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The Emerald Atlas

(The Books of Beginning #1)

John Stephens

3.94 · Rating details · 20,266 ratings · 2,278 reviews

Called “A new Narnia for the tween set” by the New York Times and perfect for fans of the His Dark Materials series, The Emerald Atlas brims with humor and action as it charts Kate, Michael, and Emma's extraordinary adventures through an unforgettable, enchanted world.

These three siblings have been in one orphanage after another for the last ten years, passed along like lo ...more

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Hardcover, 417 pages

Published April 5th 2011 by Alfred A. Knopf

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· 20,266 ratings · 2,278 reviews

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Nov 08, 2010 Becky rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Fantasy fans

Shelves: 2010, multi-dimensional, fantasy, review-copies, tear-jerkers, highly-recommended, humorous, reviewed, zombies

I requested this book thinking that it would be a fun and magical children's story aimed at 8-10 year olds, like with the Percy Jackson series, but I was really surprised by the complexity and depth in this book, as well as the darkness, and loved every minute of reading it. I'm actually a little disappointed that I'll now have to wait for so long to read the next book and see what happens.

Kate, Michael and Emma have been shunted from orphanage to orphanage for 10 years, since being removed fro I requested this book thinking that it would be a fun and magical children's story aimed at 8-10 year olds, like with the Percy Jackson series, but I was really surprised by the complexity and depth in this book, as well as the darkness, and loved every minute of reading it. I'm actually a little disappointed that I'll now have to wait for so long to read the next book and see what happens.

Kate, Michael and Emma have been shunted from orphanage to orphanage for 10 years, since being removed from their parents' house one Christmas Eve with a kiss and a promise that they'll be reunited again... one day. Then, after missing their last chance at placement with a foster family, they are sent to Cambridge Falls, where they stumble on an adventure that has been both 15 and thousands of years in the making.

This story reminded me of other children's stories - but only little bits and pieces. There was nothing I could really point to and say, "Oh, he was inspired by THIS story here," or anything like that, it was more just an impression that I had. I was reminded of Harry Potter, only kind of in reverse, with the opening scene of the children being taken away from their home. I was reminded of E.Nesbit's stories as well throughout the book, mainly by the tone and the family loyalty theme. I was reminded of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe a few times, and The Hobbit a few times, etc. But again, these were more like impressions that I had, rather than feeling like anything was actually borrowed from what came before.

Despite feeling a vague sense of familiarity with these books, I felt like The Emerald Atlas was very original and different. I loved the concept of time travel, and how it actually came about. I thought it was just the right level of complex to logically and magically work, but was still explained in a way that everyone could understand and follow. The storyline was exciting and the creatures and characters were all interesting.

I loved the characters - they were all believable and identifiable to me, and I couldn't help but love them and their loyalty. Kate is the eldest, and promised her parents that she would watch out for the others. She's got a load of responsibility on her shoulders to match Atlas (which is pretty significant, actually), and she's got a heart of gold. She just can't stand seeing anyone suffer or hurt, and instantly falls into a nurturing role when needed. Emma was my favorite, I think. She's the youngest, and the type of girl who's strong and forceful because she cannot take being hurt, not when that's all she's ever known. She's quick to love though, and her love is a little desperate and fierce. I loved her and I can't wait to see her next adventure. Michael, the middle child, was hilarious. A studious Dwarf-scholar, he is the smart and logical one of the trio. He was constantly making me laugh by his bald-faced awe in a lot of the situations they were in. I truly loved how each of the children brought their own unique aspects and each played and intricate role in the story and worked as a team. I was glad that they had trials, because they each had time to shine.

There was a lot more that I loved about this, but I think that I'll just recommend that you read it yourselves. I highly recommend this one - for readers of all ages. ...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Priscilla rated it it was amazing

AHHHHHHH!!! So good.

First impressions:
1. The story is amazing! It's fantastical, magical, fast-paced and action-packed!
2. Characters are love. The relationships between Kate, Michael and Emma are great. There is a fierce love and hate (like with all siblings) relationship between them. And their growth and development is outstanding! There are great side characters as well.
3. Fresh. You would think orphans on a quest/adventure to save the world has been done a billion + 1 times, but The Emerald ...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Nancy rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2011

The Emerald Atlas reads like a mix of C.S.Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter, and even Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. It was just too much - so many plots and elements taken from every other popular series that Stephens almost fails to deliver his own twists, his unique charms, to the novel.

