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The Tree of Mindala
Miranda Moon's vivid imagination has gotten her into trouble more times than she can count. This time, she's been suspended from school. So her straight-laced younger brother, Marcus, blames her when they're relegated to their late grandparents' old cabin over Halloween weekend. But when Miranda finds a curious trinket, they're mysteriously whisked away to Wunderwood, where magic flows through the trees and everyone already knows their family name. A place even Miranda never imagined.
Just as they arrive, a sinister warlock, Thornton Crow, is freed from a long banishment. He resumes his deadly agenda to find The Tree of Mindala, the source of all the realm's magic. As Miranda and Marcus discover branches of their own family tree that they hadn't even known existed, they learn that Thornton has a score to settle with anyone in their bloodline. Especially them... Though justice has always had a way of being naturally restored in Wunderwood, Thornton's latest evil deed just may be the tipping point.
When Miranda discovers her own role in Thornton's release, she knows it's up to her to stop him from stealing not just magic, but also hope. With travel companions that could as easily be foes as friends, and only the cryptic words of a prophecy to guide her, Miranda must decide if she can carry out the task that will either save Wunderwood... or doom it forever.
Just as they arrive, a sinister warlock, Thornton Crow, is freed from a long banishment. He resumes his deadly agenda to find The Tree of Mindala, the source of all the realm's magic. As Miranda and Marcus discover branches of their own family tree that they hadn't even known existed, they learn that Thornton has a score to settle with anyone in their bloodline. Especially them... Though justice has always had a way of being naturally restored in Wunderwood, Thornton's latest evil deed just may be the tipping point.
When Miranda discovers her own role in Thornton's release, she knows it's up to her to stop him from stealing not just magic, but also hope. With travel companions that could as easily be foes as friends, and only the cryptic words of a prophecy to guide her, Miranda must decide if she can carry out the task that will either save Wunderwood... or doom it forever.
314 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2012
1 person is currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Elle Jacklee
4 books41 followersMy professional titles have included software programmer, bilingual sales rep, proposal manager, and editor. But my favorite title, besides wife and mother, is author. It’s the only one that lets me call daydreaming “research.” I live in Wisconsin with my husband and two young sons, none of whom are in a hurry to grow up, and that's just fine with me.
Connect with me at http://www.facebook.com/elle.jacklee
or on twitter at https://twitter.com/ellejacklee
Connect with me at http://www.facebook.com/elle.jacklee
or on twitter at https://twitter.com/ellejacklee
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 1, 2012
I've been joyriding through adult-fantasyland for so long that I've forgotten what a sheer pleasure a good children's/YA fantasy can do to lift one's spirit and set the imagination on fire.
The Tree of Mindala is about a brother and sister--Marcus and Miranda Moon, who have an unusual heritage and a few hidden secrets. Miranda unwittingly transports her brother and herself to the magical land of Wunderwood, where they not only learn the roots of their family tree, but also that they are players in a much larger game, of which the spoils are the lives and magical balance of Wunderwoodians themselves.
Two of my favorite characters were Raina and Skye the cat. I loved Raina's spark of defiance as she still practiced magic despite the villain-ruler Thornton forbidding it. Skye had the ability to shapeshift, and made a perfect spy. Skye's fierce loyalty and bravery made you root for him when he went off to complete dangerous tasks.
Okay, back to Marcus and Miranda--you definitely see them progress not only as individuals, but also as a brother-sister unit. Although they had conflicting personalities, they never let it get in the way of them defending each other.
I could definitely see my 10-12 year old self devouring this story had it been published when I was younger! I am certain young readers will love the book, especially if they've already been introduced to Chronicles of Narnia.
All right, I'm just starting to ramble now, but I just wanted to give a final kudos to Ms. Jacklee for a beautiful story, a magical escape, and a book that I will be happy to share with my little girl when she advances in reading.
The Tree of Mindala is about a brother and sister--Marcus and Miranda Moon, who have an unusual heritage and a few hidden secrets. Miranda unwittingly transports her brother and herself to the magical land of Wunderwood, where they not only learn the roots of their family tree, but also that they are players in a much larger game, of which the spoils are the lives and magical balance of Wunderwoodians themselves.
Two of my favorite characters were Raina and Skye the cat. I loved Raina's spark of defiance as she still practiced magic despite the villain-ruler Thornton forbidding it. Skye had the ability to shapeshift, and made a perfect spy. Skye's fierce loyalty and bravery made you root for him when he went off to complete dangerous tasks.
Okay, back to Marcus and Miranda--you definitely see them progress not only as individuals, but also as a brother-sister unit. Although they had conflicting personalities, they never let it get in the way of them defending each other.
I could definitely see my 10-12 year old self devouring this story had it been published when I was younger! I am certain young readers will love the book, especially if they've already been introduced to Chronicles of Narnia.
All right, I'm just starting to ramble now, but I just wanted to give a final kudos to Ms. Jacklee for a beautiful story, a magical escape, and a book that I will be happy to share with my little girl when she advances in reading.
January 30, 2013
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for reading and posting an honest review. I had no prior knowledge of Elle Jacklee or her writing.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters, both human and Wunderwoodian were very well written and the world of Mindella where Wunderwood was located was fantastic. Loved the map of Wunderwood at the beginning of the book too. I quickly became absorbed in the story. As soon as I received it, I read the Prologue. Right there I was hooked. I had to set it aside for a few days as I had received another book the day before this one came in my mailbox. I wanted to finish that book before delving into The Tree of Mindala. I could hardly wait to get back to this. I'm glad I did. That way I could give all of my attention and imagination to become enrapt in the story.
I don't want to give anything away, so I'll sum it up here. I highly recommend The Tree of Mindala to anyone who loves a good story with plenty of magic, fantasy, drama and action. Great book!
I really enjoyed this book. The characters, both human and Wunderwoodian were very well written and the world of Mindella where Wunderwood was located was fantastic. Loved the map of Wunderwood at the beginning of the book too. I quickly became absorbed in the story. As soon as I received it, I read the Prologue. Right there I was hooked. I had to set it aside for a few days as I had received another book the day before this one came in my mailbox. I wanted to finish that book before delving into The Tree of Mindala. I could hardly wait to get back to this. I'm glad I did. That way I could give all of my attention and imagination to become enrapt in the story.
I don't want to give anything away, so I'll sum it up here. I highly recommend The Tree of Mindala to anyone who loves a good story with plenty of magic, fantasy, drama and action. Great book!
November 16, 2012
Wonderful book! While this book is intended for older kids, and I am just a bit older (wink) I found that I couldn't put it down. The characters are fun and well developed. If you enjoy magical adventures, this book makes for a fun read.
February 25, 2013
I normally don’t read middle grade books, but I have to admit, when I saw this gorgeous cover, it captured my attention.
I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review, so lets get to it.
The Tree of Mindala is about a soon-to-be twelve year old girl named Miranda Moon. I love her character. She has quite the imagination and is always up for an adventure. Her younger brother Marcus, on the other hand, is a goody-goody, tends to be pessimistic, and runs with the popular crowd. Miranda is the complete opposite. She always sees the brighter side of things, and she never holds back her overactive imagination, which gets her into trouble from time to time.
When Miranda’s parents decide to take them to their deceased grandparent’s cabin for a few days, Marcus is not a happy camper. It’s Halloween weekend, and he won’t be able to go to the Halloween party, hosted by the most popular guy in school. He blames Miranda because she got suspended from school. She had told her classmates she saw a mermaid in a nearby pond, which created quite a disruption in her class. Her teacher was not amused.
Marcus barks at Miranda after they arrive at the cabin: “When are you going to stop making up stories and realize life is not all tall tales and make-believe?”
Marcus changes his tune, though, when Miranda discovers a water globe, stowed away in the cabin. This unique globe houses a little stone house surrounded by large, healthy trees. The twinkling stars and brilliant moon, lights up the green leaves against the dark sky. Curious about Miranda’s discovery, Marcus crouches beside her on the floor to get a closer look. But when Miranda turns the globe upside down, something extraordinary happens. She and Marcus are no longer in the cabin. Instead, they somehow enter another realm called Wunderwood–a land where using magic is as common as brushing your teeth. The source of Wunderwood’s magic derives from an enchanting tree called Mindala. Without this tree, people of this land believe there would be no magic. Or, if somebody were to possess this tree’s entire essence, he or she will become all powerful and be able to rule Wunderwood. It so happens, one person tries to do just that. His name is Thornton Crow. He’s a warlock who is gifted in magic. He once was a good person, until he had the Kindred Dream.
When a child turns twelve in Wunderwood, the memories of the last deceased relative of the same gender are revealed to them while they’re asleep. Thornton’s misguided and power-hungry father died by the hands of a Wunderwoodian, who had no choice but to kill him. So when Thornton had his Kindred Dream, he experienced and felt what his father had experienced. From then on, as the years went by, Thornton secretly plotted a devious plan to be the most powerful warlock in Wunderwood and rule the land. But then one day, a nonmagical person entered the land and in the end, he imprisoned Mr. Crow for forty years. That is, until Miranda accidentally frees him with the water globe she finds.
