Amazon.com Review
Elyon is a land of dark hills, enchanted forests, and great walls that connect and encircle the cities of Lathbury, Turlock, Lunenburg, and Bridewell like spokes in a wagon wheel. On her annual summer trips to Bridewell with her father, the mayor of Lathbury, Alexa Daley spends much of her time dreaming of escape. Having lived within the walls all of her 12 years, she wants nothing more than to explore the uncharted wilderness beyond. But, the walls are heavily guarded, and frightening legends suggest that forests and hills are no place for a child--especially a young girl. When a mysterious conversation and an unfortunate accident put Alexa within reach of a way outside the wall, she must decide--heed the warnings of her elders, or satisfy her curiosity and unravel the mysteries of Elyon.
Told from the perspective of its smart, brave, and adventurous heroine, The Dark Hills Divide invites readers on a spectacular and mysterious quest that will appeal to boys, girls, and fans of both fiction and fantasy. Patrick Carman is a natural storyteller, and his delightful debut is full of mysterious plots, hidden passageways, and all manner of dastardly, hilarious, and noble characters. Perfect for fans of J.K. Rowling, Philip Pullman, and Cornelia Funke, The Dark Hills Divide is so compulsively readable that kids (and their parents) will be clamoring for the second book in the proposed trilogy, Beyond the Valley of Thorns , due in 2005. --Daphne Durham
Amazon.com Exclusive Content
** Welcome to the Land of Elyon: Meet the Characters**
Alexa Daley
The daughter of the mayor of Lathbury, Alexa is a curious, strong-willed, courageous twelve-year-old who acquires a stone of great power, and investigates and uncovers a terrible secret.
Yipes
The mysterious little man (not more than 2 feet tall) of the old mountain who befriends Alexa Daley on her journey outside the wall. Yipes introduces her to Darius, setting her on an amazing adventure.
Darius
An enormous wolf with a mysterious past, Darius is tasked with escorting Alexa to a meeting in the forest, and taking her to the dark tunnel where a secret is revealed.
Pervis Kotcher
Pervis, the crafty head of the guards in Bridewell, protects the city from the evil dangers he is convinced lurk outside the walls. He is a man with many secrets, great ambition, and a strong dislike for Alexa.
Sam and Pepper
Sam and Pepper live in the library, and curl up with Alexa while she reads and naps in her favorite chair. Alexa soon learns that these cuddly cats are not what they seem--they hide secrets of their own.
Thomas Warvold
The architect and founder of the walled cities, Warvold was an adventerous wanderer who traveled far and wide in the Land of Elyon.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6βThis entertaining, accessible fantasy is the first in a planned trilogy. Alexa, 12, longs to venture outside the high stone walls surrounding the towns and roads of her kingdom. When the elderly founder dies unexpectedly, she uses his secret key to unlock a hidden passage leading outside the barriers. There, the local animals tell her of the devastation wreaked by the walls, dividing some of them from their food supplies, homes, and families. They offer to help her prevent an impending invasion that would turn the barriers into permanent military strongholds, in return for her help in bringing them down. There's nothing very original about the novel's preindustrial setting or appealing characters, and Alexa's voice varies occasionally from precocious fantasy heroine ("Iβ¦was immediately captivated by the audacious subject matter") to anachronistically modern preteen ("a wimpy meow"). However, the story moves along at a fine clip, with plenty of suspense and action to hold readers' interest. Double identities, mysterious codes, and Alexa's magical gift of speaking with animals all enliven the plot, and the highly cinematic writing style will allow readers to visualize her adventures clearly.βBeth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT
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