Saturday, December 5, 2009

The 13th Reality, Vol. 1: Journal of Curious Letters by James Dashner


What if every time you made a choice that had a significant consequence, a new, alternate reality was created — the life that would've been had you made the other choice? What if those new realities were in danger? What if it fell to you to save all the realities?

Atticus Higginbottom, a.k.a. Tick, is an average thirteen-year-old boy until the day a strange letter arrives in his mailbox. Postmarked from Alaska and cryptically signed with the initials "M.G.," the letter informs Tick that dangerous — perhaps even deadly — events have been set in motion that could result in the destruction of reality itself. M.G. promises to send Tick twelve riddles that will reveal on a certain day, at a certain time, at a certain place, something extraordinary will happen. Will Tick have the courage to follow the twelve clues M.G. sends to him? Will he be able to solve the riddles in time? Will Tick discover the life he was meant to live?
The first volume of an outstanding new children's fantasy series, The Journal of Curious Letters is filled with adventure, humor, riddles, and, oh, yes — danger. . . As M.G. warns Tick, Very frightening things are coming your way. Will you join Tick and his friends on an amazing journey through the Realities? What will your choice be?

I avoided this book for a long time, no real reason, I just wasn't all that interested. A few weeks ago I borrowed Dad's audio book to listen to in the car while driving home from work.
I found the Journal of Curious Letters to be interesting in a bizarre sort of way.
TIck was confronted with a lot of odd people from an 8 foot tall woman named Mothball to a very short round man named Rutger and machines and other super natural things as part of the test to determine if he is worthy of the challenge the mysterious MG has for him. He also has to solve 12 riddles, some easy, some mind boggling, to me at least. Tick has help from 2 other recruits that he meets online and support from his father in his journey to the "Special Day". Along the way he learns about Chi’karda, QP, barrier wands and many other odd things.
Even though this book is written with younger readers in mind, I would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy.
James Dashner also wrote The Jimmy Fincher Saga, a four book series written for mid level readers, that I would recommend for even adult readers.
This book is available through Deseret Book and Amazon.com, and as always inter library loan.

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No doubt, we will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own. But such literary greatness will be achieved only by great souls. Our religion is capable of cultivating those great souls; and it shall.

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