To prevent any spoilers, I must be vague in the rest of this review. All I can say is Miranda and Marcus has a connection to this magical world. When Miranda realizes her mistake in releasing the binding spell that was placed on Thornton, she feels responsible. She then sets out on her own personal quest to stop this cunning warlock from carrying out his evil plan in finding the tree of Mindala and robbing it of its essence.
This debut novel by Elle Jacklee is an imaginative one. My favorite character is Skye. He’s a Morphiad, which means he can transform into any creature he has ever touched. Skye is loyal, trustworthy, and a bit ornery. He’s somebody you’d want to have on your side.
I recommend this book to readers who liked C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. But I have to say, The Tree of Mindala, is a bigger book and encompass a lot more information than C.S. Lewis’ did. However, both stories reflect a magical land where animals talk and people are divided due to their beliefs and where their allegiance lies.
I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review, so lets get to it.
The Tree of Mindala is about a soon-to-be twelve year old girl named Miranda Moon. I love her character. She has quite the imagination and is always up for an adventure. Her younger brother Marcus, on the other hand, is a goody-goody, tends to be pessimistic, and runs with the popular crowd. Miranda is the complete opposite. She always sees the brighter side of things, and she never holds back her overactive imagination, which gets her into trouble from time to time.
When Miranda’s parents decide to take them to their deceased grandparent’s cabin for a few days, Marcus is not a happy camper. It’s Halloween weekend, and he won’t be able to go to the Halloween party, hosted by the most popular guy in school. He blames Miranda because she got suspended from school. She had told her classmates she saw a mermaid in a nearby pond, which created quite a disruption in her class. Her teacher was not amused.
Marcus barks at Miranda after they arrive at the cabin: “When are you going to stop making up stories and realize life is not all tall tales and make-believe?”
Marcus changes his tune, though, when Miranda discovers a water globe, stowed away in the cabin. This unique globe houses a little stone house surrounded by large, healthy trees. The twinkling stars and brilliant moon, lights up the green leaves against the dark sky. Curious about Miranda’s discovery, Marcus crouches beside her on the floor to get a closer look. But when Miranda turns the globe upside down, something extraordinary happens. She and Marcus are no longer in the cabin. Instead, they somehow enter another realm called Wunderwood–a land where using magic is as common as brushing your teeth. The source of Wunderwood’s magic derives from an enchanting tree called Mindala. Without this tree, people of this land believe there would be no magic. Or, if somebody were to possess this tree’s entire essence, he or she will become all powerful and be able to rule Wunderwood. It so happens, one person tries to do just that. His name is Thornton Crow. He’s a warlock who is gifted in magic. He once was a good person, until he had the Kindred Dream.
When a child turns twelve in Wunderwood, the memories of the last deceased relative of the same gender are revealed to them while they’re asleep. Thornton’s misguided and power-hungry father died by the hands of a Wunderwoodian, who had no choice but to kill him. So when Thornton had his Kindred Dream, he experienced and felt what his father had experienced. From then on, as the years went by, Thornton secretly plotted a devious plan to be the most powerful warlock in Wunderwood and rule the land. But then one day, a nonmagical person entered the land and in the end, he imprisoned Mr. Crow for forty years. That is, until Miranda accidentally frees him with the water globe she finds.
To prevent any spoilers, I must be vague in the rest of this review. All I can say is Miranda and Marcus has a connection to this magical world. When Miranda realizes her mistake in releasing the binding spell that was placed on Thornton, she feels responsible. She then sets out on her own personal quest to stop this cunning warlock from carrying out his evil plan in finding the tree of Mindala and robbing it of its essence.
This debut novel by Elle Jacklee is an imaginative one. My favorite character is Skye. He’s a Morphiad, which means he can transform into any creature he has ever touched. Skye is loyal, trustworthy, and a bit ornery. He’s somebody you’d want to have on your side.
I recommend this book to readers who liked C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. But I have to say, The Tree of Mindala, is a bigger book and encompass a lot more information than C.S. Lewis’ did. However, both stories reflect a magical land where animals talk and people are divided due to their beliefs and where their allegiance lies.
June 14, 2013
This review was first posted on Music, Books and Tea
I love reading fun books. Make them fantasy books, and you’ve got me hooked, because there is nothing more fun than a good fantasy adventure. And when it’s fantasy as fun and action-filled as The Tree of Mindala, you’re guaranteed to have a brilliant book on your hands.
At first, I struggled to like Miranda and her younger brother Marcus. If you’d have combined the two, they would have been the perfect person, but instead, you had Miranda, the over-imaginative girl with a knack for letting her story-telling get her into trouble, and Marcus, the straight-laced boy who really needed to just relax and live a little bit. As the story progressed, there was a ton of character development with the two characters, especially when their magical talents came into play. On the whole though, I loved Miranda as a main character, and she was the perfect heroine for the book, despite me not getting on with her at first. She knew that she would do absolutely everything she possibly could to save Wunderwood and its inhabitants, even though she wasn’t aware the world even existed a week previous. Plus, I loved the fact that she had to face her biggest fear, which was water, to come any where near being able to save Wunderwood. And did Miranda face her fear? Damn straight she did! (Which is much better than I would have been able to do!)
Thornton Crow, the villain of the story was most definitely the stereotypical bad-guy, and he was simply evil. I really disliked his character, and the way he treated other people and creatures. The way Elle Jacklee wrote him was great, and he was such an easy character to hate, which makes him a fantastic villain. In my eyes, he had no redeeming qualities whatsoever, and I was backing Miranda and her quest to try and stop his terrifying actions.
I loved the world of Wunderwood, and all the details Elle Jacklee included within the world building, like the idea that only creatures with pure intentions were able to fly. (So it was easy to tell who was evil and who wasn’t.) And the location of the Tree of Mindala was really well hidden, although it became obvious once Miranda received her Prophecy. And I have to give huge props to Elle Jacklee for being able to write so many clever poems and riddles throughout the book, it is something I would have definitely struggled with, but they were all clever and unique and there was no risk of them sounding twee or childish which was great.
I’m going to have to stop myself from gushing about this book (which I could so, so easily do) and just sum it up by saying that this is a great fantasy book for tweens and teens, full of clever twists, turns and secrets. I don’t know what else to say other than I really, really enjoyed reading this book and could have read about Wunderwood, its characteristics and inhabitants for days.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I love reading fun books. Make them fantasy books, and you’ve got me hooked, because there is nothing more fun than a good fantasy adventure. And when it’s fantasy as fun and action-filled as The Tree of Mindala, you’re guaranteed to have a brilliant book on your hands.
At first, I struggled to like Miranda and her younger brother Marcus. If you’d have combined the two, they would have been the perfect person, but instead, you had Miranda, the over-imaginative girl with a knack for letting her story-telling get her into trouble, and Marcus, the straight-laced boy who really needed to just relax and live a little bit. As the story progressed, there was a ton of character development with the two characters, especially when their magical talents came into play. On the whole though, I loved Miranda as a main character, and she was the perfect heroine for the book, despite me not getting on with her at first. She knew that she would do absolutely everything she possibly could to save Wunderwood and its inhabitants, even though she wasn’t aware the world even existed a week previous. Plus, I loved the fact that she had to face her biggest fear, which was water, to come any where near being able to save Wunderwood. And did Miranda face her fear? Damn straight she did! (Which is much better than I would have been able to do!)
Thornton Crow, the villain of the story was most definitely the stereotypical bad-guy, and he was simply evil. I really disliked his character, and the way he treated other people and creatures. The way Elle Jacklee wrote him was great, and he was such an easy character to hate, which makes him a fantastic villain. In my eyes, he had no redeeming qualities whatsoever, and I was backing Miranda and her quest to try and stop his terrifying actions.
I loved the world of Wunderwood, and all the details Elle Jacklee included within the world building, like the idea that only creatures with pure intentions were able to fly. (So it was easy to tell who was evil and who wasn’t.) And the location of the Tree of Mindala was really well hidden, although it became obvious once Miranda received her Prophecy. And I have to give huge props to Elle Jacklee for being able to write so many clever poems and riddles throughout the book, it is something I would have definitely struggled with, but they were all clever and unique and there was no risk of them sounding twee or childish which was great.
I’m going to have to stop myself from gushing about this book (which I could so, so easily do) and just sum it up by saying that this is a great fantasy book for tweens and teens, full of clever twists, turns and secrets. I don’t know what else to say other than I really, really enjoyed reading this book and could have read about Wunderwood, its characteristics and inhabitants for days.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
June 19, 2013
Wonderful tale!
The Tree of Mindala is perfect for kids and kids at heart. The story unfolds 40 years ago when the magical land, Wunderwood, is under the attack of power-hungry Thornton and his followers. Their goal is to find The Tree of Mindala and steal away it's essence so they alone can decide who can use magic and to what extent. But, although the flora of Wunderwood withers under Thornton's attack and all seems lost, a young man named Truman discovers he could be the key to righting things. And that's just the Prologue!
Fast forward to present day, near Halloween, and we meet Miranda and Marcus. Eleven year old Miranda, ever the daydreamer, reports seeing a mermaid in a pond and gets in trouble when her teacher investigates. Marcus, her pessimistic younger brother, knows this latest antic will lead to nothing but trouble for him. He's right.
