What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lost Scrolls #4
The Lost Scrolls: Air
Aang revisits his former monastery, Katara learns the truth about Aang's mysterious past, and Sokka reveals how he saved the Northern Air Temple from the Fire Nation. The scroll also contains information about Airbending moves, Air temples and monks, the Avatar Cycle, and much more.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
57 people are currently reading
1016 people want to read
About the author
Tom Mason
203 books3 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 28, 2012
There is nothing wrong with these books, there just isn't much that is right. The book is half facts about the Air Nomads and their life before the Fire Nation destroyed them, the other half is stories from the original show told by Katara, Aang and Sokka. At least it helped me not miss Legend of Korra for about 5 minutes.
August 31, 2021
Same review for all four ATLA The Lost Scrolls:
Yes, I love all things ATLA, and I appreciate the little tidbits about each of the Four Nations, especially the philosophy and how that influences their lifestyles and fighting styles. But... I think these were a missed opportunity -- they each contain simplified retellings of episodes we've seen already, but imagine if they were told from another's perspective how much we could gain from that! For example, in the retelling of The Great Divide, what if the Earthbender guide was the one to recount the tale. If each "scroll" had at least one "outsider" viewpoint, I think it would have given them more richness. Still, I do love all things ATLA.
These are particularly great for kids (as they are simplified retellings), and the artwork as always is excellent.
Yes, I love all things ATLA, and I appreciate the little tidbits about each of the Four Nations, especially the philosophy and how that influences their lifestyles and fighting styles. But... I think these were a missed opportunity -- they each contain simplified retellings of episodes we've seen already, but imagine if they were told from another's perspective how much we could gain from that! For example, in the retelling of The Great Divide, what if the Earthbender guide was the one to recount the tale. If each "scroll" had at least one "outsider" viewpoint, I think it would have given them more richness. Still, I do love all things ATLA.
These are particularly great for kids (as they are simplified retellings), and the artwork as always is excellent.
September 3, 2023
I love learning about airbenders. It didn't give a lot of history in this, so sad, but I liked learning about their nomadic heritage and the idea of having air temples all over so nomads will have a place to stay wherever they go. It's also interesting how each element has its own martial arts linked to it. And how the water symbol is the only one with a connection to something spiritual, like it's creator.
December 19, 2022
So this is a retelling of book one in some sense, but it also covers details that I think are highly valuable like air bending being based on a form of Chinese martial arts. Totally worth the read if you can find it!
April 5, 2020
SO much nostalgia!
January 20, 2021
Easy to read over view of Aang's life and some things that happened at the Air Temples. Offers no information that can't be found on the show, but still a fun find.
January 28, 2021
Really good!
June 23, 2021
The story of these bocks is so interesting. I enjoy it.
March 22, 2022
A very fun read. My favorite parts were absolutely the extra information after each legend/tale.
Read
December 6, 2023Do not read this if you have seen the original series, this adds nothing to the cannon. It is boring as well as not informing you on anything, you gain nothing from this book.
April 5, 2024
I quite enjoyed this scroll more than the past ones since I feel like I got some more information about the air nomads that we don't really get from the show. There was also information about the air nomads that we know through the show but I liked seeing it in writing. Also, I quite enjoyed the short stories that we get from each other, in this instance it was Aang, Sokka, and Katara which added more information to those scenes.
Read
October 4, 2023Notes:
Air was the most important natural resource to Airbenders. Peaceful race. They lived in huge temples and traveled the world on Flying Bison. They were the most spiritual of all the cultures and lived in harmony with nature. They also were fun loving and had the strong sense of humor.
Honest and forthright, they preferred to use their powers strictly for defensive purposes.
Autumn is their season. More air nomad children were born in this season than any other. Unlike children of the other nations, all Air Nomads were born with bending abilities.
Their temples sit atop high mountain peaks, above the clouds. They were carved from stone, with huge spires rising into the sky. The only way to get to the air temples is on a Flying Bison.
The Air Nomads were peaceful and environmentally friendly. They tried not to leave a mark on the land, and any industries they created, such as farming and gardening, were powered naturally. They also produced their own food.
Philosophy and Style
Airbending is a dynamic skill. Benders use air to enhance natural abilities, allowing one person to defend against multiple attackers from different disciplines. Because no special weapon is required, airbending is well suited to nomadic life.
Airbending is similar to the Chinese martial art known as Baguazhang. In, Baguazhang movements employ the whole body with smooth coiling and uncoiling actions, utilizing hand techniques, dynamic footwork, and throws. Rapid-fire movements draw energy from the center of the abdomen.
Techniques
Airbending is a highly versatile skill. An airbender can run faster by decreasing their air resistance and jump higher and farther by creating wind gusts to enhance their motion. They can protect themselves during a fall by forming a wind cushion, and they can run up vertical surfaces such as walls and trees by generating a wind current behind them.
For a high level attack, an airbender can create an air Vortex to suck in an opponent, spin them around, and spit them out.
They can also create an air Dome to Shield themselves and can deflect attacks with wind gusts.
Their signature tool is a wooden staff. Not magical, it can transform mechanically into a small glider. Airbenders control air currents to sustain their flight over limited distances
Air Nomad Monks
The air Nomads were led by an order of monks. The monks taught the future generations of Airbenders. They were also responsible for training the new Avatar each time the cycle returned to Air. Many monks were excellent bakers! They made fruit pies, delicious dumplings, and many kinds of inventive desserts.
The monks lived in four temples, located at each compass point - north, south, east, and west. Air Nomads not linked to a temple had no permanent home and roamed the world individually or in groups.
Meditation was an important part of an Airbenders' daily routines. It helped them focus their energy and understand the power of the air.
Levels of Airbending
One must master Airbending to earn the arrow tattoos. To do this, an Airbender must invent a new move and pass the 36 levels of Airbending. Though Aang had only reached the 35th level before you left the Jongmu Temple, his invention of the Air Scooter earned him his tattoos early.
Air was the most important natural resource to Airbenders. Peaceful race. They lived in huge temples and traveled the world on Flying Bison. They were the most spiritual of all the cultures and lived in harmony with nature. They also were fun loving and had the strong sense of humor.
Honest and forthright, they preferred to use their powers strictly for defensive purposes.
Autumn is their season. More air nomad children were born in this season than any other. Unlike children of the other nations, all Air Nomads were born with bending abilities.
Their temples sit atop high mountain peaks, above the clouds. They were carved from stone, with huge spires rising into the sky. The only way to get to the air temples is on a Flying Bison.
The Air Nomads were peaceful and environmentally friendly. They tried not to leave a mark on the land, and any industries they created, such as farming and gardening, were powered naturally. They also produced their own food.
Philosophy and Style
Airbending is a dynamic skill. Benders use air to enhance natural abilities, allowing one person to defend against multiple attackers from different disciplines. Because no special weapon is required, airbending is well suited to nomadic life.
Airbending is similar to the Chinese martial art known as Baguazhang. In, Baguazhang movements employ the whole body with smooth coiling and uncoiling actions, utilizing hand techniques, dynamic footwork, and throws. Rapid-fire movements draw energy from the center of the abdomen.
Techniques
Airbending is a highly versatile skill. An airbender can run faster by decreasing their air resistance and jump higher and farther by creating wind gusts to enhance their motion. They can protect themselves during a fall by forming a wind cushion, and they can run up vertical surfaces such as walls and trees by generating a wind current behind them.
For a high level attack, an airbender can create an air Vortex to suck in an opponent, spin them around, and spit them out.
They can also create an air Dome to Shield themselves and can deflect attacks with wind gusts.
Their signature tool is a wooden staff. Not magical, it can transform mechanically into a small glider. Airbenders control air currents to sustain their flight over limited distances
Air Nomad Monks
The air Nomads were led by an order of monks. The monks taught the future generations of Airbenders. They were also responsible for training the new Avatar each time the cycle returned to Air. Many monks were excellent bakers! They made fruit pies, delicious dumplings, and many kinds of inventive desserts.
The monks lived in four temples, located at each compass point - north, south, east, and west. Air Nomads not linked to a temple had no permanent home and roamed the world individually or in groups.
Meditation was an important part of an Airbenders' daily routines. It helped them focus their energy and understand the power of the air.
Levels of Airbending
One must master Airbending to earn the arrow tattoos. To do this, an Airbender must invent a new move and pass the 36 levels of Airbending. Though Aang had only reached the 35th level before you left the Jongmu Temple, his invention of the Air Scooter earned him his tattoos early.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2021
This is the last of 4 Scrolls in the the Lost Scrolls Series. There is no "new" content unlike the succeeding Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics Series which details Aang's adventures AFTER the cartoon ends. Like the other books in the series, the art is rather pretty, in fact, some are better than what feels like the lazy screen captures in Avatar: The Legend of Aang Comics Series but the writing is REALLY really juvenile.
The first legend narrated by Katara is about Aang's visit to the Southern Air Temple, where his optimism dies when he discovers all the airbenders have been killed a long time ago. Katara does her best to comfort him, telling him "Monk Gyatso and the other Airbenders may be gone, but you still have a family ... Sokka and I, we're your family now." So tragic.
In the second legend, The Storm, Aang's recalls his past - scared at being told he's the Avatar at age 12, he was in the process of running away when he got caught in the storm and ended up frozen in the iceberg. Aang helps rescue Sokka and a Fisherman from another storm, and by the end of that he comes to a realization that he can't run away from his responsibilities anymore.
Sokka is our point of view character in the third legend, the Northern Air Temple. When Aang and his friends make it there they discover it has been taken over by mechanists who are forced to work for the Fire Nation. Aang leads a rebellion which defeats the Fire Nation, and gives the mechanists his blessing to take over the Air Temple.
Not the best of the 4, but these stories are still heartwarming in a fashion.
The first legend narrated by Katara is about Aang's visit to the Southern Air Temple, where his optimism dies when he discovers all the airbenders have been killed a long time ago. Katara does her best to comfort him, telling him "Monk Gyatso and the other Airbenders may be gone, but you still have a family ... Sokka and I, we're your family now." So tragic.
In the second legend, The Storm, Aang's recalls his past - scared at being told he's the Avatar at age 12, he was in the process of running away when he got caught in the storm and ended up frozen in the iceberg. Aang helps rescue Sokka and a Fisherman from another storm, and by the end of that he comes to a realization that he can't run away from his responsibilities anymore.
Sokka is our point of view character in the third legend, the Northern Air Temple. When Aang and his friends make it there they discover it has been taken over by mechanists who are forced to work for the Fire Nation. Aang leads a rebellion which defeats the Fire Nation, and gives the mechanists his blessing to take over the Air Temple.
Not the best of the 4, but these stories are still heartwarming in a fashion.
November 12, 2014
3 1/2 stars.
Obviously aimed at the target audience of the show, but the extra information about airbenders such as their culture and tribe are interesting, though I don't know how much of it is "canon" (e.g. the dominant season for airbenders). The retelling of stories from the television episodes are written so elementary school aged audiences can easily follow them, but by no means are they a replacement of.
Obviously aimed at the target audience of the show, but the extra information about airbenders such as their culture and tribe are interesting, though I don't know how much of it is "canon" (e.g. the dominant season for airbenders). The retelling of stories from the television episodes are written so elementary school aged audiences can easily follow them, but by no means are they a replacement of.
March 17, 2016
The lost Air Nomads were known to be the pillars of wisdom. They were wiped out by the Fire Nation who hoped to have killed the next Avatar. Thankfully their plot was thwarted when Aang escaped. The culture and customs of the Air Nomads is most similar to the Buddhist monks. The Lost Scrolls were lots of fun to read!
February 24, 2011
i like this book because the avatar is doing the most crazy things in this book his big bison fly him all over the world fighting the fire lord now the avatar has learn water bending thats all he need to know is to fire bend .
Read
March 27, 2012I cant believe that the fire nation killed all the air nomads.I mean how would they even get up there; don't you need a flying basin to get up there? If I was Aang I would learn all 4 elements and then destroy prince Zuko and fire lord Azulon.
May 21, 2012
Make it stop. Honestly that's the only thing going on in my head right now. Korra is coming soon and really this is just filler. Otherwise... it's just reminding me how empty life is when there isn't anything new in the world of Avatar.
May 15, 2012
A book that is definitely for children, but it was a good refresher course for season one and had some information about the Air Nomads that I hadn't previously known. Overall a cute book and worth the time since it was a quick easy read for me.
October 1, 2007
amazing story about five elements warrior. And One kid that choose become the Avatar who have ability to control all elements.
Originaly review by AnnChan ^^
Originaly review by AnnChan ^^
January 15, 2008
I like this book because it tells you a lot about the Air Nomads.
Read
March 24, 2009JAR5-Ava
Read
April 9, 2010JSF AVA
January 9, 2012
Again, for children. Good resource (although Wikipedia is more in depth) about the Air Nomads and a nice refresher for Season 1.
March 24, 2022
Good for providing a few facts about Air Nomad culture in ATLA. Great for collectors as well, even if it was published in the very early days of the series.
December 31, 2024
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.
Read
February 18, 2011got to get it
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews