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Smiling Shelves

Why You Should Read The Books of Beginning Series

7/21/2015

6 Comments

 
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I don't honestly remember how I first stumbled across The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens. My guess would be a review from a fellow book blogger. But I've actually seen very little in the blogosphere about The Books of Beginning series. It could have just been a random library find. I guess it doesn't really matter, though, how I discovered this series in the first place. The point of this post is that you need to read them, too.

Here's why:

1. Kate, Michael, and Emma are the heroes of the series. They've been sent from orphanage to orphanage, believing that the parents that abandoned them would never come back for them. And yet, despite - or because of - that, they cling to each other with ferocity. Their love for each other is what gives these books their heart.

2. Just because they love each other doesn't mean they always get along. John Stephens perfectly captures sibling interactions (maybe he stole these from his own kids?). The dialogue between the siblings seem so authentic.

3. Plot twists like you wouldn't believe. When you add time travel and magic to the mix, anything can happen.

4. There are three siblings and three books - each character gets a chance to shine in their own book, but the plots are entwined throughout the series.

5. It's an extremely satisfying series. I just read the third book in the trilogy, which is what prompted me to write this post (I reviewed the first book when I read it a couple of years ago). This is a series that will not let you down. I'm not saying it won't make you cry. I'm just saying the author did a good job of upholding the integrity of the series.

6. These books are funny. Elves and dwarves and their rivalries provide comic relief, as do the siblings' interactions and teasing. I laughed out loud more than once. This alone could hook any middle grade reader, and it certainly hooked me.

Even though I teach fourth grade, I really don't read much middle grade fiction. But this was a series I could not put down and I could not forget about. I couldn't wait for the third book to be released this year, and I devoured it as soon as I could. If you like Narnia or The Hobbit or Harry Potter - or if you would just like to meet some really great kids - then you should most definitely read The Books of Beginning by John Stephens!
6 Comments
Kate @ Mom's Radius link
7/21/2015 01:32:21 am

I'll have to check them out. :)

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
7/21/2015 01:25:46 pm

You definitely should! :)

Reply
Jessica @ Quirky Bookworm link
7/22/2015 09:21:23 am

This sounds so great! I just read Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures, and it was so fun I was thinking I should try some more magical middle grade fiction. I think this trilogy will be it. :)

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
7/23/2015 06:02:06 am

Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures sounds like a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy this series!

Reply
Emily link
7/23/2015 03:11:35 am

I'm intrigued! I've never heard of this series before. I will look for the first one at the library!

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
7/23/2015 06:05:09 am

I hope you enjoy them. They are great reads! :)

Reply



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    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

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