Their parents decide to skip the normal Halloween traditions and take the kids to spend a few days at their grandparents' house in the country. Of course, that dashes Marcus' plans to attend a friend's party. But the trip isn't all it seems, and soon the two realize their parents might have something else to discuss with them, something serious. Then things get interesting...
I love several things about The Tree of Mindala. First among these are the characters. The cast includes the charismatic, the sinister, and the downtrodden, but all are believable. I enjoy the variety of creatures and magical beings and the way they interact with each other and Miranda and Marcus. I also enjoy that several of the characters' motives are unclear, keeping me guessing until the very end.
Next, the magical world of Wunderwood engaged my imagination. Such places like the Prophecy Pond, Thornton's Lair, and the hidden base in the Silvercap Mountains bring the story to life. The descriptions are rich without being overbearing, and the images they bring to mind leave a lasting impression. Set aside the story, and the quality of writing is solid, including: character development, conflict/plot, and world-building.
Besides the things I liked, I felt the return to real life and the events leading up to it seemed reminiscent of the way the Pevensie children in Narnia return to the real world in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Plus, while everything else is neatly resolved, we never find out whether Miranda's and Marcus' heroic efforts make a lasting difference for Thornton.
That being said, I would recommend this book as a present for a middle-school aged reader, especially those who love stories with magical creatures, faraway lands and young protagonists who discover strengths they didn't know they possessed. Parents, or adults who enjoy books with a younger cast, may also find this story to their liking.
The Tree of Mindala is perfect for kids and kids at heart. The story unfolds 40 years ago when the magical land, Wunderwood, is under the attack of power-hungry Thornton and his followers. Their goal is to find The Tree of Mindala and steal away it's essence so they alone can decide who can use magic and to what extent. But, although the flora of Wunderwood withers under Thornton's attack and all seems lost, a young man named Truman discovers he could be the key to righting things. And that's just the Prologue!
Fast forward to present day, near Halloween, and we meet Miranda and Marcus. Eleven year old Miranda, ever the daydreamer, reports seeing a mermaid in a pond and gets in trouble when her teacher investigates. Marcus, her pessimistic younger brother, knows this latest antic will lead to nothing but trouble for him. He's right.
Their parents decide to skip the normal Halloween traditions and take the kids to spend a few days at their grandparents' house in the country. Of course, that dashes Marcus' plans to attend a friend's party. But the trip isn't all it seems, and soon the two realize their parents might have something else to discuss with them, something serious. Then things get interesting...
I love several things about The Tree of Mindala. First among these are the characters. The cast includes the charismatic, the sinister, and the downtrodden, but all are believable. I enjoy the variety of creatures and magical beings and the way they interact with each other and Miranda and Marcus. I also enjoy that several of the characters' motives are unclear, keeping me guessing until the very end.
Next, the magical world of Wunderwood engaged my imagination. Such places like the Prophecy Pond, Thornton's Lair, and the hidden base in the Silvercap Mountains bring the story to life. The descriptions are rich without being overbearing, and the images they bring to mind leave a lasting impression. Set aside the story, and the quality of writing is solid, including: character development, conflict/plot, and world-building.
Besides the things I liked, I felt the return to real life and the events leading up to it seemed reminiscent of the way the Pevensie children in Narnia return to the real world in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Plus, while everything else is neatly resolved, we never find out whether Miranda's and Marcus' heroic efforts make a lasting difference for Thornton.
That being said, I would recommend this book as a present for a middle-school aged reader, especially those who love stories with magical creatures, faraway lands and young protagonists who discover strengths they didn't know they possessed. Parents, or adults who enjoy books with a younger cast, may also find this story to their liking.
February 1, 2014
I bought the Tree of Mindala after seeing it featured on Goodreads as a giveaway. I was super disappointed that I did not win the giveaway, so I purchased it because, honestly, the cover just spoke to me. It is a fantastic cover! As a reviewer, it is not often that I have to purchase books, as I get a lot of authors interested in my feedback, but I'm glad I paid for this one because it was well worth the couple of dollars and more.
I am a fantasy lover, so the aspects of high fantasy (magic, wizards, fantastical talking beasts) did not turn me off. If you don't like those things, this book may not be your cup of tea. However, the main characters, especially Marcus, Raina and Leaf, and Skye were so down to earth and flawed that I felt like they could have been my next door neighbors.
Actually, the only reason I would rate this book at a 4.5 (which would be my actual rating, if there were half stars on this site, but I could not bring myself to give it a 4, as I liked it far too much) is that I found Miranda to be too good and perfect, and I was often confused by her motives and felt that they were not genuine motives. I tend to side with screw-ups, though, and other people may not find they have that issue.
I found the world of Wunderwood to be lovely, vividly placed in my mind through skilled writing and detail, and very original, even though it plays upon themes that are well established. The writing seemed to me a mesh of Rowling, L'engle, and Wynne Jones, all of whom are some of my favorite YA Fantasy authors. I can tell that Jacklee understands YA fantasy, loves it and knows what has come before, and how to use those themes without being stale. That is not to say that the world she created was a copy. It is in no way a copy of any other world I have read (and I read a lot of fantasy), but it's own, unique setting with new characters and a very cool twist on magical identity vs. inheritance.
Along with the vivid, detailed landscape, I truly enjoyed the fun magical imaginings of Jacklee's mind, and could picture them in my head, playing them out as though I could tap into the magic of Wunderwood. I felt every character in the story had a background, personality and traits all their own, and could only ask for a little detail on the part of Miranda, who I simply wanted to experience more fully as a main character. Again, I probably just wanted her to be more gritty and unsure of herself. However, I LOVED Marcus and Skye, and feel like I've known them for years.
I cannot wait for the second book in this installation. It is a shame that Jacklee is not yet a common household fantasy name, but I have a feeling that may change.
I am a fantasy lover, so the aspects of high fantasy (magic, wizards, fantastical talking beasts) did not turn me off. If you don't like those things, this book may not be your cup of tea. However, the main characters, especially Marcus, Raina and Leaf, and Skye were so down to earth and flawed that I felt like they could have been my next door neighbors.
Actually, the only reason I would rate this book at a 4.5 (which would be my actual rating, if there were half stars on this site, but I could not bring myself to give it a 4, as I liked it far too much) is that I found Miranda to be too good and perfect, and I was often confused by her motives and felt that they were not genuine motives. I tend to side with screw-ups, though, and other people may not find they have that issue.
I found the world of Wunderwood to be lovely, vividly placed in my mind through skilled writing and detail, and very original, even though it plays upon themes that are well established. The writing seemed to me a mesh of Rowling, L'engle, and Wynne Jones, all of whom are some of my favorite YA Fantasy authors. I can tell that Jacklee understands YA fantasy, loves it and knows what has come before, and how to use those themes without being stale. That is not to say that the world she created was a copy. It is in no way a copy of any other world I have read (and I read a lot of fantasy), but it's own, unique setting with new characters and a very cool twist on magical identity vs. inheritance.
Along with the vivid, detailed landscape, I truly enjoyed the fun magical imaginings of Jacklee's mind, and could picture them in my head, playing them out as though I could tap into the magic of Wunderwood. I felt every character in the story had a background, personality and traits all their own, and could only ask for a little detail on the part of Miranda, who I simply wanted to experience more fully as a main character. Again, I probably just wanted her to be more gritty and unsure of herself. However, I LOVED Marcus and Skye, and feel like I've known them for years.
I cannot wait for the second book in this installation. It is a shame that Jacklee is not yet a common household fantasy name, but I have a feeling that may change.
April 1, 2013
How lucky am I?
I was given the opportunity to discover one of the most enchanting book released in 2012-The Tree of Mindala – provided by Elle Jacklee herself! Once I’ve read the book’s synopsis, I knew immediately that I would love it!
Brave and adventurous Miranda Moon has always seen things. Things that belonged in the fairytale world-her stories are always thrilling and extraordinary, but sometimes they get a bit out of hand; and this time it’s the beginning of something that may change her life; involuntarily dragging along her younger brother, the wise-beyond-his-years Marcus. Unlike his sister, Marcus believes it’s best to stick to the ‘real-world’, where there are no half-human and half-fish creatures lurking somewhere near the pond on the way to school.
Yet once again, due to Miranda’s astonishing tales, that caused a mayhem in school one day, her suspension lead them both to their grand-parent’s home, where adventures and another world with mystifying creatures are waiting on them to help take out an evil that was once banished and confined by a spell their very own grandparents has cast themselves.
As I stated before, when I was contacted by Elle to see if I could check out this book, I was immediately ‘attracted’ to the synopsis and knew that I would love this read. I mean what is there not to love? The mix between the real-world, and the other, Wunderwood-the one that Elle has created-brimming with magical powers and creatures that will cast a spell on you, and the journey of two young characters in stance to defend a place that was unknown to them, all while finding themselves … brilliant!
The chronicles of Narnia was and still is one of my favorite reads, and I can say that this series may become another! Those who have only read the synopsis may find the plot of the two to be similar, however once you get into the book, you’ll forget about any other book besides the one you are reading.
Would I recommend it?
Out of all the books I have read so far, of 2013, The Tree of Mindala is on the top list of most recommend! Although a middle-grade Fantasy, there’s no question that YA lovers will also enjoy this one!
Once again thank you Elle!
I was given the opportunity to discover one of the most enchanting book released in 2012-The Tree of Mindala – provided by Elle Jacklee herself! Once I’ve read the book’s synopsis, I knew immediately that I would love it!
Brave and adventurous Miranda Moon has always seen things. Things that belonged in the fairytale world-her stories are always thrilling and extraordinary, but sometimes they get a bit out of hand; and this time it’s the beginning of something that may change her life; involuntarily dragging along her younger brother, the wise-beyond-his-years Marcus. Unlike his sister, Marcus believes it’s best to stick to the ‘real-world’, where there are no half-human and half-fish creatures lurking somewhere near the pond on the way to school.
Yet once again, due to Miranda’s astonishing tales, that caused a mayhem in school one day, her suspension lead them both to their grand-parent’s home, where adventures and another world with mystifying creatures are waiting on them to help take out an evil that was once banished and confined by a spell their very own grandparents has cast themselves.
As I stated before, when I was contacted by Elle to see if I could check out this book, I was immediately ‘attracted’ to the synopsis and knew that I would love this read. I mean what is there not to love? The mix between the real-world, and the other, Wunderwood-the one that Elle has created-brimming with magical powers and creatures that will cast a spell on you, and the journey of two young characters in stance to defend a place that was unknown to them, all while finding themselves … brilliant!
The chronicles of Narnia was and still is one of my favorite reads, and I can say that this series may become another! Those who have only read the synopsis may find the plot of the two to be similar, however once you get into the book, you’ll forget about any other book besides the one you are reading.
Would I recommend it?
Out of all the books I have read so far, of 2013, The Tree of Mindala is on the top list of most recommend! Although a middle-grade Fantasy, there’s no question that YA lovers will also enjoy this one!
Once again thank you Elle!
May 13, 2014
When twelve year old Miranda turns a snowglobe upside down, she and her brother are transported into a new world. This world is under threat from an evil sorcerer, who wishes to control all living things. The brother and sister duo must join up with a cast of interesting characters to save the world in this fairytale story.
The premise for this story is actually quite fun. Not only do the kids discover something new about their own family, but they are assisted by a shape changer named Skye who was an instant favorite for me. There is a well thought out concept behind this world, and the backstory for the villain could easily be made into a novel of its own. Well, I say easily, but I’m not the one who would have to write it. Suffice to say, there is a lot of background information here that would also make a good book.
I love that animal characters were present without the story becoming overly cute. These are brave animals who are willing to fight to defend their homes and their loved ones, not cute little mice who dance and sing. The kids are mature for their ages, but they are still believable. When danger faces them, they step up like any normal kid in a fantasy story will do.
There are many characters present in this tale. I wouldn’t say too many, but there are quite a few. Luckily, most of them are likeable, and all of them seemed to have distinct personalities. Even Thornton, the bad guy, was well done. I like a good villain. Miranda, Raina, and Petal (a bird) seem to be the most noteworthy females. They are strong, intelligent, and special in their own ways.
A vivid imagination has gone into the creation of this book. I think it will easily be enjoyed by young and old alike.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The premise for this story is actually quite fun. Not only do the kids discover something new about their own family, but they are assisted by a shape changer named Skye who was an instant favorite for me. There is a well thought out concept behind this world, and the backstory for the villain could easily be made into a novel of its own. Well, I say easily, but I’m not the one who would have to write it. Suffice to say, there is a lot of background information here that would also make a good book.
I love that animal characters were present without the story becoming overly cute. These are brave animals who are willing to fight to defend their homes and their loved ones, not cute little mice who dance and sing. The kids are mature for their ages, but they are still believable. When danger faces them, they step up like any normal kid in a fantasy story will do.
There are many characters present in this tale. I wouldn’t say too many, but there are quite a few. Luckily, most of them are likeable, and all of them seemed to have distinct personalities. Even Thornton, the bad guy, was well done. I like a good villain. Miranda, Raina, and Petal (a bird) seem to be the most noteworthy females. They are strong, intelligent, and special in their own ways.
A vivid imagination has gone into the creation of this book. I think it will easily be enjoyed by young and old alike.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2013
I believe a good fantasy should transport you to a different world, and that's exactly what The Tree of Mindala does. A wondrous world in which magic flows everywhere and the people live in blissful contentment.
But having everything so magically easy is not enough for some. There's always got to be one rotten apple, who wants all the magic for himself. And he will come close to destroying the world just to achieve it.
Into this world literally drops Miranda and her brother Marcus. Two ordinary kids that discover that they may hold the key to defeating this powerful sorcerer. But how could they be a match for his magical abilities?
The story zips along, which is important for young readers, and has an ending that will have you wondering how on earth they're going to get out of their impossible situation. I was also glad that it wasn't the usual revenge/destroy manner of dealing with things. Throw in a couple of good characters that you're not quite sure if you can trust and it makes for entertaining reading.
But having everything so magically easy is not enough for some. There's always got to be one rotten apple, who wants all the magic for himself. And he will come close to destroying the world just to achieve it.
Into this world literally drops Miranda and her brother Marcus. Two ordinary kids that discover that they may hold the key to defeating this powerful sorcerer. But how could they be a match for his magical abilities?
The story zips along, which is important for young readers, and has an ending that will have you wondering how on earth they're going to get out of their impossible situation. I was also glad that it wasn't the usual revenge/destroy manner of dealing with things. Throw in a couple of good characters that you're not quite sure if you can trust and it makes for entertaining reading.
January 12, 2014
Author Elle Jacklee creates a magnificent world in the Tree of Mindala. Her prose is quite enjoyable, made so by the blending of narrative and dialogue in an interesting and equally pleasant storyline.
She weaves a tale of middle-grade fantasy that is hard to put down.
The story is classic in the respect of ‘good versus evil.’ By including talking creatures, an evil protagonist, and two children who are believable by their behavior, the story travels well and keeps the reader more than interested to turn the page.
Would I recommend this book? My answer is a resounding, yes! My rating is 4.25 stars.
Will I follow Elle Jacklee and any of her upcoming work? Again, yes! I am already looking forward to the second installment.
If you have young readers, or as an adult, just enjoy reading a well-spun tale for fun, this is your book.
Final thoughts are this: Excellent job, Ms. Jacklee.
She weaves a tale of middle-grade fantasy that is hard to put down.
The story is classic in the respect of ‘good versus evil.’ By including talking creatures, an evil protagonist, and two children who are believable by their behavior, the story travels well and keeps the reader more than interested to turn the page.
Would I recommend this book? My answer is a resounding, yes! My rating is 4.25 stars.
Will I follow Elle Jacklee and any of her upcoming work? Again, yes! I am already looking forward to the second installment.
If you have young readers, or as an adult, just enjoy reading a well-spun tale for fun, this is your book.
Final thoughts are this: Excellent job, Ms. Jacklee.
May 4, 2014
The Tree of Mindala is the debut novel of Elle Jacklee, and the first installment in the Wunderwood series. The cover art is fantastic and automatically gives a sense of several key story elements; no other cover could have done justice for this story.
Miranda Moon is the main protagonist, and we experience much of Wunderwood through her eyes. She gets in trouble for telling stories about a mermaid and is suspended, resulting in her family taking her and her brother Marcus on vacation to their deceased grandparents’ cabin in the woods (for those who get the reference: yes, finally, a mermaid). A sinister howling causes the two youngsters to retreat to the attic bedroom, wherein they find an enchanted snow globe that transports them to Wunderwood.
This is a story for children. There’s really no other way of saying it, and it is by no means a bad thing. The main protagonist is a girl just reaching her twelfth birthday, and her sidekick-brother is even younger. There is no love interest beyond a budding tween angst (visible only for a line or two), and nobody dies in the story. In fact, even the notion of murder seems offensive to some characters.
Furthermore, the archetypes for young fiction are all there. A kindly old man teaches them to use magic (with which they are almost instantly skillful), Marcus finds a rival in the rebellious youth Leaf, and our main antagonist is a craggy-faced sorcerer named Thornton Crow, who occasionally twirls his mustache for added villainous effect.
Before getting into the prose, there’s one other thing to mention: the map. This page will become your friend, so reference it often. There is a lot of movement in this book as characters move with and around each other all over Wunderwood, and knowing exactly where everything is can be confusing at times. Besides, the map has a good, simplistic feel to it, and I’m a sucker for maps. And simplicity.
The author uses a lot of colorful and descriptive imagery in this book, and it might be one of the best things about it. As you may notice from the map, however, there is a lot of empty space in between points of interest; this is because nothing really happens in these places. They are glossed over in description, and at times can even be confusing, such as:
When they finally reached the top of the hill, the lowest part of the valley between the two mountains on either side of them…
The top of the hill is the lowest part of the valley? Wouldn’t that be…the bottom of the hill? I understood what was being said, but the location was of minor importance and the faltering description highlighted this fact. However, once we reach the Prophecy Pond…well, I have a very clear image of that special place, as if I had seen it in a movie. The imagery for the Pond was very well done.
