The Stonekeeper (Amulet Series #1)

by Kazu Kibuishi, Sheila Keenan (Editor)

Overview

After a family tragedy, Emily, Navin, and their mother move to an old ancestral home to start a new life. On the family's very first night in the mysterious house, a strange noise lures them into the basement, where Em and Navin's mom is kidnapped by a humongous, tentacled creature and dragged down behind the basement door.

The kids give chase down a twisty spiral stairway and find themselves in a strange and magical world below. Most surprising of all, it seems that their great-grandfather, who was an inventor and puzzle maker, was there before them – and he's left some unfinished business.

Now it's up to Em and Navin to figure out how to set things right and save their mother's life!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780439846806
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/2008
Series:	Amulet
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	63,555
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.72(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kazu Kibuishi is the founder and editor of the critically acclaimed Flight anthologies, as well as the creator of COPPER. He lives in Alhambra, California, with his wife and fellow comics artist, Amy Kim Kibuishi, and their son. Visit him online at www.boltcity.com.

Editorial Reviews

Almost too clever and poignant, Amuletis, on the surface, about navigating the murky waters of adolescence and, beneath that, an exploration of abandonment and survival. Emily and Navin are lost children, literally lost in a dark, new world and struggling to save their mother, who has been kidnapped by a drooling, tentacled beast. With stellar artwork, imaginative character design, moody color and consistent pacing, this first volume's weakness lies in its largely disjointed storytelling. There is the strong, young, heroine; cute, furry, sidekicks; scary monsters-all extraordinary components, but pieced together in a patchwork manner. There is little hope in his dark world as Kibuishi removes Emily and Navin's frame of safety. Their hopes rest in a magic amulet that seems to be working in the interest of the children-until it suddenly isn't. The most frightening element of Amuletis the sense of insecurity we feel for Emily, fighting her way through uncharted terrain with no guide and no support system. This first volume of Amuletisn't a disappointment, but it does feel like a warmup to the main event. If anything, it's a clear indication that Kibuishi has just begun skimming the surface of his own talent. (Jan.)

Copyright 2007Reed Business Information

Publishers Weekly

AGERANGE: Ages 9 to 12.

This is the first in a new series and the book is great! The prologue is sad and quite graphic; the story actually begins two years later. I was not sure where the story was going to take me, but when Emily finds the library of their grandpa and learns that he disappeared somewhere in the house and that no one ever knew what actually happened to him, I knew this book was going to be a mystery. The very first night in the new house, the mother is kidnapped and the two children set out to find her. Emily finds an amulet containing a stone and is able to do some things that surprise both her and her brother. Through several adventures, the two are taken to their long lost dying grandpa who explains what they must do to save their mother and become the next leaders to rule the land of Alledia, which is actually an alternate version of planet earth. Are Emily and Navin ready for the power the amulet holds? Are they ready to fight the creatures that try to stop them? The story hooks the reader; it is filled with adventure, suspense, great characters, and has above all an ending that leaves the reader wanting more. This book is written in graphic format that is a favorite of mine. The format is perfect for reluctant readers who never seem to finish a book on their own. Young adults who want to read anything they can get their hands on will also enjoy the graphics and fast paced text. The graphics make an enormous impact on the story. I look forward to the next in the series. I highly recommend this book. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs

Children's Literature

When Emily's father dies suddenly, her family must move to Grandpa Silas' old abandoned house. As they are cleaning their new home, Emily finds a mysterious amulet hidden in Grandpa's lab. That night, a strange arachnid creature kidnaps Emily's mother. Emily and Navin follow, determined to rescue her, but they quickly find themselves submerged in a foreign world that is inhabited by robots and ferocious monsters. With the help of the powerful amulet and a robotic rabbit named Miskit, Emily discovers just how far she will go to save the people she loves. This first book in the "Amulet" series of graphic novels tells of the courage of a young girl on a mission to save her family by safely navigating an alien world. The Japanese anime-style illustrations are a perfect complement to this tale of heroics. Reviewer: Greta Tasedan

Children's Literature - Greta Tasedan

Gr 4 Up
Hurrying to pick up her brother, Emily and her parents have a tragic accident, and her father dies. After this dark beginning, the story skips forward two years to when the remaining family members are forced to move to an ancestral house in a small town. Rumored to be haunted, it is unkempt and forbidding. The first night there, Emily's mother goes down to the basement to investigate a noise and doesn't return. The kids search for her and discover a doorway into another world, where their mother has been swallowed by a monster and is being taken away. An amulet that Emily found in the house tells her that together they can save her, but her brother isn't so sure that this voice can be trusted. Still, what other choice do they have in this strange place? Gorgeous illustrations with great color bring light to this gloomy tale. Filled with excitement, monsters, robots, and mysteries, this fantasy adventure will appeal to many readers, but it does have some truly nightmarish elements.
—Dawn RutherfordCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal