Title: Anzard
Author: Christopher Conroy
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781497582811
Pages: 160
Genre: Children’s/Fantasy
Reviewed By: Tiffany Ezuma, Pacific Book Review
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Book Review
“Anzard,” a children’s fantasy and adventure story, takes readers on a magical ride into the mythical world of Spiritainia, a world filled with evil witches, mythical creatures called “Anzards” (a hybrid between an angel and wizard), and talking animals!
The novel starts with a tragedy as ten-year-old Justin Cavell is worried about the safety of his parents, whose plane was caught in a bad storm and hasn’t returned home. Justin prays for his parents and his prayers are heard by Poofy, his own personal Anzard, who sweeps him off to Spiritania. There, he faces challenges as he walks The Path of Possibilities and must dig deep within himself for courage.
It’s hard to get into the mind of a child but that is one of Conroy’s biggest achievements in this novel and key to the success of the story. Justin feels like a real boy—one who is scared about his future and his parents, and one who tries to do his best despite temptation to take the easy way out. It’s always compelling to read about kids making tough decisions on their own, and Justin is a prime example of the type of character a parent would want to share with a young reader.
But Justin is more than just a heroic figure for young readers—he’s also funny. Surrounded by a great cast of characters in with the Tribe of Truth, which includes: Regal Eagle, Turner the Turtle, Billy the Goat, Chumpah the Chipmunk, and last but not least, Poofy, the gang is able to play off of one another and create some funny and touching moments as he struggles to follow the right path.
Ultimately, at it’s core the story is about the power of believing in yourself and trusting your instincts, a message we all need to be reminded of. This is a great read for kids 7-11, and would be a great edition to a classroom. Even though the book is relatively short, Conroy packs in a lot of adventure and a ton of heart to make a compelling tale. With this book, believing in magic isn’t just for kids anymore!
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