More Minds

Trouble comes to the kingdom of Gepeth in the form of a flying giant, the appearance of forbidden snow, a tornado, and the loss of Princess Lenora's extraordinary mental powers

Grade 6-8?The rebellious Princess Lenora and her cautious, clairvoyant fiance, Coren, return. Once again, the princess is bored with the predictable pace of life in Gepeth and seeks adventure, this time searching for a giant who is terrorizing the land. She escapes her parents' scrutiny by creating an idealized version of herself and inadvertently creates a second Coren as well (this one is a swashbuckling adventurer). These two "shadow" characters add both humor and meaning to the tale, exemplifying the ways in which stereotypes limit personal growth. As the four young people seek to discover the source of the problems plaguing Gepeth, they are thrust into many odd situations. Although their views on freewill, personal power, and the importance of balancing diverse needs and abilities are intriguing, Matas and Nodelman occasionally allow these themes to intrude upon the story. Another (minor) weakness is the sheer number of characters and events crammed into the tale. While all are potentially interesting, none are as fully developed as those in the previous book, and the conclusion, while ironically funny, also suffers in comparison to the thought-provoking shocker of the first novel. Despite these quibbles, however, this second collaboration will be welcomed by those who enjoy challenging fiction, told with humor and energy.?Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
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