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Archie Stingweed #1
Wind Tamer
Archie Stringweed is sure that the wind talks to him. It seems to creep up behind him and blow him along the pavement; to drape itself around his shoulders and screech in his ear. And things get even stranger as his tenth birthday approaches. A strange ball of green light hovers by his bed and a giant white bird appears at his window, carrying a mysterious gold coin. What does it all mean?
When Archie's long-lost Uncle Rufus unexpectedly returns, Archie finally learns the truth about why the wind seems to be coming for him. . . He is about to fall under a terrible family curse. Starring an eccentric cast of characters, this original tale of adventure and magic will enchant readers of all ages.
When Archie's long-lost Uncle Rufus unexpectedly returns, Archie finally learns the truth about why the wind seems to be coming for him. . . He is about to fall under a terrible family curse. Starring an eccentric cast of characters, this original tale of adventure and magic will enchant readers of all ages.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2006
5 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
P.R. Morrison
3 books7 followersP. R. MORRISON was raised in the Orkney Islands, off the tip of Scotland. The dramatic landscape and sea climate of Orkney strongly influenced the writing of Wind Tamer, her first book. P.R. Morrison now lives in London with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 25, 2020
Nu pot spune ca a fost ingrozitoare, dar nici nu prea mi-a placut. Tipicele subiecte: blesteme si vrajitorie. Un baietas de 10 ani invinge singur o tornada gigantica cu ajutorul catorva obiecte. Cand se pregateste pentru aceasta isprava, mama lui incearca din rasputeri sa-l protejeze, oprindu-l. Cam asta e tot. Se citeste foarte usor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2010
I chose this book because it looked cool on the cover. Because my mom picked it out for me, i thought it would be bad but it wasn't!
May 16, 2020
Πάρα πολύ όμορφο βιβλίο! Σε κρατάει σε εγρήγορση μέχρι την τελευταία σελίδα, Η συγγραφέας αριστουργηματικά φέρνει τον αναγνώστη στη θέση του πρωταγωνιστή, χρησιμοποιώντας τις κατάλληλες λέξεις για να ζήσεις την περιπέτεια στο μεδούλι σου! Και φυσικά, πολύ καλή και η δουλειά των μεταφραστών και όλων όσων εργάστηκαν για το τελικό αποτέλεσμα. Ένα όμορφο βιβλίο φαντασίας και περιπέτειας για παιδιά και (γιατί όχι;) μεγάλους.
November 25, 2013
When Archie Stringweed turns 10 years old, he doesn’t expect anything out of the ordinary to occur. He’ll have his friends over, get a new video game, eat some cake…nothing extra special. However, when his long-lost uncle Rufus returns, with news of some very troubling matters soon to occur, Archie begins to get worried. It doesn’t help when he starts seeing glowing orbs of green light, getting pushed around by gusts of talking wind, and visited by very large birds bearing strange gifts. With a gigantic, cursed tornado drawing ever closer, and a series of mysterious, magical birthday presents to find, will Archie make the deadline in time?
I really enjoyed this book, though it wasn’t exactly what I expected. It was definitely creepier than it first seemed, with lots of well-paced suspense and mystery. I liked the characters and animals that were introduced along the way, and, though the writing style felt reminiscent of Harry Potter, this is a highly original story all its own. I highly recommend it and it’s sequel, Wave Traveler.
I really enjoyed this book, though it wasn’t exactly what I expected. It was definitely creepier than it first seemed, with lots of well-paced suspense and mystery. I liked the characters and animals that were introduced along the way, and, though the writing style felt reminiscent of Harry Potter, this is a highly original story all its own. I highly recommend it and it’s sequel, Wave Traveler.
March 13, 2017
Încep să apreciez din ce în ce mai mult cărțile pentru copii. Acum că ştiu că există şi o continuare la aceasta nu o să pot rezista. Sper că o voi putea găsi.
Semper fortitudo
Semper fortitudo
March 26, 2020
This is a book that will probably appeal to readers younger than my usual preference - so maybe 7 or 8+. Archie Stringweed's family is under a curse that will afflict him when a tornado strikes 48 hours after his 10th birthday. With the help of an uncle who has researched the curse, and a set of birthday presents that have been hidden away over the years by his mother, as well as a flock of birds, Archie must fight to avoid the curse afflicting his generation.
This is actually a very good story. It contains themes about perseverance and judgementalism as well as bravery and bullying. I would not recommend it for older readers, but it would be an excellent story for younger readers. Unfortunately I cannot give it star ratings by age, so I will go with how I found the story - readable but not great. But again - for younger readers, this is one to look out for.
This is actually a very good story. It contains themes about perseverance and judgementalism as well as bravery and bullying. I would not recommend it for older readers, but it would be an excellent story for younger readers. Unfortunately I cannot give it star ratings by age, so I will go with how I found the story - readable but not great. But again - for younger readers, this is one to look out for.
June 1, 2021
This book swept my heart away. The characters, the plot, and the concept were all so good. I really liked every page of the book and fell in love with almost everything. The writing was so unique and fun. I had a great time reading it and it is perfect for Harry Potter fans. The character development is smooth and the concept is very different. This book is highly underrated and that makes me so sad because I have become a huge fan of this book and the author. I am trying to find the second book in this series but as it was not so famous it's not available in many places. The book was such a nice fantasy ride through a curse and how to break it that I read it in just 2 sittings and had a hangover after finishing it. I would recommend it for people who want to try a new story that seems fresh to the eye and yet gives you Percy Jackson mixed with HP feeling. The only thing that I had trouble with was the ending as too many things were happening together so I had to reread it to understand it but it was still fun and worth reading. Overall this book is easy to read, highly underrated but recommended, and wonderful for all ages.
September 10, 2021
This book carries some nostalgic value for me as it was the first and only book gifted to me by my grandmother over a decade ago. The plot may be tame but the journey of reading it remains soothing to date.
February 4, 2020
Read to my 7 y/o daughter. Rated by her.
July 25, 2025
the imagery is great but the progression of the book was my style
November 18, 2012
Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com
On the night before his tenth birthday, Archie Stringweed notices something a little strange. The wind seems to be talking to him. Is that possible? Archie thinks it can't be, so he doesn't say anything to anyone about it. But that's just the beginning of the odd occurrences. There's the present from his Uncle Rufus, that he obviously wasn't supposed to get, from the dirty looks he keeps seeing his mother give the box. Archie doesn't see what the big deal is; it's just a harmless coin. Until he overhears his parents talking about all the presents Rufus has sent that have been hidden. That seems like a pretty big deal. Then there's his normally intelligent father suddenly becoming extremely forgetful. There's the snowstorm that only seems to be occurring over the Stringweeds' house, the giant bird that flies through his window carrying a coin that's a lot like the one he got from Uncle Rufus,and the glowing green ball that shows up every so often when Archie is alone. Then suddenly Rufus himself miraculously reappears after years and years of travelling. Archie is having a very eventful tenth birthday.
According to Uncle Rufus, that's not surprising. He tells Archie that there is a curse on all of the firstborn Stringweed children; on their tenth birthday, or shortly after, they will completely lose any courage they have. Not that they won't want to do things, they will just talk themselves out of it. Even simple things like flying in a plane, or going on the train, or taking a vacation. This of course seems crazy to Archie. How can someone lose all of their courage? But when he thinks about his dad, it seems like it might be possible. And horrible.
Rufus claims that Archie can break the curse, with the help of some family heirlooms and clues that Rufus has sent. The heirlooms would be all of the presents that Rufus has sent that Archie has never gotten, and the cards that came with them. Finding these things is only one of many obstacles Archie will have to overcome. Not the least of which is the wind. It really is talking to Archie, and it's not about to let him break the curse. In fact, it's coming for him.
Archie is confused, scared, unsure, and not even close to prepared. But if he can break the curse he not only gets to keep his own courage, but give his dad and grandfather theirs back. That seems like a pretty big deal.
A good adventure that teaches a great lesson: Courage is continuing in the face of fear. A lesson worth learning and remembering at any age. And this is a decidedly fun way to learn it.
On the night before his tenth birthday, Archie Stringweed notices something a little strange. The wind seems to be talking to him. Is that possible? Archie thinks it can't be, so he doesn't say anything to anyone about it. But that's just the beginning of the odd occurrences. There's the present from his Uncle Rufus, that he obviously wasn't supposed to get, from the dirty looks he keeps seeing his mother give the box. Archie doesn't see what the big deal is; it's just a harmless coin. Until he overhears his parents talking about all the presents Rufus has sent that have been hidden. That seems like a pretty big deal. Then there's his normally intelligent father suddenly becoming extremely forgetful. There's the snowstorm that only seems to be occurring over the Stringweeds' house, the giant bird that flies through his window carrying a coin that's a lot like the one he got from Uncle Rufus,and the glowing green ball that shows up every so often when Archie is alone. Then suddenly Rufus himself miraculously reappears after years and years of travelling. Archie is having a very eventful tenth birthday.
According to Uncle Rufus, that's not surprising. He tells Archie that there is a curse on all of the firstborn Stringweed children; on their tenth birthday, or shortly after, they will completely lose any courage they have. Not that they won't want to do things, they will just talk themselves out of it. Even simple things like flying in a plane, or going on the train, or taking a vacation. This of course seems crazy to Archie. How can someone lose all of their courage? But when he thinks about his dad, it seems like it might be possible. And horrible.
