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Tourmaline #1
Tourmaline and the Island of Elsewhere
6 hrs. 53 min.
When Tourmaline’s mother goes missing on a search for precious artefacts, Tourmaline sets off to find her with her best friend George, her new friend (former foe) Mai and her limitless determination. On their adventure, they encounter a band of female pirates, a maze of talking trees and a series of challenges that test the children and their friendship. But will it be enough to reunite Tourmaline with her mother?
When Tourmaline’s mother goes missing on a search for precious artefacts, Tourmaline sets off to find her with her best friend George, her new friend (former foe) Mai and her limitless determination. On their adventure, they encounter a band of female pirates, a maze of talking trees and a series of challenges that test the children and their friendship. But will it be enough to reunite Tourmaline with her mother?
- GenresMiddle Grade
7 pages, Audible Audio
Published March 2, 2023
2 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 11, 2025
At first I wasn't sure about this book,but Ruth Lauren has definitely not disappointed me! I started getting into it as I was reading it, and by about halfway through, I could barely put it down! I can't wait to read the sequel.
June 3, 2023
this book was great!! i loved so much of it, especially the middle part! i think the whole idea of a magic island is so fun
November 8, 2024
3,5
Sehr unterhaltsam mit Indiana Jones Vibes.
Es ist ein sehr rasantes und turbulenten Abenteuer mit Schätzen udn Magie. Am Ende tun sich neue Fragen auf, die Lust auf mehr machen.
Am Anfang habe ich etwas gebraucht um reinzukommen und zwischendurch war es mir etwas zu gehetzt und zu schnell, aber auf jeden Fall spannend und gut zu lesen. Freue mich auf den zweiten Teil und wie es nach dem Ende weitergeht 😉
Sehr unterhaltsam mit Indiana Jones Vibes.
Es ist ein sehr rasantes und turbulenten Abenteuer mit Schätzen udn Magie. Am Ende tun sich neue Fragen auf, die Lust auf mehr machen.
Am Anfang habe ich etwas gebraucht um reinzukommen und zwischendurch war es mir etwas zu gehetzt und zu schnell, aber auf jeden Fall spannend und gut zu lesen. Freue mich auf den zweiten Teil und wie es nach dem Ende weitergeht 😉
July 11, 2024
Wenn Indigo eines nicht ausstehen kann, dann Erwachsene, die ihr ins Gesicht lügen. Aber genau das tun alle! Als ihre Mutter von einer Forschungsreise auf der Suche nach Artefakten nicht wiederkehrt, scheint keiner auch nur im Geringsten besorgt zu sein. Hier ist doch etwas faul! Mit einer rätselhaften Karte und zusammen mit ihrem Freund George und der leider überaus nervtötenden Mai bricht Indigo auf, um ihre Mutter zu finden. Ihr Abenteuer führt die drei an unwirkliche Orte, in die Bibliothek aus sprechenden Bäumen und mitten in die Fänge einer Horde Seeräuberinnen. Es gibt kein Zurück vor der Wahrheit, die Indigo am Ende ihrer Reise finden wird – und die hat mehr mit ihr selbst zu tun, als sie je für möglich gehalten hätte!
Der Schreibstil hat mich von der ersten Seite in seinen Bann ziehen können und so war ich direkt in der Geschichte eingetaucht und wollte das Buch gar nicht mehr aus der Hand legen! Besonders spannend und mitreißend ist der Stil der Autorin und sehr bildhaft und lebendig ist die ganze Geschichte geschrieben worden! Da der Schreibstil aber auch einfach und leicht zu lesen ist, eignet er sich ganz fantastisch für die Zielgruppe der Kinder-und Jugendlichen, vermochte es aber auch mich als erwachsene Leserin zu begeistern.
Alle drei Protagonisten sind sehr authentisch gezeichnet und besonders Indigo hat einen sehr klaren, sturen und starken Charakter, der mir gefallen hat! Mutig und unaufhaltsam geht sie ihren Weg, ist aber auch begeisterungsfähig!
