The Database Of All The Reviews
Predator's Gold
Philip Reeve
Fiction (Series)
Ages 12 and up
Scholastic Press UK, 2003, 0-439-97889-0
Tom and Hester have found a new and very satisfying life for themselves. In the "Bird Roads" above an earth that is covered with the tracks of the mobile or "traction" cities, they travel in the Jenny Hanniver, an airship which they 'borrowed' during the terrible events that led up to the destruction of the traction city of London. Tom still misses London, his old home, but he has found comfort in this new life. He and Hester are a couple now, happy in each other's company and in their mutual love for one another.
This state of affairs is soon over however, for Tom and Hester have enemies who want to get the Jenny Hanniver back. They also want Tom and Hester for some reason. These enemies are to be feared for they have an agenda which goes beyond acquiring material goods or security. The Green Storm, as they call themselves, are determined to put an end to traction cities all together, seeking a different way of life for all people. The problem is that they seem to have no limits as to what they will do to achieve their goal. They seem to value human life very little and have plans that border on the diabolical.
As the backdrop to this 'battle' there is the story of Anchorage, a traction city which is almost a ghost city because of a plague which killed or drove away most of the inhabitants. Those who are left have to find a new life for themselves, including Freya Rasmussen who is the leader of the city, the "margravine". The city cannot go on as it is, barely surviving as it trundles across the icy north country. Something has to be done but what?
Hester, Tom, Anchorage, the Green Storm group, and a band of highly successful young thieves come together in this gripping story, each of them having a goal which is often the opposite of the others. Somehow they need to find a way to survive in their damaged world, to find their place in the strange order that exists around them.
Superbly written and very hard to put down once started, this second book in Philip Reeve's series, is, if anything, even better than the first book was. The characters that we met in "Mortal Engines" develop further and we begin to see that life on a traction city has little to commend it. We get the sense that Tom and Hester's world is heading for great change and hope that they will be able to ride the wave that surely lies just over the horizon, a wave of change which will surely transform their world forever.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
An Online Children’s Book Review Journal
Through The Looking Glass Children’s Book Review
Online book reviews for the child in your life featuring both new and popular children's book authors
ACTION ALERT!
Reading is Fundamental (RIF) needs your help. The President's proposed fiscal year 2009 budget released in February eliminates the Inexpensive Book Distribution Program, which is the RIF Book Distribution Program. Unless Congress reinstates funding for this program, RIF will be unable to distribute 16 million books annually to the nation's youngest and most at-risk children. RIF serves 4.6 million children. Please click on the link below to visit the RIF Action Alert page so you can make your voice heard and support their efforts.
 |
Kids book reviews, including book reviews of chapter books, novels, picture books, and non-fiction from famous children’s literature authors. Your review site of books for children.