I'm Toph. After my father found out that I'd been competing in Earthbending tournaments, he put me under constant surveillance! So I left home. Now I'm traveling through the Earth Kingdom with Aang - he's the Avatar - and his friends Katara and Sokka, on Aang's sky bison, Appa. I'm teaching Earthbending to Aang, and man, do I have my work cut out for me! Even though we've had our differences, it's kind of nice knowing these guys will always have my back and point me in the right direction when I can't feel which way to go.
Michael Teitelbaum has been a writer and editor of children’s books for more than thirty years. He worked on staff as an editor at Golden Books, Grossett & Dunlop, and Macmillan. In addition to The Scary States of America, Michael’s fiction work includes The Very Hungry Zombie: A Parody, and The Very Thirsty Vampire: A Parody both done with artist extraordinaire Jon Apple, published by Skyhorse. His non-fiction work includes writing Jackie Robinson: Champion for Equality, published by Sterling, and The Baseball Hall of Fame, a 2-volume encyclopedia, published by Grolier. He is also the series editor of Great Escapes, true-life acts of incredible courage, published by Harper Collins. Michael has always had an interest in the paranormal, despite a rather normal childhood in Brooklyn, NY. These days, Michael lives with his wife, Sheleigah, and two talkative cats in an (as yet unhaunted) 180-year-old farmhouse in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.
Oh, the badness. No matter what I cannot get used to the stream-of-consciousness narration. It's annoying and serves to make these awful books feel even more rushed and shallow than they already are, which is no small feat.
Toph's story shared 0.0001% more back story than the other two so far, so for that reason I rate it 1.0001 stars.
The Tale of Toph is the story of Toph joining the gang to teach Aang earthbending. It was nice to be able to see what Toph was thinking but other then that is was just a retelling of a few episodes from the tv show.
This was really good. While the story is essentially the same as what is shown in the TV series we get a lot of insight into Toph as a character. We get insight into her relationship with her parents which is really difficult and something she is dealing with. Her guilt over Appa is something to assume from the show but very prevalent here. Also, it is absolutely clear that she has a crush on Sokka!
I felt that Toph was written better than the others. There is more insight for Toph than what was given from Azula's point of view and Sokka and Katara had nothing new to offer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
OMG I just realized this while filling out each and every field I could on Goodreads for the first time ever. It took me literally 1 whole year to read these. I bought them last April 18 and to the day finally got around to picking up the book from my shelves (real ones) and read at work. What an utter disappointment.
At least the last books about the water "book" had pictures, trivia, forms, ugh this time around they've thrown all that out the window.... along with the COLOR! I'm now copying and pasting this review onto each of the books I had just read. If you think I'm being lazy try reading these books. Yes it's getting docked now that I've suffered through them all.
True there is a tiny section in the back, with color photos and 3D glasses that focuses on one scene from the Earth book but I swear to God almighty 3D is never going to make things better for me anymore. Unless it's the full on immersion of Michael Jackson's Captain Eo or Honey, I Shrunk the Audience! I'm out. I putting my hand to heart and telling you I am past the 3D phase. My kids will just have to suffer through good ole 2D. If they want 3D they can go the fuck outside! Believe you me you can't get any more realer than that!
This is absurd. What a big pile of smoking hot turd balls these books have become. The worst part about it is you are confused by me calling it a book when the books are already books. Yup. Following me now? Nope? Aww well it doesn't matter. Once you bought these books and power through reading them to find out you've been played odds are you aren't able to return them anyway so...whatever.
I am telling all Avatar fans. F you movie folks, you make me sick! But reals fans A:TLA and A:LOK fans, buyer beware, this one is a pass, a seriously hard pass. Just pick up the Earth Book on DVD. Honest. You'll fair better. Get the boxed set, it comes with an "exclusive" (noticing all the quotes... that tells you how much BS I have to stomach to try and get through this - exclusive here just means you can't get it unless you buy the boxed set. It doesn't mean special, limited or otherwise, in any other way...) extra disc with bonus content, splurge a little, if you bought all those discs individually - yeah you guys are screwed too, you can't get your money back for being the excited fans Nickelodeon knew you were either. I'm sorry I feel for you all.That bonus disc is great. All the interviews with Sifu Kisu and Jessie Flower make it so worth it. Do skip the shama lama ding dong garbage - yes I said it - you all know the movie was full of fail and should've been killed with fire but... Get the boxed set.
As of today it's hovering around $30 USD. If you're really cheap or hurting for cash Neflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video offer it up included in the price. If you're really strapped for cash... well, I'm sure you've been thinking this entire while reading the review what you're thinking now so I'm going to say, I am one of you, I watched my illegally downloaded TV rips of Avatar and I then I went and bought the the damn DVDs. They're worth it. Support the great world Bryke have created. Don't act like you're too good for that. When the crapy crap comes along and you're paying 20 bucks to see Transformers number whatever in fakey IMAX 3D don't lie to me and tell me you ain't got the green. Also don't get in my face and try and tell me the movie was great, I will laugh and/or punch you square in the jaw. Not kidding. Quote me on it all you'd like. Spend your money wisely. Soapbox done.
Skip on these books. Not even for your kids. They're going to know what being played feels like at a very young age. Keep them sheltered. Don't expose them to this mess. Peace.
Not the most interesting to read, and in all honesty I wouldn't suggest it to anyone else. Still a fun idea though and I'll never hate too much on any ATLA content.