Review Detail

Soren, a young barn owl, can't wait for his first adventure out of the nest. Flying is what owls are made for, and Soren felt, way down deep in his gizzard, that his first flight would be amazing. He'd soar and dive and swoop, just like the Guardians of Ga'hoole, the heroic owls who starred in the legends Soren's father told.

But long before he's even learned how to hop from branch to branch, things go terribly wrong for Soren. While his parents are off on a hunting trip, he falls from the nest! He can't remember how it happened, but he has a sinking suspicion his brother might have pushed him. And before his parents return home to save him, Soren is owlnapped by two rogue owls and taken to St. Aggie's, an institution for orphaned owls. Only Soren's not an orphan, he has a family, and he wants nothing more than to find a way back to them. But can Soren escape St. Aggie's before he's brainwashed into their evil service?

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up the first book in the Guardians of Ga'hoole series by Kathryn Lasky. I'm not usually a fan of animals as main characters, but Lasky has created an owl culture rich with history and tradition -- one you almost end up believing truly exists. Her writing is simple and direct, yet it's also poetic and lyrical. A perfect blend for this epic legend she's woven with these addictive characters.

This is a great choice for reading aloud to the kids, and it's fun to try out your best British accents for the owls. I'm definitely scooping up the entire series as soon as I can, and making a place for it on my shelves, right next to The Chronicles of Narnia.