Caught in a Spell!

“Stories never really end, Meggie, even if the books like to pretend they do. Stories always go on. They don't end on the last page, any more than they begin on the first page.” 

― Cornelia Funke, Inkspell

A year has passed and Meggie, Mo, Elinor and Resa are adjusting to their lives now that they are out of immediate danger and Capricorn is gone. Everything changes when Farid shows up in the middle of the night telling them that Basta is still after them and has threatened their lives. This causes a lot of stress, but nothing like what results when Farid convinces Meggie to use her magical voice to read from Inkheart, taking them both into a story she has only dreamed of each day since she heard of it. Finally Meggie gets to see the fairies and the Wayless Woods. But along with these fantastical sights she also encounters many of the dangers. Her mother and father end up in the strange world, along with Basta and other enemies who are out to get them. Mo is nearly killed as soon as he arrives in the story, and he must battle to stay alive. Unfortunately, the man who wrote Inkheart and created such a fascinating world also lives within its pages. He has been telling tales of the Blue Jay, a robber who is out to help the regular people against the powerful Adderhead. Now there is a price on the Blue Jay’s head, and people seem to think Mo is the mysterious robber. Will the Adderhead and his men catch the Blue Jay? Will Mo, Meggie, and Resa be able to survive in the ink world? Should they go back to where they came from? You'll have to read this exciting tale to find out.

I read Inkheart by Cornelia Funke a couple of years ago and very much enjoyed the story. I love the idea of someone being able to read aloud words from a story and have characters come out or people go into a book. Although it had been a few years since I had read the first one I was easily able to fall back into the world Funke created. I listened to Inkspell on audio read by Brendan Fraser. He did a great job with the voices, and I was very engaged in the story. I liked seeing how the characters changed throughout the book. The evil characters are done in a way that I really could not stand them, and of course even the characters I liked made me want to shake them from time to time (especially when I could tell their actions were going to put them in danger). If you have read and enjoyed Inkheart or if you like a layered fantasy story then I definitely recommend this book to you. It's a great book for kids in fourth grade and up to read. One thing is for sure- you will fall into the story and lose the world around you for a while.

Has anyone else read Inkspell? Or have you read another book by Cornelia Funke? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~L

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Answer to Monday's Riddle: Word is the Word...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers. This was a tough riddle, and as it should be! Words are tricky. Lizzy will cast a spell on you Friday with her book review, so stay tuned. See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

Conjured meanings stir up thought; sound waves travel to be caught. Frequencies vary on passing tides; rough seas ahead, and you may hide. When a calmer wave does mellow, better to speak to a common fellow. How do we know what it is that we say? By the magic we've shared since our very first day. Morphology sticks to the roots of the tree, a part of the structure that tells it to thee. You've read this far, so I'll give you a clue, our knowledge expands when we learn one that's new. 

What am I referring to? Answer: Words!

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats




 
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Monday's Riddle: Sound Says Meaning...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? This type of play is my favorite. ; ) ~ F

Conjured meanings stir up thought; sound waves travel to be caught. Frequencies vary on passing tides; rough seas ahead, and you may hide. When a calmer wave does mellow, better to speak to a common fellow. How do we know what it is that we say? By the magic we've shared since our very first day. Morphology sticks to the roots of the tree, a part of the structure that tells it to thee. You've read this far, so I'll give you a clue, our knowledge expands when we learn one that's new. 

What am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer! 

I gave you a clue!

CLUE

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Margo's Musings: Frederick by Leo Lionni

My original copy of Frederick  : ) 

Margo asked if we could feature my favorite children's book, Frederick by Leo Lionni. We've spotlighted this story before, but since we're spreading the news about the drawing contest, I thought it was a fun idea to share it again. This book inspired my love for drawing. I learned to keep my stories in sketches, and it was easy to pull them out whenever I needed to pick myself up or things weren't going so well. This morning it was nice to see the snow. Margo and I reread the book together, it felt warm and cozy. Frederick is a beautiful tribute to storytellers and dreamers. My copy is tattered from love, but it's meaning is just as real today as it ever was- the words never change, and sharing it with my little sister is very special. : ) ~ F

Frederick the field mouse is a dreamer. His family works hard all summer, collecting berries and stocking up on grain for the winter months. But, Frederick doesn't join in. He sits in the sun. He collects thoughts. The others ask him why he won't work, what is it that he is doing? Frederick tells them that he is gathering words. The cold comes. And, at first, the food is plentiful, the conversation light and fun...but then, the gloom sets in. The world is frozen; the supplies much less. The family of mice turn to Frederick, remembering what he had said. Through his quiet mouse voice, he lifts them into their imaginations and their hearts are joyous, as if by magic.

Who scatters snowflakes? Who melts the ice? Who spoils the weather? Who makes it nice? Who grows the four-leaf clovers in June? Who dims the daylight? Who lights the moon?


Four little field mice who live in the sky.
Four little field mice... like you and I.


One is the Springmouse who turns on the showers. Then comes the Summer who paints in the flowers. The Fallmouse is next with walnuts and wheat. And Winter is last...with little cold feet.


Aren't we lucky the seasons are four? Think of a year with one less... or one more!

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