Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Rose Green

13 year old Alcatraz Smedry has already infiltrated dangerous libraries, battled sentient romance novels, fought off Evil Librarians, and learned to control not only special glasses that give him powers, but also his inherited Talent for Breaking things. Well. Made progress, anyway. Together with an assortment of equally strangely Talented relatives, plus a kick-butt Knight of Crystallia named Bastille (who happens to be a 13 year old girl, but watch the end of her sword, please), he's back for more action in this fourth book.

I love this series! Sanderson's one of the few writers of adult
fiction I've read who can also write effortlessly and dead-on true for
kids as well. This is a fabulous book to read aloud! This time we get to
go to the kingdom of Mokia (oh? you didn't know there was a huge
Polynesian continent in the middle of the Pacific? Well, you've probably
been to a librarian-controlled school, then). Much silliness--and some
exploding teddy bears and a bit of Hamlet--occur.
It's not only funny and has plenty of action, the series has got heart as well. Highly recommended!