Book Review: The Reader

Title: The Reader
Author: Traci Chee

Rating: 3/5

Teen Reviewer: Nanditha Prashanth

The Reader by Traci Chee is book number one of the series (Sea of ink and Gold). Its a riveting fantasy novel about a young women of the name Sefia. Sefia is a brave girl who lives her life on the run and will continue to because of unfortunate events. After her father was viciously murdered, she heads toward the forest with her aunt Nin by her side. Aunt Nin is the only person Sefia could call as family, who was known to have unexplainable magic within herself. They survive day and night in the wilderness together, hunting and steeling what they need to survive. They are constantly put under the stress of new threats toward there life and possessions. But one day as Sefia heads to the market, her aunt Nin is kidnapped and Sefia is suddenly left the way she was nearly a decade ago. She takes it upon herself to find the aunt that gave her life through struggle and tragedy. The one who cared for her as her own mother would have. Her only clue left now is a strange rectangular object that once belonged to her father. The object comes to be a book she realizes after, as she comes from a society where reading isn't a known activity to the existence. The remainder of the story entails a dangerous journey taken by Sefia to rescue her aunt. Sefia comes to realize the magic behind the books, the true spirit. She comes to realize that nothing is as it seems when the end seems to be were the beginning starts.

The Reader is a book that will bring out the true reader in everyone. It resembles the magic and passion people have for books. Its a book that will make you realize the beauty of books. It has a strong moral that will for sure make you realize that nothing truly is as it seems. I gave this particular book a 3 out of 5 because it took me a great deal of time to understand and get through. There was a lot of action and small details which got very confusing at certain instances. But I am sure that people who have a great sense of imagination will cherish every moment of this book.