Rufus claims that Archie can break the curse, with the help of some family heirlooms and clues that Rufus has sent. The heirlooms would be all of the presents that Rufus has sent that Archie has never gotten, and the cards that came with them. Finding these things is only one of many obstacles Archie will have to overcome. Not the least of which is the wind. It really is talking to Archie, and it's not about to let him break the curse. In fact, it's coming for him.
Archie is confused, scared, unsure, and not even close to prepared. But if he can break the curse he not only gets to keep his own courage, but give his dad and grandfather theirs back. That seems like a pretty big deal.
A good adventure that teaches a great lesson: Courage is continuing in the face of fear. A lesson worth learning and remembering at any age. And this is a decidedly fun way to learn it.
December 12, 2007
Achie Stringweed loves knights and is descendede from one called Sir Strongwood. The knight thought that he was indestructible because he had fought in lots of different wars. One day he met and old man dressed in rags. The old man told him that the knight would perish. Sir Strongwood called hima liar ande insulted the old man. The man cursed him and all his descendants...
Hunderds of years later, just before the curse effected Archie Archie's uncle told him about the curse and Archie goes on a hunt to find all his ansestor's things which his uncle had been sending him for his birthday. His parents hid the presents because they didn't want him to worry. The uncle tells him that the curse will make him afraid of everything (ex. travelling because they might crash). So Archie goes on a mission to break the curse and take the curse from his father!
Hunderds of years later, just before the curse effected Archie Archie's uncle told him about the curse and Archie goes on a hunt to find all his ansestor's things which his uncle had been sending him for his birthday. His parents hid the presents because they didn't want him to worry. The uncle tells him that the curse will make him afraid of everything (ex. travelling because they might crash). So Archie goes on a mission to break the curse and take the curse from his father!
September 3, 2014
This was a pretty good book! I liked the wavering character of Archie, and his efforts to be courageous. The plot has some pacing issues, but it has a clear goal and decisive steps. I loved the magical elements in the story: the Icegulls, the Artifacts, and the history behind the curse. The mother, Cecille, got on my nerves the entire time, but that is what she was supposed to do. Great character writing! Uncle Rufus was a delightfully mysterious character, and I loved seeing the whole family reacting to his return. An enjoyable read!
June 22, 2016
O carte destul de simpla si usor de aprofundat, in acelasi timp destul de fantezista pentru gusturile mele. Daca e sa asociez scopul principal al acestei carti cu ceea ce-mi place sa citesc, pot spune cu mana pe inima ca in orice carte exista un adevar si implicit ceva de invatat. Aici, am invatat prin intermediul unui copil de numai zece ani cum pot sa perseverez in indeplinirea a ceea ce ma carcaterizeaza indiferent de "piedicile" destul de bolnavicioase care apar din partea familiei si a prietenilor prin neincredere, cinism, ironie si de ce nu lipsa curajului de a fi mai mult.
April 28, 2008
This book is a good read for those that enjoy a good, complex plot. Although it wasn't my kind of plot, I can see how some would realy get involved in the book. I thought the plot was too long and a little too complex for the average reader. I never really fell into the main characters but that might just have been me. I can't not recomend this book, but I also would have many more to recommend before this one made the list.
August 4, 2007
A little more juvenile than I was expecting. The story is a very slight thing, lightly and neatly done, but with no great depth. There's no real sense of peril, and what should be the central theme -- the nature of courage -- is barely touched on. Enjoyable but lightweight.
April 9, 2010
I bought this on a whim, and have to say that I was more impressed with it then I thought I'd be. Yes, it was fairly easy to see where the story was going, and it was a little cheesy, but it was a good book nonetheless.
July 22, 2010
The wavering between child and parental viewpoints was disorienting. Nice idea, though.
April 20, 2011
This was really fun!!! Packed with a fun filled mystery that a young boy and his Uncle have to solve a problem that even some adults don't get!
August 14, 2011
I JUST LOVED IT!!
October 4, 2013
Fun read!
November 14, 2016
One of the first books I read from the children's shelves at the new local central library. I enjoyed reading it at night, deepening myself into the story.
October 24, 2014
This book was okay though not at my level or interest.
January 17, 2015
This book is interesting in the plot but if you like adventure and a progressing plot you will not like this book. Basically I thought it was a little boring.
Read
February 21, 2016I remember reading this book when i was 12 i guess? I loved it, probably going to read it again to see what i think of it now tha i'm older
December 16, 2008
Not great. An interesting concept, but not well executed.
Read
September 14, 2010AWSOME
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews