Book Review of Emma Bean the Mouse
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The Children’s Book Review
Emma Bean the Mouse
Written by Stephen Paul Wood
Ages 9+ | 465 Pages
Publisher: Bunker Hill Publishing | ISBN-13: 9798986381008
What to Expect: Fantasy, animals, adventure, believing in yourself, and perseverance
Emma Bean the Mouse is a great book for upper elementary readers to dip their toes into the Fantasy genre.
Emma Bean Gruyere is a mouse with a mission. Born into a community of mice who live close to a farmer with an abundance of crops, the mice spent their days gathering food and never bothered to venture far from their homes. Emma Bean enjoys her life but longs for an adventure even if she isn’t a brave mouse. Life in the peaceful field changes instantly when Emma Bean spots a dragon and is compelled to go on a quest to save everyone she knows and loves. Along the way, she meets many different fantastical creatures and learns to believe in herself and her abilities.
Stephen Wood does a marvelous job building a world full of magic; no detail is left out. From creating a fresh take on a creation tale to the smallest element of the story, every plot devise helped shape Emma Bean’s world and invited the reader to experience it with her. In addition to solid world-building, Wood makes fantasy accessible to his younger readers by creating a strong cast of characters who are relatable and enjoyable to read. Older readers will appreciate his use of a cast of anthropomorphic animals and will find themselves heavily vested in the outcome of Emma Bean’s epic quest.
Wood’s messages of community, family, and inner strength shine through in his writing. Every character he writes contributes to these themes in a new and fresh way that helps Emma Bean understand the world around her, and consequently herself, after each interaction. This book would be great for an elementary read-along. Many exciting scenes lend themselves to reading out loud, which may help younger readers understand the parallel plots in the book.
Emma Bean the Mouse is a perfect youth fantasy adventure. By combining magic, quests, sorcery, and elements of high fantasy, Emma Bean the Mouse becomes pure escapism, sure to be a hit with readers of all ages.
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About the Author
Stephen P. Wood is an author, nurse practitioner, educator, podcaster, and ethicist. He started writing this book, Emma Bean the Mouse, on a cold, rainy day with his daughter Emma. He finished it sixteen years later. He is a husband, father, son, and friend. His hobbies include cooking, lobstering, magic and reading. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with his wife Kate and his two cats, Firefly and Kraken.
For more information, visit https://www.stephenpwood.com/.
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