Disclosure: I wrote the review in partnership with The Children’s Book Review, Drew Callander, and Alana Harrison. Books were received in order to give an honest review.
Mightier Than The Sword: The Edge Of The Word
Written by Drew Callander and Alana Harrison
Illustrated by Ryan Andrews (and YOU!)
Publisher’s Synopsis: The exciting follow-up to Mightier Than the Sword, the humorous and fantastical interactive middle-grade novel which needs you, the reader, to get in on the action!
The second book set in Astorya places you back in the driver’s seat. You’re a real human being (we assume), and in this fictional world, that makes you a superhero. Armed with your trusty pencil, you have the power to create. What you write, draw, or scribble in the book becomes part of the story!
With Queen Rulette gone, and Astorya returning to normal, you decide to journey to Astorya’s Other Side, a place of monsters and mayhem, to hide the original Original forever. Surely nothing bad could happen to Astorya’s precious document there, right? But when the plan goes awry and digital doppelgangers are unleashed on the world, once again only you can save the day.
Write, draw, and puzzle your way through a hilarious adventure story that is unique to every reader! And, most importantly, prove that the pencil is mightier than the sword.
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Penguin Workshop | ISBN-13: 978-1524785109
Buy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/38xltv8
Buy on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/2078/9781524785109
Social Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mightierbook/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightierbook/
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Alana Harrison and Drew Callander have spent their lives telling stories and cracking jokes. Alana graduated from The College of William and Mary with a degree in Comedic Writing and Performance. Drew graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Fiction Writing. Together they have created cartoons and short films with Jon Stewart, Conan O’Brien, John Oliver, and Kristen Schaal. Their work as writers and improv comedians has aired on Sirius XM Radio, NBC, and Comedy Central. Mightier Than the Sword is their first book series. They live with their two kids and one exquisitely talented cat (none of whom help with the dishes).
ABOUT THE Illustrator
Ryan Andrews lives in the Japanese countryside, with his wife, two kids, and their dog, Lucky. A friendly Kodama or two have been known to take up residence in the giant acorn tree that shades the house. Ryan often works at his drawing desk in the early-morning hours, to the sound of rummaging wild boar and badgers, who come from the surrounding forest seeking out shiitake mushrooms and fallen chestnuts.
My Review
After reviewing Mightier Than The Sword, I was happy to read the next book in the series. Mightier Than The Sword: The Edge of the Word is actually better than the first one! After getting familiar with the characters in the book, the second one takes off with more adventures.
By the time I started reading The Edge of the Word, I felt very comfortable with all of the very curious friends called The Couriers. The narrator (you) has new problems to solve. The original Original must be hidden and he must venture to the dangerous other side to do so.
He and Prince S. are off to visit this side of Astorya, which is filled with monsters. They must go to the “Edge of the Wor(l)d” to enter the other side. It’s very dangerous to go there, so the main character draws himself a disguise. He appears to the monsters to be one of them, but things go wrong and he and Prince S. are in a lot of trouble.
As they try to escape from vicious monsters and find a place to hide the original Original, they wonder if they will also turn evil. There is a danger of giving in to the red voices (think the dark side) and becoming really evil. Will they make it back to their friends in the good part of Astoria?
There are even more dangers lurking at the end of this book. It’s filled with suspense, danger, and of course, puns! You’ll find lots of humor, more ways to be creative, and even some education. The readers won’t even know that they’re learning parts of speech! This book will keep youngsters glued to the pages.
I love all the pages that allow children to fill in the blanks and make the story their own. They can even draw in some areas of the book. They’ll love contributing and being a part of the story. “It’s a book you can play!” I highly recommend it!
Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win a Mightier Than the Sword prize pack!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
- A hardcover copy of Mightier Than the Sword
- A hardcover copy of Mightier Than the Sword: The Edge of the Word
- A paperback copy of Mightier Than the Sword
- A personalized video message from Manteau—the lovable French stoat
Three (3) winners receive:
- A paperback copy of Mightier Than the Sword
- A hardcover copy of Mightier Than the Sword: The Edge of the Word
Five (5) winners receive:
- A paperback copy of Mightier Than the Sword
@2020, copyright Lisa Ehrman
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