Rowan of Rin #1: Rowan of Rin

It was the scholastic days; we all remember, the hit or miss serialized series 20 books too far gone. I had just finished the deltora series in its Entirety (I was in 4th grade reading at a college level after years of barely holding par and someone finally teaching me phonics reading became a whole world) and I found rowan of rin. I was hooked less than a few pages in, and was waiting when Travelers came out.

I whole-heartedly agree with the parent from NY who's 8-year old son is a voracious reader.....because I have one too! It is so difficult to find quality books for young boys -- but this series is definitely one that you will want to buy. My son first read this series not long after he turned 9. He's now almost 11 and has reread them so many times that the covers are about to fall off. They are suspenseful without being scary....a great first fantasy series for kids. My only thought with regard to the child reviewers who didn't like them.... maybe they were too old for these books.

I bought this book for my 11 year old son. When he had to do a book report on it and asked me to help him, I decided I'd better read it myself to know what happens in the book. I almost couldn't put it down. I stayed up until 2:00 am to finish it. I loved the riddles and how they had to figure them out to continue their quest. I also loved how the tormented child became the HERO of the Village. When all the big tough villagers became to scared or weak to go on, Young Rowan the Keeper of the Bukshah, (because he was too scared to do and thing elso, saved Rin.

Emily Rodda pens a charming tale, apparently the first in a series (as we speak, three of these books are out and a fourth is coming, I think). Her hero Rowan will win over the earnest bullied kids, or the people who once were.Rowan is the most timid child in the village of Rin, and so he is often teased and bullied by other children. Adults pity him or dislike him for his apparent weakness. He is also is a herder of the bukshah (buffalo-like creatures who provide milk and wool), who are fed by a certain stream coming down from a nearby mountain. And, it is said, a dragon lives at the top of the mountain. One day it's discovered that the mountain stream is drying up. Without it, the bukshah and the village will both die. They consult old Sheba, a clearsighted wise woman who utters a cryptic rhyme: Seven hearts the journey make/Seven ways the hearts will break/Bravest heart will carry on/When sleep is death and hope is gone...The village sends six of their strongest, bravest men and woman - and Rowan, who is the only one who can use their map. Coming along is Strong Jonn, half-Traveller Allun, inseparable companions Val and Ellis, Marlie, and Bromden. More prophetic verses crop up in the map, leading the way through dens of enormous spiders, bogs where they hear their loved ones' voices, right to the cold summit of the mountain. But Rowan and his companions will learn some lessons about fear and courage...Reading this book, one sees so many ways that it could have gone wrong. The adults could have remained one-dimensional and snobbish - but they don't, they grow and change as Rowan does. Rowan could have been a little twit - but he wasn't, instead being a thoroughly believable young boy who WANTS to be brave. I liked how he was not bitter about being pitied or teased by the others, but merely needed a chance to prove himself.This is probably too "young" a book for most 9-12 readers, as the inside flap describes it as 7-up. But despite being a very straightforward story of about 150 pages, it's also tightly plotted and well-interspersed with fantasy elements, though not too many. Rodda's descriptive style ranges from poetic to sparse, and she includes hints of the the adventures to come. On to read "Rowan and the Travellers." I'm sure it won't disappoint.

The people of Rin are in danger. The stream that runs through the village is draining away, and at once they know it has to do with the source at the top of the Mountain. But as tales and rumors have it, dreadful circumstances are on the Mountain, as well as dangerous forces that threaten the village of Rin. And as legend has it, at the very top of the Mountain -- a dragon lurks in hiding. Chosen together with six brave hearted travelers, Rowan , whose people consider him weak and cowardly,goes along with them, for only he can read the Map to guide them. Even in the face of uncertain and often deadly danger, Rowan and the other travelers face a rugged and harsh journey. Rowan wants desperately not be the weak little boy the people think of him as. And when the fateful moment comes for him to at last save all, will he survive the dangers and treachery of the journey to the top of the Mountain? Emily Rodda writes a beautiful and enchanting heroic story for younger readers,with a fantasy plot that will move readers and make them be drawn to Rowan's somwhat courageous character, who hopes to somehow be strong.

My teacher recomended it last year in fifth grade. It was boring at first and I almost stopped reading it but then I got to the good part (the rest of the book) and I couldn't keep my eyes off it, the second two in the series were just as good.