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66th out of 77 books
—
18 voters
Escape the Mask (The Grassland Trilogy #1)
by
David Ward
The first in a new adventure trilogy full of danger, bravery, and unexpected friendships
Welcome to Grassland, where the only hope of freedom is to go beyond the reach of sinister, silent masters, and the only family you know are your fellow captives. Coriko has never known a world beyond his cell and the fields where he toils all day. He does what he’s told and tries not t...more
Welcome to Grassland, where the only hope of freedom is to go beyond the reach of sinister, silent masters, and the only family you know are your fellow captives. Coriko has never known a world beyond his cell and the fields where he toils all day. He does what he’s told and tries not t...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
April 1st 2008
by Harry N. Abrams
(first published January 1st 2001)
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This book is Escape the mask and is the first of the 3 part trilogy.It is written by David Ward.In the Beginning the spears commands slaves to collect shards.That is how it has always been until the outsiders came and started a war.The main characters try to escape.
My favourite thing about the book was that it had a good amount of action for only around 200 pages. Something I didn't like was that it at times was hard to follow.Another thing I liked was how he described people like the spears and...more
My favourite thing about the book was that it had a good amount of action for only around 200 pages. Something I didn't like was that it at times was hard to follow.Another thing I liked was how he described people like the spears and...more
Book One of The Grassland Trilogy
Corki and his cellmate Pippa have been held captive for years by the Spears. Corki remembers nothing of his past and relies on Pippa to tell him about things like trees. All he knows is that every day, as Diggers, they must collect shards, and if they don't meet their quota, they'll get sent belowcaves for a Cleansing. In fact, do anything wrong and you'll have to endure a rush of ocean water in a closed cell, which is where the story opens: Corki is in a barred...more
Corki and his cellmate Pippa have been held captive for years by the Spears. Corki remembers nothing of his past and relies on Pippa to tell him about things like trees. All he knows is that every day, as Diggers, they must collect shards, and if they don't meet their quota, they'll get sent belowcaves for a Cleansing. In fact, do anything wrong and you'll have to endure a rush of ocean water in a closed cell, which is where the story opens: Corki is in a barred...more
This is a good read for boys and reluctant readers in the YR/intermediate range, nice and skinny! ;-) Girls will like it, too--the girls here are strong and thoughtful, supplying the gentler side without losing their ability to stand up for themselves.
Cori and his cellmate Pippa are slaves for the Spears, who force them to dig for the shards that cling to the roots of the grass, and subject them to punishment and death for the slightest infraction. They're slaves without free time, always on the...more
Cori and his cellmate Pippa are slaves for the Spears, who force them to dig for the shards that cling to the roots of the grass, and subject them to punishment and death for the slightest infraction. They're slaves without free time, always on the...more
Read & Reviewed for http://www.Armchairinterviews.com
Coriko and his partner Pippa are slaves to the Spears. The children are Twosies, who have lived in the grasslands, and worked at finding the shards that the Spears want mined from the sands for many years. Coriko – who doesn’t remember a life outside of captivity relies on Pippa for friendship and support as they struggle through each day trying to meet the gather quotas and keep from angering the Spear guards and the punishment that comes...more
Coriko and his partner Pippa are slaves to the Spears. The children are Twosies, who have lived in the grasslands, and worked at finding the shards that the Spears want mined from the sands for many years. Coriko – who doesn’t remember a life outside of captivity relies on Pippa for friendship and support as they struggle through each day trying to meet the gather quotas and keep from angering the Spear guards and the punishment that comes...more
I had mixed feelings about this book. It was mediocre in some areas, but interesting in others. I did like the writing style and mostly enjoyed the storyline. Because it was such a small book, it really was a light read, so worthwhile in the end. I'll confess some of the descriptions were a little confusing to me, but I think the simplicity of them was to make a point about the children and their upbringing. It didn't blow me away, but it was entertaining.
The book was suprisingly good since i had know clue about the story. I am going to read the rest of the series. A little confusing but other than that it was an entertaining book abouta boy that leaves most of his life in a cell guarded by Spears, jail guards, and a war breaks out. Coriko, the main character leads his batch of friends and many others to freedom. A short book that is for a younger audience.
Very classic beginning to fantasy story, characteristic by a severe lack of information. Characters very cliche, but it is still interesting to see where Ward will take the series.
I liked the book, but there were LOTS of things that weren't explained at all. I suppose that's what happens when you read a trilogy, but it means that this book doesn't really stand on its own.
