"John Stephens' aptly-titled new fantasy trilogy begins auspiciously with a nimble, fast-paced tale of three siblings. Kate, Michael, and Emma have suffered through ten years of odious orphanage 'care'; now they have slipped into the care of the eccentric, disturbingly mysterious Dr. Pym. While exploring their new home, the children discover a magical green book. With that discovery, a decade of tedium dissolves into cascades of dangerous time travel adventures and struggles with a beautiful witch and decidedly less attractive zombielike Screechers. High early reader marks for strong characterization and battle scenes."
(Taken from www.goodreads.com)
Wow, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. One of my professors gave it to me to read for the Teachers' Choice Award (http://www.reading.org/resources/booklists/teacherschoices.aspx). I was a little apprehensive about it since it seemed like another fantasy book with magic. I didn't think I would enjoy reading it. However, I would see 2 or 3 AM on my clock while reading this book. I would tell myself that I was going to put it down and go to sleep when I finished the chapter I was reading. But, there would be a cliffhanger and I would have to keep reading to find out what happened next! It was so fun to read and I highly recommend it.
Now, for how to use it in the classroom. It certainly would be a great piece to read aloud to students in upper elementary, let's say after lunch for 15 minutes. This book would be great to give to an advanced reader. It requires a lot of thinking and imagination and would be a good book to challenge a student with.
This book is one of three. I can't wait to read the next two!
Stephens, J. (2011). The emerald atlas. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Be a lifelong learner.
Christine
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