Review of Mesopo
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The Children’s Book Review
Mesopo
Written by Eva Dietrich
Illustrated by Ingrid Kallick
Ages 9+ | 338 pages
Publisher: Independently published | ISBN-13: 978-1731518217
What to Expect: Fantasy, Middle Eastern culture, adventure.
Words are what make both Ankido and his grandmother, Habubti, special. She, because she is a world-famous author, and he, because he has the ability to find brand new words. Ankido loves his grandmother more than anyone in the world, and she loves him despite his frequent outbursts and tantrums. When Ankido’s father goes missing, Habubti has no choice but to go looking for him, leaving Ankido at the mercy of his ruthless and mercenary aunt and uncle.
Soon, Ankido finds himself sent away from his beloved home and lost in the desert, sucked into the magical book world of Mesopo. He has to save their world and his own by stopping Humbaba, the vicious word thief, whose greed threatens to eat all the words and stories in the world. But all Ankido wants is to find his grandmother. Will he ever find his way back home?
Bursting with desert magic, Mesopo is a strange, ethereal, enchanting fantasy novel filled to the brim with action. Reminiscent of classics like The Neverending Story and Inkheart, Ankido’s adventures all center around words, writing, and reading. Ankido is a likeable character, and young readers are sure to sympathize with his frustrations and the effort he puts into controlling his adolescent temper, as well as the persecutions that send him out into the world to seek his destiny.
With so many fantasy books based on Western European traditions, it is also refreshing how heavily this volume draws on the culture and mythology of the East, without resorting to tired cliches and stereotypes. Overall, Mesopo is an engaging and exciting read, perfect for book lovers and fantasy lovers alike.
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About the Author
Eva Dietrich is the author of The Great Rainbow Hug (Le gros câlin arc-en-ciel, from Samir Editeur, 2011), recognized by La Revue Des Livres Pour Enfants in 2011 as their annual selection. Eva holds Masters’ Degrees in Children’s Literature from the University of Surrey, London, and Creative Writing from the Metropolitan University of Manchester, UK, and is the founder and director of Aladdin Books. She is equal parts Spanish and German, and currently resides in Madrid with her three kids, three dogs, two cats, three rabbits, and lots of hens.
For more information, visit https://www.aladdin-books.com/
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Mesopo, by Eva Dietrich. Learn more about getting a book review …
