Summary
In Alagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.
Reviews
In the kingdom of Alagaesia, there once roamed a group of warriors called the Dragon Riders who kept the
peace among the elves, dwarves, and humans. Then Galbatorix grabbed power for himself, slaughtering those riders and their dragons who would not join him. Eventually there were only three dragon eggs left. They were closely guarded in Galbatorix’s stronghold until the Varden, a rebel group determined to overthrow Galbatorix, stole one. Fifteen-year-old Eragon is hunting in the mountains near his home in a remote part of the kingdom when he finds a strange stone. Everyone agrees it is valuable but no one knows what it is worth. To Eragon’s surprise, a dragon hatches from it. This begins a series of adventures for the youth, as he and Saphira, his dragon, become the focus of a search by Galbatorix’s men. This is the first volume in a trilogy by a young author. As in any fantasy series, Christopher Paolini creates a different reality to which his characters must conform. To assist the reader, a map, pronunciation guide, and glossary are provided. A list of characters would have been helpful. The story is a sweeping epic in which the forces of good fight against evil. Fantasy fans who are caught up in the adventures of Eragon and Saphira will eagerly await the next installment. - Library Media Connection
This solid, sweeping epic fantasy crosses vast geography as it follows 15-year-old Eragon from anonymous farm boy to sword-wielding icon on whose shoulders may rest the fate of Alagaësia. Dragon Riders have died out over the years, leaving the Empire under the iron fist of King Galbatorix; but hunting in the forest one day, Eragon finds a blue stone that soon hatches into his very own dragon. The next months find him learning magic, sword skills, and bits of his land's history. A slight tone of arrogance running through the narrative voice will hardly bother readers busily enjoying the reliable motifs of elegant immortal elves, mining dwarves, a wise elderly man, and a hero of mysterious birth. Replete with histories, names, and languages, this high fantasy with visible Tolkien influence ends with Eragon's first battle and a tempting pointer towards the second installment, when Eragon will visit the unseen elven city and plunge headlong into his destiny. (map, pronunciation key, glossaries of three created languages) (Fantasy. YA)- Kirkus Reviews
And so...
Truly epic in size, many middle school readers will be put off by the sheer volume. Older readers will find it an easy read, it flows quickly through the background material and into the story of Eragon and Saphirra. The fantasy world is very similar to ours, mountains and deserts, and streams so readers will feel very familar with the scenery and long for the fantasy of the dragon in flight.
Use this book for
Activities that compare and contrast our world to the fantasy world will improve descriptive writing. Character development can truly be studied as Eragon is given a full range of growth and some characters remain undeveloped until later volumes n the trilogy.
References
Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catolog, July 7, 2011
Library Media Connection, Mar2004, Vol. 22 Issue 6, p68-68, 1p,
Kirkus Reviews, 7/15/2003, Vol. 71 Issue 14, p967, 1/5p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=131D0X832Q015.84142&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!4128~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Eragon+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus
Science Fiction - Among the Hidden
Summary
In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong.
Reviews-
Gr 4-7-- This first title in Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children series (S & S, 1998) introduces listeners to a time in the not-so-distant future when having more than two children is illegal. Luke Garner is a third child, a shadow child, whose existence is punishable by death. Luke has spent his whole life hiding until one day he catches a glimpse of another third child in a new house near his home. Luke discovers Jen, a bold girl who makes him dream of freedom. Jonathan Davis's narration of this futuristic thriller draws listeners in and makes the story come alive. School and public libraries will want to add this well-produced title to their audio collections.
~~~~~~~~
And so...
This book is thought provoking to all who read it. It was a title I couldn't put down until I finished, and I followed up with some of the remaining titles in the series. Some students will find it disturbing, some will be unable to relate to such strict control over their lives. The time period is unidentified, but is similar enough to today that with limited scaffolding the students will be able to make the connections needed to comprehend the plot.
Use this book for
This is a good book to build social studies lessons on discussing historical totalitarian governments and even today's rule in China of only one child per family. Great for writing exercies, the librarian could use a book trailer of this book to introduce a research project on family structure or government oppression. A comparison of the hiding of the runaway slaves during the Civil War, or Jews during World War II could lead to analysis of what it would take to keep a person completely hidden and a writing assignment of what it would be like to be "among the hidden."
