Children's fiction. Adventure/fantasy. I think this one got good reviews, possibly because the author used to be a big-time newspaper editor. I was not impressed by the cover art and the first chapter failed to snag me, so I'm not expecting this one to fly off the shelves, but it probably would make a fairly good read for any kid that loves books. ( )

I've been trying to write down my thoughts on this book for some time, and failing. It's not because I didn't enjoy the book -- in fact quite the opposite. But it's a very different book from any other I've read. It's a fantasy, yes, with the wonderful character of the Goatman popping his horned head into the scene, summoning up his winds and wreaking change in the world of Medford Runyuin. But it's quirky, and philosophical, and oddly old-fashioned (in a good way, in a classic way, even).

My favorite thing about this book is the setting itself, and the themes and questions that are explored: What is the value of work? What is useful? Is anything truly useless? These are important questions to ask, and I fully enjoyed seeing them play out on the landscape of the Island. I furthermore appreciated that the Traditions of the Island, while in some respects the "enemy" of the narrative, are not depicted as entirely bad. There is plenty to admire and respect in the way of life embraced by the Islanders, though as a reader I feel for Medford's plight, as his creative impulses urge him to do what is forbidden.

This is a book that may demand a certain attentiveness while reading, but the right reader will find a rewarding tale of tradition and creativity.

I loved this first for the map of Island which reminds me so much of my beloved Lopez Island of Washington state. As I read, I loved it again for Medford Runyuin and the Goatman, characters of kind heart and creative souls. ( )

It's nice to see that authors still try to write good dystopian fiction for middle school, even though The Giver set a ridiculously high standard. This was pretty good--a society that has been formed based on only doing useful things, and useless things--sculpture, poetry, arts--are banned. Of course, our hero (Medford) is a talented carver, coaxing animals and other shapes out of the wood he works with, hiding his light under a metaphorical bushel (literally, under his bed). This alone would be an interesting story, but then a wind-controlling satyr blows in. I don't know that the story needed this extra fantastical element--I enjoyed the story from a more-or-less realistic standpoint, too. There was one moment near the end where the book teetered perilously close to sucking, but it managed to walk juuuuuuuuust this side of the Deus Ex Machina line.

Enjoyable, and great for middle-school readers! ( )

Different and imaginative ( )