the best thing about this story is something someone informed me when they saw me reading it. they said that christian zealots were protesting this book. i looked at the cover making sure we were talking about the same text and asked if they were mistaken. nope. they were sure they were right. i can't even imagine what would happen if these religionist actually read more. i think they'd have a full coronary if they knew literature existed that was more chilling and threatening than harry potter and other selections from borders' best-seller cardboard stand.

as for this though, i thought it was big fun. and given that the star of the saga is a young girl, i'm excited for when bella will read it because the daring and chippy heroine will surely thrill my daughter's young mind. the curiously tweaked world in compass is mysterious and magical, reminding me of myst island more than anything else. the story is fast and flowing, ending with a near-literal cliff-hanger. great and fluffy stuff.