I considered deducting a star for the woeful lack of Toph, but the story is so well-written and the new characters so beautiful that I decided not to.I considered deducting a star for the woeful lack of Toph, but the story is so well-written and the new characters so beautiful that I decided not to. I hate stories with loose ends and this book really tied up the original Avatar series. The writers clearly love and understand the source material, inserting little references to continuity that wove this story into the overall tapestry. Sure, bending does not lend itself well to still drawings, but I think The Search did a much better job than The Promise in that regard....more
Definitely a fun read, with a well-crafted world. For some reason (superhero overload on my part?) I found the first half or so a little slow, but theDefinitely a fun read, with a well-crafted world. For some reason (superhero overload on my part?) I found the first half or so a little slow, but the last half, particularly the chaotic and thrilling climax, made up for that warm up. I think my main quibble was that I just didn't find the main character/narrator very interesting-- particularly when compared to the nuanced characters that surround him. His constant stream of awful metaphors and analogies were endearing, though. I will at least give him that. I will be interested to see further world building in the followups, but I'm not going to mind waiting until fall when the sequel comes out....more
The star I deducted is not really the authors' fault-- I just wish there were more data on this subject! The authors, to their credit, are very clear The star I deducted is not really the authors' fault-- I just wish there were more data on this subject! The authors, to their credit, are very clear about what is scientifically/statistically supported versus what hasn't been (or can't be) studied. I appreciated their clarity and straightforwardness. There were definitely parts of the book that made me uncomfortable, but really, that's why I read it-- to figure out how to address my own discomfort and help my kids grow up feeling confident and secure. I can tell I will probably have to go back and reread sections when the time comes (as currently the little ones are still quite little), but I am so glad to have this book as a resource!...more
I love Sandra Boynton's work, and this is my current favorite. It starts with a fun list of emotions that I can act out while reading, then ends with I love Sandra Boynton's work, and this is my current favorite. It starts with a fun list of emotions that I can act out while reading, then ends with two great messages: your friends are here for you if you feel bad, and hard feelings don't last forever. It's a sweet book with a great lesson and I enjoy reading it to my kids every time....more