Book Review: The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Alex has known for three years that he is an Unwanted.  Still, on the day of the Purge from Quill, that doesn't make it any easier to accept that he is about to be thrown into the Great Lake of Boiling Oil along with the almost fifty other Unwanteds - or that his twin brother, Aaron, is Wanted when he is not.

In the gray desert land of Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into three categories - the Wanteds, the Necessaries, and the Unwanteds.  The Wanteds are strong and intelligent and are sent to University.  The Necessaries perform all the duties essential to daily life in Quill.  The Unwanteds are sent to the Death Farm to be eliminated for the crime of exhibiting artistic or creative traits.  Alex's infraction?  Drawing with a stick in the mud.

But when the gates to Quill clang shut, leaving Alex and the other terrified Unwanteds alone with the Eliminators, the most astonishing thing happens.  The Death Farm vanishes, leaving in its place a lush, beautiful land filled with amazing creatures - and magic.  The land of Artime is a safe haven created and kept secret by Mr. Marcus Today, a powerful mage who protects, teaches and guides the Unwanteds.  Instead of being put to their deaths, Alex and his new friends Meghan, Lani and Samheed learn how to play musical instruments, act, and draw - and how to use their art to make magic.

With talking blackboards, a Tube that will take you anywhere you want to go, a menagerie of incredible magical creatures - platyprots, squirrelicorns, flying tortoises, Mrs. Octavia the crocodile-octopus teacher, and Simber, the living sandstone statue of a winged cheetah that guards the Unwanteds' Mansion, Artime is more amazing than anything Alex could have imagined.  There is one catch though - students in Artime must also take Magical Warrior Training, because if the Quillians ever discover Artime and the Unwanteds' deception, they will destroy everything and everyone.

Sound awesome?!  Then head to the library this Thursday, September 22nd at 4PM.  You can hear author Lisa McMann talk about writing The Unwanteds and get your copy signed!  Books will be available for purchase if you'd like to pick up your own copy.  Don't want to buy it?  If you loved Harry Potter, the Inkheart books, or the Alchemyst series, make sure you put this fun fantasy on hold @ the library!  And while you're waiting, check out Katie's Top 10 Reasons to Read The Unwanteds!

Megan
(now reading Wake - why didn't I get around to reading this sooner, people?!)