Despite being a book written for a young audience, it is well written and uses descriptive language. It is simple in terms of plot, but not basic. The characters encounter obstacles and grow from them. I am impressed by the strong moral values being taught. I want to share a few examples:
"She tiptoed into the kitchen. Her older brother Corey, and her parents were still asleep, and she didn't want to wake them. She poured herself a bowl of Whole Wheat Squares and ate her cereal quickly: she couldn't wait to get back to her book." Cressida (the main character) is shown to be considerate and thoughtful. She is also modeling that reading is fun.
"When she finished, Cressida put her empty bowl in the sink and crept back to her bedroom." Cressida is responsible. She cleans up after herself. This was such a minor detail to include, but this is an example of the intention the authoress has taken in her writing to show strong moral character, even in minor every day tasks.
"And then, suddenly, Flash surged forward, running so fast Cressida wondered if they were flying. Cressida squealed with delight as silver and gold lightening bolts crackled from Flash's horn and hooves." This sentence shows off wonderful imagery and vocabulary.
I could go on and on with more examples - the book is full of details that showcase good values and strong and beautiful writing. It is the perfect gateway book to high quality literature. This is exactly the kind of book I want my daughters to read.