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A review by ellingtonfeint
The Story Seeker by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
5.0
This is a great children's book, the storyline is not overly simple, it is set in a gorgeous location, peopled with fun and interesting characters and has other interesting elements scattered throughout like codes, inventions, Thomas Edison, and the like.
At about half way I was a little disappointed because it seemed like one storyline was wrapping up a bit too perfectly and also independently of the other.
HOWEVER it gets good again because Viviani herself is accused of plagiarism and then has to wrestle with the moral dilemma of what really is stealing, is it only stealing something physically, or can ideas be stolen? What about if someone actually does steal something physically but their motive was good? Does stealing boil down to the person's intent or is it black and white?
So then we see the two storylines converge once again in a beautifully complex way, encouraging children to think about these big ideas.
Yup, a great book, although written for children (so obviously the writing is somewhat simple), the plot and the ideas introduced are thought-provoking, interesting, and very, very delicious for a anyone who enjoys literary-ish things.
I don't want to wish I had read this as a child, but I know I would have loved it, and enjoyed reading now anyway as an adult.
At about half way I was a little disappointed because it seemed like one storyline was wrapping up a bit too perfectly and also independently of the other.
Spoiler
At first the two storylines are interwoven, Viviani is hoping to find inspiration for her story about friends by solving a mystery with her friends. But then she finds inspiration for her story elsewhere and wins the story contest, making everything seem happy and almost finished, all that's left is to solve the mystery of the missing books and hey presto! Everything will be all wrapped up and great!HOWEVER it gets good again because Viviani herself is accused of plagiarism and then has to wrestle with the moral dilemma of what really is stealing, is it only stealing something physically, or can ideas be stolen? What about if someone actually does steal something physically but their motive was good? Does stealing boil down to the person's intent or is it black and white?
So then we see the two storylines converge once again in a beautifully complex way, encouraging children to think about these big ideas.
Yup, a great book, although written for children (so obviously the writing is somewhat simple), the plot and the ideas introduced are thought-provoking, interesting, and very, very delicious for a anyone who enjoys literary-ish things.
I don't want to wish I had read this as a child, but I know I would have loved it, and enjoyed reading now anyway as an adult.