Today I’m reviewing The Wishing Well, Another Weaver Tale,
by Kai Strand, with cover art by K.C. Snider.
This is the second in the Weaver Chapbook series for ‘tweens about folks
in the town of The Tales who are “word weavers.” At the drop of a hat, or when asked, each
person can weave tales, stories, riddles, poems, or fables to entertain and
instruct. Their last names - and
sometimes their first names - are word-related as well. The story is compelling from the first page
and keeps your interest throughout -- I couldn’t put it down until I’d
finished.
Poor Molly Minstrel is badly
treated by her own mother and two sisters.
She’s required to do all the chores:
washing, ironing, cooking, cleaning, chopping wood, running errands,
even filling the water bucket from the well.
It’s much too much work for an eleven year old. Fortunately, she has a dear friend named
Riddle who helps her so she can enjoy some play time with her friends. Since this is in the “Cinderella” theme, you
wonder, along with Molly, why would her own mother and sisters treat her so
terribly? After all, Molly is family,
not step family. We wonder, too, until
the end of the story.
There is magic in the story
in the person of a small, ugly, blue creature called “Unwanted.” Molly is kind to Unwanted and he rewards her
with a wish. How that wish plays out in
the book reveals why Molly is badly treated by her family and how they work out
their problems in the end.
The story is entertaining,
but also has important life lessons.
Kids will easily relate to the feelings of the children and the problems
Molly faces. They’ll see that others’
life experiences shape the way they behave, but also see they can be helped to
change for the good. The values of
kindness, generosity, helping, and problem-solving are woven throughout the
book along with the characters’ “word weavings.”
I look forward to reading
all of the books in this charming series.
K.C. Snider’s cover art is lovely and puts you right in The Tales. You want to visit and you want to see more
illustrations of life in this special place. Thank you, Kai Strand, for a perfectly
delightful tale.
Available from Guardian Angel Publishing. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com
What a delightful sounding book! Thanks for the review. Your book sounds interesting as well. Hmmm, must read both.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Sharon. It's a really fun book.
DeleteThis book sounds wonderful! Thanks for another great review Penelope.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, Thanks for visiting and comments. I really like this book and the concept of the series.
DeleteAn intriguing book topic and a terrific interview. A winning combination!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy, for visiting and your comments. It's a really good book and series.
DeleteI love good books with important life lessons! That's what my blog is all about. :) Thanks for the review. Kai is great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margo, I really like books with lessons, and teach us gently, like Kai's do.
DeleteThanks Penelope. I loved The Weaver want to read this.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, thanks for stopping by and your comments. I hope to read the Weaver, too.
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