Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The Capture (Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 1) by Kathryn Lasky and Book Giveaway

Publisher:  Scholastic
Pages:  240
Genre:  Adventure, Fantasy, Middle Grades
Source:  I received a copy for review

The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone and are in no way influenced by the receiving of a book.  I will always give my honest opinion.

What do you get when you take an animal, in this case owls, mix in human characteristics and then send the owls on an adventure?  You get Kathryn Lasky's, Guardians of Ga'Hoole series.  The Capture is the first book in this series.  I've had it on my list to read for a while but had not had a chance to read it.  I am so glad I was offered the opportunity to review the book.  The others in the series will soon be gracing my shelves as well.  I am truly sorry I waited so long to read it.


Soren is a young barn owl who finds himself on the forest floor one night while his parents are away hunting.  Only a few weeks old and still unable to fly, he knows the dangers that surround him and feels he probably won't survive the night.  Suddenly he is scooped up and taken to St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls.  From the beginning he believes that something is not quite right with the academy.  He befriends another owl named Gylfie who also shares this belief.  He just needs to survive until the time he can fly.  He also needs to avoid being moonblinked, or brainwashed.  If he can manage to do all of this, then he might be able to escape and help the owl kingdom survive.  He has learned that the academy's true purpose is to control all of the owl kingdoms on Earth.

Kathryn Lasky has a wonderful series here.  I am glad that on September 24th this book will be seen in theaters as, Legend of the Guardians:  The Owls of Ga'Hoole.  I for one will be there and will be encouraging many of my students to join me.  It is refreshing to find a series where you can delve into a fantasy world yet learn some animal facts as you go along.  I had to stop and remind myself that the characters were owls and not humans.  The characters were well fleshed out, to the point I could decide who I liked and did not like, and why.  The fantasy world they lived in was very believable.  This is something that is important if we are to pull kids into a book.

  View it on YouTube here:



So who is this author you ask?  Kathryn Lasky is the Newbery Honor author of over one hundred fiction and nonfiction books for children and young adults.  She lives with her husband in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  You can visit her online at:        www.kathrynlasky.com







Now for the Giveaway

Two winners will each receive a copy of Guardians of Ga'Hoole:  The Capture by Kathryn Lasky and a copy of the first book in her new series Wolves of the Beyond:  Lone Wolf

About the book:
Wolves of the Beyond:  Lone Wolf
In the harsh wilderness beyond Ga' Hoole, a wolf mother hides in fear.  Her newborn pup, otherwise healthy, has a twisted leg.  The mother knows the rigid rules of her kind.  The pack cannot have weakness.  Her pup must be abandoned on a desolate hill condemned to die.  But alone in the forest, the pup, Faolan, does the unthinkable.  He survives.  This is his story, the story of the wolf pup who rises up to change forever the Wolves of the Beyond.  Find out more at:  http://www.scholastic.com/wolvesofthebeyond/.

TO ENTER:
Please leave a comment telling me what you liked about the book or what you look forward to seeing in the movie.  I will take comments until midnight on Saturday and will pick a winner on Sunday using random number generator.  Leave your email address so that I may contact the winners.     Thank you and good luck.

18 comments:

  1. Wow! When I first saw the preview to this book I was a little miffed and confused. But as soon as I actually got to see the preview to the movie and a actual picture of the book I was intrigued! "Wow" I said to my self "This looks like a really good book"! My expectations are high and I hope the movie and the book will raise up to them. Can"t wait for the movie to come out! Thank you Mrs. Stiles!!!!!
    Emily Marie Marhold
    marhold@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those books are definently my type of books! Since the books have adventure in them I'm very intriqued and I've always wanted the books. I love the summary, no spoilers in them. Saray(1 period) s.p.r.ing1019@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Miss Bauman thinks that this is so cool!!!! Many of my students told me about the Ga'hoole books last year!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think it will be so good to read. I think I would love the book to read. I think reading about wildlife or something else like adventures in the book will be interesting. I will love to read the book about owls. It will be wonderful to read a book like that. The book looks so good to read.
    Lillie (per. 5)

    ReplyDelete
  5. What I like about the book is it has action, legends and going on journeys.
    Pedro (Period 5)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am looking to the movie and this book series has been on my list for a long time. Nathan (period 6)

    ReplyDelete
  7. This looks very inspirational and very exciting. Alex (6th period)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am looking forward to the movie because it looks so daring and you don't know what will happen next.
    sdoeberl@tampabay.rr.com Cheyenne (6th)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am really forwrd of seeing the movie!I CANT WAIT! Ved Patel
    per 6

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yessssss I want to see this movie!CAN'T WAIT!!! Brandy Ms.Bauman Class (6th grade)(period 2)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Ms.stiles,I am in miss Bauman's 2nd period class.I love your website,and i am really looking forward to seeing the movie.Thank's for putting up this website.Isha patel

    ReplyDelete
  12. hi miss stiles it's me david the reason i can't wait for the movie is because i love adventure. another reason is because i thought when the giant evil owl was chacing them and they just barely make it i am david nethery and i'm in your 7th period

    ReplyDelete
  13. I want to see in the movies if the birds find the guardians and beat the bad owls.
    Ravi (per 7) ravipathaks27@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like the adventure that I heard that there was a lot of in that so that is what I liked.
    Destiny (per 7)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think it will be an interesting book about owls and animals from the clip I saw. I wonder if the book will be better than the clip? I can't wait to read it.
    Jayde (per.7)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I cant wait for the movie.its just up my ally.i also want to read the book.it reminds me of the warrior series(which im a fan of).hope i win.find me as austinnator21@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I saw the preview and it was awesome!! I totally want to read the book. My e-mail is Princessnina0918@yahoo.com

    Miss.Bauman's Class 5th period

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love that you all are teaching the world how important it is to take care of our earth and everything in it above us and below us.

    ReplyDelete