Scan barcode
A review by jessalynn_librarian
The Sunbird by Elizabeth Wein
4.0
This is the third in a loose series - following The Winter Prince and A Coalition of Lions. I say loose because while many characters repeat from book to book, and each one resolves but leaves you hanging a bit, like a good series, each one is unique in plot and mood. These are no cookie-cutter series titles, but filled with well-developed characters, intrigue, and fascinating settings. By this book, the story has moved fairly far from the Arthurian legend roots of The Winter Prince, but a few of those elements are still there even in the African setting.
As with the previous two, I felt a similar love and addiction as I feel when reading Megan Whalen Turner. Telemakos is Eugenides' long-lost brother, particularly when he hides around the palace or goes on insane spy missions, but also deeper in his personality, where is pain and delight in things live side by side.
I think these books could be appreciated by a really sharp middle-schooler - they're not for the struggling or reluctant reader - or by anyone older who doesn't think it's babyish to read an excellent book with an 11-year old protagonist (the earlier books have young adult protagonists, so you could hook a high schooler and then they wouldn't care).
Read the series in order - you'll have a better feel for the characters that way, even if the plot makes sense on its own.
As with the previous two, I felt a similar love and addiction as I feel when reading Megan Whalen Turner. Telemakos is Eugenides' long-lost brother, particularly when he hides around the palace or goes on insane spy missions, but also deeper in his personality, where is pain and delight in things live side by side.
I think these books could be appreciated by a really sharp middle-schooler - they're not for the struggling or reluctant reader - or by anyone older who doesn't think it's babyish to read an excellent book with an 11-year old protagonist (the earlier books have young adult protagonists, so you could hook a high schooler and then they wouldn't care).
Read the series in order - you'll have a better feel for the characters that way, even if the plot makes sense on its own.