El secreto de If. (The Secret of If)
Reviewed by Betsy Duarte Shepard, Wakefield Middle School, Tucson, AZ -- Críticas, 9/1/2008
Alonso, Ana and Pelegrín, Javier.
illus. by Marcelo Pérez. Spain: SM. 2008. 261p. ISBN 978-84-675-2935-7. $27.95
Gr 5-8–“If” is known as the kingdom in between, where humans and magical beings live side by side, and the former are at the mercy of the latter. There, the princess of a land called Kildar must discover the secret behind her arranged marriage to the prince of If. The marriage was arranged when the princess was just a baby, and since becoming an orphan, she has no one to answer her many questions. As the story progresses, the princess must overcome great physical and magical obstacles to arrive at the truth that will set her free. This fantasy-adventure story imparts social values, such as respect for others, and freedom of choice. The text flows well and will grab the attention of readers from the very first page. Loose pen-and-ink, travelogue-style illustrations on every page add to the adventuresome aspect of the story, and will spark the interest of middle school students. A recommended acquisition for public and middle school libraries, this book was the recipient of the prestigious El Barco de Vapor 2008 award.
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