If you haven't finished reading Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, no worries. Just come back and read my review later. There is a full week left in May, after all.
For the rest of you, here it is:
Fablehaven is a preserve for mystical creatures (fable=myth, haven=sanctuary). Of course, I knew that going into the story because I read the book description. However, our main characters, Kendra and Seth, did not know what they were getting into when they went to stay with their Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson. I was interested to find out how they would discover the true nature of their grandparents’ estate.
I found this part of the storyline a little disappointing. The “puzzle” was a bit simplistic. Kendra seemed to solve it without much effort, and boom! Grandpa let her in on a pretty heavy secret. It didn’t seem like much of a test, which was Grandpa’s objective in planning it. I can’t complain too much, though, since Kendra and Seth (at 13 and 11 years old) can still be considered children.
The governance of Fablehaven was explained well, I thought. It’s easy for a fantasy novel to set up an elaborate moral code that is hard to comprehend. Fablehaven’s “mischief for mischief” and “magic for magic” was both logical and easy to follow. (Of course, there is more to it than that--borders of where creatures can go, etc. These other rules aren't explained in this book. Maybe this will be cleared up in one of the sequels?)
There were a few parts of the book that I thought were predictable. As soon as something was stated to be unlikely, it happened (e.g. None of the creatures should have even gotten close to the kids' window, but all manner of creatures were right outside taunting them). That said, Kendra’s solution wasn’t completely see-through.
As the first book in a series, I appreciated that this book had a resolution, but the storyline was also set up for a sequel(s). This book could easily stand alone, but there were several elements within Fablehaven that I would be interested to learn more about—the creatures themselves, the nuances of the treaty, exceptions to rules (like Midsummer Eve), magical artifacts, other secret refuges, etc. I imagine the story will get richer as these are explained.
I thought it was clever that on the last page of my book were the words “drink the milk”—as if I had just read the Journal of Secrets. It was a surprise that enhanced the reading experience.
Overall, a fun read. Fablehaven is a piece of children's literature, and I think it is perfect for its intended audience.
Now for June:
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by Benedict Freedman & Nancy Mars Freedman
From Goodreads: A moving love story set in the Canadian wilderness, Mrs. Mike is a classic tale that has enchanted millions of readers worldwide. It brings the fierce, stunning landscape of the Great North to life-and tenderly evokes the love that blossoms between Sergeant Mike Flannigan and beautiful young Katherine Mary O'Fallon.
From Amazon.com: Recently arrived in Calgary, Alberta after a long, hard journey from Boston, sixteen-year-old Katherine Mary O’Fallon never imagined that she could lose her heart so easily—or so completely. Standing over six feet tall, with “eyes so blue you could swim in them,” Mike Flannigan is a well-respected sergeant in the Canadian Mounted Police—and a man of great courage, kindness, and humor. Together, he and his beloved Kathy manage to live a good, honest life in this harsh, unforgiving land—and find strength in a love as beautiful and compelling as the wilderness around them…
Once again, this book was brought to my attention via my friends, but they aren't the only ones who give this book rave reviews: It gets an average 4.12 star rating on Goodreads and 4.8 stars on Amazon.
For those of you who favor e-books, this one might be hard to find. I hear that it is out of print, but I was able to borrow a hard copy from my library without any problem.
Throw this book in your beach bag, and give it a read while you're out enjoying the sunshine. I know I will. See you next month!
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