This will forever be one of my favorite books. It was the first fantasy book I read, back in second grade. And yes, second grade. Keep that in mind, when reading this book. It is written for children and therefor the writing style is quite simple. But it is a fantastic story, with an amazing red line, great ethics and likable characters! ( )

Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com

Kim is a pretty normal kid--he has a normal family, and a normal life. He's even a pretty normal student, who would rather read his favorite new fantasy/adventure series than do his math homework. Until his four-year-old sister goes to the hospital for a standard operation, and doesn't wake up afterwards. Now she's in a coma, and Kim, his parents, and even the doctors don't know what to do. Except that maybe there is something Kim can do.

After being at the hospital one night, Kim is visited by a man. The man says Kim's sister named him Themistokles, and it stuck. Themistokles is from Magic Moon, also named by his sister, and an evil man is holding her captive. Kim has to come to Magic Moon and save her, but he also has to find his own way there. How do you find a way to a magical place that you've never heard of before? Kim tries to follow Themistokles and finds a rocket ship/fighter jet parked in front of his house. Amazingly, Kim can fly it. It takes him right to Magic Moon. Well, almost. He crashes in the Shadowland. Now, Kim has to save himself, and possibly all of Magic Moon.

Part LORD OF THE RINGS, part CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, with a little eastern philosophy thrown in, this is a great adventure in an amazingly well-imagined world. It's definitely an involved story that might seem like a bit too much to handle, but it's nothing to fans of THE HOBBIT and LORD OF THE RINGS. ( )

This is a book by a German author who has largely been undiscoveerd in the English language, which is a great pity. He has a wonderful imagination, and this story is probably not his best. Nevertheless it is a very good read. A boy must venture into a magic land that his sister had discovered to save her there so that she might be saved from her life threatening illness in the real world.

The world of Magic Moon is beautifully drawn, and strongly put me in mind of the Neverending Story (also by a German author).

I enjoyed this book even though it was written for younger readers - and should be enjoyable to children of about 8+. ( )