Stephen's protagonists are not unfamiliar. They're almost archetypal. And certainly, the're very reminiscent of Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire - p The Emerald Atlas reads like a mix of C.S.Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter, and even Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. It was just too much - so many plots and elements taken from every other popular series that Stephens almost fails to deliver his own twists, his unique charms, to the novel.

Stephen's protagonists are not unfamiliar. They're almost archetypal. And certainly, the're very reminiscent of Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire - particularly Michael/Klaus's bookish ways. Gabriel was like a mix of my favorite giant, Hagrid, and Narnia's Aslan. Dr. Pym was clearly another version of Albus Dumbledore. Aside from that, I'm getting quite fed up with this whole orphan concept, with the kids getting sympathy from readers due to this longing and missing their parents. The whole gotta-rescue-my-parents-who-are-trapped-by-some-great-evil plot is overused too. I really just wished Stephens could have done something new, added another twist to them being lonely orphans.

The general plot is intriguing, but painstakingly underdeveloped and filled with ludicrous and overused elements. I'm a big fan of time-traveling concepts, but unfortunately, The Emerald Atlas just confused me with this telling of dual universes and just the technicalities and loop holes of such details. I don't even want to go back and try to understand it anymore. But. The point is: there are two different versions of what happened in the past, yet Dr. Pym and others remember both accounts even after Kate changed history? Um. I thought two versions couldn't exist simultaneously. (And, hello, butterfly effect, anyone?!) Time-traveling theories are quite tricky, which is really why Stephens shouldn't have attempted it. I just think it takes someone more experienced to try to explain these concepts, especially since his writing wasn't totally on par.

Interestingly enough, Stephens worked on Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, and The O.C. Maybe he should stick to script-writing, as Stephens tends to roll over the details (as well as important dialogue) with a paragraph summary. The imbalance between dialogue and summary was just really prominent through-out. Stephens does throw in quite an amount of humor and even wit, but it seems like I noticed the flaws more.

I don't hate the book, even despite the awful load of taken plot elements and characteristics from my favorite fictional personalities, as the general story can be quite unique. However, I found the protagonists not very endearing or lovely, the other characters too similar to some of my favorites to even differentiate, and the time-traveling just too full of holes to fully enjoy. ...more

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May 14, 2011 Mike (the Paladin) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fantasy

Okay...I'm torn here. I'd like to go a bit more than 3 stars here, but if I do I'll need to go find all my 4 star books and move them up to 5, then what do i do with the 5 star books?

So, stuck with 3 and telling you i find it a bit better than "just 3".

You will, if like me, you occasionally pick up a YA book or if you have "YAs" in your life and read with them, find some of this book somewhat familiar. A group of 3 children (rather than a single child) are whisked away into the night away from ...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Cora Tea Party Princess rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

WOW.

This was as magical as Harry Potter and as epic as Narnia. The Emerald Atlas was simply a delight to read.

This is a fantastic children's fantasy. The characters are engaging and each has their own personality, making it easy to relate to at least one. And they have flaws. They have real believable flaws.

The world is simply enchanting. It is built so well that I could imagine it all so well - at points I wondered to myself if there had been a dramatisation of this made because it really came ...more

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Feb 18, 2015 Ivan rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-and-new-adult, fantasy

If I was 10-15 younger I would rate this book 5/5 without a doubt. Now I am maybe bit too old but I enjoyed it, it was lovely book.
Must read for fans of books like Narnia or comics like Amulet

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Aug 10, 2011 Amanda rated it it was ok

While it is possible for a plot to be too simple, this author seemed to believe that his story would get better and better the more complicated he could make the plot. What we end up with is three protagonists who are rarely together so we have to follow at least two and sometimes three different story lines at the same time with constant shifting between them, not to mention all the not-very-well-defined time traveling and it's kind of a mess. There are two or three chapters near the end which ...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Jeffrey rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: 10 to 12 set who have finished Harry Potter and want a new adventure

Recommended to Jeffrey by: New York Times

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2011

JK Rowlings Harry Potter series resulted in a cataclysmic change in fantasy fiction for children. Forty years ago science fiction was marketed to children and young adults. Robert Heinlein, Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey and Ursula LeGuin were available at the library, but fantasy was mostly missing. This is not to say fantasy novels were not available, but it was primarily limited to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. It was not until The Sword of Shannara was published in 1977 and becam JK Rowlings Harry Potter series resulted in a cataclysmic change in fantasy fiction for children. Forty years ago science fiction was marketed to children and young adults. Robert Heinlein, Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey and Ursula LeGuin were available at the library, but fantasy was mostly missing. This is not to say fantasy novels were not available, but it was primarily limited to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. It was not until The Sword of Shannara was published in 1977 and became a huge bestseller that fantasy and epic fantasy at that became a huge wave in fiction for adults.