Die Handlung besitzt einen guten Spannungsbogen und lässt die Geschichte niemals langweilig werden. Für mich ist die Geschichte ein kleines Highlight und ich bin ganz eingetaucht.
Fazit: Sehr lesenswert!
Der Schreibstil hat mich von der ersten Seite in seinen Bann ziehen können und so war ich direkt in der Geschichte eingetaucht und wollte das Buch gar nicht mehr aus der Hand legen! Besonders spannend und mitreißend ist der Stil der Autorin und sehr bildhaft und lebendig ist die ganze Geschichte geschrieben worden! Da der Schreibstil aber auch einfach und leicht zu lesen ist, eignet er sich ganz fantastisch für die Zielgruppe der Kinder-und Jugendlichen, vermochte es aber auch mich als erwachsene Leserin zu begeistern.
Alle drei Protagonisten sind sehr authentisch gezeichnet und besonders Indigo hat einen sehr klaren, sturen und starken Charakter, der mir gefallen hat! Mutig und unaufhaltsam geht sie ihren Weg, ist aber auch begeisterungsfähig!
Die Handlung besitzt einen guten Spannungsbogen und lässt die Geschichte niemals langweilig werden. Für mich ist die Geschichte ein kleines Highlight und ich bin ganz eingetaucht.
Fazit: Sehr lesenswert!
April 3, 2023
Hmmm… Not a failure by any means, but it was too easy to imagine an improved version of this book. It's a fantasy world where our very human characters are living, and Tourmaline Grey and friends are children of people working at a fancy and very successful university. Tourmaline is a go-getter that would have needed to be called a tomboy back in the day, who has discovered all the behind-the-panelling corridors, priest-holes and so on, and is first seen here overhearing that her explorer mother has gone missing. Naturally she expects a rescue mission, but when none seems forthcoming, she has to take matters into her own twelve-year-old hands and make sure the trio do it for themselves.
The whole has a Harry Potteresque romp feel, but it really needed to be crisper. The blurb is insistent on us knowing female pirates are included in the adventure, but the structure here means they barely turn up before the halfway mark. Before then the university is an enjoyable setting (especially one freaky library kind of place), but it all feels over-written. Many scenes would have survived perfectly well as the dialogue, but no, we get much more as well. References to George, Tourmaline's oldest friend, being nervous, squeaky of voice or averse to anything like confrontation, seem to come along on every page at times.
Oh, and AICMA is a daft acronym.
What we end with is a lively, but over-egged, pudding – fun to some extent, inventive to a fault at times, and with promises of more trips to this world. I don't wish the author ill, but I doubt I'd rush to return.
The whole has a Harry Potteresque romp feel, but it really needed to be crisper. The blurb is insistent on us knowing female pirates are included in the adventure, but the structure here means they barely turn up before the halfway mark. Before then the university is an enjoyable setting (especially one freaky library kind of place), but it all feels over-written. Many scenes would have survived perfectly well as the dialogue, but no, we get much more as well. References to George, Tourmaline's oldest friend, being nervous, squeaky of voice or averse to anything like confrontation, seem to come along on every page at times.
Oh, and AICMA is a daft acronym.
What we end with is a lively, but over-egged, pudding – fun to some extent, inventive to a fault at times, and with promises of more trips to this world. I don't wish the author ill, but I doubt I'd rush to return.
March 14, 2023
I loved Tourmaline and the Island of Elsewhere! A thrilling tale of magic and treasure hunting, friends and family, full of wonderful female characters, moral dilemmas, puzzles and humour.
There are hints of Pullman's Northern Lights at the start. Tourmaline lives in a large university, where her mother is a faculty member, and has a mix of lessons and free time to look for trouble. Her mother is often away treasure hunting, and Tourmaline picks up hints and whispers that something has happened to her. She then decides that the only sensible course of action is to investigate it herself, whatever that takes. She sneaks away with two friends, boards a ship in the harbour and heads off for adventure.
The Pullman similarities really begin and end with the university setting, the missing parent and the curious, inquisitive young heroine. Tourmaline is a very different character to Lyra, and she is responsible for driving a lot more of the action than I feel Lyra is. I love Tourmaline sneaking through weird interdimensional spaces between university rooms just to eavesdrop on her professors, barely thinking to question why a cupboard in one room might emerge in a wardrobe in another.
The dynamic between the main characters is fantastic. Tourmaline is definitely the trouble maker, the rule breaker. George, on the other hand, likes to play everything by the rules, and Mai starts out as a rival. All three have wonderfully interconnected character arcs as they develop and grow, and I really enjoyed watching them together. Tourmaline's confidence is a joy, brazenly blagging her way through everything that's thrown at her as if it's all part of some great plan. And I thought the pirates, led by Captain Violet, were just superb!
The magical elements are all wondrous and exciting. The living archive is mysterious and awe inspiring, and the actual island is just incredible. It all feels suitable fantastical and brilliant. The puzzles and problems are clever and fun, and there's plenty in there to leave you thinking.
A wonderful tale that introduces an unforgettable new heroine to the world of children's literature.
There are hints of Pullman's Northern Lights at the start. Tourmaline lives in a large university, where her mother is a faculty member, and has a mix of lessons and free time to look for trouble. Her mother is often away treasure hunting, and Tourmaline picks up hints and whispers that something has happened to her. She then decides that the only sensible course of action is to investigate it herself, whatever that takes. She sneaks away with two friends, boards a ship in the harbour and heads off for adventure.
The Pullman similarities really begin and end with the university setting, the missing parent and the curious, inquisitive young heroine. Tourmaline is a very different character to Lyra, and she is responsible for driving a lot more of the action than I feel Lyra is. I love Tourmaline sneaking through weird interdimensional spaces between university rooms just to eavesdrop on her professors, barely thinking to question why a cupboard in one room might emerge in a wardrobe in another.
The dynamic between the main characters is fantastic. Tourmaline is definitely the trouble maker, the rule breaker. George, on the other hand, likes to play everything by the rules, and Mai starts out as a rival. All three have wonderfully interconnected character arcs as they develop and grow, and I really enjoyed watching them together. Tourmaline's confidence is a joy, brazenly blagging her way through everything that's thrown at her as if it's all part of some great plan. And I thought the pirates, led by Captain Violet, were just superb!
The magical elements are all wondrous and exciting. The living archive is mysterious and awe inspiring, and the actual island is just incredible. It all feels suitable fantastical and brilliant. The puzzles and problems are clever and fun, and there's plenty in there to leave you thinking.
A wonderful tale that introduces an unforgettable new heroine to the world of children's literature.
August 19, 2023
I was in the mood for a magical adventure story and Tourmaline and the Island of Elsewhere absolutely fit the bill!
Tourmaline’s mother is an artefact hunter who has gone missing but no one at the university she works for is looking for her so Tourmaline takes it upon herself to go and find her accompanied by her two friends George and Mai. Together they encounter a brilliant band of female pirates (who both help and hinder them) and explore a magical mysterious island.
The characters were the best part of the story - I loved anxious George who constantly put all of his worries to one side to do more and more dangerous things. He was such a loveable character, a really loyal friend and I thought it was lovely to see how Mai and Tourmaline knew him so well, they recognised his feelings and helped him to become braver.
Throughout the book there was a subtle, but cleverly done, discussion of who owns historical artefacts and where they should be kept - it was a great link to so many current discussions in a different context.
Overall, a really fun adventure story with strong female characters and great themes of friendship, bravery and integrity.
Tourmaline’s mother is an artefact hunter who has gone missing but no one at the university she works for is looking for her so Tourmaline takes it upon herself to go and find her accompanied by her two friends George and Mai. Together they encounter a brilliant band of female pirates (who both help and hinder them) and explore a magical mysterious island.
The characters were the best part of the story - I loved anxious George who constantly put all of his worries to one side to do more and more dangerous things. He was such a loveable character, a really loyal friend and I thought it was lovely to see how Mai and Tourmaline knew him so well, they recognised his feelings and helped him to become braver.
Throughout the book there was a subtle, but cleverly done, discussion of who owns historical artefacts and where they should be kept - it was a great link to so many current discussions in a different context.
Overall, a really fun adventure story with strong female characters and great themes of friendship, bravery and integrity.
August 9, 2024
Indigo Grey – Das Geheimnis der fliegenden Insel von Ruth Lauren
Meine Meinung
Das Geheimnis der fliegenden Insel bildet den Auftakt einer phantastischen Fantasy-Abenteuer Reihe für Jungen und Mädchen ab 10 Jahren.
Ruth Lauren entführt uns auf eine abenteuerliche Reise voller Gefahren und magischer Entdeckungen. Dabei erzählt sie, wie wichtig Familie, Freundschaft und Verantwortung sind. Gepaart mit wunderbaren Charakteren, Kreativität und Ideen, erleben wir hier eine aufregende Geschichte.
Indigo ist ein kluges, mutiges und selbstbewusstes Mädchen, die man schnell ins Herz schließt. Ihr Freund George ist eher verhalten und hält sich an Regeln. Im Verlauf wächst er mehr und mehr über sich hinaus und man erkennt seine tiefe Treue zu Indigo.
Neben den beiden gibt es noch Neuzugang Mai, die dazugehören möchte, jedoch mit Misstrauen zu kämpfen hat.
Spannung, Unterhaltung, Phantasie und Geheimnisse haben mich bis zum Schluss mitfiebern lassen.
Fazit
Das Geheimnis der fliegenden Insel erzählt ein aufregendes, magisches und geheimnisvolles Abenteuer, welches nicht nur junge Leser in den Bann zieht.
Meine Meinung
Das Geheimnis der fliegenden Insel bildet den Auftakt einer phantastischen Fantasy-Abenteuer Reihe für Jungen und Mädchen ab 10 Jahren.
Ruth Lauren entführt uns auf eine abenteuerliche Reise voller Gefahren und magischer Entdeckungen. Dabei erzählt sie, wie wichtig Familie, Freundschaft und Verantwortung sind. Gepaart mit wunderbaren Charakteren, Kreativität und Ideen, erleben wir hier eine aufregende Geschichte.
Indigo ist ein kluges, mutiges und selbstbewusstes Mädchen, die man schnell ins Herz schließt. Ihr Freund George ist eher verhalten und hält sich an Regeln. Im Verlauf wächst er mehr und mehr über sich hinaus und man erkennt seine tiefe Treue zu Indigo.
Neben den beiden gibt es noch Neuzugang Mai, die dazugehören möchte, jedoch mit Misstrauen zu kämpfen hat.
Spannung, Unterhaltung, Phantasie und Geheimnisse haben mich bis zum Schluss mitfiebern lassen.
Fazit
Das Geheimnis der fliegenden Insel erzählt ein aufregendes, magisches und geheimnisvolles Abenteuer, welches nicht nur junge Leser in den Bann zieht.
May 8, 2023
Not quite the book I had anticipated and I may well have taken the mix of archaeologist and artefact hunter too seriously as a qualified archaeologist who worked in the field for several years. However, the life lessons and foods for thought sprinkled throughout the book were great and definitely aspects of life I'd want my child to reflect upon. I particularly enjoyed the Captain's dig of who stole it first and the one about free education.
March 30, 2023
Received an unpublished copy of this book to read with my P6 class at school and they absolutely loved it! A bit slow to start but once you understand the characters and style of story then it’s all adventure, magic and cliffhangers galore 👏🏼
November 14, 2024
Das Buch erinnert mich voll an früher
February 22, 2023
Tourmaline has a habit of sneaking into people's places and taking shiny objects from them like a magpie. It is when she is in the middle of doing just that that she hears about her mother, Persephone, an archaeologist, has gone missing in one of her mission to dig out artefacts. There is something mysterious about that mission though. The two professors are set to hide the real situation from Tourmaline and are not going to search for her mother. Head-strong, Tourmaline, is determined to set off to rescue her mother.
The opening chapter pulls the readers into the mystery surrounding Persephone's disappearance right away. The characters are both believable and likeable.
It is a very engrossing read and I would highly recommend this to Sci-Fi mystery fans. I can almost picture this being remade into a movie -- an Artemis Fowl meets Indiana Jones kind of movie, maybe?
The opening chapter pulls the readers into the mystery surrounding Persephone's disappearance right away. The characters are both believable and likeable.
It is a very engrossing read and I would highly recommend this to Sci-Fi mystery fans. I can almost picture this being remade into a movie -- an Artemis Fowl meets Indiana Jones kind of movie, maybe?
January 10, 2023
Myself and my 8 year old are always on the lookout for new books that we can read together so I decided to start requesting some new titles via @netgalley and was delighted to get receive this new book from Ruth Lauren called Tourmaline and the Island and the Island of Elsewhere which is the first in a new series from her.
Tourmaline is a young student in Pellavere University who uncovers that her archeologist mother Persephone Grey has gone missing on an expedition looking for magical artifacts and no one is looking for her! She decides to take matters into her own hand and go rescue her with best friend George and maybe, friend Mai and her side.
What ensues is a fantastical adventure involving female pirates - Captain Violet and her crew, missing islands, talking trees, magical artifacts and enormous spiders! Well, to say we couldn't put it down at night would be an understatement, the story absolutely captured her imagination. Every evening she begged for another chapter of this fantastical adventure with such great characters, timid George is my favourite 💞
Perfect for middle-year children (8-12 year olds) who love fantasy adventure stories with strong female lead characters. The book finished on the perfect note leaving us wanting more when the next book gets published.
I'll definitely be getting a physical copy of this when it comes out so we can read it again. Huge thanks to @littletigerbooks and @netgalley who gave me an ARC in return for an honest review. It is published March 2nd
Tourmaline is a young student in Pellavere University who uncovers that her archeologist mother Persephone Grey has gone missing on an expedition looking for magical artifacts and no one is looking for her! She decides to take matters into her own hand and go rescue her with best friend George and maybe, friend Mai and her side.
What ensues is a fantastical adventure involving female pirates - Captain Violet and her crew, missing islands, talking trees, magical artifacts and enormous spiders! Well, to say we couldn't put it down at night would be an understatement, the story absolutely captured her imagination. Every evening she begged for another chapter of this fantastical adventure with such great characters, timid George is my favourite 💞
Perfect for middle-year children (8-12 year olds) who love fantasy adventure stories with strong female lead characters. The book finished on the perfect note leaving us wanting more when the next book gets published.
I'll definitely be getting a physical copy of this when it comes out so we can read it again. Huge thanks to @littletigerbooks and @netgalley who gave me an ARC in return for an honest review. It is published March 2nd
March 7, 2024
What a great book! I loved the whole thing! The characters are fantastic, each believeable and flawed. The storyline is really engaging and exciting, with lots to discover about the world and the characters. I finished this book desperately hoping there will be more in the series, because I enjoyed reading about the characters and world so much.
Tourmaline lives in the university where her mother works, along with her best friend George (son of the Dean) and a new girl, Mai, whose mother recently joined the faculty. Tourmaline is a bit of a troublemaker, she doesn't mean to be, but she loves exploring and that often gets her into trouble. George is a stickler for the rules, but an incredible friend who would do anything if it meant helping Tourmaline (and later Mai) out. Mai is an outsider, she's new and isn't sure if she fits in with Tourmaline and George yet, and they aren't sure about her either. But they all end up swept off on an adventure to find the Island of Elsewhere, where Tourmaline is sure her missing mother is trapped.
they travel with some fantastic female pirates and meet a mysterious man who seems to want to cause a lot of trouble. they discover that there is real magic in the world, and not everyone wants to use it responsibly.
Like i said, I really enjoyed this book. it was a great adventure story, relitively fast paced, so i never felt like it was dragging on at any point. highly recommended!
Tourmaline lives in the university where her mother works, along with her best friend George (son of the Dean) and a new girl, Mai, whose mother recently joined the faculty. Tourmaline is a bit of a troublemaker, she doesn't mean to be, but she loves exploring and that often gets her into trouble. George is a stickler for the rules, but an incredible friend who would do anything if it meant helping Tourmaline (and later Mai) out. Mai is an outsider, she's new and isn't sure if she fits in with Tourmaline and George yet, and they aren't sure about her either. But they all end up swept off on an adventure to find the Island of Elsewhere, where Tourmaline is sure her missing mother is trapped.
they travel with some fantastic female pirates and meet a mysterious man who seems to want to cause a lot of trouble. they discover that there is real magic in the world, and not everyone wants to use it responsibly.
Like i said, I really enjoyed this book. it was a great adventure story, relitively fast paced, so i never felt like it was dragging on at any point. highly recommended!
June 9, 2023
Are you ready for Ruth Lauren’s magical new book with its feisty heroine and undertones of feminism? A perfect read for those bridging the step from middle grade to YA reading, published by Little Tiger.
Where to start? Maybe with the richly imagined, drawn, fantasy world that is the setting for Tourmaline. Into this world we are immediately drawn for, along with Tourmaline we are on a quest. Her mother has gone missing during a search for some precious artefacts and now it is up to Tourmaline, her best friend George and ex-enemy turned friend Mai. There are of course twists and turns to navigate along the way as well as themes of friendship and family.
Tourmaline and her friends are about to encounter a band of female pirates, will need to navigate a maze of talking trees and make their way across a magical enchanted island which is filled obstacles. There is something unexpected around every corner keeping them, and us, the reader, on our toes in this trilling adventure story. The writing is brilliantly accomplished and you will soon lose yourself in the story.
Where to start? Maybe with the richly imagined, drawn, fantasy world that is the setting for Tourmaline. Into this world we are immediately drawn for, along with Tourmaline we are on a quest. Her mother has gone missing during a search for some precious artefacts and now it is up to Tourmaline, her best friend George and ex-enemy turned friend Mai. There are of course twists and turns to navigate along the way as well as themes of friendship and family.
Tourmaline and her friends are about to encounter a band of female pirates, will need to navigate a maze of talking trees and make their way across a magical enchanted island which is filled obstacles. There is something unexpected around every corner keeping them, and us, the reader, on our toes in this trilling adventure story. The writing is brilliantly accomplished and you will soon lose yourself in the story.
February 5, 2023
Tourmaline and The Island of Elsewhere is a book about a girl who’s looking for her mother that suddenly disappeared.
First of all, the book didn’t captivate me from the start. Tourmaline character is a bit annoying imo, like bossy and too curious for something that’s not her business that mostly lead to trouble. George is too timid, but i kinda like him because he’s selfless, and Mai, not much someone to remember.
I feel the plot is too exaggerated, like stealing a motorbike!
I think this book can be better by exploring more of the magic, and the characters.
But anyway, i think it will be an enjoyable book for young readers!
First of all, the book didn’t captivate me from the start. Tourmaline character is a bit annoying imo, like bossy and too curious for something that’s not her business that mostly lead to trouble. George is too timid, but i kinda like him because he’s selfless, and Mai, not much someone to remember.
I feel the plot is too exaggerated, like stealing a motorbike!
I think this book can be better by exploring more of the magic, and the characters.
But anyway, i think it will be an enjoyable book for young readers!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews