Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Amulet: Book One – The Stonekeeper
Graphic Novel Series
For ages 9 to 12
Scholastic, 2008 ISBN: 978-0439846813
Emily, Navin and their mother are leaving the city to go to live in their old family home in a small town in the country. After the death of Emily’s father money is tight, and Emily’s mother hopes that living in the house will improve the family's finances. The house is in a mess ,and it will need a lot of work to make it really habitable, but the family gets to work. While they are exploring the house, Emily and Navin find their Great Grandpa Silas Charnon’s workroom, and Emily finds a beautiful amulet that she cannot resist taking and putting on. The family ends up spending their first night in the house, even though there is no electricity.
During the night Emily’s mother hears a noise in the basement and she goes to investigate. She is snatched by a terrifying tentacled monster, which runs away with her deep into the bowels of the house and beyond. Emily and Navin follow, determined not to lose their mother.
The children find themselves in a strange land, and a voice from the amulet guides Emily to the home of her Great Grandpa Silas. He is on his deathbed, but he has time to explain that they are in Alledia, “an alternate version of our planet Earth.” He tells Emily that she needs to decide whether she wants= to accept the power of the stone amulet that she is wearing. If she does, she will probably be able to save her mother, and she will gain great power, but she will also take on an enormous responsibility. Silas then dies. Emily decides to accept the power of the amulet and she becomes the Stonekeeper. Her great grandfather’s peculiar collection of robots becomes Emily’s assistants. Will they be able to get Emily’s mother back from the tentacled monster in time, and what does the future hold for her and her family?
In this gripping first book in what promises to be a popular graphic novel series, Kazu Kibuishi weaves a fascinating story about magic, destiny, fabulous technologies, and alternate worlds. Graphic novel fans are sure to enjoy this title and they will look forward to finding out what happens next.