The Tree of Mindala’s plot is simple enough to follow: the bad guy breaks free, and the new arrivals in a magical world must stop him. Like I said before, this is a story for children, and there are more than enough reasons to enjoy its simplicity. However, I feel I should still point out the salient points that would prevent me from recommending this book for an audience beyond young readers.
Believability of characters: I don’t care if the character is a benevolent fairy or the meanest warlock the world has ever known, I need to believe in the reasons that force a character to act the way they do. Thornton Crow is given perhaps the most extensive backstory of all the characters, yet I don’t feel his mustache-twirling animosity shown in the present properly reflects that detailed history. When we encounter him through Miranda’s eyes, he just oozes “90s Disney movie villain”. He is 100% evil for the sake of being evil; being his father’s son, even after sharing his father’s memories in the Kindred Dream, just isn’t a strong enough reason for Thornton to go to the Dark Side.
Pacing: I am not sure why, but this story never quite hit a comfortable pace for me. The flashback at the beginning stopped the flow of the main plot while it explained backstory, and there were other parts that were accepted and blown through much too quickly. I wished more than once that Marcus would stomp his foot and demand to know more about what was going on, especially since his character would not be the type to accept magic easily.
The magic system: This one is more of a general note rather than a reason why the book is for younger children. From what I can tell, the magic incantations used in the story can be just about anything as long as it rhymes. The verses don’t even need to be the same number of syllables (I was tripped up a few times trying to read them in a constant rhythm) so long as the ending words sound similar enough. On top of that, spells can be interrupted by other casters with a quick word substitution. This makes me wonder why it is so difficult to prevent Thornton, or anyone for that matter, from performing harmful magic.
I’m going to stop reviewing this book as an adult now, for the exact reason I’ve stated multiple times: this is a book for children. Accessing my inner child, this book takes on a whole different light.
The cast of characters is wide and dizzying, but they are all packaged into clear groups so that confusion is minimal. Families all have similar names: Leaf is the son of Laurel; Heather, Hawthorne, and Helix are all siblings; and the main protagonists, siblings, are Miranda and Marcus Moon.
The descriptions of the main scenes are very clear and easy to visualize, lending life to the stone building where Thornton lives, the Prophecy Pond where Miranda’s mission was given direction, and the myriad tree-homes favored by the residents of Wunderwood.
One minor thing that really confused me was an errant remark about political correctness in a paragraph that was inundated with unnecessary acronyms. The exact line that ends the paragraph is:
Raina rolled her eyes but refrained from further editorial comment.
It seemed like an awkward inclusion to the story, possibly an intrusive personal note from the author about the overabundance of political correctness in our world today. Raina never felt more like the author-based character than in that moment. By the way: the only acronym you need to know is HOP, with the HOPs being “Hoarders of Power”. HOPs are referred to as such for much of the book, and it’s a useful abbreviation for designating Thornton’s followers.
The location and appearance of the Tree of Mindala was a delightful surprise. I think some of the characters could have been better developed (or just trim the overall character count), but for the most part they all served their purpose. While I can’t say I loved the ending, it had a suitable amount of feel-good vibes for the end of a children’s book.
For young readers: This is a fun and entertaining read with light-hearted banter in a creative landscape, and you’ll probably enjoy it.
For parents buying for their children: Go for it. Your kids will easily relate to one of the protagonists, and their adventures are just the kind of imaginative wanderings that’ll get your child through a rainy day indoors.
For adults in general: If you want an easy read with few surprises, this will do it for you. Fair warning, though, it’s probably more suited to kids.
Rating: 4 stars
Miranda Moon is the main protagonist, and we experience much of Wunderwood through her eyes. She gets in trouble for telling stories about a mermaid and is suspended, resulting in her family taking her and her brother Marcus on vacation to their deceased grandparents’ cabin in the woods (for those who get the reference: yes, finally, a mermaid). A sinister howling causes the two youngsters to retreat to the attic bedroom, wherein they find an enchanted snow globe that transports them to Wunderwood.
This is a story for children. There’s really no other way of saying it, and it is by no means a bad thing. The main protagonist is a girl just reaching her twelfth birthday, and her sidekick-brother is even younger. There is no love interest beyond a budding tween angst (visible only for a line or two), and nobody dies in the story. In fact, even the notion of murder seems offensive to some characters.
Furthermore, the archetypes for young fiction are all there. A kindly old man teaches them to use magic (with which they are almost instantly skillful), Marcus finds a rival in the rebellious youth Leaf, and our main antagonist is a craggy-faced sorcerer named Thornton Crow, who occasionally twirls his mustache for added villainous effect.
Before getting into the prose, there’s one other thing to mention: the map. This page will become your friend, so reference it often. There is a lot of movement in this book as characters move with and around each other all over Wunderwood, and knowing exactly where everything is can be confusing at times. Besides, the map has a good, simplistic feel to it, and I’m a sucker for maps. And simplicity.
The author uses a lot of colorful and descriptive imagery in this book, and it might be one of the best things about it. As you may notice from the map, however, there is a lot of empty space in between points of interest; this is because nothing really happens in these places. They are glossed over in description, and at times can even be confusing, such as:
When they finally reached the top of the hill, the lowest part of the valley between the two mountains on either side of them…
The top of the hill is the lowest part of the valley? Wouldn’t that be…the bottom of the hill? I understood what was being said, but the location was of minor importance and the faltering description highlighted this fact. However, once we reach the Prophecy Pond…well, I have a very clear image of that special place, as if I had seen it in a movie. The imagery for the Pond was very well done.
The Tree of Mindala’s plot is simple enough to follow: the bad guy breaks free, and the new arrivals in a magical world must stop him. Like I said before, this is a story for children, and there are more than enough reasons to enjoy its simplicity. However, I feel I should still point out the salient points that would prevent me from recommending this book for an audience beyond young readers.
Believability of characters: I don’t care if the character is a benevolent fairy or the meanest warlock the world has ever known, I need to believe in the reasons that force a character to act the way they do. Thornton Crow is given perhaps the most extensive backstory of all the characters, yet I don’t feel his mustache-twirling animosity shown in the present properly reflects that detailed history. When we encounter him through Miranda’s eyes, he just oozes “90s Disney movie villain”. He is 100% evil for the sake of being evil; being his father’s son, even after sharing his father’s memories in the Kindred Dream, just isn’t a strong enough reason for Thornton to go to the Dark Side.
Pacing: I am not sure why, but this story never quite hit a comfortable pace for me. The flashback at the beginning stopped the flow of the main plot while it explained backstory, and there were other parts that were accepted and blown through much too quickly. I wished more than once that Marcus would stomp his foot and demand to know more about what was going on, especially since his character would not be the type to accept magic easily.
The magic system: This one is more of a general note rather than a reason why the book is for younger children. From what I can tell, the magic incantations used in the story can be just about anything as long as it rhymes. The verses don’t even need to be the same number of syllables (I was tripped up a few times trying to read them in a constant rhythm) so long as the ending words sound similar enough. On top of that, spells can be interrupted by other casters with a quick word substitution. This makes me wonder why it is so difficult to prevent Thornton, or anyone for that matter, from performing harmful magic.
I’m going to stop reviewing this book as an adult now, for the exact reason I’ve stated multiple times: this is a book for children. Accessing my inner child, this book takes on a whole different light.
The cast of characters is wide and dizzying, but they are all packaged into clear groups so that confusion is minimal. Families all have similar names: Leaf is the son of Laurel; Heather, Hawthorne, and Helix are all siblings; and the main protagonists, siblings, are Miranda and Marcus Moon.
The descriptions of the main scenes are very clear and easy to visualize, lending life to the stone building where Thornton lives, the Prophecy Pond where Miranda’s mission was given direction, and the myriad tree-homes favored by the residents of Wunderwood.
One minor thing that really confused me was an errant remark about political correctness in a paragraph that was inundated with unnecessary acronyms. The exact line that ends the paragraph is:
Raina rolled her eyes but refrained from further editorial comment.
It seemed like an awkward inclusion to the story, possibly an intrusive personal note from the author about the overabundance of political correctness in our world today. Raina never felt more like the author-based character than in that moment. By the way: the only acronym you need to know is HOP, with the HOPs being “Hoarders of Power”. HOPs are referred to as such for much of the book, and it’s a useful abbreviation for designating Thornton’s followers.
The location and appearance of the Tree of Mindala was a delightful surprise. I think some of the characters could have been better developed (or just trim the overall character count), but for the most part they all served their purpose. While I can’t say I loved the ending, it had a suitable amount of feel-good vibes for the end of a children’s book.
For young readers: This is a fun and entertaining read with light-hearted banter in a creative landscape, and you’ll probably enjoy it.
For parents buying for their children: Go for it. Your kids will easily relate to one of the protagonists, and their adventures are just the kind of imaginative wanderings that’ll get your child through a rainy day indoors.
For adults in general: If you want an easy read with few surprises, this will do it for you. Fair warning, though, it’s probably more suited to kids.
Rating: 4 stars
March 14, 2016
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Plot
The Tree of Mindala is a really interesting story and a great start to a new series. I received a free digital copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review so here it goes....
