Medina's background as an artist truly shines through in this enchanting tale. Medina continually describes the setting in a very beautiful, visual manner which encouraged me to put the book down periodically and let my imagination conjure up the images he described. His writing also conveys many sensory experiences -- we can imagine the sights, sounds, textures and aromas of each scene.
This book is also wonderful for children of many ages, as the story is extremely family friendly. The tale centers around 12-year-old Zak, who possesses impeccable manners and concern for everyone around him, and is truly a model of good virtues such as patience, respect for elders, and compassion. At the same time, Zak is a character to which many children (and adults!) can relate. He struggles somewhat with feelings of self-worth due to an emotionally distant father, but he faces this particular demon (and many others), to find that he can grow tremendously through persistence and the support of close family and friends.
This is a refreshingly beautiful must-read book!
Amazon Review by Erin Schalk
