Scan barcode
A review by wrentheblurry
The House of Power by Patrick Carman
3.0
3.5 stars.
I read this to my 13-year old son, who also gives it 3.5 stars. He liked it enough that he requested we read the second one in the series, which is fine with me.
The world of Atherton features three levels, which correspond to its inhabitants social standing. So, the people who live on the uppermost section, the Highlanders, control the water supply and wield all the power. Those in the middle (Tabletop) live to harvest figs for the Highlanders. And the bottom section, well, you'll find out what sort of entity makes that place its home.
The story follows Edgar, a boy who works in the fig grove of Tabletop, and has a knack for climbing. He ventures where others from his area have never been, and starts to learn more and more about his world. All the while the layers of Atherton are changing, in a way that will affect all of its inhabitants.
I liked the book, though I found it a bit slow in places. It possibly fails the Bechdel test, and at the very least could use more love in the female character area. Still, it's a different sort of story, and Carman writes well, so we'll continue the series.
I read this to my 13-year old son, who also gives it 3.5 stars. He liked it enough that he requested we read the second one in the series, which is fine with me.
The world of Atherton features three levels, which correspond to its inhabitants social standing. So, the people who live on the uppermost section, the Highlanders, control the water supply and wield all the power. Those in the middle (Tabletop) live to harvest figs for the Highlanders. And the bottom section, well, you'll find out what sort of entity makes that place its home.
The story follows Edgar, a boy who works in the fig grove of Tabletop, and has a knack for climbing. He ventures where others from his area have never been, and starts to learn more and more about his world. All the while the layers of Atherton are changing, in a way that will affect all of its inhabitants.
I liked the book, though I found it a bit slow in places. It possibly fails the Bechdel test, and at the very least could use more love in the female character area. Still, it's a different sort of story, and Carman writes well, so we'll continue the series.