It all began forty years ago when Wunderwood became attacked by Thornton, a warlock whose soul purpose is to steal the essence of the Tree of Mindala so that he alone can have the most powerful magic. In order to do so, he poisons the land, killing everything except the Tree of Mindala (immune to the poison) in order to find it. Luckily, Truman discovers that he, along with another, have the ability to stop Thornton and lock him away before its too late.
Present day finds us in the company of Miranda Moon and her brother, Marcus, both of whom are nearly 12. When Miranda discovers a snow globe owned by her late grandmother Sunny and tips it upside down, she and her brother are thrown into the magical world of Wunderwood where they realize that the name "Moon" is well known throughout the land. At the same time, Thornton is released from his prison and begins to wreck havoc on Wunderwood once again. It is up to Miranda and Marcus with the help of some others to save Wunderwood before Thornton can destroy it and steal the essence of The Tree of Mindala.
I am pleased to say that I really enjoyed this story, but would have enjoyed it even more were I younger. The pacing of the story is great, but not perfect. I felt like some parts were a somewhat slow, while others just went by to quickly. The characters appear to travel from one part of the world to another and it just went by too quickly. I wanted more exploring! It also wasn't very complex nor difficult to understand.
I was glad to find that it wasn't too predictable, which tends to be the case in many middle grade books. I didn't know if they would be able to stop Thornton again and I didn't realize that that was where the Tree of Mindala was!, though I should have seen that.
Characters
I enjoyed the characters quite a bit, but they weren't developed and distinguished enough for me. I love it when I can tell who is speaking without it being said and that wasn't the case. There were also quite a few characters, too many for my taste, and it makes it hard to develop characters properly.
Miranda is a great character because she is very relate-able. She has a terrific imagination and believes things to be real that others do not and so has a real knack for creating stories. She is also terrified of water, the reason not being explained until much later in the book. Miranda is also headstrong and determined, and understands what is right. Not only does she have all of these qualities, she is also intelligent, which I love in children's stories. She picks up on the behavior of others and can figure things out for herself. Miranda develops as the story progresses, eventually over coming her fear of water and learning how to make difficult decisions.
Although not developed as well as Miranda, Marcus is a decent character. He is smart, popular, and unlike his sister, doesn't believe in anything magical. He is also easily scared, which doesn't seem to take him too long to overcome once in Wunderwood. It appears that he has a great relationship with his sister because they don't seem to fight and bicker as often as most siblings would and they really care for each other.
Raina is another of the main characters and I love her as well. I love her defiant personality, practicing magic even when Thornton forbids it. She always finds a way. She is also very clever, caring, and intelligent. I loved the plan she came up with in the story! Though I couldn't believe Thornton actually fell for it!
Skye is also an interesting character. Although I can't remember the name, he is so fascinating because he has the ability to shape-shift in to whatever is most convenient for him at the time. This makes him the perfect spy! I do wish he had a bit more of a personality to go along with his awesome ability. I just wanted something more....
I am still not sure how I felt about Thornton. He just wasn't as terrifying to me as he was to the residents of Wunderwood. I think this was because we didn't see many acts of evil, except for him poisoning the land, forcing people to follow him, and not allowing people to use magic. I think he needed to do something more well....evil. I think that deep down there was still a lot of good in him. He also wasn't very consistent. He was smart and times and rather dumb at others. He easily fell for Raina's trick which shouldn't have worked as well as it did.
I would say that those are the main characters of the story, but there are some interesting secondary characters as well including Leaf, but this review would be way too long if I took the time to discuss them all.
I also wanted to mention that the names the author gives to her characters (Leaf, Skye, Thornton, Sunny, Petal, Ivy, etc) are very cute. They are all related to nature or plants, which is a big part of the world. The names of the various places (Conundrum Cave, Prophecy Pond) are also fun!
World-Building
The world building was well done and detailed, but I think being an adult I want to know even more about the world. Learning a bit about the history of the land, its magic, and its residents was informative and interesting. I think that the main focus of the story was learning about the Moon family, so hopefully the next book explores more of the world of Wunderwood. I want to see more of the other beings that exist within Wunderwood as well as some other locations.
The magic system was pretty simple, but of course I was hoping for something more complex and difficult, but I guess that would be difficult to find in middle grade fantasy. It was interesting however, in that the magic can be absorbed just by living there as long as you have Wunderwood blood in your veins (I believe), and that it comes from the plant-life.
Writing
The only thing that ever really bothered me about the writing were a few typos and the use of the word humongous, which just shouldn't be used and was several times. There are other ways of describing something that is incredibly large. Otherwise, the writing didn't distract too much from the story and all the dialogue was well done and believable.
Cover
I LOVE this cover! It is gorgeous! It's well designed, attractive, eye-catching, and totally makes sense for the story. The title is also perfect too since the Tree of Mindala is a huge part of the story!
Overall Thoughts
This was a great, interesting, engaging story. I am sure many children will love to read it and I highly recommend that they do so. Many adults, including myself, will like it as well. The world was fascinating and magical, and most of the characters were well developed and interesting. It was a really fun story and I can't wait to share it with both of my children when they become of reading age. I believe that any child 10 and up would enjoy the story or children 8 and up who can take on a hefty 300+ page book. There is nothing inappropriate for younger readers. This was a fantastic middle grade book! Although part of a series, it can easily stand alone.
Plot
The Tree of Mindala is a really interesting story and a great start to a new series. I received a free digital copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review so here it goes....
It all began forty years ago when Wunderwood became attacked by Thornton, a warlock whose soul purpose is to steal the essence of the Tree of Mindala so that he alone can have the most powerful magic. In order to do so, he poisons the land, killing everything except the Tree of Mindala (immune to the poison) in order to find it. Luckily, Truman discovers that he, along with another, have the ability to stop Thornton and lock him away before its too late.
Present day finds us in the company of Miranda Moon and her brother, Marcus, both of whom are nearly 12. When Miranda discovers a snow globe owned by her late grandmother Sunny and tips it upside down, she and her brother are thrown into the magical world of Wunderwood where they realize that the name "Moon" is well known throughout the land. At the same time, Thornton is released from his prison and begins to wreck havoc on Wunderwood once again. It is up to Miranda and Marcus with the help of some others to save Wunderwood before Thornton can destroy it and steal the essence of The Tree of Mindala.
I am pleased to say that I really enjoyed this story, but would have enjoyed it even more were I younger. The pacing of the story is great, but not perfect. I felt like some parts were a somewhat slow, while others just went by to quickly. The characters appear to travel from one part of the world to another and it just went by too quickly. I wanted more exploring! It also wasn't very complex nor difficult to understand.
I was glad to find that it wasn't too predictable, which tends to be the case in many middle grade books. I didn't know if they would be able to stop Thornton again and I didn't realize that that was where the Tree of Mindala was!, though I should have seen that.
Characters
I enjoyed the characters quite a bit, but they weren't developed and distinguished enough for me. I love it when I can tell who is speaking without it being said and that wasn't the case. There were also quite a few characters, too many for my taste, and it makes it hard to develop characters properly.
Miranda is a great character because she is very relate-able. She has a terrific imagination and believes things to be real that others do not and so has a real knack for creating stories. She is also terrified of water, the reason not being explained until much later in the book. Miranda is also headstrong and determined, and understands what is right. Not only does she have all of these qualities, she is also intelligent, which I love in children's stories. She picks up on the behavior of others and can figure things out for herself. Miranda develops as the story progresses, eventually over coming her fear of water and learning how to make difficult decisions.
Although not developed as well as Miranda, Marcus is a decent character. He is smart, popular, and unlike his sister, doesn't believe in anything magical. He is also easily scared, which doesn't seem to take him too long to overcome once in Wunderwood. It appears that he has a great relationship with his sister because they don't seem to fight and bicker as often as most siblings would and they really care for each other.
Raina is another of the main characters and I love her as well. I love her defiant personality, practicing magic even when Thornton forbids it. She always finds a way. She is also very clever, caring, and intelligent. I loved the plan she came up with in the story! Though I couldn't believe Thornton actually fell for it!
Skye is also an interesting character. Although I can't remember the name, he is so fascinating because he has the ability to shape-shift in to whatever is most convenient for him at the time. This makes him the perfect spy! I do wish he had a bit more of a personality to go along with his awesome ability. I just wanted something more....
I am still not sure how I felt about Thornton. He just wasn't as terrifying to me as he was to the residents of Wunderwood. I think this was because we didn't see many acts of evil, except for him poisoning the land, forcing people to follow him, and not allowing people to use magic. I think he needed to do something more well....evil. I think that deep down there was still a lot of good in him. He also wasn't very consistent. He was smart and times and rather dumb at others. He easily fell for Raina's trick which shouldn't have worked as well as it did.
I would say that those are the main characters of the story, but there are some interesting secondary characters as well including Leaf, but this review would be way too long if I took the time to discuss them all.
I also wanted to mention that the names the author gives to her characters (Leaf, Skye, Thornton, Sunny, Petal, Ivy, etc) are very cute. They are all related to nature or plants, which is a big part of the world. The names of the various places (Conundrum Cave, Prophecy Pond) are also fun!
World-Building
The world building was well done and detailed, but I think being an adult I want to know even more about the world. Learning a bit about the history of the land, its magic, and its residents was informative and interesting. I think that the main focus of the story was learning about the Moon family, so hopefully the next book explores more of the world of Wunderwood. I want to see more of the other beings that exist within Wunderwood as well as some other locations.
