Mark's solo camping trip in the desert turns into a terrifying and thrilling odyssey when a mysterious beam of light transports him to another t... read full description
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Jun 04, 2008
Andrew
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Jan 21, 2009
gunneos
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I first read this book under the name Blue Light, and hell, it was a long read, back then when people like me weren't accustomed to inch-thick books like Harry Potter. I was about 15 I think, and having been brought up on thin books and short stories, didn't quite have the attention span of completing the book without breaks. But you know something is good when you keep coming back for more. I took breaks, and really, I think breaks are one of the better judges to whether a book is addictive eno
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Oct 18, 2011
Zach
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This book is about a kid named Mark Harrison who is my age (thirteen) and goes on a solo camping trip in the desert. His mom is extremely worried about this camp and threatened to call the national guard if he was a day late home. Mark was very experienced in wilderness survival and was confident. Although, neither of these things would have helped him in the situation he was in. He was transported to what seems to be another planet! Mark comes across many different tribes and experiences war
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Jul 27, 2011
One of my favorite writers from my Childhood is Gary Paulsen. Brian's Saga brought us into a unique world of Survival. His Adventure's series captivated readers with vivid mysteries and adventures. The hijinx of Dunc and Amos always brought a smile to my face. Of all of Paulsen's work, though The White Fox Chronicles were my favorite. This is a book that I still pull off of my shelf at least once a year to give a read. I feel a bit blasphemous saying this, but I think I enjoyed the Transal
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Apr 26, 2010
Josiah
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In some ways, Gary Paulsen has gone an entirely new route in this book. The Transall Saga takes place mostly in a sort of futuristic society, though one that differs greatly from the cultures found in most science fiction tomes. This land (called "Transall") to which Mark has been unexpectedly transported is far inferior to our modern world in terms of technology and personal development, placing more emphasis on war and looting than on nobility of character.
Mark, age thi More...
Mark, age thi More...
Jun 25, 2008
Kim
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I was pretty impressed by this book. Considering that there were little to no books like this when I was young, my son has a wealth of books from which to choose. When I compare what was available to me 35-40 years ago to this book, I can't help but be impressed. Yes, the story can be a bit contrived at times, but it keeps you on your toes and keeps you wanting to know what happened. For a young-reader book, this one really delivers.
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Apr 11, 2008
Sparker
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This book was an amazing book. it had great detail and really exciting.i finished the day i started reading it. i love all books and you can send me some books you think are good at jessemarcell@yahoo.com put you e-mail addres and ill try to find it and read it and ill see if i like it
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Jul 13, 2011
Zach
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During a hiking trip through the desert, Mark falls into a mysterious blue light that transports him to a new and strange land. While in this new land, Mark encounters plants and animals unlike anything he has ever seen. Marks survival skills are tested as he learns to survive in this unusual place, while also trying to find his way home. As Mark explores further into the forest, he discovers human like creatures that speak a strange language. Mark finds that he must adapt to the language and cu
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Dec 14, 2008
Andres
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The Transall Saga was a good book to me. I thought it was too dull and boring. It keep going off topic and would go off in different directions.
The story it self was pretty good if the author would've put more effort to it. The main character, Mark, gets hit by a car. BAM! the next thing he knows he's in the middle of know where and finds that grass is red. he comes to the conclusion that he's dreaming. He wakes up the next day to find himself again in this strange world. Some cool things More...
The story it self was pretty good if the author would've put more effort to it. The main character, Mark, gets hit by a car. BAM! the next thing he knows he's in the middle of know where and finds that grass is red. he comes to the conclusion that he's dreaming. He wakes up the next day to find himself again in this strange world. Some cool things More...
Aug 16, 2011
Ashley
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The Transall Saga grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. Mark is transported to a different place and different time where leaves and dirt are red and the animals are wild. As Mark finally gets accustomed to survival he finds people and begins to discover the brutality of life as he struggles to survive. Following Mark as he learns to survive the reader will be entranced each time he faces a new danger. Paulsen grips the conscious mind and makes the reader wonder how all these things are possi
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Dec 04, 2011
Juanita
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Emily introduced me to this book by rating it 5 star - that is her scale which seems to lack lower numbers. On my scale this is a GOOD BOOK. I enjoyed it thoroughly; couldn't put it down because the action sped right along, the hero was quite vivid and the scenes believable. Also, the sentences and vocabulary were easy, short and sweet. Alas, the ending was too predictable, the depth of meaning lacking and there was no poety in the presentation. Hence, I cannot give it a 4 or 5. Even so, for peo
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Sep 20, 2008
Marco
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Sep 15, 2008
Jennifer Marie
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Jan 19, 2012
Abby.s
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The Transall Saga is about a boy named Mark who goes camping in a canyon and when he sees a shooting star crash near him and sees a strange blue light tube, it distrracts him from his surroundings so much that a rattlesnake bites him causing him to fall into the light tube in pain. When he wakes up he in a strange place with red grass and even more strange, he doesnt feel any pain where the snake had bitten him infact there wasnt even a mark! So as he tries to figure out his new surroundings he
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Jan 09, 2012
Zeeshan
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Great story in general, however reading it as as adult I didn't like how fast the story progressed with out any build up, or emotion. For example, 8 pages into the story, Mark finds himself "on another planet"... Usually that would scare someone, but to get the story to just move on, the main character just shrugs it off as it's no big deal that I'm supposedly on another planet. Eventually though the story does become interesting and it's an easy read... I enjoyed it all the way till t
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Apr 13, 2011
Gina
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May 13, 2010
Penny
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Jan 17, 2010
Shauna
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This book is one of Devin's favorites, so of course he asked for it for Christmas and begged me to read it. It was okay. It had an interesting plot line, but I think I was put off from the first that any parent would allow a 13-year-old boy who had been camping twice in his life to go on a week-long backpacking trips in the mountains, alone. The rest was a little weird. Devin was bugged that he came back at the end, I thought it was a nice ending that he tries to find a cure for the plague. A ni
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Jan 17, 2011
Debby
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Read for Sci Fi genre training but pleasantly surprised. 13 year old Mark loves to be outdoors and during a solo desert trip he's transported by a blue light to an unfamiliar world. As he adapts and explores, he meets other people and eventually discovers the truth about his location and time. His new relationships temper is desire to return to his own time. Good adventure story, but the ending was less than satisfactory.
Nov 27, 2011
Dayna
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Mark decides to take a solo camping trip in the desert. A nice restful time alone, or so he thinks. A beam of blue light transports him to what appears to be another planet. He must learn to survive in this new world even as he looks for a way home. His encounters with primitive tribes force him to grow up and learn that he is not as helpless as he thinks. Paulsen's experience with survival tales is evident in this foray into science fiction. Both fans of science fiction and fans of Paulsen will
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Jun 03, 2011
Chelsea
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Great adventure story. About a boy who falls into what seems to be a parallel world and learns how to survive on his own. Discovers there is human-like life on this planet and that this world, Transall, deals with warfare and the suffering of humanity like Earth. He finds his place in this world and learns a lot about himself and his limits. Big twist in this book. Intrigue!
Jul 25, 2010
Joe
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Jun 02, 2011
Sabore
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Literally today I must decide something...what is my favorite book ever??? Well this is definitley up there. I read it for school very quickly and so did many friends of mine. Some said it got boring at parts, some didnt like the big twist (read to find out), some were upset at the ending. Well I thought it was phenomenal and one of the best books I HAVE EVER READ...I absolutely loved it and while I want more...a sequel is impossible. I didnt stop reading, not for a second, each day I'd pick it
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Nov 05, 2011
Rick
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Well I read this book years ago back in 4th or 5th grade. Back then I'd have given it 4 or 5 stars. But now that I think about it, I don't think the book was very well written. But it does please the intended audience (older elementary school kids/younger middle school kids) and that's what matters. Right now, though, I don't think it's that great.
Oct 22, 2008
Margaret
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The reason I read this in the first place was because my dear friend, Chloe, was always talking about her dislike for Gary Paulsen (The reason she read his books was because they were on a book club/competition team list, but that's another story). Anyway, I thought this book was going to make me laugh at its stupidity, but it didn't. In fact, I actually rather enjoyed it. It was very original, adding a new twist to the typical survival story. The only part I found mildly amusing in a laughable
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Nov 28, 2009
Smiley
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We read this in my 5th grade class and all of us loved it, and everyone was excited when it was reading time because we knew we would get to listen to this funny, adventorous, fantastic story about a boy who went hiking in the desert and ended up in a different and twisted up world.
I think everyone one should read it.
I think everyone one should read it.
Jul 09, 2011
Chayne
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Jun 08, 2010
Carl
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this book i thought was not very good at all. it was like a very very early movie i saw i do not remember the name but it was just terrible (probably good at the time) but anyway its prospects of being very bland. almost as a generic letter that they just add your name and the date.
Mar 19, 2011
Jason
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When I readnthis book I thought it was just about some kid falling into a blue beam of light. I told my teacher about it and she said it was a really good book,so I continued to read. In the middle of Transall saga I was awed,my mouth droped. I encourage you to read this book.
Mar 01, 2010
Daniel
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This book is quite good. Similar to Paulsen's other books having to do with survival, this one differs in the fact that it takes place in an alternate dimension. A story that was very well done, this book was my absolute favorite up until I was 12 (which is 4/5 of my life).
