This is the most fun I have had reading a book in ages. Peterson is primarily a singer/songwriter. Being familiar with is music first, I see it flowing through the book with his wonderful story-telling, lyrical flow, and some playful silliness. I can't wait to read it to my daughter (currently 2) in a few years.

The other reviews share the basics. I have to comment on two aspects:
1) It has footnotes! The footnotes either explain some aspect of the culture or reference a "historical" book. I loved this part.
2) The story does not rely too much on magic or mystical, avoiding artificial short cuts.

I can't wait for the next book in this new series! ( )

NCLA Review -This children’s book is a wonderful fantasy adventure. Janner, the oldest of three siblings, is told by his mom and grandpa he is to protect his younger brother and younger, crippled sister. He is tired of watching over his siblings, and when something happens to his sister Leeli, he’s upset that he had not watched over her as he should have. This starts a chain reaction, getting them all in trouble with the Fangs of Dang who have ruled their town and their country for many years. They must stick together and protect themselves and the mysterious secret of ancient jewels from the hands of the Fangs. During their adventure hiding from the Fangs they are helped by a good friend in town and watched over by two other friends they didn’t expect to help them. This fun and exciting book will keep anyone interested. Ages 8-12. Rating: 4 —SM 250p, paper, Waterbrook 2008, 978-1-4000-7384-9, $13.99 [JUV FIC 813.6]   ( )

This is a fun, easy read with strong characters. At times I felt like there were more made-up (or renamed) creatures and objects than are really necessary, even for a fantasy work, but once you are immersed in the story, it becomes easier to accept nothing having a normal name.

Since this is the first book of a series, it is largely an introduction to very promising future books. Though occasionally predictable (perhaps I read too many fantasy/kingdom books), I enjoyed learning the histories of the characters and look forward to seeing how their pasts will play into the later stories. ( )

This was an incredibly fun novel to read. The story was compelling and quite often hilarious. Peterson's descriptions are witty and just when you think his style might turn jaded, he presents something fresh. I especially liked his emphasis and imagery used to describe hope. Even though this is his first work of fiction, Peterson has a natural ability to make you care about his characters, even the dog Nugget. Highly recommended, and I'm looking forward to the next volume in the series! ( )

In short, I really enoyed this book, with the hilarious asides and footnotes, the rich, deep characters, and the well-conceived storyline. Read more of my review at my blog at:
http://beside-still-waters.org/2008/0... ( )