Skip to main content

The Islands of Chaldea

By


The Islands of Chaldea
by Diana Wynne Jones, completed by Ursula Jones
HarperCollins, 2014.  356 pages.  Fantasy

     Diana Wynne Jones died three years ago, leaving The Islands of Chaldea unfinished, and not leaving any outline or notes as to how the book should conclude.  But her sister Ursula took up the challenge and completed the book to make a fine, last story in the Jones' canon.  Aileen lives with her Aunt Beck, the greatest magicworker in the land of Skarr.  Aileen is expected to follow in her aunt's footsteps, but when she has her first initiation experience, she thinks nothing happens, and she thinks she's a failure.  But soon she and Aunt Beck are summoned by the High King to go on a quest to penetrate the veil that has fallen over the Chaldean island of Logra where Aileen's father disappeared years ago.  The expedition leaves with much fanfare but before long Aunt Beck runs afoul of a truly disagreeable sorceress and has her brains addled to the point that Aileen has to become the party's magicworker and defacto leader.  With the help of an unusually wise parrot, and an often-invisible cat, she greatly exceeds her own expectations, unmasks the mysteries of Logra, and discovers the charms of a previously annoying young man. Ursula Jones has done a fine job of finishing her sister's last novel (alas!) and youngsters should enjoy Aileen's journey and her discovery of her better self.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Ruthie Rose's Big Idea

By
  Ruthie Rose's Big Idea Written by John Schu Illustrated by Holly Hatam Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2025. Picture Book. Some books just reach out and touch your heart and heal your soul. This is one of those books for me! Ruthie Rose wakes up one day with a beautiful idea. Because the idea is so big, she knows she will need a lot of help from people at her school. Fortunately, there are many faculty members and students ready and willing to help Rose with her idea. This story, and the accompanying artwork feel so joyful, hopeful, and inspiring. The artwork is completely captivating. I can picture so many kids and grown-ups reading this book and feeling a spark of creativity enter into their minds. I think it could give kids the courage they need to plan and implement their own "big ideas."  I loved that no one saw Ruthie's ideas as too big, too hard, or too much. They shared her vision, and each of them individually did their part to contribute in helping it co...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dragon Run

By
Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013.  336 pgs.  Fantasy      Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life.  He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines.  Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...
1 comment
Read more