Rowlings proved that younger readers will read long epic novels with children characters and paved the way for big epic fantasy to be sold to kids. A lot of it is now available, and more is on the way. Rick Riordan is a huge bestseller with his series tied to godlings, but there are also traditional fantasy, albeit it with young kids as the main characters.

The Emerald Atlas is the first volume in a promising trilogy about the Books of Beginning, books of magic in which the great wizards of the world recorded magical spells. Stephens plans to write a novel about each of the Books of Beginning, and theoretically each will be about one of his main characters.

The three main characters, Kate the eldest girl, who turns out to be connected to the Atlas, Emma the youngest, the tough one and Michael, the scrawny middle child who knows all there is to know about dwarves are orphans. They have been abandoned by their Mother to save them from some great evil. Forced to live in a series of progressively worse orphanages, the children finally end being taken by rail to Cambridge Falls, where they are met by Abraham, the caretaker of the home of Dr. Pym. Abraham takes them to Pym's house, and on the way shows them a picture of the town from the past, when it was just a village.

While exploring Pym's house, they find a secret room in which is a strange green book, which seems to have only blank pages. Before anyone can stop him, Michael places Abraham's picture of the town in the past on one of those blank pages in the book, and all three children are magically transported back in time to that exact time and place.

The children soon find themselves prisoners with the other children of the town of an evil Countess and her monsterous Screechers, who has stolen the children and enslaved the men. She is using the men as miners to drill down below the town into a dwarf stronghold to find a legendary treasure.

Initally, Kate and Emma escape the Countesses clutches, but Michael is trapped back in the past, and its up to Kate and Emma to try to rescue him by returning to the past. Kate finds she has an affinity to the Atlas and can use it to go back in time, and so starts their adventures in the past as they battle the evil Countess, meet a fat unheroic dwarf king and his heroic brother, fight the Screechers, become allies with Gabriel, a noble warrior who befriends Emma and with her help survives some encounters with monsters. Later the youngsters free Dr. Pym, a wizard prisoner of the Countess, who helps them fight the Countess. There is a lot of action, and the book moves along at a good pace, although there are some lags, Stephens throws in enough cliffhangers at the end of chapters to keep up the pace.

Kate must learn to use her magical ties to the Atlas, but all three children learn about their abilities. There are scary villians, fights, puzzle solving and a lot of good fun in this adventure packed novel. Stephens decision to use of ability to learn about the future in the past and by doing so change the future as a way to solve some of the problems the characters face at the end of the book may be the only real weakness. One would have wished the children could figure out how to defeat all of the evil in the book, but it’s a minor gripe.

Harry Potter’s birthright might be the fact that serious writers are writing fantasy fiction for a younger audience. If they are all as good as this volume, our children will have many fantasy novels to enjoy in their youth.
...more

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Sep 24, 2011 Allison rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book-club, re-read

This is an amazing book! Let me restate that: this is an AMAZING, TERRIFIC, APPALLING, AWESOME, EXTREME, SHOCKING, MONSTROUS, ASTOUNDING, ELECTRIFYING, FLABBERGASTING, IMPRESSING, ASTONISHING, IMAGINATIVE, GRASPING book!!!!!!!! Ten years ago Christmas, 3 kids were dropped at an orphanage. They know their parents are alive. For the past ten years the children have gone from orphange to orphanage. Now they are headed to the mysterios Cambridge Falls that nobody can tell them anything about. There ...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Stephanie rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2011, fiction, adventure, young-adult

First in a series of three (I'm guessing) about three kids who are supposed to save the world. The only thing is they don't know why and they don't know how...

These three kids, Kate, Michael and Emma are orphans. Their parents had them taken to an orphanage ten years ago with a promise to Kate that they would be back. Since then the children have been shuffled from home to home never giving up on their parents and never allowing themselves to be adopted. They eventually end up in a place called First in a series of three (I'm guessing) about three kids who are supposed to save the world. The only thing is they don't know why and they don't know how...

These three kids, Kate, Michael and Emma are orphans. Their parents had them taken to an orphanage ten years ago with a promise to Kate that they would be back. Since then the children have been shuffled from home to home never giving up on their parents and never allowing themselves to be adopted. They eventually end up in a place called Cambridge Falls and find themselves in a creepy old house with a shrewish housekeeper, Mrs. Swallow, and dotty old groundskeeper called Abraham. The place is supposed to be an orphanage but Kate, Michael, Emma seem to be the only children there. And the mysterious Dr. Pym, who requested the children be sent to him, is not there.

The kids take start to explore this old house and end up down in the basement area where they discover an old laboratory and in the laboratory they find an old book. But this is no ordinary book and when the kids open it all the pages are blank. Michael assumes this is an empty photo album, as there is an old photo sitting next to the book. He sets the photo inside the book and *POOF*! All three kids are transported to the time and place where this photo was taken! From there the story takes off, with an evil Countess and terrible monsters and terrified townspeople to save.

The story was not bad but my problem was that these kids are not very credibly drawn. I mean, I don't think Mr. Stephens has kids, or maybe he's not been around any in a while. The youngest kid, Emma, totally got on my nerves. She's supposed to be eleven years old but she behaves as if she were much, much younger. And they way she "imprinted" on the hero, Gabriel, was just not at all believable, especially for a kid that has never know a father figure, as she was left by her parents before she ever knew them. And the other two, well, they were stereo-typical older and middle children, the oldest being overly-responsible and the middle being a nerdy smarty-pants.

I did enjoy this book, don't let my niggly complaints dissuade you. It wasn't bad at all and I will probably read the next in the series. ...more

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Oct 24, 2017 Sara rated it really liked it

Shelves: family, epic-adventure, juvenile-fantasy, tolkienesque

It took a few months but we made it! Me, my son and Katherine, Michael and Emma P. were shuttled between orphanages before finally ending up in Cambridge Falls under the care of the mysterious Dr. Pym and then straight into a fantastic adventure through dwarf kingdoms and lost cities and even time itself to find their destinies and learn the truth behind the disappearance of their parents.

If you're in the market for a great adventure fantasy to read aloud this one is perfect. My voice teachers ...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, magic, fantasy

I’m personally not a big fan of fantasy books, but I picked this one up because it got such good reviews and sounded interesting. The first book in a new trilogy, it’s the story of 3 young siblings who have been in various orphanages for 10 years, despite their conviction that their parents are coming back for them some day. Their lives change when Kate, Michael and Emma discover a powerful book of magic which leads them on exciting but dangerous time travel adventures and to the realization tha ...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Mitch rated it did not like it

John Steven's "The Emerald Atlas" was a real dud. It didn't know what it wanted to be, Harry Potter or Narnia. And it failed to be either and also failed to be something new and original. The plot was dull, the characters unlikeable, and the plotline forced. I kept reading on and on hoping for it to get better but instead I started disliking it evermore.

I had high hopes for this one...3 children, parents suddenly vanish, then they are young teens who go on an adventure on a strange island. Soun ...more

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Apr 18, 2015 Jo Reads rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, ebook

The story is amazing and the characters also. When you read it, the impression is that it's all surrounded by magic. Can't wait to read The next !! ...more

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May 13, 2020 Sheila Beaumont rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: action-and-adventure, rereads, kids-middle-grade, fantasy, myth-and-legend

I just finished rereading this delightful fantasy, the first in a middle-grade trilogy, before continuing on to the second and third books.

Like most really good books, this one was even better on rereading. Featuring three children who have been shunted from one orphanage to another for 10 years; a wise, kindly old wizard; lots of dwarves, who are the most amusing of the characters; and a truly evil countess/witch, the story calls to mind such fantasies as Narnia, LOTR, A Series of Unfortunate E ...more

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Dec 20, 2010 Corinne Edwards rated it really liked it

Shelves: strong-female-characters, fantasy, 2010, middle-grade

What do you get if you throw together The Series of Unfortunate Events, The Lord of the Rings, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and a little bit of Harry Potter type magic? You get this book, an adventure story, a fantasy story - a story of orphans and wizards, hidden books and midnight chases.

One winter night, four year old Kate and her two siblings are separated from their parents for a secret purpose - and while she wants to believe they are still alive, ten years of orphanage swapping be ...more

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Nov 04, 2010 Kerith rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade, audio

I started this with a fair amount of skepticism. Considering this has all the hallmarks of the usual derivative fantasy: "children of destiny", a missing magical object upon which the safety of the world hangs in the balance, a very evil bad person, an angelic good person, DWARVES, a wizard, etc etc...really, I should have been rolling my eyes so hard they fell out. But I wasn't. I really, really liked it. The place and time feel like the present, and yet not quite (in what Baltimore is there an ...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Sam rated it liked it

What a fantastical adventure! This was an enjoyable book filled with magic, wizards, dwarves, prophecy and humor. I only gave this book 3 stars because the three main characters; the children Kate, Emma & Michael weren't my favourite characters. I found that I liked them ok but who I thought was fantastic was Dr Pym. He was funny, brave and mysterious. Kind of reminded me of Dumbledore.... I loved the ending and look forward to the next installment. ...more

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Jul 13, 2019 Cameron (LostInStories) rated it liked it

It was a decent story but I don't like books with time travel. ...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Kellee Moye rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, audiobook, middle-grade, teach-mentor-texts, my-favorite-reads-in-2011

Complete review at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2011/...

(An almost 5)

Summary: Kate, Michael and Emma have been alone for 10 years. Kate's last memory of her mother is as the 3 of them were being taken away; her mother told her to take care of her siblings and that has been the center of Kate's existence since then. And she has done the best she could as the three of them have been shuffled from orphanage to orphanage never really finding home and always wondering why their parents abandoned Complete review at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2011/...

(An almost 5)

Summary: Kate, Michael and Emma have been alone for 10 years. Kate's last memory of her mother is as the 3 of them were being taken away; her mother told her to take care of her siblings and that has been the center of Kate's existence since then. And she has done the best she could as the three of them have been shuffled from orphanage to orphanage never really finding home and always wondering why their parents abandoned them. But their newest orphanage is different- there are no other kids, it is run by a mysterious man named Dr. Pym, odd things are happening and it's in a town that seems more dead than alive. And the odd becomes odder when they discover a book, place a picture in it, and travel back 15 years in the past to a time where conflict is at the center of the town.

What I Thought: First, I am biased because I listened to the audio book and I love Jim Dale. Anything Jim Dale reads automatically is good. As a friend of mine said on Twitter, I could listen to him read the phone booth. So, back to the book... this book is EPIC! I can't think of much to compare it to, but the adventure is at the same level as Harry Potter, Lightning Thief, Peter & The Starcatchers, Kingdom Keepers, etc. Although a similar adventure-type book, it is a very much unique and stand alone novel.

The character building and development in this novel was phenomenal. I really enjoyed the three siblings, they were all very unique, but complete and likable as well. Kate is the responsible one who follows the rules, tries to keep the peace and overall does what she promised her mother. Michael is the scholar and dreamer. He loves dwarves and constantly is writing in his journal. Emma is our rebel, always picking fights and saying exactly what is on her mind. There were also some supporting characters who really made the book come alive such as Gabriel, a man from a nearby village who Emma befriends, and Robbie the dwarf king, who Michael is in awe of. The only character I never felt connected to was the villain, so that may not be a bad thing.

The plot development was also pretty flawless and in a book that has time travel, magic, changing pasts and three protagonists, it would have been very easy to become lost, but John Stephens mapped out his plot perfectly and it all comes together (including the end which was just enough conclusion to have closure, but just enough cliff hanger that you must read the sequel).

Another plus of this series, is that I believe that it will be loved as a middle grade and a young adult novel. It could easily be classified as both because it is just a pure fantasy adventure that will grip any reader.

Snatch of Text: "The tall man had moved into the glow of a streetlamp and was clearly visible for the first time. To a casual passerby, his appearance would not have inspired much confidence. His overcoat was patched in spots and frayed at the cuffs, he wore an old tweed suit that was missing a button, his white shirt was stained with ink and tobacco, and his tie - this was perhaps the strangest of all - was knotted not once but twice, as if he'd forgotten whether he's tied it and, rather than glancing down to check, had simply tied it again for good measure. His white hair poked out from beneath his hat, and his eyebrows rose from his forehead like great snowy horns, curling over a pair of bent and patched tortoiseshell glasses. All in all, he looked like someone who had gotten dressed int he midst of a whirlwind and, thinking he still looked too presentable, had thrown himself down a flight of stairs." (p. 3-4) ...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Kristin (Beneath Shining Stars, I Read) rated it really liked it

Admittedly, when I think of books involving siblings, A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis immediately spring to mind. In part, I was afraid that it would drift too closely along those lines and I am pleased to say that it was unique.

Siblings Kate (the eldest), Michael (the middle child), and Emma (the youngest) have been whisked away from the safety and comfort of their own home to be protected from the darker forces that are after them. A Admittedly, when I think of books involving siblings, A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis immediately spring to mind. In part, I was afraid that it would drift too closely along those lines and I am pleased to say that it was unique.

Siblings Kate (the eldest), Michael (the middle child), and Emma (the youngest) have been whisked away from the safety and comfort of their own home to be protected from the darker forces that are after them. As a result, they've been moved from orphanage to orphanage before finally landing in Cambridge Falls--and the home of Dr. Stanislaus Pym. I loved the setting of Cambridge Falls and its initial lack of inhabitants as well as watching the town's history play out.

But more about our three main characters. Kate is the eldest and as such, is responsible for her siblings. She's level headed and has a bad habit of saying "yes" when her siblings ask her for anything--even when it's not the greatest of ideas. Michael is the middle child and rather bookish at that; he absolutely adores dwarves and this serves him well. Also, he likes to photograph things. Lastly, we have Emma and honestly, she often annoyed me throughout The Emerald Atlas. She's very headstrong and will often pick a fight. However, on the upside, she is extremely loyal.

Through the past, they also meet Gabriel, a massive man who is a fierce warrior from a village in the mountains and the Countess, a powerful witch who is after the Atlas (and uses French phrases on occasion, although she claims she's Russian). Along with the Screechers (named such by the children of Cambridge Falls although their real name is the morum cadi) she seeks the book by holding the town's children hostage and forcing the men of Cambridge Falls to look for it in the Dead City.

The dwarves were a pleasant surprise, I must say. They weren't the cantankerous drunks that I think of when I picture dwarves; they were a much neater, more respectable group and well, funny! Admittedly there is one drunkard in the group, but this particular bad apple isn't enough to spoil the bunch.

I found the prologue to be a bit slow, but things certainly pick up once the children arrive in Cambridge Falls. The Emerald Atlas is set in a world rich in detail and magic; it'll grab hold of you and it won't let go until the story wraps up. Yes, The Emerald Atlas has a definitive ending as it does deal with the first of the three Books of Beginning. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to reading the next installment to this series and if you're intrigued by the summary, I'd suggest picking up a copy to read! Honestly though, it's the sort of Middle Grade book that even us big kids can enjoy! ...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Katri rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Actual rating might be 3.5.

A fun and fairly original fantasy adventure, the first of a series, aimed especially at children/teenager audience. The story was original and imaginative enough, though still having a lot that reminds you of things in various fantasy books. It's about three siblings (Kate, Michael and Emma) who have spent almost all their lives wandering from one orphanage to another, until the last one they're sent to is the start of an unexpected adventure involving a mysterious mag Actual rating might be 3.5.

A fun and fairly original fantasy adventure, the first of a series, aimed especially at children/teenager audience. The story was original and imaginative enough, though still having a lot that reminds you of things in various fantasy books. It's about three siblings (Kate, Michael and Emma) who have spent almost all their lives wandering from one orphanage to another, until the last one they're sent to is the start of an unexpected adventure involving a mysterious magical book, an evil villainess, an eccentric wizard and dwarves, among other things.

What I enjoyed: the story and the world it takes place in, and the way the fantasy element intertwines with a normal world. Also, the normal world feels like it has some influences from Roald Dahl, Dickens and a host of other writers whom I can't think of anymore but whose style I enjoy nevertheless. I liked the three siblings - my favourite was Michael, he was adorable in his enthusiastic nerdiness and refreshing among male characters in fantasy that he's not a typical hero boy. I liked it that the villain of the story was a rather originally chosen one, even if her personality didn't have that much depth. The story was entertaining and exciting and it was a good amount of fun for a few days. However, it was a bit too plot-heavy for my liking: there was this breathless sense of constantly running from one plot twist to the next without ever pausing to reflect on anything, look around, or simply give you a chance to digest anything. It also was emotionally rather thin most of the time. The characters went through all sorts of dramatic events and most of the time their emotional reactions were scarcely described, or when they were described it was hard to actually feel them. I'm big on getting emotions out of stories, and this story sadly fell flat to me on that level. There were some touching moments but overall it didn't touch me. Also most of the other characters than the sibilings and the wizard were sadly undeveloped and didn't really have any personalities. Being big on characters as well, and delighting on when also minor characters have interesting and well-developed personalities, this also made the story feel a bit too empty for me.

I might check out the next volumes, though, the story and the world were interesting enough and I want to see what Michael gets up to in the next books. But after reading this I'm craving for something with more emotional substance. ...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Barb Middleton rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Magic. Wizards. Time Travel. Dwarves. Witches. Adventure. Sounds fun, right? It is!

In The Emerald Atlas, by John Stephens, Kate, Michael, and Emma are being shuffled from orphanage to orphanage after their parents mysteriously give them up. Kate is told by her mother to look after Michael and Emma, but when they end up in a creepy mansion in Cambridge Falls with a book that allows them to travel through time, Kate’s job becomes impossible. Not only are evil creatures trying to capture the three Magic. Wizards. Time Travel. Dwarves. Witches. Adventure. Sounds fun, right? It is!

In The Emerald Atlas, by John Stephens, Kate, Michael, and Emma are being shuffled from orphanage to orphanage after their parents mysteriously give them up. Kate is told by her mother to look after Michael and Emma, but when they end up in a creepy mansion in Cambridge Falls with a book that allows them to travel through time, Kate’s job becomes impossible. Not only are evil creatures trying to capture the three children who are the only ones who can use the powerful ancient books, but an evil witch has captured the children of Cambridge Falls and will kill them if Kate doesn’t give her the ancient book called, The Atlas. Can she change the future? This fast-paced book is sure to be popular with students.

The characterizations are hilarious, especially with the dwarf, King Hamish: “…’fore we get started on the whole thingamabob, what’re the names a’ these brats a’ yours who think they can just go walkin’ in my land when and where they please? Eh” Tell me that.”

“It wasn’t on purpose,” Kate bagan. “We-”

“Oi!” Hamish smacked the table. “Did I tell you to speak?! Huh? Did I say, ‘I want to hear from one of the brats’? Did I say, ‘I wish one a’ them brats would pipe up’? The dwarves around him shook their heads vigorously. “No! I said, ‘Magician.’ That’s ‘im!” He pointed a chicken wing at Dr. Pym. “So you, lassie, just keep your yapper shut. Bloody manners on this one.”

The housekeeper is funny as well. The humor and wit made the story fun and the plot twists were surprising. The part where Kate naively ends up with the witch was predictable but a surprise comes quickly thereafter. The writing is in third person omniscient from Kate’s point of view with the occasional shift to a minor character; mostly Emma. I believe this is because the next book will be from Emma’s point of view. The setup is for a sequel with many unanswered questions, but the book has a distinct ending – I didn’t feel cheated. The female characters are strong. Kate is the kind caretaker, Emma is spunky and brave, Michael is academic and brilliant. There is some violence but most is tempered with humor.
...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Elevetha rated it really liked it

Recommended to Elevetha by: Miss Clark

Shelves: adventure, decent-enough, characterize-please, middle-grade, magic-and-other-magical-substances, fantasy-adventure, timey-wimey-wibbly-wobbly, 2011

Doing a re-read for the upcoming to-be-read sequel: The Fire Chronicle

Kate, Michael, and Emma were dropped off at an orphanage when Kate was 4. She was told by her mother to take care of her siblings and so she has. She's watched them through 10 years, many orphanages, some rather hellish, and all the while believing that their parents will come back.

Weeell, best of luck, dearies. It'll be a while.

So they are told that if they don't shape up, (Emma is a bit of a handful(she reminded me of Daphen ...more

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Feb 25, 2015 Nina rated it really liked it

Second read:
This book means a lot to me. Primarly because it was the first novel I read and the one who dragged me into reading. Re-reading it was awsome and quite different from the first time.
"You never read the same book twice" I found this quote odd and without sense but now it all comes to my mind.
From the first time I saw the book It has captivated me, in first place because of the cover (which is in my opinion much better the edition in spanish), then the plot was amazing, full of drama Second read:
This book means a lot to me. Primarly because it was the first novel I read and the one who dragged me into reading. Re-reading it was awsome and quite different from the first time.
"You never read the same book twice" I found this quote odd and without sense but now it all comes to my mind.
From the first time I saw the book It has captivated me, in first place because of the cover (which is in my opinion much better the edition in spanish), then the plot was amazing, full of drama and adventure; and the ending was like "REALLY? I NEED THE SECOND BOOK NOW!!" but well, life is not a whishgranting factory, and the second book won't come out until 2 years later. D:
The three "P" siblings where completely to my liking. I found Kate very nice and sweet, like the kind of older sister everyone wants to have. Michael was so cooooool, I mean I'm in love with him, seriously, he is so smart and nice and really funny when it comes to dwarfs stuff, love him. And last but not least Emma, kind of in love with her name (though it has no point in saying it), I really like her character, but was also sort of weird. Like It's hard to piture an 11 year old girl super badass and fiercely; but well, after all you realiza she's so sweet and kind of weak on the inside too so...
Yeah, the whole time travelling thing what confusing at some point of the story, but it doesn't matter cause I found it super entretaining and fascinating.
The villans where just perfect to this book, cause I found the Countess really unique, for the fact that she really seemed stupid and girly but the fact that she wasn't after all. The Dire Magnus is such a mystery for this fist book, and I cannot wait to read more and know more about him and what happened to their parents.

Third read: I still love this. The first time I read this I was 12, then back again in 2015 and now again. I STILL LOVE THIS. It's middle grade and filled with magic and adventure. Plus, it's hilarious! I laughed out loud many times, cause it's just amazing. ...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Rachael rated it it was ok

When I was a "real" children's librarian, I tried to maintain a familiarity with the books that were popular with kids, which occasionally meant reading books that didn't live up to my lofty literary standards. Since I don't work directly with the public anymore, I rarely take the time to read mediocre books on purpose. Sometimes I feel like this gives me a skewed set of standards for the books I do read. It's easy to nitpick A Monster Calls when you're comparing it to Breadcrumbs, instead of th ...more

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Jan 30, 2017 Noah Pindak rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-reads, rereadable-material, books-i-own, fiction, riveting-yet-thrilling, fantasy, loved, time-travel, worth-reading, plot-twists

4.5 Stars✨

This wonderful series is dear to my bookish heart. I've reread it multiple times since I first discovered it back in 2012, and was immediately obsessed with it before I ever got hooked on Harry Potter. I'm a Ravenclaw btw.😉

It's a spectacular introduction into a compelling world of interesting characters and backstories, where three books have the power of making and unmaking the world. And those mystical and mythic books are called the Books of Beginning. Unquestionably, the three main ...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Adam Silvera rated it really liked it

Shelves: 52-youngster-books-for-2011

Totally enjoyed this one. The three main characters (Kate, Michael and Emma) are three children who are bouncing from orphanage to orphanage, insisting that they aren't to be called "orphans" because their parents aren't dead and will return to them, They hold onto this ten years later since their departure.

Kate was a great big sis, a remarkably strong character, and Emma was hilariously bold for such a young girl, but Michael was hands-down my favorite character with his belief in the fantasy ...more

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Aug 16, 2017 Dolly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: middle grade readers

Shelves: read-but-not-finished-reviewing, middle-grade, 2017, audiobook, childrens, scifi-fantasy

This is the first entry in The Books of Beginning series by John Stephens. The story is very dramatic, with a host of magical creatures and danger at every turn.

The three 'orphans' - Kate, Michael, and Emma - have the same older sister, middle brother, baby sister composition as the books featuring our favorite orphan siblings: A Series of Unfortunate Events.

The plot can be confusing, as the characters traveling back and forth through time and interacting with the same people, changing history ...more

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Apr 15, 2014 Diana Braxton rated it it was amazing

Shelves: childhood-favorites

So glad I could still enjoy this re-reading this seven years later.

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What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Name of a middle-grade fantasy series about three siblings related to emeralds?? [s]	5	30	Nov 12, 2019 06:38PM
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. 3 Children living in an orphanage who think their parents are still alive who were mysteriously given away by their parents for their safety. (Childrens book) [s]	3	303	Apr 09, 2019 10:33PM
YA Buddy Readers'...: Books of Beginning #1: Emerald Atlas by John Stephens --> Starting 6th May	6	2	May 09, 2018 01:05AM

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About John Stephens

John Stephens

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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Stephens spent ten years working in television and was executive producer of Gossip Girl and a writer for Gilmore Girls and The O.C. He holds an MFA from the University of Virginia. John and his wife have a dog named Bug and live in Los Angeles. His debut book 'The Emerald Atlas' is the first in a series of ...more

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“But I guess everything in life is a bit disappointing, isn't it?” — 39 likes

“Time, Kate was learning, was like a river. You might put up obstacles, even divert it briefly, but the river had a will of it's own. It wanted to flow a certain way. You had to force it to change. You had to be willing to sacrifice.” — 31 likes

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