Dear friends,
Sefton and I came upon a sweet looking book in the library which caught our eyes. It had the feel of Green Ember, which you all know he loves, and so we brought it home… but on looking it up, I couldn’t find a single review written from a Christian perspective, despite it being nominated for Book of the Year and there being so many copies in our library (suggesting it’s popular) so I decided to write one for you ❤️
🐭 What’s it about?
Titch, a young mouse, who has grown up on the safety and mundanity of the Plateau, dreams of adventure after hearing the old tales of Bravepaw.
Then one day, adventure finds her, as she is faced with the dreaded curseworms who sneak through the crack in the heart of Alluria. Not only that, but it comes to light that she is the only one who can repair this crack in the heart of Alluria, before the whole world breaks apart.
As a young mouse, raised to believe all she’ll ever be is a farmer, she struggles to believe in herself. Yet she has the words of her mother ringing in her ears - “there are lots of ways to be brave”, along with those of her dear friend Huckleberry, telling her he believes in her.
Thus these gallant mice go on a quest to save Alluria (which is where the first book one ends)
🐭 Who’s it for?
It’s geared towards ages 7-11 (give or take). A fun, fantasy novel, which reminded me somewhat of Green Ember, but shorter, more illustrations throughout and simpler in plot. So if Green Ember feels too intimidating yet for your developing reader, this may be an easier option for them.
You could read it aloud in just a few sittings, or it could be read independently, but it is a short read so your child will likely whizz through it.
🐭 What I liked
As a sweet, animal based tale of courage, prophecy, destiny, magic and friendship, it will appeal to many readers. My son loved it and instantly asked for the next in the series.
🔴 Content to consider
As a fantasy novel it does contain magic.
The “curseworms” have a demonic feel to them, where they “take over” the host and cause them to kill and destroy.
There is also a strong theme of believing in yourself and following your heart. The ending line is “I guess we follow our hearts”. Yet we remind our children that we follow Christ, not our hearts. If our children are rooted in scripture, they will be able to identify these cultural popular statements and know that they don’t align fully with biblical truth. My son often comes to me and says “listen to this mummy, it doesn’t sound like what the Bible would say”, and so I firmly believe that we can equip our children with their own biblical lens. ❤️
To clarify, I highlight this “content to consider” not because I believe it is bad or that your children shouldn’t be reading this, but simply to equip you to make the right decision for your family, given this content. ☺️
You can find it here
If you have any questions regarding this books or any of the companions, please feel free to respond to this email, or reach out to me on Instagram.
Many blessings,
Jessica
