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Children's Book Reviews
Page Two of Two
SilverFin
by Charlie Higson
Miramax, April, 2005
Hardcover, 352 pages
ISBN: 078683661X
Ages 10 and up
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
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A young boy in Scotland ignores the no trespassing signs at Loch SilverFin and has a
horrifying encounter with mutated eels in the shocking, adrenaline-packed prologue to
the new Young Bond series. So what was James Bond like as a little boy? Readers will
get the chance to find out in this well-done new series from Charlie Higson. Coordinated
with the original Ian Fleming novels (not the horrible modern add-ons), SilverFin
stays true to Fleming's vision. Recently orphaned, the young James is sent to boarding
school at Eaton. It's the 1930's and Eaton is cold, drafty and maze-like, with arcane
rituals and eccentric professors. As with schools everywhere, it also boasts some very
nasty bullies that like nothing better than to pick on the new boy. George Hellebore has
a gang of friends who love to pick on Bond, but Bond holds his own. On summer break, Bond
heads to the north of Scotland to stay with an aunt and his ex-spy Uncle Max. Bond and a
friend he met on the train named Red Kelly head over to the forbidden Loch SilverFin, which
is owned by George Hellebore's father. Red came to Scotland to find his missing cousin
(the boy from the Prologue) and has heard the rumors about the strange goings-on at the
castle. Hellebore is hiding quite a bit at the castle, actually. He's been experimenting
with genetic mutations and is quite unencumbered by any ethical restraints. And when he
finds young Bond snooping around, it looks like Bond may end up as the subject of one of
the more terrifying experiments if he doesn't escape.
Higson does an excellent job with the first Young Bond book. The prologue is worthy of the
adult Bond novels, and Higson does an interesting character study of a boy in transition.
From his first days as an outsider at school, to his growing athletic prowess, his learning
to stand up to bullies, and his horrifying first encounter with true evil, the young James
Bond slowly turns into a fully-realized character. The tragic death of his parents, his
fondness for his aunt and his uncle, and his growing ability to forge friendships easily
are all realistically portrayed. And by the last third of the book, the adventure is in
full rip-roaring James Bond mode. And that bodes very well for the rest of the series.
Wolf Brother: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Book 1
by Michelle Paver
HarperCollins, February, 2005
Hardcover, 295 pages
ISBN: 0060728256
Ages 10 and up
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
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Amazon.co.uk
6000 years ago, the great forest covered most of what is now Northern Europe.
12 year-old Torak lives a nomadic but happy life with his father, until the day his father
is attacked and killed by a bear which is possessed by a terrifying demon. On his deathbed,
Torak's father apologized for not telling Torak all the things he needs to know about his
past and his destiny, but makes Torak promise to find the Mountain of the World Spirit and
save the World from the Spirit of the Otherworld that is possessing the Bear and which will
devour the Forest and everything in it. Torak tearfully promises to do so and begins to
look for the guide his beloved Fa promised him would appear. The guide does appear in the
form of a wolf cub, and the two set out on a journey to the Mountain of the World Spirit.
Torak and Wolf learn to communicate, but get captured by the Wolf Clan. Torak learns more
about his past and escapes with the help of a Wolf Clan girl, Renn. But the trio has many
more dangers to face on their journey, and the Bear is close on their trail.
British author Michelle Paver traveled through the forests of northern Finland and Lapland,
sleeping on reindeer skins and eating forest berries and lichens before writing
Wolf Brother, and her painstaking research shows through in the many intriguing
details of life in the prehistoric forest. Wisely, the author adds magic and prophecy to
her story; Torak must solve mysterious riddles and find three ancient artifacts before he
is deemed worthy to climb the Mountain of the World Spirit. The clean, spare prose is
sprinkled with subtle humor and real heart, making for a surprisingly realistic, deep
and nuanced story.
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