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:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Umami

By
  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...
Post a Comment
Read more

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

Five Faves: Picture Books with Festive Treats

By
In my family, December marks the beginning of the holiday season, where we get to spend time together and do all of our favorite traditions. And, of course, eat lots of yummy food. I love that holidays look different for different families, but so many families have special foods they eat during the holidays. These are some of my favorite picture books about families making (and eating!) special holiday treats. These books might even give you new ideas of festive treats to try! The Last Tamale Written by Mendiola Orlando Illustrated by Teresa Martinez New York: Harper, 2024. Picture Book. Once a year, Luis' whole family gets together for their annual tamalada -- a party where they make tamales using a super-secret recipe. It's all love, family, and tradition until there is only one tamale left. Who will get it? It's an all-out family battle to decide who gets the last tamale. Colorful and humorous, this story is perfect for the holidays or whenever your family likes to enjo...
Post a Comment
Read more