Review: North or Be Eaten

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All of my opinions are my own!

North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson
Published by WaterBrook & Multnomah on March 10, 2020
Genres: Young Adult, Action & Adventure, General, Family, Siblings, Fantasy & Magic
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Source: NetGalley
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From the Publisher

Now in hardcover for the first time, featuring all-new illustrations! First they found themselves On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. Now they must make their way North! Or Be Eaten . . .

Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby thought they were normal children with normal lives and a normal past. But now they know they're really the Lost Jewels of Anniera, heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea, and suddenly everyone wants to kill them.

In order to survive, the Igibys must flee to the safety of the Ice Prairies, where the lizardlike Fangs of Dang cannot follow. First, however, they have to escape the monsters of Glipwood Forest, the thieving Stranders of the East Ben, and the dreaded Fork Factory.

But even more dangerous are the jealousies and bitterness that threaten to tear them apart. Janner and his siblings must learn the hard way that the love of a family is more important than anything else.

Full of characters rich in heart, smarts, and courage, North! Or Be Eaten is a tale children of all ages will cherish, families can read aloud, and readers' groups are sure to enjoy discussing for its many layers of meaning. Extra features include new interior illustrations from Joe Sutphin, funny footnotes, a map of the fantastical world, inventive appendices, and fanciful line art in the tradition of the original Frank L. Baum Wizard of Oz storybooks.

My Thoughts

This second book in the Wingfeather Saga does not disappoint. We read through it with Andrew Peterson on a Facebook Live reading and it was so enjoyable.

I love how Andrew Peterson captures the birth-order struggles. You truly feel the challenges of Janner as the oldest resenting his younger siblings' needs eclipsing his own needs. It's subtle, but impactful as the characters work through the struggles and consequences of making bad decisions.

And those bad decisions can be heartbreaking. That's what makes this series so good. The characters aren't perfect. While they falter and fail, as a reader you don't feel annoyed by their missteps, but you feel compassion because it is so relatable. This is me. I fail, feel shame, and believe I'm a lost cause.

Andrew Peterson writes hope. This story gets dark, but it's never without hope. The dark is what brings the incredible beauty of the light. It is allowing others into our pain, failures, and messes that we can receive the love that the Maker offers.

The stories are just getting better, and we didn't wait a day to start into reading the next book of the series: The Monster in the Hollows!