Rating: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Late Elementary

Another winner that illustrates honor, courage, and reliance on God (“the Heart”). However, some peril and other issues make it inappropriate for a young or sensitive audience. Read on…

Possible Concerns:

  • Kidnapping and Drugs. The main character is drugged and kidnapped by deceitful visitors from another island.
  • Murder.
  • Use of the term “freak.” The main character is called a freak by the villains because he looks different.
  • Use of the term “shut up.” Villains/kidnappers use it against their prisoner.
  • Peril. Rescue trips are sent, there is military clash.
  • Romance. References to one character taking his girlfriends to a cave, followed by giggles from young ones.
  • Racism. An evil band of hedgehogs holds racist views about whether any creatures not hedgehogs are suitable for kingship. It is very age appropriate, and the heroes point out their folly in thinking.
  • The previous book had Sorcery & Human Sacrifice. The villains bow to a sorcerer who craves dead creatures for his sorcery practice. I suppose because the main characters are animals it’s not human sacrifice, but the spirit of it is the same. This practice is certainly portrayed as a very evil practice, in alignment with scripture.
  • Prayers to fallen Saints: “Father, Mother, if you can see me, help me.” Also to a widower’s late wife: “It’s all right, now…He’ll be alright.”. These prayers go against my theology (pray only to God, the saints who have gone before are not omnipresent/omnipotent and therefore not able to hear prayers/able to act up on them). Nevertheless these moments pale in comparison to the greater moments and themes of trusting God and honoring Him.

Things I liked:

  • Prayers to “The Heart,” who is the name used for the God who looks after their island. There is only one God prayed to.
  • Honor & Bravery. The main character and his friends are full of honor and fight for justice and freedom.

This belongs on my bookshelf, but I will keep it high up so that a kid must be the proper age before reading it.

See also my reviews of Book 1: Urchin of the Riding Stars, and Book 3: Heir of Mistmantle