What do you think?
Adventures of Caramel Cardamom #2
Return To Cardamom
Life is sweet for Caramel and things are finally getting back to normal. Well, as normal as it can be for a telepathic elf who can train trees and control computers, but she soon finds life on Cardamom is not all cupcakes and apple cider.
A saboteur is hiding in the rainforest canopy, and the elves’ precious cardamom export has been wiped out. Caramel is certain it’s another trick of Alexander222 and her Aunt Isabel, but no one will believe her, and the clock is ticking. She must expose the saboteur in time to save the crop or the Elves of Cardamom will lose their livelihood.
Caramel won’t rest until her theory is proven. While she is on the hunt, she makes a shocking discovery, one that will change everything.
Follow Caramel’s gripping adventures in the exciting sequel to “Escape From The Forbidden Planet.” Suitable for children ages 9-12
A saboteur is hiding in the rainforest canopy, and the elves’ precious cardamom export has been wiped out. Caramel is certain it’s another trick of Alexander222 and her Aunt Isabel, but no one will believe her, and the clock is ticking. She must expose the saboteur in time to save the crop or the Elves of Cardamom will lose their livelihood.
Caramel won’t rest until her theory is proven. While she is on the hunt, she makes a shocking discovery, one that will change everything.
Follow Caramel’s gripping adventures in the exciting sequel to “Escape From The Forbidden Planet.” Suitable for children ages 9-12
136 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2013
About the author
Julie Anne Grasso
23 books303 followersAuthor, Librarian, Autism Mom Julie Anne Grasso works in public libraries in Victoria, Australia, delivering story times to hundreds of families each week. By night she writes cozy mysteries and tickle your funny bone picture books
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 12, 2013
Caramel, her family, friends and all elves everywhere in the Galaxy are called to action as a disaster hits the planet - all the cardamom trees have dropped their pods, causing them to die – and that means economic ruin. How could this have happened? Caramel is sure it’s not a natural phenomenon. It smacks of vengeance, and the person most likely to want that is Alexander222, the villain of the first book in the series. But how can she prove it?
Return to Cardamom picks up from the first in the series, [book:Escape From The Forbidden Planet|16060026, showing that all was not happily ever after, after all. There are a lot of names, places and modes of transport to get to grips with if it is your first encounter with this series, but if not, you soon meet up with old friends. As with the first book, just as you think it’s all over… a whole load of things get much worse. Julie Grasso twists and turns her plot so that your mind is performing mental agility tests along with Caramel’s own mind-games.
Although I sometimes have difficulty visualising the Planet Cardamom, Ms Grasso’s descriptions of other planets, and the biology, medicine and computer science involved in the story, are first rate. There are enough different sciences in this series to keep the biggest geek entertained – and I’m quite a geek!
Caramel and her friends are great characters and both boys and girls have someone to identify with. It’s a rollicking story with some lovely twists at the end and some heartwarming messages hidden deep enough not to produce any ‘yuk!’ noises from those requiring sterner stuff. Something for everyone, wrapped in a whole that is as sweet as honeycake but with nerves of steel! A great read!
I received an Advance Review Copy free of charge in return for my honest review.
Return to Cardamom picks up from the first in the series, [book:Escape From The Forbidden Planet|16060026, showing that all was not happily ever after, after all. There are a lot of names, places and modes of transport to get to grips with if it is your first encounter with this series, but if not, you soon meet up with old friends. As with the first book, just as you think it’s all over… a whole load of things get much worse. Julie Grasso twists and turns her plot so that your mind is performing mental agility tests along with Caramel’s own mind-games.
Although I sometimes have difficulty visualising the Planet Cardamom, Ms Grasso’s descriptions of other planets, and the biology, medicine and computer science involved in the story, are first rate. There are enough different sciences in this series to keep the biggest geek entertained – and I’m quite a geek!
Caramel and her friends are great characters and both boys and girls have someone to identify with. It’s a rollicking story with some lovely twists at the end and some heartwarming messages hidden deep enough not to produce any ‘yuk!’ noises from those requiring sterner stuff. Something for everyone, wrapped in a whole that is as sweet as honeycake but with nerves of steel! A great read!
I received an Advance Review Copy free of charge in return for my honest review.
May 11, 2013
The summary of the book is perfect for the story and Caramel is one awesome elfin-girl.
I read Escape from the Forbidden Planet, the first book in the Caramel Cardamom trilogy, and I enjoyed this one, Return to Cardamom, even more than the first book. It is exciting to visit again with characters that I have now become familiar with from book one ~ like saying, "Hi," to old friends.
The beginning of the story hooked me right away, just like the first one. Julie Anne Grasso has a wonderful way to describe her characters, their thoughts, actions and their surroundings. For example:
"Caramel lumbered to the bathroom to splash some water on her face as the last mists of her dream faded."
Near the end of the book, Caramel mentally battles a worm code hidden in technology. As Caramel travels through the wires in an effort to save everyone, the descriptions of virtual ham pieces flying toward her made my inner computer geek chuckle.
Caramel is a fantastic female protagonist who is easy to route for throughout the entire book. There is an innocent romance budding between Caramel and her friend, Jorde, that is purely sweet. I adore how much Caramel is able to accomplish despite her physical disability; and how she is able to use the gifts that she has been given. Trust me, this girl has been given more than her fair share of gifts: talking to trees, healer extraordinaire and oh, yeah, she can control technology.
Two of my favorite lines from the book:
"News travels faster than a brain synapse around here."
"Blazing elf cheeks."
In late chapters of the book, Caramel's intuition is finally trusted by her elders. I actually said out loud, "Finally! It is about time."
I happily give Return to Cardamom, a wonderfully clean read, five stars out of five and recommend it to ages 9 and up. Those who love science fiction and are looking for a female protagonist will be very happy with this book.
Disclosure: I received an ARC copy of Return to Cardamom. I received no monetary or in-kind compensation for my honest review.
I read Escape from the Forbidden Planet, the first book in the Caramel Cardamom trilogy, and I enjoyed this one, Return to Cardamom, even more than the first book. It is exciting to visit again with characters that I have now become familiar with from book one ~ like saying, "Hi," to old friends.
The beginning of the story hooked me right away, just like the first one. Julie Anne Grasso has a wonderful way to describe her characters, their thoughts, actions and their surroundings. For example:
"Caramel lumbered to the bathroom to splash some water on her face as the last mists of her dream faded."
Near the end of the book, Caramel mentally battles a worm code hidden in technology. As Caramel travels through the wires in an effort to save everyone, the descriptions of virtual ham pieces flying toward her made my inner computer geek chuckle.
Caramel is a fantastic female protagonist who is easy to route for throughout the entire book. There is an innocent romance budding between Caramel and her friend, Jorde, that is purely sweet. I adore how much Caramel is able to accomplish despite her physical disability; and how she is able to use the gifts that she has been given. Trust me, this girl has been given more than her fair share of gifts: talking to trees, healer extraordinaire and oh, yeah, she can control technology.
Two of my favorite lines from the book:
"News travels faster than a brain synapse around here."
"Blazing elf cheeks."
In late chapters of the book, Caramel's intuition is finally trusted by her elders. I actually said out loud, "Finally! It is about time."
I happily give Return to Cardamom, a wonderfully clean read, five stars out of five and recommend it to ages 9 and up. Those who love science fiction and are looking for a female protagonist will be very happy with this book.
Disclosure: I received an ARC copy of Return to Cardamom. I received no monetary or in-kind compensation for my honest review.
July 17, 2013
My daughter (10) and I reviewed this book for Mother Daughter Book Reviews. Here are our thoughts:
DAUGHTER SAYS:
Caramel is a elf princess who lives on the planet Cardamom. She is a healer. Even though she has a limp, she is very brave and smart. I really liked her. I think the cover is really good and I really liked the creepy elf in the green cloak. I really liked how the book had two stories in one book. So when you think the one story is over, there is another part of the story. I liked how it was science fiction and had lots of technology. That made it interesting. I loved, loved, loved the book. I liked it better than the first one. It took about 2 weeks to read it, reading a bit every day. I think kids 8 years and older would like it. They need to be older because some of the story and the technology described are complicated.
MOM SAYS:
Julie Grasso wastes no time in getting the action rolling in Return to Cardamom, the sequel to Escape From the Hidden Planet. This time around Grasso weaves a similarly complex and engaging plot, merging science fiction and fantasy, and featuring an immensely endearing main character in Caramel, the elf princess who, despite a physical disability, proves to be brave, intelligent, and loyal as well as gifted as a healer.
All the things I loved about Book 1, Escape From the Forbidden Planet continue to be the strengths of the second book. Grasso has created an imaginative and interesting world in Cardamom and I love the way she describes the relationship between the elves and the cardamom plants. There is a recognition of the nearly symbiotic nature of the relationship between the two. While the elves tenderly care for the plants, the cardamom stems then lovingly impart their pods to the elves who rely on the seeds as their primary source of energy. This concept is so beautiful to me and carries an important message to the future caretakers of our planet.
I feel that Return to Cardamom is slightly more refined and sophisticated with regards to the descriptions of the technology and the role of technology in the story. In particular, I really enjoyed the part of the story where the computer virus injected by Alexander222 on the Forbidden Planet threatens not only all the computer systems on the planet, but begins to infect the humans there as well. This part of the story features a laugh-out-loud (literally!) scene where Caramel has to dodge the virtual pieces of ham, later identified as “spam” (love the play on words.)
As I’ve discussed in one of our Kid Lit Questions of the Day, I sometimes feel that more mature themes are often thrust onto children far too earlier. Return to Cardamom is a middle grade book that I find completely appropriate for middle grade children (i.e., no bad language, no violence, no sexual innuendos). The major themes underlying the story in the book are all relevant to the target audience of tween/teen kids: friendship, loyalty, forgiveness, courage, and perseverance. I think that Grasso has hit the right level of tension for this age group by avoiding darker and more mature themes but still challenging budding social consciences with its foray into the fields of conservationism, technology, and bioethics.
And then there is Caramel … I just love Caramel! As far as role models in middle grade books, she is TOPS! Despite a physical limitation from an accident in early childhood, she is a brave, fiercely loyal, highly intelligent, and compassionate young lady. There is just something about the way she is written that feels completely genuine and relatable. More Caramel … oh, and more cake. Sorry, I got distracted there for a moment!
Do you need to read the first book Escape From the Forbidden Planet first before you dive into Return to Cardamom? Good question. I don’t have the luxury the reading the second without reading the first one beforehand. The author does provide some of the backstory from Book 1, but the second book moves along quite quickly. Unsure? You can purchase the first book, “Escape From the Forbidden Planet” for only 99 cents. THEN, you can purchase “Return to Cardamom” at the rock bottom price of … wait for it… 99 cents!
A few parting words about the book cover: Chubby elf cheeks, I declare that it’s totally ELVO!
My bottom line:
Return to Cardamom features an endearing and memorable main character in Caramel; a sophisticated and engaging plot which includes unexpected twists and turns; and many important messages about loyalty, forgiveness, and perseverence as well as much food for thought (or was that thoughts about food?) regarding the future with regards to technology, bioethics, and environmentalism. This is a great middle grade read and I highly recommend it to children aged 9+ who want to be challenged with a more advanced and complex plot and who love digging into science fiction. More please!
*** This book was provided to us free-of-charge by the author exchange for an honest review. ***
DAUGHTER SAYS:
Caramel is a elf princess who lives on the planet Cardamom. She is a healer. Even though she has a limp, she is very brave and smart. I really liked her. I think the cover is really good and I really liked the creepy elf in the green cloak. I really liked how the book had two stories in one book. So when you think the one story is over, there is another part of the story. I liked how it was science fiction and had lots of technology. That made it interesting. I loved, loved, loved the book. I liked it better than the first one. It took about 2 weeks to read it, reading a bit every day. I think kids 8 years and older would like it. They need to be older because some of the story and the technology described are complicated.
MOM SAYS:
Julie Grasso wastes no time in getting the action rolling in Return to Cardamom, the sequel to Escape From the Hidden Planet. This time around Grasso weaves a similarly complex and engaging plot, merging science fiction and fantasy, and featuring an immensely endearing main character in Caramel, the elf princess who, despite a physical disability, proves to be brave, intelligent, and loyal as well as gifted as a healer.
All the things I loved about Book 1, Escape From the Forbidden Planet continue to be the strengths of the second book. Grasso has created an imaginative and interesting world in Cardamom and I love the way she describes the relationship between the elves and the cardamom plants. There is a recognition of the nearly symbiotic nature of the relationship between the two. While the elves tenderly care for the plants, the cardamom stems then lovingly impart their pods to the elves who rely on the seeds as their primary source of energy. This concept is so beautiful to me and carries an important message to the future caretakers of our planet.
I feel that Return to Cardamom is slightly more refined and sophisticated with regards to the descriptions of the technology and the role of technology in the story. In particular, I really enjoyed the part of the story where the computer virus injected by Alexander222 on the Forbidden Planet threatens not only all the computer systems on the planet, but begins to infect the humans there as well. This part of the story features a laugh-out-loud (literally!) scene where Caramel has to dodge the virtual pieces of ham, later identified as “spam” (love the play on words.)
