwicks and The Mysterious Benedict Society, but not quite as well done as either. The one thing Phillips does the best is creating full, vibrant characters with feelings as real as the kids who are reading the book. She describes the scenery of the rain forest very well, making you feel right at home at the s... moremall motel Mad, Roo, and their mom are staying in. But it's far from a perfect book....To me, the plot stutters and spurts, much like the volcano and its eruptions. It seems that the children go into the jungle to face certain danger while searching for their father, for the elusive bird, and they turn back without really ever having done anything. The aloofness of the mother was never really explained, and it was something I thought needed to be. There were parts at the beginning where it was clear that the author was trying to insert liberal ideology into a kids book. As if... of course the mother would keep her maiden name. And that the most important part about Vivi, the superstar actress, was that she gave readily to environmental issues. There were just hints of it at the beginning, before the story really started. And it really ticked me off. I almost told myself that if that keeps up, I was going to stop reading it. I have thoroughly enjoyed books with environmental issues, but only if it's not thrown in my face. Read Cary Neeper's "The Webs of Varok" and "A Place Beyond Man," for books primarily concern with ecological balance but also with an amazing storyline. But I'm giving the book 4 stars because I honestly enjoyed reading it. The ending was satisfying, the explanation from the author was genuine and fitting at the end. It could easily be a part of a series, with the same characters growing up and finding their own iniquities and strengths. At the end, while Madeline was realizing some of her fears, it reminded me of John Christopher's Tripod books, where the kids have fears and faults, and aren't afraid to bring them out. It's what makes this book worth reading, and worth kids reading, for all it's faults... it's a good book. less

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