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The Review Is In :: The Prodogals - Giants in the Land by Clark Rich Burbidge

 

Award winning author, Clark Burbidge, returns with another superb piece of juvenile fiction in the form of his second novel - The Prodigals - of The Giants of the Land series. This novel is also illustrated by Karl C. Hepworth.

During Burbidge's first novel, The Way Things Were, our hero, Thomas, overcomes trials as he travels the unknown lands seeking out the town's missing giant friends. Along the way, Thomas learns that no matter how small we may be, we all have the capacity to be giants so long as we live like them, as a giant's heart is measured by his deeds for others.

In The Prodigals, our hero, Thomas, once again finds himself facing a threat not only to his land, but to his very way of life. This time, however, Thomas is much older and wiser, as well as the Land's Forest Ward. He has two grandchildren, Tommy and Rose, who unknowingly will become the saviors of the land.

Throughout the land, raiders have begun attacking towns and taking whatever they please, including people. Tommy's sister, Rose, is taken captive during one such raid by a man named Big John to be pressed into slavery. Tommy is eager to save his sister and in turn save the land. But, he cannot do it alone and must call upon his grandfather, Thomas, his giant friend, Earthwatcher, and a lost band of prodigals. Together, they can move mountains.

Excerpt: My mother is a wise and beautiful woman, so perhaps you are partly right. She taught me that we cannot runaway from who we are becoming. We carry it with us. What I carry is something worth having. You act like you carry nothing. I don't believe it. Surely in the past you have felt hope born of mercy. I sense in you a spark of hope that may still help you become something of greater worth...(Rose to Big John)

What I love most about Burbidge's juvenile novels is that they are clean and pure and very different from the majority of literature for this age range. I often have to review books my boys bring home from the library and several times say, "I'm sorry, but you can't read this as it is inappropriate." I definitely do not have to do this with Burbidge's books.

My eldest son (7th grader) recently read this novel and he thoroughly enjoyed it. He felt the novel was a toned down version of Ranger's Apprentice and Robin Hood.

I'd personally recommend this book for sixth graders and above. 

Included in this book was an illustrated map of the land, as well as a sneak peek of book three in the series.

Clark Burbidge's next novel out is book three of Giants of the Land series. It will be titled The Cavern of Promise. You can keep up with the Giants here.

 {I was provided a copy of this novel to review by the publishing house: PR by the Book, LLC.}

The Review is In:: Giants in the Land



Award winning author, Clark Burbidge, offers up a  superb piece of juvenile fiction in the form of his newest novel: Giants in the Land, book one of The Way of Things series.

Engaging from the start, the story features the trials and adventures of Thomas, whom the giants dub The One, as he travels the unknown lands seeking out the town's missing giant friends.

Excerpt:
"The giants not only did things for the people that they could not do for themselves, but they also deeply affected how the townsfolk felt about themselves and their belief that nothing could upset their lives. The people went about their daily activities with the confidence that whenever they came upon a job too large, an obstacle too heavy, or a threat too great, the giants would step in. The townsfolk knew in their hearts that the giants would always be there to make things run smoothly."

But, once they've mysteriously left the town, the townsfolk are beside themselves searching for answers and trying to figure out how all the town's work will be accomplished without their helpers. Thomas feels it in his heart that he must seek out the giants and answer the town's questions, thus, his story begins.

Along the way, Thomas finds many perils: dehydration, a wolf pack on the hunt, drowning, continuing his trek though injured, and more. Thomas uses his faith, his father's memory, and his drive to save the town to keep going until he reaches his goal.

Eventually, Thomas finds his way to the Land of Giants and receives all the answers to his questions as well as an explanation of Thomas' title.

Aside from a solid story plot, Burbidge offers his young readers more than a typical fiction novel. He includes astounding vocabulary - something most books of today's age lack. The author's use of larger life concepts are prolific throughout the novel, as well.

Excerpt:
"The way you live your life will determine who you become. This example will teach them to become what they must to create their own land of giants. One day, they will mourn the loss of those they loved and depended on, just as you have mourned the loss of your father. But the sun will rise the next morning, and they will pick up their axes and plows and carry on the work of the giants."

 In the end, Burbidge imposes the idea upon the reader that we all have the capacity to be giants so long as we live like them, as a giant's heart is measured by his deeds for others.

I'd personally recommend this book for sixth graders and above. I think adults can even glean something from Burbidge's novel, as we sometimes forget that others think of us as giants, too.

Clark Burbidge's next novel out is book two of The Way Things Are series. It will be titled The Prodigals. You can keep up with the Giants here.

Follow the rest of the blog tour for Giants of the Land.
{I was provided a copy of this novel to review by the publishing house: WinePress Publishing.}