The Lives of Christopher Chant
by Diana Wynne Jones © 1988, 230 pages Level 5 (all about levels) Read Amazon Reviews
In her Chrestomanci series, Diana Wynne Jones has created a fantasy world, really a series of worlds, where magic is both the source and the solution for many supernatural sticky situations. Ben and I read the first book in the series, A Charmed Life, last year, and it surprised us with how much we enjoyed it. Since we also read this edition together, we thought we'd both share our thoughts in our first co-review!
The Lives of Christopher Chant is the second book in this non-linear series where we learn about a boy named Christopher, who later grows up to become the Chrestomanci (the ruler of the magical world). His childhood is fairly dismal, but in his dreams he visits marvelous lands he calls the Almost Anywheres. Little does he know that these travels have implications far beyond his night's sleep. As he begins to learn the extent of his magic, he's plunged into a multi-world adventure which requires quick thinking, friendship, and of course a few spells to resolve.
Lori
The Chrestomanci series is great for people who love a good fantasy story with lots of twists and turns, page-turners which require paying attention. Though this book doesn't necessarily explore any larger themes in depth, we do see Christopher undergo a transformation of character as he realizes that he just wasn't very nice to a whole lot of people. It's also an interesting look at individuals who are destined to a certain role or fate in life, and how they handle those circumstances in their own, unique way. Since fantasy isn't usually my preferred genre, this book didn't stir my soul, but it was fun to share with Ben as we wondered what would happen next.
Ben
This is one of my favorite books that Mom and I have read together in the past year or so. One of the best parts about reading this book was trying to figure out what was going to happen next by listening for clues when the author leaves them, which she does quite often. I enjoyed this author's style of writing. It wasn't too complicated to understand, but it wasn't overly simple either. This novel features a small sprinkling of humor, but it is mainly serious. The Lives of Christopher Chant is a wonderful book which features many aspects of good writing.
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