Throwback Thursday Book Edition #3: The Lost Books series (1-4) by Ted Dekker

Picture from GoodReads

General Analysis

Series Title: The Lost Books (books 1-4)

Author: Ted Dekker

Publish Dates: 2007-2008

Genre: Young Adult, Christian Fiction, Fantasy

Plot for Chosen (from GoodReads):  Think with your heart and prepare to die . . . for you have been Chosen.

Thomas Hunter, supreme commander of the Forest Guard, has seen a great evil decimate much of his beautiful world. With a dwindling army and an epic threat, Thomas is forced to supplement his fighters with new recruits ages 16 and 17. From thousands, four will be chosen to lead a special mission.

Unknown to Thomas, the chosen four are redirected to a different endgame. They must find the seven lost Books of History before the Dark One. For these seven books have immense power over the past, present, and future, controlling not only the destiny of their world . . . but that of ours as well.

Why and When I Read This Book: I started reading the Circle trilogy, the companion series to the Lost books series, in middle school and I loved them.  I started reading this series in high school, but I only owned the first 4 books.  I now own the last 2 books as well and I hope to read them very soon!

  

In Depth Analysis

This series is a fantasy series that is just amazing.  The world that Ted Dekker created is so detailed and so beautiful.  The concepts behind this book are so unique.  I don't want to give away too much, but this series and the Circle series are closely related in that the main character in this series is also the main character in the Circle trilogy.  The Circle trilogy is set in the "real world"; whereas, the Lost books series is set in an amazing fantasy world.  I cannot explain exactly how this is possible without giving away too much information about the books, this unique concept is one of the reasons that I love this series.

Another reason that I love this series is that one of the main themes is good versus evil.  Unlike a lot of authors, Ted Dekker makes out evil for what it really is: dark and sinful.  He also illustrates the Love that God has for all of his children and contrasts this to the ideals of the evil character and by doing this shows how great God truly is.  I think it is important to show the darkness of evil not only to warn against it, but also to use it to show what true Love is and that God is whom we should seek after always.

This fantasy novel is great for those who love a good adventurous story full of action.  I would also recommend Ted Dekker's Circle Trilogy to read along with this series.  The chronological order of the books is Green ("The Beginning and the End" to the Circle Trilogy), Black (Circle Trilogy), the Lost Books series, Red (Circle trilogy), and then White (Circle Trilogy), but either series can be read first and still be easily understood.  Next week's Throwback Thursday will be on the Circle Trilogy.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 10 and up.  There are some violent scenes, but that are not graphic (if I remember correctly).

Overall Rating: 5/5

Everlost

General Analysis

Book Title: Everlost

Author: Neal Shusterman

Publish Date: October 1, 2006

Genre: Young Adult Dystopia, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Fantasy

Plot:  Nick and Allie are caught halfway between life and death.  They live in a place called Everlost which is filled with things that no longer exist.  They no longer need to breath or eat, yet the desires to do so still exist.  The longer that kids exist in Everlost, the more they begin to forget about how they were and who they were in the living world.

Overall Thoughts:  I thought this book was wonderful, but not as wonderful as other books by Neal Shusterman.  I recently just reread this book.  The first time that I read it was in high school and I loved it just as much as I did when I was in high school.  The only thing that I did not like was that the story was not as good as I expect from Shusterman.

In Depth Analysis

Characters: The characters are very in-depth with their own unique personalities.  Each has their own story which I was delighted to read.

Writing Style:  The writing style is wonderful as always.  Filled with suspense and action, Neal Shusterman never ceases to amaze me.

Likes:  I love the way that every character in Shusterman's books always have a story that makes them who they are.  It makes the story easier to relate to.  I also love the suspense and the action that is in all of his novels.  Shusterman always has unique ideas for each of his books and it makes reading each book of his an adventure.

Dislikes:  This book was fun to read, but seemed to have been written for a younger audience than most of his books.  I did not find it as enjoyable as his other books, but it was still a fun read.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  I would recommend this book to middle school and high school students.  The writing style is more for this younger audience.  The only thing that may not be appropriate for young audiences is the darkish subject matter of the book, death.  Neal Shusterman handles this subject in a light and enjoyable way and in a way that is appropriate for all ages.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Future Reviews and Reads

I just finished a book that was a Read and Review book on Goodreads called Genesisthat is part of the XII Saga by Jason Rowe and Brian Palmer.  It was not an enjoyable as I hoped.  My review for Goodreads is located here.  I may do a review for my blog on this book soon.

I am starting a book soon called The Why of Things that I got from a giveaway on Goodreads.  I am excited to be starting this contemporary novel by Elizabeth Hartley Winthrop.

I am also still reading The Language of God by Francis S. Collins and Jesus Freaks by dc Talk.  I am greatly enjoying both of these Christian Nonfiction books.