132,957
edits
Changes
From TheBookbag
Jump to navigationJump to searchAcross the Wall by Garth Nix (view source)
Revision as of 16:18, 11 April 2018
, 16:18, 11 April 2018no edit summary
Not every story is a resounding success. There's a silly little choose-your-own-adventure spoof that left me rather cold and a tale of the unexpected with a sadly expected ending. However, I think for a collection of this kind, it's as interesting to see what doesn't work as it is to see what does. I enjoyed the read, as did both of my sons.
Ultimately, ''Across The Wall'' really is a book for the fan. I don't think there is enough in it to light a fire for children new to Garth Nix. Although he introduces each story, and although the introductions are both interesting and amusing, there isn't a great deal of technical information about the writing process and not all of the stories are equally strong. For my son, a big fan of the Old Kingdom series, ''Across The Wall'' provided some useful background to the ideas that lie behind it. It also gave him an idea of the different kinds of stories the same way of thinking can produce. Nix also comes across as down-to-earth and likeable person, not at all precious. Nevertheless, I feel ''Across The Wall'' is best read with some familiarity. New readers should begin with the first novel of the Old Kingdom, [[''Sabriel]]''
''Across The Wall'' is highly recommended for junior fans of Garth Nix, for which it receives four stars. Thanks to the publisher, Harper Collins, for sending the book.