As I’ve discussed in one of our Kid Lit Questions of the Day, I sometimes feel that more mature themes are often thrust onto children far too earlier. Return to Cardamom is a middle grade book that I find completely appropriate for middle grade children (i.e., no bad language, no violence, no sexual innuendos). The major themes underlying the story in the book are all relevant to the target audience of tween/teen kids: friendship, loyalty, forgiveness, courage, and perseverance. I think that Grasso has hit the right level of tension for this age group by avoiding darker and more mature themes but still challenging budding social consciences with its foray into the fields of conservationism, technology, and bioethics.
And then there is Caramel … I just love Caramel! As far as role models in middle grade books, she is TOPS! Despite a physical limitation from an accident in early childhood, she is a brave, fiercely loyal, highly intelligent, and compassionate young lady. There is just something about the way she is written that feels completely genuine and relatable. More Caramel … oh, and more cake. Sorry, I got distracted there for a moment!
Do you need to read the first book Escape From the Forbidden Planet first before you dive into Return to Cardamom? Good question. I don’t have the luxury the reading the second without reading the first one beforehand. The author does provide some of the backstory from Book 1, but the second book moves along quite quickly. Unsure? You can purchase the first book, “Escape From the Forbidden Planet” for only 99 cents. THEN, you can purchase “Return to Cardamom” at the rock bottom price of … wait for it… 99 cents!
A few parting words about the book cover: Chubby elf cheeks, I declare that it’s totally ELVO!
My bottom line:
Return to Cardamom features an endearing and memorable main character in Caramel; a sophisticated and engaging plot which includes unexpected twists and turns; and many important messages about loyalty, forgiveness, and perseverence as well as much food for thought (or was that thoughts about food?) regarding the future with regards to technology, bioethics, and environmentalism. This is a great middle grade read and I highly recommend it to children aged 9+ who want to be challenged with a more advanced and complex plot and who love digging into science fiction. More please!
*** This book was provided to us free-of-charge by the author exchange for an honest review. ***
June 14, 2013
This book was reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite.
“Return to Cardamom” by Julie Anne Grasso is an appealing story for pre-teens through young (or not so young) adults. This is book 2 in “The Adventures of Caramel Cardamom” series; it is the sequel to “Escape from the Forbidden Planet”.
Cardamom is a planet populated by elves. The elves have a multiplicity of powers and abilities, but not all elves have the same abilities. Caramel Cardamom is the granddaughter of the King of Cardamom, and the daughter of one of the planet’s foremost healers. Caramel herself is in training to become a healer, but unbeknownst to herself or others, she already possesses healing abilities far in excess of what even her mother has.
The economy of Cardamom is tied exclusively to the export of cardamom pods, which are the seed pods of a very sensitive intelligent plant. The pods are the source of energy used predominantly on thousands of civilized planets in the galaxy. In this episode, the “bad guys” from the first book return, endangering the entire planet’s production of cardamom pods, placing the entire galaxy in a serious bind.
But all is not lost! Caramel and friends come to the rescue, and save the galaxy from the evil clone Alexander222. There is plenty of action in this book; enough for three or four books, in fact. But this is really not entirely a standalone story. There are numerous references which would make better sense if the first book were read first.
The writing is outstanding. This author has superb descriptive skills which have served her well in creating various planets and their respective “people” so the reader can visualize them with no problems. Her description of foods and drink will make your mouth water!
She has also created her young heroine to be an extremely strong character, but one with some physical defects. This seems to have been an intentional move on the author’s part to encourage kids with disorders who might otherwise feel impaired. Caramel is the heroine, but she is also just one of the gang.
This story was a pleasure to read. I recommend it to all older children who are able to read chapter books, up to adults who enjoy reading an occasional pre-teen book. I’ve already acquired the first book in the series, and plan to read and review it soon. I am confident it will be every bit as enjoyable as this one.
“Return to Cardamom” by Julie Anne Grasso is an appealing story for pre-teens through young (or not so young) adults. This is book 2 in “The Adventures of Caramel Cardamom” series; it is the sequel to “Escape from the Forbidden Planet”.
Cardamom is a planet populated by elves. The elves have a multiplicity of powers and abilities, but not all elves have the same abilities. Caramel Cardamom is the granddaughter of the King of Cardamom, and the daughter of one of the planet’s foremost healers. Caramel herself is in training to become a healer, but unbeknownst to herself or others, she already possesses healing abilities far in excess of what even her mother has.
The economy of Cardamom is tied exclusively to the export of cardamom pods, which are the seed pods of a very sensitive intelligent plant. The pods are the source of energy used predominantly on thousands of civilized planets in the galaxy. In this episode, the “bad guys” from the first book return, endangering the entire planet’s production of cardamom pods, placing the entire galaxy in a serious bind.
But all is not lost! Caramel and friends come to the rescue, and save the galaxy from the evil clone Alexander222. There is plenty of action in this book; enough for three or four books, in fact. But this is really not entirely a standalone story. There are numerous references which would make better sense if the first book were read first.
The writing is outstanding. This author has superb descriptive skills which have served her well in creating various planets and their respective “people” so the reader can visualize them with no problems. Her description of foods and drink will make your mouth water!
She has also created her young heroine to be an extremely strong character, but one with some physical defects. This seems to have been an intentional move on the author’s part to encourage kids with disorders who might otherwise feel impaired. Caramel is the heroine, but she is also just one of the gang.
This story was a pleasure to read. I recommend it to all older children who are able to read chapter books, up to adults who enjoy reading an occasional pre-teen book. I’ve already acquired the first book in the series, and plan to read and review it soon. I am confident it will be every bit as enjoyable as this one.
May 11, 2013
Julie Grasso has delivered a sound follow-up to her first book.
Caramel and her friends return to our bookshelves in another great adventure that’s dotted with mouth-watering treats. The Intergalactic Council is being courted by a dastardly scoundrel, who claims to have the key to their power needs. If he were to succeed with his plan, it would remove everyone’s reliance on Cardamom for energy. Given that our mind-reading heroine’s home planet grows the Cardamom crop, it would spell disaster to lose the trade. Out of nowhere, planet Cardamom’s crops fail, and the call goes out for all elves to return home to repair the damage, and raise and harvest a new crop in record time.
