Fantasy and Science Fiction for Children and Teens
The Amulet of Samarkand The Bartimaeus Trilogy: Book 1 Hardcover: 464 pages Recommended age range: 9-12 List Price: $17.95 |
Description:
Nathaniel is a brilliant young wizard, but he is apprenticed to a mediocre, middle-ranking magician, Arthur Underwood, who doesn't understand Nathaniel's talent, much less encourage it. Bored and impatient with the pace that Underwood sets for his learning, Nathaniel quickly devours the books that Underwood expects him to read and begins to work his way through the other books in his master's library. But everything comes to a head when an associate of Underwood's, Simon Lovelace, publicly humiliates and punishes Nathaniel. Nathaniel summons an ancient djinni to help him get revenge, but Bartimaeus turns out to be more than Nathaniel bargained for. Nathaniel is soon drawn into a complex web of intrigue and plans, including a plot to overthrow the government.
Mom's rating: 5.0 wands 
Mom's Review:
The best part of this book is the djinni, Bartimaeus. About half the book is told from his point of view, and what a point of view it is! Bartimaeus is witty, arrogant, and sarcastic, but the reader can't help but like him. The passages in his voice are hilarious. In a way this is the books weakness as well as its strength, because the reader identifies so strongly with Bartimaeus that it is sometimes difficult to like or identify with Nathaniel. Even so, this is a book well worth reading and a real gem that stands out in the crowd.
All Editions:
Hardcover ISBN 078681859X $12.21 Buy Now | Paperback ISBN 0786852550 $8.99 Buy Now | Audio Cassette ISBN 0807219533 $27.30 Buy Now |
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