Following the Phoenix

This is the second book of the Letzenstein chronicles, a series involving a tiny imaginary country in the nineteenth century. We follow Rafael le Marre as he searches for his lost love, Jeanne. When she heard that he had been shot, she had given up dancing on the stage and taken up nursing. The adventure never stops, and is always taking an unexpected twist. The storyline is great. This series is intriguing, but there are some subtle things to beware of. The Catholics are the patient, loving, open minded people, and the Protestants are portrayed as strict and sober, narrow minded people, who try to sap the joy out of life. Also, the parents or guardians of the children care only about their own concerns, and not what is true, kind, or right for others. This forces the children to have to make their own decisions and judgments for their lives. The attitudes toward authority are not the best. These are subtle things, and the story might be best enjoyed as a read aloud series, where parents can discuss attitudes and perspectives with their children.