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School of the Ages: Level Three's Dream [NOOK Book]
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splatpunk
Posted November 26, 2011
I think the concept of linking up Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland world to the (very dangerous) imagination of Level Three (the autistic character) is superb! As a reader, I love crisp and clean dialogue (it's one of the fundamentals of a good story for me). This was something that featured throughout Level Three's Dream (all of the dialogue reflected the personalities of each character, so that none of them were cliched or "tired one-dimensional flat cardboard characters"). I found the multicultural cast to be engaging and refreshing (in terms of individuality / expression / action / motivation), and certain serious themes were handled in an insightful way (without ever getting too long-winded, draggy, or heavy). These themes include friendship, love, death, and the family (to name a few). Simon's internal struggle with his feelings over Leah's death were some of the best portions of the text (for me), and how these feelings were presented naturally and sensitively/compassionately from the POV of a fourteen-year-old boy. Sexuality is also handled realistically (in a way that isn't lewd or explicit) -- I think this is also something that is so important (I for one am very tired of the same old hypersexualized scenes in the mainstream mass media). This also adds an element of depth and realism to Simon and the story on the whole. I particularly enjoyed the scene where he "loses his innocence" -- while the scene was in no way graphic, it made me reflect on my own experiences [and how it must be like to feel; in my case, I don't recall any exact moment/s where I felt I had lost my childhood innocence (hmm!)...but still, it made me think about the shame/guilt involved, and how different I might feel before and after the event, were I in a similar situation as the character relating it]. Sex and sexuality are a part of human life; just because it's not thought or talked about doesn't mean it can be conveniently swept under the rug. This is precisely why I always enjoy work that doesn't commoditize and/or trivialize sex + love + relationships. The magic in the School of the Ages series is also unique in the sense it's more cerebral than orthodoxically fantastical. The characters in this series don't rely on an array of magic wands, potions, and flying broomsticks -- not that there's anything wrong with those elements per se, but presenting magic in this form adds a new dimension to the concept of magic itself (and makes it all the more believable where we question the real world we're in, and what's real and what isn't). There are some chapters just before the end that closely reflect the bizarre and wonderfully strange/illogical world of "Alice in Wonderland" -- I greatly enjoyed these chapters (and the poetry -- while some were slightly lengthy, they were well-written and incredibly fun! There's a play on a classic Nirvana song too *hint hint*). I felt these chapters balanced out the earlier chapters, some of which contain select passages from Lewis Caroll's "Alice in Wonderland," which contribute to the "puzzles" feel and structure of the story. One final note about the pencil drawings included throughout the text of the various different characters. I thought this was a little unusual at first, but I think it kind of gave a personal and realistic touch to the story (visually). A lot of hyped products today are based on "sensationalism" (because of the ac
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Chrystalla
Posted October 28, 2011
A school of magic, kids with supernatural abilities, and... Lewis Carroll? I admit that when I read the blurb I didn't think I would like this story. After all, many books out there deal with schools of magic and children with magical abilities.
But I was wrong.
The blurb frankly does not do this wonderful novel justice. My initial reservations evaporated after the first page. Written in the first person from the point of view of Simon Magus, a teenage boy, in a clear, strong voice, the story draws the reader into a realistic and yet fantastic world. Although I haven't read Book 1 in the series, I had absolutely no trouble following everything that took place in Level Three's Dream.
Simon, the protagonist, is a believable and likable character. His sorrow, his maturity, his worries and questions about the future, all serve to make him real. His interactions with his parents and friends ring true, while his preoccupation with doing the right thing and his fear of becoming dangerous to others through his powers hint at his powerful internal struggle.
The author is able to render a full characterization of not only Simon but also of all the other characters surrounding him and does so with easy, bold strokes, through the way they speak, their actions and gestures. You will find no lengthy descriptions or unnecessary details. The writing is stripped down to its bare essentials so that it shines in its simplicity. This polished style, coupled with lots of action and suspense, makes for a fast pace.
The author's wit and humor shine through every page of this book. Not only are the dialogues natural-sounding and funny, the world inside Level Three's head, based on Carroll's stories, remains true to the original's surreal, irrational feel, while the play on words and expressions is dazzling. If you are a lover of Carroll's wit, then this is certainly a book for you.
I was glad to see that, instead of an all-white Caucasian cast, the author included different ethnicities, marked by their beliefs and mode of speaking, both in their syntax and vocabulary choices, a fact that not only added to the character's three-dimensionality, but to that of the created world as a whole.
The depth of emotion described and evoked was a pleasant surprise and one of the strengths of this story. My sympathy was with all the characters - Simon, fighting his sorrow over Leah's death, Mermelstein fighting his fear of emotions he cannot yet understand, Level Three trying to figure out what makes him do the mean things he does, and all the other characters having their internal struggles.
Furthermore, although I was initially unhappy with the way the topic of autism was treated not only by Simon and his friends but also by the school teachers, I was pleased with the resolution of the matter.
However, I did have a few issues with the novel. Although the bare style works well, a couple of times I wished for more description.
Another issue I had was with the overuse of the 'Alice in Wonderland' theme.
To sum up: Level Three's Dream is a well-written story, fast-paced and witty. Well edited and formatted, penned with sincerity and feeling, it addresses not only teenagers but public of all ages. The novel asks essential questions about death and immortality, sexuality and religion, cultural xenophobia, love and sorrow. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, of Lewis Carroll or are just looking for a gripping tale, I highly recommend Level Thr
splatpunk
Posted April 2, 2011
I've always been a fan of philosophy, ancient history, culture, and magic/the fantasy genre -- all of these elements were very well mixed in "The Ghost in the Crystal." I was pleasantly surprised to come across mentions of "Alexander the Great" (one of my favorite historical figures; more familiar with non-fiction, than fiction works that make a reference to the famous conqueror)!
What I really enjoyed and appreciated as a reader, was the historical accuracy of the traditions and cultural components mentioned in the book. I've rolled my eyes at TV shows before when such facts are inaccurate ["...it doesn't matter if you don't know that Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Indonesia" -- heard that one from an old episode of "The OC", LOL (KL is the capital of Malaysia)]...but Mr. Posner is certainly a lot more careful, educated, and discerning.
While aspects of the book reminded me of the Harry Potter series, I thought that setting the story in NYC was cool and refreshing. The writing style is concise too (I'm always thankful when an author doesn't take an unnecessary 100 pages to get from one plot point to another!).
LendMe™
Overview
America's greatest magic school is back -- and fourteen-year-old Simon Magus, Goldberry, Mermelstein, and the rest of the team have to face the frustrating creatures in Lewis Carroll's Alice world to help the dangerous young magician Level Three to control his deadly power! Level Three is autistic -- but he's a magician, too, and there is no way to block his ability to trap people within his imaginary mental worlds. When magic doesn't work, and they have only your wits, how can the kids survive in the deadly realm of an unpredictable genius child? Thrill to a bloody and costly magical battle in Paris -- smile at a new love for elementalist Robbie Ravitz -- puzzle at the frightening mystery of why Mermelstein is stalking