References
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Hidden. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, July 7, 2011.
Yusko, Shauna; Mandell, Phyllis Levy. School Library Journal, May2005, Vol. 51 Issue 5, p66-66, 1/9p
Rogers, Susan L.. School Library Journal, Sep98, Vol. 44 Issue 9, p203, 1/6p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=OV130W0799578.84613&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!171531~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Among+the+hidden+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus
And so...
Truly epic in size, many middle school readers will be put off by the sheer volume. Older readers will find it an easy read, it flows quickly through the background material and into the story of Eragon and Saphirra. The fantasy world is very similar to ours, mountains and deserts, and streams so readers will feel very familar with the scenery and long for the fantasy of the dragon in flight.
Use this book for
Activities that compare and contrast our world to the fantasy world will improve descriptive writing. Character development can truly be studied as Eragon is given a full range of growth and some characters remain undeveloped until later volumes n the trilogy.
References
Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catolog, July 7, 2011
Library Media Connection, Mar2004, Vol. 22 Issue 6, p68-68, 1p,
Kirkus Reviews, 7/15/2003, Vol. 71 Issue 14, p967, 1/5p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=131D0X832Q015.84142&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!4128~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Eragon+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus
Science Fiction - Among the Hidden
Summary
In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong.
Reviews-
Gr 4-7-- This first title in Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children series (S & S, 1998) introduces listeners to a time in the not-so-distant future when having more than two children is illegal. Luke Garner is a third child, a shadow child, whose existence is punishable by death. Luke has spent his whole life hiding until one day he catches a glimpse of another third child in a new house near his home. Luke discovers Jen, a bold girl who makes him dream of freedom. Jonathan Davis's narration of this futuristic thriller draws listeners in and makes the story come alive. School and public libraries will want to add this well-produced title to their audio collections.
~~~~~~~~
By Shauna Yusko, St. Monica School, Mercer Island, WA and Phyllis Levy Mandell, Editor
Gr 5-8 --Born third at a time when having more than two children per family is illegal and subject to seizure and punishment by the Population Police, Luke has spent all of his 12 years in hiding. His parents disobeyed once by having him and are determined not to do anything unlawful again. At first the woods around his family's farm are thick enough to conceal him when he plays and works outdoors, but when the government develops some of that land for housing, his world narrows to just the attic. Gazing through an air vent at new homes, he spies a child's face at a window after the family of four has already left for the day. Is it possible that he is not the only hidden child? Answering this question brings Luke greater danger than he has ever faced before, but also greater possibilities for some kind of life outside of the attic. This is a near future of shortages and deprivation where widespread famines have led to a totalitarian government that controls all aspects of its citizens' lives. When the boy secretly ventures outside the attic and meets the girl in the neighboring house, he learns that expressing divergent opinions openly can lead to tragedy. To what extent is he willing to defy the government in order to have a life worth living? As in Haddix's Running Out of Time (S & S, 1995), the loss of free will is the fundamental theme of an exciting and compelling story of one young person defying authority and the odds to make a difference. Readers will be captivated by Luke's predicament and his reactions to it.
~~~~~~~~By Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
This book is thought provoking to all who read it. It was a title I couldn't put down until I finished, and I followed up with some of the remaining titles in the series. Some students will find it disturbing, some will be unable to relate to such strict control over their lives. The time period is unidentified, but is similar enough to today that with limited scaffolding the students will be able to make the connections needed to comprehend the plot.
Use this book for
This is a good book to build social studies lessons on discussing historical totalitarian governments and even today's rule in China of only one child per family. Great for writing exercies, the librarian could use a book trailer of this book to introduce a research project on family structure or government oppression. A comparison of the hiding of the runaway slaves during the Civil War, or Jews during World War II could lead to analysis of what it would take to keep a person completely hidden and a writing assignment of what it would be like to be "among the hidden."
References
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Hidden. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, July 7, 2011.
Yusko, Shauna; Mandell, Phyllis Levy. School Library Journal, May2005, Vol. 51 Issue 5, p66-66, 1/9p
Rogers, Susan L.. School Library Journal, Sep98, Vol. 44 Issue 9, p203, 1/6p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=OV130W0799578.84613&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!171531~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Among+the+hidden+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus
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