The magic system was pretty simple, but of course I was hoping for something more complex and difficult, but I guess that would be difficult to find in middle grade fantasy. It was interesting however, in that the magic can be absorbed just by living there as long as you have Wunderwood blood in your veins (I believe), and that it comes from the plant-life.
Writing
The only thing that ever really bothered me about the writing were a few typos and the use of the word humongous, which just shouldn't be used and was several times. There are other ways of describing something that is incredibly large. Otherwise, the writing didn't distract too much from the story and all the dialogue was well done and believable.
Cover
I LOVE this cover! It is gorgeous! It's well designed, attractive, eye-catching, and totally makes sense for the story. The title is also perfect too since the Tree of Mindala is a huge part of the story!
Overall Thoughts
This was a great, interesting, engaging story. I am sure many children will love to read it and I highly recommend that they do so. Many adults, including myself, will like it as well. The world was fascinating and magical, and most of the characters were well developed and interesting. It was a really fun story and I can't wait to share it with both of my children when they become of reading age. I believe that any child 10 and up would enjoy the story or children 8 and up who can take on a hefty 300+ page book. There is nothing inappropriate for younger readers. This was a fantastic middle grade book! Although part of a series, it can easily stand alone.
February 7, 2017
What a great fantasy story. Would like to
see a movie come out of it. On to book two.
see a movie come out of it. On to book two.
January 2, 2014
The Tree of Mindala was a fun trip, though I feel like I got everything out of one read. 3-1/2 stars is my opinion.
It’s nearly Halloween when sixth-grader Miranda and her younger brother Marcus go with their parents to the cabin their grandparents used to own. While there, Miranda finds a mysterious “snow globe” with a rather Halloweenish setting inside, and her curiosity ends up getting her and her brother sucked into its scene—inside the land of Wunderwood. The kids’ arrival triggers the release of an evil warlock, and they have to quickly learn magic in order to defeat him before he destroys this magical land.
Many of us have read the popular The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Well, The Tree of Mindala definitely follows this familiar route—with its own twist. It’s basically Lucy and Edmund going to Narnia, only instead of a wardrobe, it’s a globe; instead of winter and Christmas, it’s autumn and Halloween; and instead of a lamp and a faun, it’s a house and a dwarf.
The beginning of the story was very flowery (almost literally!) and slow. Then, when I met the main characters, I felt like I’d met them all before, because they reminded me of other characters, like Lucy and Edmund, and (try not to laugh) there’s even a character that had me imagining Gargamel from “The Smurfs”.
But, with its few spooks and shivers and the general good-defeats-evil theme, the story is suitable for middle-grade readers. There were some cool bits of imagination that kids will enjoy (I particularly liked the whole falling-into-a-snow-globe idea, as well as the prophesying pond).
There’s a wide lineup of characters including Miranda, our fearless heroine who doesn’t listen to advice; Marcus, her gloomy, wimpy brother; Raina, the wise, kind, and powerful good-witch-of-Oz type; Skye, the handy changeling; Thornton, the greasy-haired typical baddy; and a hoard of fantastic creatures who remind us we’re in an extremely magical world.
The book interior has a whimsical yet professional look to it (I had an ecopy), with a nicely illustrated map at the beginning, and it reads pretty smoothly, except for a few chapters here and there that had some typos and way too many adverbs ending in “ly”.
All in all, The Tree of Mindala was a little too predictable and cliché for my tastes, but it would be great for the middle-grade reader who enjoys dropping into a sort of Narnia, with adventure, some action, and a portal to a place of fantastic magic.
It’s nearly Halloween when sixth-grader Miranda and her younger brother Marcus go with their parents to the cabin their grandparents used to own. While there, Miranda finds a mysterious “snow globe” with a rather Halloweenish setting inside, and her curiosity ends up getting her and her brother sucked into its scene—inside the land of Wunderwood. The kids’ arrival triggers the release of an evil warlock, and they have to quickly learn magic in order to defeat him before he destroys this magical land.
Many of us have read the popular The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Well, The Tree of Mindala definitely follows this familiar route—with its own twist. It’s basically Lucy and Edmund going to Narnia, only instead of a wardrobe, it’s a globe; instead of winter and Christmas, it’s autumn and Halloween; and instead of a lamp and a faun, it’s a house and a dwarf.
The beginning of the story was very flowery (almost literally!) and slow. Then, when I met the main characters, I felt like I’d met them all before, because they reminded me of other characters, like Lucy and Edmund, and (try not to laugh) there’s even a character that had me imagining Gargamel from “The Smurfs”.
But, with its few spooks and shivers and the general good-defeats-evil theme, the story is suitable for middle-grade readers. There were some cool bits of imagination that kids will enjoy (I particularly liked the whole falling-into-a-snow-globe idea, as well as the prophesying pond).
There’s a wide lineup of characters including Miranda, our fearless heroine who doesn’t listen to advice; Marcus, her gloomy, wimpy brother; Raina, the wise, kind, and powerful good-witch-of-Oz type; Skye, the handy changeling; Thornton, the greasy-haired typical baddy; and a hoard of fantastic creatures who remind us we’re in an extremely magical world.
The book interior has a whimsical yet professional look to it (I had an ecopy), with a nicely illustrated map at the beginning, and it reads pretty smoothly, except for a few chapters here and there that had some typos and way too many adverbs ending in “ly”.
All in all, The Tree of Mindala was a little too predictable and cliché for my tastes, but it would be great for the middle-grade reader who enjoys dropping into a sort of Narnia, with adventure, some action, and a portal to a place of fantastic magic.
April 18, 2013
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The tree of Mindala introduces us to almost 12 year old twins Miranda (adventurous and imaginative) and Marcus. (Straight-laced and popular).The twins, while visiting their late Grandparents cabin, are drawn into the world of Wunderwood when Miranda finds a mysterious water globe that had once belonged to her Grandmother Sunny. In Wunderwood the twins find that the name of Moon is a well known one, and that their Grandparents have a history in this magical land.
After the water globe delivers the twins to Wunderwood, they discover that the evil warlock Thornton Crow has been released after 40 years of imprisonment, and is hell bent on continuing his obsession of finding the source of all of Wunderwood’s magical powers, The tree of Mindala, and taking it as his own. As it was with their Grandparents 40 years previously, it is up to the twins to foil the plans of Crow, and save Wunderwood and its magical inhabitants.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Tree of Mindala, and found myself easily drawn into its imaginative world of whimsical creatures and magical folk.
Jacklee has succeeded in producing a strong story that despite being complex in places, flows easily from the page. I especially like Miranda as a character, finding her sense of adventure and ability to accept situations, (no matter how strange they may seem) tantamount to the success of this book. I also fell in love with the Morphiad, Skye. Having the power to transform into any creature that he has come into physical contact with, he is definitely the type of magical friend you would be happy to have.
I work in a Junior School Library (in Australia this is years Kindergarten to grade 6), and have shared this book with 3 of our students (2 from grade 6, one from grade 5), being interested in their opinions. Though they have not finished the book as of yet, the 2 girls have both came and told me how much they are enjoying it so far. To me this is indeed high praise, and is a huge indicator of the success of the book. As a result have added The Tree of Mindala to our Libraries ‘to purchase” list, and am sure it will make a popular addition to our collection. Even better, this book is the first in a series, a series which I look forward to following.
The tree of Mindala introduces us to almost 12 year old twins Miranda (adventurous and imaginative) and Marcus. (Straight-laced and popular).The twins, while visiting their late Grandparents cabin, are drawn into the world of Wunderwood when Miranda finds a mysterious water globe that had once belonged to her Grandmother Sunny. In Wunderwood the twins find that the name of Moon is a well known one, and that their Grandparents have a history in this magical land.
After the water globe delivers the twins to Wunderwood, they discover that the evil warlock Thornton Crow has been released after 40 years of imprisonment, and is hell bent on continuing his obsession of finding the source of all of Wunderwood’s magical powers, The tree of Mindala, and taking it as his own. As it was with their Grandparents 40 years previously, it is up to the twins to foil the plans of Crow, and save Wunderwood and its magical inhabitants.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Tree of Mindala, and found myself easily drawn into its imaginative world of whimsical creatures and magical folk.
Jacklee has succeeded in producing a strong story that despite being complex in places, flows easily from the page. I especially like Miranda as a character, finding her sense of adventure and ability to accept situations, (no matter how strange they may seem) tantamount to the success of this book. I also fell in love with the Morphiad, Skye. Having the power to transform into any creature that he has come into physical contact with, he is definitely the type of magical friend you would be happy to have.
I work in a Junior School Library (in Australia this is years Kindergarten to grade 6), and have shared this book with 3 of our students (2 from grade 6, one from grade 5), being interested in their opinions. Though they have not finished the book as of yet, the 2 girls have both came and told me how much they are enjoying it so far. To me this is indeed high praise, and is a huge indicator of the success of the book. As a result have added The Tree of Mindala to our Libraries ‘to purchase” list, and am sure it will make a popular addition to our collection. Even better, this book is the first in a series, a series which I look forward to following.
April 26, 2013
Exciting, adventurous, and heart-warming. That’s how I would describe this novel.
This novel very well written novel has a very nice flow. The pace changes with the action, but in a consistent wave like change. The passage of time is also well marked throughout so that you neither feel like the story is rushing to completion nor dragging on. Not only does Jacklee set the scene brilliantly through her vivid and larger than life descriptions and narrative, she also builds the world that the characters drop upside-down into. This is an amazing world, complete with its own awesome flora and fauna. Each piece of it is individually developed, as well as developed in its place in the world as a whole. There is also a brilliant history laid out for the audience in a very engaging way.
This novel is full of interestingly unique characters. Each one is individually developed to be themselves. Since some of the characters are still growing up, they do change throughout the course of the novel, as would anyone who faced these challenges, but they remain themselves through and through. I love how some of the characters have a vivid imagination that turns out to be the reality lived by others. This cast of characters and their adventures worm their way into your heart.
This is one of those stories that is suitable for and entertaining to those of all ages. There is nothing in it that would be inappropriate for a younger audience, yet it is written in such a captivating manner that I could barely put it down.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This novel very well written novel has a very nice flow. The pace changes with the action, but in a consistent wave like change. The passage of time is also well marked throughout so that you neither feel like the story is rushing to completion nor dragging on. Not only does Jacklee set the scene brilliantly through her vivid and larger than life descriptions and narrative, she also builds the world that the characters drop upside-down into. This is an amazing world, complete with its own awesome flora and fauna. Each piece of it is individually developed, as well as developed in its place in the world as a whole. There is also a brilliant history laid out for the audience in a very engaging way.
This novel is full of interestingly unique characters. Each one is individually developed to be themselves. Since some of the characters are still growing up, they do change throughout the course of the novel, as would anyone who faced these challenges, but they remain themselves through and through. I love how some of the characters have a vivid imagination that turns out to be the reality lived by others. This cast of characters and their adventures worm their way into your heart.
This is one of those stories that is suitable for and entertaining to those of all ages. There is nothing in it that would be inappropriate for a younger audience, yet it is written in such a captivating manner that I could barely put it down.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2015
Growing up with a passion for books and reading, I heard the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover!" more times than I can remember. Honestly though, the cover is what immediately drew me to The Tree of Mindala by Elle Jacklee. It was whimsical, it was intriguing - and I had to know what this book was about!
The Tree of Mindala is the story of siblings Miranda and Marcus Moon who magically find themselves in the land of Wunderwood via an unassuming snowglobe. Unknown to them, their family has played an important part in the history of this place and their arrival has unleashed a dangerous enemy, the evil warlock Thornton Crow, who seeks to harness all the magic in Wunderwood for himself. They are quickly taken in by their Aunt Raina, the most powerful witch in Wunderwood, and thrust into the middle of a plan to defeat Thornton for good.
What I really enjoyed about The Tree of Mindala was the story's quick pace and how well Jacklee laid the history of Wunderwood. This was clearly a world she took time to create and it really paid off throughout the story. I especially loved the scene when Miranda finally discovers the actual Tree of Mindala, the source for all of Wunderwood's magical energy. I won't spoil its location for new readers, but suffice to say the visuals associated with the tree were so stunning that I read that particular chapter twice! And as the book neared it's conclusion, it was pretty clear that Miranda and Marcus would again travel to Wunderwood someday, a journey I would happily take with them.
The Tree of Mindala is the story of siblings Miranda and Marcus Moon who magically find themselves in the land of Wunderwood via an unassuming snowglobe. Unknown to them, their family has played an important part in the history of this place and their arrival has unleashed a dangerous enemy, the evil warlock Thornton Crow, who seeks to harness all the magic in Wunderwood for himself. They are quickly taken in by their Aunt Raina, the most powerful witch in Wunderwood, and thrust into the middle of a plan to defeat Thornton for good.
What I really enjoyed about The Tree of Mindala was the story's quick pace and how well Jacklee laid the history of Wunderwood. This was clearly a world she took time to create and it really paid off throughout the story. I especially loved the scene when Miranda finally discovers the actual Tree of Mindala, the source for all of Wunderwood's magical energy. I won't spoil its location for new readers, but suffice to say the visuals associated with the tree were so stunning that I read that particular chapter twice! And as the book neared it's conclusion, it was pretty clear that Miranda and Marcus would again travel to Wunderwood someday, a journey I would happily take with them.
July 12, 2013
The main character Miranda is a cute young girl whose ability to readily believe in the supernatural gives the reader an easier time to believe the story that unfolds. She is only twelve, but handles every situation with grace and courage that is usually found many years beyond her age. Miranda is accompanied to the magical world of Wunderwood by her slightly younger brother Marcus. Marcus is the anti-Miranda, surly and afraid of his own shadow.
I appreciated how every character in The Tree of Mindala has a rich spirit, standing out on the page as they weave their fates together to overcome a common enemy. The plot was a bit convoluted at times, making it hard for me to keep track of small details that were important to the story. After the final battle, I was surprised that there was still a small chunk of story that needed to be told. And despite Elle Jacklee great storytelling, I didn’t find myself truly caring about any of the characters. But! The ride The Tree of Mindala took me on was definitely a well thought out one with great care being taken to lay out a complex and mysterious world where anything can happen. I would recommend this to a friend searching for an entertaining adventure story.
I appreciated how every character in The Tree of Mindala has a rich spirit, standing out on the page as they weave their fates together to overcome a common enemy. The plot was a bit convoluted at times, making it hard for me to keep track of small details that were important to the story. After the final battle, I was surprised that there was still a small chunk of story that needed to be told. And despite Elle Jacklee great storytelling, I didn’t find myself truly caring about any of the characters. But! The ride The Tree of Mindala took me on was definitely a well thought out one with great care being taken to lay out a complex and mysterious world where anything can happen. I would recommend this to a friend searching for an entertaining adventure story.
November 2, 2013
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.
My daughter and I read this book together, we enjoyed the story but it did take us a while to finish reading it.
We liked the characters in the book as there are some good strong characters and the world in the book is unique and interesting. While there weren't to many surprises in the story the adventure was a fun one to go on as the children found there way.
We did has some problems with the length of the chapters, there are some really long chapters in the book and since we try to read a chapter a night we did have to readjust how we read this book. My daughter said the book was a bit wordy and the author sometimes took a long time to get to the point of what was going on so it did from time to time lose her interest but overall she enjoyed the book.
My daughter and I read this book together, we enjoyed the story but it did take us a while to finish reading it.
We liked the characters in the book as there are some good strong characters and the world in the book is unique and interesting. While there weren't to many surprises in the story the adventure was a fun one to go on as the children found there way.
We did has some problems with the length of the chapters, there are some really long chapters in the book and since we try to read a chapter a night we did have to readjust how we read this book. My daughter said the book was a bit wordy and the author sometimes took a long time to get to the point of what was going on so it did from time to time lose her interest but overall she enjoyed the book.
November 22, 2016
4.5 stars - From Underground Book Reviews
Readers who’ve been looking for a new, magical world to fill the void that’s existed since 2009–will enjoy The Tree of Mindala. While not quite as nuanced and complex as Rowlings’ boy wizard series, the fantastical creatures, magical world, and good vs evil face-off in Jacklee’s first book of this series holds a lot of promise. Although the characters feel a bit two-dimensional here, future books may delve more into their development, showing, rather than telling, their personalities, flaws, and motivations helping to ensure readers commit to seeing their journey through to the outcome of the Wunderwood series.
...read the complete review at Undergroundbookreviews (dot) org
Readers who’ve been looking for a new, magical world to fill the void that’s existed since 2009–will enjoy The Tree of Mindala. While not quite as nuanced and complex as Rowlings’ boy wizard series, the fantastical creatures, magical world, and good vs evil face-off in Jacklee’s first book of this series holds a lot of promise. Although the characters feel a bit two-dimensional here, future books may delve more into their development, showing, rather than telling, their personalities, flaws, and motivations helping to ensure readers commit to seeing their journey through to the outcome of the Wunderwood series.
...read the complete review at Undergroundbookreviews (dot) org
March 30, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was well written, interesting, had engaging characters, a beautifully described landscape, excitement and lots of magic! I particularly liked how the secrets of Wunderwood were revealed bit by bit rather than having one whole big explanation all in one go. The journey of siblings Miranda and Marcus was full of adventure, personal growth, overcoming personal fears, teamwork, and learning they had magical powers of their own! The villain was appropriately "villainy" with a very interesting backstory and connection to some of the main characters. A great read for kids!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was well written, interesting, had engaging characters, a beautifully described landscape, excitement and lots of magic! I particularly liked how the secrets of Wunderwood were revealed bit by bit rather than having one whole big explanation all in one go. The journey of siblings Miranda and Marcus was full of adventure, personal growth, overcoming personal fears, teamwork, and learning they had magical powers of their own! The villain was appropriately "villainy" with a very interesting backstory and connection to some of the main characters. A great read for kids!
March 22, 2014
Very well written young adult fairytale. The characters are interesting and the description of wunderwood is very detailed.
May 16, 2016
We are proud to announce that THE TREE OF MINDALA by Elle Jacklee is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!
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