Caramel suspects that her old foes (Alexander222 and her Aunt Isabel) are behind it, but not everyone is convinced of her theory. She needs to take control of the situation and find the proof. As the story unfolds, Caramel holds onto her beliefs, follows her intuition and proves her resilience. Teaching young readers that they should never give up on things that they believe in. The plot has some exciting twists and turns that entertain and keep the reader engaged. A major event in the latter part of the first half (that I didn’t see coming) cranks up the adventure, which rolls along to an exciting and surprising outcome. To see what happens for yourself, you’ll need to read it :)
This was a great follow up to the first book, Escape from the Forbidden Planet. Caramel’s skills are growing and her character is building. I look forward to the next adventure.
My bottom line: Julie Grasso has delivered a sound follow-up to her first book. I’m confident that fans of book 1 will relish the new adventures and character growth of their heroine, Caramel.
Note: I don’t claim to be a pro-reviewer, I am a reader. My reviews are based on my personal thoughts around the story that the book is trying to tell. I try to focus on the story (which is the reason I read) rather than dissect the book and pass comment on typos, writing style or structure.
Caramel and her friends return to our bookshelves in another great adventure that’s dotted with mouth-watering treats. The Intergalactic Council is being courted by a dastardly scoundrel, who claims to have the key to their power needs. If he were to succeed with his plan, it would remove everyone’s reliance on Cardamom for energy. Given that our mind-reading heroine’s home planet grows the Cardamom crop, it would spell disaster to lose the trade. Out of nowhere, planet Cardamom’s crops fail, and the call goes out for all elves to return home to repair the damage, and raise and harvest a new crop in record time.
Caramel suspects that her old foes (Alexander222 and her Aunt Isabel) are behind it, but not everyone is convinced of her theory. She needs to take control of the situation and find the proof. As the story unfolds, Caramel holds onto her beliefs, follows her intuition and proves her resilience. Teaching young readers that they should never give up on things that they believe in. The plot has some exciting twists and turns that entertain and keep the reader engaged. A major event in the latter part of the first half (that I didn’t see coming) cranks up the adventure, which rolls along to an exciting and surprising outcome. To see what happens for yourself, you’ll need to read it :)
This was a great follow up to the first book, Escape from the Forbidden Planet. Caramel’s skills are growing and her character is building. I look forward to the next adventure.
My bottom line: Julie Grasso has delivered a sound follow-up to her first book. I’m confident that fans of book 1 will relish the new adventures and character growth of their heroine, Caramel.
Note: I don’t claim to be a pro-reviewer, I am a reader. My reviews are based on my personal thoughts around the story that the book is trying to tell. I try to focus on the story (which is the reason I read) rather than dissect the book and pass comment on typos, writing style or structure.
June 30, 2013
An exciting sequel to Escape, with a fast-moving plot once again set on the magical elf planet. The eight-year-old I read it with was gripped from the start, feeling involved with the plot and loving the setting. Lots of twists and turns, and more of the pre-teenage angst and rebellion we saw in the first book, dealt with sympathetically. We particularly enjoyed a fight with a computer virus - very imaginative!
June 14, 2013
Great sequel to the first book. The adventures of Carmel and her elfin friends continue when the Cardamon trees become endangered and they help to save them.
I highly recommend "Return to Cardamon" for everyone from age 10 and up. Once you begin reading, you can't put the book down!
I highly recommend "Return to Cardamon" for everyone from age 10 and up. Once you begin reading, you can't put the book down!
July 28, 2013
4.5 stars: I read both books and I enjoyed book 1 but thought this book was better! For me, the series started out slow but started to pick up at the end of book 1. Book 2 started right where book 1 left off and didn't stop! The plot moved along well and some of the characters we met in book 1 came back. I was glad to see that her friends from The Forbidden Planet still have a role to play.
This is such a fun read for middle graders. I enjoyed the foreshadowing that was given and the teasers at the end of the chapters that will instantly make any child not paying full attention become instantly alert and ask for more (or continue reading)! Caramel is a strong character with a lot of good qualities and she continues to learn more about who she really is. She seems to be exceptionally good at whatever she tries which doesn't seem too realistic to me but I let that go and just enjoyed reading about all she could do. What I love about her is that when she gets stuck, she keeps going and the answers she needs come to her so she continues to move forward. It's too easy to second guess every decision when you feel stuck and try to think things through instead of acting on inspiration and moving forward.
Caramel has both her parents and grandparents around to guide her. Her Aunt Isabel has betrayed her family and continues to work against them and Caramel is so angry with her and she's discussing it with her grandfather and asks him if he's angry, too. He uses this opportunity to teach her about forgiveness and the choice we each have to allow anger to rule us or not. There are other good teaching opportunities as well which I think would also make good discussions with my own children.
Caramel also has some good friendships and it's fun to see how those grow. Jemm and Jorde are her friends on Cardamom and Micah, Sass and Kirra are her friends from The Forbidden Planet. I would recommend reading Escape from the Forbidden Planet first. We meet Micah, Sass and Kirra in that book. They are also in Return to Cardamom and the story will make more sense to read from the beginning. This is a series I would recommend for middle graders and look forward to reading book 3!
Mel's Shelves
This is such a fun read for middle graders. I enjoyed the foreshadowing that was given and the teasers at the end of the chapters that will instantly make any child not paying full attention become instantly alert and ask for more (or continue reading)! Caramel is a strong character with a lot of good qualities and she continues to learn more about who she really is. She seems to be exceptionally good at whatever she tries which doesn't seem too realistic to me but I let that go and just enjoyed reading about all she could do. What I love about her is that when she gets stuck, she keeps going and the answers she needs come to her so she continues to move forward. It's too easy to second guess every decision when you feel stuck and try to think things through instead of acting on inspiration and moving forward.
Caramel has both her parents and grandparents around to guide her. Her Aunt Isabel has betrayed her family and continues to work against them and Caramel is so angry with her and she's discussing it with her grandfather and asks him if he's angry, too. He uses this opportunity to teach her about forgiveness and the choice we each have to allow anger to rule us or not. There are other good teaching opportunities as well which I think would also make good discussions with my own children.
Caramel also has some good friendships and it's fun to see how those grow. Jemm and Jorde are her friends on Cardamom and Micah, Sass and Kirra are her friends from The Forbidden Planet. I would recommend reading Escape from the Forbidden Planet first. We meet Micah, Sass and Kirra in that book. They are also in Return to Cardamom and the story will make more sense to read from the beginning. This is a series I would recommend for middle graders and look forward to reading book 3!
Mel's Shelves
July 18, 2013
Clones, mind-reading, an Intergalactic Council, family and a chubby cheeked elf heroine are all a part of the action and excitement of Return to Cardamom. The sequel to the Escape from the Forbidden Planet opens with a prologue that hooks the reader very quickly with dialogue and the fast moving action of Isabel and Alexander going back to the island of Cardamom; it got me hooked right away!
Princess Gabriella “Caramel” Cardamom is the main elf heroine in this action packed mystery novel. Caramel and her family, including her Grandfather Garlin, learn of horrible news; the cardamom stems have been sabotaged. Caramel immediately suspects Alexander222 and Isabel and goes to her great friend, Jorde for help in figuring out the saboteurs. Caramel’s mother, Arianna, dismisses Caramel’s thoughts on who might be behind the destruction of the cardamom pods, but Caramel knows it has to be them.
Thus, Return to Cardamom begins with Caramel’s adventure in finding the real suspects behind the disappearance of the harvest. The characters have the ability to mind read, so that adds a lot of intrigue and power to the plot. Caramel uses that ability to help her family and fellow elves through many obstacles throughout the book. One of my favorite lines from the main character, who is funny, smart, and great at saving other elves from sticky situations, is when she says, Can things get any weirder? Its hard to predict what will happen at each moment, and that is what makes this book a fun and exciting read – not know what will happen next!
Young adults and intermediate readers will love reading this fantasy/science fiction action packed adventure led by Caramel. The details of the technology of the elves make it easy for the reader to become immersed in the world of Cardamom. Despite the futuristic obstacles that Caramel lives, she is a normal young girl with friends and parents.
Princess Gabriella “Caramel” Cardamom is the main elf heroine in this action packed mystery novel. Caramel and her family, including her Grandfather Garlin, learn of horrible news; the cardamom stems have been sabotaged. Caramel immediately suspects Alexander222 and Isabel and goes to her great friend, Jorde for help in figuring out the saboteurs. Caramel’s mother, Arianna, dismisses Caramel’s thoughts on who might be behind the destruction of the cardamom pods, but Caramel knows it has to be them.
Thus, Return to Cardamom begins with Caramel’s adventure in finding the real suspects behind the disappearance of the harvest. The characters have the ability to mind read, so that adds a lot of intrigue and power to the plot. Caramel uses that ability to help her family and fellow elves through many obstacles throughout the book. One of my favorite lines from the main character, who is funny, smart, and great at saving other elves from sticky situations, is when she says, Can things get any weirder? Its hard to predict what will happen at each moment, and that is what makes this book a fun and exciting read – not know what will happen next!
Young adults and intermediate readers will love reading this fantasy/science fiction action packed adventure led by Caramel. The details of the technology of the elves make it easy for the reader to become immersed in the world of Cardamom. Despite the futuristic obstacles that Caramel lives, she is a normal young girl with friends and parents.
June 5, 2013
The female protagonist in this story is not perfect but manages to achieve great things through determination and clever thinking. It is a feel good story for teens who may wish for wonderful things to happen, if only vicariously through reading. The parents are in on everything in the story, but the daughter saves the day several times. With only a tiny amount of romance, parents can allow tweens to read this book confidant of it being appropriate for the age. Grades 3 or 4 and up would enjoy this story. Lots of futuristic and technology thinking/ events. The bad guys get outsmarted in a clever way like you wish could happen all the time.
July 31, 2013
The second book of the Cardamom Trilogy is even more intricate than the first one Escape From the Forbidden Planet. A mixture of fantasy, science fiction, intergalactic travel, technology, politics and environmental issues woven together in a complex plot with many twists and turns combined with well-developed characters make this an appealing book for children and adults ages ten and up.
Gabriella “Caramel” Cardamom, is the elfin granddaughter of the King and Queen of Cardamom and the main protagonist. She is already a renowned “tree tender” and is also developing powerful skills as a “healer” like her mother, Arianna. What is a tree tender? The pods of Cardamom which grow on their planet provide the energy source for all the planets of the galaxy. The evil clones known as “Alexanders” have developed a new bio synthetic hybrid stone known as CARDOCRYST. At the beginning of the story, the elves find evidence of sabotage: all the pods of the cardamom crop are lying dead on the rainforest floor. They will not be able to fulfill their power source quota upon which all the planets of their galaxy are dependent. The Intergalactic Council allows King Basil and the elves only ten days to replenish their supplies. Otherwise, they will use the new energy crystal the Alexanders claim to possess. “Caramel” and the elves desperately use their robots to swing through the tree tops harvesting cardamom. The princess uses her beautiful voice to coax the pods with her “mind speak.” This heroine is brave, compassionate, intelligent, soft-hearted, and extremely loyal to her friends.
The battle of good versus evil is far from over. Catastrophe strikes the crop again. Arianna is called to the Elf Sick Bay to heal, while more mischief is afoot. There are kidnappings, mysteries, arrests by Black Ops, medical sabotage, and technological disasters. I warned you that this story has many sub-plots and twists and turns. Let’s just say that the protagonist must use all her mind and healing powers to solve the mysteries and save her friends as well as protect the planets of the galaxy.
Children younger than ten may have difficulty following the rather complex story line. The older child will find many levels of meaning and be equipped to handle the multitude of issues addressed here. Elfin “speak” will delight the young reader; Caramel says she is “gobsmacked” and uses cool expressions like “totally elvo.” The book is a delightful mix of so many elements that adults will not be disappointed. I am already looking forward to Book Three of the Trilogy.
Gabriella “Caramel” Cardamom, is the elfin granddaughter of the King and Queen of Cardamom and the main protagonist. She is already a renowned “tree tender” and is also developing powerful skills as a “healer” like her mother, Arianna. What is a tree tender? The pods of Cardamom which grow on their planet provide the energy source for all the planets of the galaxy. The evil clones known as “Alexanders” have developed a new bio synthetic hybrid stone known as CARDOCRYST. At the beginning of the story, the elves find evidence of sabotage: all the pods of the cardamom crop are lying dead on the rainforest floor. They will not be able to fulfill their power source quota upon which all the planets of their galaxy are dependent. The Intergalactic Council allows King Basil and the elves only ten days to replenish their supplies. Otherwise, they will use the new energy crystal the Alexanders claim to possess. “Caramel” and the elves desperately use their robots to swing through the tree tops harvesting cardamom. The princess uses her beautiful voice to coax the pods with her “mind speak.” This heroine is brave, compassionate, intelligent, soft-hearted, and extremely loyal to her friends.
The battle of good versus evil is far from over. Catastrophe strikes the crop again. Arianna is called to the Elf Sick Bay to heal, while more mischief is afoot. There are kidnappings, mysteries, arrests by Black Ops, medical sabotage, and technological disasters. I warned you that this story has many sub-plots and twists and turns. Let’s just say that the protagonist must use all her mind and healing powers to solve the mysteries and save her friends as well as protect the planets of the galaxy.
Children younger than ten may have difficulty following the rather complex story line. The older child will find many levels of meaning and be equipped to handle the multitude of issues addressed here. Elfin “speak” will delight the young reader; Caramel says she is “gobsmacked” and uses cool expressions like “totally elvo.” The book is a delightful mix of so many elements that adults will not be disappointed. I am already looking forward to Book Three of the Trilogy.
July 23, 2013
And the adventure continues! Instead of life returning to sleepy normal on Cardamom, the planet is now experiencing loads of activity. Cardamom Crystal is in huge demand as a power source for intergalactic technology. Caramel develops her skills in tree tending and healer classes and is keen to get better at computer control. The dangers of Alexander222 are over … or are they? Disaster strikes when the entire cardamom crop drops before due time, the plants are traumatized, and Caramel has to accompany her mother to the tree canopy to find out what is going on. If Cardamom does not meet its quota, Alexander222 and his sidekick Lex will put forward the new biosynthetic hybrid, Cardocryst, to the Intergalactic Council. This is something the inhabitants of Cardamom cannot afford to see happen because they will lose their livelihood.
Once at the tree canopy, Caramel discovers she has the ability to understand the plants and also to soothe them. She manages to encourage them to start producing a new crop. The planet might just make the quota after all, if the elves can keep the plants safe. Amazingly, the plants give her a clue: they were unable to smell the identity of the saboteur, meaning he or she is an elf! Caramel’s ideas on what happened to the plants—Alexander 222 and her Aunt Isabel are at the bottom of this—are dismissed as conspiracy theories, but once her mom, Arianna, is kidnapped, it’s up to Caramel and her friends to save the day … again!
Author Julie Anne Grasso knows how to keep the action and the energy going as Caramel and her mates plot and then execute a rescue plan. In between all the Cardamom-based science and techno talk, are the real themes of life that readers are beginning to understand. Doing the right thing, being loyal to friends and family, trying even when you might not succeed, believing in yourself, and consciousness of environmental issues are themes that should be instilled in kids at an early age. Caramel’s courage and principles help young readers to understand what it means to jump into the fray and do your very best. Wonderful revelations at the end of the book restore Caramel’s (and readers) faith in justice and make for a beautiful ending. I loved the first two books and can’t wait to read what the author and Caramel have in store in the final installment of this captivating trilogy.
Once at the tree canopy, Caramel discovers she has the ability to understand the plants and also to soothe them. She manages to encourage them to start producing a new crop. The planet might just make the quota after all, if the elves can keep the plants safe. Amazingly, the plants give her a clue: they were unable to smell the identity of the saboteur, meaning he or she is an elf! Caramel’s ideas on what happened to the plants—Alexander 222 and her Aunt Isabel are at the bottom of this—are dismissed as conspiracy theories, but once her mom, Arianna, is kidnapped, it’s up to Caramel and her friends to save the day … again!
Author Julie Anne Grasso knows how to keep the action and the energy going as Caramel and her mates plot and then execute a rescue plan. In between all the Cardamom-based science and techno talk, are the real themes of life that readers are beginning to understand. Doing the right thing, being loyal to friends and family, trying even when you might not succeed, believing in yourself, and consciousness of environmental issues are themes that should be instilled in kids at an early age. Caramel’s courage and principles help young readers to understand what it means to jump into the fray and do your very best. Wonderful revelations at the end of the book restore Caramel’s (and readers) faith in justice and make for a beautiful ending. I loved the first two books and can’t wait to read what the author and Caramel have in store in the final installment of this captivating trilogy.
July 23, 2013
I have to say, these books are growing on me. The interesting about the Caramel Cardamom series to me, is the juxtaposition of technology and and old-fashioned agrarian society. On one hand, you have a planet whose elfish society is based mostly on farming their cardamom crop, but this society can flip around in an instant and grapple with Intergalactic Councils, high tech computer programming and interstellar espionage.
I personally like the agrarian scenes best. I love how the elves care for their crops with their minds and I enjoy the whole healing side as well. When they’re doing what they naturally do, the elves are at their best. They’re a little more awkward (and for me the story is a bit more difficult to follow) when they’re dealing with rogue computer viruses and Alexander clones.
I’m not sure if the switch between these two storylines is a good or bad thing. It’s the way the story goes, so both parts are needed, but I think many readers are going like either one part more than the other. Many may enjoy both the rural and the technological sides equally, but it’s kind of tough marrying the two very different storylines.
I do have to say that I enjoyed this book a little more than the first one, but in saying that, you do have to read the first book before beginning this. Grasso doesn’t waste too much time with back story in this sequel, she gets right into the plot, so if you don’t read the first book, you’ll be pretty lost. Having said that, they’re both worth reading. Yeah, some of the stuff might be hard to swallow (elves on a different planet driving cars and eating pizza for instance) but this won’t matter to kids, it probably makes the story more relatable, and I know they’ll enjoy this book, its wonderful characters, and their fun and amazing journeys.
I personally like the agrarian scenes best. I love how the elves care for their crops with their minds and I enjoy the whole healing side as well. When they’re doing what they naturally do, the elves are at their best. They’re a little more awkward (and for me the story is a bit more difficult to follow) when they’re dealing with rogue computer viruses and Alexander clones.
I’m not sure if the switch between these two storylines is a good or bad thing. It’s the way the story goes, so both parts are needed, but I think many readers are going like either one part more than the other. Many may enjoy both the rural and the technological sides equally, but it’s kind of tough marrying the two very different storylines.
I do have to say that I enjoyed this book a little more than the first one, but in saying that, you do have to read the first book before beginning this. Grasso doesn’t waste too much time with back story in this sequel, she gets right into the plot, so if you don’t read the first book, you’ll be pretty lost. Having said that, they’re both worth reading. Yeah, some of the stuff might be hard to swallow (elves on a different planet driving cars and eating pizza for instance) but this won’t matter to kids, it probably makes the story more relatable, and I know they’ll enjoy this book, its wonderful characters, and their fun and amazing journeys.
July 23, 2013
When Carmel Cardamom, a young elf living on the planet Cardamom, learns about how all of the precious cardamom crop has fallen and became bad, she is devastated (Caramel lives in the city and the crop is in the forests). Now the elves won’t be able to make their harvesting quota (and cardamom crystals wouldn’t be the galactic energy source anymore) All this was done because Alexander222, (an evil clone), Lex, (another evil clone), and Caramel’s evil Aunt Isabel (Phew that’s a lot of evil!) want to replace it. Caramel knows it’s the work of Alexander222 and Aunt Isabel again (they were in book 1). Sadly, no one believes her because “Who could hide on a planet of mind-reading elves?” And it all gets worse when Alexander222 infects the people of Earth, including Caramel’s friends, with some kind of computer virus, putting everyone in a coma. This is a pretty hard problem for just one elf girl.
I really enjoyed this book – in fact, I read it in only one day! The book was very exciting and entertaining! I liked all the plot twists. They kept me on the edge of my seat. I really like Jorde, Caramel’s friend. He’s nice and pretty cool and good with computers. I think I would be very good friends with him. The story idea is great! I really hope that there will be a Book 3 in this series. Like Book 1, Book 2 was super clean and a great read for young readers!
**NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book – in fact, I read it in only one day! The book was very exciting and entertaining! I liked all the plot twists. They kept me on the edge of my seat. I really like Jorde, Caramel’s friend. He’s nice and pretty cool and good with computers. I think I would be very good friends with him. The story idea is great! I really hope that there will be a Book 3 in this series. Like Book 1, Book 2 was super clean and a great read for young readers!
**NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2013
Return to Cardamom by Julie Anne Grasso is an excellent sequel to her first book Escape From The Forbidden Planet.
A TOTALLY ELVO story for 10 and up to ROCK your kid’s imagination!
The story is based on a kingdom of peaceful elves with loving, caring, elf family morals, who are dedicated to raising ‘tree-tenders’, ‘healers’, or computer techys.
Return to Cardamom begins with our favourite, main character, Caramel. Caramel is continuing her education to achieve her dream of becoming a ‘healer’. Author Julie Anne Grasso wastes no time in capturing the reader’s attention and curiosity with a suspicious plot that springs up on Caramel in the middle of class. The call she receives sparks her running out of class to quickly get to King Basil! There’s a sense of revenge in the air. Did the evil Alexanders along with a traitor return from their escape of going to prison? Are they responsible for sabotaging the planets chief resources?
Then just when you think you have it all sorted out…well let me just say, I love the surprise attack I never saw coming!
Once again, I highly recommend Return to Cardamom by Julie Anne Grasso. We hope there will be more coming soon!
A TOTALLY ELVO story for 10 and up to ROCK your kid’s imagination!
The story is based on a kingdom of peaceful elves with loving, caring, elf family morals, who are dedicated to raising ‘tree-tenders’, ‘healers’, or computer techys.
Return to Cardamom begins with our favourite, main character, Caramel. Caramel is continuing her education to achieve her dream of becoming a ‘healer’. Author Julie Anne Grasso wastes no time in capturing the reader’s attention and curiosity with a suspicious plot that springs up on Caramel in the middle of class. The call she receives sparks her running out of class to quickly get to King Basil! There’s a sense of revenge in the air. Did the evil Alexanders along with a traitor return from their escape of going to prison? Are they responsible for sabotaging the planets chief resources?
Then just when you think you have it all sorted out…well let me just say, I love the surprise attack I never saw coming!
Once again, I highly recommend Return to Cardamom by Julie Anne Grasso. We hope there will be more coming soon!
July 27, 2013
Return to Cardamom is an exciting story that takes readers on an intergalactic quest to find the evildoers behind the destruction of the precious cardamom crop. The story is fast-paced and action packed right from the start. I found it difficult to put the book down and was eager to find out what would happen next.
The story is brilliantly written and teaches children to be courageous in difficult situations. Readers also learn that being kind and caring towards nature's gifts benefits us all.
The main character, Caramel is an energetic and inquisitive young elf and the author takes great care in developing her. I found myself rooting for Caramel's success throughout the story.
I did not read the first book in the series, Escape From The Forbidden Planet, prior to reading Return to Cardamom, but the story's easy flow and character detail made it easy to follow and I was able to grasp the necessary background information to make it an enjoyable read.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Return to Cardamom.
The story is brilliantly written and teaches children to be courageous in difficult situations. Readers also learn that being kind and caring towards nature's gifts benefits us all.
The main character, Caramel is an energetic and inquisitive young elf and the author takes great care in developing her. I found myself rooting for Caramel's success throughout the story.
I did not read the first book in the series, Escape From The Forbidden Planet, prior to reading Return to Cardamom, but the story's easy flow and character detail made it easy to follow and I was able to grasp the necessary background information to make it an enjoyable read.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Return to Cardamom.
June 27, 2013
Think Star Wars Gone Cute! Unfailingly chipper :)
Read the full review on my blog, Guiltless Reading:
http://guiltlessreading.blogspot.ca/2013/07/return-to-cardamom-by-julie-anne-grasso.html
Read the full review on my blog, Guiltless Reading:
http://guiltlessreading.blogspot.ca/2013/07/return-to-cardamom-by-julie-anne-grasso.html
June 23, 2014
This book, along with the first book, Escape from the Forbidden Planet, was recently entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our young readers thought:
FEEDBACK
Author: Julie Anne Grasso
Title: Escape from the Forbidden Planet / Return to Cardamom
COVER: 9/10
The children loved both of the covers, particularly on Return To Cardamom. They thought they were colourful, fun and made you want to instantly open the book. They also liked the catchy blurbs although a few of the readers thought, compared to the fronts, the backs were a little bland.
CONTENT 10/10
All of the children loved the two books, particularly the first. They loved the ‘sweet’ theme and the fun characters, particularly the hero, Caramel. They very much enjoyed following her on her adventure. They loved the imagination of the author when she described the elf planet and they very much enjoyed all the twists and turns. One reader put in her feedback, ‘This is a very fast-paced story which is perfect for me. The characters were good too. I liked Alexander222.’ Another reader put, ‘After reading the first book for the awards in school time I then took the second book home and read it over a weekend. It was very exciting and was almost as good as the first. Will there be a third book?’ Another reader put, ‘I liked it when an elf was healing. That was best.’
EDITING 10/10
The readers thought the books were well edited and discovered no glaring problems with grammar, punctuation or spelling. They also thought the pacing in the two books was well balanced with the setting and character descriptions. One reader put, ‘This was a non-stop adventure but the author still put a lot of work into the elf and planet descriptions. I liked that.’
STYLE 10/10
The young readers liked the descriptive style. They followed the story in both books with no problems and they felt the plot was complex but not overly so. One reader put, ‘The plot is the best part of this book (book 1). Every time I thought the adventure was over, the author put in another twist.’
STATS
Of the 32 readers:
32 finished the book two books.
10 felt the twisting plot was the best part of the books.
9 thought the author’s imagination was the best part.
2 felt the back of the books (cover) needed spicing up.
32 would like to read book three.
