The Land of the Silver Apples

It was amazing--it has become my favorite book and I cant wait for the next one to come out :D

A beautifully written novel with a unique combination of high adventure, 8th century history, and fantasy that children will love. Note that it carries an unusual message for a children's book, embedded in its plot and summarized on page 476: "Christianity is only one leaf" among "many branches on the Great Tree" of life.

I love books that show how ancient peoples were caught between their old gods and Christianity. In the book, THE LAND OF THE SILVER APPLES by Nancy Farmer, she shows one young boy's life during 790 AD Britain. Thirteen-year-old Jack misses his old adventures. He's finding life back in his village, as a bard-in-training is boring. Then at the need-fire ceremony, his sister wears a necklace of metal that is forbidden. Things go from bad to worse. After Jack's father tries to buy Pega, a slave girl- Jack is upset. Doesn't his father remember how he was sold into slavery? Jack ends up buying Pega and frees her. Instead of being thanked, Jack's father kicks him out of his home. And Pega follows him around. Later Jack is asked to come back and finds his sister is delusional about being a princess. He goes on a pilgrimage were an exorcism on Lucy goes terribly wrong. Jack is angered at how corrupt the monks are with those who come for help. He slams his ash wood staff down and causes a major earthquake. But this also releases the Lady of the lake who kidnaps his sister. Jack finds out his sister is one of the Fair Folk and his real sister was kidnapped by hobgoblins. Jack goes on a quest to find his real sister and rescue Lucy from the Lady of the lake. Along the way he meets will-o'-the-wisps, hobgoblins, elves--who are fallen angels--Picts, and magical trees that produce honey cakes. Though I didn't read the first book, THE SEA OF TROLLS, I totally was engaged with this tale. I loved how the author showed how both worlds lived together. Jack is being trained in the ways of his ancestors. His mother and others have embraced the new religion Christianity while retaining some of their old ways. Pega is one character I felt sympathetic for. Shunned by those around her because of her deformity, imagine her shock when a hobgolin sees the beauty within her. One example of how well the author shows both worlds is how the abbots reverence for the simple facts of God's world were not that different than the Bard's reverence for the life force. This book has it all--adventure, fairies, old world gods, and an ancient world that is caught between belief in the Old Gods and Christianity. I highly recommend this book. For sure I'll be checking out book one to find out how Jack meet Thorgil and his other adventures.

I love this woman. I love every single thing she's written, albeit some more than others, so I am admittedly very biased when it comes to her works. The book takes place after The Sea of Trolls when, among other things, Jack's sister Lucy is taken by elves and he has to travel underground to their lands to get her back. The Land of the Silver Apples is such a good middle book. The story moves along at a great pace, and not once did I want to put it down. She has a delicate touch with the religious issues inherent in writing in this time period (Christian vs. Druidic vs. Nordic), and writes each in such a way that none of them are put down. It's quite lovely to not have to put up with an author hammering their beliefs down my throat. I also adored her take on elves. I've never seen anything like it. Very refreshing and original, things quite lacking in the general portrayal of elves. All her vivid, distinct characters are what really what give this book it's umph, though. Jack has matured, though he still has a lot of growing up to do, and seeing the great variety of characters through is alternately wise, sympathetic, jealous, and juvenile-ly hateful perspectives is just wonderful. A great amount of the cast from the Sea of Trolls returns, and the new additions to the cast are fully-fleshed and original. The only disappointment I had was that there wasn't a greater role for the Picts. Or, rather, the Pictish Beast. ...it just seemed odd that one of the chapter headers was a Pictish Beast, it's mentioned once in a chapter, it's in the glossary, but... there's nothing else on it. Well, I guess it's such an indistinct beastie that I can say I wouldn't have wanted to tackle it myself. All in all, another amazing book from an amazing author. I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for the next book!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end. The characters were very lifelike and had me thinking about them long after I put the book down. I did not like this quite as much as The Sea of Trolls but that is because of the wonderful Vikings. I loved the Vikings and the honesty with which they were written. I am an adult and I read these books at the recommendation of my 12 year old son. I think girls would enjoy it too with the strong female characters.