As long as he can remember, Coriko has been a slave to a group of people he calls the Spears. He doesn't know who they are, or who he was before he was kidnapped to work for them, though his cellmate Pippa remembers more. When the Spears are attacked by Outsiders and a war breaks out, he is forced to try to find a way to escape.
This first book in the trilogy is a pretty good pick for 5th-8th grade boys who are reluctant readers, although not necessarily for struggling readers. It's fast-paced an...more
This first book in the trilogy is a pretty good pick for 5th-8th grade boys who are reluctant readers, although not necessarily for struggling readers. It's fast-paced an...more
Feb 24, 2009
James Foster
added it
Weird book. Not that exciting. Sort of Bland. Maybe the sequel will be better.
Interesting YA book (start of a trilogy) with lots of action.
A gripping story full of action, adventure and couragous kids.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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i found this book very interesting and very fun because of the plot of the story. the story is about a boy named coriko and his mate pippa trying to survive prison after being taken away by masked men called the spears. after meating a few new friends pippa and coriko have found out that war is eminent and they must escape their prison to survive. i would recommend this book to thibishan because thibishan likes to read adventure books.
Was going through my ridiculous "to read" list and saw this one. Cover's pretty distinctive (creepy, more like it) and remembered I already read it ... and a while back at that. Just forgot to list it here.
I remember thinking it was a pretty good story. Don't know when I'll get to Book 2 (I'm guessing it's out? I should go look) but it would be worth checking out.
Dystopia seems to be more like a future place we don't want to be. This one seems more like a place back in time we don't want to be.
I remember thinking it was a pretty good story. Don't know when I'll get to Book 2 (I'm guessing it's out? I should go look) but it would be worth checking out.
Dystopia seems to be more like a future place we don't want to be. This one seems more like a place back in time we don't want to be.
Summary:
A group of enslaved children find themselves in the middle of a war that eventually leads to their escape. They must find a way to survive on their own and to discover their environment and histories that had been stolen from them.
Strengths:
Super-fast and action-packed. An intriguing premise that should keep readers craving the rest of the series. It's fun to get the sheltered characters' new accounts on everyday things (i.e. chairs, trees, houses).
A group of enslaved children find themselves in the middle of a war that eventually leads to their escape. They must find a way to survive on their own and to discover their environment and histories that had been stolen from them.
Strengths:
Super-fast and action-packed. An intriguing premise that should keep readers craving the rest of the series. It's fun to get the sheltered characters' new accounts on everyday things (i.e. chairs, trees, houses).
The setting was kind of interesting, but I was waiting for something exciting to happen. The book felt like it was part of a bigger book because you don't really learn anything, and there really is no climax or conclusion. I'm definitely going to finish the trilogy to see what happens though, because Ward makes it hard to not be attached to the characters.
This book had a thought-provoking dystopian world and characters that I cared about--the only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that I felt like it ended at a point where the story was just beginning.
Endings like that annoy me sometimes--but not all the time so go figure.
Endings like that annoy me sometimes--but not all the time so go figure.
I felt like the writing was purposely vague and therefore, hard to follow at times. It was difficult to become attached to the main characters at first. By the end of the book, I wanted to know a bit more about what will happen to the "diggers," but don't know if I'm intrigued enough to continue with the series.
Q and I just never really got into this book.
Great first volume in an upcoming trilogy...volume 2 just came out too. I'm a little tired to actually review it, but I did run to my computer and place a hold on the sequel as soon as I had closed the book, if that says anything.
Hardcover for $3 at LA Times Book Festival. Why not!?
It's interesting but not sure what to classify as..young adult or middle grade. Pretty intense gore though.
It's interesting but not sure what to classify as..young adult or middle grade. Pretty intense gore though.
ahh back to the juvenile fiction for the school year. I'll be doing this one with my Grade 6's. Pretty engaging so far...
I love all the adventure in this book. Loved this series.
It was better than the 2nd but the third was best
Apr 30, 2013
Krystal
marked it as to-read
Apr 18, 2013
Animesh_anik
marked it as to-read
Apr 17, 2013
Jessica
added it
Apr 16, 2013
Igraine
marked it as auf-gar-keinen-fall
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David Ward was born in Montreal and grew up in Vancouver. He was an elementary school teacher for eleven years before completing his master's degree. He is the author of the Grassland trilogy and is a writer and university instructor in children's literature. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and their three children.
More about David Ward...
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