  | Sword Mountain Author: Fan, Nancy Yi | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
When adopted by the eagle prince, a valley-born eaglet must learn to become a princess and also a heroine.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 5.30 Points: 7.0 Quiz: 153203 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 3-5 Reading Level: 4.40 Points: 11.0 Quiz: 58404 | |
Common Core Standards
Grade 3 → Reading → RL Literature → 3.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 3 → Reading → RL Literature → 3.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 3 → Reading → RL Literature → 3.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → 4.RL Integration & Knowledge of Ideas
Grade 4 → Reading → RL Literature → Texts Illustrating the Complexity, Quality, & Rang
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (06/01/12)
School Library Journal (-) (07/01/12)
Booklist (04/15/12)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 04/15/2012 Teen author Fan continues her congenial, if bland, avian fantasy with this latest Swordbird title. The war between the archaeopteryx and the golden eagles of Sword Mountain has ended with the death of Emperor Maldeor, but the treacherous archaeopteryx Kawaka remains to enact his dying wish. Meanwhile, eagle Prince Fleydur returns from exile, intending to start a music school despite music still being banned, and rescues an eaglet named Dandelion from certain death. Readers will benefit from having read Fan’s other books, as some key elements are left unexplained, such as why music is banned in the first place and why the archaeopteryx and eagles are at war. Fan’s birds are so anthropomorphized that it is easy to forget they are winged creatures: they play lacrosse on the ground; they sew and drink from teacups; they use doorknobs. Still, Dandelion’s plight as a common valley eaglet mingling with haughty royals will resonate with kids who feel out of place, and Fan’s strong message of equality and education will please parents HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Fan’s precociousness—she began writing this series at age 11—has been a publicity boon that has included the likes of Oprah interviews. Fans of Fan are serious. - Copyright 2012 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 07/01/2012 Gr 3–6—On Sword Mountain, the social status of birds is based on where they live and the color of their feathers. Dandelion is a dark-feathered valley eaglet, indicating low birth. Soon after hatching, she's attacked by an archaeopteryx, a vicious soldier bird. She narrowly escapes being eaten, but her parents are killed. Fleydur, a once-exiled prince, finds the broken little bird and introduces her to palace life. Her high-born, golden-feathered classmates are cruel to her, except Cloud-wing, the most handsome and popular eaglet at the palace. But he soon goes off to a special school to prepare him for battle and she loses her only friend. Luckily, Fleydur, who seems to be back in favor with the court, adopts Dandelion, making her a princess. But Dandelion wants to fight their enemies alongside Cloud-wing. She eventually gets her chance when a thief steals a magic stone and tries to frame her. Readers who haven't read Swordbird (2007) or Sword Quest (2008, both HarperCollins) will struggle with this one. New plot lines appear abruptly and fizzle out, and motivations for the characters' actions aren't always clear. Cutesy devices, such as changing indefinite pronouns such as "everyone" to "everybird" quickly wear thin. Overall this is an overwritten, underdeveloped tale.—Mandy Laferriere, Staley Middle School, Frisco, TX - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