‘A wonderfully exciting follow-up to Escape from the Forbidden Planet. Highly recommended,’ The Wishing Shelf Awards
FEEDBACK
Author: Julie Anne Grasso
Title: Escape from the Forbidden Planet / Return to Cardamom
COVER: 9/10
The children loved both of the covers, particularly on Return To Cardamom. They thought they were colourful, fun and made you want to instantly open the book. They also liked the catchy blurbs although a few of the readers thought, compared to the fronts, the backs were a little bland.
CONTENT 10/10
All of the children loved the two books, particularly the first. They loved the ‘sweet’ theme and the fun characters, particularly the hero, Caramel. They very much enjoyed following her on her adventure. They loved the imagination of the author when she described the elf planet and they very much enjoyed all the twists and turns. One reader put in her feedback, ‘This is a very fast-paced story which is perfect for me. The characters were good too. I liked Alexander222.’ Another reader put, ‘After reading the first book for the awards in school time I then took the second book home and read it over a weekend. It was very exciting and was almost as good as the first. Will there be a third book?’ Another reader put, ‘I liked it when an elf was healing. That was best.’
EDITING 10/10
The readers thought the books were well edited and discovered no glaring problems with grammar, punctuation or spelling. They also thought the pacing in the two books was well balanced with the setting and character descriptions. One reader put, ‘This was a non-stop adventure but the author still put a lot of work into the elf and planet descriptions. I liked that.’
STYLE 10/10
The young readers liked the descriptive style. They followed the story in both books with no problems and they felt the plot was complex but not overly so. One reader put, ‘The plot is the best part of this book (book 1). Every time I thought the adventure was over, the author put in another twist.’
STATS
Of the 32 readers:
32 finished the book two books.
10 felt the twisting plot was the best part of the books.
9 thought the author’s imagination was the best part.
2 felt the back of the books (cover) needed spicing up.
32 would like to read book three.
‘A wonderfully exciting follow-up to Escape from the Forbidden Planet. Highly recommended,’ The Wishing Shelf Awards
May 19, 2013
Return to Cardamom is more exciting than Escape from the Forbidden Planet, which was a very good debit novel. The adults in Caramel’s life ignore her when she suggests the culprit to the lost pods of cardamom. Adults can become myopic about “adult events” and ignore a younger voice. Caramel does not let that stifle her, and with the help of friends, she decides to check her hutch: Alexander222 and Isabel are the culprits. The loss of an entire cardamom crop, and the resultant loss of the contract to supply the entire intergalactic galaxy with this vital energy source, could destroy the Planet Cardamom’s economy and in turn the planet. The stakes have definitely increased in book 2.
Ms. Grasso’s writing was good for a debut in Escape from the Forbidden Planet—which is Earth for those not having read book 1. Her abilities did not rest there. This story is tighter, the plot easier to follow, and the ending had two twists, both surprises. One thing that bugs me with Return to Cardamom: Caramel Cardamom is perfect. She is the hero and as such, she pulls off some mighty fantastic stunts (no spoilers). Doing all of that as a disabled individual makes them all the more spectacular. My problem with Caramel is she does everything correctly, making her inaccessible and difficult to identify with. Return to Cardamom has a few twists that will turn your head and the extended ending involves a major plague on Earth.
Kids who love fantasy and new worlds that clash with our own will love Return to Cardamom. This is the perfect book for a rainy day, lounging by the pool, or reading by flashlight under the bed blankets. The 156 pages make for a fast read, but not one word is wasted in this second volume of The Adventures of Caramel Cardamom.
Originally reviewed at Kid LIt Reviews: http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2013/08/05...
Ms. Grasso’s writing was good for a debut in Escape from the Forbidden Planet—which is Earth for those not having read book 1. Her abilities did not rest there. This story is tighter, the plot easier to follow, and the ending had two twists, both surprises. One thing that bugs me with Return to Cardamom: Caramel Cardamom is perfect. She is the hero and as such, she pulls off some mighty fantastic stunts (no spoilers). Doing all of that as a disabled individual makes them all the more spectacular. My problem with Caramel is she does everything correctly, making her inaccessible and difficult to identify with. Return to Cardamom has a few twists that will turn your head and the extended ending involves a major plague on Earth.
Kids who love fantasy and new worlds that clash with our own will love Return to Cardamom. This is the perfect book for a rainy day, lounging by the pool, or reading by flashlight under the bed blankets. The 156 pages make for a fast read, but not one word is wasted in this second volume of The Adventures of Caramel Cardamom.
Originally reviewed at Kid LIt Reviews: http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2013/08/05...
May 13, 2013
This book reminds me of standing in the middle of a yummy spice or candy store. By setting this action packed story in the world of Cardamom with Caramel and Basil, pleasant thoughts are unavoidable, and these thoughts don't stop there.
The entire story is fun. It's no problem to notice that Julie enjoyed writing it. There's tons of gizmos every kid would love to have themselves, funny moments, adventure (lots of that), mystery - basically, everything needed to gain and hold a reader's attention.
I'll admit, I didn't care for the prologue, but those tend to be a difficult spot for me. Plus, I would have liked to have seen a little more of the evil duo. But the mysterious happenings were still enough to keep Caramel busy.
Speaking of Caramel - she is wonderful! A feisty girl, who doesn't always follow rules and is very head-strong. She's determined to get to the bottom of things, and even learns more about herself in the process.
This is definitely a book for any kid, who loves adventure, cake and sticky situations.
The entire story is fun. It's no problem to notice that Julie enjoyed writing it. There's tons of gizmos every kid would love to have themselves, funny moments, adventure (lots of that), mystery - basically, everything needed to gain and hold a reader's attention.
I'll admit, I didn't care for the prologue, but those tend to be a difficult spot for me. Plus, I would have liked to have seen a little more of the evil duo. But the mysterious happenings were still enough to keep Caramel busy.
Speaking of Caramel - she is wonderful! A feisty girl, who doesn't always follow rules and is very head-strong. She's determined to get to the bottom of things, and even learns more about herself in the process.
This is definitely a book for any kid, who loves adventure, cake and sticky situations.
July 23, 2013
Telepathic elves, adventure, a digital virus and plenty of humour. Join Caramel on her quest to save her world. Return to Cardamom is full of adventure and children will enjoy reading about these engaging characters. Julie Grasso has created a world that children will want to visit over and over again.
December 18, 2013
Lyn is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. Any reviews or ratings offered by Lyn do not reflect the opinions of Aurealis Awards Panel or Committee.
I shall be rating this work once the awards are announced.
I shall be rating this work once the awards are announced.
February 22, 2014
It's a asome adventure
I usually don't like to read.
but this book made me want to read for ever. It's a asome book
I usually don't like to read.
but this book made me want to read for ever. It's a asome book
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews