Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof

Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof
Created by Kobe Bryant
Written by Ivy Claire
Two Rivers Distribution, 2019. 353 p.

The Kingdom of Epoca is ruled by Dreamers and Realists. Which class rules is based upon which side wins a series of games similar to the Olympics every few years. Princess Pretia Praxis-Onera is both. Her father is a dreamer and her mother is a realist. As of this story, no matter who wins the games her parents will rule together (though the mixed-race marriage caused a huge scandal in Epoca). The athletes that compete to have their clan rule are graced with grana, their divinely given talents that supposedly come from the gods and help them to excel in all things sports. Pretia isn’t sure that she likes her grana—the first time she used it there was an accident so she believes it is cursed. Pretia’s story intertwines with the story of Ravi. Ravi is the son of an exiled Visualization trainer at the elite school Ecrof Academy (the place where all those with grana train in various sports). Ravi is sure there was more to the story of what happened when his father was disgraced and sent away from Ecrof, but he has no idea what. Now Pretia and Ravi must work together to figure out what is really going on and to save the school as well as their kingdom.

This is an intricate world built on what seems like a nod to Greek gods and goddesses as well as the Greek Olympiads with a touch of fantasy (that grana and the magic and power that comes with it) and a whole dash of sports—especially track and field. Readers who love fast-paced world building, strong characters, adventure, and sports (and Kobe Bryant) will enjoy reading this tale of adventure and comradery.

Comments

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.

Review: The Factory

The Factory By Catherine Egan New York, NY : Scholastic Inc., 2025. Fiction. 306 pages. Thirteen-year-old Asher Doyle has been invited to join the Factory, a secretive research facility in the desert which ostensibly extracts renewable energy from the electromagnetic fields of its young recruits. But Asher soon realizes something sinister is going on. Kids are getting sick. The adults who run the Factory seem to be keeping secrets. And the extraction process is not only painful and exhausting, but existentially troubling. Asher makes a handful of new friends who help him with an investigation that turns into a resistance, which turns into...a cliffhanger! The Factory is a page-turning sci-fi with multidimensional characters, an intriguing plot, and refreshingly straight-forward writing. Egan weaves in detail about climate crises and social unrest, making the story's dystopian setting feel rich and plausible. With its sophisticated themes and accessible storytelling, I would recomm...

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog