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The Glass Puzzle
Eleven-year-old Zoé Badger, imaginative, carefree and adventurous, lives a transient life, moving with her mother from one town to the next-except for summers, when she stays with her granddad in Tenby, Wales. But when she and her cousin Ian discover a glass puzzle that's been hidden away for decades, ancient forces are unleashed that threaten to change their safe-haven summer town in sinister ways.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
1116 people want to read
About the author
Christine Brodien-Jones
4 books83 followersI've always been drawn to the mysterious “other worlds” we inhabit as children: the invisible secret worlds that adults never seem to notice. Much of my childhood was spent immersed in books (the library was just around the corner) and I wrote my first story at age seven about a girl and a dragon.
Branches of trees were the best places to read books. My favorites were fairy tales, fantasy and science-fiction, including books by Edward Eager, Astrid Lindgren, Ray Bradbury and Madeleine L’Engle. Years later I would read these same stories to my sons Ian and Derek.
After studying creative writing at Emerson College, Boston, I traveled and lived in Almeria (Spain), London and Amsterdam. I met my husband Peter, a native of Wales, while traveling and we raised our two boys in New England. Over the years I've worked as a free-lance journalist, an editor and a teacher.
I'm the author of the post-apocalyptic fantasy THE OWL KEEPER (Delacorte Press, 2010)and THE SCORPIONS OF ZAHIR (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2012). Delacorte will publish my next book, THE GLASS PUZZLE, in June 2013. I'm represented by Stephen Fraser of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency.
When I’m not writing, I love to sail, read, hike and explore distant corners of Argentina. Peter and I divide our time between Gloucester, Massachusetts and an old country house in Deer Isle, Maine. We spend our winters in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Branches of trees were the best places to read books. My favorites were fairy tales, fantasy and science-fiction, including books by Edward Eager, Astrid Lindgren, Ray Bradbury and Madeleine L’Engle. Years later I would read these same stories to my sons Ian and Derek.
After studying creative writing at Emerson College, Boston, I traveled and lived in Almeria (Spain), London and Amsterdam. I met my husband Peter, a native of Wales, while traveling and we raised our two boys in New England. Over the years I've worked as a free-lance journalist, an editor and a teacher.
I'm the author of the post-apocalyptic fantasy THE OWL KEEPER (Delacorte Press, 2010)and THE SCORPIONS OF ZAHIR (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2012). Delacorte will publish my next book, THE GLASS PUZZLE, in June 2013. I'm represented by Stephen Fraser of the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency.
When I’m not writing, I love to sail, read, hike and explore distant corners of Argentina. Peter and I divide our time between Gloucester, Massachusetts and an old country house in Deer Isle, Maine. We spend our winters in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 11, 2015
*DNF AT APPROXIMATELY 140 PAGES*
Maybe Christine Brodien-Jones's writing and stories just aren't my thing. I read The Owl Keeper a few years ago and was not impressed. I felt the same thing with this book. I thought the plot was better in this book than in The Owl Keeper, though this is probably due to my love of time-travel and alternate dimensions. But I did have a lot of questions concerning it. Sure, there were some explanations for things, but you know how sometimes you're left there thinking, "That doesn't actually make sense to me."? Yeah.
Our main characters, Zoe and Ian, are pretty unbelievable little buggers. Actually, most of the characters were. They sort of read like fake automatons to me.This mostly had to do with their absurd reactions to things; the exact opposite reaction of what any normal human being would do in the same situation.
Zoe & Ian: We're 11, and the owner of this tea shop has a third eye and looks suitably scary through this piece of blue glass and also we narrowly avoided her attack on us. We'll be visiting this tea shop again, I think.
Me: GAH NO WHAT ARE YOU DOING
Hands down, my favorite part of the book was the atmosphere and the setting; Tenby, a small village in Wales. And honestly, the descriptions of the village were the best written part of the book too. Oh, and I really did appreciate the friendship between the cousins. But even with that bright spot, I really don't hold out much hope for The Scorpions of Zahir.
Maybe Christine Brodien-Jones's writing and stories just aren't my thing. I read The Owl Keeper a few years ago and was not impressed. I felt the same thing with this book. I thought the plot was better in this book than in The Owl Keeper, though this is probably due to my love of time-travel and alternate dimensions. But I did have a lot of questions concerning it. Sure, there were some explanations for things, but you know how sometimes you're left there thinking, "That doesn't actually make sense to me."? Yeah.
Our main characters, Zoe and Ian, are pretty unbelievable little buggers. Actually, most of the characters were. They sort of read like fake automatons to me.This mostly had to do with their absurd reactions to things; the exact opposite reaction of what any normal human being would do in the same situation.
Zoe & Ian: We're 11, and the owner of this tea shop has a third eye and looks suitably scary through this piece of blue glass and also we narrowly avoided her attack on us. We'll be visiting this tea shop again, I think.
Me: GAH NO WHAT ARE YOU DOING
Hands down, my favorite part of the book was the atmosphere and the setting; Tenby, a small village in Wales. And honestly, the descriptions of the village were the best written part of the book too. Oh, and I really did appreciate the friendship between the cousins. But even with that bright spot, I really don't hold out much hope for The Scorpions of Zahir.
July 12, 2013
Zoe and her cousin Ian travel to Tenby every summer to spend time with their Grandfather. Zoe is an author at heart, constantly writing ideas down as they pop into her head. Ian loves history and is a wealth of knowledge. When the two come to Tenby for the summer, they don't realize that they will be finding a new world and trying to save the town of Tenby in return.
I loved getting to know Zoe and Ian, who are two peas in a pod and make a great team when it comes to finding out the truth. Zoe is the first to realize something is not right, as she sees the local townspeople through a piece of blue glass turn into some winged creature with three eyes. Ian puts together that this pile of blue glass sold to their grandfather is actually a puzzle. Unfortunately, they do not find the message warning them again putting the puzzle together until it is too late.
More of the creatures escape the puzzle and frighten them. What they find out is that the puzzle is a key to another world, one that is battling against these creatures as well, and it is up to Zoe, Ian and Pippin to save both worlds. I felt really drawn into the town of Tenby, a quaint town by the sea side that seems isolated from the rest of the world. Zoe often expressed her love for the town and wished she could live there permanently with her mother and grandfather. I loved that the author mixed in many of the phrases used in Wales and what they meant, making it easy for readers to pick up the meanings.
Final Verdict: I fell in love with the Glass Puzzle, the beautiful locations and the fun characters. Definitely a book I will be recommending to students this year.
I loved getting to know Zoe and Ian, who are two peas in a pod and make a great team when it comes to finding out the truth. Zoe is the first to realize something is not right, as she sees the local townspeople through a piece of blue glass turn into some winged creature with three eyes. Ian puts together that this pile of blue glass sold to their grandfather is actually a puzzle. Unfortunately, they do not find the message warning them again putting the puzzle together until it is too late.
More of the creatures escape the puzzle and frighten them. What they find out is that the puzzle is a key to another world, one that is battling against these creatures as well, and it is up to Zoe, Ian and Pippin to save both worlds. I felt really drawn into the town of Tenby, a quaint town by the sea side that seems isolated from the rest of the world. Zoe often expressed her love for the town and wished she could live there permanently with her mother and grandfather. I loved that the author mixed in many of the phrases used in Wales and what they meant, making it easy for readers to pick up the meanings.
Final Verdict: I fell in love with the Glass Puzzle, the beautiful locations and the fun characters. Definitely a book I will be recommending to students this year.
September 12, 2013
Every summer Zoé travels from the U.S. to Tenby, Wales, to live with her grandfather and cousin Ian. Tenby is a small place where everyone is friendly and nothing much of interest seems to happen, and Zoé loves it. She especially loves the tales of long-ago pirates, the island of Wythernsea that sunk below the waves hundreds of years before, and the maze of dark tunnels that run beneath the city.
When she and Ian are 11, they stumble upon an adventure that has them fighting for the very life of Tenby. Along the way they’ll travel to another world, learn about the history of their city, make new friends and fend off strange creatures.
The Glass Puzzle by Christine Brodien-Jones is a rollicking good adventure tale that’s also full of fantasy. Tenby is a medieval town, and author Brodien-Jones brings its twisty streets and stone walls to life. It seems as though anything could happen in a town so richly steeped in Celtic history, even travel to other dimensions, secret identities, and magic.
While the narrative can be a little dark at times, it gives young readers aged 9 to 12 an action story full of imagination without being too frightening. The Glass Puzzle should be on the list of any young reader who likes a bit of history, a touch of mystery, and a lot of adventure.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
When she and Ian are 11, they stumble upon an adventure that has them fighting for the very life of Tenby. Along the way they’ll travel to another world, learn about the history of their city, make new friends and fend off strange creatures.
The Glass Puzzle by Christine Brodien-Jones is a rollicking good adventure tale that’s also full of fantasy. Tenby is a medieval town, and author Brodien-Jones brings its twisty streets and stone walls to life. It seems as though anything could happen in a town so richly steeped in Celtic history, even travel to other dimensions, secret identities, and magic.
While the narrative can be a little dark at times, it gives young readers aged 9 to 12 an action story full of imagination without being too frightening. The Glass Puzzle should be on the list of any young reader who likes a bit of history, a touch of mystery, and a lot of adventure.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 19, 2018
This is a great children's/young adult fantasy mystery with children in Tenby, Wales, who save their world by solving the mystery of the glass puzzle. There is a lot of adventure, and the plot is well developed with a great cast of characters. The puzzle will certainly keep you puzzled as to how the kids will solve the threat to their town and life. Great read!
August 21, 2013
Cousins Zoe and Ian visit their grandfather in Wales every year, and love the Welsh countryside and traditions. On this trip, however, their vacation turned into a dangerous and scary adventure. Ugly Scrivens with 3 eyes and wings like bats take over the bodies of some of the townspeople. A magical glass puzzle is unearthed, both for good and evil purposes, and the cousins discover a way to be transported through time and space.
With very complicated twists and turns, the author keeps the story going, but loses the reader now and then. The most annoying parts of the book were the frequent occasions when the children would determine that something was not good to do, then would do it anyway. Or they would promise their grandfather something quite sincerely, then almost immediately break that promise.
*spoiler alert* And how in the world could the two kids be so clever in so many ways and not notice that all the people possessed by Scrivens wore blue-tinted glasses? I kept wanting to shake them every time one of them remarked on the proliferation of blue-tinted glasses without recognizing their significance.
An adventure book for kids who like magic, monsters, enchantments, and time travel. Ages 10-12.
With very complicated twists and turns, the author keeps the story going, but loses the reader now and then. The most annoying parts of the book were the frequent occasions when the children would determine that something was not good to do, then would do it anyway. Or they would promise their grandfather something quite sincerely, then almost immediately break that promise.
*spoiler alert* And how in the world could the two kids be so clever in so many ways and not notice that all the people possessed by Scrivens wore blue-tinted glasses? I kept wanting to shake them every time one of them remarked on the proliferation of blue-tinted glasses without recognizing their significance.
An adventure book for kids who like magic, monsters, enchantments, and time travel. Ages 10-12.
July 8, 2013
I received an ARC of the The Glass Puzzle at the 2013 ALA convention. Attempting to give all my ALA swag a try, I decided to give The Glass Puzzle a go. Unfortunately, I put the book down around page 50. I think the biggest problem for me was that I could not connect with the characters or the plot. However, I will keep it in mind for my patrons who seeks books with a collaboration of fantasy and mystery.
Want to read
June 1, 2013Another MG that I can't wait to read!! (And then pass to my 11yo niece, of course :)) I absolutely, positively LOVE this cover -- the style is my favorite cover style for MG, even YA, fantasy books. It reminds me of all the wonderful hours (upon hours, upon hours) growing up when I had my nose stuck in a book. Love how some things never change! Why fix what ain't broke?!
September 1, 2015
I just recently read The Glass Puzzle by Christine Brodien-Jones and I thought it was a very good novel. It is about two cousins that live in Tenby, Whales and they go on an adventure to save Tenby and the alternate world Wythernsea from the evil scravens. The plot can be a little complicated at some points, but otherwise it is a very compelling fantasy book.
June 22, 2014
I can understand very much why a middle school kid would enjoy The Glass Puzzle a lot. It has all the adventure, magic and friendship any young reader would want. I did find some inconsistencies though, specially in the way in which adult characters are treated.
February 27, 2016
Enjoyable story. It felt a little like it was missing something, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.
September 21, 2014
Interesting story. It's a bit odd though. The setting in Wales was interesting. The other world was good too.
August 1, 2013
3 1/2 stars
June 29, 2014
This is a fun fantasy book with some adventure and mystery mixed in. A great choice for children who are into that and are not looking or a series.
July 18, 2015
It was interesting, but not my favorite. The style wasn't as captivating than that of some authors I've read, but the story was interesting.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews