The Edge of the Word Book Review and GIVEAWAY



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Book Review and Giveaway

The Edge of the Word (Mightier than the Sword Book 2)
Written by Drew Callander and Alana Harrison
Illustrated by Ryan Andrews
Published by Penguin Workshop, November 2019

Mom's Review
Picking up right where Mightier than the Sword left off, The Edge of the Word is a fast-paced adventure that keeps you on your toes. Like its predecessor, book two in the series features the reader as the main character, with portions of the story that you must write or draw yourself.

The Edge of the Word takes you to the Other Side, which is literally the other side of the paper that is the book world of Astorya. It is where the villains live with air is so foul that breathing it will turn

visitors evil. The clock is therefore ticking as you and Prince S seek a safe hiding spot for the physical, original draft of the story that created Astorya. Heated battles, cunning villains, and plot twists that make perfect sense in hindsight keep the action moving along quickly. I found myself even more engrossed in this second publication than in the first. I attribute that to being more invested (I've been friends with Manteau for two books now!) and to skipping the footnotes. A crossword puzzle was challenging (I cheated) and doodling in the margins was a lot of fun. I don't usually write in books, so the encouragement to doodle in the margins was freeing. I'm pretty sure that I increased the population at Castle Doodling by a fair amount. The narrative was also more streamlined, set as it was primarily in one place. 

If you've read the first book, you have likely come to the conclusion that Prince S. is inspired by Shakespeare, what with his appearance and his word-smithing. While he wasn't so involved in book one, his character and use of the S. Word (his sword) are fascinating, fun, and clever this time around. Harrison and Callander's word play with the S. Word had me laughing, groaning, and rolling my eyes good-naturedly time and again. I won't say more, but you have some good stuff to look forward to with Prince S.

Excitement, humor, and word play aside, the attitude toward devices/screen struck a chord with me. Harrison and Callander deliver a biting commentary on the damage wreaked by device-dependence. Without directly calling out phones and screen-time as problematic, they demonstrate the undeniable effect they can have on our behavior. Readers are subtly challenged to assess their own actions – do they take the easy way out or put themselves before others, or do they put forth the effort to complete a task with care and attend to a relationship with another's needs in mind?

The Edge of the Word offers more than just entertainment; it is an invitation to reflect on our own relationships and priorities. 

Extra: Click here to go to Penguin's page for both books in the series.

GIVEAWAY

Click the link below to enter the 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

The giveaway begins November 16, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends December 16, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

Note: Per FTC guidelines, I hereby disclose partnership with The Children’s Book Review, Drew Callander, and Alana Harrison.

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