A review by sourbutchkid
The House of Power by Patrick Carman

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

This is one of the books I read as a kid that I completely forgot about until I randomly remembered it years down the line. I think at most I’ve probably read this series twice, and I only had a vague memory of the premise so it really feels like I’m reading it for the first time again. The world building is absolutely amazing, and every little new bit of information I learned as I read just made me want to read more. I loved the illustrations and the way the book was set up (letting us get little glimpses into the conversations between Dr. Kincaid and Dr. Harding really added to the mystery). I love the messages about class and environmental issues, and I think they’re presented in a way that is easy for younger kids to understand while also not being too heavy handed. I think this series is an absolute gem and I wish I saw people talking about it more. While I was reading I also couldn’t help but think that an adaptation of this would be kind of amazing…. obviously it would have to be done well, but the potential is definitely there! I can’t wait to read the next two :)